【書類名】 明細書
【発明の名称】 苗供給装置の苗収容体
【特許請求の範囲】
【請求項１】 苗が入れられる筒状体４３の外周に円筒外周部４３ｃを形成し、該筒状体４３に、他の筒状体４３の円筒外周部４３ｃに外側から回動自在に係合する係合部４８を形成した連結体４９を設け、該連結体４９の係合部４８を他の筒状体４３の円筒外周部４３ｃに回動自在に係合して複数の筒状体４３を互いに連結可能に構成したことを特徴とする苗供給装置の苗収容体。
【発明の詳細な説明】
【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、苗供給装置の苗収容体の技術分野に属する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来、機体を自走させる走行装置と、上下動するよう設けて上位で上方から苗を受入れて下位で受入れた苗を圃場に放出する苗植付け体と、該苗植付け体に上方から苗を落下させて供給する苗供給装置とを備え、前記苗供給装置には、上下に開口する筒状体と該筒状体の下側の開口部を開閉する底蓋とを有し互いにループ状に連結する複数の苗収容体と、該苗収容体を前記苗植付け体の上方を通過する状態で機体平面視非円形のループ状の軌跡で周回動させる苗収容体移動機構と、前記苗収容体の底蓋を苗植付け体の上方位置で開放する底蓋開放機構を設けた苗移植機があるが、前記複数の苗収容体は、駆動回転する無端チェンの外周に取付けた構成としたり、弾性部材による連結体で互いに連結した構成としていた。当該従来の技術は、例えば、特許文献１、特許文献２に開示されている。
【０００３】
【特許文献１】 特開昭５９−７８６１１号公報
【０００４】
【特許文献２】 特開２００２−８４８２６号公報（図８、図９、図１１、図１２）
【０００５】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
上記の従来の技術は、苗収容体を機体平面視円形軌跡で周回動させる所謂ターンテーブルと呼ばれる周知の苗供給装置と比べると、機体の大型化をできるだけ回避しつつ苗収容体の周回軌跡を長く形成でき、そのぶん苗収容体を多く装備できて、苗収容体への苗供給作業を余裕をもって行えるという利点がある。
【０００６】
しかしながら、従来の構成は、上記のように、複数の苗収容体を、駆動回転する無端チェンの外周に取付けた構成としたり、弾性部材による連結体で互いに連結した構成としていたので、前者の構成では、苗収容体がチェンの外側に片持ち支持される状態となるために苗収容体が周回動中に周回方向に沿って揺動し、また、後者の構成では、苗収容体が周回動中に苗収容体の移動を案内するガイド部材等との接触状態が変化して当該ガイド部材等から受ける摩擦抵抗が変化し、弾性部材で構成した連結体が周回動中に伸縮してしまう。従って、上記のような従来の構成では、苗収容体の間隔が変化するので、苗植付け体の上方位置で苗を落下させて苗植付け体に苗を供給するときに、苗収容体の位置が苗植付け体に対してずれてしまい、その結果、苗植付け体に対する苗供給が適正に行われず、適正な姿勢で苗の植付けが行えないことがある。
【０００７】
そこで、本発明は、苗供給装置にあって、互いに連結した複数の苗収容体を非円形ループ状軌跡で周回させるときに苗収容体の間隔が変化しないようにして、苗供給が適正に行われるようにすることを課題とする。
【０００８】
【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、以下のような構成のものとした。
請求項１記載の発明は、苗が入れられる筒状体４３の外周に円筒外周部４３ｃを形成し、該筒状体４３に、他の筒状体４３の円筒外周部４３ｃに外側から回動自在に係合する係合部４８を形成した連結体４９を設け、該連結体４９の係合部４８を他の筒状体４３の円筒外周部４３ｃに回動自在に係合して複数の筒状体４３を互いに連結可能に構成したことを特徴とする苗供給装置の苗収容体とした。
【０００９】
【００１０】
【００１１】
【作用】
【００１２】
