JP2004113076A

JP2004113076A - Seedling transplanter

Info

Publication number: JP2004113076A
Application number: JP2002279391A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Eiichiro Kinoshita; 木下　栄一郎; Shiro Katsuno; 勝野　志郎; Yoshihiko Okubo; 大久保　嘉彦; Isao Ishida; 石田　伊佐男; Hitoshi Yoshikura; 吉倉　均; Kiyoshi Nakatani; 中谷　▲きよし▼; Hajime Kitte; 切手　肇; Yoshikazu Tate; 舘　良和; Masahiro Takemoto; 竹本　雅浩; Katsutoshi Shima; 島　勝利
Original assignee: Iseki and Co Ltd; Iseki Agricultural Machinery Mfg Co Ltd
Current assignee: Iseki and Co Ltd; Iseki Agricultural Machinery Mfg Co Ltd
Priority date: 2002-09-25
Filing date: 2002-09-25
Publication date: 2004-04-15
Anticipated expiration: 2022-09-25
Also published as: JP4016779B2

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a seedling transplanter with which soil above vine seedlings such as sweet potato seedlings after planting is surely compacted and the vine seedlings are planted in a proper position in soil. <P>SOLUTION: The seedling transplanter has constitution that the tine seedlings are planted in soil in a forward falling state such as bottom planting, oblique planting and after the seedlings are released from the nipping parts 4a of a planting body 4, the nipping parts are raised from the rear side in the advance direction of the machine body obliquely upward on the front side and the seedlings are readily covered with soil. The grounding body 63a of a compacting and soil covering body 63 is grounded from the rear end part in soil of the planted vine seedlings to the surface of the ridge of the upper part of the seedling stem part of the front side to compact the soil and soil covering and compacting of the vine seedlings planted in a forward falling state in soil are properly carried out. The grounding body 63a of the compacting and sol covering body 63 is made to rise before the seedlings on the ground are compacted with the advance of the machine body and the ground parts of the seedlings are not compacted. Consequently the vine seedlings are planted in a proper position and in good root taking. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、甘しょ苗等のつる苗を圃場に植付ける苗移植機に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来、下記特許文献１〜３に示されるように、機体を自走させる走行部と、つる苗を前後方向に向く姿勢で一つづつ収容する苗収容部を複数設けて該苗収容部を複数の前後方向の軸周りに一列で周回動させて苗を搬送する苗搬送部と、該苗搬送部によって搬送されてきたつる苗を把持して圃場に植付ける苗植付け体とを備えた甘しょ苗移植機が知られている。
【０００３】
従来の甘しょ苗移植機は、機体の進行方向後方へ向けて圃場内に浅く斜めに苗を植え付けるものであり、植え付けたつる苗上の圃場面に覆土した後、覆土を押さえつける一対の鎮圧輪を用いる方法が知られている。
【０００４】
【特許文献１】
特開平４−３６１０７号公報
【０００５】
【特許文献２】
特開平４−３６１０８号公報
【０００６】
【特許文献３】
特開平４−５８８０９号公報
【０００７】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
前記従来の一対の鎮圧輪は下部ほど互いの間隔が狭くなるように斜めに取り付けられ、作業機の重みで下向きに付勢されており、機体の進行に伴って畝面を転動して苗が植え付けられた後の苗移植穴の周囲の土を崩落させて覆土した後、その後を軽く鎮圧する機能がある。
【０００８】
しかし、上記鎮圧輪では、植え付けたつる苗の上の圃場面が一対の鎮圧輪の間に位置することになり、他の苗類に比べて長いつる苗の根部及びその近傍を十分鎮圧できていないおそれがある。
また、マルチフィルムを設置する場合に、苗植付け体による苗の植え付け後にマルチフィルムとその下方の土壌との間に空気がたまり易く、高温空気により苗の生育に支障を与えることがあった。
【０００９】
本発明の課題は、植え付け後の甘藷苗等のつる苗の上方の土を確実に鎮圧して、つる苗を土中に植え付けることができる苗移植機を提供することである。
また、本発明の課題は、甘藷苗等のつる苗を土中に植え付けた後で、マルチフィルムを設置する場合にも苗の生育の障害にならないようにする苗移植機を提供することである。
【００１０】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明は、上記課題を解決するために次の構成を採用した。
請求項１記載の発明は、機体を自走させる走行装置１と、該走行装置１上に植付用のつる苗を搬送する苗搬送部３と、該苗搬送部３からつる苗を受け取り、圃場に植え付ける苗植付け体４と、圃場に植え付けられたつる苗の上面を覆土して鎮圧する覆土鎮圧体６３を備えた苗移植機において、苗植付け体４は、その先端の挟持部（作用部）４ａがつる苗を保持したまま圃場の土中に侵入し、機体進行方向前側から後側に向って土中を移動して所定箇所で土中につる苗を開放して、機体進行方向後側から前斜め上方に向かって上昇して土中を抜け出るように移動する構成を備え、覆土鎮圧体６３は圃場面を押圧するための接地体６３ａを備え、該接地体６３ａが植付け体４のつる苗植え付け動作時に、植付けられたつる苗の後端部より後側から前側の苗茎部上方の畝上面に接地し、機体進行により地上に出ているつる苗に接触する前に圃場面から離れて上昇するように移動する構成を備えた苗移植機である。
【００１１】
請求項２記載の発明は、覆土鎮圧体６３の接地体６３ａは弾性変形可能な板体で構成した苗移植機である。
【００１２】
【作用及び発明の効果】
請求項１の発明により、つる状苗が船底植えや斜め植えのように前倒れ状態で土中に植付けられ、しかも、植付け体４の挟持部４ａが苗を開放した後、機体進行方向後側から前側斜め上方に向って上昇するので、苗が覆土されやすい状態となり、そして、鎮圧覆土体６３の接地体６３ａが、植付けられたつる状苗の土中の後端部より後側から前側の苗茎部上方の畝上面に接地して鎮圧するので、上記のように前倒れ状態で土中に植付けられたつる状苗の覆土鎮圧を適確に行え、更に、鎮圧覆土体６３の接地体６３ａが機体進行により地上に出ている苗を鎮圧する前に上昇するので、苗の地上部分を鎮圧してしまうこともない。従って、つる状苗を適確な姿勢で植付けられ、且つ、活着が良い植付けが可能となる。
【００１３】
請求項２の発明により、畝上面をマルチフィルムで覆っている場合、鎮圧覆土体６３の接地体６３ａが弾性変形可能な状態で広い範囲の面で接地するため、マルチフィルム下方の土壌が大きく沈下する状態が生じにくく、このため、マルチフィルムと土壌面との間に高温の空気が多量に溜まって苗の生育に支障を与えるというような問題が発生しにくくなる。
【００１４】
【発明の実施の形態】
この発明の一実施形態としての苗移植機を以下に図面と共に説明する。図１は本発明の実施の形態の苗移植機の側面図、図２は図１の苗移植機の平面図、図３は図１の苗移植機の苗搬送部と苗植付け体と鎮圧体を示す一部省略した斜視図、図４は図１の苗移植機の苗搬送部と苗植付け体とを示す一部省略した苗移植機の背面方向から見た図である。
【００１５】
なお、以下の図示例についての説明で前又は後というときは、操縦ハンドル２を配置した側を後とし、その反対側、即ちエンジン５を配置した側を前という。そして、右又は左というときは、機体後部において機体前部側を前側として立つ作業者から見て右手側を右とし、左手側が左としていう。
【００１６】
苗移植機は、走行装置１と操縦ハンドル２を備えた機体に、甘しょ苗を搬送する苗搬送部３と、該苗搬送部３によって搬送されてきた苗を圃場に植付ける苗植付け体４とを備えた苗移植機である。
【００１７】
走行装置１は、図示例では、エンジン５と、該エンジン５の動力が伝達されて駆動回転する左右一対の後輪６、６と、該車輪６、６の前方に転動自在に支持した左右一対の前輪７、７とを備えたものとしている。
【００１８】
エンジン５の後部には、ミッション（伝動）ケース８を配置し、そのミッション（伝動）ケース８は、その左側部からエンジン５の左側方に延びるケース部分を有し、これがエンジン５の左側部と連結している。このケース部分にエンジン５の出力軸が入り込んでミッション（伝動）ケース８内の伝動機構に動力が伝達される構成となっている。ミッション（伝動）ケース８の左右両側部に伝動ケース９、９を回動自在に取り付け、この伝動ケース９、９の回動中心にミッション（伝動）ケース８から左右両外側方に延出させた車輪駆動軸の先端が入り込んで伝動ケース９、９内の伝動機構に走行用の動力を伝達している。そして、走行用の動力は伝動ケース９、９内の伝動機構を介して機体後方側に延びて、その後端側側方に突出する車軸１０、１０に伝動し、後輪６、６が駆動回転するようになっている。
【００１９】
また、伝動ケース９、９のミッション（伝動）ケース８への取付部には、上方に延びるアーム１１、１１を一体的に取り付けていて、これがミッション（伝動）ケース８に固定された昇降用油圧シリンダ１２のピストンロッド先端に上下軸心周りに回動自在に取り付けた天秤杆１３の左右両側部と連結している。その連結部の右側はロッド１４で連結し、左側は伸縮作動可能な左右水平制御用油圧シリンダ１５で連結している。
【００２０】
