Cutting tool

Abstract

To provide a cutting tool that can cut off long bodies having different diameters more easily.SOLUTION: A cutting tool comprises: a pair of split bodies that are pivotally supported by a turning shaft extending in an axial direction, be mutually turnably, form an arrangement space in which a long body is arranged sandwiched between inner sides of the split bodies, and has an opening / closing end that can perform opening / closing operation in order to introduce the long body is into the arrangement space; and a cutting blade, provided in at least either of the pair of split bodies, which faces the arrangement space in order to cut the long body. The pair of split bodies is provided with holding parts for holding the pair of split bodies in a closing direction. The pair of split bodies can relatively move in an axial direction with respect to the long body so that the long body penetrates through both ends in the axial direction of the split bodies, in a state where the long body is arranged sandwiched between the split bodies in the arrangement space. The cutting blade is configured to be able to cut off the long body in the axial direction, by relatively moving in the axial direction of the long body, in a state where the long body is arranged in the arrangement space.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 23

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cutting tool for cutting elongated bodies, particularly corrugated tubes. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, cutters or scissors have been used to cut long objects such as corrugated pipes used in piping. However, even skilled craftsmen have found it difficult to cut long objects with a consistent cross-section using cutters or scissors. Therefore, various cutting tools have been proposed.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a sheath tube cutting jig capable of cutting a bellows-shaped circular sheath tube. In the following paragraphs, the reference numerals of Patent Document 1 are shown in parentheses. A sheath tube cutting jig (C1) which is a first embodiment of Patent Document 1 is formed in a substantially U-shape having a recess (11) into which a bellows-shaped sheath tube (PO) can be fitted, and two parallel protrusions (12) whose shapes match the valleys (P1) of the sheath tube (PO) are provided on the edge of the recess (11), and a blade (13) capable of cutting the sheath tube (PO) is provided at a position corresponding to the peaks (P2) of the sheath tube (PO), i.e., between the two protrusions (12). On the other hand, a sleeve cutting jig (C2) according to a second embodiment of Patent Document 1 is configured by hingedly connecting a pair of half members (2, 2) that can be joined into a ring shape having a circular hole through which a bellows-shaped sleeve (PO) can be inserted, with each half member (2, 2) being connected by a pin (3), and each half member (2, 2) is configured with a doughnut portion (21) that is formed by dividing a doughnut-shaped member equally in the radial direction, and a handle portion (22) provided on the outer periphery of the doughnut portion (21). Both half members (2, 2) are provided with two rows of protrusions (24) on the circular hole edge portion (23) of the doughnut portion (21) that can fit into the valley portions (P1) of the sleeve (PO), and blades (25) that can cut the sleeve (PO) in the lengthwise direction are provided at positions corresponding to the peak portions (P2) of the sleeve (PO), i.e., between the two rows of protrusions (24, 24). That is, the sleeve tube cutting jig (C2) is configured so that when the handles (22, 22) of both half members (2, 2) are brought together, the doughnut portions (21, 21) of both half members (2, 2) are joined together to form a ring shape. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-213761 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The sheath tube cutting jig (cutting tool) of the first embodiment of Patent Document 1 is inconvenient because it is formed in a fixed C-shape and can only cut tubes of a specific diameter. In contrast, the sheath tube cutting jig (cutting tool) of the second embodiment of Patent Document 1 is capable of cutting tubes of different diameters by connecting a pair of half members with a hinge. When cutting a tube with the sheath tube cutting jig, a user manipulates the pair of handles of the sheath tube cutting jig with both hands to open the pair of half members and place the tube between the pair of half members. Then, by manipulating the pair of handles with both hands to bring the pair of half members together, the pair of half members are closed and the blade comes into contact with the tube. Furthermore, while holding the pair of handles with the hands and maintaining the closed state, the sheath tube cutting jig is rotated relative to the tube to cut the tube. Thus, in order to cut a tube with the sheath tube cutting jig, a user must repeatedly grip and manipulate the pair of protruding handles. This creates a problem in that the cutting operation is not easy for users. That is, conventional cutting tools have not been designed with sufficient consideration given to ease of use by the user, and further improvements in operability are desired.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cutting tool that makes it possible to cut elongated bodies of different diameters with a simpler operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A cutting tool according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a pair of divided bodies rotatably connected to each other via a rotation axis extending in an axial direction, forming an arrangement space therebetween for sandwiching an elongated body therebetween, and having opening and closing ends operable to open and close for introducing the elongated body into the arrangement space; a cutting blade provided on at least one of the pair of divided bodies and facing the arrangement space to cut the elongated body; The present invention is characterized by comprising a drive unit formed on the opening and closing end sides of the pair of divided bodies, which rotates the pair of divided bodies in the opening direction by being pressed by the elongated body entering the arrangement space through the opening and closing ends.

[0008] A cutting tool of form 2 of the present invention is characterized in that, in the cutting tool described in form 1, the drive unit is connected to the opening and closing ends on the outer surfaces of the pair of divided bodies and has a guide surface that guides the elongated body abutting the outer surfaces of the pair of divided bodies to the opening and closing ends.

[0009] A cutting tool of form 3 of the present invention is characterized in that, in the cutting tool described in form 2, when the long body is a corrugated tube having concave and convex portions alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction, the guide surface is formed with a guide protrusion that protrudes so as to enter the concave portions.

[0010] The cutting tool of form 4 of the present invention is characterized in that, in the cutting tool described in form 3, it further comprises a guide piece provided on at least one of the pair of segments, extending from the inner surface of the segment toward the arrangement space and formed to fit into the recess, and the axial positions of the guide piece and the guide protrusion are consistent.

[0011] The cutting tool of form 5 of the present invention is characterized in that, in the cutting tool described in any one of forms 1 to 4, when the long body is a corrugated tube having concave and convex portions alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction, it further comprises a pair of guide pieces provided on both axial sides of the cutting blade and inserted into adjacent concave portions of the corrugated tube.

[0012] A cutting tool according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the cutting tool according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, further comprising a biasing means for biasing the pair of divided bodies in a closing direction.

[0013] The cutting tool of form 7 of the present invention is characterized in that, in the cutting tool described in any one of forms 1 to 6, the pair of segments are provided with gripping portions extending in the axial direction and for pressing the pair of segments in a closing direction.

[0014] The cutting tool of the eighth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the cutting tool according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the cutting blade is provided offset toward one end of the divided body in the axial direction.

[0015] The cutting tool of form 9 of the present invention is characterized in that, in the cutting tool described in any one of forms 1 to 8, the cutting blade is provided on each of the pair of segments, and each cutting blade is arranged at the same axial position and is arranged biased toward the opening and closing end of each segment.

[0016] A cutting tool according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is the cutting tool according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, wherein the cutting blade is provided on each of the pair of segments, the arrangement space is configured to be able to accommodate a first elongated body having a first diameter and a first center point, and a second elongated body having a second diameter and a second center point that are larger than the first diameter; when the first elongated body is disposed in the arrangement space, the pair of cutting blades contact the first elongated body at two contact points, and two straight lines sequentially connecting one contact point, the first center point, and the other contact point form a first central angle; when the second elongated body is disposed in the arrangement space, the pair of cutting blades contact the second elongated body at two contact points, and two straight lines sequentially connecting one contact point, the second center point, and the other contact point form a second central angle; The pair of cutting blades are positioned so that the second central angle is closer to 180 degrees than the first central angle.

[0017] A cutting tool according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention comprises a pair of divided bodies rotatably supported by a rotation shaft extending in an axial direction, forming an arrangement space for placing an elongated body by sandwiching the divided bodies therebetween, the divided bodies having opening and closing ends operable to open and close for introducing the elongated body into the arrangement space; a cutting blade provided on at least one of the pair of divided bodies and facing the arrangement space to cut the elongated body, The pair of divided bodies are provided with gripping portions that extend in the axial direction and that press the pair of divided bodies in a closing direction.