請求項１記載の発明では、連結体４９の係合部４８を他の筒状体４３の円筒外周部４３ｃに回動自在に係合して複数の筒状体４３を互いに連結すると、筒状体４３の円筒外周部を回動軸として隣の筒状体４３が回動しながら周回動することになって、苗収容体の間隔の変動が生じ難いものとなる。
【００１３】
【００１４】
【００１５】
【発明の効果】
【００１６】
請求項１記載の発明にあっては、苗が入れられる筒状体４３の外周に円筒外周部４３ｃを形成し、該筒状体４３に、他の筒状体４３の円筒外周部４３ｃに外側から回動自在に係合する係合部４８を形成した連結体４９を設け、該連結体４９の係合部４８を他の筒状体４３の円筒外周部４３ｃに回動自在に係合して複数の筒状体４３を互いに連結可能に構成したので、苗収容体の間隔の変動が生じ難いものとなり、よって、苗供給が適正に行われるようになる。
【００１７】
【００１８】
【００１９】
【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説明する。尚、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を配置した側を前そしていう。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。
【００２０】
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、昇降駆動するリンク機構３と連結して昇降動作する開閉可能なくちばし状の苗植付け体４，４を左右に二体備えた構成としている。
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。
【００２１】
エンジン５の後部には、ミッションケース８を配置し、そのミッションケース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ケース８内の伝動機構（走行部系変速伝動部Ｃ１と作業部系変速伝動部Ｃ２）に動力が伝達する構成となっている。ミッションケース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、ミッションケース８内の走行部系変速伝動部Ｃ１を経た走行用の動力が伝動ケース９，９内の伝動機構に伝達している。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。
【００２２】
また、伝動ケース９，９のミッションケース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。
【００２３】
昇降用油圧シリンダ１２が作動してそのピストンロッド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Ｓの検出結果に基づいて機体を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Ｌ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。
【００２４】
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の検出結果に基づいて機体を左右水平になるように作動するよう構成している。
【００２５】
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。
【００２６】
前記操縦ハンドル２は、ミッションケース８に前端部を固定した機体フレーム２ｂの後端部に取り付けている。機体フレーム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、機体フレーム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。
【００２７】
尚、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。