昇降用油圧シリンダ１２が作動してそのピストンロッド１２ａが機体後方に突出すると、左右の前記アーム１１、１１は後方に回動し、これに伴い伝動ケース９、９が下方に回動して、機体が上昇する。反対に、昇降用油圧シリンダ１２のピストンロッド１２ａが機体前方に引っ込むと、左右の前記アーム１１、１１は前方に回動し、これに伴い伝動ケース９、９が上方に回動して、機体が下降する。この昇降用油圧シリンダ１２は、機体に対する畝上面高さを検出するセンサー２４（図１）の検出結果に基づいて機体が畝上面高さに対して設定高さになるよう作動するよう構成しており、また、操縦ハンドル２近傍に配置した操作具の人為操作によって機体を上昇或は下降させるよう作動する構成ともしている。
【００２１】
また、前記左右水平制御用油圧シリンダ１５が伸縮作動すると、前記天秤杆１３が、その左右中央部の昇降用油圧シリンダ１２のピストンロッド１２ａの先端と連結する上下軸心周りに回動して左右の伝動ケース９、９を互い違いに上下動させ機体を左右に傾斜させる。この左右水平制御用油圧シリンダ１５は、左右水平に対する機体の左右傾斜を検出するセンサー２４の検出結果に基づいて機体が左右水平になるように作動するよう構成している。
【００２２】
前記左右前輪７、７は、エンジン５下方の左右中央位置で前後方向の軸心周りに回動自在に取り付けた前輪支持フレーム１６の左右両側部の下方に延びるアーム部分の下端部側方に固定した車軸１７、１７に回転自在に取り付けている。従って、左右前輪７、７は、機体の左右中央の前後方向の軸心周りにローリング動自在となっている。
【００２３】
前記操縦ハンドル２は、ミッション（伝動）ケース８に前端部を固定したハンドルフレーム２ｂの後端部に取り付けている。ハンドルフレーム２ｂは、機体の左右中央から右側に偏った位置に配置されて後方に延び、また、前後中間部から斜め後上方に延びている。操縦ハンドル２は、ハンドルフレーム２ｂの後端部から左右に後方に延びてその各後端部を操縦ハンドル２のグリップ部２ａ、２ａとしている。操縦ハンドル２の左右のグリップ部２ａ、２ａは、作業者がそのグリップ部２ａ、２ａを楽に手で握れるように適宜高さに設定する。なお、図例ではグリップ部２ａ、２ａを左右に分かれた構成としているが、操縦ハンドル２の左右の後端部を互いに左右に連結してその連結部分をグリップ部としても良い。
【００２４】
なお、上記走行装置１は、四輪構成としたものであるが、左右一対の駆動輪のみの２輪構成でもよいし、前輪の替わりに畝上面を転動する鎮圧輪としてもよい。また、クローラー式の走行装置としてもよい。
【００２５】
次に、苗植付け体４及び苗搬送部３について説明する。
苗植付け体４は、その苗植付け作用部４ａを昇降動させる駆動部と連結し、該苗植付け体４の苗植付け作用部４ａ（一対の苗植付け挟持具４ａ_１、４ａ_２）が、苗搬送部３により搬送されてきた苗に作用して苗を圃場に植付ける構成としたものである。
【００２６】
苗植付け体４を駆動する駆動部は、ミッション（伝動）ケース８内から苗植付け体４の駆動用の動力を受けて伝動する伝動機構を内装する植付け伝動ケース１８に設けている。図例のように植付け伝動ケース１８は、その前部がミッション（伝動）ケース８の後部に連結し、そこから後斜め上方に延びる第一ケース部１８ａと、この第一ケース部１８ａの上部左側部に左右方向の軸心回りに回動自在に取り付けられて左側方に延びる第二ケース部１８ｂと、その第二ケース部１８ｂの左端部に固定され後斜め下方に延びる第三ケース部１８ｃ内に苗植付け体４を駆動するための動力を伝達する伝動機構を内装している。
【００２７】
なお、第一ケース部１８ａ内に内装した伝動機構には、苗植付け体４をその昇降動最上位の位置で、またはその近傍位置で設定時間停止させる間欠駆動機構と、苗植付け体４及び苗搬送部３を作動停止させるクラッチ機構とを備える。間欠駆動機構によって停止する時間は、該間欠駆動機構が備える変速機構によって調節され、この調節によって苗植付け体４による苗植付株間が変更調節されるようになっている。
【００２８】
そして、苗植付け体４は、その駆動部としての駆動回転する駆動アーム１９と連結して駆動される。駆動アーム１９は、前記第三ケース部１８ｃの後部右側部から突出して駆動回転する駆動軸２０に固定されている。そして、駆動アーム１９の先端部に苗植付け体４の支持リンク部２１の上端部を回転自在に連結し、その支持リンク部２１の下端部に揺動リンク２２の前端部を回転自在に連結している。
【００２９】
また、揺動リンク２２の後端部は支持軸２５で回転自在に支持されている。支持軸２５の一端部は第三ケース部１８ｃに前部が固定された支持フレーム２３の後端部に回転自在に支持されている。
【００３０】
また、図３の苗植付け体４部分の拡大斜視図に示すように、苗植付け体４は一対の支持板４ｂ_１、４ｂ_２からなる支持部４ｂと該支持部４ｂの先端部で苗を挟持する一対の苗植付け挟持具４ａ_１、４ａ_２と、前記支持板支持部４ｂの各板４ｂ_１、４ｂ_２の基部を支持する一対の開閉部材４ｃ_１、４ｃ_２と、該開閉部材４ｃ_１、４ｃ_２との基部側に設けた円筒部４ｄ_１、４ｄ_２とからなる。一対の開閉部材４ｃ_１、４ｃ_２はその中間部で回動自在に交差しており、また常時は挟持具４ａ_１、４ａ_２を閉じる方向にスプリング４ｅで付勢されている。また、円筒部４ｄ_１、４ｄ_２の一端部が係合し、他端部が後述するカム５４に当接している。
【００３１】
前記カム５４は駆動アーム１９と支持リンク部２１との端部同士を連結し、かつ伝動ケース１８ｃ内の駆動機構１８ｃ_１の駆動力を揺動リンク２２に伝動する連結リンク５５にスプライン係合されている。カム５４は円盤５４ａの両側にわたって設けたボス部５４ｂ_１、５４ｂ_２と円盤５４ａの前記ボス部５４ｂ_１、５４ｂ_２の外側に設けた一対の突起５４ｃ_１、５４ｃ_２からなる。従って伝動ケース１８ｃからの駆動力でカム５４が一回転すると、突起５４ｃ_１、５４ｃ_２に苗植付け体４の円筒部４ｄ_１、４ｄ_２がそれぞれ当接し、一対の開閉部材４ｃ_１、４ｃ_２がスプリング４ｅの付勢力に抗して互いに開く方向に作動し、支持板４ｂ_１、４ｂ_２を介して一対の挟持具４ａ_１、４ａ_２が開く。
【００３２】
一対の挟持具４ａ_１、４ａ_２が開いた後は、一対の苗植付け挟持具４ａ_１、４ａ_２の先端部が閉じる方向に動き、苗を挟持する。このときの支持リンク部２１が苗植付け挟持具４ａ_１、４ａ_２に挟持された苗を畝に埋め込む方向に動く。
【００３３】
また、苗搬送部３が苗を圃場に向けて搬送する方向と同じ方向に動作しながら苗植付け体４の一対の苗植付け挟持具４ａ_１、４ａ_２が苗を挟持しようするので、搬送部３から苗植付け体４への苗の引き継ぎに無理が無く、苗の引継に失敗することがほとんど無くなる。
【００３４】
苗を圃場（畝）中に植え付けた後にカム５４に連動する苗植付け挟持具４ａ_１、４ａ_２が苗の挟持を解放し、かつ、圃場内から上方に離れる方向に移動する。このときカム５４の突起５４ｃ_１、５４ｃ_２の円盤５４ａへの取り付け位置により、一対の挟持具４ａ_１、４ａ_２が開くタイミングが決まる。苗を圃場（畝）中に植え付けた後に一対の挟持具４ａ_１、４ａ_２が開く。
【００３５】
ここで多種類のカム５４を用意しておき、苗の種類などに応じてカム５４を取り替えて各苗に適した植え付けができ、苗を圃場（畝）中に植え付けた後に、一対の挟持具４ａ_１、４ａ_２が開くタイミングが決まる。
【００３６】
上記構成により苗植付け体４は、駆動アーム１９が駆動回転すると、支持リンク部２１と一体の苗植付け体４の先端部（下端部）の苗植付け作用部４ａが、図１に示すような軌跡Ｔ又は軌跡Ｔ’を描いて運動することになる。なお、図１に示すような軌跡Ｔは、機体に対して苗植付け作用部４ａが描く運動軌跡であり、軌跡Ｔ’は、設定した作業時速度で機体が前進走行したときの圃場に対して苗植付け作用部４ａが描く運動軌跡である。
【００３７】
苗搬送部３は、甘しょ苗を茎部が前後方向に向く姿勢で収容する苗収容部２６を苗搬送方向Ｃ（図４）に複数備えるとともに、該苗収容部２６を機体上部側で左右一方向に搬送する上部横搬送部３ａと、該上部搬送部３ａにより搬送されてきた苗収容部２６を機体下方に搬送する下降搬送部３ｂと、該下降搬送部３ｂにより搬送されてきた苗収容部２６を機体上方に搬送し、前記上部横搬送部３ａの搬送始端側に戻す上昇搬送部３ｃとを備えている。
【００３８】
苗収容体２６は、前後に長い樋状の形態で、上部横搬送部３ａで苗を載せる受け面となる受け板部２６ａと、互いに隣接する苗収容体２６、２６とを仕切る面となる側板部２６ｂ、２６ｂとを備え、上部横搬送部３ａで上方に開放部を有する形態となっている。また、前後にも開放された形状であるが、後部側には、苗挟持体２７を取り付けている。
【００３９】
そして、この苗収容体２６・・・をチェン２８、２８に複数並べて取り付け、そのチェン２８、２８を、機体上部側の左右に各前後一対づつ設けたスプロケット２９、２９；３０、３０と、機体下部側の左右に各前後一対づつ設けたスプロケット３１、３１；３２、３２とに巻きかけている。機体上部側の左右のスプロケット２９、２９；３０、３０は支持部材３５で支持される軸３６、３７に取り付けている。支持部材３５は植付け伝動ケース１８の第三ケース部１８ｃの後部に固定された支持パイプ３３に固着している。
【００４０】
更に、この苗移植機では、図６に示すように苗収容部２６の底部２６ａの後端に、断面コ字状のアーム形状の支持体である苗挟持体２７を着脱自在に取り付けた構成とする。
【００４１】
苗挟持体２７は左右一方側の挟持部材２７ａ、２７ａから構成され、その間につる苗を挟持しながら苗植付け体４に受け渡すが、少なくとも左右一方側の挟持部材２７ａを他方の挟持部材２７ａに毛先が向う姿勢のブラシ体Ｂで構成する。ブラシ体Ｂは、左右の挟持部材２７ａ、２７ａの左右一方側のみにおいて構成しても良いし、左右両方側において構成しても良い。なお、このブラシ体Ｂは、植物性繊維、獣毛、或は合成樹脂等の合成物又はゴムによる細い繊維状体などを用いた毛ｂ１を、適宜材質の板状等のベース部材ｂ２に植立させたものである。ブラシ体Ｂの毛ｂ１は、ブラシ体Ｂの毛先部分に苗を押し込むときに適宜弾力的に屈曲し、且つ、このとき毛先に苗が接触しても苗に大きな損傷を与えないような弾力であり、また、苗の基部側部分をブラシ体Ｂの毛先部分を上下に分け入るようにして挟んだときに苗が容易に脱落しにくいような弾力を有するよう適宜選択する。
【００４２】
図６に示した苗挟持体２７は、苗収容部移動方向（矢印Ｄ方向）下手側の挟持部材２７ａを、苗収容部移動方向Ｄ上手側の挟持部材２７ａに毛先が向う姿勢のブラシ体Ｂで構成し、苗収容部移動方向Ｄ上手側に苗挟持作業時に触れる作業者の指によって弾性変形可能な発砲ウレタン樹脂などの合成物等からなる弾性部材Ｅで構成した例である。
【００４３】
上記のように苗挟持体２７を構成すると、作業者が片手でつる苗を持って苗挟持体２７につる苗を挟持させる場合、苗挟持体２７に挟持させるつる苗の基部側部分の上に指を添え、その添えた指を左右の挟持部材２７ａ、２７ａの間に入り込ませながら、つる苗の基部側部分を左右の挟持部材２７ａ、２７ａ間に押し込んで挟持させることになるが、このとき、苗挟持体２７の少なくとも左右一方側の挟持部材２７ａが他方の挟持部材２７ａに毛先が向う姿勢のブラシ体Ｂで構成されていることにより、指を左右の挟持部材２７ａ、２７ａ間に容易に入り込ませることができ、しかも、この際に挟持部材２７ａ、２７ａから受ける指への負荷も軽いものとなる。更に、苗挟持体２７に挟持されるつる苗の基部側部分は、ブラシ体Ｂの毛先部分が上下に分け入って挟まれるので、つる苗の基部側部分は左右に挟まれるだけでなくブラシ体Ｂの毛先部分によって上下にも挟まれた状態になり、よって、苗挟持体２７からの苗の脱落も生じにくい。従って、これにより、苗挟持体２７への苗挟持作業が片手で軽く、容易に且つ確実に行えて、作業能率の向上が図れる。
【００４４】