[0018] A cutting tool according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention comprises a pair of divided bodies rotatably supported by a rotation shaft extending in an axial direction, forming an arrangement space for placing an elongated body by sandwiching the divided bodies therebetween, the divided bodies having opening and closing ends operable to open and close for introducing the elongated body into the arrangement space; a cutting blade provided on at least one of the pair of divided bodies and facing the arrangement space to cut the elongated body, The pair of divided bodies are provided with gripping portions extending in the axial direction and configured to press the pair of divided bodies in a closing direction, the pair of divided bodies are arranged in the arrangement space so as to sandwich the elongated body between them, and are capable of moving in the axial direction relative to the elongated body so that the elongated body penetrates both ends of the divided bodies in the axial direction, The cutting blade is characterized in that it is configured to be able to cut and split the elongated body in the axial direction by relative movement in the axial direction of the elongated body when the elongated body is placed in the placement space.

[0019] A cutting tool according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention is the cutting tool according to the twelfth aspect, wherein the cutting blade comprises a base portion protruding inward from the divided body and a blade portion formed on an edge of the base portion facing the arrangement space; The tip of the base portion in the protruding direction is provided with a covering member that partially covers the blade portion.

[0020] A cutting tool of form 14 of the present invention is characterized in that, in the cutting tool described in form 12 or 13, the arrangement space is configured to be able to accommodate a first corrugated tube having a first diameter and a second corrugated tube having a second diameter larger than the first diameter, and by relative axial movement of the cutting blade when the first or second corrugated tube is arranged in the arrangement space, the first or second corrugated tube can be cut to form a longitudinally continuous slit at one circumferential location of the first or second corrugated tube.

[0021] The cutting tool of form 15 of the present invention is characterized in that, in the cutting tool described in any one of forms 12 to 14, at least one of the pair of divided bodies has a position display unit on the opening / closing end side that displays the axial position of the cutting blade, and / or a placement position indication unit that indicates the placement position of the end of the elongated body that is placed in the placement space. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] According to the cutting tool of the first embodiment of the present invention, the drive unit formed on the open / closed end side of the pair of segments is pressed by the elongated body entering the arrangement space through the open / closed end, thereby rotating the pair of segments in the opening direction. That is, the user can introduce the elongated body into the arrangement space between the pair of segments by operating the cutting tool so as to press the elongated body against the drive unit on the open / closed end side. Therefore, the cutting tool of the present invention significantly improves user operability.

[0023] In addition to the effects of the invention of mode 1, the cutting tool of mode 2 of the present invention allows the user to press the elongated body against the guide surface, thereby guiding the elongated body into the arrangement space via the open open / closed ends. Therefore, the cutting tool of the present invention significantly improves operability for the user.

[0024] According to the cutting tool of the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the second aspect of the invention, the guide protrusions fit into the recesses of the corrugated tube, so that the corrugated tube abutting the guide surface can be locked in the longitudinal direction. This prevents the corrugated tube from shifting from the guide surface in the longitudinal direction, and makes it easy to position the corrugated tube.

[0025] According to the cutting tool of form 4 of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the invention of form 3, the axial positions of the guide piece and the guide protrusion are consistent, so that when the corrugated tube is guided by the guide surface and introduced into the arrangement space from the opening and closing end, the recess of the corrugated tube slides from the guide protrusion to the guide piece, preventing the corrugated tube from shifting in the longitudinal direction.

[0026] According to the cutting tool of the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, The pair of guide pieces clamp the protrusions of the corrugated tube from both sides in the axial direction of the cutting blade, preventing the corrugated tube from shifting longitudinally during cutting. Furthermore, because the guide pieces engage with the corrugated tube in the longitudinal direction, the cut pieces of the corrugated tube are prevented from falling off the cutting tool after cutting.

[0027] According to the cutting tool of the sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of any one of the first to fifth aspects, the biasing means biases the pair of segments in the closing direction, thereby maintaining the cutting tool in a compact form when not in use. Furthermore, after the open / close ends are opened and the elongated body is placed in the placement space, the biasing force of the biasing means automatically rotates the pair of segments in the closing direction, allowing the cutting blade to contact the elongated body. Furthermore, since the biasing means maintains the closed state after cutting, the cut piece of the elongated body is prevented from falling out of the cutting tool.

[0028] According to the cutting tool of the seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of any one of the first to sixth aspects, when cutting a long body placed in the arrangement space, the user grasps the gripping portion and presses the pair of halves in the closing direction, thereby maintaining the cutting blades in a state where they are biting into the outer surface of the long body, and the user can easily rotate the cutting tool around the circumference of the long body by moving their wrist. In other words, the user can perform pressing and rotating operations with one hand by operating the gripping portion.

[0029] According to the cutting tool of form 8 of the present invention, in addition to the effects of any of the inventions of forms 1 to 7, the cutting blade is positioned offset to one end of the axial direction of the divided body, making it relatively easy to visually confirm the contact point between the cutting blade and the elongated body.

[0030] According to the cutting tool of the ninth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of any one of the first to eighth aspects, a pair of cutting blades cuts the elongated body from both sides at the same axial position, making it possible to cut the elongated body more efficiently. Furthermore, because each cutting blade is positioned toward the open / close end of each segment, when a relatively large-diameter elongated body is placed in the placement space so that the open / close ends of the pair of segments are not closed, the pair of cutting blades can contact the elongated body at positions farther apart on the outer periphery (compared to when the cutting blades are positioned between the segments). In other words, when cutting a large-diameter elongated body, the overlap of the movement paths of the pair of cutting blades during rotation can be reduced, and the required rotation angle can be made closer to 180 degrees.

[0031] According to the cutting tool of the tenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of any one of the first to ninth aspects, the pair of cutting blades are positioned so that the second central angle when the second elongated body having a larger diameter is placed in the placement space is larger (approaching 180 degrees) than the first central angle when the first elongated body is placed in the placement space. This reduces the overlap of the movement paths of the pair of cutting blades when rotating when cutting the second elongated body having a larger diameter. As a result, the rotation angle required to cut the second elongated body can be reduced compared to the first elongated body having a small diameter, which is relatively easy to rotate.

[0032] According to the cutting tool of form 11 of the present invention, when cutting a long body placed in the arrangement space, the user grasps the gripping portion and presses the pair of segments in the closing direction, thereby maintaining the cutting blades in a state where they are biting into the outer surface of the long body, and the user can easily rotate the cutting tool in the circumferential direction of the long body by moving their wrist. In other words, compared to conventional cutting tools that require the user to re-grasp the handle that extends in the direction away from the long body, the cutting tool of the present invention allows the user to rotate the cutting tool in one hand while grasping the gripping portion, thereby significantly improving operability in cutting long bodies.

[0033] According to the cutting tool of the twelfth aspect of the present invention, when cutting a long body placed in the arrangement space, the user can hold the pair of segments in a closing direction by grasping the gripping portion, thereby maintaining the cutting blades in a state where they are biting into the outer surface of the long body. The user can then relatively slide the cutting tool in the axial direction of the long body, thereby cutting and splitting the long body in the axial direction. In other words, compared to conventional cutting tools, the cutting tool of the present invention allows the user to operate the cutting tool while holding the gripping portion with one hand, thereby significantly improving operability in cutting and splitting a long body.

[0034] According to the cutting tool of the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the invention of the twelfth aspect, a covering member that covers the tip of the cutting blade is provided, thereby preventing the user from touching the tip of the cutting blade and getting injured. In other words, the cutting tool is designed with safety in mind when operating the cutting tool.

[0035] According to the cutting tool of the present invention in aspect 14, in addition to the effects of the invention of aspects 12 or 13, the cutting tool can arrange different types of corrugated tubes in the arrangement space and cut each corrugated tube in the axial direction, thereby making it possible to form slits in the corrugated tubes that serve as entrances for wiring and piping materials to be housed inside the corrugated tubes.