次に、リンク機構３及び苗植付け体４について説明する。
【００２８】
リンク機構３は、ミッションケース８内の作業部系変速伝動部Ｃ２を経た苗移植作業部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に装着している。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の上部左側部に固定されそこから後方に延びる第二ケース部１８ｂを有するものとしている。これら第一ケース部１８ａ、第二ケース部１８ｂ内にリンク機構３を昇降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。なお、第一ケース部１８ａ内に内装した伝動機構には、リンク機構３及び苗植付け体４，４をその昇降動最上位の位置で或はその近傍位置で設定時間停止させる間欠駆動機構Ｋと、リンク機構３及び苗植付け体４，４の昇降動を停止させるクラッチ機構とを備える。間欠駆動機構Ｋによって停止する時間は、該間欠駆動機構Ｋの伝動上手側に設けた株間変更用変速部Ｃ３によって調節され、この調節によって苗植付け体４，４による苗植付株間が変更調節されるようになっている。
【００２９】
そして、リンク機構３は、左右の苗植付け体４，４の前側の開閉支点となる軸１９の左右二個所で回動自在に連結する第一昇降アーム２０と、苗植付け体４の後側の開閉支点となる軸２１の左側部に回動自在に連結する第二昇降アーム２２とを備える。そして、第一昇降アーム２０の下端部は、第二ケース部１８ｂの下部にから右側に延びる取付軸に揺動自在に取り付けた第一揺動アーム２３の先端部と回動自在に連結し、第二昇降アーム２２の下端部は、第二ケース部１８ｂの後部側下部にから右側に延びる取付軸に揺動自在に取り付けた第二揺動アーム２４の先端部と回動自在に連結する。また、第一昇降アーム２０の中間部は、第二ケース部１８ｂの右側部から突出し駆動回転する第一駆動軸２５に固定されて駆動回転する第一駆動アーム２６の先端部と回動自在に連結し、第二昇降アーム２２の中間部は、第二ケース部１８ｃの後部側右側部から突出し駆動回転する第二駆動軸２７に固定されて駆動回転する第二駆動アーム２８の先端部と回動自在に連結する。従って、第一駆動アーム２６と第二駆動アーム２８とが植付け伝動ケース１８内の伝動機構によって動力が伝達されて駆動回転すると、第一昇降アーム２０と第二昇降アーム２２が揺動しながら昇降動し、その結果、左右の苗植付け体４，４の下端部が側面視で上下に長い閉ループ軌跡Ｔで昇降動する。また、第一駆動アーム２６と第二駆動アーム２８とは、共に、左側方から見て反時計回りに回転して左右の苗植付け体４，４の下端部が左側方から見て反時計回りに閉ループ軌跡Ｔで昇降回動する。従って、作業走行しながら左右の苗植付け体４，４が上記回転方向で前記軌跡Ｔを描くように昇降回動すると、軌跡Ｔの下端部で苗植付け体４，４の下端部が圃場の畝Ｕの土壌中に付き刺さったとき、苗植付け体４が畝Ｕに対して前後に大きくずれないようになり、前後に大きく植え跡を残さずに適確な姿勢で苗を植付けることができる。なお、くちばし状の苗植付け体４、４は、その昇降動最下位まで下降すると前後に開いて苗植付け体４，４内の苗を畝Ｕの土壌に放出する。
【００３０】
左右の苗植付け体４，４は、それぞれ下方に向かって延びるくちばし状に形成したもので前後に開閉可能に構成している。このくちばし状部の前側部分である前側くちばし部４Ｆ，４Ｆは、その上部側が後方にアーム状にのびてその先端部が苗植付け体４，４の後側の開閉支点となる軸２１に回動自在に連結し、くちばし状部の後側部分である後側くちばし部４Ｂ，４Ｂは、その上部側が前方にアーム状にのびてその先端部が苗植付け体４，４の前側の開閉支点となる軸１９に回動自在に連結する。そして、前側くちばし部４Ｆ，４Ｆ上部の後方にのびるアーム状部と後側くちばし部４Ｂ，４Ｂ上部の前方にのびるアーム状部とは、それぞれ前側の軸１９と後側の軸２１との前後中央位置に設けた長孔に横軸方向の軸部を有するナットを嵌めて連結し、前側くちばし部４Ｆ，４Ｆと後側くちばし部４Ｂ，４Ｂの一方側は他方側の動作に連動して回動し両者が前後に開閉動作するようになっている。