Cutting tool

Abstract

The objective is to provide a cutting tool that allows for easy cutting at a desired location without damaging the fruit stalk or the fruit itself in unintended places. [Solution] The cutting tool of the present invention comprises a first plate 10 having a hook-shaped pressing portion 11 at its end, a second plate 20 positioned overlapping the first plate 10 and having a blade portion 21 at its end, and a sliding mechanism that allows the second plate 20 to slide relative to the first plate 10 so as to be able to change between a first state in which the blade portion 21 does not intersect with the pressing portion 11 and a second state in which the blade portion 21 intersects with the pressing portion 11, wherein the pressing portion 11 does not have a blade at the intersection with the blade portion 21.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cutting tool that can be particularly suitably used for harvesting fresh fruits and vegetables.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, fresh fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes and oranges have been harvested manually. At the time of harvesting, pruning shears are used to cut the fruit stalk (the stalk and axis part of the fruit). Pruning shears for picking have been proposed for the purpose of improving the harvesting efficiency without requiring skill (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this technique, a hook having a cutting edge on the inner circumference is provided at the tip, the axis part of the fruit is hooked with the hook, and a plate having a cutting edge at the tip is brought close to the hook by the opening and closing operation of the pruning shears, thereby cutting the axis of the hooked part and picking the fruit. Also, a fruit stalk cutting device has been proposed that includes a fixed blade and a tip portion and a movable blade that can be easily inserted deep into the foliage of fruits and vegetables, and cuts the fruit stalk by shearing due to the intersection of the fixed blade and the movable blade (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the above-described techniques, a blade is provided at the tip of all the cutting tools. For this reason, when trying to cut the fruit stalk at an appropriate position, the blade touches during positioning, and there is a problem that the fruit stalk or the fruit itself at an unintended location is damaged.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a cutting tool that can easily cut fruit at a desired position without damaging the fruit stalk or the fruit itself in an unintended location. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve the above objective, the cutting tool of the present invention comprises a first plate having a hook-shaped pressing portion at its end, A second plate is positioned overlapping the first plate and has a blade portion at its end, The device includes a sliding mechanism that allows the second plate to slide relative to the first plate, enabling it to change between a first state in which the blade portion does not intersect with the pressing portion and a second state in which the blade portion intersects with the pressing portion. The pressing portion is characterized in that it does not have a blade at the intersection with the blade portion.

[0007] In the cutting tool of the present invention, the blade portion of the second plate is provided at an angle such that the opening side of the hook shape of the pressing portion protrudes. In the first state described above, it is preferable that the first plate and the second plate are stacked so that the blade portion is not exposed from the hook-shaped portion.

[0008] In the cutting tool of the present invention, it is preferable that the angle at the base of the pressing portion of the first plate is within the range of 45° to 135° with respect to the direction in which it slides due to the sliding mechanism.

[0009] In the cutting tool of the present invention, it is preferable that the angle of the tip of the blade portion is within the range of 30° to 90° with respect to the direction in which it slides due to the sliding mechanism.

[0010] In the cutting tool of the present invention, it is preferable that the rigidity of the first plate is higher than that of the second plate.

[0011] In the cutting tool of the present invention, it is preferable that a cover member is further provided, and the second plate is positioned between the cover member and the first plate. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cutting tool that can easily cut the fruit stalk or the fruit itself at a desired position without damaging the fruit in an unintended location. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a front view showing a cutting tool according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an exploded view showing the main components constituting the cutting tool according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows the process of change from the first state to the second state of the cutting tool. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows the state of operating the cutting tool with the right hand. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows other states in which the cutting tool is being operated. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a magnified view of the area near the retaining portion of the first plate. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a magnified view of the area near the blade of the second plate. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows a modified example of the cutting tool. [Figure 9] Figure 9 shows an example of how the cutting tool is used. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] The cutting tool of the present invention will be described with examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the following examples. Note that the drawings referenced below are schematic, and the ratios of the dimensions of the objects depicted in the drawings may differ from the ratios of the dimensions of actual objects. The ratios of the dimensions of objects may also differ between drawings.

[0015] The cutting tool of the present invention includes a first plate having a pressing portion with a hook shape at an end, a second plate disposed in a state overlapping the first plate and having a blade portion at an end, and a slide mechanism that enables the second plate to slide with respect to the first plate. The slide mechanism is a mechanism that can be changed to a state including a first state in which the blade portion of the second plate does not intersect the pressing portion of the first plate and a second state in which the blade portion intersects the pressing portion. And the pressing portion is characterized by not having a blade at the intersection with the blade portion.