[0036] According to the cutting tool of form 15 of the present invention, in addition to the effects of any of the inventions of forms 12 to 14, the user can easily determine the cutting position of the elongated body by checking the position display unit that displays the axial position of the cutting blade, and / or by using the placement position indication unit that indicates the placement position of the end of the elongated body to be placed in the placement space, it becomes easy to position the elongated body so that it is cut in the axial direction from the end. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0037] [Figure 1] 1A is a schematic perspective view of a cutting tool according to an embodiment (first embodiment) of the present invention in a closed state, and FIG. 1B is a schematic perspective view of a cutting tool according to an embodiment (first embodiment) of the present invention in an open state. [Figure 2] 2A and 2B are plan views of the cutting tool of FIG. 1 in a closed state and an open state, respectively. [Figure 3] 2A and 2B are front views of the cutting tool of FIG. 1 in a closed state and an open state, respectively. [Figure 4] 2A and 2B are a rear view and a side view, respectively, of the cutting tool of FIG. 1 in a closed state. [Figure 5] AA cross section of the cutting tool in FIG. 3(a). [Figure 6] BB cross section of the cutting tool in Figure 3(a). [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cutting tool of FIG. 1; [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the cutting blade assembly of FIG. 7; [Figure 9] 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a step of cutting a corrugated tube with a cutting tool according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 10] 1A and 1B are schematic plan views showing a process for cutting a corrugated tube with a cutting tool of one embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) the process for abutting the cutting tool against the corrugated tube and (b) the process for pressing the cutting tool against the corrugated tube are shown. [Figure 11] 1 is a plan view of a cutting tool according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a corrugated tube is placed in an arrangement space. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a front view of the cutting tool and corrugated tube of the embodiment of FIG. 11 . [Figure 13]1 is a partially enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of a cutting tool and a corrugated tube, showing a state in which a cutting blade is biting into the corrugated tube held in an arrangement space, in a cutting tool according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 14] 14 is a cross-sectional view of a cutting tool and corrugated tube of the configuration of FIG. 13. [Figure 15] 10 is a partially enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cutting tool and the corrugated tube, showing the state after the corrugated tube has been cut in the placement space, in the cutting tool of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 16] 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cutting tool according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a corrugated tube with a larger diameter is placed in the placement space. FIG. [Figure 17] 10 is a cross-sectional view of the cutting tool according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a corrugated tube with a larger diameter is placed in the placement space. FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a cutting tool according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of a cutting blade unit of the cutting tool of FIG. 16; [Figure 20] 17A and 17B show cross-sectional views of the cutting tool in which corrugated tubes are arranged in the arrangement space, showing (a) a first corrugated tube having a first diameter and (b) a second corrugated tube having a second diameter in the cutting tool of FIG. [Figure 21] FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a cutting tool according to another embodiment (second embodiment) of the present invention. [Figure 22] FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a cutting tool according to another embodiment (third embodiment) of the present invention. [Figure 23] 10A and 10B are schematic perspective views of a cutting tool according to another embodiment (fourth embodiment) of the present invention, in a closed state and an open state, respectively. [Figure 24] 24A and 24B are plan views of the cutting tool of FIG. 23 in a closed state and an open state, respectively. [Figure 25] 24A and 24B are front views of the cutting tool of FIG. 23 in a closed state and an open state, respectively. [Figure 26] 24A and 24B are rear and side views of the cutting tool of FIG. 23 in a closed state. [Figure 27] 24(a) is a cross-sectional view of the cutting tool taken along the line CC. [Figure 28](a) DD cross section and (b) EE cross section of the cutting tool in Figure 25(a). [Figure 29] FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view of the cutting tool of FIG. 23; [Figure 30] 24 is a schematic diagram showing a step of cutting a corrugated tube with the cutting tool of FIG. 23, showing a step of aligning the end of the corrugated tube. [Figure 31] 24A and 24B are schematic cross-sectional views showing a step of cutting a corrugated tube with the cutting tool of FIG. 23, in which (a) shows the step of contacting the cutting tool with the corrugated tube, and (b) shows the step of pressing the cutting tool against the corrugated tube. [Figure 32] 24 is a plan view of the cutting tool of FIG. 23, showing a state in which a corrugated tube is placed in the placement space. FIG. [Figure 33] 24 is a plan view of the cutting tool of FIG. 23, showing a state in which a corrugated tube is placed in the placement space. FIG. [Figure 34] 24A and 24B are schematic longitudinal and transverse cross-sectional views showing the process of cutting a corrugated tube in the axial direction using the cutting tool of FIG. 23. [Figure 35] 24A and 24B are schematic longitudinal and transverse cross-sectional views showing the intermediate steps of a process of cutting a larger diameter corrugated tube in the axial direction using the cutting tool of FIG. 23; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the shapes of the drawings referred to in the following description are conceptual or schematic diagrams for explaining preferred shapes and dimensions, and the dimensional ratios do not necessarily correspond to the actual dimensional ratios. In other words, the present invention is not limited to the dimensional ratios in the drawings.

[0039] The cutting tool 100 of one embodiment of the present invention is used to cut a corrugated tube 10, which is a long body having alternating recesses 11 and protrusions 12 arranged in a longitudinal direction, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. More specifically, the cutting tool 100 is rotated in the circumferential direction of the corrugated tube 10, and the rotation of the cutting blade 111 cuts the corrugated tube 10.

[0040] 1(a) and 1(b) are perspective views of a cutting tool 100 of this embodiment in a closed state (initial position) and an open state (deformed position). FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are plan views of the cutting tool 100 in a closed state and an open state. FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are front views of the cutting tool 100 in a closed state and an open state. FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are rear and side views of the cutting tool 100 in a closed state. FIGS. 5 and 6 are a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line AA and a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line BB of the cutting tool 100. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the cutting tool 100.

[0041] The cutting tool 100 of this embodiment includes a pair of movably assembled segments 101, 102, a pair of cutting blades 111, 111 provided on each of the segments 101, 102 for cutting the corrugated tube 10, and a spring 109 that biases the pair of segments 101, 102 in a closing direction. The cutting tool 100 extends from its upper end to its lower end along an axial direction that coincides with the longitudinal direction of the elongated body (corrugated tube 10) to be cut. The cutting tool 100 has an upper portion on the axially upper side that functions to cut the corrugated tube 10, and a lower portion that extends axially below the upper portion and is operated by the user. In other words, the cutting blade 111 is provided offset toward one axial end of the segments 101, 102.

[0042] The pair of divided bodies 101, 102 are movably combined. Here, the pair of divided bodies 101, 102 are defined as the first divided body 101 and the second divided body 102. The first divided body 101 and the second divided body 102 each extend along an axial direction (which coincides with the longitudinal direction when in use) and have a base end (fixed end) and a tip end (free end) in plan view. Furthermore, each divided body 101, 102 has an arc shape extending circumferentially from the base end to the tip end in plan view, with the inner concave curved surfaces facing each other.

[0043] The first and second segments 101, 102 are rotatably connected to each other via a pivot shaft 103 at their base ends. The first and second segments 101, 102 have complementary shapes at their base ends and are assembled via the pivot shaft 103. In this embodiment, the pivot shaft 103 is a long metal pin extending in the axial direction, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the pivot shaft of the present invention merely refers to the central axis of rotation of the pair of segments, and its shape may be changed as desired. The pair of segments 101, 102 have opposing inner surfaces, forming an arrangement space 104 between them for sandwiching and arranging the corrugated tube 10 to be cut. An opening / closing end 105 is formed at the tip of the cutting tool 100 opposite the pivot shaft 103, and is operable to open and close to introduce the corrugated tube 10 into the arrangement space 104. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, in the closed state, the pair of divided bodies 101 and 102 abut on each other at the open / close end 105 via abutment surfaces 105a and 105a.

[0044] Additionally, a drive unit 106 is provided at the upper portion of each divided body 101, 102. The drive unit 106 is pressed toward the center of the arrangement space 104 to rotate the pair of divided bodies 101, 102 in the opening direction. The drive unit 106 is formed adjacent to the opening / closing end 105 of each divided body 101, 102. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the drive unit 106 forms the distal end surface of the divided body 101, 102 and has a guide surface 106a connected to the opening / closing end 105 on its outer surface. The guide surface 106a is an inclined plane that is inclined so that the side closer to the opening / closing end 105 (contact surfaces 105a, 105a) is located on the base end side and the side farther from the opening / closing end 105 is located on the distal end side in a plan view. That is, the guide surface 106a can function to guide the corrugated tube 10, which is in sliding contact with the surface, toward the open / closed end 105 and convert the pressing force of the corrugated tube 10 attempting to pass through the open / closed end 105 into a force that rotates the pair of segments 101, 102 in the opening direction. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, each guide surface 106a of the pair of segments 101, 102 is formed with a guide protrusion 106b that protrudes so as to enter the recess 11 of the corrugated tube 10. The guide protrusions 106b are two circumferentially extending protrusions that extend continuously through the closed open / closed end 105. These two upper and lower protrusions are configured to sandwich the protrusion 12 of the corrugated tube 10. As will be described later, the guide protrusions 106b can function to prevent the corrugated tube 10 abutting the guide surface 106a from shifting in the longitudinal direction and to position the cutting area. The guide protrusions 106b may extend beyond the guide surfaces 106a to the contact surfaces 105a and inner circumferential surfaces of the divided bodies 101 and 102.

