JP2000342070A - Seedling box separation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the subject system capable of not only delivering/feeding seedling boxes one by one while separating them sequentially from the lowermost tier side but also delivering/feeding them onto a box conveyor, or the like, without applying impact thereto at all, and compatible with various seedling boxes differing in longer side outer dimension from one another as well. SOLUTION: This system is made up of a support mechanism 12 so working as to detachably seize the 2nd tier seedling box X among those boxes X stacked in several tiers and then lift those boxes on and after the 2nd tier and separate them from the box X on the lowermost, tier, a lift mechanism 13 supporting the support mechanism 12 in a vertically movable way, and a detective means 14 so working as to detect a point when the box X on the lowermost tier thus separated is carried out and points when the support mechanism 12 is lowered to the lowermost limit and raised to the uppermost limit and thereby control actuation changeover of the lift mechanism 13; thereby enabling seedling boxes X to be delivered/fed one by one onto a box conveyor 1, or the like, while separating them sequentially from the lowermost tier side without applying impact, or the like, at all to the boxes X on and after the 2nd tier lifted for separating them from the box X on the lowermost tier.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a seedling box separating apparatus for sequentially separating seedlings one by one from a lowermost seedling box stacked in several stages. Empty seedling boxes carried in a state of being stacked in the box supply section of the seedling sowing machine to be carried out in sequence, or in a state of being stacked in the box supply section of the seedling box aligning machine which is arranged while being aligned on the ground such as a greenhouse. The present invention relates to an improvement in a seedling box separation device used for automatically transferring and feeding a germinated seedling box that has been carried in one by one from a lowermost side to a box transport conveyor or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a seedling box separating apparatus that automatically transfers a seedling box from a lowermost seedling box stacked in several stages to a box conveyor or the like while separating the seedling boxes one by one (for example, see, for example). And JP-A-1-133819.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, the lowermost seedling box stacked in several stages is locked by the locking portion of the lower link, and the entire seedling box is held at once. At the same time, the second seedling box is locked by the upper link locking part, and then the lower link locking part is unlocked, and only the lowermost seedling box falls onto the box transport conveyor. Since the seedling boxes are configured to be supplied one by one to the box transport conveyor, the falling impact at the time of handing over causes the soil covering the seeds to be violated and jumps out of the seedling box to expose the seeds. And other problems occur. Also, in a seedling box aligning machine or the like which arranges germinated (emerged) seedling boxes while arranging them on the ground of a greenhouse or the like, problems such as the buds being exposed from the covering soil due to a drop impact or jumping out of the seedling box with the covering soil occur. And the improvement was strongly demanded.

[0004] Also, there is known a seedling box separating device configured to supply a seedling box to a box transport conveyor without giving an impact to the seedling box. However, in such a conventional apparatus, an elevating conveyor section is provided at the starting end of the box conveying conveyor so as to be able to ascend and descend, and the movement of the elevating conveyor section and the second-stage seedling box are locked. Movement of the rotatable locking member for supporting the seedling boxes on and after the first step, and sending the lowest seedling box separated from the second step and received and received on the elevating conveyor section to the box transport conveyor By the movement with the mechanism
Since it is configured to deliver and supply the seedling boxes one by one to the box transport conveyor while separating them one by one from the bottom seedling box in order, a delivery mechanism that sends out the bottom seedling boxes delivered to the elevating conveyor part to the box transport conveyor is provided. This increases the complexity of the entire apparatus due to the necessity and the necessity of separately providing an elevating conveyor unit to prevent impact. In addition, like a seedling box aligning machine known in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-266159, a movable or self-propelled type in which seedling boxes are aligned one by one on the ground in a greenhouse is structurally required. Since it cannot be used, it is poorly feasible as a seedling box separation device for a seedling box sorting machine.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional situation.
Seedlings can be delivered and supplied one by one while being separated from the bottom side in order, and can be delivered and supplied to the box transport conveyor without giving any impact to the seedling boxes when they are delivered to the box transport conveyor or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide a seedling box separating device which is effective for a box separating device, particularly a seedling box aligning machine, and which can cope with various seedling boxes having different long side outside dimensions.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to attain the object, the present invention relates to a seedling box separating apparatus for sequentially separating individual seedlings one by one from a lowermost seedling box stacked in several stages, comprising: From the seedling box of the lowermost row, and approaching the seedling box side of the second row to lock the seedling box so that it can be disengaged and detached from the lowermost seedling box. Lifting the seedling boxes of the second and subsequent stages, from the seedling box before or almost simultaneously with being lowered to the lower limit so as to return the seedling box to be lifted and supported to the lowering position after the separated lowermost seedling box is carried out A support mechanism that moves apart to release the locked state, a lifting mechanism that moves this support mechanism up and down to the lower limit and the upper limit, and a separated bottom seedling box At the time of unloading, when the support mechanism is moved up and down to the lower limit and the upper limit Each detected, and subject matter to become is composed of a detection means for controlling the operation switching of the lifting mechanism. The detecting means comprises a carry-out sensor, a lower limit sensor, and an upper limit sensor, and controls the switching of the operation of the elevating mechanism by each of the sensors, and switches the support mechanism to the lower limit and the upper limit to move up and down. It is to become.

The above-mentioned support mechanism is supported so as to be able to swing and move up and down so as to approach and separate from the seedling box, and to lock the short side edge of the seedling box in a detachable manner. A support member having a claw portion, and the support member is moved closer to the second-stage seedling box from the time when the support member has passed through the lowermost seedling box in the process of ascending from the lower limit, and A guide member for guiding the support member so as to lock the locking claw portion on the peripheral portion; and supporting the support member on the guide member side so that the support member rises along the vertical cross-sectional shape of the guide member. The gist is that the spring member is configured to bias the member, and the spring force of the spring member is set to be smaller than the load of the seedling box. The above-mentioned load of the seedling box means an empty seedling box, and a seedling box such as a seedling box in which flooring, seeding, and covering have been performed, and a bud has germinated. That is, the spring force of the spring member is arbitrarily set according to the purpose of use.