[0016] (First Embodiment) Figures 1 and 2 show the cutting tool of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1(A) is a front view of the cutting tool 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1(B) is a front view of the cutting tool 100 with the first plate 10 removed, and FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the main members constituting the cutting tool 100. The cutting tool 100 includes a first plate 10 and a second plate 20. The end of the first plate 10 is a hook-shaped pressing portion 11 that can catch and insert a fruit stalk or the like when cutting the fruit stalk or the like. The second plate 20 has a blade portion 21 at its end. In FIG. 1, in order to show the state of each member, a state where the second plate 20 slightly protrudes by slightly pressing the pusher 30 is shown. The cutting tool 100 is arranged by overlapping the plates so that the pressing portion 11 of the first plate 10 and the blade portion 21 of the second plate 20 are in the same direction. Then, the fruit stalk or the like to be cut is hooked by the hook of the pressing portion 11. In this state, when the blade portion 21 of the second plate 20 is slid in a direction intersecting the pressing portion 11, the fruit stalk or the like can be cut by the blade portion 21 at the portion hooked by the hook. At this time, since the portion to be cut can be fixed by the pressing portion 11, cutting at a desired position is easy. In the present invention, the pressing portion 11 does not have a blade at the inner portion of the hook shape, that is, the portion intersecting the blade portion 21. Since there is no blade at this portion, when using the cutting tool 100, it is possible to prevent the blade from touching and damaging the fruit stalk or the fruit itself at an unintended location when positioning the cutting location. When harvesting fresh fruits, there may be thick branches and leaves around the fruit to be harvested, and there may be fruit stalks of other fruits or the like in the vicinity. In such a case, it is difficult to see a position suitable as the cutting location, and it is necessary to position while separating the branches and leaves and other fruit stalks. It is difficult to see when the object is at a high place. Even in such a situation, when using the cutting tool of the present invention, it is possible to prevent damage to the fruit stalks other than the collection target even if the hand is inserted into the cutting tool together with the branches and leaves.

[0017] The sliding mechanism in the present invention is a mechanism that slides the second plate 20 so that it can change between a first state in which the blade portion 21 of the second plate 20 does not intersect with the pressing portion 11 of the first plate 10, and a second state in which the blade portion 21 intersects with the pressing portion 11. In this embodiment, a pusher 30 is attached to the second plate 20 to facilitate the sliding operation of the second plate 20. Furthermore, a cover member 40 is provided, and by arranging the second plate 20 between the cover member 40 and the first plate 10 so as to sandwich the blade portion 21, the exposure of the blade portion 21 is reduced, making it safer to handle when carrying it, etc. Preferably, the second plate 20 to which the pusher 30 is attached has a hole in the center, and the pusher 30 has a projection that matches the hole and a fitting portion (recess) that matches the shape of the second plate 20 and fixes the second plate 20. With this structure, the second plate 20 can be easily placed (connected) to the pusher 30, and the second plate can be easily replaced. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the second plate 20 from tilting when the pusher 30 is pressed. In this embodiment, the second plate 20 can be moved toward the pressing portion 11 of the first plate by sliding the pusher 30 relative to the cover member 40.

[0018] Figure 3 shows the process of the cutting tool 100 changing from the first state to the second state. Figures 3(A) and 3(B) are examples of the first state in which the blade portion 21 of the second plate 20 does not intersect with the pressing portion 11 of the first plate 10. Figure 3(A) shows the state in which the blade portion 21 is not visible from the hook-shaped opening. In this state, the hook-shaped opening is not narrowed by the blade portion 21, making it easier to insert the fruit stem, etc., into the hook shape when positioning the cutting location. Also, since the blade tip is not exposed, it is possible to prevent damage to the fruit stem, etc., at the position before the cutting location is determined when positioning the cutting location. Figure 3(B) shows the state in which the pusher 30 is pushed slightly from the state in Figure 3(A), and the tip of the blade portion 21 is slightly exposed. Figure 3(C) shows the state in which the second plate 20 slides further toward the pressing portion 11, and the tip of the blade portion 21 reaches the hook-shaped tip of the pressing portion 11. There is a space S between the pressing part 11 and the blade part 21, into which the fruit stalk or other object to be cut will be inserted. Figure 3(D) shows the second state in which the blade part 21 intersects with the pressing part 11. By sliding the second plate 20 to this position, the fruit stalk or other object is cut.