[0045] A grip 107 is provided at the lower portion of each of the segments 101, 102, extending in the axial direction and configured to press the pair of segments 101, 102 in a closing direction. The grip 107 is connected to the axially lower side of the upper portion. Each grip 107 has a semi-cylindrical shape that is easy for a user to grip with one hand. That is, a user can easily open and close the segments 101, 102 by gripping the grip 107 with one hand and opening and closing the hand. The user can also rotate the cutting tool 100 by gripping the grip 107 with one hand and moving their wrist.

[0046] Furthermore, a plurality of ribs extending in an arc perpendicular to the axial direction are formed on the inner surface of the lower portion of the divided bodies 101, 102. Furthermore, near the lower end of each divided body 101, 102, a window 108 is provided that allows a portion of the corrugated tube 10 placed in the placement space 104 to be viewed from the outside. A string can also be attached to the window 108 to prevent falls when working at height.

[0047] As shown in Fig. 4, a spring 109 is disposed near the lower end of the pivot shaft 103 of the cutting tool 100. The spring 109 is a torsion coil spring fitted around the lower end of the pivot shaft 103, and applies a force in the rotation direction to the pair of segments 101, 102. That is, the spring 109 functions as a biasing means that biases the pair of segments 101, 102 in the closing direction. The spring 109 constantly biases the segments 101, 102 in the closing direction, thereby maintaining the cutting tool 100 in a compact form.

[0048] A pair of cutting blades 111, 111 are provided on each of the pair of segments 101, 102, respectively, and are arranged opposite each other at the same axial position. The cutting edges of each cutting blade 111 face the arrangement space 104 to cut the corrugated tube 10. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6 , the pair of cutting blades 111, 111 are located approximately in the center of the arc of the segments 101, 102 (i.e., approximately halfway between the base end and the tip end) and face each other. Each cutting blade 111 has a sharp tip and has cutting edges on both circumferential sides. That is, when the cutting edge of the cutting blade 111 is engaged with the corrugated tube 10, the cutting blade 111 rotates relative to the corrugated tube 10 in the circumferential direction, allowing the cutting blade 111 to cut the corrugated tube 10 in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction. The cutting blade 111 is also arranged offset toward one axial end of the segments 101, 102 so as to be easily visible from the top end.

[0049] A pair of upper and lower guide pieces 112, 112 are provided axially above and below each cutting blade 111. Each guide piece 112 extends on a plane perpendicular to the axial direction and is made of a fan-shaped thin plate corresponding to the outer peripheral shape of the corrugated tube 10. Each guide piece 112 is elastically deformable in the axial direction. Each guide piece 112 is configured with a thickness that allows it to fit into the recessed portion 11 of the corrugated tube 10. The pair of guide pieces 112, 112 are spaced apart so that the protruding portion 12 of the corrugated tube 10 can be positioned between them. The cutting blade 111 is located at a central position between the pair of guide pieces 112, 112. The pair of guide pieces 112, 112 are located at the same axial position as the pair of guide protrusions 106b, 106b. The guide protrusions 106b and the guide pieces 112 may be connected to form a continuous ridge. In this case, the corrugated tube 10 can be continuously transferred from the guide protrusion 106b to the guide piece 112.

[0050] Furthermore, it is preferable that the inner peripheral edge of guide piece 112 is located in the same position as the tip of cutting blade 111 or radially inward of the tip of cutting blade 111 in plan view. In other words, since the tip of cutting blade 111 does not protrude from guide piece 112 toward the center, it is possible to prevent a user from touching cutting blade 111 with their hand and getting injured.

[0051] In this embodiment, the cutting blade 111 and the guide piece 112 are fixed at predetermined positions on the divided bodies 101 and 102 as part of the cutting blade cartridge 110. As shown in Fig. 7, the cutting blade cartridge 110 is configured so as to be easily attached to and detached from the upper surface of each divided body 101 and 102 using screws and nuts.

[0052] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the cutting blade cartridge 110. As shown in FIG. 8, the cutting blade cartridge 110 is an assembly that combines a cutting blade 111 embedded in a blade housing 113a at the center of the base 113, a cover 114 that covers the blade housing, and a pair of guide pieces 112, 112 arranged on the upper and lower surfaces of the base 113 with an arc-shaped base 113 having a predetermined thickness. The cutting blade 111 is held in approximately the center of the base 113 in the circumferential and thickness directions. The thickness of the base 113 also determines the spacing between the pair of guide pieces 112, 112. The worn-out cutting blade cartridge 110 of the cutting tool 100 can be easily replaced with a new cutting blade cartridge 110. Alternatively, it is possible to replace it with a cutting blade cartridge of a different shape (see, for example, FIG. 19 ) depending on the object to be cut and the application.

[0053] 9 to 14, a method for cutting the corrugated tube 10 using the cutting tool 100 of this embodiment will be described. The method generally includes the steps of introducing the corrugated tube 10 into the arrangement space 104 between the pair of segments 101, 102 of the cutting tool 100, and rotating the cutting tool 100 relatively around the corrugated tube 10 to cut the corrugated tube 10.

[0054] The process of introducing the corrugated tube 10 into the placement space 104 will now be described in detail. First, the gripping portion 107 of the cutting tool 100 is loosely grasped with one hand. As shown in FIG. 9 , the cutting tool 100 is held in a position where it will cut the corrugated tube 10, with the open / closed end 105 of the cutting tool 100 facing the outer surface of the corrugated tube 10, and the cutting tool 100 is brought relatively close to the corrugated tube 10. At this time, the longitudinal direction of the corrugated tube 10 and the axial direction of the cutting tool 100 are aligned.

[0055] Next, as shown in FIG. 10(a), the portion of the corrugated tube 10 to be cut is positioned, and the drive unit 106 of the cutting tool 100 is brought into contact with the corrugated tube 10 according to the cutting position. The outer surface of the corrugated tube 10 contacts both guide surfaces 106a, and the guide protrusions 106b enter the recesses 11 of the corrugated tube 10. The corrugated tube 10 is guided by the guide surfaces 106a toward the open / close end 105. At this time, the protrusions 12 (including the cutting portion) are sandwiched between the pair of upper and lower guide protrusions 106b, 106b from above and below, thereby locking the corrugated tube 10 and the cutting tool 100 in the axial direction (longitudinal direction). This prevents the cutting tool 100, which has been positioned relative to the corrugated tube 10, from sliding axially relative to the corrugated tube 10.

[0056] 10(b), the cutting tool 100 is pressed against the corrugated tube 10 so as to pass the open / closed end 105 through the corrugated tube 10. This pressing force acts on the drive unit 106 of the cutting tool 100, which drives the pair of segments 101, 102 in the opening direction. The pair of segments 101, 102 gradually rotate in the opening direction, and the open / closed end 105 is eventually opened to a width that allows the corrugated tube 10 to pass through. The corrugated tube 10 is placed in the arrangement space 104 between the pair of segments 101, 102 of the cutting tool 100 via the opened open / closed end 105.

[0057] 11 and 12 show the state in which the corrugated tube 10 is placed in the placement space 104 of the cutting tool 100 for the cutting process. As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the cutting tool 100 clamps the corrugated tube 10 between a pair of halves 101 and 102, with the outer surface of the corrugated tube 10 facing forward from the open / closed end 105. In this state, the user can tighten their grip on the gripping portion 107 to press the pair of halves 101 and 102 in the closing direction, causing the cutting edge of the cutting blade 111 to dig into the outer surface of the corrugated tube 10.