The elevating mechanism comprises a link mechanism capable of swinging and elevating the support member of the support mechanism, and a drive motor with a speed reducer for transmitting motion to the link mechanism. A link mechanism rotatably connects the lower end of the lower link to the upper end of the lower link rotatably supporting the upper end of the support member, and the upper end of the lower link is rotatable between the vertical frames on both sides of the machine frame. An upper link which is non-rotatably connected to a horizontally mounted rotation support shaft and makes a lower end swing by rotation of the rotation support shaft, and a rotation support shaft protruding from both vertical frames on both sides of the device frame. A rotating link having a lower end non-rotatably connected to one end, and a rotatable disk having an upper end rotatably connected to the upper end of the rotating link and the other end rotating by the driving motor; Startup linked to each rotatable And a tank, and the rotary spindle is forward or reverse at a predetermined rotation angle range via the pivot link by the movement in the lateral direction of the activation link caused by the rotation of the rotating disk,
The support member is configured to be moved up and down to an ascending limit and a descending limit. In other words, the link mechanism is configured to convert the rotational motion of the turntable by the drive motor into a vertical motion for moving the support member up and down.

[0009] In addition, the frame is set up at intervals corresponding to the outside dimension of the long side of the seedling box, and is mounted on the vertical frames on both sides of the machine frame on which the support mechanism and the elevating mechanism are provided, in accordance with the outside dimension of the long side. A width adjuster mechanism that changes the opening width of the box entrance between the vertical frames on both sides is arranged, and furthermore, a claw adjuster that changes the locking interval at which the seedling box can be freely disengaged by the support mechanism according to the outside dimension of the long side A mechanism is arranged so that it can be carried in a state where it is centered in the apparatus machine frame by the width adjuster mechanism in accordance with the long side outside dimensions of the various seedling boxes having different long side outside dimensions. The support claw of the support member constituting the support mechanism in which the lock interval is varied by the claw adjuster mechanism can be sequentially separated one by one from the lowermost stage. Also, the width adjuster mechanism is
A variable member rotatably disposed on both vertical frames on both sides of the device frame, and a variable lever configured to rotate the variable member to adjust the opening width of the box carrying entrance to the outside dimension of the long side of the seedling box. It is becoming. Further, a supporting member constituting the supporting mechanism is supported by the lifting mechanism so as to be swingable and vertically movable, and an upper end pivotally rotatably pivotally mounted on a surface side of the first member. And a second member having a locking claw portion at a lower end, which is pivotally supported by a fulcrum, and a pivot portion between the second member and the first member, which is pivotally connected to the first member. A claw adjuster mechanism is provided for changing the locking interval of the seedling box by the locking claw portion of the second member, and the claw adjuster mechanism is disposed between the second member and the first member so as to be vertically movable. It comprises a wedge-shaped variable member, and a fastening member mounted on the first member side and holding the variable member at various positions in the vertical direction.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 7 show the seedling box separating apparatus A according to claims 1 to 4 incorporated in a seedling box aligning machine B for arranging germinated seedling boxes X while aligning them on the ground G of a greenhouse or the like. 1 shows an example of an embodiment, and a seedling box aligning machine B
Is configured so that seedling boxes X stacked and carried in several stages can be automatically transferred and supplied to the box conveying conveyor 1 while being sequentially separated one by one from the lowermost stage on the conveying start end side of the box conveying conveyor 1. Be done.

The seedling box aligning machine B comprises a self-propelled traveling vehicle 2;
The traveling vehicle 2 is made up of a box conveyor 1 that is installed in a forwardly inclined shape, and is separated one by one by a seedling box separating device A while the traveling vehicle 2 is moved backward and straight at a predetermined speed by driving wheels 3. Each seedling box X automatically delivered and supplied to the box conveying conveyor 1 is sequentially conveyed to the conveying end side,
It is configured such that the seedling boxes X are sent out one by one from the transfer end to the ground G, and the seedling boxes X are arranged in a line on the ground G.

The traveling vehicle 2 is provided with driving wheels 3 on the rear side of the body frame 2-1 in a state where the driving wheels 3 are connected to a driving motor 4 with a speed reducer by a suitable connecting means 5 such as a belt or a chain. On the side, a direction changing wheel 6 is provided so as to be able to swing and swing, and is configured to be self-propelled at a predetermined speed in a backward or forward direction by a driving wheel 3.

Although not shown, the drive motor 4
The driving state of the traveling vehicle 2 is driven by the driving motor 4 and the operator pushes or pulls the vehicle 2 by switching or disconnecting the connection state between the driving wheel 3 and the driving wheel 3 by the above-mentioned connecting means 5 by a switching clutch or other means. Of course, it is also possible to make it possible to run free. For example, when the seedling box aligning machine is moved from the storage location to the greenhouse, the drive wheels are in a free state, and the worker manually moves the seedling box aligning machine by grasping the operation handle 7 and pushing or pulling. It is, of course, possible to do so.

The box conveying conveyor 1 is installed at a desired inclination angle toward the ground G from the horizontal portion with the conveying start end positioned on the traveling vehicle 2 being horizontal, and the traveling vehicle 1 The seedling box X is transported sequentially from the transport start end to the transport end side at a speed synchronized with the retreat speed, and is sent out from the transport end to the ground G one by one.
The left and right parallel frame members 1-1 extending in the front-rear direction at the same width as or wider than the long side width of the endless belt 1-2 between the left and right frame members 1-1. And the seedling box X is conveyed from the conveyance start end side of the traveling vehicle 2 to the conveyance end side which is in contact with or close to the ground G by the power from the drive motor 8 with the speed reducer. It is configured to feed out one sheet at a time from the end to the ground G.