また、図７に示す例は、苗収容部２６の底部２６ａの後端部に取付穴２６ｃを設け、苗挟持体２７の基部にも穴２７ｃを設け、苗収容部底部２６ａの取付穴２６ｃと苗挟持体２７の取付穴２７ｃを貫通させて取付具２７ｄを設け、その取付具２７ｄの下部に苗挟持体２７に挟持された苗の苗収容部２６側部位を押し下げる（苗挟持体２７から外れる方向に移動させる）作用体２７ｅを設ける。穴２６ｃ、２７ｃの径が取付具２７ｄの径より大きいので、苗収容部２６が植付け体４に苗を渡す位置に来ると作用体２７ｅは、自身の自重で下方に落ちる方向（矢印Ａ）に動き、苗の茎部を図７（ｂ）に示すように下方に押す。下方に押された苗の茎部は植付け体４の作用部４ａにより挟持され的確に苗挟持体２７から取り出されて確実に圃場に植付けられる。
【００４５】
また、図８（図８（ａ）は斜視図、図８（ｂ）は平面図、図８（ｃ）は側面図）に示す苗挟持体２７の構成例では、図７の作用体２７ｅの苗押し下げ作用を植付体４の動作によって動作させる構成としたものである。すなわち、コ字状のアーム形状の苗抜きアーム２７ｅを苗挟持体２７の側面に固定した支持部材２７ｆに回動自在に支持させて、下降した植付け体４の作用部４ａが当る位置に苗抜きアーム２７ｅの一片が配置されるようしておく。苗挟持体２７の側面の支持部材２７ｆとコ字状の苗抜きアーム２７ｅの間にはバネ体２７ｇを巻き付けてある。
【００４６】
植付け体４の作用部４ａが苗抜きアーム２７ｅに当たると、バネ体２７ｇの付勢力に抗して該苗抜きアーム２７ｅを図８（ａ）、図８（ｃ）の（イ）位置にあったアーム２７ｅを（ロ）位置に移動させることで苗を苗挟持体２７から外れやすくする。
【００４７】
以上のように、苗挟持体２７に挟持された苗の苗収容部２６側（前側）の挟持部位を植付体４が苗を取り出すときに、苗挟持体２７から外れる方向に移動させる作用体２７ｅを設けたので、苗収容部２６に収容させた苗は、植付体４が苗を取り出す位置まで、苗挟持体２７にしっかりと挟持させて搬出でき、苗搬送中の苗の乱れが少なくなお且つ、植付体４が苗を取り出すときには苗が苗挟持体２７から外れやすくなって苗を確実に植え付けることができる。
【００４８】
また、作用体２７ｅは苗の苗収容部２６側の部位に作用するので、植付体４が挟持する側の部位（後端側部位）の位置ずれが少なく、よって本実施例のような作用体２７ｅを設けながらも、植付体４の苗挟持姿勢も乱れにくい。
【００４９】
図９（ａ）の底面図と図９（ｂ）の図９（ａ）の矢印Ａ方向からの矢視図に示すように、苗挟持体２７に設けるブラシ体Ｂは、苗植付け体４の作用部４ａの外側に付いた土を取り除く機能を設けた構成とすることもできる。このとき、挟持部材２７ａ、２７ａの両方にブラシ体Ｂを取り付け、その間隔を比較的広めにしておく。
【００５０】
植付け体４の作用部４ａが苗を挟んだ時に、作用部４ａがブラシ体Ｂの内側を通過するので、苗の挟持をより確実に行え、かつ安定した苗の挟持ができ、同時に植付け体４の作用部４ａの外側に付いた土を取り除くことができる。その上、ブラシ体Ｂは、その先端部に苗の端を合わせるように苗を苗挟持体２７に供給するために目印とすることもできる。
【００５１】
また支持フレーム２３は苗搬送部３のスプロケット群が構成する背面視三角形の内部を貫通するように配置されていて、第三ケース１８ｃと共に鎮圧輪６９を支持する。従って苗搬送部３は第三ケース１８ｃと圃場に接地した鎮圧輪６９とにより支持されており圃場に対して図１に示すように側面視で傾斜状に配置されることになる。
【００５２】
そのため図２に示すように後輪６の上方に苗搬送部３がオーバーラップし（図２の円Ａ）、作業者が苗搬送部３に接近して歩行することが容易となる。また図４に示すように背面視で三角形である苗搬送部３の空き空間に後輪６を配置でき、前記オーバラップ部分があることで機体前後長を短くすることができ、且つ苗搬送部３が後輪６に干渉しにくいように構成できる。
【００５３】
また、苗搬送部３及び植付体４は伝動ケース１８ｃの回動支点となる第２伝動ケース１８ｂの横軸心を中心に図１の矢印Ｓの範囲で上下にフローティング動作するので、苗の植え付け作業時において、苗搬送部３が後傾姿勢となって苗の茎部を常に畝面にできるだけ接近させることができ、苗の植え付け失敗がなくなり、良好な植付ができる。
【００５４】
また鎮圧輪６９と覆土鎮圧体６３の接地体６３ａが苗植え付け体４の挟持具４ａ_１、４ａ_２が圃場から出た直後に苗植え付け位置の圃場を押さえつけるので苗の植え付けを確実にすることができる。鎮圧輪６９と覆土鎮圧体６３については、後で詳細に説明する。
【００５５】
苗搬送部３の機体下部側の左右のスプロケット３１、３１；３２、３２は、植付け伝動ケース１８の第三ケース部１８ｃに前部を固定した支持フレーム２３に固着した支持プレート３８で支持した軸３９、４０に取り付けている。そして、上部右側のスプロケット２９、２９が駆動部４１により駆動されて苗収容体２６が設定搬送方向Ｃに移動するよう苗搬送部３が駆動する構成となっている。
【００５６】
そして、苗搬送部３の駆動部４１は、苗植付け体４に連結して動作する部材２２と一体に上下揺動する連動ロッド４３を介して連動連結している。また、苗植付け体４の苗植付け挟持具４ａ_１、４ａ_２が下降するときは苗収容部２６が停止し、苗植付け体４の苗植付け挟持具４ａ_１、４ａ_２が上昇するときは苗収容部２６が移動するよう苗搬送部３が間欠駆動するように設けている。
【００５７】
苗搬送部３の駆動部４１の具体的な構造は、例えば、図５に示すような構造である。まず、支持パイプ３３の後端部に固着したブラケット４４に支持した軸４５を上部右側のスプロケット２９、２９と一体回転するように取り付けている軸３６の後部と軸継手を介して連結し、この軸４５に一体回転するよう取り付けた突起４６ａ付きの従動ディスク４６を取付ける。そして、この従動ディスク４６の後側に駆動アーム４７を軸４５に回転自在に取付け、この駆動アーム４７の先端部に前記連結ロッド４３の上端部を回動自在に取付ける。
【００５８】
また、駆動アーム４７には、従動ディスク４６の突起４６ａに係合する爪４８を取り付けていて、この爪４８は、駆動アーム４７が苗搬送部３の設定搬送方向Ｃに作動させるようにスプロケット２９、２９を駆動回転させる方向に回動するとき（図５では駆動アーム４７が上動するとき）には、従動ディスク４６の突起４６ａに係合固定されて従動ディスク４６を駆動アーム４７と一体回転させる。駆動アーム４７が反対方向に回動するとき（図５では駆動アーム４７が下動するとき）には、この爪４８は、従動ディスク４６の突起４６ａに係合しても逃げて従動ディスク４６を駆動アーム４７と一体回転させないというように、ラチット機構を構成している。
【００５９】
従って伝動ケース１８ｃからの駆動力が駆動アーム１９、支持リンク部２１、揺動リンク２２に順次伝動されて連結ロッド４３が動くと、連結ロッド４３に連動する駆動アーム４７が従動ディスク４６と一体回転するときに、該従動ディスク４６と一体回転する軸４５を介してスプロケット２９、２９を回転させることができる。
【００６０】
そして、従動ディスク４６を時計回り及び反時計回りの回り止めとして従動ディスク４６の突起４６ａに係合する二つの爪４９ａ、４９ｂをブラケット４４に設けている。なお、従動ディスク４６を一体的に回転するように駆動アーム４７が回動すると、前記ラチェット機構を構成する駆動アーム４７の爪４８が従動ディスク４６の突起４６ａに係合するのに先行して、駆動アーム４７と一体に設けた回り止め解除カム５０が、従動ディスク４６の一体回動を阻止するように回り止め作用をする爪４９ａの先端部を従動ディスク４６の突起４６ａと係合しない位置に移動させるようになっている。
【００６１】
そして、駆動アーム４７がそのストローク上限位置まで回動して、この駆動アーム４７と連動する従動ディスク４６が設定角度（図５では９０度）回動されると、いままで爪４９ａ、４９ａを突起４６ａ、４６ａと係合しない位置に移動させていた回り止め解除カム５０が前記回り止め用の爪４９ａから外れて、該回り止め用の爪４９ａは再び、従動ディスク４６の突起４６ａと係合して従動ディスク４６の回転が固定される。
【００６２】
こうして、苗植付け体４の一対の苗植付け挟持具４ａ_１、４ａ_２が下降するときは前記苗収容部２６・・・が停止し、前記苗植付け体４の苗植付け挟持具４ａ_１、４ａ_２が上昇するときは前記苗収容部２６・・・が移動するよう前記苗搬送部３を間欠駆動する。
【００６３】
また、苗植付け体４の苗植付け挟持具４ａ_１、４ａ_２が下降して苗を土壌中に植付けるときには苗収容部２６・・・が停止しているので、苗が円滑に苗収容部２６から取り出されて的確に苗を圃場に植付けることができる。
【００６４】
このように苗植付け体４又は該苗植付け体４に連結して動作する部材と前記苗搬送部３の駆動部４１を連動連結した構成としているため、本苗移植機は、苗植付け体４と苗搬送部３の駆動タイミングを容易にとることができ、しかも、苗搬送部３の駆動構成を簡潔なものにできる利点がある。
第一ケース部１８ａ上には補助の苗載置部６０を設けている。
【００６５】
以上の構成からなる本実施の形態の苗移植機では、その走行装置１により機体は自走し、その自走する機体の苗搬送部３に作業者から甘しょの苗が供給される。苗搬送部３は供給された苗を搬送し、そして、苗搬送部３によって搬送されてきた苗を苗植付け体４が圃場に植付ける。苗搬送部３は、苗収容部２６・・・を苗搬送方向Ｃに複数備え、この苗収容部２６・・・に甘しょ苗がその茎部が前後方向に向く姿勢で収容される。上部横搬送部３ａにより機体上部側で左右一方向に搬送される苗収容部２６・・・に作業者が苗を供給し、苗が供給された苗収容部２６・・・は、上部横搬送部３ａに続いて下降搬送部３ｂにより機体下方に搬送される。該下降搬送部３ｂにより搬送されてきた苗収容部２６・・・は、上昇搬送部３ｃにより機体上方に搬送されて前記上部横搬送部３ａの搬送始端側に戻る。
【００６６】
苗搬送部３は、甘しょ苗を茎部が前後方向に向く姿勢で収容する苗収容部２６・・・を苗搬送方向Ｃに複数備えるとともに、該苗収容部２６・・・を機体上部側で左右一方向に搬送する上部横搬送部３ａと、該上部搬送部３ａにより搬送されてきた苗収容部２６・・・を機体下方に搬送する下降搬送部３ｂと、該下降搬送部３ｂにより搬送されてきた苗収容部２６・・・を機体上方に搬送し、前記上部横搬送部３ａの搬送始端側に戻す上昇搬送部３ｃとを備え、前記苗植付け体４は、その苗植付け挟持具４ａ_１、４ａ_２を昇降動させる駆動アーム１９と連結し、前記下降搬送部３ｂにより搬送されてきた前記苗収容部２６に収容された苗の後端部に該苗収容部２６の後側で作用して苗を圃場に植付ける。
【００６７】
こうして、苗植付け体４が苗搬送部３の後側で植付け作動することになって、苗搬送部３の後側に立って歩きながら苗を苗搬送部３に供給する作業者から苗植付け体４の苗植付け状態が見えやすく、よって、苗搬送部３への苗供給作業が容易に行え、且つ、苗の植付け不良の発生を早期に気付くことができて作業性が良いものとなる。
【００６８】
また、苗植付け体４を昇降動する駆動部（駆動アーム１９、植付け伝動ケース１８の第三ケース部１８ｃ）を前記苗搬送部３で周回する苗収容部２６・・・の移動経路内側に配置しているので、空間の有効利用により機体の小型化が図れる。
【００６９】
本実施の形態の苗移植機は、前記下降搬送部３ｂから前記上昇搬送部３ｃに移行する間に機体下部側で苗収容部２６・・・を左右水平状に搬送する下部横搬送部３ｄを設け、該下部横搬送部３ｄに搬送されてきた苗収容部２６に収容された苗を前記苗植付け体４が圃場に植付ける構成としている。
【００７０】
従って、下降搬送部３ｂから上昇搬送部３ｃに移行する間（図示例では、下部右側スプロケット３１、３１と下部左側スプロケット３２、３２とで搬送される区間）で、下部横搬送部３ｄにより苗収容体２６・・・が機体下部側で左右水平状に搬送され、ここで苗収容部２６に収容された苗を苗植付け体が圃場に植付けることができる。
【００７１】
そのため、この苗移植機は、組付け時のずれ等によって苗植付け体４の苗への植付け作用時における苗収容部２６の位置がずれても、苗植付け体４は、移動経路中最下端に移動した状態で且つ同じ姿勢の状態にある苗収容部２６の苗を植付けられることになり、苗植付け状態の変化を極力少なくできる。
