JP2001151347A - Seedling box stacking device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a seedling box stacking device in a compact form requiring no much space. SOLUTION: This device comprises a seedling box supply conveyor 2 for supplying seedling boxes to a predetermined pickup position, a stacking robot 4 for picking up the seedling boxes 3 supplied to the pickup position and stacking them at a predetermined stacking position and a seedling box carry-out conveyor 3 for carrying out the seedling boxes stacked at the stacking position. The seedling box supply conveyor 2 and the seedling box carry-out conveyor 3 are arranged to be parallel to each other in the carrying direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a seedling box stacking apparatus for stacking a predetermined number of seeded seedling boxes in a stack for emergence.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a seedling raising facility for raising seedlings for use in a seedling transplanter such as a rice transplanter, a seedling box is filled with floor soil, seeded, covered with soil, etc., and the seedling boxes are stacked by a seedling box stacking device. The seedling boxes are stacked in a tier, and the nested seedling boxes are accommodated in a budding room controlled by air conditioning so as to germinate.

As the seedling box stacking device, for example, FIG.
And as shown in FIG. 11, the seedling box transport conveyor 1 of the seeding machine.
The seedling box C after sowing conveyed by 2 is raised to a predetermined height by a seedling box lift 50, and is horizontally conveyed by a first conveyor 51 and a second conveyor 52 to a position above an elevating table 53. The pair of holding belts 52a, 52a of the second conveyor 52 open the seedling box C and drop it on the elevating table 53, and in conjunction with this, the elevating table 53 descends one step at a time and The seedling boxes are stacked, and the elevator 53 is further advanced and lowered above the pallet P placed on the seedling box unloading cart 54, so that the stacked seedling boxes on the elevator 53 are placed on the pallet P. Is known. The seedling box stacking device shown in the figure is provided with two elevating platforms in parallel. The seedling boxes are alternately stacked on each of the elevating platforms 53, 53, and the seedling boxes are being stacked on one of the elevating platforms. On the other hand, the other elevating platform is adapted to operate the transfer of the seedling boxes to the pallets.

[0004]

Since the conventional seedling box stacking device is constructed by combining a number of operating mechanisms, the structure is complicated and large, and it is difficult to install the device in a small seedling raising facility. There was a problem of accompanying. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a compact and space-saving seedling box stacking device.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is configured as follows. That is, the seedling box stacking device according to the first invention comprises a seedling box supply conveyor for supplying the seedling boxes to a predetermined picking position, and a seedling box supplied to the picking position and picking up the seedling boxes to a predetermined stacking position. A stacking robot for stacking, and a seedling box unloading conveyor for unloading the seedling boxes stacked in the stacking position, and the transfer directions of the seedling box supply conveyor and the seedling box unloading conveyor are parallel. It is characterized by being arranged like this.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a seeding machine is installed on a side opposite to the seedling box carrying-out conveyor with the seedling box supply conveyor therebetween, and a terminal portion of the seedling box carrying conveyor of the seeding machine is provided. Are connected to a seedling box supply conveyor so that the conveying directions of both conveyors intersect.

Further, the seedling box stacking apparatus according to the third invention comprises a seedling box supply conveyor for supplying seedling boxes to a predetermined picking position, and a seedling box supplied to the picking position for picking up the seedling boxes. A stacking robot for stacking the seedling boxes at a position, and a seedling box unloading conveyor for unloading the seedling boxes stacked at the stacking position.The seedling box supply conveyor and the seedling box unloading conveyor are three-dimensionally crossed. It is characterized by being provided.

According to each of the above-mentioned inventions, the seedling boxes supplied to the picking-up position of the seedling box supply conveyor are not directly lifted to a high position as in the conventional seedling box stacking device, but are directly moved by the stacking robot. Since the carry-out conveyor is stacked at the stacking position, the seedling box stacking device can be configured to be compact and take up little space.

