Field of Invention

The present invention relates generally to a cutting device, more particularly, a cutter used for the purpose of cutting oil palm fronds and fresh fruit bunches (FFB).

Background of the Invention

Oil palms are well known in various countries particularly in South East Asian countries. There are several tasks which are performed on a frequent basis throughout the growth of the oil palm, these tasks include trimming the fronds for pruning purposes, and harvesting fresh fruit bunches (FFB). Such tasks may be performed manually with a standard apparatus such as a chisel and sickle for trimming and cutting fronds, and for harvesting the fruits as well. Alternatively, mechanized methods may be implemented mainly to accelerate the processes in addition to minimize the manpower used for such considerably arduous and time consuming tasks. A few of the prominent solutions at present in relation to the use of cutters or cutting tools is the utilization of high pitched technology equipped tools or machineries, for instance the usage of chainsaw or a rotating disc accordingly secured to also a boom or pole. However, such devices have been reported to be ineffective, whereby one of the main drawbacks is the possibility of such devices to be trapped or caught in between fronds during cutting and thus may result to damaging the cutter or the cutter blade of the devices, particularly in the event that there are big sized fronds to be removed. Further to this, friction seems to cause inconvenience to users has frequent wear and tear to metal which eventually would affect durability, and resulting to frequent replacement of parts and components which may not be cost effective.

Further, the existing devices and methods need improvement as the existence of vibration generated as a result of the cutting action acts offset to the centre of cutting force. In view of the above there is a continuing need in the art to provide an improved and cost effective cutting tool solution having operational ease.

Summary of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention provides cutting device comprising a sickle, a sleeve holding the sickle, a bended rod connected to the sleeve wherein the sleeve moves in longitudinal direction when the bended rod oscillates and a gear mechanism rotating to oscillate the bended rod for pushing the sleeve to operate the sickle with up and down movements .

In an advantageous aspect the present invention provide a less vibration cutting head that uses a bended connecting- rod so that the line of action of the pole is in-line with the cutting action which could minimize the development of vibration of the whole tool.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. la shows a cutting device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. lb shows exploded view of the cutting device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. lc shows the cutting device with exploded view of a gear mechanism of the cutting device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows internal parts of the gear mechanism of the cutting device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 shows exploded view of the gear mechanism of the cutting device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

De-bailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying in drawings.

Various embodiments of the present invention provide a cutting device for cutting oil palm fronds and fresh fruit bunches (FFB) .

Referring to Figure 1, 2 and 3 a cutting device 100 is provided for cutting oil palm fronds and fresh fruit bunches in an embodiment of the present invention. The device includes a sickle (110); a sickle sleeve (120), a slider (170), a bended connecting-rod (154) and a gear mechanism (150). The gear mechanism is accommodated between an upper casing (140) and a lower casing (160).

The sleeve (130) holds the sickle (110), the bended rod (154) is connected to the sleeve (120) wherein the sleeve (120) moves in longitudinal direction when the bended rod (154) oscillates and a gear mechanism (150) rotating to oscillate the bended rod (154) for pushing the sleeve (120) to operate the sickle (110) with up and down movements.

In an embodiment, as shown in Fig la, lb, and lc, the sickle (110) is clamped to the sickle sleeve (120) which makes the sickle to be held firmly. The sickle sleeve (120) is connected to a bended con-rod (154) by a pin where the sickle sleeve can move in the longitudinal direction when the con-rod is oscillating. The sickle sleeve (120) is moving in the slider (170) that guides the sickle sleeve (120) to move only in the longitudinal direction.

This concept avoids the sickle sleeve (120) from derailing to left or right which could develop extra friction which could generate a higher wear and tear. Referring to Fig. 2 & 3, the gear mechanism (150) of the cutting device (100) is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the gear mechanism (150) is a bevel gear mechanism. The gear mechanism (150) includes a gear assembly (152), a first casing (156) having an extended longitudinal protrusion (156 a), the protrusion (156a) devised to rest on a second casing (158) . The gear assembly (152) includes a pair of bearing members (152a, 152d) , a washer (152b) and a first gear (152c) placed as shown in Fig. 2. The first gear (152 c) is connected to a second gear (180) for rotational movement.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cutting device (100) operates when the gear mechanism (150) rotates. As the gear mechanism (150) rotates, it makes the connecting-rod to oscillate which subsequently pushes the sickle sleeve (120) and the sickle (110) to move in longitudinal direction. The very fast rotational movement of the gears (152c, 180) results in up and down movement of the sickle sleeve (120) which carries the sickle (110) . The revolution of the gears (152c, 180) is directly proportional to the up-down movement of the sickle (110) . This high speed of up-down movement then enables the sickle (110) to perform the cutting.

The connection-rod (154) has been designed to have a bend with the main objective to ensure the direction of cutting action is exactly on the X - X axis as shown in Figure la (side view) . In-line cutting action would eliminate the development of torque around the X - X axis, which could reduce the development of vibration during cutting.

Using the specially designed sickle sleeve (120), dismantling and installing the sickle can or chisel can be done much easier and faster.

In an embodiment the bended rod enables a straight cutting action for eliminating torque and thereby minimizing development of vibration.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the sickle is a C shaped sickle.

In an embodiment the cutting device includes a slider for guiding the sleeve to move in longitudinal direction.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the rotating of the gear mechanism is directly proportional to the up and down movement of the sickle.

In an embodiment, the sleeve is devised to hold the sickle such that installing and dismantling of sickle is easier.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cutting device is driven by a power source such as a petrol engine, a diesel engine, an electrical motor, a hydraulic engine, pneumatic or battery.