The belt 1-2 is wound and stretched three times on a transport path from the transport start end side to the transport end side toward the transport end side. Two are wound around the road. By changing the winding and stretching form of the belt 1-2 in this manner, the box transport conveyor 1 is folded obliquely upward with the intermediate portion as a fulcrum, with the transport end side toward the transport start end side. Accordingly, when the seedling box aligning machine B is moved to a greenhouse or the like, or to a storage location, the transport end portion of the box transport conveyor 1 is not caught on the ground G or the like. Box transport conveyor 1
Is provided with a tilting plate 10 which is constantly urged upward by a spring material 9. The tilting plate 10 is provided with a seedling box X.
When the load on the seedling box is released, it springs upward by the spring material 9 when the load on the seedling box is released.

The box conveying speed of the box conveying conveyor 1 and the retreat speed of the traveling vehicle 2 are set so as to be synchronized with each other. Seedling boxes X sequentially transported by
However, as the traveling vehicle 2 moves backward, the traveling vehicles 2 are regularly sent out in a line in an aligned state adjacent to each other on the ground G. Although not shown, a seedling box sensor including a limit switch, an optical sensor, and the like for detecting the passage of the seedling box X is provided on the transport terminal side of the box transporting conveyor 1 and the like. The box sensor activates the drive motor 4 of the traveling vehicle 2 when the seedling box X conveyed to the conveyance end of the box conveyance conveyor 1 passes, or stops the drive motor 4 when the passage of the seedling box X is interrupted. It serves to electrically control the self-propelled operation of the traveling vehicle 2 such as to make the vehicle run. The seedling box sensor is connected to a drive motor 13 of a raising / lowering mechanism 13 of the seedling box separating device A, which will be described later.
-2, and also serves to control the operation of the seedling box separation device A such as stopping the drive motor 13-2 when the passage of the seedling box X is interrupted as described above. Be done.

The operation ON and OFF of the drive motor 4 of the traveling vehicle 2 and the drive motor 8 of the box transport conveyor 1 can be separately performed by a switch operation of a control box 11 provided with an operation handle 7. Has become
In addition, the drive speeds thereof can be finely adjusted by operating the volume.

The seedling box separation device A is arranged such that the seedling boxes X, which are carried in a state of being stacked in several stages, are placed one by one from the bottom at the starting end of the horizontal box conveying conveyor 1. It serves to deliver and supply the box to the box transport conveyor 1 while being separated, and engages in the second stage of the seedling box X so as to be removably engaged and supports the second and subsequent seedling boxes X so as to be able to move up and down. A supporting mechanism 12 to be formed, an elevating mechanism 13 performing a movement to support the supporting mechanism 12 so as to be able to move up and down to a lower limit and an ascending limit,
The time when the lowermost seedling box X separated from the second stage is carried out from the transport start end side to the transport end side by the box transport conveyor 1, and a support member 12-1 described later of the support mechanism 12
And a detecting means 14 for detecting a time point at which the motor is moved up and down to a lower limit and an upper limit, respectively, and controlling the operation switching timing of a drive motor 13-2 of the lifting mechanism 13 which will be described later.

The support mechanism 12 is a vertical frame 15-1 on both sides of an apparatus frame 15 which is set up on the transport start end side of the box transport conveyor 1.
A support member is disposed so as to be swingably and vertically movable by a link mechanism 13-1 of the lifting mechanism 13 which will be described later, and is adapted to engage and disengage the short side edge portion 16 of the seedling box X. 12-1 and, when the support member 12-1 is moved up and down, a later-described locking claw portion 17 of the support member 12-1 is brought close to the short side edge portion 16 of the seedling box X so that the short side edge portion 16
Guide member for guiding the support member 12-1 so as to lock
12-2, and further includes a spring member 19 for urging the support member 12-1 toward the guide member 12-2 (see FIG. 5).

The support member 12-1 has a plate shape having an appropriate width smaller than the short side dimension of the seedling box X, and has an upper end bent outward and a lower end portion 16 of the seedling box X at the lower end. A locking claw portion 17 for locking so as to support it from below is provided inwardly, and a guide member is provided on the rear surface when ascending from the lower limit standby position.
A guide wheel 18 is provided for rolling along the vertical sectional shape of 12-2 (see FIGS. 4 to 6).

The guide member 12-2 is a horizontal frame on both sides of the machine frame 15.
15-2 is fixedly arranged, without contacting the short side edge 16 of the seedling box X of the lowermost stage in the process of raising the support member 12-1 from the lower limit standby position to the upper limit by the elevating mechanism 13, After passing through the lowermost seedling box X, it is approached to the second seedling box X side, and the short side edge 16 of the seedling box X is engaged with the locking claw 17 from below.
7 (b), and the vertical cross-sectional shape guiding the support member 12-1 so that the second and subsequent seedling boxes X can be lifted and supported by the support member 12-1 is formed. It is bent and formed into a substantially crank shape (the state shown in FIGS. 4 and 7C).