In particular, with the configuration of the first invention, the moving distance of the seedling box by the stacking robot can be shortened,
The work efficiency of the stacking robot can be improved.

[0010] Further, according to the configuration of the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to secure a wide space for carrying out the seedling box from the seedling box carrying-out conveyor, and to easily carry out the seedling box carrying out operation.

Further, according to the structure of the third invention, the moving distance of the seedling boxes by the stacking robot can be reduced, the operation of the stacking robot can be simplified, and the cost of the stacking robot can be reduced. Become.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof. In the seedling box stacking apparatus 1 (1), a seedling box supply conveyor 2 and a seedling box unloading conveyor 3 having a width for transporting two seedling boxes in a horizontal direction are installed adjacent to and parallel to each other. The seedling boxes supplied to the picking positions A1, A2, A3 of the seedling box supply conveyor 2 corresponding to these two conveyors 2, 3 are stacked at the stacking positions B1, B2, B3, B1 'of the seedling box unloading conveyor 3. B
A stacking robot 4 for stacking at 2 'and B3' is provided.

The seedling box supply conveyor 2 is a roller conveyor having a width for transporting one seedling box with its longitudinal direction being set horizontally, and the seedling box for stopping the seedling boxes at the picking positions A1, A2, A3, respectively. Stoppers 5, 6, 7 are provided. Although the first seedling box stopper 5 is fixedly provided, the second seedling box stopper 6 and the third seedling box stopper 7 are provided so as to be retractable below the upper surface of the seedling box supply conveyor 2.

The seedling box carry-out conveyor 3 is configured to convey a pallet P for stacking seedling boxes supplied by the pallet supply device 8 on a pair of belts 3a, 3a. The pallet P has a space in which a total of six seedling boxes are arranged in two rows and three rows in a vertical direction. A first pallet stopper 9 for stopping the pallet P at a pallet stop position where the arrangement position of each seedling box of the pallet P coincides with the stacking position B1, B2, B3, B1 ', B2', B3 'is provided. A second pallet stopper 10 for stopping the pallet P at the end of the seedling box carrying-out conveyor 3 is fixedly provided.

The stacking robot 4 is provided with three sets of seedling box chucks 4b, 4b which can hold and hold both ends of the two-tiered seedling box in the longitudinal direction at the distal end of a robot arm 4a which can be bent at the middle part. , 4b are provided. By rotating the entire robot arm 4a up and down and changing the bending angle of the robot arm 4a, each seedling box chuck 4b, 4b, 4b is moved between the picking-up position and the stacking position, and the up-down position is adjusted. It is supposed to.

A seeding machine is installed on the side opposite to the seedling box carrying-out conveyor 3 with the seedling box feeding conveyor 2 interposed therebetween, and the seedling box feeding conveyor 12 of the seeding machine is connected to a seedling box feeding conveyor 2.
Are connected to each other so as to intersect at right angles with each other. The seedling box transport conveyor 12 transports the seeded seedling boxes in a state where the longitudinal direction faces the transport direction. The portion from the middle to the end of the seedling box transport conveyor 12 is a fast-forward conveyor 12a, and the seedling boxes are transported in a state where there is no gap until the middle, and the fast-forward conveyor 12a.
Above, the seedling boxes are transported with a little gap between them. A seedling box stacking device 13 for stacking the seedling boxes conveyed one by one in two stages is provided at an intermediate portion of the fast-forward conveyor 12a. Although not shown in the perspective view of FIG. 1, a brush 1 for leveling the surface of the soil in the seedling box is provided slightly before the transport direction of the seedling box stacking device 13.
4 are provided.

The seedling box stacking device 13 includes lift claws on both sides of the seedling box transport path of the seedling box transporting conveyor 12 for engaging the edges of the seedling box to lift the seedling box. When the box comes to the predetermined position, the lift claw is activated to lift the seedling box, and when the two-sided seedling box comes to the predetermined position, the lift claw releases the first seedling box and the second seedling box. It is configured to be stacked on top of.

