IE66596B1

IE66596B1 - Cutting apparatus

Info

Publication number: IE66596B1
Application number: IE922631A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Edward Neville Patterson
Original assignee: Edward Neville Patterson
Priority date: 1991-09-03
Filing date: 1992-09-03
Publication date: 1996-01-24
Also published as: GB9118770D0; GB2260692A; GB2260692B; GB9219010D0; IE922631A1

Abstract

A cutting apparatus comprises a rotary cutter (10) mounted at the lower end of an upwardly directed duct (12). The cutter (10) is a roller having a series of blades (14) projecting therefrom. A conveyor (20) is provided for presenting straw to the cutter (10) in a compressed ribbon state and against a stationary cutting edge (11). A hopper (52) is provided to receive cut straw which is exhausted from the duct (12) and which has passed through a screen (42).

Description

This invention relates to cutting apparatus for chopping straw or the like for use in providing bedding for fowl in enclosed areas. Straw is a beneficial medium for use in bedding such that the fowl do not become ‘burnt5 by the liquid acids (which evaporate) when they are lying down on the straw„ However it forms a 'mat9 due to the straw being unable to be cut or chopped finely enough and causes any eggs laid thereon becoming dirtied by lying on the excreta prior to collection. In io view of this, it has been proposed to use wood chippings in place of straw. Problems however arise in that the wood chippings absorb the liquid content in the excreta and the fowl tend to become ’burnt' with the acids and the laid eggs become dirtied. Also, the wood chip content of the wood chip/excreta mixture is not so readily biodegradable as the straw. People who earn a living in fattening up, for example chickens, and in collecting eggs laid by the chickens, wish to maximise their earnings therefrom. Accordingly, they wish to minimise the amount of 3dirty9 eggs since these are for waste and also, to reduce the amount of ‘burning5 to the chickens.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cutting apparatus to chop straw to a size that it obviates or mitigates the problems heretofore..

Accordingly, the present invention is a cutting apparatus comprising a rotary cutter mounted at the lower end of an upwardly directed duct, straw feeding means for presenting the straw to the cutter in a compressed ribbon state and against a stationary cutting edge, the cutter being a roller having a series of blades projecting therefrom, the blades being arranged in a plurality of sets of two or more blades helically spaced about the circumference of the cutter roller with the blade arrangement involving two blades, one each from different sets, coming into engagement simultaneously against the cutting edge during each cutting action, a collecting means to receive cut straw exhausted from the duct, and power means to drive the cutter and the straw feeding means. Six sets of four blades are preferably provided» Preferably, the straw feeding means comprises two first rollers whose axes are parallel with the axis of the cutter, are located substantially one above the other, and are horizontally oriented or substantially so. The axes of the two first rollers are desirably spaced radially from the cutter with mechanical clearance between the circumference of the rollers and A the outer edges of the blades.

The straw feeding means also preferably comprises -3spaced conveyor rollers, one of which is positioned near to the two first rollers» The conveyor is desirably a belt and the upper flight thereof beneficially feeds under a compressing roller adapted to form a nip with the one conveyor roller» A feed plate is beneficially provided between the outlet nip of the compressing roller and the one conveyor roller, and the inlet nip of the two first rollers. A stone trap is desirably provided for gravitational removal of stones and other foreign bodies from the straw, the trap being positioned preferably at the outlet end of the compressing roller and the one conveyor roller» Alternatively, the belt conveyor is extended to be entrained around the lower of the two first rollers with mechanical clearance from the cutter and with the feed plate omitted and the stone trap provided at or adjacent to the other conveyor roller» The outlet of the duct desirably exhausts onto a size screening means with the collecting means provided on the other side to receive cut straw having passed through the size screening means.

Preferably also, the size screening means is a wheel whose axis is horizontally oriented, the wheel Λ having a series of spokes between which a net surface is provided. The wheel is preferably rotatable and is driven by the power means» Straw material which is too -4large to pass through the mesh of the net surface and is rejected preferably falls into a trough provided therebelow.

Conveying means is beneficially provided to convey the rejected material back onto the feeding means. The conveying means is an auger arrangement preferably provided in the trough to move any fallen material to one end thereof from which it is passed into an elongate casing having a worm therein to convey the material for depositing onto the feeding means. Alternatively, the conveying means may comprise angling upwardly the outer ends of the trough to gravitationally cause the rejected material to flow towards a central substantially horizontal portion, a casing communicating with a side of the horizontal portion and housing a rotor to entrain the material in air and to blow the material through a duct onto the feeding means.