The spring member 19 is composed of a tension spring or the like, and urges the support member 12-1 toward the guide member 12-2. In particular, during the process of raising the support member 12-1 from the lower limit standby position, the support member 12-1 is raised. The support member 12-1 serves to pull and urge the support member 12-1 toward the guide member 12-2 so that -1 rises along the above-described longitudinal sectional shape of the guide member 12-2. In other words, the support member 12-1 is pulled toward the guide member 12-2 so as not to approach the seedling box X side until it passes through the seedling box X at the lowermost stage when ascending from the descent limit standby position. Due to the vertical cross-sectional shape of the contact guide member 12-2 that has passed through the lower seedling box X, it serves to urge the support member 12-1 toward the guide member 12-2 so as to approach the seedling box X side. It is stretched from both sides of the support member 12-1 to both side horizontal frames 15-2 behind (see FIG. 5). or,
The spring force of the spring member 19 depends on the load of the seedling box X,
It is preferable that the load is set to be smaller than the load of the seedling box X after germination after seeding and covering. That is, the second seedling box X separated from the lowermost seedling box X is transferred again to the box transport conveyor 1.
The support member 12-1 is not pulled back to the guide member 12-2 side under the load of the seedling box X itself until the descending position to return to the upper side,
The seedling box X is securely supported to the lowered position, and the seedling box X is lowered back onto the box transport conveyor 1 so that the load of the seedling box X is reduced by the locking claw portion.
When released from 17, the support member 12-1 is moved to the guide member 12-2 side.
(E) from the state of FIG.
State), set the spring force smaller than the load of the seedling box X,
With this spring force, the support member 12-1 is urged toward the guide member 12-2.

The machine frame 15 is arranged at an interval corresponding to the outer dimension L of the long side of the seedling box X, and at a height at which the seedling boxes X stacked in several stages can be carried up and down. Body frame
From 2-1, both side vertical frames 15-1 are set up and framed, and a front horizontal frame 15-3 is mounted in a bridge between the front portions of the both side vertical frames 15-1 to open the rear side. It is installed in the U-shape on the transport start end side of the box transport conveyor 1 and has a rear opening at the box entrance P.
The seedling boxes X stacked in several stages by a worker or a trolley or the like are carried in from the box entrance P.

The elevating mechanism 13 includes a link mechanism 13-1 for swinging the support member 12-1 of the support mechanism 12 and supporting the support member 12-1 so as to be able to move up and down. A drive motor 13-2 with a speed reducer and a brake for transmitting the movement is provided, and the link mechanism 13-1 is operated by the drive motor 13-2 to move the support member 12-1 to the upper limit (FIGS. 3, 4, FIG.
(FIG. 5 (c)) and the lower limit (the state of FIGS. 6 and 7 (a)).
reference). The drive motor 13-2 has a brake,
The unloading sensor 14-1 and the descent limit sensor 14 of the detecting means 14 described later
-2, Stop when the detection signal is output from the ascent limit sensor 14-3.

The link mechanism 13-1 is connected to the upper end of the support member 12-1 at the lower end via a pivot 20 so that the support member 12-1
Link 21 for swingably suspending the lower link, and the lower link 21
The lower end is rotatably connected to the upper end of 21 via a pivot 22, and the upper end is connected to a rotatable shaft 23 rotatably suspended between the front and rear sides of the vertical frame 15-1 on both sides of the device frame 15. An upper link 24 which is non-rotatably connected to swing the lower end side by the rotation of the rotation support shaft 23, and furthermore, a vertical frame 15 on both sides of the machine frame 15
-1, a rotation link 25 having a lower end non-rotatably connected to one end of a rotation support shaft 23 protruding forward of the traveling vehicle 2.
An activation in which one end is rotatably connected to the upper end of the rotary link 25 and the other end is rotatably connected to the surface circumference of the left and right turntables 26 rotated by the drive motor 13-2. The rotation of the rotation link 26 causes the rotation of the rotating main shaft 23 to rotate forward and backward within a predetermined rotation angle range by the left and right movement of the activation link 27 in accordance with the rotation of the turntable 26. -1 is moved up and down to an ascending limit and a descending limit. That is, the link mechanism 13 is
-1 to convert the rotary motion of the turntable 26 into a vertical motion for moving the support member 12-1 up and down.

The rotating plate 26 has an outer peripheral edge so that an appropriate connecting means 28 such as a belt or a chain is stretched over a driving plate 29 of the driving motor 13-2. A support plate 30 on which a drive motor 13-2 is provided at a central portion of the horizontal frame 15-3 is rotatably disposed at symmetrical positions on both sides of the drive board 29 of the drive motor 13-2. The other ends of the left and right activation links 27 are formed so as to be pivotally connected to each other (see FIGS. 4 and 6).

The detecting means 14 determines when the lowermost seedling box X separated from the second stage is transported from the transport start end side of the box transport conveyor 1 to the transport end side and is unloaded from the transport start end side. Then, the second seedling box X separated from the lowermost seedling box X is returned onto the transport start end side of the box transport conveyor 1, and the locked state of the seedling box X with respect to the short side edge 16 is released. When the support member 12-1 of the support mechanism 12 is lowered and returned to the descent limit standby position, and the support member 12-1 is moved up to the ascent limit for separating the second seedling box X from the lowest seedling box X. The rising time is electrically detected to control switching of the operation of the drive motor 13-2 of the lifting mechanism 13. That is, it serves to control the timing of switching the movement of the support member 12-1 by the link mechanism 13-1 due to the operation of the drive motor 13-2 from the upward movement to the downward movement, and from the downward movement to the upward movement. Yes, a carry-out sensor 14-1 disposed on the transport start end side of the box transport conveyor 1 composed of a limit switch and the like, a lower limit sensor 14-2 disposed on one side of the left and right turntables 26, and the other side And is connected to a drive motor 13-2 of the lifting mechanism 13 via the control box 11.