[0058] As shown in Figure 13, when the corrugated tube 10 is placed in the arrangement space 104, the pair of upper and lower guide pieces 112, 112 enter the recesses 11, 11 of the corrugated tube 10, respectively, and sandwich the protrusions 12 to be cut. This prevents the corrugated tube 10 from shifting in the axial direction (longitudinal direction) within the arrangement space 104. At this time, the cutting blade 111 bites into approximately the center of the protrusions 12 in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, because the pair of upper and lower guide pieces 112, 112 are at the same axial position as the pair of upper and lower guide protrusions 106b, 106b, the corrugated tube 10 passing through the opening and closing end 105 can be introduced into the arrangement space 104 without shifting in the axial direction.

[0059] 14, the user can cut the corrugated tube 10 by holding the gripping portion 107 with one hand and rotating the cutting tool 100 in the direction of the arrow around the corrugated tube 10 while moving their wrist. Conversely, the corrugated tube 10 may be rotated in the circumferential direction without moving the cutting tool 100.

[0060] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 14 , a pair of cutting blades 111, 111 contact the corrugated tube 10 at two contact points, with one contact point, a center point C1, and the other contact point being located approximately on the diameter of the corrugated tube 10. In other words, two lines sequentially connecting the one contact point, the center point C1, and the other contact point form a central angle of approximately 180 degrees. Furthermore, the pair of cutting blades 111, 111 contact the outer surface of the corrugated tube 10 at positions furthest apart on the outer periphery of the corrugated tube 10. This allows a user to cut the corrugated tube 10 by rotating the cutting tool 100 180 degrees around the corrugated tube 10. Generally, the closer this central angle is to 180 degrees, the fewer overlapping points there are in the rotational loci (movement paths) of the pair of cutting blades 111, 111, and the amount of rotational operation can be reduced. On the other hand, as the central angle deviates from 180 degrees, the rotational trajectories of the pair of segments 101, 102 overlap, forcing the user to perform more rotational operations. In other words, minimizing the amount of rotational operation leads to improved user operability. Therefore, it is preferable to set the positions of the pair of cutting blades 111, 111 so that they are aligned on the diameter of the corrugated tube 10 in accordance with the diameter of the corrugated tube 10 to be cut.

[0061] FIG. 15 shows the state after the corrugated tube 10 has been cut with the cutting tool 100. As shown in FIG. 15, the corrugated tube 10 has been cut along the outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 12. The outer surface of the side wall connecting the outer surface of the recess 11 and the outer surface of the protrusion 12 rests on the guide piece 112. This prevents the cut piece of the corrugated tube 10 from accidentally falling out of the arrangement space 104, even if the user loosens their grip on the gripping portion 107, due to the biasing force of the spring 109 alone. The user can remove the cut piece of the corrugated tube 10 from the arrangement space 104 by opening the segments 101 and 102.

[0062] The cutting tool 100 of this embodiment is configured to fit a corrugated tube 10 having a first diameter and a first axial width as a first elongated body. However, the cutting tool 100 is capable of cutting corrugated tubes of different sizes. A corrugated tube 10', which will be described next, has a second diameter and a second center point C2 that are larger than the first diameter (the reference diameter of the cutting tool 100) as a second elongated body. Furthermore, the axial width of the recesses 11 and protrusions 12 of the corrugated tube 10' is larger than the axial width of the corrugated tube 10 (the reference width of the cutting tool 100).

[0063] As shown in Figure 16, even if the axial width of the unevenness of the corrugated tube 10' is larger than the axial width of the corrugated tube 10 and larger than the distance between a pair of upper and lower guide pieces 112, 112, the guide pieces 112, 112 can be elastically bent and changed in the direction of moving away from each other vertically, so it is possible to position the convex portion 12 between the guide pieces 112, 112.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 17 , the second diameter of the corrugated tube 10′ is larger than the first diameter of the corrugated tube 10, so the pair of segments 101, 102 are positioned farther apart in the opening direction. In this state, the cutting blade 111 is located midway between the segments 101, 102, and is positioned closer to the base end (rotation axis 103) of the corrugated tube 10′. That is, the central angle (interior angle) formed by two lines connecting one tangent point, the center point C2, and the other tangent point in this order is approximately 140 degrees. Therefore, overlapping portions occur in the rotational trajectories of the pair of cutting blades 111, 111, and a rotational operation amount of at least 220 degrees is required to completely cut the corrugated tube 10′ in the circumferential direction. This means that when cutting a corrugated tube with a larger or smaller diameter different from the reference diameter, an additional rotational operation amount is required, which reduces user operability. In particular, rotating the cutting tool 100 around a corrugated tube with a larger diameter requires the cutting tool 100 to move a greater distance, which can create additional challenges such as increased wrist movement and more frequent gripping, making operation even more difficult.

[0065] To address the additional problem, the cutting tool 100 of this embodiment includes a cutting blade position adjustment means that allows the position of the cutting blade 111 to be changed to match the diameter of the corrugated pipe to be cut. In other words, the cutting blade position adjustment means is a plurality of types of cutting blade cartridges in which the cutting blades are arranged in different positions. More specifically, the cutting tool 100 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 18 is obtained by replacing the cutting blade cartridge 110 with a second cutting blade cartridge 110-2 in which the cutting blade 111 is arranged in a different position. As shown in FIG. 19, the second cutting blade cartridge 110-2 is configured such that the cutting blade 111 is arranged on the tip side of the segments 101 and 102. Specifically, unlike the cutting blade cartridge 110, the second cutting blade cartridge 110-2 has a blade housing portion 113a formed on the tip side of the base 113′.

[0066] 20(a) and (b) respectively show a configuration in which a corrugated tube 10 having a first diameter and a first center point C1 is arranged in the arrangement space 104, and a configuration in which a corrugated tube 10' having a second diameter and a second center point C2 is arranged in the arrangement space 104. As shown in FIG. 20, each of the pair of cutting blades 111, 111 is arranged at the same position in the axial direction and is arranged biased toward the opening and closing ends of each divided body 101, 102.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 20(a), when a corrugated tube 10 of a first diameter is placed in the placement space 104, the cutting blades 111, 111 are located closer to the tip end (closer to the open / close end 105) than the center point C1 of the corrugated tube 10. The central angle (interior angle) formed by two lines sequentially connecting one contact point, the center point C1, and the other contact point is approximately 100 degrees. Therefore, overlapping portions occur in the rotation trajectories of the pair of cutting blades 111, 111, and a rotational operation amount of at least 260 degrees is required to completely cut the corrugated tube 10 in the circumferential direction. However, rotating the cutting tool 100 around a corrugated tube 10 of a smaller diameter requires less wrist rotation by the user, making it easier to operate than a larger diameter.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 20(b), when a corrugated tube 10' having a second diameter is disposed in the placement space 104, the cutting blades 111 are positioned approximately on a diameter passing through the center point C2 of the corrugated tube 10'. That is, the central angle of two lines sequentially connecting one tangent point, the center point C2, and the other tangent point is approximately 180 degrees. Therefore, there is almost no overlap in the rotational trajectories of the pair of cutting blades 111, and a (minimum) rotational amount of 180 degrees is sufficient to completely cut the corrugated tube 10' in the circumferential direction. That is, with the cutting tool 100 of this embodiment, when cutting a corrugated tube 10' having a relatively large diameter, the overlap in the movement paths of the pair of cutting blades 111 is small. As a result, the rotation angle required to cut the corrugated tube 10' can be reduced compared to a corrugated tube 10 having a small diameter, which is relatively easy to rotate. Therefore, when cutting multiple corrugated tubes of different sizes, it is preferable to select the second cutting blade cartridge 110-2.

[0069] Although not shown, cutting blades 111, 111 may be arranged on the base end side of the segments 101, 102 as a third cutting blade cartridge. In this case, it becomes easier to cut a corrugated tube having a third diameter smaller than the corrugated tube 10 having the first diameter (reference diameter). When cutting a large number of small-diameter corrugated tubes, it is preferable to select the third cutting blade cartridge.