また、前側くちばし部４Ｆと後側くちばし部４Ｂとはスプリングにて苗植付け体４を閉じる方向互いに連結している。更に、第一昇降アーム２０と第一揺動アーム２３とが互いに連結する軸部分に、左右の苗植付け体４，４を開閉動作させるための開閉アーム３１を回動自在に連結し、その開閉アーム３１の先端部と左右の前側くちばし部４Ｆ，４Ｆの各上部から上方に延びる各アーム部を互いに左右に連結する連結軸とを連結ロッド３２で連結している。開閉アーム３１の中間部には、苗植付け体４，４がその昇降動最下位まで下降したときに、第一昇降アーム２０を回動自在に連結している第一駆動アーム２６の先端部に固定の軸に固定したカム３４と該カム３４に開閉アーム３１を圧接させるスプリングの作用によって前後揺動して開閉アーム３１が前後に回動し、開閉アーム３１が後方に回動すると左右の前側くちばし部４Ｆ，４Ｆを後側の回動支点である軸２１周りに上方回動し、これとともに後側くちばし部４Ｂ，４Ｂを前側の回動支点である軸１９周りに上方回動して、苗植付け体４が開く。そして、苗植付け体４，４が上昇途中でカム３４の開き作用から開放され苗植付け体４，４が閉じる。なお、上記のカム３４、開閉アーム３１、連結ロッド３２等は、苗植付け体４の開閉機構を構成するが、公知の別の開閉機構を採用してもよい。
【００３１】
苗植付け体４，４の上部には、苗植付け体４，４内に苗を案内する筒状の案内体３５，３５を取り付けている。この案内体３５，３５は、苗植付け体４，４の開閉支点となる軸１９，２１より上方に突出させて設けていて、上方から投入された苗を苗植付け体４，４内の下端部に苗を案内する。
【００３２】
上記苗植付け体４，４が植付けた苗に対して覆土鎮圧するための接地転動輪３６，３６；３６，３６を、左右の苗植付け体４，４の苗植付け個所の各後方左右両側近傍位置に設けている。該接地転動輪３６，３６；３６，３６は、機体フレーム２ｂの途中部に前部が左右軸回りに回動自在に取付けた支持フレーム３７，３７；３７，３７の後部側にそれぞれ横軸回りに回転自在に取付けている。支持フレーム３７，３７；３７，３７の左右内側２つのフレームの後部と左右外側２つのフレームの後部はそれぞれ互いに連結する連結部３８，３８を有し、該連結部３８，３８と、機体後部側に設けた支持部材３９，３９に下降下限位置を設定して上下動自在に取付けた後部支持ロッド４０，４０の下端部を横軸回りに取付けて支持している。この後部支持ロッド４０，４０には、接地転動輪３６，３６；３６，３６に設定した鎮圧力を与えるようウエイト４１，４１を装着している。
【００３３】
上記構成の苗移植機は、苗植付け体４，４に上方から苗を落下させて供給する苗供給装置４２を備える。
即ち、機体を自走させる走行装置１と、上下動するよう設けて上位で上方から苗を受入れて下位で受入れた苗を圃場に放出する苗植付け体４，４と、該苗植付け体４，４に上方から苗を落下させて供給する苗供給装置４２とを備え、前記苗供給装置４２には、上下に開口する筒状体４３…と該筒状体４３…の下側の開口部４３ａ…を開閉する底蓋４４…とを有し互いにループ状に連結する複数の苗収容体４５…と、該苗収容体４５…を前記苗植付け体４，４の上方を通過する状態で機体平面視非円形のループ状の軌跡で周回動させる苗収容体移動機構４６と、前記苗収容体４５…の底蓋４４…を苗植付け体４，４の上方位置で開放する底蓋開放機構４７を設けた構成としている。
【００３４】
この苗移植機は、以下のように作用するものとなる。走行装置１によって機体が自走する。走行中、苗植付け体４，４は上下動し、上位に位置するときに苗供給装置４２から落下供給された苗を上方から苗を受入れて、下位に位置するときに受入れた苗を圃場に放出して苗を圃場に移植する。苗供給装置４２は、上下に開口する筒状体４３…と該筒状体４３…の下側の開口部４３ａ…を開閉する底蓋４４…とを有した苗収容体４５…が複数備えられて互いにループ状に連結し、苗収容体移動機構４６によって苗植付け体４，４の上方を通過する状態で機体平面視非円形のループ状の軌跡で周回動する。そして、底蓋開放機構４７により苗植付け体４，４の上方位置で苗収容体４５…の底蓋４４…が開放される。従って、苗収容体４５…の中に収容された苗は、苗収容体４５…の周回動によって苗植付け体４，４の上方位置まで移送されそこで落下し苗植付け体４，４に供給される。よって、この苗移植機は、苗供給作業を余裕をもって行え、作業能率の向上が図れる。
【００３５】
そして、苗供給装置４２は、前記苗収容体４５…の外周に円筒外周部４３ｃ…を形成し、該円筒外周部４３ｃ…に外側から回動自在に係合する係合部４８を有して二つの苗収容体４５，４５を連結する連結体４９を複数設け、該連結体４９…の前記係合部４８…を苗収容体４５…の前記円筒外周部４３ｃ…に回動自在に係合し該円筒外周部４３ｃ…を回動軸として隣の苗収容体４５…が回動自在に連結する状態として前記複数の苗収容体４５…を互いに連結した構成としている。これにより、この苗移植機は、苗収容体４５…は、苗収容体４５…の円筒外周部４３ｃ…を回動軸として隣の苗収容体４５…が回動しながら周回動することになって、苗収容体４５…の間隔の変動が生じ難いものとなり、よって、苗植付け体４，４に対する苗供給が適正に行われて適確な苗の移植ができ、また、苗収容体４５…の個数と周回動する範囲を設定したうえで、苗収容体の上側開口部４３ｂ…を可能な限り広く形成できて、機体のコンパクト化を図りつつ苗収容体４５…への苗供給作業をできるだけ容易に行えるものとなる。なお、図９に示すように、苗収容体４５’の円筒外周部４３’の外側に設けた回動軸心部Ｂで互いに回動自在に連結する対照例の構成と比べても上記の効果を奏することが明らかである。本例では、移動作用体のまわりを回るときの隣接する苗収容体４５…との間隔Ｗｃは、直線的に移動するときの隣接する苗収容体４５…との間隔Ｗｓと同じ間隔になる。一方、対照例では、移動作用体のまわりを回るときの隣接する苗収容体４５’…との間隔Ｗｃ’が、直線的に移動するときの隣接する苗収容体４５’…との間隔Ｗｓ’よりも狭くなる。そのため、対照例では、移動作用体の回りを回るときの隣接する苗収容体４５’…との間隔Ｗｃ’を基準として苗収容体４５’…の上側開口部４３ｂ’の径を設定しなければならない。従って、本例と比べると、苗収容体の個数と周回動する範囲を設定したうえで、苗収容体の上側開口部が狭いものとなってしまうのである。
【００３６】
また、苗供給装置４２は、前記苗収容体４５…の筒状体４３…に底蓋４４…を開閉回動可能に取付け、該苗収容体４５…のそれぞれに前記連結体４９…を一つづつ一体的に取付け、該連結体４９…の前記係合部４８を隣の苗収容体４５…の前記円筒外周部４３ｃ…に回動自在に係合させて苗収容体４５…を互いに連結した構成としている。これにより、この苗移植機は、苗収容体４５…は、苗収容体４５…の円筒外周部４３ｃ…を回動軸として隣の苗収容体４５…が回動しながら周回動し、しかも、苗収容体４５…が周回動するとき、連結体４９…が周回方向に沿う姿勢で移動するとともに、連結体４９…を筒状体４３…に一体的に取付けた苗収容体４５…も、底蓋４４…の取付部５０…が周回方向に対し設定方向に位置する状態を維持しながら移動することになる。よって、苗収容体４５…の底蓋４４…は、苗植付け体４，４の上方位置においていつも同じ方向に開放動作するものとなり、底蓋開放機構４７による底蓋４４…の開放が適確に作動するようになり、苗植付け体４，４に対する苗供給が一層適正に行われて適確な苗の移植ができるものとなる。
【００３７】
そしてまた、この苗移植機は、前記苗植付け体４，４は左右方向に複数体並べて設け、前記苗供給装置４２は、苗収容体４５…が機体平面視で左右方向に直線的に移動する区間ＳＳを有する軌跡で周回動する構成とし、且つ、苗収容体４５…が左右方向に直線的に移動する区間ＳＳで左右に並列する複数の苗植付け体４，４の上方を通過するように配置した構成として、圃場に苗を複数条同時に移植されるものとしている。よって、複数の苗植付け体４，４に対して苗を供給する苗供給装置４２を簡略に構成でき、また、苗収容体４５…に対して苗を供給しやすくするために苗収容体４５…が連続的に移動するように苗収容体移動機構４６を駆動しても、左右方向に複数並列する苗植付け体４，４のそれぞれに対しそれぞれ同様な落下軌跡で苗を苗収容体４５…から落下供給できて、複数の苗植付け体４，４に対する苗の供給が適確に行え、複数条同時の苗移植が適確に行える。
【００３８】
ところで、本例のように、苗植付け体４，４を左右に二体並べて設けて同時に２条植付け可能に構成した場合は、右側の苗植付け体４に落下供給する苗収容体４５と左側の苗植付け体４に落下供給する苗収容体４５とが交互になるように連結し、且つ、右側の苗植付け体４に落下供給する苗収容体４５が右側の苗植付け体４の上方に位置するとき、左側の苗植付け体４に落下供給する苗収容体４５が丁度左側の苗植付け体４の上方に位置する状態となるように構成し、更に、苗植付け体４，４の植付昇降動作が一動作する間に苗収容体４５が２個分周回移動するように構成する。これにより、苗収容体４５…が左右の苗植付け体４，４の上方を左右方向に直列的に通過しながら左右両方の苗植付け体４，４に対して苗供給漏れが生じることなく同時に苗を供給でき、且つ、左右の苗植付け体４，４の上方を通過した後に苗が供給されなかった苗収容体４５…が生じないよう余すことなく左右両方の苗植付け体４，４に対して苗を供給できるものとなり、苗供給作業が余裕をもって行え、且つ、左右に並ぶ二体の苗植付け体４，４に対して確実に苗を供給できて２条植えが適確に行える。
【００３９】
以下に、苗供給装置４２の苗収容体移動機構４６の構成について説明する。即ち、ループ状に連結した苗収容体４５…を巻き掛ける移動作用体５１，５１を機体の左右に設け、該移動作用体５１，５１を駆動回転する構成として、ループ状に連結した苗収容体４５…を機体平面視で左右に長い長円軌跡を描かせて周回移動する構成としている。移動作用体５１，５１の外周には、その外周に巻き掛けられた苗収容体４５…の円筒外周部５２…に係合する凹部を苗収容体４５…の連結間隔に対応する間隔で複数形成して、苗収容体４５…を確実に移動させられるように設けている。移動作用体５１，５１の駆動構成は、苗植付け体４，４を間欠駆動する前記間欠駆動機構Ｋの伝動上手側で前記株間変更用変速部Ｃ３の伝動下手側の伝動経路から動力を取出して移動作用体５１，５１を連続回転駆動し、苗収容体４５…を連続的に周回移動させるように構成している。具体的は、植付け伝動ケース１８の第一ケース部１８ａの左側部から連続回転する回転軸５３ａを突出させ、該回転軸５３ａに自在継ぎ手を介して伝動軸５３ｂを連結し、該伝動軸５３ｂにて機体左側に設けた伝動ケース５４に伝動し、該伝動ケース５４から上方に突出させた回転軸５５に一体回転するように取付けた左側の移動作用体５１を駆動回転する構成としている。また、回転軸５５にはスプロケット５６も一体回転するように取付け、該スプロケット５６と、右側の移動作用体５１の回転軸５７に一体回転するように取付けたスプロケット５８とに伝動チェン５９を巻き掛けて、左右の移動作用体５１，５１の両方を駆動回転する構成としている。ところで、一方側の移動作用体を駆動回転する構成の場合、駆動回転する移動作用体に取り込まれていく側の苗収容体の列は緊張した連結状態となるが、駆動回転する移動作用体から繰出される側の苗収容体の列は弛緩した連結状態となる。このため、駆動回転する移動作用体から苗収容体が繰出される個所で、移動作用体が苗収容体に係合する部位から苗収容体が外れることがあり、また、駆動回転する移動作用体から苗収容体が繰出された後の苗収容体の列が乱れて、苗収容体の列の下側を支持する部材等との摩擦が大きくなって突然引っかかったようになり、苗収容体の移動が円滑に行われなくなることが生じる。しかしながら、上記のように左右の移動作用体５１，５１の両方を駆動回転する構成としたので、移動作用体５１，５１から苗収容体４５…が外れたり苗収容体４５…の列が乱れたりすることが生じにくくなって苗収容体４５…が円滑に移動するものとなり、これにより苗植付け体４，４への苗の供給が良好に行われて苗移植作業を良好に継続できるものとなった。
