1 . A cutting apparatus comprising: a roller; and a plurality of cutting features disposed at an outer peripheral surface of the roller, wherein the plurality of cutting features is adapted for cutting filamentous protrusions on a filamentous surface when the roller rotates in contact with the filamentous surface.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cutter has a circular cross section.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the roller is rigid.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the outer peripheral surface is compliant for conforming to the filamentous surface.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of cutting devices comprises opposing cutting edge surfaces forming a sharp-edged aperture in the peripheral surface of the roller.
6 . The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the sharp-edged aperture is a normally closed slit which is configured to open when a portion of the roller deforms by conforming to the filamentous surface and returns to the normally closed configuration when the portion returns to an undeformed condition.
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the open slit engages a filamentous protrusion and severs the filamentous protrusion when returned to the normally closed configuration.
8 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the sharp-edged aperture includes one of a sharp-edged plant leaf, ribbon, wire, metal or metallized or treated synthetic or natural material or fiber.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cutting features comprise cutting edges protruding from the outer peripheral surface.
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the outer peripheral surface includes a treatment to facilitate cutting.
11 . A cutting device comprising: a support member; and a cutting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the support member supports the cutting apparatus for rotation.
12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the roller is a sphere supported for free rotation at a first end of the support member.
13 . The device of claim 11 , further comprising a cutting bar at a first end of the support member in cutting contact with the cutting apparatus.
14 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the support member includes a reservoir in communication with the cutting apparatus.
15 . The device of claim 14 , wherein the reservoir removes cuttings from the cutting apparatus.
16 . The device of claim 12 , further comprising a casing disposed on an outer surface of the support member and displaceable along an axis of the support member.
17 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the roller is a cylindrical roller supported for rotation on a first end of the support member about a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical roller.
18 . The device of claim 17 , wherein the cylindrical roller has a porous body adapted for fluid transport from an inner surface to the outer peripheral surface.
19 . The device of claim 18 , wherein the inner surface forms a cavity to removably accept a reservoir configured for yielding a fluid to the porous body.
20 . The device of claim 17 , further comprising a cutting bar at the first end of the support member in cutting contact with the cylindrical roller.