[0070] In other words, by changing the cartridge as a cutting blade position adjustment means depending on the type of corrugated tube to be cut and the corresponding diameter (and number), the amount of rotational operation by the user can be reduced, making the cutting of long objects more efficient.

[0071] The following describes the effects of the cutting tool 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0072] According to the cutting tool 100 of this embodiment, the drive unit 106 formed on the open / closed end 105 side of the pair of segments 101, 102 is pressed by the corrugated tube 10 entering the arrangement space 104 via the open / closed end 105, thereby driving the pair of segments 101, 102 to rotate in the opening direction. That is, a user can introduce the corrugated tube 10 into the arrangement space 104 between the pair of segments 101, 102 by operating the cutting tool 100 with one hand so as to press the corrugated tube 10 against the drive unit 106 (guide surface 106a) on the open / closed end 105 side. Therefore, the cutting tool 100 of this embodiment significantly improves operability for the user.

[0073] Furthermore, with the cutting tool 100 of this embodiment, when cutting the corrugated tube 10 placed in the arrangement space 104, the user holds the gripping portion 107 and presses the pair of segments 101, 102 in the closing direction, thereby maintaining the cutting blade 111 biting into the outer surface of the corrugated tube 10, and the user can easily rotate the cutting tool 100 in the circumferential direction of the corrugated tube 10 by moving their wrist. That is, compared to a conventional cutting tool in which the user re-grabs a handle that extends in the direction away from the corrugated tube 10 (see Patent Document 1), the cutting tool 100 of this embodiment allows the user to rotate the cutting tool 100 in the hand while holding the gripping portion 107, thereby significantly improving operability in cutting the corrugated tube 10.

[0074] Furthermore, with the cutting tool 100 of this embodiment, by replacing the cutting blade cartridge 110 as the cutting blade position adjustment means, the amount of rotation can be increased or decreased depending on the outer diameter of the corrugated tube. In particular, by arranging each cutting blade 111, 111 biased toward the open / closed ends 105 of each segment 101, 102, when a relatively large-diameter corrugated tube 10' is arranged in the arrangement space 104 so that the open / closed ends 105 of the pair of segments 101, 102 are not closed (see FIG. 20(b)), the pair of cutting blades 111, 111 can contact the corrugated tube 10' at positions farther apart on the outer periphery of the corrugated tube 10' than when the cutting blades 111 are arranged midway between the segments 101, 102 (see FIG. 17). In other words, when cutting a large-diameter corrugated tube 10', the overlap between the rotational trajectories (movement paths) of the pair of cutting blades 111, 111 during rotation can be reduced, and the required rotation angle can be made closer to 180 degrees.

[0075] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various embodiments and modifications are possible. Several modifications of the present invention will be described below. In each embodiment, components that share the same last two digits have the same or similar characteristics, unless otherwise specified, and some descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0076] (1) The cutting tool of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and may take various forms. For example, FIG. 21 shows a cutting tool 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 21, the cutting tool 200 may have a compact form in which the gripping portion is omitted. The cutting tool 200 includes at least a drive portion 206 (guide surface 206a), which significantly improves operability for the user.

[0077] (2) The cutting tool of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and may take various forms. Fig. 22 shows a cutting tool 300 according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 22, the cutting tool of the present invention may be configured without a drive unit (guide unit). By including at least a grip unit 307, cutting tool 300 significantly improves operability for the user.

[0078] (3) The shape and dimensions of the cutting tool of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the guide surface does not have to be an inclined plane, but may be a curved surface, etc. The drive unit may be formed at a position axially spaced apart from the cutting blade. Furthermore, the open / close end may be open when the pair of segments is closed. The cutting blade may be disposed between the pair of guide pieces so as to cut the recessed portion of the corrugated tube. Furthermore, the cutting blade may be formed on only one of the pair of segments, or three or more cutting blades may be provided. The length of the cutting blade may be selected as desired depending on the shape of the elongated object to be cut.

[0079] (4) The cutting tool of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and may take various forms. The cutting tool may have multiple pairs of cutting blades, with different blades primarily used depending on the diameter of the elongated body to be cut. Depending on the diameter, some blades may be active in cutting and others may be idle (or less involved in cutting). For example, the cutting blades 111, 111 positions of the cutting blade cartridge 110 of the first embodiment may be combined with the cutting blades 111, 111 positions of the cutting blade cartridge 110-2 of the second embodiment. That is, a first cutting blade may be formed approximately in the middle of each segment, and a second cutting blade may be formed at the distal end of each segment. When cutting an elongated body of a standard diameter, the first cutting blade primarily cuts the elongated body, and the second cutting blade is less involved in cutting. On the other hand, when cutting an elongated body of a diameter larger than the standard diameter, the second cutting blade primarily cuts the elongated body, and the first cutting blade is less involved in cutting. In order to accommodate three types of elongated bodies, namely, small diameter, standard diameter, and large diameter, three pairs of cutting blades may be provided at three positions, namely, a base end position, an intermediate position, and a tip end position.

[0080] (5) The cutting tool of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and may take various forms. For example, the biasing means for biasing the pair of segments in the closing direction may be omitted. Even without the biasing means, the pair of segments can be manually opened and closed.

[0081] (6) The cutting tool of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be used to cut various elongated objects. The elongated object may be a straight pipe with no irregularities, a solid wire, a cable covering, or the like. For example, when cutting a spiral corrugated pipe with the cutting tool 100, it is possible to manually prevent the tool from opening while opening and closing the tool to accommodate the irregularities of the corrugated pipe.

[0082] (7) An additional problem with the conventional cutting tool (Patent Document 1) is that while the conventional cutting tool can cut a long body along its radial direction, it does not take into consideration cutting or splitting a long body in its axial direction, and therefore cannot perform axial splitting of a long body. In contrast, the present invention provides a cutting tool that allows a user to operate the cutting tool while holding the grip with one hand, thereby significantly improving operability in axial splitting of a long body. A cutting tool 400 of a fourth embodiment will now be described as an example.

[0083] 23(a) and 23(b) are perspective views of the cutting tool 400 of this embodiment in a closed state (initial position) and an open state (deformed position). FIGS. 24(a) and 24(b) are plan views of the cutting tool 400 in a closed state and an open state. FIGS. 25(a) and 25(b) are front views of the cutting tool 400 in a closed state and an open state. FIGS. 26(a) and 26(b) are rear and side views of the cutting tool 400 in a closed state. FIGS. 27 and 28 are a CC longitudinal cross-sectional view, a DD transverse cross-sectional view, and an EE cross-sectional view of the cutting tool 400. FIG. 29 is an exploded perspective view of the cutting tool 400.

[0084] The cutting tool 400 of this embodiment includes a pair of movably assembled segments 401, 402, a cutting blade 411 provided on one of the segments 401, 402 for axially cutting the corrugated tube 10, and a spring 409 for biasing the segments 401, 402 in a closing direction. The cutting tool 400 extends from its upper end to its lower end along an axial direction that coincides with the longitudinal direction of the elongated body (corrugated tube 10) to be cut. The cutting tool 400 has an upper portion axially above the segment 401, 402 that functions to cut the corrugated tube 10, and a lower portion axially below the upper portion for user operation. In other words, the cutting blade 411 is provided offset toward one axial end of the segments 401, 402.

[0085] The pair of divided bodies 401, 402 are movably combined. Here, the pair of divided bodies 401, 402 are defined as the first divided body 401 and the second divided body 402. The first divided body 401 and the second divided body 402 each extend along an axial direction (which coincides with the longitudinal direction when in use) and have a base end (fixed end) and a tip end (free end) in plan view. Furthermore, each divided body 401, 402 has an arc shape extending circumferentially from the base end to the tip end in plan view, with the inner concave curved surfaces facing each other.

[0086] The first divided body 401 and the second divided body 402 are rotatably connected to each other at their base ends via a rotation shaft 403. The first divided body 401 and the second divided body 402 have complementary shapes at their base ends and are combined via the rotation shaft 403. The pair of divided bodies 401, 402 have inner surfaces facing each other, forming an arrangement space 404 between them for sandwiching and arranging the corrugated tube 10 to be cut. An opening / closing end 405 that can be opened and closed is formed at the tip of the cutting tool 400 located on the opposite side of the rotation shaft 403 to introduce the corrugated tube 10 into the arrangement space 404.

