JP2002209437A - Apparatus for producing culture soil - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for producing culture soil, with which culture soil for raising of seedling which is neither cracked nor crumbled and is readily handled can be inexpensively and uniformly mass produced with a slight man hour of operation, the apparatus can be prevented from being deteriorated and damaged and a cost can be reduced. SOLUTION: This apparatus 20 for producing culture soil is equipped with a pair of top and bottom belt conveyors 22 and 23 and a pair of right and left guide bars 74 and 76. A raw material is transported by the belt conveyors 22 and 23 while being laminated and nipped and both end parts of the raw material in the width direction being controlled by the guide bars 74 and 76. The raw material is successively and continuously heated, and compression molded in this state and cooled and compression molded immediately after the heating and compression molding to uniformly produce culture soil for raising of seedling comprising chaff, a sheath-core type fiber and a fertilizer for raising of seedling. Even if each belt of the belt conveyors 22 and 23 is somewhat shifted and driven, the belts do not strongly interfere with the guide bars 74 and 76.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cultivation soil production apparatus for producing cultivation soil for raising seedlings used for raising seedlings of crops such as paddy rice.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, seedlings of crops such as paddy rice have been raised in a nursery, and soil cultivation has been generally used as the floor soil of the nursery. However, in such soil cultivation, high-quality (homogeneous) floor soil is relatively expensive and difficult to obtain, or heavy and poor in transportability. For this reason, instead of such conventional soil culture, the present applicant has already proposed a culture for raising seedlings that is easy to handle without cracking or collapsing, is inexpensive, and can be mass-produced (for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 10-184893
issue).

[0003] The proposed seedling cultivation is obtained by stirring and mixing rice husk and core-sheath type fiber, and compression-molding the stirred and mixed rice hull and core-sheath type fiber. The seedling cultivation soil is rich in flexibility and water retention, hardly cracked or chipped, does not lose its shape during transportation, and is easy to handle.

[0004] Incidentally, a soil cultivation apparatus for producing such a seedling cultivation soil includes a pair of upper and lower belt conveyors. According to the cultivation soil production apparatus, the raw material obtained by stirring and mixing the rice husk and the core-sheath fiber is layered and transported while being sandwiched between a pair of upper and lower belt conveyors. You can get the soil. In such a soil cultivation manufacturing apparatus that performs compression molding while sandwiching and transporting the raw material by such a pair of upper and lower belt conveyors, a series of operations can be sequentially and automatically performed, and the operation efficiency is greatly improved. Therefore, the above-mentioned soil for raising seedlings can be mass-produced at low cost.

However, in the above-mentioned soil cultivation manufacturing apparatus, since the raw material is simply compression-molded while being sandwiched and conveyed by a pair of upper and lower belt conveyors, both ends in the width direction of the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors, that is, both ends in the width direction of the molding soil. Part (so-called ears) is not sufficiently compressed. Therefore, in order to make the width of the molding cultivation as a product uniform, the work of cutting both ends (ears) in the width direction of the molding cultivation after molding (special purpose) Cutting device) was required. For this reason, the number of man-hours and costs are increased, and above all, both ends (ears) in the width direction of the cut cultivated cultivation are treated as unnecessary materials themselves. Only raw materials are wasted.

[0006] Therefore, both ends (ears) in the width direction of the molding soil.
The present applicant has already proposed a cultivation soil production apparatus configured to be able to sufficiently perform compression molding (Japanese Patent Application No. 11-1153).
No. 65).

As shown in FIG. 9, in the proposed soil cultivation apparatus, a pair of left and right side belt conveyors 104, 1 are provided at both ends in the width direction of a pair of upper and lower belt conveyors 100, 102, respectively.
06 is further arranged. In particular, the belt 108 of the upper belt conveyor 102 is disposed such that both left and right (widthwise) ends thereof are sandwiched between the belts 110 and 112 of the side belt conveyors 104 and 106. According to the proposed cultivation soil production apparatus, both ends (ears) in the width direction of the cultivation soil are sufficiently compressed by the pair of left and right side belt conveyors 104 and 106, and the width dimension of the cultivation soil can be made uniform. Therefore, there is no need to cut both ends (ears) in the width direction of the molding medium after the molding as in the related art, and the number of working steps and cost are reduced. Also,
Since it is not necessary to cut both ends (ears) in the width direction of the molding medium in order to make the width dimensions of the molding medium uniform, the raw material is not wasted.