【００７２】
また、上部横搬送部３ａで苗収容体２６・・・が上方への開放部を有する形態なので、苗収容体２６・・・に苗を上方から容易に供給でき、しかも、苗収容体２６・・・が下降搬送部３ｂにより移動して、苗収容体２６の開放部が下方に向いた姿勢のときに苗植付け体４が苗収容体２６で搬送されてきた苗を圃場に植付けるので、上部横搬送部３ａで苗を載せる受け面２６ａと、隣接する苗収容体２６、２６とを仕切る面２６ｂ、２６ｂとを大きく形成しても、苗植付け体４の苗植付け挟持具４ａ_１、４ａ_２が下降して苗を植付けるときには邪魔になりにくく、苗収容体２６を上部横搬送部３ａで苗を供給しやすい形状に設定することが容易になり、作業性が良い。上記苗収容部２６の後端部に苗挟持体２７を取り付ける。
【００７３】
また、下降搬送部３ｂの苗収容体２６・・・の側方及び前記苗植付け体４が植付ける苗を収容した苗収容体２６の下方に苗収容体の開放部を覆うカバー体５２を設けたので、下降搬送部３ｂや苗植付け体４が作用する箇所でも適宜苗が支持されて適確に苗を搬送できるようになり、よって、苗の植付けが良好に持続できる。
【００７４】
前記カバー体５２は、その前部が上方に湾曲する形状に形成し、または弾性体で形成した構成としている。そのため、カバー体５２が接地していても圃場面を荒らさず、また、マルチフィルムが覆われていてもそのフィルムを破ることが生じにくいものとなり、良好な作業が行える。
【００７５】
苗搬送部３の下部横搬送部３ｄの下方に設けた苗の落下防止用のカバー体５２は、図１０（ａ）の斜視図に示すように該カバー体５２の後部を機体前後方向（矢印Ａ方向）にスライドできるように構成しても良い。カバー体５２の機体前後方向のスライド片５２ａはカバー体５２に対して機体前後方向にスライドできるように構成した要部側断面図を図１０（ｂ）に示す。また、図１０（ｃ）にはスライドできない従来技術のカバー体の要部側断面図を示す。
【００７６】
植付時期、品種によって苗の長さが異なるので、図１０に示す下部横搬送部３ｄの下方に苗の落下防止用のカバー体５２を設けた構成により、下部横搬送部３ｄの下方での苗の抜けの条件に合わせることができるため、精度の高い植付ができ、かつ、旋回時の苗のこぼれを防止することができる。すなわち、図１０（ｂ）に示す構成ではなるべく苗の端を支持することにより、苗抜けを良くし、植え付け精度を従来より高くすることができる。これに対して図１０（ｃ）に示す構成ではカバー体５２をスライドできないので、植え付け爪により苗を引く抜くときにカバー体５２があるので苗抜けが悪くなり、欠株率が高くなる。
【００７７】
また、図１に示すように、苗植付け体４の後方には、鎮圧輪６９と覆土鎮圧体６３が設けられている。
覆土鎮圧体６３は図３に示すように鎮圧体支持アーム６３ｂとその先端部に固定支持された接地体６３ａから構成され、鎮圧体支持アーム６３ｂは支持フレーム２３の内側部に回動自在に取付け、その回動軸まわりに鎮圧体支持アーム６３ｂと一体で回動するアーム７２の先端部に取り付けたローラーが、駆動アーム１９の駆動軸に一体回転するよう取り付けたカム７３にスプリング７４に付勢されて圧接し、駆動アーム１９の駆動回転と連動して、鎮圧体支持アーム６３ｂが上下回動して、鎮圧体６３が上下動する。
【００７８】
覆土鎮圧体６３の接地体６３ａは機体の進行に伴って苗が植え付けられた箇所の畝面を転動し、苗が植付けられた後の苗移植穴を埋め戻すと共に鎮圧するようになっている。
【００７９】
また、鎮圧輪６９は第一伝動ケース１８ａの横軸心まわりに回動自在に取り付けられた苗搬送部３と植付体４とを、該鎮圧輪６９を介して畝面に支持させると共に、機体の進行に伴って植え付けられた苗の左右両側方の畝面を転動し、苗が植付けられた後の苗移植穴の周囲の土を寄せて穴を埋め戻すと共に、鎮圧するようになっている。
【００８０】
なお、畝面の凹凸度に応じて鎮圧輪６９が機体に対し上下動すると、支持フレーム２３、第三伝動ケース１８ｃが第二伝動ケース１８ｂの横軸心まわりに上下回動し、よって、第三伝動ケース１８ｃと支持フレーム２３に支持された苗搬送部３と植付体４が上下動し、畝面に対する上下高さが一定になるようになっている。
【００８１】
前述のように植え付け体４の挟持部４ａは機体の進行に伴って、下降時に苗を左右から挟持して保持し、続いて苗を保持したまま下降して畝の土中に進入し、土中で機体進行方向の前側から後ろ側に向かって移動し、その移動後端部で苗を開放し、その後、前側斜め上方に向かって動作する（図１１の軌跡Ｔ’）。そのとき、つる状苗が船底植えや斜め植えのように前倒れ状態で土中に植付けられ、しかも、植付け体４が苗を開放した後、機体進行方向後側から前側斜め上方に向って上昇するので、苗が覆土されやすい状態となる。そして、覆土鎮圧体６３の接地体６３ａが、植付けられたつる状苗の土中の後端部より後側から前側の苗茎部上方の畝上面に接地して鎮圧するので、前倒れ状態で土中に植付けられたつる状苗の覆土鎮圧を適確に行え、更に、覆土鎮圧体６３の接地体６３ａが機体進行により地上に出ている苗を鎮圧する前に上昇するので、苗の地上部分を鎮圧してしまうこともない。従って、つる状苗を適確な姿勢で植付けられ、且つ、活着が良い植付けが可能となる。
【００８２】
また、畝上面をマルチフィルムで覆っている場合、接地体６３ａが弾性変形可能な状態で広い範囲の面で接地するため、マルチフィルム下方の土壌が大きく沈下する状態が生じにくく、このため、マルチフィルムと土壌面との間に高温の空気が多量に溜まってつる苗の生育に支障を与えるというような問題が発生しにくくなる。
【００８３】
また、本実施の形態の苗搬送部３の上部横搬送部３ａと下降搬送部３ｂと上昇搬送部３ｃとの間の空間を貫通して機体の水平制御レバー７５（図２）が運転手の手元まで伸びている。該機体の水平制御レバー７５は左右水平制御用の油圧シリンダ１５を作動させるものであり、前述の左右水平に対する機体の左右傾斜を検出するセンサ２４が設けられていない作業機に手動で機体を左右水平制御するための構成である。左右水平制御用の昇降油圧シリンダ１５が伸縮作動すると、前記天秤杆１３が、その左右中央部の昇降用油圧シリンダ１２のピストンロッド先端と連結する上下軸心周りに回動して左右の伝動ケース９、９を互い違いに上下動させ機体を左右に傾斜させ、機体を左右水平になるように作動させる。
【００８４】
前記のようにレバー７５を配置したので、苗搬送部３内の空間を効率的に利用して、レバー７５の操作部を作業時に操作しやすい位置、即ち苗搬送部３の後側の苗供給作業位置近傍に容易に配置できる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の実施の形態の苗移植機の側面図。
【図２】図１の苗移植機の平面図。
【図３】図１の苗移植機の苗植付け体部分の拡大斜視図。
【図４】図１の苗移植機の苗植付け体部分の背面図。
【図５】図１の苗移植機の苗搬送部の駆動部を示す背面図。
【図６】図１の苗移植機の苗収容部の斜視図。
【図７】図１の苗移植機の苗植付け体の先端部分の苗収容部の斜視図（図７（ａ））、側面図（図７（ｂ））。
【図８】図１の苗移植機の苗植付け体の先端部分の苗収容部の斜視図（図８（ａ））、平面図（図８（ｂ））、側面図（図８（ｃ））。
【図９】図１の苗移植機の苗植付け体の先端部分の底面図（図９（ａ））、図９（ａ）の矢印Ａ方向からの矢視図（図９（ｂ））。
【図１０】図１の苗移植機の苗搬送部のアンダーカバーの斜視図（図１０（ａ））、その要部側断面図（図１０（ｂ））、従来技術のアンダーカバーの要部側断面図（図１０（ｃ））。
【図１１】図１の苗移植機の苗植付け体部分の先端部の軌跡を示す図。
【符号の説明】
１　走行装置　　　　　　　　　　　２　操縦ハンドル
２ａ　グリップ部　　　　　　　　　２ｂ　ハンドルフレーム
３　苗搬送部　　　　　　　　　　　３ａ　上部横搬送部
３ｂ　下降搬送部　　　　　　　　　３ｃ　上昇搬送部
３ｄ　下部横搬送部　　　　　　　　４　苗植付け体
４ａ　作用部（挟持部）　　　　　　４ａ_１、４ａ_２　挟持具
４ｂ　支持部　　　　　　　　　　　４ｂ_１、４ｂ_２　支持板
４ｃ_１、４ｃ_２　開閉部材　　　　　　　４ｄ_１、４ｄ_２　円筒部
４ｅ　スプリング　　　　　　　　　５　エンジン（原動機）
６　後輪　　　　　　　　　　　　　７　前輪
８　ミッションケース　　　　　　　９　伝動ケース
１０、１７　車軸　　　　　　　　　１１　アーム
１２　昇降用油圧シリンダ　　　　　１２ａ　　ピストンロッド
１３　天秤杆　　　　　　　　　　　１４　ロッド
１５　左右水平制御用油圧シリンダ　１６　前輪支持フレーム
１７　車軸　　　　　　　　　　　　１８　植付け伝動ケース
１８ａ　第一ケース部　　　　　　　１８ｂ　第二ケース部
１８ｃ　第三ケース部　　　　　　　１８ｃ_１　駆動機構
１９　駆動アーム　　　　　　　　　２０　駆動軸
２１　支持リンク部　　　　　　　　２２　揺動リンク
２３　支持フレーム　　　　　　　　２３ａ　支持フレーム管部
２４　センサ　　　　　　　　　　　２５　支持軸
２６　苗収容体　　　　　　　　　　２６ａ　受け板部
２６ｂ　側板部　　　　　　　　　　２６ｃ　取付穴
２７　苗挟持体　　　　　　　　　　２７ａ　挟持部材
２７ｃ　穴　　　　　　　　　　　　２７ｄ　取付具
２７ｅ　作用体　　　　　　　　　　２７ｆ　支持部材
２７ｇ　バネ体　　　　　　　　　　２８　チェン
２９、３０、３１、３２　スプロケット
３３　支持パイプ　　　　　　　　　３４、３５　支持部材
３６、３７、３９、４０、４５　軸　３８　支持プレート
４１　駆動部　　　　　　　　　　　４２　連動リンク
４３　連動ロッド　　　　　　　　　４４　ブラケット
４６　従動ディスク　　　　　　　　４６ａ　突起
４７　駆動アーム　　　　　　　　　４８、４９ａ、４９ｂ　爪
５０　回り止め解除カム　　　　　　５２　カバー体
５２ａ　スライド片　　　　　　　　５４　カム
５４ａ　円盤　　　　　　　　　　　５４ｂ_１、５４ｂ_２　ボス部
５４ｃ_１、５４ｃ_２　突起
５５　連結リンク　　　　　　　　　６０　補助苗載置部
６３　覆土鎮圧体　　　　　　　　　６３ａ　接地体
６３ｂ　鎮圧体支持アーム　　　　　６９　鎮圧輪
７０　鎮圧輪支持アーム　　　　　　７２　板材
７２ａ　突起　　　　　　　　　　　７３　カム
７４　バネ　　　　　　　　　　　　７５　水平制御レバー[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a seedling transplanter for planting vine seedlings such as sweet potato seedlings in a field.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as shown in Patent Literatures 1 to 3 below, a plurality of traveling units for self-propelling the fuselage and a plurality of seedling accommodation units for accommodating vine seedlings one by one in a front-rear direction are provided. A seedling transfer unit for transferring seedlings by rotating in a row around the longitudinal axis of the seedling, and a seedling planting body for grasping the vine seedling transferred by the seedling transfer unit and planting the seedlings in a field. Seedling transplanters are known.
[0003]
A conventional sweet potato seedling transplanter is to plant seedlings shallowly and diagonally in a field toward the rear of the machine in the traveling direction. Is known.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-4-36107
[0005]
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-4-36108
[0006]
[Patent Document 3]
JP-A-4-58809
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The conventional pair of compression wheels are installed diagonally so that the lower part is closer to each other, and urged downward by the weight of the work machine, and rolls on the ridge surface as the machine advances, and seedlings It has the function of collapsing the soil around the seedling transplanting hole after the seedlings have been planted and covering it, and then lightly crushing the rest.
[0008]
However, in the above-described crushing ring, the field scene above the planted vine seedling is located between the pair of crushing rings, and the root portion of the vine seedling that is longer than other seedlings and the vicinity thereof can be sufficiently crushed. May not be.
In addition, when a multi-film is installed, air tends to accumulate between the multi-film and the soil below the multi-film after planting of the seedling by the seedling plant, and high-temperature air may hinder the growth of the seedling.
[0009]
An object of the present invention is to provide a seedling transplanter that can reliably suppress the soil above a vine seedling such as a sweet potato seedling after planting and plant the vine seedling in the soil.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a seedling transplanting machine that prevents a growth of seedlings from being hindered even when a mulch film is installed after planting vine seedlings such as sweet potato seedlings in the soil. .
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has the following features to attain the object mentioned above.
The invention according to claim 1 is a traveling device 1 for self-propelling the body, a seedling transporting unit 3 for transporting a vine seedling for planting on the traveling device 1, and receiving a vine seedling from the seedling transporting unit 3, In a seedling transplanter provided with a seedling plant 4 to be planted in a field and a covering soil repressor 63 for covering the upper surface of the vine seedling planted in the field and repressing the soil, the seedling plant 4 has a holding portion (operating portion) at its tip. 4) 4a penetrates into the soil of the field while holding the vine seedlings, moves through the soil from the front side to the rear side in the body traveling direction, releases the vine seedlings in the soil at a predetermined location, and The structure is such that it moves upward from the side toward the front and diagonally upward to move out of the soil, and the soil cover pressure suppressor 63 includes a ground contact body 63a for pressing a field scene, and the ground contact body 63a is During the planting operation of the vine seedlings, from the rear end of the planted vine seedlings Grounded to Naekuki portion above the ridge top surface side, a seedling transplantation machine having a moving configuration to rise away from the field surface prior to contacting the vine seedlings are on the ground by the aircraft progression.
[0011]
The invention described in claim 2 is a seedling transplanter in which the ground contacting body 63a of the soil cover pressure suppressor 63 is formed of an elastically deformable plate.
[0012]
[Action and effect of the invention]
According to the invention of claim 1, the vine-like seedlings are planted in the soil in a front-down state like planting at the bottom of a ship or oblique planting, and furthermore, after the holding portion 4a of the planting body 4 opens the seedlings, the rear side in the machine body traveling direction. From the rear end of the soil of the planted vine-like seedlings from the rear side to the front side from the rear end in the soil of the planted vine seedlings. Since the ground is pressed down on the upper surface of the ridge above the seedlings to suppress the pressure, the cover of the vine seedlings planted in the soil in the fallen-down state can be properly suppressed as described above. 63a rises before the seedlings on the ground are crushed due to the progress of the airframe, so that the above-ground parts of the seedlings are not crushed. Therefore, the vine-like seedlings can be planted in an appropriate posture and can be planted with good survival.
[0013]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the upper surface of the ridge is covered with the multi-film, the ground contact body 63a of the pressure-reducing covering body 63 is grounded over a wide area in an elastically deformable state. Therefore, a problem that a large amount of high-temperature air accumulates between the multi-film and the soil surface and hinders the growth of seedlings is less likely to occur.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A seedling transplanter as one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a side view of a seedling transplanter according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the seedling transplanter shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a seedling transfer unit, a seedling plant, and a crusher of the seedling transplanter shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a partially omitted perspective view showing the seedling transfer unit and the seedling plant of the seedling transplanter shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the rear side of the partially omitted seedling transplanter.
[0015]
In the following description of the illustrated example, the front or rear will be referred to as the side on which the steering wheel 2 is disposed, and the opposite side, that is, the side on which the engine 5 is disposed, will be referred to as front. When referring to the right or left, the right hand side is referred to as right and the left hand side is referred to as left when viewed from a worker standing at the rear of the body with the front side of the body as the front side.
[0016]
A seedling transplanter includes a seedling transfer unit 3 for transferring sweet potato seedlings to a machine having a traveling device 1 and a steering handle 2, and a seedling plant 4 for planting seedlings transferred by the seedling transfer unit 3 in a field. This is a seedling transplanter equipped with:
[0017]
In the illustrated example, the traveling device 1 includes an engine 5, a pair of right and left rear wheels 6, 6 to which the power of the engine 5 is transmitted and driven to rotate, and left and right wheels that are rotatably supported in front of the wheels 6, 6. The vehicle has a pair of front wheels 7.
[0018]
A transmission (transmission) case 8 is disposed at a rear portion of the engine 5, and the transmission (transmission) case 8 has a case portion extending from the left side thereof to the left side of the engine 5, and the transmission case 8 is provided on the left side of the engine 5. Connected. The output shaft of the engine 5 enters this case portion and power is transmitted to a transmission mechanism in a transmission (transmission) case 8. Transmission cases 9, 9 are rotatably attached to both left and right sides of the transmission (transmission) case 8, and extend from the transmission (transmission) case 8 to both left and right outer sides at the rotation center of the transmission cases 9, 9. The leading end of the wheel drive shaft enters to transmit power for traveling to the transmission mechanism in the transmission cases 9 and 9. The power for traveling extends to the rear side of the fuselage via the transmission mechanism in the transmission cases 9 and 9 and is transmitted to the axles 10 and 10 protruding to the rear end side, and the rear wheels 6 and 6 rotate. It is supposed to.
[0019]
Further, arms 11, 11 extending upward are integrally attached to a portion where the transmission cases 9, 9 are attached to the transmission (transmission) case 8, and the arms 11, 11 are fixed to the transmission (transmission) case 8. It is connected to the left and right sides of a balance rod 13 which is attached to the tip of a piston rod of the cylinder 12 so as to be rotatable around the vertical axis. The right side of the connecting portion is connected by a rod 14, and the left side is connected by a hydraulic cylinder 15 for left and right horizontal control capable of expanding and contracting.
[0020]
When the lifting / lowering hydraulic cylinder 12 is actuated and its piston rod 12a projects rearward of the machine body, the left and right arms 11, 11 rotate rearward, whereby the transmission cases 9, 9 rotate downward, The aircraft rises. Conversely, when the piston rod 12a of the lifting hydraulic cylinder 12 is retracted forward, the left and right arms 11, 11 rotate forward, whereby the transmission cases 9, 9 rotate upward, and the body Descends. The lifting hydraulic cylinder 12 is configured to operate so that the fuselage has a set height with respect to the ridge upper surface height based on a detection result of a sensor 24 (FIG. 1) that detects a ridge upper surface height with respect to the fuselage. In addition, the configuration is such that the body is raised or lowered by manual operation of an operating tool disposed near the steering handle 2.
[0021]
When the left and right horizontal control hydraulic cylinder 15 expands and contracts, the balance rod 13 rotates about the vertical axis connected to the tip of the piston rod 12a of the elevating hydraulic cylinder 12 at the left and right central part to rotate left and right. The transmission cases 9 and 9 are alternately moved up and down to incline the machine body right and left. The left-right horizontal control hydraulic cylinder 15 is configured to operate so that the airframe becomes horizontal based on the detection result of the sensor 24 that detects the left-right inclination of the airplane with respect to the left-right horizontal.
[0022]
The left and right front wheels 7, 7 are fixed to the lower end portions of the arm portions extending below the left and right sides of the front wheel support frame 16 rotatably mounted around the longitudinal axis at the left and right center positions below the engine 5. Axles 17 and 17 are rotatably mounted. Accordingly, the left and right front wheels 7, 7 are freely rotatable about the longitudinal center of the fuselage in the left-right center.
[0023]
The steering handle 2 is attached to a rear end of a handle frame 2b having a front end fixed to a transmission (transmission) case 8. The handle frame 2b is disposed at a position deviated to the right from the left and right center of the fuselage and extends rearward, and also extends obliquely rearward and upward from the front-rear intermediate portion. The steering handle 2 extends left and right rearward from the rear end of the handle frame 2b, and the rear ends thereof are grip portions 2a, 2a of the steering handle 2. The left and right grip portions 2a, 2a of the steering handle 2 are set to an appropriate height so that an operator can easily grip the grip portions 2a, 2a with his / her hand. In the illustrated example, the grip portions 2a, 2a are divided into left and right sides. However, the left and right rear ends of the steering handle 2 may be connected to each other left and right, and the connection portion may be used as a grip portion.
[0024]
Although the traveling device 1 has a four-wheel configuration, the traveling device 1 may have a two-wheel configuration including only a pair of left and right drive wheels, or may be a pressure-reducing wheel that rolls on a ridge upper surface instead of the front wheel. Further, it may be a crawler type traveling device.
[0025]
Next, the seedling plant 4 and the seedling transport section 3 will be described.
The seedling-planting body 4 is connected to a drive unit that moves the seedling-planting unit 4a up and down, and the seedling-planting unit 4a of the seedling plant 4 (a pair of seedling-planting and holding tools 4a). ₁ , 4a ₂ ) Acts on the seedlings transported by the seedling transporting unit 3 to plant the seedlings in the field.
[0026]
The drive unit that drives the seedling plant 4 is provided in a planting transmission case 18 that houses a transmission mechanism that receives and transmits power for driving the seedling plant 4 from within the transmission (transmission) case 8. As shown in the figure, the planting transmission case 18 has a front part connected to the rear part of the transmission (transmission) case 8 and extending diagonally upward and rearward therefrom, and an upper left side of the first case part 18a. A second case portion 18b is attached to the portion so as to be rotatable around a left-right axis and extends leftward, and a third case portion 18c fixed to the left end of the second case portion 18b and extending obliquely downward. And a transmission mechanism for transmitting power for driving the seedling plant 4.
[0027]
The transmission mechanism provided inside the first case portion 18a includes an intermittent drive mechanism for stopping the seedling-planting body 4 at the highest position of the raising and lowering movement or at a position in the vicinity thereof for a set time, the seedling-planting body 4 and the seedling. A clutch mechanism for stopping the operation of the transport unit 3. The time of stopping by the intermittent drive mechanism is adjusted by a speed change mechanism provided in the intermittent drive mechanism, and the adjustment between the seedling-planting plants by the seedling-planting body 4 is changed and adjusted by this adjustment.
[0028]
Then, the seedling-planting body 4 is driven by being connected to a driving arm 19 that rotates as a driving unit. The drive arm 19 is fixed to a drive shaft 20 which protrudes from the right rear portion of the third case portion 18c and rotates. The upper end of the support link 21 of the seedling plant 4 is rotatably connected to the tip of the drive arm 19, and the front end of the swing link 22 is rotatably connected to the lower end of the support link 21. ing.
[0029]
The rear end of the swing link 22 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 25. One end of the support shaft 25 is rotatably supported by a rear end of the support frame 23 having a front portion fixed to the third case portion 18c.
[0030]
Further, as shown in an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the seedling plant 4 in FIG. 3, the seedling plant 4 includes a pair of support plates 4b. ₁ , 4b ₂ And a pair of seedling planting and holding tools 4a for holding a seedling at the tip of the supporting portion 4b. ₁ , 4a ₂ And each plate 4b of the support plate support portion 4b ₁ , 4b ₂ A pair of opening / closing members 4c supporting the base ₁ , 4c ₂ And the opening / closing member 4c ₁ , 4c ₂ 4d cylindrical part provided on the base side ₁ , 4d ₂ Consists of A pair of open / close members 4c ₁ , 4c ₂ Is rotatably intersected at an intermediate portion thereof, and is always held by a clamp 4a. ₁ , 4a ₂ Is closed by a spring 4e. In addition, cylindrical part 4d ₁ , 4d ₂ Are engaged, and the other end is in contact with a cam 54 described later.
[0031]
The cam 54 connects the ends of the drive arm 19 and the support link 21 to each other, and further includes a drive mechanism 18c in the transmission case 18c. ₁ Is spline-engaged with a connecting link 55 that transmits the driving force of the first link to the swing link 22. The cam 54 has a boss 54b provided on both sides of the disk 54a. ₁ , 54b ₂ And the boss portion 54b of the disk 54a ₁ , 54b ₂ A pair of protrusions 54c provided outside the ₁ , 54c ₂ Consists of Therefore, when the cam 54 makes one rotation with the driving force from the transmission case 18c, the projection 54c ₁ , 54c ₂ Cylindrical part 4d of seedling plant 4 ₁ , 4d ₂ Abut each other, and a pair of opening / closing members 4c ₁ , 4c ₂ Operate in a direction to open each other against the urging force of the spring 4e, and the support plate 4b ₁ , 4b ₂ Via a pair of holding tools 4a ₁ , 4a ₂ Opens.
[0032]
A pair of clamps 4a ₁ , 4a ₂ After opening, a pair of seedling planting clamps 4a ₁ , 4a ₂ The tip moves in the closing direction and pinches the seedling. At this time, the support link portion 21 is used for the seedling planting and holding device 4a. ₁ , 4a ₂ Move in the direction of embedding the seedlings sandwiched between the ridges.
[0033]
A pair of seedling planting clamps 4a of the seedling plant 4 while operating in the same direction as the direction in which the seedling transporting unit 3 transports the seedlings toward the field. ₁ , 4a ₂ Is trying to pinch the seedlings, the transfer of the seedlings from the transport section 3 to the seedling plant 4 is reasonable, and the failure of the transfer of the seedlings is almost eliminated.
[0034]
After planting the seedlings in the field (row), the seedling planting and holding device 4a interlocked with the cam 54 ₁ , 4a ₂ Releases the pinching of the seedlings and moves upward away from the field. At this time, the projection 54c of the cam 54 ₁ , 54c ₂ Of the pair of holding tools 4a depending on the mounting position of the ₁ , 4a ₂ The opening timing is determined. After the seedlings are planted in the field (row), a pair of holding tools 4a ₁ , 4a ₂ Opens.
[0035]
Here, various types of cams 54 are prepared, and the cams 54 can be replaced according to the type of the seedlings so that the seedlings suitable for each seedling can be planted. After the seedlings are planted in the field (ridge), a pair of holding tools are provided. 4a ₁ , 4a ₂ The opening timing is determined.
[0036]
When the drive arm 19 is driven and rotated by the above configuration, the seedling planting action portion 4a at the tip (lower end) of the seedling plant 4 integrated with the support link portion 21 moves along the locus as shown in FIG. It will move by drawing T or trajectory T '. The trajectory T as shown in FIG. 1 is a motion trajectory drawn by the seedling-planting action part 4a with respect to the aircraft, and the trajectory T 'is relative to a field when the aircraft advances at the set working speed. It is a movement locus drawn by the seedling planting action section 4a.
[0037]
The seedling transporting section 3 includes a plurality of seedling receiving sections 26 for accommodating sweet potato seedlings in a posture in which the stem portion is directed in the front-rear direction, in the seedling transporting direction C (FIG. 4). An upper horizontal transport section 3a for transporting in one direction, a descending transport section 3b for transporting the seedling storage section 26 transported by the upper transport section 3a below the fuselage, and a seedling storage transported by the descending transport section 3b. And an ascending transport unit 3c for transporting the unit 26 upward to the machine body and returning the transport unit 26 to the transport start end side of the upper horizontal transport unit 3a.
[0038]
The seedling container 26 is in the form of a long gutter in the front and back, and a side plate serving as a surface separating the receiving plate portion 26a serving as a receiving surface on which the seedlings are placed by the upper horizontal transport section 3a and the adjacent seedling containers 26, 26. The upper horizontal transport section 3a has an opening above. In addition, although it has a shape that is opened forward and backward, a seedling holding body 27 is attached to the rear side.
[0039]
A plurality of the seedling containers 26 are attached to the chains 28, 28 and the sprockets 29, 29; A pair of front and rear sprockets 31, 31; The left and right sprockets 29, 29; 30, 30 on the upper side of the fuselage are attached to shafts 36, 37 supported by support members 35. The support member 35 is fixed to a support pipe 33 fixed to a rear portion of the third case portion 18c of the planting transmission case 18.
[0040]
Further, in this seedling transplanter, as shown in FIG. 6, a seedling holding body 27, which is a U-shaped cross section arm-shaped support, is detachably attached to the rear end of the bottom portion 26a of the seedling storage section 26. I do.
[0041]
The seedling holding body 27 is composed of left and right one-side holding members 27a, 27a, and is passed to the seedling planting body 4 while holding the vine seedling therebetween. At least the left and right one-side holding members 27a are transferred to the other holding member 27a. It is composed of a brush body B with a bristle-pointed posture. The brush body B may be configured on only one of the left and right holding members 27a, 27a, or may be configured on both the left and right sides. The brush body B is obtained by implanting a hair b1 using a vegetable fiber, animal hair, a synthetic material such as a synthetic resin, or a thin fibrous body made of rubber, etc. on a base member b2 such as a plate made of an appropriate material. It is made to stand. The bristles b1 of the brush body B are appropriately elastically bent when the seedling is pushed into the bristles of the brush body B, and do not cause significant damage to the seedlings even if the bristles come into contact with the bristles at this time. The elasticity of the seedlings is appropriately selected so that the seedlings do not easily fall off when the base portion of the seedling is sandwiched so that the tip of the brush body B is inserted vertically.
[0042]
The brush holding member 27 shown in FIG. 6 has a brush body in a state in which the lower end of the holding member 27a in the moving direction (arrow D direction) of the seedling storage unit (the direction of arrow D) faces the holding member 27a on the upper side in the moving direction D of the seedling storage unit. B is an example of an elastic member E made of a synthetic material such as urethane resin which can be elastically deformed by a finger of an operator who touches the upper side of the seedling accommodating part moving direction D at the time of the seedling pinching operation.
[0043]
When the seedling holding body 27 is configured as described above, when the operator holds the vine seedling with one hand and holds the vine seedling on the seedling holding body 27, the worker places the vine seedling on the base side portion of the vine seedling held by the seedling holding body 27. With the finger attached, the base side portion of the vine seedling is pushed between the left and right holding members 27a, 27a while the attached finger is inserted between the left and right holding members 27a, 27a. Since the holding member 27a on at least one of the left and right sides of the seedling holding body 27 is constituted by the brush body B in a state where the bristle faces the other holding member 27a, the finger can be easily held between the left and right holding members 27a, 27a. In this case, the load on the finger received from the holding members 27a, 27a can be reduced. Further, the base side portion of the vine seedling held by the seedling holding body 27 is sandwiched between the upper and lower ends of the brush body B, so that the base side portion of the vine seedling is not only sandwiched left and right but also brushed. The hairs of the body B are also sandwiched between the upper and lower portions, and the seedlings are less likely to fall off from the seedling holding body 27. Therefore, this makes it possible to carry out the work of holding the seedling on the seedling holding body 27 lightly with one hand, easily and reliably, and to improve the work efficiency.
[0044]
In the example shown in FIG. 7, a mounting hole 26c is provided at the rear end of the bottom portion 26a of the seedling storage portion 26, and a hole 27c is provided at the base of the seedling holding member 27. An attachment 27d is provided by penetrating the attachment hole 27c of the seedling holding body 27, and a portion of the seedling sandwiched by the seedling holding body 27 on the seedling holding portion 26 side is pushed down below the attachment 27d (separates from the seedling holding body 27). (Moving in the direction) is provided. Since the diameters of the holes 26c and 27c are larger than the diameter of the attachment 27d, when the seedling storage unit 26 comes to a position where the seedlings are passed to the planting body 4, the acting body 27e falls in the direction of falling by its own weight (arrow A). When moving, the stem of the seedling is pushed downward as shown in FIG. 7 (b). The stem portion of the seedling pressed downward is pinched by the action portion 4a of the planting body 4, is accurately taken out of the seedling pinching body 27, and is reliably planted in the field.
[0045]
8 (FIG. 8 (a) is a perspective view, FIG. 8 (b) is a plan view, and FIG. 8 (c) is a side view). In the configuration example of the seedling holding member 27 shown in FIG. The structure is such that the seedling pressing action is operated by the operation of the planting body 4. That is, the U-shaped arm-shaped seedling removing arm 27e is rotatably supported by the support member 27f fixed to the side surface of the seedling holding member 27, and the seedling extracting arm 27e is positioned at the position where the acting portion 4a of the lowered planting body 4 hits. One piece of the arm 27e is arranged. A spring body 27g is wound between the support member 27f on the side surface of the seedling holding body 27 and the U-shaped seedling removing arm 27e.
[0046]
When the action portion 4a of the planted body 4 hits the seedling removing arm 27e, the seedling removing arm 27e is located at the position (a) in FIGS. 8A and 8C against the urging force of the spring body 27g. By moving the arm 27e to the (B) position, the seedling is easily detached from the seedling holding body 27.
[0047]
As described above, when the planting body 4 takes out the seedling, the action body that moves the holding portion of the seedling held by the seedling holding body 27 on the side of the seedling storage unit 26 (front side) in a direction away from the seedling holding body 27. Since the seedlings 27e are provided, the seedlings accommodated in the seedling accommodation section 26 can be firmly held by the seedling holding body 27 and carried out to a position where the planting body 4 takes out the seedlings, and the seedlings during transportation of the seedlings are less disturbed. In addition, when the planting body 4 takes out the seedling, the seedling is easily detached from the seedling holding body 27, so that the seedling can be planted reliably.
[0048]
In addition, since the acting body 27e acts on the part of the seedling receiving part 26 side, the displacement of the part (rear end side part) on the side where the planted body 4 is sandwiched is small, and therefore, the action as in the present embodiment is achieved. Even though the body 27e is provided, the seedling holding posture of the planted body 4 is not easily disturbed.
[0049]
As shown in the bottom view of FIG. 9A and the arrow view from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 9A of FIG. 9B, the brush body B provided on the seedling holding body 27 It is also possible to adopt a configuration having a function of removing soil attached to the outside of the action portion 4a. At this time, the brush body B is attached to both of the holding members 27a, 27a, and the interval therebetween is relatively widened.
[0050]
When the action portion 4a of the planted body 4 sandwiches the seedling, the action portion 4a passes through the inside of the brush body B, so that the seedling can be more securely held and the seedling can be stably held. The soil attached to the outside of the action portion 4a can be removed. In addition, the brush body B can be used as a mark for supplying the seedling to the seedling holding body 27 so that the end of the seedling is aligned with the tip of the brush body B.
[0051]
The support frame 23 is arranged so as to penetrate the inside of the triangle as viewed from the rear, which is formed by the sprocket group of the seedling transporting unit 3, and supports the pressure reduction wheel 69 together with the third case 18 c. Therefore, the seedling transporting section 3 is supported by the third case 18c and the pressure-reducing wheel 69 that is in contact with the field, and is disposed obliquely to the field as shown in FIG.
[0052]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the seedling transport section 3 overlaps above the rear wheel 6 (circle A in FIG. 2), and it becomes easy for the worker to approach the seedling transport section 3 and walk. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the rear wheel 6 can be arranged in an empty space of the seedling transfer section 3 which is triangular in rear view, and the length of the body can be shortened by the presence of the overlap portion. 3 can be configured so as not to interfere with the rear wheel 6.
[0053]
In addition, the seedling transporting unit 3 and the planting body 4 float up and down in the range of the arrow S in FIG. 1 around the horizontal axis of the second transmission case 18b serving as the pivot of the transmission case 18c. At the time of planting operation, the seedling transporting section 3 is in the backward tilted posture, so that the stem portion of the seedling can always be brought as close as possible to the ridge surface, so that planting failure of the seedling can be eliminated and good planting can be performed.
[0054]
In addition, the grounding body 63a of the crushing wheel 69 and the covering soil crushing body 63 serves as a holding tool 4a of the seedling planting body 4. ₁ , 4a ₂ Pressing the field at the seedling planting position immediately after leaves the field, the planting of the seedlings can be ensured. The crushing wheel 69 and the covering soil crushing body 63 will be described later in detail.
[0055]
The left and right sprockets 31, 31; 32, 32 on the lower side of the fuselage of the seedling transport unit 3 are supported by a support plate 38 fixed to a support frame 23 having a front portion fixed to the third case portion 18 c of the planting transmission case 18. 39, 40 attached. The sprockets 29 on the upper right side are driven by the drive unit 41 to drive the seedling transport unit 3 so that the seedling container 26 moves in the set transport direction C.
[0056]
The drive unit 41 of the seedling transporting unit 3 is interlockingly connected to the member 22 that operates in connection with the seedling plant 4 via an interlocking rod 43 that swings up and down integrally. In addition, the seedling planting holding tool 4a of the seedling plant 4 ₁ , 4a ₂ Is lowered, the seedling accommodating portion 26 stops, and the seedling holding member 4a of the seedling plant 4 is moved. ₁ , 4a ₂ The seedling transfer section 3 is provided so as to be intermittently driven so that the seedling accommodating section 26 is moved when is raised.
[0057]
The specific structure of the drive unit 41 of the seedling transporting unit 3 is, for example, a structure as shown in FIG. First, a shaft 45 supported by a bracket 44 fixed to the rear end of the support pipe 33 is connected via a shaft joint to a rear portion of a shaft 36 mounted to rotate integrally with the upper right sprockets 29, 29. A driven disk 46 having a protrusion 46a attached to the shaft 45 so as to rotate integrally is mounted. Then, a drive arm 47 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 45 at the rear side of the driven disk 46, and an upper end of the connecting rod 43 is rotatably mounted on a distal end of the drive arm 47.
[0058]
The drive arm 47 is provided with a claw 48 that engages with the protrusion 46 a of the driven disk 46. The claw 48 is attached to the sprocket 29 so that the drive arm 47 operates in the set transfer direction C of the seedling transfer section 3. , 29 in the direction for driving and rotating (when the drive arm 47 moves upward in FIG. 5), the driven disk 46 is engaged with and fixed to the projection 46 a of the driven disk 46, so that the driven disk 46 rotates integrally with the drive arm 47. Let it. When the drive arm 47 rotates in the opposite direction (when the drive arm 47 moves downward in FIG. 5), the claw 48 escapes even if it engages with the projection 46a of the driven disk 46, and moves the driven disk 46. The ratchet mechanism is configured so as not to rotate integrally with the drive arm 47.
[0059]
Accordingly, when the driving force from the transmission case 18c is sequentially transmitted to the driving arm 19, the support link portion 21, and the swing link 22, and the connecting rod 43 moves, the driving arm 47 interlocking with the connecting rod 43 rotates integrally with the driven disk 46. Then, the sprockets 29, 29 can be rotated via the shaft 45 that rotates integrally with the driven disk 46.
[0060]
The bracket 44 is provided with two claws 49a and 49b which engage with the protrusions 46a of the driven disk 46 so as to prevent the driven disk 46 from rotating clockwise and counterclockwise. When the drive arm 47 rotates so as to rotate the driven disk 46 integrally, prior to the engagement of the claw 48 of the drive arm 47 constituting the ratchet mechanism with the projection 46a of the driven disk 46, The rotation preventing release cam 50 provided integrally with the drive arm 47 moves the tip end of the claw 49a for preventing rotation of the driven disk 46 so as to prevent the driven disk 46 from rotating integrally, at a position where it does not engage with the projection 46a of the driven disk 46. It is designed to be moved.
[0061]
Then, when the drive arm 47 is rotated to the stroke upper limit position and the driven disk 46 interlocked with the drive arm 47 is rotated by the set angle (90 degrees in FIG. 5), the claws 49a, 49a are projected. The non-rotating release cam 50, which has been moved to a position where it does not engage with 46a, is disengaged from the detent claw 49a, and the detent claw 49a is again engaged with the projection 46a of the driven disk 46. Thus, the rotation of the driven disk 46 is fixed.
[0062]
In this manner, a pair of seedling planting clamps 4a of the seedling plant 4 ₁ , 4a ₂ Is stopped, the seedling storage units 26... Are stopped, and the seedling holding device 4 a of the seedling plant 4 is moved. ₁ , 4a ₂ Is raised, the seedling conveying unit 3 is intermittently driven so that the seedling storage units 26 move.
[0063]
In addition, the seedling planting holding tool 4a of the seedling plant 4 ₁ , 4a ₂ When the seedlings are lowered and the seedlings are planted in the soil, the seedling storage units 26... Are stopped, so that the seedlings can be smoothly removed from the seedling storage unit 26 and the seedlings can be accurately planted in the field.
[0064]
As described above, since the seedling plant 4 or a member that operates in connection with the seedling plant 4 and the drive unit 41 of the seedling transporting unit 3 are interlockingly connected, the present seedling transplanter is connected to the seedling plant 4. There is an advantage that the drive timing of the seedling transport unit 3 can be easily set, and the drive configuration of the seedling transport unit 3 can be simplified.
An auxiliary seedling placement part 60 is provided on the first case part 18a.
[0065]
In the seedling transplanter according to the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, the traveling machine 1 causes the machine to run by itself, and the worker supplies the seedling transfer section 3 of the self-propelled machine with the sweet potato seedlings. The seedling transport section 3 transports the supplied seedlings, and the seedlings 4 that have been transported by the seedling transport section 3 plant in the field. The seedling transporting section 3 includes a plurality of seedling receiving sections 26... In the seedling transporting direction C, and the seedlings are stored in the seedling receiving sections 26. The worker supplies seedlings to the seedling storage units 26... Which are transported in one direction on the upper side of the machine by the upper horizontal transfer unit 3 a, and the seedling storage units 26. Following the section 3a, the sheet is conveyed downward by the descending conveyance section 3b. .. That have been transported by the descending transport unit 3b are transported upward by the ascending transport unit 3c and return to the transport start end side of the upper horizontal transport unit 3a.
[0066]
The seedling transporting section 3 includes a plurality of seedling receiving sections 26... In the seedling transporting direction C for accommodating sweet potato seedlings in a posture in which the stems are directed in the front-rear direction, and the seedling receiving sections 26. The upper transport section 3a transports in one direction in the left and right directions, the lower transport section 3b transports the seedling storage sections 26... Transported by the upper transport section 3a below the body, and transports by the lower transport section 3b. And an ascending transport portion 3c for transporting the seedling storage portions 26..., Which have been removed upward, to the transport start end side of the upper horizontal transport portion 3a, and the seedling planting body 4 has its seedling planting and holding tool 4a. ₁ , 4a ₂ Is connected to a drive arm 19 for raising and lowering the seedlings, and acts on the rear end of the seedlings accommodated in the seedling accommodation part 26 transported by the descending transportation part 3b on the rear side of the seedling accommodation part 26 to transfer the seedlings. Plant in the field.
[0067]
In this way, the seedling plant 4 is planted and operated behind the seedling transporting unit 3, and a worker who supplies the seedlings to the seedling transporting unit 3 while standing on the rear side of the seedling transporting unit 3 while walking is used. The planting condition of the seedling 4 can be easily seen, so that the operation of supplying the seedling to the seedling transporting unit 3 can be easily performed, and the occurrence of planting failure of the seedling can be noticed at an early stage, so that the workability is improved.
[0068]
Further, a drive unit (drive arm 19, third case portion 18c of the planting transmission case 18) for moving the planting plant 4 up and down is disposed inside the moving path of the seedling storage units 26 ... which circulates in the plant seedling transporting unit 3. As a result, the size of the aircraft can be reduced by effectively utilizing the space.
[0069]
The seedling transplanter according to the present embodiment includes a lower horizontal transport unit 3d that horizontally transports the seedling storage units 26... Horizontally on the lower side of the machine body while shifting from the downward transport unit 3b to the upward transport unit 3c. The seedling-planting body 4 is provided so that the seedlings accommodated in the seedling accommodating section 26 conveyed to the lower horizontal conveying section 3d are planted in a field.
[0070]
Therefore, during the transition from the descending transport unit 3b to the ascending transport unit 3c (in the illustrated example, the section transported by the lower right sprockets 31, 31 and the lower left sprockets 32, 32), the seedlings are stored by the lower horizontal transport unit 3d. The bodies 26 are conveyed horizontally horizontally on the lower side of the machine body, where the seedlings stored in the seedling storage section 26 can be planted in the field.
[0071]
Therefore, even if the seedling transplanting machine shifts the position of the seedling storage unit 26 during the planting operation of the seedling plant 4 to the seedling due to a shift at the time of assembling or the like, the seedling plant 4 is positioned at the lowermost end in the movement route. The seedlings in the seedling storage section 26 that are moved and in the same posture can be planted, and changes in the seedling planting state can be minimized.
[0072]
In addition, since the seedling container 26 has an upward opening in the upper horizontal transport section 3a, the seedlings can be easily supplied to the seedling container 26 from above. Is moved by the descending transport section 3b, and when the open portion of the seedling container 26 is oriented downward, the seedling plant 4 is planted in the field by the seedlings transported by the seedling container 26. Even if the receiving surface 26a on which the seedlings are placed by the upper horizontal transport section 3a and the surfaces 26b, 26b separating the adjacent seedling containers 26, 26 are formed large, the seedling planting and holding tool 4a of the seedling planting body 4 is formed. ₁ , 4a ₂ Is hardly obstructed when planting the seedlings by descending, and it is easy to set the seedling container 26 in a shape that can easily supply the seedlings in the upper horizontal transport section 3a, thereby improving workability. A seedling holding body 27 is attached to the rear end of the seedling storage section 26.
[0073]
Further, a cover body 52 for covering the open portion of the seedling container is provided on the side of the seedling container 26... Of the descending transport section 3 b and below the seedling container 26 containing the seedlings planted by the seedling plant 4. Therefore, the seedlings can be appropriately supported and appropriately transported even at the location where the descending transporting part 3b and the seedling plant 4 act, and the planting of the seedlings can be favorably maintained.
[0074]
The cover body 52 has a configuration in which the front portion is formed in a shape curved upward or formed of an elastic body. Therefore, even if the cover body 52 is grounded, the scene of the field is not damaged, and even if the multi-film is covered, it is difficult for the film to be broken.
[0075]
As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 10 (a), the cover 52 for preventing the falling of the seedlings provided below the lower horizontal transporting section 3d of the seedling transporting section 3 moves the rear part of the cover 52 in the machine longitudinal direction (arrow). (A direction). FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional side view of a main part of the cover 52, which is configured so that a slide piece 52 a in the longitudinal direction of the body can slide in the longitudinal direction of the body relative to the cover 52. FIG. 10C is a sectional side view of a main part of a cover body of the related art which cannot be slid.
[0076]
Since the length of the seedling varies depending on the planting time and the variety, the cover 52 for preventing the falling of the seedling is provided below the lower horizontal transport section 3d shown in FIG. Since it is possible to match the condition of the seedling falling out, planting with high accuracy can be performed and the seedling can be prevented from spilling at the time of turning. That is, in the configuration shown in FIG. 10 (b), by supporting the ends of the seedlings as much as possible, it is possible to improve the detachment of the seedlings and increase the planting accuracy as compared with the conventional one. On the other hand, in the configuration shown in FIG. 10C, the cover body 52 cannot be slid, so that the seedlings are poor when the seedlings are pulled out by the planting claws, so that the seedlings drop out and the stock-out rate increases.
[0077]
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a crushing wheel 69 and a covering soil crushing body 63 are provided behind the seedling plant 4.
As shown in FIG. 3, the cover suppressor 63 is composed of a suppressor support arm 63b and a grounding body 63a fixedly supported at the tip thereof, and the suppressor support arm 63b is rotatably mounted on the inner side of the support frame 23. A roller attached to the distal end of an arm 72 that rotates integrally with the pressure-reducing body support arm 63b about its rotation axis urges a spring 74 to a cam 73 that is mounted to rotate integrally with the drive shaft of the drive arm 19. Then, in conjunction with the drive rotation of the drive arm 19, the pressure suppressor support arm 63b rotates up and down, and the pressure suppressor 63 moves up and down.
[0078]
The ground contacting body 63a of the covering soil suppression body 63 rolls on the ridge surface of the place where the seedlings are planted with the progress of the airframe, backfills the seedling transplant holes after the seedlings are planted and suppresses the pressure. .
[0079]
In addition, the crushing wheel 69 supports the seedling transporting unit 3 and the planting body 4 rotatably mounted around the horizontal axis of the first transmission case 18a on the ridge surface via the crushing wheel 69, As the aircraft progressed, the ridges on the left and right sides of the planted seedlings rolled, and the soil around the seedling transplanting holes after the seedlings were planted brought back the holes and crushed. ing.
[0080]
When the pressure-reducing wheel 69 moves up and down with respect to the fuselage in accordance with the degree of unevenness of the ridge surface, the support frame 23 and the third transmission case 18c rotate up and down around the horizontal axis of the second transmission case 18b. The seedling conveying part 3 and the planting body 4 supported by the three transmission case 18c, the support frame 23, and the planting body 4 move up and down so that the vertical height with respect to the ridge surface is constant.
[0081]
As described above, the holding portion 4a of the planting body 4 holds and holds the seedling from the left and right when the body descends, and then descends while holding the seedling to enter the ridged soil. It moves from the front side to the rear side in the advancing direction of the body, opens the seedling at the rear end of the movement, and then moves diagonally upward on the front side (trajectory T ′ in FIG. 11). At that time, the vine-like seedlings are planted in the soil in the state of falling down like a ship bottom planting or diagonal planting, and after the planting body 4 releases the seedlings, it rises upward from the rear side in the body traveling direction to the front diagonally upward. So that the seedlings are easily covered with soil. Then, since the ground contact body 63a of the soil cover compressing body 63 is grounded on the upper surface of the ridge above the seedling stalk portion from the rear end to the front side from the rear end of the planted vine seedling in the soil, the pressure is reduced. The vine seedlings planted in the soil can be properly crushed and the ground contact 63a of the crushing body 63 rises before the crushing of the seedlings that have come out on the ground by the fuselage. There is no crushing of parts. Therefore, the vine-like seedlings can be planted in an appropriate posture and can be planted with good survival.
[0082]
In addition, when the upper surface of the ridge is covered with the multi-film, since the grounding body 63a is grounded over a wide area in an elastically deformable state, a state in which the soil below the multi-film greatly sinks hardly occurs. The problem that a large amount of high-temperature air accumulates between the film and the soil surface and hinders the growth of vine seedlings is less likely to occur.
[0083]
Further, the horizontal control lever 75 (FIG. 2) of the airframe penetrates through the space between the upper horizontal transport section 3a, the descending transport section 3b, and the upward transport section 3c of the seedling transport section 3 of the present embodiment. It is growing to hand. The horizontal control lever 75 of the machine operates the hydraulic cylinder 15 for left and right horizontal control, and the machine is manually moved to the left and right horizontal by the work machine without the sensor 24 for detecting the left and right inclination of the machine with respect to the left and right horizontal. This is a configuration for horizontal control. When the elevating hydraulic cylinder 15 for left and right horizontal control is extended and contracted, the balance rod 13 rotates around the vertical axis connected to the tip of the piston rod of the elevating hydraulic cylinder 12 at the center of the right and left sides to rotate the left and right transmission case. 9 and 9 are alternately moved up and down to incline the body to the left and right, and the body is operated so as to be horizontal.
[0084]
Since the lever 75 is arranged as described above, the space within the seedling transporting unit 3 is efficiently used, and the operation unit of the lever 75 is easily operated at the time of work, that is, the seedling supply at the rear side of the seedling transporting unit 3. It can be easily arranged near the work position.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view of a seedling transplanter according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the seedling transplanter of FIG.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a seedling plant body part of the seedling transplanter of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a rear view of a seedling plant body of the seedling transplanter of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a rear view showing a driving unit of a seedling transfer unit of the seedling transplanter of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a seedling storage section of the seedling transplanter of FIG. 1;
7 is a perspective view (FIG. 7 (a)) and a side view (FIG. 7 (b)) of a seedling accommodating portion at a tip portion of a seedling plant of the seedling transplanter of FIG.
8 is a perspective view (FIG. 8 (a)), a plan view (FIG. 8 (b)), and a side view (FIG. 8 (c)) of a seedling accommodating portion at a tip portion of the seedling plant of the seedling transplanter of FIG. ).
9 is a bottom view (FIG. 9 (a)) of the tip portion of the seedling plant of the seedling transplanter of FIG. 1 (FIG. 9 (a)), and an arrow view from the direction of arrow A of FIG. 9 (a) (FIG. 9 (b)).
10 is a perspective view (FIG. 10 (a)) of an undercover of a seedling transfer section of the seedling transplanter of FIG. 1, a sectional side view of a main part thereof (FIG. 10 (b)), and a main part of a conventional undercover. Side sectional view (FIG. 10 (c)).
FIG. 11 is a view showing a trajectory of a tip end portion of a seedling plant body of the seedling transplanter of FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 traveling device 2 steering handle
2a Grip part 2b Handle frame
3 Seedling transport section 3a Upper horizontal transport section
3b Downward transport section 3c Upward transport section
3d Lower horizontal transport section 4 Seedling plant
4a Working part (holding part) 4a ₁ , 4a ₂ Clip
4b Support part 4b ₁ , 4b ₂ Support plate
4c ₁ , 4c ₂ Opening / closing member 4d ₁ , 4d ₂ Cylindrical part
4e Spring 5 Engine (motor)
6 Rear wheel 7 Front wheel
8 Mission case 9 Transmission case
10, 17 axles 11 arms
12 Hydraulic cylinder for lifting and lowering 12a Piston rod
13 Balance rod 14 Rod
15 Left and right horizontal control hydraulic cylinder 16 Front wheel support frame
17 Axle 18 Planting transmission case
18a First case part 18b Second case part
18c Third case 18c ₁ Drive mechanism
19 drive arm 20 drive shaft
21 Support link part 22 Swing link
23 Support frame 23a Support frame tube
24 Sensor 25 Support shaft
26 Seedling container 26a Receiving plate
26b Side plate 26c Mounting hole
27 Seedling holding body 27a Holding member
27c hole 27d mounting fixture
27e Working body 27f Support member
27g spring body 28 chains
29, 30, 31, 32 sprockets
33 support pipe 34, 35 support member
36, 37, 39, 40, 45 Shaft 38 Support plate
41 Drive unit 42 Interlocking link
43 Interlock rod 44 Bracket
46 Follower disk 46a Projection
47 Drive arm 48, 49a, 49b Claw
50 Non-rotating cam 52 Cover body
52a slide piece 54 cam
54a Disk 54b ₁ , 54b ₂ Boss part
54c ₁ , 54c ₂ Protrusion
55 connecting link 60 auxiliary seedling placement part
63 Covering soil suppressor 63a Grounding body
63b Suppressor support arm 69 Suppressor wheel
70 Squeezing wheel support arm 72 Plate material
72a projection 73 cam
74 Spring 75 Horizontal control lever

Claims

A traveling device 1 for self-propelling the airframe, a seedling transporting unit 3 for transporting vine seedlings for planting on the traveling device 1, a seedling plant 4 for receiving vine seedlings from the seedling transporting unit 3 and planting them in a field. In a seedling transplanter provided with a soil cover body 63 that covers the top surface of a vine seedling planted in a field and suppresses the soil,
The seedling-planting body 4 penetrates into the soil of the field with the holding portion 4a at its tip holding the vine, and moves through the soil from the front side to the rear side in the machine body traveling direction and hangs in the soil at a predetermined location. A structure is provided in which the seedlings are opened and moved upward from the rear side of the aircraft in the forward direction and obliquely upward and out of the soil,
The cover soil suppressor 63 includes a ground contact body 63a for pressing a field scene. When the ground contact body 63a is in operation for planting the vine seedlings of the planting body 4, the seedlings from the rear end to the front side of the rear end of the planted vine seedlings. A seedling transplanter characterized in that the seedling transplanter is configured to be in contact with the ridge upper surface of the upper part of the ridge and to move away from the field scene so as to ascend before contacting the vine seedling coming out on the ground by the machine body.

2. The seedling transplanter according to claim 1, wherein the ground contact body 63a of the soil cover pressure suppressor 63 is formed of an elastically deformable plate.