At the end of the seedling box transport conveyor 12, a seedling box stopper 16 for receiving and stopping the seedling boxes conveyed by the conveyor and a seedling box feed conveyor 2 for stopping the seedling boxes stopped by the stoppers. An extrusion cylinder 17 for extruding upward is provided.

The seedling box stacking device 1 (1) is provided with photosensors PH1 to PH8 for detecting the presence or absence of a seedling box, and controls the operation of each unit based on the detection result.
Hereinafter, the operation of the seedling box stacking device will be described.

The first seedling box conveyed by the seedling box conveying conveyor 12 reaches the position of the seedling box stacking device 13, and PH1 becomes O.
When N is reached, the lift claw of the seedling box stacking device 13 is actuated to lift the seedling box, the second seedling box is brought below the seedling box stacking device, and when the PH1 is turned on again, the lift claw becomes 1
Release the second seedling box and stack it on the second seedling box.
The seedling box stacking device 13 repeats the above operation.

The seedling boxes stacked in two stages by the seedling box stacking device 13 are stopped by the seedling box stopper 16 at the end of the seedling box transport conveyor 12. When the seedling box reaches the terminal end of the seedling box transport conveyor 12, the photosensor PH2 becomes O.
When the pressure reaches N, the pushing cylinder 17 protrudes to push the seedling box onto the seedling box supply conveyor 2. After the seedling box is pushed out, the pushing cylinder 17 is retracted.

The two-tiered seedling boxes pushed out onto the seedling box supply conveyor 2 by the extrusion cylinder 17 are conveyed toward the picking positions A1, A2, A3. By default,
The second seedling box stopper 6 and the third seedling box stopper 7 are retracted below the upper surface of the seedling box supply conveyor 2, and the first set of seedling boxes is transported to the pick-up position A1, and the first seedling box is moved. It is stopped by the box stopper 5. Thus, when the photosensor PH3 is turned ON, the second seedling box stopper 6 projects above the upper surface of the seedling box supply conveyor 2. Therefore, the second set of seedling boxes is transported to the pick-up position A2 and stopped by the second seedling box stopper 6. As a result, when the photosensor PH4 is turned on, the third seedling box stopper 7 protrudes above the upper surface of the seedling box supply conveyor 2. Therefore, the third seedling box is transported to the pick-up position A3 and stopped by the third seedling box stopper 7. As a result, the photo sensor PH5 is turned on.

As described above, the pickup positions A1, A
2, A3 is supplied with a two-tiered seedling box and the photosensor P
When H3 to H5 are turned on, the stacking robot 4 performs a predetermined operation, and transfers the seedling boxes at the respective picking-up positions to appropriate positions on the seedling box carrying-out conveyor 3 described later. Specifically, the seedling box chucks 4b, 4b, 4b are moved to the picking-up position in an open state, where the seedling box chuck is closed to grasp the seedling box, and then the seedling box chuck holding the seedling box is moved to the seedling box unloading conveyor. 3. Move to the proper position on 3 where the seedling box chuck is opened and actuated to release the seedling box.

At the time when the robot arm 4a operates to move the seedling box chucks 4b, 4b, 4b from the pick-up position of the seedling box supply conveyor 2 to an appropriate position on the seedling box unloading conveyor 3, the photo sensors PH3 to PH5 If any of them is ON, the entire seedling box stacking device is stopped as "abnormal".

All of the photo sensors PH3 to PH5 are OF
F, it is determined to be “normal”, and the second seedling box stopper 6 and the third seedling box stopper 7 are connected to the seedling box supply conveyor 2.
Retracted below the upper surface of the. As a result, the seedling box supply conveyor 2 is in the initial state, and the two-stage stacked seedling boxes are supplied to the picking positions A1, A2, and A3, respectively, as described above.