Next, the operation of the seedling box separating apparatus A constructed as described above according to the present embodiment will be briefly described. The apparatus frame serving as a box supply section of the seedling box X on the transport starting end side of the box transporting conveyor 1 will be described. Fifteen
The seedling boxes X stacked in several stages are carried in from the box entrance P (the state shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6). At this time, the unloading sensor 14-1 disposed on the transport start end side of the box transport conveyor 1 is switched to the ON or OFF state by the bottom of the seedling box X at the lowermost stage. Then, the support member 12-1 of the support mechanism 12 is in a descent limit standby state, and the descent limit sensor 14-2 disposed at a required position around the turntable 26 is in an ON or OFF state (see FIG. 6 and FIG. FIG. 7A). Control box 11 in this state
When the power switch is turned on, the drive motor 13-2 of the elevating mechanism 13 starts operating, and the rotating disks 26 on both sides are rotated in a direction to raise the support member 12-1 in the standby state at the lower limit. Then, the support member 12-1 which is tensioned and urged by the spring member 19 is guided along the longitudinal sectional shape of the guide member 12-2 and starts to rise, and the lowermost seedling is guided by the guide member 12-2. The second seedling box X from the box X
7 (a) is gradually approached to the short side edge 16 side against the spring force of the spring member 19 (guided from the state of FIG. 7 (a) to the state of FIG. 7 (b)). The second-stage seedling box X is lifted from the lower-stage seedling box X by engaging the locking claw portion 17 with the peripheral portion 16 from below, and the second-stage seedling box X is separated from the lowermost seedling box X (FIG. 4 and FIG. 4). FIG. 7C).

When the support member 12-1 for supporting the second and subsequent seedling boxes X separated from the lowermost seedling box X has been moved to the ascending limit, it is arranged at a required position around the turntable 26. When the operation is detected by the ascending limit sensor 14-3, the operation of the drive motor 13-2 is temporarily stopped. When the unloading sensor 14-1 detects that the separated seedling box X at the lowermost stage has been unloaded from the transport start end side of the box transport conveyor 1 (the state shown in FIG. 7D), the drive motor 13- 2 starts operating, and rotates the rotating disks 26 on both sides in the direction of lowering the support member 12-1 of the support mechanism 12. Then, the supporting member 12-1 that lifts and supports the second and subsequent seedling boxes X starts to descend, and the lowermost seedling box X to be supported is placed at the lowered position on the transport start end side of the box transport conveyor 1. As soon as it is returned, it is separated from the short side edge 16 of the seedling box X (from the state of FIG. 7D to the state of FIG. 7F), and the locking claw 17 is detached from the short side edge 16. The locked state of the short side edge portion 16 is released and returned to the lower limit (return to the state of FIGS. 6 and 7A). When the descent limit sensor 14-2 detects that the support member 12-1 has been returned to the descent limit, the drive motor 13-2
The operation is continued without stopping, and the rotating disks 26 on both sides are rotated in a direction to raise the support member 12-1 of the support mechanism 12 from the lowering standby position.

Thereafter, by repeating the above-described operation sequence of FIGS. 7A to 7F, several stages are placed in the machine frame 15 on the transport start end side of the box transport conveyor 1 serving as a box supply section for the seedling box X. The seedling boxes X stacked and transported are supplied to the box transport conveyor 1 while being separated one by one from the seedling box X at the bottom.

In the above-described embodiment, the movement is individually transmitted to the left and right activation links 27 constituting the link mechanism 13-1 of the lifting mechanism 13 by the left and right turntables 26 pivotally connected at the other ends. As described in detail above, one turntable is disposed immediately below the drive board 29 of the drive motor 13-2, and the other end sides of the left and right activation links 27 are pivotally attached to this one turntable. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the movement is transmitted to the left and right activation links 27 by one rotating plate, and it is optional.

FIGS. 8 to 11 show an example of an embodiment of the seedling box separating apparatus A-1 according to the present invention according to claims 5 to 11. In such an example, the outside dimension of the long side between both short side edges 16 is shown. Various seedling boxes X having different lengths L are adjusted according to the outside long dimension L of each device.
15 can be carried in a state of being centered between the vertical frames 15-1 on both sides, and various seedling boxes X carried in a state of being stacked in several stages are supported by a supporting mechanism 12 by an elevating mechanism 13.
The support member 12-1 is configured so as to be able to transfer and supply the sheet to the box transport conveyor 1 while separating the sheets one by one from the bottom. In such an embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those in the above-described detailed description of the embodiment, and the duplicated description will be omitted. However, there are several manufacturers that handle this kind of seedling box X, and the size of the long side between the short side edges 16 on both sides of the seedling box X is almost the same regardless of the manufacturer due to the interval of rice planting by the rice planting machine. The same is true, but the dimension L outside the long side has a dimensional error in the range of, for example, about 300 to 312 cm depending on the manufacturer. This is because each manufacturer has designed the rib structure to form the short side edge 16 including the long side edge side by increasing the strength of the seedling box X, etc. It is said that the long side outside dimension L is different in a range of about 312 cm.

Thus, in this embodiment, the seedling box X having the longest outside dimension L, which is considered to be the largest, for example, has an interval corresponding to the long outside dimension L of the seedling box X of 312 cm, and is stacked in several stages. Conveyor 1 at a height that allows the seedling box X to be lifted and lowered.
Vertical frames 15 on both sides of the machine frame 15 installed on the transport start end side
-1, with arranging the width adjuster mechanism 31 for varying the opening width L ₁ of the box entrance P between the both-side vertical frame 15-1 in accordance with the long side outside dimension L of various seedling box X, the A claw adjuster mechanism 32 is provided to change the releasable locking interval of the seedling box X by the support mechanism 12 in accordance with the long side outside dimension L so as to match various seedling boxes X having different long side outside dimensions L. It becomes configured to be freely varied to disengageably locking intervals of the short edges 16 of the seedling box X by opening width L ₁ and the locking mechanism 12 of the box entrance P Te.