[0008]

However, in the proposed soil cultivation apparatus, the upper and lower sides of the cultivated soil are arranged on the belts 107, 1 of the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors 100, 102.
08 and the belts 110 and 112 of the side belt conveyors 104 and 106 on the left and right sides of the molding soil.
For example, if the belt 108 of the upper belt conveyor 102 is driven to be slightly shifted in the width direction, the belts 110 and 112 of the side belt conveyors 104 and 106 may strongly interfere with each other. ,
There is a possibility that the belts 108 and the belts 110 and 112 may deteriorate or be damaged. Further, when such side belt conveyors 104 and 106 are provided, the drive mechanism and the like become complicated, and there is room for improvement in cost.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and it is possible to mass-produce seedling cultivation soil that is easy to handle without cracking or collapsing at low cost and with a small number of work steps. Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cultivation soil production apparatus capable of preventing the deterioration and damage of the apparatus and reducing the cost.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a soil cultivation apparatus, comprising mixing and mixing rice husk, a core-sheath fiber comprising a core and a sheath having a lower softening temperature than the core. A cultivation apparatus for producing a cultivation medium for raising seedlings, which is obtained by compression-molding the stirred and mixed rice husk and core-sheath fiber, wherein the raw material obtained by stirring and mixing the rice husk and the core-sheath fiber is formed into a layer. A pair of upper and lower belt conveyors which are sequentially conveyed while being sandwiched and compression-molded in the vertical direction, and are set to thicknesses corresponding to opposed gaps between the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors, and the widths of the upper and lower pair of belt conveyors And a pair of left and right guide bars that are arranged in a state of being inserted into the opposing gaps at both ends in the direction, and compression-mold both widthwise ends of the layered raw material conveyed by the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors in the width direction. Was it It is characterized.

The seedling cultivation produced by the cultivation method according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises mixing and mixing rice husk and core-sheath fiber, compression-molding the stirred and mixed rice husk and core-sheath fiber. can get. This seedling cultivation soil has a strong waist like a sponge, and is rich in flexibility and water retention, hardly cracked or chipped, and does not lose its shape during transportation. In addition, even if watering is carried out for raising seedlings, the shape does not collapse, and the handling becomes easy.

Therefore, in order to produce such a seedling cultivation soil, the cultivation soil production apparatus according to the first aspect is provided with a pair of upper and lower belt conveyors and a pair of left and right guide bars.
According to the cultivation soil production apparatus, the raw material obtained by stirring and mixing the rice husk and the core-sheath fiber is layered, transported while being sandwiched by a pair of upper and lower belt conveyors, and compression-molded in the vertical direction. Thereby, both ends in the width direction of the layered raw material are compression-molded in the width direction. Thereby, a so-called mat-shaped seedling cultivation soil is obtained.

[0013] In the cultivation soil producing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, in particular, the raw material is not only compressed and formed while holding and transporting the layered raw material by a pair of upper and lower belt conveyors, but also by a pair of left and right guide bars. Since both ends in the width direction are compression-molded in the width direction, both ends (so-called ears) in the width direction of the molding medium are sufficiently compressed, and the width of the molding medium can be made uniform. Therefore, there is no need to cut both ends (ears) in the width direction of the molding medium after the molding as in the related art, and the number of working steps and cost are reduced. In addition, since it is not necessary to cut both ends (ears) in the width direction of the molded soil in order to make the width of the molded soil uniform, the raw material is not wasted.

Furthermore, the guide bar for compressing the both ends of the raw material in the width direction in the width direction is set to have a thickness corresponding to the gap between the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors. The pair of upper and lower belt conveyors are disposed so as to enter the opposing gaps at both ends in the width direction. In other words, both ends in the width direction of the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors are in sliding contact with the end surfaces of the guide bars. Therefore, for example, even if the belt of the upper belt conveyor is shifted in the width direction and driven, the belt merely slides on the surface of the guide bar, and does not deteriorate or be damaged by strong interference.

Further, since a pair of left and right guide bars are provided and both ends in the width direction of the raw material (molded soil) are compression-formed by the guide bars, in other words, a structure in which a driving mechanism having a complicated structure is provided. However, the cost can be reduced.