The pallet supply device 8 includes a photo sensor PH
Pallet P on seedling box unloading conveyor 3 when 6 is OFF
Supply. When the pallet P moves to the pallet stop position, the pallet P is received and stopped by the first pallet stopper 9 projecting above the upper surface of the seedling box carrying-out conveyor 3. Thereby, the photo sensors PH6,
7 is turned on, the seedling box unloading conveyor 3 stops, and the stacking robot 4 starts stacking the seedling boxes on the pallet P. The stacking of the seedling boxes by the stacking robot 4 is performed in the following manner.

In the first seedling box, the seedling boxes are placed at the stacking positions B1, B2, and B3 far from the seedling box supply conveyor 2.
The second set of seedling boxes is placed on the first set of seedling boxes. In the same manner, the seedling boxes are stacked in the same manner until a predetermined number of rows are reached. When a predetermined number of seedling boxes are stacked at the stacking positions B1, B2, and B3, the seedling boxes are next stacked at the stacking positions B1 ', B2', and B3 'on the side closer to the seedling box supply conveyor 2. Stack.

All stacking positions B1, B2, B3, B1 ',
When the photo sensors PH8 are OFF at the time when the seedling boxes are stacked in a predetermined number on B2 'and B3', the first pallet stopper 9 is lowered and the seedling box unloading conveyor 3 operates. If the photo sensor PH8 is ON at the same time, the state is maintained. The pallet P transported to the end of the seedling box unloading conveyor 3 is received by the second pallet stopper 10 and stopped.

FIG. 3 shows a different embodiment. In the seedling box stacking device 1 (2), a seedling box supply conveyor 2 is installed on an extension of the seedling box transport conveyor 12 of the seeding machine. The seedling box supply conveyor 2 and the seedling box unloading conveyor 3 are parallel to each other, similarly to the seedling box stacking device 1 (1). Any suitable arrangement may be adopted according to the form of the work space of the seedling raising facility.

FIG. 4 shows still another embodiment. The seedling box stacking device 1 (3) is provided with the two conveyors 2 and 3 crossed three-dimensionally such that the terminal end of the seedling box supply conveyor 2 is located above the seedling box unloading conveyor 3. Then, the stacking robot 4 moves the seedling boxes at the pickup positions A1 and A2 at the end of the seedling box supply conveyor 2 to the pallets P at the stacking positions B1 and B2 of the seedling box unloading conveyor 3 adjacent to the pickup position. Stack on top of. Each time a predetermined number of stacks are completed, the seedling box carrying conveyor 3 moves the pallets P by an appropriate amount, and the seedling boxes are stacked three times on one pallet P. In this configuration, since the stacking is always performed at the same horizontal position, the first embodiment (1), 1
Compared with (2), the robot arm 4a can be shorter,
Since the strength of the robot arm can be set lower and the operation of the stacking robot 4 is relatively simple, the control is easy.

FIG. 5 is a layout diagram of a nursery facility in which the seedling box stacking device 1 is installed. In the seedling raising facility, a seedling box is placed on the second floor, and seedling boxes C,...
They are supplied one by one. The seeding machine 21 is configured as shown in FIG. Then, the seed paddy is sown on the floor soil by the seeding device 23, the soil is supplied from above by the soil covering supply device 24, and finally watering is performed by the watering device 25. The seedling boxes seeded by the sowing machine 21 are stacked on the pallet P by a predetermined number by the seedling box stacking device 1. Then, it is carried into the germination chamber 26 by a forklift or the like and germinated.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 27 denotes a storage site for soil to be supplied to the floor soil supply device 22 and the cover soil supply device 24; 28, a seeding tank for soaking seeds in water prior to sowing; and 29, a container for seeding. It is a crane that transports.