The width adjuster mechanism 31 has the same length outside length L among various seedling boxes X having different long side outside dimensions L.
For example, when to be carried into the apparatus machine frame 15 in a state where the long side outside dimension L is stacked in several stages seedling box X of 306Cm, the opening width L ₁ of the box entrance P slightly larger variable allowed than 306Cm It serves to press and guide the short side edges 16 of both sides of the seedling box X from both sides at the box entrance P so that the center of the seedling box X is located at the center between both vertical frames 15-1. a variable member 31-1 which is rotatably disposed on either side vertical frame 15-1 of device machine frame 15, seedling box X opening width L ₁ of the by rotating the variable member 31-1 box entrance P Variable lever 31 that performs the operation to match the long side outside dimension L
-2.

The variable member 31-1 is formed in a solid or hollow shape having a cross section of an eccentric cam shape and is formed in a columnar shape extending over substantially the entire height in the height direction of the vertical frames on both sides, and has different long side outside dimensions L. by being rotated by the variable lever 31-2 in accordance with the various seedling box X, the both-side vertical frame 15-1 so that the opening width L ₁ of the box entrance P between the side vertical frame 15-1 variably (See FIGS. 8 and 9). In addition, this variable member
31-1 does not necessarily need to be formed in an eccentric cam shape as described above. For example, the rotation of the variable member 31-1 may be eccentrically performed, for example, by forming the column in a cross section of a perfect circle and eccentrically mounting the pivot at the opposite ends thereof.

The variable lever 31-2 is attached to a pivot protruding from a support plate 33 attached to the upper end of the vertical frame 15-1 on both sides,
Variable variable member 31-1 in conformity right or left is rotated in the direction opening width L ₁ of the box entrance P between the side vertical frame 15-1 in the long-side outer dimension L is different various seedling box X It is formed so that it does. The variable member 31-1 to the variable lever 31-2 in order to vary the opening width L ₁ of the box entrance P in accordance with the long side outside dimension L of seedling box X
After the is turned, a fixing knob 34 for fixing the variable member 31-1 at the same variable position is provided. Although not shown, the outer surface of the support plate 33 is provided with a long outer dimension L of various seedling boxes X, and the operator operates the variable lever 31-2 to display the size of the support plate 33. it is to align the long side outside dimension L of the opening width L ₁ of the box entrance P by the variable member 31-1 various seedling box X
It can be changed according to.

The claw adjuster mechanism 32 sets the locking interval L _{2 at} which both short sides 16 of the seedling box X can be disengaged by the locking claw 17 of the support member 12-1 constituting the support mechanism 12. The first member, which will be described later, of the support member 12-1 is variable (changed) in accordance with the long side outside dimension L of the seedling box X having different outside side dimensions L.
A wedge-shaped variable member 32-1 slidably disposed between the second member 12-10 and the second member 12-11; and a variable member 32-1 mounted on the first member 12-10 side. And a fastening member 32-2 for holding the upper and lower parts immovably.

The support member 12-1 has a first end which swingably supports an upper end at a lower end side of the above-described lower link 21 of the elevating mechanism 13.
A first member 12-10 and a second member 12-11 having an upper end swingably supported on the surface side of the first member 12-10 and a locking claw 17 facing inward at the lower end. By using the adjuster mechanism 32, the second member 12-11 is swung about a pivot point with the first member 12-10 as a fulcrum, and the locking interval L ₂ of the seedling box X by the locking claw 17 is set to various seedling boxes X. Is formed so as to be variable in accordance with the outside dimension L of the long side.

The first member 12-10 is formed in a plate shape having an appropriate width smaller than the short side dimension of the seedling box X, and its upper end is bent outward and its middle part in the height direction is bent. It is formed in a substantially crank shape, and has a guide wheel 18 on the rear surface on the lower half side side, which rolls along the vertical cross-sectional shape of the guide member 12-2 as described in detail in the above-described embodiment. In addition, a vertical slit 35 formed at an appropriate height from the lower edge or a portion near the lower edge is provided in a central portion of the width between the guide wheels 18, and a threaded operation knob is provided on the variable member 32-1 of the claw adjuster mechanism 32. The variable member 32-1 can be held at the upper and lower positions by the fastening member 32-2 so as to be immovable.

The second member 12-11 is formed in a plate shape having substantially the same width as the first member 12-10, and the lower edge thereof is provided with the short side edge portion 16 of the seedling box X as described in the above embodiment. A locking claw portion 17 for locking so as to be supported from below is bent inward, and a hinge member such as a hinge is provided at an upper half position where the upper end is located at a boundary with the lower half side of the first member 12-10. It is swingably suspended via 36. A variable member 32-1 of the claw adjuster mechanism 32 is vertically slidably disposed between the second member 12-11 and the first member 12-10. by sliding up and down, various locking distance L ₂ of the seedling box X by the locking pawl 17 pivotally mounted part swung a fulcrum and the second member 12-11 first member 12-10 (See FIGS. 10 and 11).

The variable member 32-1 of the claw adjuster mechanism 32 includes:
It forms a wedge shape in which one side surface is gradually inclined toward the upper end, and is attached to the first member 12-10 of the support member 12-1 by the fastening member 32-2 so as to be vertically movable.

Next, the seedling box separation device A-
Briefly describing (1), for example, if the long side outside dimension L is 310
When the seedling box X of cm is loaded into the machine frame 15, the variable member 31 is turned by turning the variable lever 31-2 of the width adjuster mechanism 31.
Set -1 to the state shown by the two-dot chain line in the figure. At this time, by turning the variable lever 31-2 according to the dimensional display of the seedling box X provided on the surface of the support plate 33, the variable member allows the seedling box X of 310 cm to be centered in the device machine frame 15. the opening width L ₁ of the box entrance P is varied so as to guide carried by state (e.g., from a state of two-dot chain line in FIG. 9 the solid line state).