As described above, in the soil cultivation apparatus according to the first aspect, a series of operations can be sequentially and automatically performed automatically, the work efficiency is greatly improved, and the cultivation medium for raising seedlings as described above is inexpensive. In addition, mass production can be performed uniformly with a small number of work steps, and furthermore, deterioration and damage of the apparatus can be prevented and cost can be reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the soil cultivation apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the layered raw material is disposed so as to correspond to a raw material transport path by the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors. A pair of upper and lower heating compression plates for compression molding while heating the material at a temperature at which the sheath portion of the core-sheath type fiber is softened but the core portion is not softened, and the downstream side of the heating compression plate in the raw material transport direction. And a pair of upper and lower cooling compression plates for compressing and molding the raw material immediately after being subjected to the heat compression molding by the heating compression plate at a predetermined temperature.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors and the pair of left and right guide bars, a heating / compressing plate and a cooling / compressing plate are provided. According to this soil cultivation apparatus, the raw material obtained by stirring and mixing the rice husk and the core-sheath fiber is layered and transported while being sandwiched between a pair of upper and lower belt conveyors and a pair of left and right guide bars.
Next, the raw material conveyed while being sandwiched in a layered manner as described above is compression-molded while being heated at a temperature at which the sheath portion of the core-sheath type fiber is softened but the core portion is not softened by a pair of upper and lower heating and compression plates. You. As a result, in the raw material, the sheath portions of the core-sheath type fibers are softened and welded to each other, and become net-like and entangled with the rice husk. Further, the raw material heated and compression-formed by the heating compression plate is compression-molded while being immediately cooled by a cooling compression plate arranged on the downstream side of the heating compression plate in the raw material transport direction.

As a result, the sheath portion of the core-sheath type fiber is solidified while being entangled with the rice hulls in the form of a net, so that a so-called mat-shaped seedling cultivation soil is obtained.

As described above, in the soil cultivation apparatus according to the second aspect, the raw material conveyed while being sandwiched by the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors and the pair of left and right guide bars is compressed while being continuously heated by the heating and compression platen. Since the molding is performed and the compression molding is performed immediately after cooling by the cooling compression board, a series of operations can be automatically performed sequentially and continuously, and the operation efficiency is greatly improved. Therefore, the above-mentioned soil for raising seedlings can be mass-produced at low cost.

Further, immediately after the sheath portion of the core-sheath type fiber is softened and welded by the heating and compression plate to be in a net-like state and entangled with the rice husk, the fiber is cooled and solidified by the cooling and compression plate. The sheath portion of the core-sheath type fiber which is welded and entangled with the rice hull does not unnecessarily expand due to, for example, the elasticity of the rice hull, and the welded entangled state is not unnecessarily released. It is possible to form a cultivation soil for raising seedlings by solidifying as it is in the state.

As described above, according to the soil cultivation apparatus of the second aspect, a series of operations can be sequentially and automatically performed automatically, so that not only the working efficiency is improved, but also the cultivation soil for raising seedlings as described above is further improved. It can be mass-produced with more uniform dimensions.

In addition, as the core-sheath type fiber in the above-mentioned claims 1 and 2, for example, a core-sheath type polyester (made by Unitika) can be used. In this case,
The sheath softens at 110 ° C and the core softens at 250 ° C.
Therefore, if the rice husk and the core-sheath type polyester are stirred and mixed and then subjected to heat compression molding at 130 ° C. to 200 ° C. (preferably around 140 ° C.), the seedling cultivation soil can be obtained. Further, as core-sheath type fibers, for example,
Bionole (manufactured by Showa High Polymer Co., Ltd.) can be used. In this case, the sheath softens at 90 ° C. and the core
Softens at 5 ° C. For this reason, if the rice hulls and the bionoles are stirred and mixed and then heated and pressed at 100 ° C., the cultivated soil for seedling raising can be obtained.

It is preferable to use rice husks obtained by compression and crushing.

Further, the mixing ratio of the rice husk and the core-sheath fiber is, for example, that the core-sheath fiber is 1 when the rice hull is 600 g.
The mixing ratio is preferably 5 g, but the mixing ratio can be changed as appropriate.

Further, the degree of pressurization when the stirred and mixed rice husk and the core-sheath type fiber are subjected to the heat compression molding is as follows when the thickness of the stirred and mixed raw material (rice hull and the core-sheath type fiber) is 4 cm. The thickness after pressurization is preferably about 2 cm.

In the above-mentioned soil cultivation apparatus, the raw materials (rice hulls and core-sheath fibers) conveyed by a pair of upper and lower belt conveyors and a pair of left and right guide bars are used for raising seedlings. Fertilizers may be stirred and mixed together and supplied, and these may be compression-molded.

In this case, the fertilizer for seedling raising is wrapped together by the rice hull entangled and bound by the core-sheath type fibers, and is integrally formed.

Therefore, it is not necessary to add another new fertilizer to the seedling cultivation soil when raising seedlings. In addition, if the type and mixing ratio of this fertilizer for seedling raising are appropriately changed according to the type of crop to be raised and the weather (climate), etc., and a plurality of different types of soil for raising seedlings are prepared, the range of application is greatly increased. Expands.

