Method and apparatus for uniting a scion to a stock

A grafting method for uniting plant parts including a scion and a stock comprising:

• holding one of said plant parts with a first holder in a position juxtaposed to a die member;
• effecting relative axial and rotational movement between said die member and said first holder;
• cutting a conical projection on an end portion of said one plant part during said relative axial and rotational movement between said die member and said first holder;
• holding the other of said plant parts with a second holder in a position juxtaposed to a drill;
• effecting relative axial and rotational movement between said drill and said second holder;
• drilling a conical hole in an end portion of said other plant part during said relative axial and rotational movement between said drill and said second holder;
• said step of drilling said conical hole comprising rotating said drill at a speed to generate suction to suck up the waste chips during the drilling, said drill being rotated at a speed over 10,000 revolutions per minute;
• axially aligning said one and said other plant parts in a superimposed relationship;
• effecting relative axial movement between said superimposed and axially aligned one and other plant parts;
• and
• inserting said conical projection into said conical hole during said relative axial movement between said one and other plant parts, whereby said one and other plant parts are united.

A method of forming a tapered projection on one plant part which is to be united with another plant part to form a graft comprising:

• holding said one plant part in a holder in a position juxtaposed to a die member;
• effecting simultaneous relative axial and rotational movement between said die member and said holder;
• and
• reciprocating a cutting blade on said die member such that said reciprocating cutting blade contacts said one plant part and effects cutting of said tapered projection on said one plant part during said simultaneous relative axial and rotational movement between said die member and said holder.

A grafting method for uniting plant parts including a scion and a stock comprising:

• holding one of said plant parts with a first holder in a position juxtaposed to a die member;
• effecting relative axial and rotational movement between said die member and said first holder;
• cutting a conical projection on an end portion of said one plant part during said relative axial and rotational movement between said die member and said first holder;
• said step of cutting a conical projection on said end portion of said one plant part comprising rotating said die member about the axis of said one plant part while simultaneously advancing said one plant part axially and also simultaneously progressively cutting said conical projection as said die member rotates and said one plant part axially advances;
• said step of cutting a conical projection on said one plant part further comprising reciprocating a cutting blade relative to said die member while rotating said die member about the axis of said one plant part;
• holding the other of said plant parts with a second holder in a position juxtaposed to a drill;
• effecting relative axial and rotational movement between said drill and said second holder;
• drilling a conical hole in an end portion of said other plant part during said relative axial and rotational movement between said drill and said second holder;
• axially aligning said one and said other plant parts in a superimposed relationship;
• effecting relative axial movement between said superimposed and axially aligned one and other plant parts;
• and
• inserting said conical projection into said conical hole during said relative axial movement between said one and other plant parts, whereby said one and other plant parts are united.

A grafting method for uniting plant parts including a scion and a stock comprising:

• holding one of said plant parts with a first holder in a position juxtaposed to a die member;
• effecting relative axial and rotational movement between said die member and said first holder;
• cutting a conical projection on an end portion of said one plant part during said relative axial and rotational movement between said die member and said first holder;
• said step of cutting a conical projection on said end portion of said one plant part comprising rotating said die member about the axis of said one plant part while simultaneously advancing said one plant part axially and also simultaneously reciprocating a cutting blade on said die member along a reciprocating path disposed at an acute angle relative to the axis of said one plant part;
• holding the other of said plant parts with a second holder in a position juxtaposed to a drill;
• effecting relative axial and rotational movement between said drill and said second holder;
• drilling a conical hole in an end portion of said other plant part during said relative axial and rotational movement between said drill and said second holder;
• axially aligning said one and said other plant parts in a superimposed relationship;
• effecting relative axial movement between said superimposed and axially aligned one and other plant parts;
• and
• inserting said conical projection into said conical hole during said relative axial movement between said one and other plant parts, whereby said one and other plant parts are united.