[0019] Preferably, the blade portion 21 of the second plate 20 is provided at an angle such that the opening side of the hook shape of the pressing portion 11 protrudes. When the blade portion 21 has an angled shape that protrudes from the opening side of the hook, a space is created between the pressing portion 11 and the blade portion 21 into which the fruit stem or the like can get caught when changing from the first state to the second state. Since the fruit stem or the like can be surrounded by the pressing portion 11 and the blade portion 21, when the blade portion 21 is pressed, the fruit stem or the like can be cut efficiently without slipping away. In addition, when the blade portion 21 has an angled shape, cutting can be done by sliding the blade and pulling it, and a clean cut surface can be obtained without pressing and crushing the fruit stem or the like, as can be done when using scissors or the like.

[0020] Preferably, the first plate 10 and the second plate 20 are overlapped so that the slanted tip of the blade portion 21 is not exposed from the hook-shaped portion of the pressing portion 11 in the first state. In the first state, the blade portion 21 is not exposed from the hook-shaped portion, which is preferable because it prevents damage to the fruit stem, etc., when positioning the cutting point, and also ensures safety when touched by hand.

[0021] It is preferable that the cover member 40 be provided with a rail portion 41 to support the sliding movement of the second plate 20. It is also preferable that the cover member 40 be provided with a retaining portion 42 for holding the first plate 10. The presence of the retaining portion maintains a constant distance between the faces of the first plate 10 and the second plate 20, preventing the blade from moving due to bending during cutting (the distance between the blade and the retaining portion widening).

[0022] Furthermore, it is preferable that the cover member 40 is provided with a finger rest 50. Figure 4 shows the state in which the cutting tool 100 is operated with the right hand. As shown in Figure 4(A), the middle finger is placed on one of the finger rests 50, the plunger 30 is held against the palm of the hand, and the hand is moved as if gripping, thereby pushing the plunger 30 against the cover member 40.

[0023] Alternatively, the middle finger can be placed on one finger rest 50 and the index finger on the other finger rest 50, and the plunger 30 can be held against the palm of the hand. Or, the thumb can be placed on the plunger 30, and the plunger 30 can be held and pressed using three fingers. The movement is not limited to pushing the plunger 30; the plunger 30 can also be supported with the palm or thumb, and the finger rest 50 can be moved by pulling it with the fingers. The finger rest 50 can also be pulled with the fingers while pushing the plunger 30. In any case, the movement will be in a direction that reduces the distance between the plunger 30 of the cutting tool 100 and the cover member 40.

[0024] When the pusher 30 is pushed in (the finger rest 50 is pulled), as shown in Figure 4(B), the second plate 20 slides relative to the first plate 10, allowing the fruit stalk inserted into the hook-shaped retaining portion 11 to be cut by the blade portion 21 at the end of the second plate 20. Figure 4 shows the case where the cutting tool 100 is inserted from the right side of the fruit stalk, but this cutting tool can be operated in the same way from the opposite direction. Figure 5 shows other states in which the cutting tool 100 is operated. When used as shown in Figure 5(A), the cutting tool 100 can be inserted from the left side of the fruit stalk and cut. Figure 5(B) shows the state in which the cutting tool 100 is operated with the left hand. The cutting tool of this embodiment can be suitably used with either the right or left hand.

[0025] It is preferable to interpose an elastic member (not shown), such as a spring, between the plunger 30 and the cover member 40. The interposition of the elastic member ensures that, when no force is applied, the blade portion 21 of the second plate 20 does not protrude into the hook-shaped opening. When force is applied, the spring is compressed, enabling cutting, and when the force is released, it returns to its original state. By providing the elastic member to return to its original position after pushing the plunger 30, opening the gripping hand allows the plunger 30, which has been pushed against the cover member 40, to return to its original position from the second state where the blade portion 21 intersects with the pressing portion 11, returning to the first state. Harvesting fruits and vegetables requires cutting large quantities of produce one by one. Therefore, by using the force of the elastic member to return the blade portion 21, the burden on the worker is reduced, and work efficiency is significantly improved. Furthermore, since it can be returned to its original position simply by opening the gripping hand, one-handed operation is easily possible.

[0026] Here, "hook shape" refers to any shape that allows the fruit stem to be hooked and inserted. Figure 6 shows a magnified view of the area around the pressing portion 11 of the first plate 10. Figure 6(A) is an example where the angle θ1 at the base of the pressing portion of the first plate is obtuse, and Figure 6(B) is an example where the angle θ1 at the base of the pressing portion of the first plate is acute. The angle θ1 at the base of the pressing portion of the first plate shown in the figure is preferably within the range of 45° to 135° with respect to the direction of sliding by the sliding mechanism. A wider opening (gap) of the hook shape makes it easier to insert the fruit stem, etc., so it is more preferable that the angle θ1 is within the range of 90° to 135°. As shown in Figure 6(B), even if the angle θ1 is acute, it does not affect the cutting function itself, but if there is a widening portion in the back from the opening of the hook shape, when trying to stop cutting the fruit stem, etc. once it has been inserted, it may get caught at the base of the pressing portion and cannot be removed smoothly. On the other hand, if the angle θ1 is acute, the fruit stalk and other parts inserted into the hook shape can be securely held even on the front side of the hook shape. For example, when the cutting tool 100 is held and operated with the pressing part 11 facing downwards (with the plunger 30 facing upwards), there is an advantage in that it becomes easier to grasp the cutting point. However, if the angle θ1 is too large, if the exposure of the blade part 21 is suppressed in the first state, a long stroke (travel distance) will be required to make the blade part 21 intersect with the pressing part 11 in the second state, thus reducing work efficiency. Also, when the first plate 10 is clamped and secured with the fastening part 42, if the angle θ1 is too large, the distance from the tip of the pressing part 11 to the fastening part 42 will be large. Therefore, depending on the material of the first plate, it may become unstable, such as bending during cutting, so it is preferable that the angle is 135° or less.

[0027] Figure 7 shows a magnified view of the area around the blade portion 21 of the second plate 20. The angle θ2 at the tip of the blade portion 21 is preferably within the range of 30° to 90° with respect to the direction of sliding by the sliding mechanism. It is more preferable that the angle θ2 is within the range of 30° to 60°. The sharper the angle θ2, the easier it is to cut, but if the angle is too sharp, a long stroke (travel distance) is required to slide it until the space is eliminated to achieve the second state described above, which reduces work efficiency.

[0028] It is preferable that the rigidity of the first plate 10 is higher than that of the second plate 20. For example, it is preferable that the first plate 10 is made of a material with higher rigidity than the second plate 20, such as a combination of stainless steel for the first plate 10 and ceramic for the second plate 20. Alternatively, the first plate 10 and the second plate 20 may be made of the same material, such as stainless steel for both, or ceramic for both, in which case it is preferable to change the thickness or other properties so that the rigidity of both plates is in the aforementioned relationship.

[0029] When using stainless steel, it is preferable to use a material that has been treated to prevent rust caused by tree sap, such as by coating. Since the cost would be high if both the first plate 10 and the second plate 20 were made of stainless steel, it is preferable to use ceramic for the second plate 20. It is preferable to use stainless steel for the first plate 10, which requires a pressing force during cutting, as it has high rigidity and is resistant to deformation and breakage, and to use ceramic, a rust-resistant material, for the second plate 20, which needs to maintain its cutting function.

[0030] As described above, the pressing portion 11 does not have a blade on the inner part of the hook shape. However, even if it is not formed as a blade, if the thickness of the part forming the pressing portion 11 is thin, it may have a sharp edge. For this reason, the thickness of the first plate 10 including the pressing portion 11 is preferably in the range of 0.5 mm to 3 mm in the case of stainless steel. The cross-sectional shape of the end of the pressing portion 11 is preferably rectangular.

[0031] The cutting tool of the present invention has a structure that is easy to assemble and disassemble. Therefore, it can be disassembled and cleaned after use. The second plate 20, which functions as a blade, must be sharp, otherwise its cutting function will be reduced. However, since each component of the cutting tool of the present invention can be easily replaced, the cutting function can be maintained by replacing the components.

[0032] The cutting tool 100 can be configured according to the size (thickness) of the object to be cut, including its size, length, the size of the hook-shaped opening, the length of the blade 21, and the stroke length of the slide. The preferred size is to be varied according to the characteristics of the object to be cut. For example, when used for harvesting tomatoes or strawberries, it is preferable to have an opening width of about 10mm to 20mm and a stroke length of about 10mm to 30mm for good operability. The size of the hook of the pressing part 11 of the first plate 10 should be changed to match the diameter of the object to be cut. In this case, the width of the blade 21 should also be changed to match the diameter of the hook. The lengths of the handle components, such as the first plate 10 (pressing part 11), the cover member 40, and the second plate 20, may also be changed. If the object to be cut is difficult to reach, such as being deep inside leaves or at a high place, a longer handle is preferable. Furthermore, it is preferable that the second plate 20 is balanced and held down so that the blade 21 does not move in a wave-like motion in a direction other than the cutting direction during cutting. In the cutting tool 100, the second plate 20 is positioned between the cover member 40 and the first plate 10, allowing it to be pressed down over a wider surface area, thus ensuring stability during cutting. For applications where hard materials are to be cut, a larger pressing area is preferable.