As fertilizers for raising seedlings, fertilizers for medium-term growth (for example, trademark: Long M100), agents for propagation of high-quality soil bacteria (for example, zeolite), fertilizers for initial growth (for example, phosphorus and ammonium sulfate), healthy seedlings Growth agents (for example, trademark: FT
E), a germination inhibitor remover (for example, citric acid), and the like.

Further, the mixing ratio of the rice husk, the core-sheath type fiber, and the fertilizer for each seedling is, for example, when the rice husk is 600 g, the core-sheath type fiber is 15 g, and the medium-term growing fertilizer is 60 g.
6 g of good soil fungus propagation agent, 7 g of fertilizer for initial growth, 0.36 g of healthy seedling growth agent, 1.2 g of germination inhibitor remover
However, the mixing ratio can be appropriately changed.

[0032]

FIG. 6 shows a seedling cultivation soil 10 produced by a soil cultivation apparatus 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Is shown in an external perspective view.

The seedling cultivation soil 10 is composed of rice hull 12 as a soil cultivation base material, a core-sheath fiber 14 as a binder, and a plurality of seedling fertilizers 16. For example, in order to enter the nursery box 60 (see FIG. 8), the vertical dimension is 28 cm, the horizontal dimension is 58 cm, and the thickness dimension is 2c.
m. Here, an example of the type and content of each constituent material of the seedling cultivation soil 10 will be described below.

Rice husk: 600 g Core-sheath type fiber (core-sheath type polyester: manufactured by Unitika): 15 g Medium-term growing fertilizer (trade name: Long M100): 60 g Good-quality soil fungus propagation agent (zeolite): 6 g Initial growing fertilizer (sulfurized) Phosphorus): 7 g Healthy seedling growth agent (trademark: FTE): 0.36 g Germination inhibitor remover (citric acid): 1.2 g

The core-sheath type polyester (made by Unitika) used as the core-sheath type fiber 14 is composed of a core portion 14A and a sheath portion 1
4B (schematically shown in FIG. 7),
The sheath 14B is softened at 110 ° C., and the core 14A is 250 ° C.
Softens with Further, as the core-sheath type fiber 14, for example,
Bionole (manufactured by Showa High Polymer Co., Ltd.) can be used. In this case, the sheath 14B softens at 90 ° C, and the core 14A softens at 115 ° C.

The mixing ratio of the rice husk 12, the core-sheath type fiber 14, and the plurality of fertilizers 16 for raising seedlings can be appropriately changed.

Next, a soil cultivation apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment for manufacturing the seedling cultivation soil 10 will be described.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the entire structure of the soil cultivation apparatus 20. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the entire configuration of the soil cultivation apparatus 20, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the entire configuration of the soil cultivation apparatus 20.

This soil cultivation apparatus 20 includes a pair of upper and lower belt conveyors 22 and 23. The belt conveyor 22 located on the lower side is constituted by a pair of rolls 24 and 26 and a belt 28. The belt 28 is, for example, a steel belt or a synthetic resin fiber belt using both Teflon and glass fiber. The raw material G can be conveyed by moving the belt 28 in the direction of the arrow in FIG.

On the other hand, a raw material supply port 32 is provided above the upstream end (roll 24) of the belt conveyor 22 in the transport direction, and the rice husk 12, the core-sheath type fiber 14, and the plurality of fertilizers 16 for raising seedlings are provided. The agitated and mixed raw material G can be dropped and supplied downward (that is, the belt conveyor 22). Thereby, with the operation of the belt conveyor 22,
In this configuration, the raw materials G are successively dropped on the belt conveyor 22 and conveyed in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2 while being stacked.

A set screw 70 and a diffusion screw 72 as leveling devices are provided adjacent to each other and along the width direction of the belt conveyor 22 just above the belt conveyor 22 and beside the raw material supply port 32. Have been. The spiral direction (winding direction) of the spiral blades of the collective screw 70 is opposite to the center of the shaft, and the feeding direction of the spiral blades is set to the center of the shaft. Therefore, the raw material G dropped and supplied onto the belt conveyor 22 is moved by the collecting screw 70 from both ends in the width direction of the belt conveyor 22 to the center part in the width direction. On the other hand, in the diffusion screw 72, the spiral direction (winding direction) of the spiral blade is opposite to the center of the shaft, and the feeding direction by the spiral blade is set to both ends in the axial direction. Therefore, the raw material G dropped and supplied onto the belt conveyor 22
Is moved from the center in the width direction of the belt conveyor 22 to both ends in the width direction by the diffusion screw 72. That is, by the cooperation of the collective screw 70 and the diffusion screw 72, the raw material G dropped and supplied from the raw material supply port 32 onto the belt conveyor 22 is evenly (flattened) on the surface of the belt conveyor 22. It is a configuration that can be performed.