The fastening member of the claw adjuster mechanism 32
Loosen the 32-2 to move the variable member 32-1 in the vertical either direction to vary the locking distance L ₂ between the locking pawl 17 of the locking member 12-1. At this time, similarly, by adjusting the operation knob of the fastening member 32-2 in accordance with the dimensional display of the seedling box X provided on the lower half side of the first member 12-10, the 310 cm seedling box X is capable of varying between the locking pawl 17 in the locking distance L ₂ that can be locked on both sides short edges 16 detachably (e.g., solid line in FIG. 11 from the solid line in the state of FIG. 10 State). The device is configured such that the short side edges 16 on both sides are securely and removably locked by the locking claw portions 17 of the support members 12-1 disposed on both side vertical frames 15-1 of the device frame 15. The seedling box X of 310 cm carried in a state centered in the machine casing 15 is moved to the lowermost seedling box by repeating the operation sequence of (a) to (f) of FIGS. X is supplied to the box conveyor 1 while being separated one by one in order.

The configuration of the width adjuster mechanism 31 and the claw adjuster mechanism 32 is not limited to the above-described embodiment. In short, in the case of the width adjuster mechanism 32, the box loading port P is stacked in several stages.
Opening of the box entrance P so that various seedling boxes X having different long side outer dimensions L which are carried into the apparatus frame 15 from the center can be guided and carried in a state where they are respectively centered in the center of the apparatus frame 15. the width L ₁ may have a configuration form that can variably to fit the long side outside dimension L of seedling box X. In the case of the claw adjuster mechanism 32, the locking claw portion 17 of the supporting member 12-1 which is supported on the vertical mechanism 15-1 on both sides of the apparatus frame 15 and is provided so as to be able to move up and down is supported. It may have a configuration form which is variable to suit the distance L ₂ in the long side outside dimension L of seedling box X, is optional.

[0045]

Since the seedling box separation device of the present invention is constructed as described above, the following effects are obtained. . According to the first and fourth aspects, the second-stage seedling box of the seedling boxes stacked in several stages is disengaged by the supporting mechanism that is swingably supported by the elevating mechanism and supported so as to be able to move up and down. By freely locking, the second and subsequent seedling boxes can be lifted and separated from the lowest seedling box. Then, after the separated bottom seedling box is carried out, when the seedling box to be lifted and supported is returned to the lowered position, the support mechanism for the seedling box after the seedling box is surely lowered to the lowered position is returned. Since the locked state is configured to be released, the separated seedling boxes can be delivered and supplied one by one to the box transport conveyor or the like one by one without giving any impact to the separated seedling boxes.

[0046] According to the second aspect, the support member of the support mechanism approaches the second seedling box side by the guide member from the time when the support member has passed the lowermost seedling box in the process of ascending from the lower limit standby position, and The locking claw portion is locked to the short side edge of the box so that the second and subsequent seedling boxes can be lifted and supported securely. Raise and support the seedling box at the bottom, and separate it from the seedling box at the bottom.

[0047] According to the third aspect, the support member of the support mechanism is provided with a spring member that urges the guide member side so as to be surely moved up along the longitudinal sectional shape of the guide member when ascending. From, as mentioned above, without touching the bottom seedling box in the process of ascending,
From the time of passing through the seedling box at the bottom, approach the side of the seedling box of the second step, lock the locking claw on the short side edge of the seedling box, and lift and support the seedling boxes of the second and subsequent steps The reliability of the movement of the support member is achieved. The spring pressure of the spring member is set to be smaller than the load of the seedling box, so that the supporting member is urged toward the guide member, so that the seedling box that has been lifted and supported is lowered to the lowered position. As long as it is returned and the load on the seedling box is not released from the locking claw of the supporting member, the supporting member keeps the supporting state of the seedling box continuously. Therefore, the seedling box can be supplied to a box transport conveyor or the like without giving any impact to the seedling box.

[0048] The movement of the lifting mechanism is switched and controlled by the carry-out sensor, the lower limit sensor and the upper limit sensor, and the support mechanism for lifting and supporting the second-stage seedling box is moved upward, and
Since it is configured such that a series of movements such as the lowering movement of the support mechanism for returning the seedling box to be lifted and supported to the lowering position after the separated lowermost seedling box is unloaded are automatically performed, The seedling boxes in the machine frame stacked in several stages can be automatically supplied to a box transport conveyor or the like while being sequentially separated one by one from the lowermost side.

[0049] According to claim 5, wherein the state in which the opening width L ₁ of the box entrance P devices machine frame was centering the apparatus machine frame as variably to fit the long side outside dimension L of seedling box by the width adjuster mechanism in as can be conveyed in various seedling box, also long sides outside dimension of the seedling box locking distance L ₂ to the short edges of the seedling box by engaging detachably engaged to the support mechanism by pawl adjuster mechanism Since various seedling boxes carried in a state of being stacked in several stages as being variable according to L can be separated one by one from the lowermost stage, for example, about 300 to 312 cm Highly versatile use suitable for various seedling boxes having different long side outside dimensions L within the range is possible, and is economical. That is, the dimension L outside the long side of each seedling box
Therefore, it is not necessary to individually manufacture devices adapted to various types of seedling boxes, and one device can correspond to various seedling boxes having different long side outside dimensions L.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the seedling boxes can be transferred one by one while being separated from the lowermost seedling boxes stacked in several stages one by one. The seedling boxes can be delivered and supplied one by one to the box conveyor, etc., without giving any shock to the plant, so all problems such as buds being exposed from the soil due to shocks and jumping out of the seedling box with the soil are eliminated. And, for example,
It is possible to provide a highly versatile and innovative seedling box separation device that can be used in accordance with various seedling boxes having different long side outside dimensions L in the range of about 300 to 312 cm.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an embodiment in which a seedling box separation device of the present invention is incorporated in a seedling box aligning machine and mounted.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a state in which a support member of a support mechanism is moved to an ascending limit;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the main part.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal rear view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part showing a supporting mechanism and an elevating mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal rear view showing a state in which a support member of the support mechanism has been moved to a descent limit standby position.