[0087] A grip portion 407 is provided at the lower portion of each of the segments 401, 402, extending in the axial direction and configured to press the pair of segments 401, 402 in a closing direction. The grip portion 407 is connected to the axially lower side of the upper portion. Each grip portion 407 has a semi-cylindrical shape that is easy for a user to grip with one hand. That is, a user can easily open and close the segments 401, 402 by gripping the grip portion 407 with one hand and opening and closing the hand. The user can also grip the grip portion 407 with one hand and move the hand axially to move the cutting tool 400 in the axial direction.

[0088] Further, a drive unit 406 is provided at the lower portion of each divided body 401, 402. The drive unit 406 is pressed toward the center of the arrangement space 404 to rotate the pair of divided bodies 401, 402 in the opening direction. The drive unit 406 is formed adjacent to the opening / closing end 405 of each divided body 401, 402 and below the cutting blade 411. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 28(b), the drive unit 406 has a guide unit 406a connected to the outer surface of the opening / closing end 405. The guide unit 406a is made up of a plurality of ribs arranged in the axial direction and a flange formed at the lower axial end, and is inclined so that the side closer to the opening / closing end 405 is located on the base end side and the side farther from the opening / closing end 405 is located on the tip end side in a plan view. That is, guide portion 406a can function to guide corrugated tube 10, which is in sliding contact with the surface, to open / closed end 405, and to convert the pressing force of corrugated tube 10 attempting to pass through open / closed end 405 into a force that rotates pair of divided bodies 401, 402 in the opening direction. In addition, the ribs and flanges that make up guide portion 406a can partially fit into recessed portion 11 of corrugated tube 10, and function to prevent longitudinal displacement of corrugated tube 10 abutting guide portion 406a.

[0089] Furthermore, a step 421 is provided on the upper side of the drive unit 406 to abut against the end face of the corrugated tube 10 to position the corrugated tube 10 in the axial direction. The step 421 is located at the boundary between the upper and lower parts of each divided body 401, 402. In particular, the step 421 is connected to the drive unit 406 on the axially upper side and has an abutment surface facing axially downward. On the other hand, the surface opposite the step 421 is open so that the corrugated tube 10 can be placed thereon. In other words, the step 421 functions as an arrangement position indicator that instructs the user on the arrangement position of the end of the elongated body to be placed in the arrangement space 404.

[0090] Furthermore, a position indicator 422 is provided on the outer surface of the pair of divided bodies 401, 402 on the opening / closing end 405 side to visually indicate the axial position of the cutting blade 411. The position indicator 422 is a mark facing the front of the cutting tool 400, and is formed at approximately the same axial position as the cutting blade 411. Note that the position indicator 422 may be formed on only one of the pair of divided bodies 401, 402.

[0091] Furthermore, one or more ridges 423 extending along the axial direction are formed on the inner surfaces of the lower portions of the divided bodies 401, 402 that face the arrangement space 404. The ridges 423 can function to reinforce the divided bodies 401, 402 and also to guide the corrugated tube 10 within the arrangement space 404 to move smoothly relative to one another in the axial direction.

[0092] The cutting blade 411 is provided only on the first divided body 401 of the pair of divided bodies 401, 402. The cutting blade 411 faces the arrangement space 404 in order to cut the corrugated tube 10 in the axial direction. In this embodiment, one cutting blade 411 is arranged in the arrangement space 404 in order to cut and split the corrugated tube 10 to form a slit that is continuous in the longitudinal direction at one location in the circumferential direction. Note that two or more cutting blades may be provided when cutting the corrugated tube 10 into two or more pieces in the axial direction.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 29 , the cutting blade 411 includes a base portion 415 that protrudes inward from the inner surface of the first divided body 401, and a blade portion 416 formed on the edge of the base portion 415 facing the placement space 404. The base portion 415 has a rectangular plate shape and has edges consisting of an upper edge, a lower edge, and a tip edge. The blade portion 416 has a blade that can cut the corrugated tube 10 on the axially lower edge of the base portion 415. In addition, a covering member 417 is provided on the tip of the base portion 415 in the protruding direction. Here, as shown in FIG. 29 , the cutting blade 411 and the covering member 417 are combined to form a cutting blade cartridge 410 that is replaceably fixed to the first divided body 401 with screws. The covering member 417 covers the sharp corners of the blade portion 416, ensuring user safety. That is, the cutting blade 411 is capable of cutting the corrugated tube 10 in the axial direction with the covering member 417 attached because the portion of the cutting portion 416 (excluding the sharp portion) facing downward in the axial direction is exposed. Then, with the cutting portion 416 of the cutting blade 411 biting into the corrugated tube 10, the cutting tool 400 slides relatively in the axial direction of the corrugated tube 10, so that the cutting blade 411 can cut the solid portion of the corrugated tube 10 along the axial direction. In this way, because the tip of the cutting blade 411 is covered with the covering member 417, it is possible to prevent a user from touching the tip of the cutting blade 411 with their hand and getting injured. Depending on the application, the cutting portion 416 may be formed on the upper side and / or the tip of the edge of the base portion 415 of the cutting blade 411.

[0094] Next, with reference to FIGS. 30 to 35 , a method for axially dividing a corrugated tube 10 using the cutting tool 400 of this embodiment will be described. This method generally includes the steps of introducing the corrugated tube 10 into the arrangement space 404 between a pair of segments 401, 402 of the cutting tool 400 and sliding the cutting tool 400 relative to the corrugated tube 10 in the axial direction to cut the corrugated tube 10. This method is primarily intended for forming a longitudinally extending slit in the corrugated tube 10, through which wiring or piping material can be introduced into the corrugated tube 10 or for covering wiring or piping material with the corrugated tube 10. Alternatively, a single corrugated tube 10 may be divided vertically by performing two or more cutting operations on the corrugated tube 10, thereby reducing the volume of the corrugated tube 10 for disposal. The length of the elongated tube is not particularly limited, and a tube whose axial length is shorter than its diameter may also be considered a elongated tube.

[0095] The process of introducing the corrugated tube 10 into the placement space 404 will be described in detail. First, the gripping portion 407 of the cutting tool 400 is loosely gripped with one hand. As shown in FIG. 30 , the cutting tool 400 is brought relatively close to the corrugated tube 10 with the open / closed end 405 of the cutting tool 400 facing the outer surface of the corrugated tube 10. At this time, the longitudinal direction of the corrugated tube 10 and the axial direction of the cutting tool 400 are aligned. Then, the outer surface of the corrugated tube 10 is brought into contact with the guide portion 406a (see FIG. 31(a)), and the end face of the corrugated tube 10 is brought into contact with the step portion 421 (contact surface), thereby performing the relative positioning process of the cutting tool 400 and the corrugated tube 10. The user may perform positioning by visually checking the position indicator 422.

[0096] 31(b), the cutting tool 400 is pressed against the corrugated tube 10 so as to pass the open / closed end 405 through the corrugated tube 10. This pressing force acts on the drive unit 406 of the cutting tool 400, which drives the pair of segments 401, 402 in the opening direction. The pair of segments 401, 402 gradually rotate in the opening direction, and the open / closed end 405 is eventually opened to a width that allows the corrugated tube 10 to pass through. The corrugated tube 10 is placed in the arrangement space 404 between the pair of segments 401, 402 of the cutting tool 400 (a space located axially below the cutting blade 411) via the opened open / closed end 405.

[0097] 32 and 33 show the state in which the corrugated tube 10 is placed in the placement space 404 of the cutting tool 400 for the cutting process. As shown in FIGS. 32 and 33, the cutting tool 400 clamps the corrugated tube 10 between a pair of segments 401 and 402, with the outer surface of the corrugated tube 10 facing forward from the open / closed end 405. In this state, the user can maintain clamping of the corrugated tube 10 between the pair of segments 401 and 402 by tightening their grip on the gripping portion 407. At this time, the cutting blade 411 is located axially above the end of the corrugated tube 10, and the exposed portion of its cutting edge 416 faces the end surface of the corrugated tube 10. Furthermore, the covering member 417 is located radially inward of the wall portion of the corrugated tube 10 in a plan view. When the pair of split bodies 401, 402 are arranged in the arrangement space 404 with the corrugated tube 10 sandwiched between them, they can move axially relative to the corrugated tube 10 so that the corrugated tube 10 penetrates both axial ends of the split bodies 401, 402.