The collective screw 70 and the diffusion screw 72 are both connected to a drive motor via a chain (not shown), and are rotated in the same direction by the single drive motor.

The positions of the collecting screw 70 and the diffusion screw 72 may be reversed. Even in this case, the raw material G dropped and supplied onto the belt conveyor 22 can be evenly (flat) evenly on the surface of the belt conveyor 22.

Collecting Screw 70 and Diffusion Screw 7
2 (on the downstream side in the transport direction) and the belt conveyor 2
Immediately above 2, a belt conveyor 23 located on the upper side is arranged. The belt conveyor 23 includes a pair of rolls 2.
5, 27 and a belt 29. The belt 29 is, like the belt 28, a steel belt or a synthetic resin fiber belt, and has substantially the same width as the belt 28 as shown in detail in FIG. This belt 29 is the belt 28 of the belt conveyor 22.
2 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2 to convey the raw material G while pinching it with the belt 28 of the belt conveyor 22.

A pair of upper and lower heating / compressing plates 38 and 40 are arranged at a portion of the belt conveyor 22 facing the belt 28 and the belt 29 of the belt conveyor 23 (a portion for holding and transporting the raw material G). The heating compression platen 38 located on the lower side is provided inside the endless shape of the belt 28 of the belt conveyor 22, and the heating compression platen 40 located on the upper side is provided inside the endless shape of the belt 29 of the belt conveyor 23. And face each other.

Here, FIG.
0 is shown in cross section. Heating compression plate 38,
Inside the 40, a wire heater (heat tube) 50 is provided. The wire heater 50 has a structure in which a heating element wound in a coil shape is inserted into the center of a metal tube, and a heat-resistant electric insulating powder that can withstand high temperatures is solidified under high pressure in the metal tube. And heat compression platen 3
8, 40 can be heated to a predetermined temperature (for example, 150 ° C.). Both ends in the longitudinal direction of the wire heater 50 are electrically connected to terminals 51, respectively. Further, the terminal 51 is connected to a power supply 53. Thereby, it is the structure which can energize the wire heater 50 via the terminal 51. The number of wire heaters 50 can be changed as appropriate.

The heating / compressing plates 38 and 40 having the above-described structure are heated to a predetermined temperature by the heat generated by the wire heater 50, whereby the raw material held and conveyed by the belt 28 of the belt conveyor 22 and the belt 29 of the belt conveyor 23 is conveyed. By sandwiching G, compression molding can be performed while heating.

Further, downstream of the pair of heating and compression plates 38 and 40 in the transport direction, similarly to the heating and compression plates 38 and 40,
Belt 28 of belt conveyor 22 and belt conveyor 23
Of the belt 29 (the portion for holding and transporting the raw material G)
, A pair of upper and lower cooling compression plates 42 and 44 are arranged. The cooling compression plate 42 located on the lower side is provided inside the endless shape of the belt 28 of the belt conveyor 22, and the cooling compression plate 44 located on the upper side is provided inside the endless shape of the belt 29 of the belt conveyor 23. And face each other.

FIG. 5 shows the cooling compression plates 42, 4
4 is shown in cross section. Cooling compression plate 42,
A water pipe 58 is provided inside 44. The water pipe 58 is supplied with water and circulates, so that the cooling compressor plate 4
2, 44 can be cooled to a predetermined temperature (for example, 20 ° C. to 30 ° C.). This water pipe 58
It is connected to the pump 34 and the tank 36 via a pipe 59 to form a circulation path, and water is circulated by the operation of the pump 34. The number of the water pipes 58 can be changed as appropriate.

The cooling and compressing plates 42 and 44 having the above-described structure are cooled to a predetermined temperature by circulating water through a water pipe 58, so that the raw material G immediately after being heated and compression molded by the heating and compressing plates 38 and 40 can be used. And compression molding with further cooling.

Further, a pair of upper and lower belt conveyors 2
A pair of left and right guide bars 7 are provided on both sides in the width direction of 2 and 23.
4, 76 are arranged. As shown in FIG. 3, the guide bars 74 and 76 are set to have a thickness corresponding to the gap between the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors 22 and 23 described above, and the width of the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors 22 and 23 is set. It is arranged in a state of entering the opposing gaps at both ends in the direction. In other words, both ends in the width direction of the belt 28 of the belt conveyor 22 ride on the upper surfaces of the end portions of the guide bars 74 and 76, and the both ends in the width direction of the belt 29 of the belt conveyor 23 are the guide bars 74. , 76 are in sliding contact with the lower surfaces of the ends. That is, the guide bars 74 and 76
The pair of upper and lower belt conveyors 22 and 23 correspond to the widthwise ends of the raw material G conveyed by the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors 22 and 23, respectively. This is a configuration that can be compression molded.