Fig. 7: Seed boxes stacked in several stages
FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic views illustrating an operation of separating the sheets one by one and supplying the sheet to a box transport conveyor, wherein FIG. (C) shows a state in which the ascent of the support member is started.
Shows the state where the short side edge of the second-stage seedling box is locked by the support claw portion of the support member, and the second and subsequent seedling boxes are lifted and supported and separated from the lowermost seedling box. (D) shows a state in which the separated lowermost seedling box is unloaded from the transport start end side of the box transport conveyor, and (e) shows a seedling box lifted and supported by the support member on the transport start end side of the box transport conveyor. (F) shows a state in which the seedling box has been lowered to just before the lowering position of the (box supply unit). The seedling box is lowered back onto the transport start end of the box transport conveyor, and the locked state of the seedling box to the short side edge is released. Shows a state in which the supported member is pulled back toward the guide member by the spring member

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a main part showing another embodiment in which the seedling box separation device of the present invention is incorporated in a seedling box aligning machine and mounted.

FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway view of the same plan view.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing an example of a state in which a locking interval of a locking claw portion of a support member is changed by a claw adjuster mechanism in accordance with a seedling box having the largest outer dimension on a long side.
(A) shows a state in which the locking claw portion of the support member stands by at the descent limit standby position, and (b) locks the short side edge of the second-stage seedling box with the support claw portion of the support member. Shows the state where the seedling boxes of the second and subsequent stages are lifted and supported and separated from the seedling box of the lowermost stage

FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing an example of a state in which a locking interval of a locking claw portion of a support member is changed by a claw adjuster mechanism in accordance with a seedling box having the smallest outside length on a long side;
(A) shows a state in which the locking claw portion of the support member stands by at the descent limit standby position, and (b) locks the short side edge of the second-stage seedling box with the support claw portion of the support member. Shows the state where the seedling boxes of the second and subsequent stages are lifted and supported and separated from the seedling box of the lowermost stage

[Explanation of symbols]

A, A-1 ... seedling box separation device 1 ... box transport conveyor 2 ... traveling vehicle 12 ... support mechanism 2-1 ... support member 12-2 ... guide member 13 ... elevating mechanism 13-1 ... link mechanism 13-2 ... drive Motor 14 Detecting means 14-1 Unloading sensor 14-2 Descending sensor 14-3 Descending sensor 15 Machine frame 16 Short edge 17 Locking claw 19 Spring member 21 Lower link 23 ... Rotating support shaft 24 ... Top link 25 ... Rotating link 26 ... Rotating disk 27 ... Starting link 31 ... Width adjuster mechanism 31-1 ... Variable member 31-2 ... Variable lever 32 ... Claw adjuster mechanism 32-1 ... Variable member 32-2 ... fastening member B ... seedling box alignment machine X ... seedling box

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A seedling box separating apparatus for sequentially separating one seedling at a time from a lowermost seedling box stacked in several stages, wherein the seedling box starts rising from a lower limit standby position and passes through a lowermost seedling box. Later, the seedling box is removably engaged by approaching the second seedling box side, and the second and subsequent seedling boxes are lifted up to the ascending limit to be separated from the lowest seedling box. A supporting mechanism that moves the seedling box to be lifted and supported after the lower seedling box is unloaded and released from the seedling box to release the locked state before or almost simultaneously with being lowered to the lower limit so as to return to the lowered position. And an elevating mechanism which moves the supporting mechanism up and down to the lowering limit and the ascending limit, and when the separated bottom seedling box is unloaded, the supporting mechanism moves to the lowering limit and the ascending limit. And control the switching of the operation of the lifting mechanism. A seedling box separation device comprising: a detection unit. 2. The seedling box separation device according to claim 1, wherein the supporting mechanism is supported by the lifting mechanism so as to be able to swing and move up and down so as to approach at least the seedling box or to be separated from the seedling box. A support member having a locking claw for releasably locking the short side edge of the box, and the support member from a point when the support member passes through a lowermost seedling box in a process of ascending from the lower limit standby position. And a guide member formed in a vertical cross-sectional shape for guiding the support member so that the locking claw portion is locked to the short side edge of the seedling box while approaching the second-stage seedling box side. A seedling box separation device, comprising: 3. The seedling box separating device according to claim 2, wherein the supporting mechanism includes a spring member for urging the supporting member toward the guide member so that the supporting member rises along the vertical cross-sectional shape of the guide member. A seedling box separating device, wherein the spring force of the spring member is set to be smaller than the load of the seedling box. 4. The seedling box separating device according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means comprises a carry-out sensor, a descent limit sensor, and a descent limit sensor, and each of the sensors controls operation switching of the elevating mechanism. A seedling box separating device configured to switch the supporting mechanism between a lowering limit and an ascending limit to move up and down. 5. The seedling box separating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the seedling box is set up at an interval corresponding to an outer dimension of a long side of the seedling box,
A width adjuster mechanism that varies the opening width of the box entrance between the vertical frames on both sides of the apparatus machine frame on which the support mechanism and the lifting mechanism are disposed is arranged in accordance with the outside dimension of the long side, In addition, a claw adjuster mechanism is provided for varying the detachable locking interval of the seedling box by the support mechanism in accordance with the outer dimension of the same long side. It can be carried in a state where it is centered in the machine frame according to the length of the machine, and can be separated one by one from the bottom by a support mechanism with a variable locking interval according to the outside dimension of the same long side A seedling box separation device, comprising: