Elliptical Motion Cutting Device for Hedge Trimming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cutting devices with rotary plates or shafts and cutting flails face issues such as projecting cut products, limited cutting capacity, and poor cutting quality, leading to inefficient pruning and potential disease development in vegetation.

Innovation Solution

A cutting device with semi-reciprocating movement, featuring a frame with motor means, a counter-blade, guide, presser, and ejector mechanisms, utilizing an elliptical translational motion to ensure clean slicing cuts and debris removal, while maintaining simplicity in manufacture and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If rotary plates or shafts with cutting flails are used, then cutting capacity is improved, but cut products are projected and cutting quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting capacityVSAvoidcutting quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting device is segmented into multiple counter-blades arranged radially around the rotating blade, with each counter-blade contributing to containing and guiding the cut material. This segmentation allows the system to handle larger quantities of vegetation while maintaining cut quality through distributed cutting action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A casing structure acts as an intermediary element between the cutting elements and the external environment. The casing contains the cut products and prevents their projection, while also guiding the vegetation into the cutting zone. This intermediary structure resolves the conflict between high cutting capacity and cut quality by controlling material flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If cutter bar systems with high animation speeds are used, then cutting quality is improved, but cutting capacity is limited to small diameters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting qualityVSAvoidcutting capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from a single-plane cutting action to a three-dimensional cutting zone by arranging counter-blades radially around the rotating blade. This dimensional change allows simultaneous engagement of multiple branches with different diameters and orientations, increasing cutting capacity while maintaining high animation speeds and cut quality through the rotating blade's sharp edges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The rotating blade serves multiple functions: it provides the primary cutting action against each counter-blade, maintains high animation speeds for clean cuts, and its rotation enables engagement with vegetation of varying diameters and positions. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve both high cutting quality and increased cutting capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Quantity of substance

If secateurs systems with large blade dimensions are used, then cutting capacity for large diameters is improved, but animation speed decreases and cutting quality deteriorates due to shattering

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting capacityVSAvoidanimation speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having large, slow-moving blades that crush vegetation, the invention inverts the approach by using a small, high-speed rotating blade that slices through vegetation. The cutting action is inverted from pressure-based crushing to speed-based slicing, where the sharp rotating blade edges cut through branches at high animation speeds, preventing shattering while maintaining capacity for large diameters through multiple counter-blade engagement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Quantity of substance

If high energy is applied for shearing cut, then cutting capacity is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting capacityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The rotating blade continuously engages with multiple counter-blades in sequence, creating a continuous cutting action without idle periods. This continuity maximizes the useful work done by the motor, improving energy efficiency. The system maintains cutting capacity for dense vegetation through continuous multi-point engagement while consuming less energy per unit of vegetation processed compared to reciprocating systems with start-stop motion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The device achieves efficient cutting with reduced energy consumption, prevents debris accumulation, and ensures clean cuts, improving work efficiency and maintaining tool effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

motor means (12) with a motor (M)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

Cutting by shearing requires high energy because it is shearing and not a sharp cut

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectShear stress: Shear Stress

Implementation Method 3

presser means (20)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2918162B1Cutting device with blades and counter-blades, with elliptic motion
Publication Date: 2019.07.03 COUPECO
  • EP2918162B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2918162B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2918162B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~5B

AI summary

The object of the invention is a cutting device with blades and counter-blades, for trimming hedges, comprising a frame (10) intended to be attached to a handling arm, comprising a longitudinal axis XX' and a transverse axis YY' of the frame, motor means (12), a counter-blade (14) integral with said frame (10), a blade (16), blade guiding means (18), characterized in that the motor means (12) comprise a motor M with a motor shaft (28) and the blade guiding means (18) comprise an eccentric assembly, driven in rotation by said motor shaft (28) of the motor M, so as to generate a semi-alternating motion consisting of an elliptical motion.