It is preferable that the surfaces of the guide bars 74 and 76 (particularly, the front end surfaces) be subjected to a “friction reduction treatment” such as Teflon coating.

Next, the procedure for manufacturing the seedling raising soil 10 will be described.

First, the rice husk 12, the core-sheath fiber 14 and the fertilizer 16 for each seedling are mixed with stirring. As the rice husk 12, it is preferable to use rice husks obtained by compression and pulverization. The core-sheath fiber 14 composed of the core portion 14A and the sheath portion 14B is mixed and stirred with the rice husk 12 and the fertilizer 16 for each seedling to form a complicated and fine net-like shape, and is entangled with the rice hull 12 and the fertilizer 16 for each seedling, The rice husk 12 and the fertilizer 16 for each seedling are wrapped.

Next, the stirred and mixed rice husk 12, the core-sheath type fiber 14, and the fertilizer 16 (raw material G) for seedling raising are laminated in a predetermined state by the soil cultivation apparatus 20.

That is, in the soil cultivation apparatus 20, the raw material G mixed and stirred is dropped and supplied onto the belt conveyor 22 from the raw material supply port 32. In addition, belt conveyor 2
The raw material G dropped and supplied on the second screw 2
By the cooperation of the diffusion screw 72 and the surface of the belt conveyor 22, they are layered and transported in a layered manner while being evenly (flat) evenly.
The belt 28 and the belt conveyor 23 are conveyed while being sandwiched between the opposite portions of the belt 28 and the belt 29, and also sandwiched at both ends in the width direction by the guide bars 74 and 76.

Next, the laminated rice husk 12, the core-sheath type fiber 14, and the fertilizer 16 for raising seedlings (raw material G), which are conveyed while being clamped as described above, are clamped by the heating and compressing plates 38, 40 and heated. Compression molding.

In the heat compression molding using the heat compression disks 38 and 40, the heat compression molding is performed at a temperature at which the sheath 14B of the core-sheath fiber 14 contained in the raw material G is softened, but the core 14A is not softened. I do. In this case, for example, when a core-sheath type polyester (made by Unitika) is used as the core-sheath type fiber 14, the sheath portion 14B softens at 110 ° C.
4A softens at 250 ° C, so 130 ° C to 200 ° C
(Preferably around 140 ° C.). on the other hand,
For example, when a bionole (manufactured by Showa Polymer Co., Ltd.) is used as the core-sheath fiber 14, the sheath 14B is softened at 90 ° C. and the core 14A is softened at 115 ° C. do it.

In this case, the degree of pressurization is as follows. The raw material G (rice hull 12, core-sheath type fiber 14, seedling fertilizer 16, and non-woven fabrics 18, 19) obtained by stirring and mixing as described above and laminated in a predetermined state. Is preferably about 2 cm when the thickness is 4 cm.

By performing the heat compression molding using the heat compression disks 38 and 40 in this manner, the sheath portion 14 of the core-sheath fiber 14 is formed.
B is softened and welded to each other to form a net and entangle with the rice husk 12.

Further, the raw material G (rice husk 12, core-sheath type fiber 14, and fertilizer 16 for raising seedlings) which has been heated and compressed by the heating and compressing plates 38 and 40 is immediately cooled and compressed by the cooling and compressing plates 42 and 44. .

Further, as described above, when the raw material G is compression-formed by the heating compression plates 38 and 40 and the cooling compression plates 42 and 44 while being sandwiched by the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors 22 and 23, The both ends in the width direction of the raw material G are also compression-molded in the width direction by the guide bar 74 and the guide bar 76.

Thus, the sheath portion 14B of the core-sheath type fiber 14 is formed.
Are solidified in a net-like state in which they are intertwined with the rice hulls 12, so that a so-called mat-shaped seedling cultivation soil 10 is completed.

The seedling cultivation soil 10 thus completed
The sheath 14B of the core-sheath type fiber 14 is softened and welded to each other to form a net-like shape and entangled with the rice hull 12 to be joined. Here, FIG. 7 schematically shows a part of the state of the core-sheath type fiber 14 after compression molding as described above. As shown in FIG. 7, the sheath portion 14B is softened and welded to each other, so that the unsoftened core portion 1B is formed.
4A are entangled and connected to each other in a mesh form, and surround the rice husk 12 and the fertilizer 16 for raising seedlings. Thus, the seedling cultivation soil 10 having flexibility and water retention like a so-called sponge can be obtained.

When the seedling cultivation soil 10 obtained as described above is used, as shown in FIG. After covering the soil 64, the seedlings are raised daily by watering and temperature control.

In raising seedlings using the seedling cultivation soil 10, for example, when a core-sheath type polyester (made by Unitika) is used as the core-sheath type fiber 14, the core-sheath type polyester is hydrolyzed and Decomposes in the field, while
For example, when a bionole (manufactured by Showa Polymer Co., Ltd.) is used as the core-sheath fiber 14, the bionole biodegrades and decomposes in a field for a long period of time. Therefore, there is no adverse effect on others.

The seedling cultivation soil 10 produced by the soil cultivation apparatus 20 as described above is obtained by stirring and mixing the rice husk 12, the core-sheath type fiber 14, and the seedling fertilizer 16 and laminating them. Can be The seedling cultivation soil 10 is configured as a sponge-like stiff, flexible and water-retaining soil in which the core-sheath type fibers 14 are finely meshed and intertwined with the rice hulls 12 and joined. For this reason, it is rich in flexibility and water retention, is hardly broken or chipped, and does not lose its shape during transportation. In addition, even if watering is performed for raising seedlings, the shape does not collapse, and the handling becomes easy. Therefore, in actual use, for example, even when rice is planted by setting it on a seedling stand of an automatic rice transplanter, the finger portion of the device can properly grasp the seedling, and a smooth operation can be performed.

Further, in the seedling cultivation soil 10, the rice husk 12 itself as a soil cultivation base material is extremely inexpensive (further speaking, the rice husk 12 as so-called industrial waste can be effectively used as the soil cultivation base material). In addition, since the core-sheath type fiber 14 as a binder can also be inexpensive,
The overall cost is significantly lower.

Further, since the seedling cultivation soil 10 includes the seedling fertilizer 16, it is not necessary to add another new fertilizer at the time of seedling raising. In addition, if the types and mixing ratios of the fertilizers 16 for seedling raising described above are appropriately changed according to the type of crop to be raised and the weather (climate), etc., and a plurality of different types of soil for seedling raising 10 are prepared, a great deal of The range of application expands.

Therefore, in order to produce the seedling cultivation soil 10, in the cultivation soil production apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment, the belt conveyors 22 and 23, the raw material supply port 32, and a pair of upper and lower heating and compression plates 38 and 40. , A pair of upper and lower cooling compressors 4
2, 44, and guide bars 74, 76.

According to the cultivated soil producing apparatus 20, the raw materials G supplied from the raw material supply ports 32 are successively stacked on the belt conveyor 22 in sequence, and the belt 28 of the belt conveyor 22 and the belt 29 of the belt conveyor 23 are stacked. Of the heating and compression platen 3
8 and 40, heat compression molding is performed continuously, and immediately thereafter, cooling compression molding is continuously performed by the cooling compression plates 42, 44. Therefore, a series of operations can be automatically performed continuously and sequentially. Work efficiency is improved. Therefore, the above-mentioned seedling raising soil 10 can be mass-produced at low cost.

Further, immediately after the sheath 14B of the core-sheath type fiber 14 is softened and welded by the heating and compressing plates 38 and 40 to form a net and entangled with the rice husk 12, the cooling and compressing plates 42 and 44 Sheath portion 14B of core-sheath type fiber 14 that softens and welds and is entangled with rice hull 12 to cool and solidify
However, for example, the welding and entangled state is not unnecessarily released due to unnecessarily swelling due to the elasticity of the rice husk 12, and the sheath 14B of the core-sheath type fiber 14 is securely solidified in the state of being entangled with the rice husk 12. The seedling raising soil 10 can be formed.

Further, in this case, the heat compression plates 38, 40,
Since the compression is performed by a flat plate-like member such as the cooling compression plates 42 and 44 or the guide bars 74 and 76, the compression time and area are large. Therefore, the forming degree (finish condition) of the seedling raising soil 10 becomes favorable (uniform). Further, the heating compression plates 38 and 40 or the cooling compression plates 4
2 and 44 are respectively the belt 28 or the belt 29
Because it is a configuration that compresses the raw material G located inside the
These heating compression plates 38 and 40 or cooling compression plates 4
2, 44 function as a holding mold at the time of compression molding, and the belt 28 or the belt 29 is prevented from bending and bending.
This also improves the degree of formation (finish condition) of the seedling raising soil 10.

In particular, in the soil cultivation apparatus 20, the layered raw material G is sandwiched and conveyed by the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors 22 and 23, and the raw material G is heated and compressed by the heating compression plates 38 and 40 or the cooling compression plates 42 and 44. Not only in the vertical direction, but also in a pair of left and right guide bars 7.
4 and 76, the both ends in the width direction of the raw material G are regulated and the both ends in the width direction of the raw material G are also compression-molded in the width direction. ) Are sufficiently compressed, and the width of the seedling cultivation soil 10 can be made uniform. Therefore, it is not necessary to cut both ends (ears) in the width direction of the molding soil after molding as in the related art, and the number of working steps and cost are reduced. In addition, since it is not necessary to cut both ends (ears) in the width direction of the molding soil, the raw material G is not wasted.

Further, in the soil cultivation apparatus 20, the guide bars 74 and 76 for compressing the both ends in the width direction of the raw material G in the width direction include the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors 22,
The thickness is set to correspond to the facing gap of 23.
The guide bars 74 and 76 are arranged so as to enter the opposing gaps at both ends in the width direction of the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors 22 and 23. In other words, both ends in the width direction of the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors 22 and 23 are in sliding contact with the end surfaces of the guide bars 74 and 76, respectively. Therefore, for example, even if the belt 29 of the upper belt conveyor 23 is shifted in the width direction and driven, the belt 29 only slides on the surfaces of the guide bars 74 and 76, and the belt 29 deteriorates due to strong interference. No damage.

Further, since a pair of left and right guide bars 74, 76 is provided and both ends in the width direction of the raw material G (the seedling cultivation soil 10) are compression-molded by the guide bars 74, 76, in other words, complicated Since the driving mechanism is not provided with a simple driving mechanism, the cost can be reduced.

As described above, in the soil cultivation apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to mass-produce the seedling cultivation soil 10 which is easy to handle without cracking or collapsing, at low cost, with a small number of work steps, and with uniform dimensions. In addition, deterioration and damage of the apparatus can be prevented, and the cost can be reduced.

In the soil cultivation apparatus 20 according to the above-described embodiment, a pair of left and right guide bars 74 and 76 are provided.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the guide bars 74 and 76 are provided so as to be movable in the width direction (position can be changed), thereby providing the raw material G (the seedling raising soil 10). It is also possible to configure so that the dimension in the width direction can be arbitrarily set to a desired size.

[0079]

As described above, the soil cultivation apparatus according to the present invention can uniformly mass-produce cultivation for seedling raising which is easy to handle without cracking or collapsing at low cost and with a small number of work steps. This has an excellent effect that deterioration and damage of the semiconductor device can be prevented and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of a cultivated soil production apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the entire configuration of the soil cultivation apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the entire configuration of the soil cultivation apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing details of a heating and compressing plate of the soil cultivation apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing details of a cooling and compression board of the soil cultivation apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of the seedling cultivation soil produced by the soil cultivation production apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partially simplified schematic diagram showing a state of a core-sheath fiber after compression molding in a seedling cultivation produced by the soil producing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a use state of the seedling cultivation soil produced by the soil cultivation production device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view, corresponding to FIG. 3, showing the configuration of a conventional soil cultivation apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 seedling cultivation soil 12 rice husk 14 core-sheath fiber 14A core part 14B sheath part 16 seedling raising fertilizer 20 cultivation soil production device 22 belt conveyor 23 belt conveyor 38 heating compression platen 40 heating compression platen 42 cooling compression plate 44 cooling compression plate 74 guide bar 76 Guide Bar

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A rice hull, a core-sheath fiber comprising a core portion and a sheath portion having a lower softening temperature than the core portion are mixed by stirring, and the stirred and mixed rice hull and the core-sheath fiber are compression-molded. A soil cultivation apparatus for producing a cultivation soil for raising seedlings, comprising a pair of upper and lower upper and lower members which are sequentially conveyed while being sandwiched in a layered manner by mixing and stirring the rice hulls and the core-sheath type fibers in a layered manner. The belt conveyors are set to have thicknesses corresponding to the opposing gaps between the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors, and are disposed so as to enter the opposing gaps at both ends in the width direction of the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors. And a pair of left and right guide bars for compressing in the width direction both end portions of the layered raw material conveyed by the pair of belt conveyors in the width direction. 2. The sheath material of the core-sheath type fiber is arranged so as to correspond to a material material transporting path by the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors, and the sandwiched layered material material is softened. A pair of upper and lower heating compression disks that are compression molded while being heated at a temperature that does not soften, and the raw material immediately after being heat compression molded by the heating compression plate, disposed on the downstream side of the heating compression disk in the raw material transport direction, The cultivated soil production apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a pair of upper and lower cooling compression plates that perform compression molding while cooling at a predetermined temperature.