Preferably further, the collecting means is a hopper from which the discrete straw material can be dispensed in loose or packed form.

The duct is preferably of substantially angular shape to convey the chopped straw upwardly in a stream of air created by rotation of the cutter and to A discharge it to impinge against the net surface of the screening means with the material smaller than the size of the mesh passing therethrough into the collection means. -5An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:Fig. 1 is a plan view of a-cutting apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus in the direction of arrow A’; and Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a modified apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, a cutting apparatus comprisies a rotary cutter 10 mounted at the lower end of an upwardly directed duct 12 exhausting onto size screening means. The cutter 10 is a roller having a series of blades 14 projecting therefrom. The blades 14 are arranged in six sets of four blades helically spaced about the circumference of the cutter 10 with two blades, one each from a different set, coming into engagement simultaneously against a stationary cutting edge 11.

The duct 12 is of substantially angular shape to convey chopped straw material upwardly in a stream of air created by rotation of the cutter 10 and to discharge it to.one side to impinge against the size screening means with the material passing therethrough into collection means.

Straw feeding means for presenting the straw to -6the cutter 10 in a compressed ribbon state against the cutting edge 11 comprises two first rollers 16, 18 whose axes are parallel with the axis of the cutter 10 and are horizontally oriented. The axes of the two first rollers are positioned substantially one above the other. The cutting edge 11 is mounted adjacent to the periphery of the top of the two first rollers 16, 18. The axes of the two first rollers 16, 18 are spaced radially from the cutter 10 with mechanical clearance between the circumference of the rollers 1-6, 18 and the outer edges of the blades 14. An endless conveyor 20, ie. a belt, is entrained around two horizontally spaced conveyor rollers 22, 24. One roller 22 is positioned near to the two first rollers 16, 18. The upper flight of the conveyor 20 feeds under a compressing roller 26 adapted to form a nip with the one roller 22. On each lateral side of the conveyor 20 a side wall 28 is provided. The compressing roller 26 is low friction rotatable on an axle carried by the lower ends of two arms 30 with the upper ends of which journalled in bearings 32 mounted on top of the respective side walls 28.

A feed plate 34 is provided between the outlet nip of the compressing roller 26 and the one roller 22, and the inlet nip of the two first rollers 16, 18 to convey the compressed ribbon of straw. A stone trap is provided for gravitational removal of stones and other foreign bodies from the straw, the trap being a gap 36 -Ίpositioned, as shown, at the outlet end of the compressing roller 26 and the one roller 22.

The size screening means is a wheel 38 whose axis is horizontally oriented. The wheel 38 has a series of spokes 40 between which a net surface 42 is provided. Straw material which is too large to pass through the mesh of the net surface 42 falls into a trough 44 provided therebelow. Conveying means in the form of an auger 46 arrangement is provided in the trough 44 to move any fallen material to one end thereof from which it is passed into an elongate casing 48 having a worm 50 therein to convey the material for depositing onto the feed plate 34.

The collecting means is to receive straw having passed through the net surface 42 of the size screening means. The collecting means is a hopper 52 from which the discrete straw material can be dispensed in loose or packed form.

Power means is provided to drive the conveyor 20, counter-rotate the first rollers 16, 18, rotate the conveyor rollers 22, 24, rotate the cutter 10, rotate the wheel 38 and the auger 46 and worm 50. The power means and necessary gearing are omitted from the drawings. The compressing roller 26 is friction rotated by the passage of straw or by the rotation-of the conveyor 20 prior to the passage of straw. _ The components of the feeding means are mounted on an elongate stand structure (not shown).

In use, a hale or roll of straw is loosened and teased out to present a substantially even flow of . straw material along the conveyor and to try to remove any stones or other foreign weighted matter therefrom and is fed along the conveyor 20. The depth of teased straw fed therealong is about the same depth as the side walls 28. The compressing roller 26 compresses the io thickness to that of a ribbon which is fed out through the nip onto the feed plate 34 with any remaining stones being allowed to fall through the stone trap. The ribbon of straw passes through the nip between the first rollers 16, 18 and is presented to the blades 14 against the cutting edge 11. The blades 14 chop the straw presented to them and the chopped straw is entrained in a flow of air up through the duct 12 to be blown against the net surface 42 as the wheel 38 is rotating. The straw material passing through the net surface 42 passes into the hopper 52 while the other material passes down the front of the wheel 38 and into the trough 44. This material is then fed along the trough 44 by the auger 46 to one end thereof whereat the Λ bottom of the casing 48 is positioned with its worm 50 to fed the rejected material thereup to be discharged on top of the feed plate 34 and any straw passing thereover for to be rechopped. -9In a modified embodiment shown in Fig. 3 in which like parts are denoted by like numerals, the conveyor 20 is extended to be entrained around the lower of the two first rollers 16, 18 with mechanical clearance from the cutter 10. The feed plate is omitted and thestone trap is provided at or adjacent to theother conveyor roller 24. Conveyor roller 22 still remains to form a nip with the compressing roller 26.

The stone trap may be provided as an integral part of a threshing machine placed in front of the feeding means.

A bagging machine (not shown) is provided communicating with the outlet of the collecting means to bag compressed blocks of cut straw material.

In a first modification, the conveying means comprises angling upwardly the outer ends of the trough 44A to gravitationally cause the rejected material to flow towards a central substantially horizontal portion, a casing 56 communicating with a side of the horizontal portion and housing a rotor 58 to entrain the material in air and to blow the material through a duct 60 onto the feeding means.

In a second modification, the size screening means is an inclined rectangular screen mounted over the collecting hopper.

Variations and other modifications can be made -10without departing frt»m the scope of the invention as described above and as claimed hereinafter.

CLAIMS : 1. A cutting apparatus comprising a rotary cutter

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A cutting apparatus comprising a rotary cutter mounted at the lower end of an upwardly directed duct, straw feeding means for presenting the straw to the cutter in a compressed ribbon state against a stationary cutting edge, the cutter being a roller having a series of blades projecting therefrom, the blades being arranged in a plurality of sets of two or more blades helically spaced about the circumference of the cutter roller with the blade arrangement involving two blades, ' one each from different sets, coming into engagement simultaneously against the cutting edge during each cutting action, a collecting means to receive cut straw exhausted from the duct, and power means to drive the cutter and the straw feeding means.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein six sets of four blades are provided.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the straw feeding means comprises two first rollers whose ' λ axes are parallel with the axis of the cutter, are located substantially one above the other, and are horizontally oriented or substantially so.

4. -Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the axes of the two first rollers are spaced radially from the cutter with mechanical clearance between the circumference of the rollers and the outer edges of the 5 blades»

5. » Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the straw feeding means comprises an endless conveyor entrained around two spaced conveyor rollers, one of which is positioned near to the two 10 first rollers»

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the conveyor is a belt and the upper flight thereof feeds under a compressing roller adapted to form a nip with the one conveyor roller. 15

7. » Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, wherein a feed plate is provided between the outlet nip of the compressing roller and the one conveyor roller, and the inlet nip of the two first rollers.

8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein a 20 stone trap is provided for gravitational removal of stones and other foreign bodies from the straw.

9. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the stone trap is positioned at the outlet and of the compressing roller and the one conveyor roller»

10. » Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the belt conveyor is extended to be entrained around the lower of the two first rollers with mechanical clearance from the cutter and a stone trap is provided at or adjacent to the other conveyor roller»

11. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the conveyor is a belt and the upper flight thereof feeds under a compressing roller adapted to form a nip with the one conveyor roller.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the outlet of the duct exhausts onto a size screening means with the collecting means provided on the other side to receive cut straw having passed through the size screening means.

13. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the size screening means is a wheel whose axis is. horizontally oriented, the wheel having a series of spokes between which a net surface is provided.

14. 14. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the wheel is rotatable and is driven by the power means.

15. Apparatus as claimed in'Claim 12, 13 or 14, wherein a trough is provided below and in front of the 5 wheel to receive rejected straw material which is too large to pass through the mesh of the net surface.

16. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 15, wherein conveying means is provided to convey any rejected material in the trough back onto the feeding means. 10

17. Apparatus as claimed in Claim IS, wherein the conveying means is an auger arrangement provided in the trough to move any fallen material to one end thereof from which it is passed into an elongate casing having a worm therein to convey the material for depositing onto the feeding means.

18. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the conveying means comprises angling upwardly the outer ends of the trough to gravitationally cause the rejected material to flow towards a central substantially 20 horizontal portion, a casing communicating with a side of the horizontal portion and housing a rotor to entrain the material in air and to blow the material through a duct onto the feeding means.

19. » Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the collecting means is a hopper from which the discrete straw material is dispensable in loose or packed form.

20. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 12 to 19, wherein the duct is of substantially angular shape to convey the chopped straw upwardly in a stream of air created by rotation of the cutter and to discharge it to one side to impinge against the net surface of the screening means with the material smaller than the size ’ of the mesh passing therethrough into the collection means.

21. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 19, wherein a bagging machine is provided communicating with the outlet of the collecting means.

22. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

23. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.