The configuration shown in FIG. 7 is adopted in the floor soil supply device 22 so that the floor soil is surely filled to the corner of the seedling raising pot. That is, vibration rollers 30,... Having a polygonal cross-section are provided below the floor soil supply device 22 in the seedling box transport conveyor 12, so as to apply vibration to the seedling boxes. A leveling net 32 supported by the parallel links 31, 31 is provided so as to contact the upper surface of the seedling pot of the seedling box, and the leveling net 32 is reciprocated back and forth by driving a crank rod 33. I have. With these mechanisms, even if the seedling raising pot is a seedling box having a wider shape toward the lower side, the floor soil is reliably filled to the corner of the seedling raising pot.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a structure of a mounting portion of the door cover which is mounted on the door of the heat insulating cover which covers the sprouting chamber. In the figure, reference numeral 35 denotes a heat insulating cover, and 36 denotes a heat insulating cover supporting wire for supporting the heat insulating cover. Two entrance / exit cover attachment wires 37, 37 are stretched in parallel with the entrance on the upper side of the heat retaining cover 35, and the curtain rail base 39 is attached to the ceiling surface of the heat retaining cover 35 by U bolts 38, 38 hooked on the wires. ing. The curtain rails 40 are fixedly attached to the lower surfaces of the plurality of curtain rail bases 39,. Roller rollers 41,... Are provided on the curtain rail 40, and an entrance cover 43 is suspended and supported by suspenders 42,. With this configuration, the door cover 43 can be freely opened and closed with a simple structure.

[0035]

As described above, in the seedling box stacking apparatus according to the present invention, the seedling boxes supplied to the picking-up position of the seedling box supply conveyor are directly moved by the stacking robot to the stacking position of the seedling box unloading conveyor. By adopting the configuration of stacking, it is compact and does not take up space, so it has become possible to install it in a small nursery facility without difficulty.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a seedling box stacking device.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the first embodiment of the seedling box stacking device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the seedling box stacking device.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a third embodiment of the seedling box stacking device.

FIG. 5 is a layout diagram of a seedling raising facility.

FIG. 6 is an overall view of a seeding machine.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a main part of a floor soil supply device.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a main part of a sprouting chamber.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a main part of the sprouting chamber.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a conventional seedling box stacking device.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a conventional seedling box stacking device.

[Explanation of symbols]

A1, A2, A3 Pick-up position B1, B2, B3, B1 ', B2', B3 'Stacking position C Seedling box 1 Seedling box stacking device 2 Seedling box supply conveyor 3 Seedling box unloading conveyor 4 Stacking robot 8 Pallet supply Equipment 12 Seedling box transport conveyor 13 Seedling box stacking device

Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Aizawa 1 Yagura, Tobe-cho, Iyo-gun, Ehime Prefecture, Iseki Agricultural Machinery Co., Ltd. (Reference) 2B027 ND03 NE09 QA05 TC07 TC09 TC15 TC19 3F029 AA09 BA01 CA52 CB15 DA01 DA22 EA01

Claims (3)

[Claims] A seedling box supply conveyor for supplying seedling boxes to a predetermined picking position; a stacking robot for picking up the seedling boxes supplied to the picking position and stacking them at a predetermined stacking position; A seedling box unloading conveyor for unloading the seedling boxes stacked in position, wherein the seedling box supply conveyor and the seedling box unloading conveyor are arranged such that their respective transport directions are parallel to each other. Box stacking device. 2. A seeding machine is installed on the side opposite to the seedling box unloading conveyor with the seedling box feeding conveyor therebetween, and the transport direction of the two seedling box feeding conveyors intersects the terminal end of the seedling box feeding conveyor of the seeding box feeding conveyor. The seedling box stacking device according to claim 1, wherein the seedling box stacking device is connected so as to perform connection. 3. A seedling box supply conveyor for supplying seedling boxes to a predetermined picking position, a stacking robot for picking up the seedling boxes supplied to the picking position and stacking them at a predetermined stacking position, A seedling box unloading conveyor for unloading seedling boxes stacked in position, wherein the seedling box supply conveyor and the seedling box unloading conveyor are provided so as to be three-dimensionally intersecting with each other. .