[0033] In the first embodiment, an example was shown in which the finger rest portion 50 is integrally molded with the cover member 40, but these members do not have to be integral and may be formed as separate members.

[0034] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8, the cover member 40 may have a concave-shaped finger rest 43 on its surface (the side where the first plate 10 and the second plate 20 are not located) that allows the user to grip the cutting tool with their fingertips and stabilize it when holding the cutting tool as shown in Figure 5(A). In this case, the user can fix the finger rest 43 with their fingers and press the plunger 30 with their palm or thumb. Alternatively, the user can support the plunger 30 with their palm or thumb and move the finger rest 43 by pulling it with their fingers. The user can also press the plunger 30 while pulling the finger rest 43 with their fingers.

[0035] It is also preferable to provide a projection 60 on the finger rest portion 50 for attaching a support member, and to use the tool with a support member attached. It is preferable to use an elastic material such as a rubber band as the support member. As shown in Figure 9, by attaching a rubber band (support member 70) to the projection 60 and inserting a finger into the space formed by the rubber band and the finger rest portion 50, the cutting tool 100 can be held in place by the finger without falling from the hand even when the hand is opened. This increases the number of tasks that can be easily performed with one hand, thereby improving work efficiency.

[0036] In the first embodiment, an example having a cover member 40 was shown, but the cover member 40 is not required. For example, the cutting tool of the present invention can be made by providing a rail portion and a fastening portion on a first plate 10 having a pressing portion 11, inserting a second plate 20 having a blade portion 21 into the rail portion, and holding it with the fastening portion.

[0037] Conventional cutting methods involve shearing, where two blades pass each other like scissors, which has the problem of easily crushing the cut surface. According to the present invention, it is possible to easily cut at the desired position without damaging the fruit stalk or the fruit itself in unintended places, and a clean cut surface can be obtained. When using scissors, fingers can become sore from rubbing against the part of the scissors where the fingers are inserted, and the palms can become tired from repeated cutting operations, but these problems are eliminated by using the cutting tool of the present invention. In the above, the present invention has been explained mainly using the harvesting of fruits and the like as specific examples of embodiments, but the cutting tool of the present invention is not limited to those described in the specific examples, and various forms are possible. The cutting tool of the present invention can be suitably used for cutting roots, stems, leaves, vines, branches, etc. when cultivating and harvesting vegetables and fruits, and can also be suitably used for cutting objects such as threads, strings, and wires, which were conventionally cut using cutter knives or scissors. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 100 cutting tools 10. The first plate 11. Pressing part 20. Second plate 21 Blade part 30 pushers 40 Cover component 41 Rail section 42 Fastening part 43 Body finger rest 50 Finger rest 60 protrusions 70 Support member

Claims

1. A first plate having a hook-shaped retaining portion at its end, A second plate is positioned overlapping the first plate and has a blade portion at its end, The device includes a sliding mechanism that allows the second plate to slide relative to the first plate, enabling it to change between a first state in which the blade portion does not intersect with the pressing portion and a second state in which the blade portion intersects with the pressing portion. The aforementioned pressing portion does not have a blade at the intersection with the blade portion, in this cutting tool.

2. The blade portion of the second plate is positioned at an angle such that the opening side of the hook shape of the pressing portion protrudes. In the first state, the first plate and the second plate are stacked so that the blade portion is not exposed from the hook-shaped portion, as described in claim 1.

3. The cutting tool according to claim 1, wherein the angle of the base of the retaining portion of the first plate is within the range of 45° to 135° with respect to the direction in which it slides due to the sliding mechanism.

4. The cutting tool according to claim 1, wherein the angle of the tip of the blade portion is within the range of 30° to 90° with respect to the direction in which it slides by the sliding mechanism.

5. The cutting tool according to claim 1, wherein the rigidity of the first plate is higher than the rigidity of the second plate.

6. Furthermore, it has a cover member, The cutting tool according to claim 1, wherein the second plate is disposed between the cover member and the first plate.

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