[0098] Next, the cutting tool 400 is slid axially relative to the corrugated tube 10, causing the cutting blade 411 to cut the corrugated tube 10 downward from the end face. FIGS. 34(a) and 34(b) show intermediate steps in the process of axially cutting the corrugated tube 10. As shown in FIGS. 34(a) and 34(b), the cutting blade 411 moves axially downward to cut the wall of the corrugated tube 10, and the covering member 417 moves axially downward through the hollow space of the corrugated tube 10, thereby forming a long slit S in the corrugated tube 10. When the cutting blade 411 reaches the lower end of the corrugated tube 10, the slit S can be formed to introduce wiring and piping materials throughout the entire axial length of the corrugated tube 10. If necessary, the slit S may be formed in a portion of the axial length of the corrugated tube 10. In addition, by changing the shape of the cutting blade 411 and removing the covering member 417 from the cutting blade 411, it is possible to expose the cutting tip at the tip side of the cutting blade 411 and form a slit S only in the central part of the corrugated tube 10 (excluding both ends).

[0099] The cutting tool 400 of this embodiment is configured to be able to cut and split not only the first corrugated tube 10 having the first diameter described above, but also the second corrugated tube 10' having a second diameter larger than the first diameter of the first corrugated tube 10. FIGS. 35(a) and 35(b) are schematic diagrams showing how to cut and split the second corrugated tube 10' having the second diameter. As shown in FIGS. 35(a) and 35(b), by increasing the opening degree of the opening and closing end 405, the second corrugated tube 10' can be placed in the arrangement space 404, and the second corrugated tube 10' can be similarly cut and split in the axial direction. That is, the arrangement space 404 is configured to be able to accommodate the first corrugated tube 10 having the first diameter and the second corrugated tube 10' having a second diameter larger than the first diameter.

[0100] According to the cutting tool 400 of this embodiment, when cutting the elongated body (corrugated tube 10) placed in the arrangement space 404, the user can hold the gripping portion 407 and hold the pair of segments 401, 402 in a closing direction, thereby maintaining the cutting blade 411 biting into the outer surface of the elongated body. The user can then relatively slide the cutting tool 400 in the axial direction of the elongated body, thereby cutting and splitting the elongated body in the axial direction. In other words, compared to conventional cutting tools, the cutting tool 400 of this embodiment allows the user to operate the cutting tool 400 while holding the gripping portion 407 with one hand, significantly improving operability in cutting and splitting the elongated body. Note that the drive unit 406 may be omitted from the cutting tool 400.

[0101] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and can be implemented in various forms within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0102] (Addendum) In accordance with the disclosure herein, the cutting tool may further take the following forms:

[0103] (Form 1) a pair of divided bodies rotatably connected to each other via a rotation shaft extending in the axial direction, forming an arrangement space therebetween for placing the elongated body therebetween, and having opening and closing ends operable to open and close for introducing the elongated body into the arrangement space; a pair of cutting blades provided at the same axial position of each of the pair of divided bodies and facing the arrangement space to cut the elongated body; A cutting tool characterized in that each of the cutting blades is disposed biased toward the opening and closing ends of each of the divided bodies.

[0104] (Form 2) a pair of divided bodies rotatably connected to each other via a rotation shaft extending in the axial direction, forming an arrangement space therebetween for placing the elongated body therebetween, and having opening and closing ends operable to open and close for introducing the elongated body into the arrangement space; a pair of cutting blades provided at the same axial position of each of the pair of divided bodies and facing the arrangement space to cut the elongated body; a cutting blade position adjusting means for adjusting the position of the cutting blade relative to the divided body; Equipped with A cutting tool characterized in that the cutting blade can be positioned at a position biased toward the opening and closing ends of each of the divided bodies by means of a position adjustment means. [Explanation of symbols]

[0105] 100 cutting tools 101 1st division body 102 Second division body 103 Rotating shaft 104 Placement space 105 Opening and Closing End 105a Contact surface 106 Drive unit 106a Guide surface 106b Guide protrusion 107 Gripping part 108 Window 109 Spring (biasing means) 110 Cutting blade cartridge 111 Cutting blade 112 Guide piece 113 Base 113a Blade storage section 114 Cover 411 Cutting blade 415 Circuit Board 416 Blade 417 Covering materials 421 Stepped section (placement position instruction section) 422 Position display section 423 Projection part 10 Corrugated tube 11 Recess 12 Convex part

Claims

1. a pair of divided bodies that are rotatably supported by a rotation shaft extending in the axial direction, that form an arrangement space for placing a corrugated tube as an elongated body between them, and that have opening and closing ends that can be opened and closed to introduce the corrugated tube into the arrangement space; a cutting blade provided on only one of the pair of divided bodies and facing the arrangement space to form a slit that is continuous in the longitudinal direction at one location in the circumferential direction of the corrugated tube, The pair of divided bodies are provided with gripping portions extending in the axial direction and configured to grip the pair of divided bodies in a closing direction, The pair of divided bodies are arranged in the arrangement space so as to sandwich the corrugated tube inside, and are capable of moving relative to the corrugated tube in the axial direction so that the corrugated tube penetrates both axial ends of the divided bodies, A cutting tool characterized in that the cutting blade is configured to be able to form the slit in the corrugated tube by relative axial movement of the corrugated tube when the corrugated tube is placed in the placement space.

2. a pair of divided bodies that are rotatably supported by a rotation shaft extending in the axial direction, that form an arrangement space for placing the elongated body by sandwiching it between them, and that have opening and closing ends that can be opened and closed to introduce the elongated body into the arrangement space; a cutting blade provided on at least one of the pair of divided bodies and facing the arrangement space to cut the elongated body, The pair of divided bodies are provided with gripping portions extending in the axial direction and configured to grip the pair of divided bodies in a closing direction, the pair of divided bodies are arranged in the arrangement space so as to sandwich the elongated body between them, and are capable of moving in the axial direction relative to the elongated body so that the elongated body penetrates both ends of the divided bodies in the axial direction, the inner surfaces of the pair of segments are formed so as to be able to contact the outer surface of the elongated body from the position where the cutting blade is provided over the entire axial direction of the gripping portion, A cutting tool characterized in that the cutting blade is configured to be able to cut the elongated body in the axial direction by relative axial movement of the elongated body while the elongated body is placed in the placement space.

3. a pair of divided bodies that are rotatably supported by a rotation shaft extending in the axial direction, that form an arrangement space for placing the elongated body by sandwiching it between them, and that have opening and closing ends that can be opened and closed to introduce the elongated body into the arrangement space; a drive unit formed on the opening and closing end sides of the pair of divided bodies, the drive unit being pressed by the elongated body entering the arrangement space via the opening and closing ends to rotate the pair of divided bodies in an opening direction; a biasing means for biasing the pair of divided bodies in a closing direction; a cutting blade provided on at least one of the pair of divided bodies and facing the arrangement space to cut the elongated body, The pair of divided bodies are provided with gripping portions extending in an axial direction and configured to grip the pair of divided bodies in a closing direction, and the driving portion is formed on the gripping portion side relative to the cutting blade, the pair of divided bodies are arranged in the arrangement space so as to sandwich the elongated body between them, and are capable of moving relative to the elongated body in the axial direction so that the elongated body penetrates both ends of the divided bodies in the axial direction, A cutting tool characterized in that the cutting blade is configured to be able to cut the elongated body in the axial direction by relative axial movement of the elongated body while the elongated body is placed in the placement space.

4. The cutting tool according to claim 3, characterized in that an arrangement position indicating portion is provided on the opening / closing end side of at least one of the pair of divided bodies to indicate the arrangement position of the end portion of the elongated body to be arranged in the arrangement space.

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