【００４０】
なお、前記伝動ケース５４内の伝動機構は、該伝動ケース５４の前側に突出する入力軸６０が、その前端部が前記伝動軸５３の後端部と自在継ぎ手を介して連結して伝動回転し、伝動ケース５４内で、入力軸６０の後端部に形成したベベルギヤ６１が、前記移動作用体５１の回転軸５５と一体回転するように取付けたベベルギヤ６２と噛み合うように設けている。従って、前記伝動軸５３を介して伝動されてきた回転動力は、この伝動ケース５４内で上下方向の前記回転軸５５回りの回転に変換されて前記移動作用体５１を伝動回転する構成としている。本例では、苗供給装置４２の後側に移動してきた苗収容体４５…が右側に移動する方向となるように苗収容体４５…の周回移動方向Ｄを設定していて、操縦ハンドル２の左側方で苗供給装置４２の後側位置に立って苗収容体４５…に右手で供給する苗供給作業形態で作業者が苗を供給しやすいようになっている。
【００４１】
本例では、機体の左右一方側に複数の苗植付け体４，４を左右に並べて設け、その左右反対側に、苗供給装置４２の移動作用体５１，５１を駆動回転する動力を入力して左右一方側の移動作用体５１の回転軸５５に伝動する上記伝動要素６０，６１，６２を備え該回転軸５５を上方に突出させて駆動回転可能に支持する上記伝動ケース５４を設けた構成としている。従って、仮に、上記伝動ケース５４を苗植付け体４，４を配置した側に設けた場合には、苗植付け体４，４と苗収容体４５…との間に上記伝動ケース５４が入り込んで、苗供給装置４２が高い位置に配置されてしまうことになったり、また、それを回避するために、外側方に苗供給装置４２が突出したものとなってしまう。しかしながら、本例では、上記のように左右に振り分けて構成したので、機体の左右重量バランスが良好になり、苗供給装置４２の左右幅を過大に広く構成することなく必要充分な幅を有しつつコンパクトに構成でき、尚且つ、苗供給装置４２から苗植付け体４，４への苗の落下距離ができるだけ短くなるよう苗供給装置４２を低く配置できて、苗植付け体４，４への苗の落下供給が適確に行え、また、苗供給装置４２への苗の供給が容易に行える高さに設定しやすくなる。従って、上記のように構成したことにより、機体の左右重量バランスが良好になるとともに、機体の構成をできるだけコンパクトに構成でき、しかも、苗植付け体４，４への苗の落下供給が適確に行え、且つ、苗供給装置４２への苗供給が容易に行える高さに設定しやすい構成のものとなる。
【００４２】
苗供給装置４２を駆動する動力は、前記のとおり、苗植付け体４，４を間欠駆動する前記間欠駆動機構Ｋの伝動上手側で、前記株間変更用変速部Ｃ３の伝動下手側の伝動経路から取出している。これにより、苗植付け体４，４は間欠的に駆動し、苗供給装置４２は連続的に駆動する構成とした苗移植機にあって、苗植付け体４，４が昇降軌跡Ｔの上位において間欠的に停止する時間を変更して苗植付株間を変更可能とするよう株間変更用変速部Ｃ３を間欠駆動機構Ｋの伝動上手側に設けた構成において、上記のように苗供給装置４２を駆動する動力を取出す構成としたので、間欠駆動する苗植付け体４，４の間欠停止時間を変更して苗植付株間を変更しても、それに対応して、連続的に駆動される苗供給装置４２の動作速度も変更されるので、苗供給装置４２から苗植付け体４，４への苗の供給が良好に行われ、作物等の種類に応じて、適宜、苗植付株間を変更調節しても良好に苗移植作業が行えるものとなる。
【００４３】
また、苗供給装置４２への伝動を入り切りするクラッチ手段ＣＬ１を、苗供給装置４２を駆動する動力を前記間欠駆動機構Ｋの伝動上手側で、前記株間変更用変速部Ｃ３の伝動下手側から移動作用体５１を回転駆動する回転軸５５への伝動経路に設け、一方、苗植付け体４，４への伝動を継続して切ることを可能とするクラッチ手段ＣＬ２を前記間欠駆動機構Ｋに設けている。そして、苗供給装置４２側のクラッチ手段ＣＬ１と苗植付け体４，４側のクラッチ手段ＣＬ２は、操縦ハンドル２側に設けた一つの人為操作具（例えば操作レバー等）によって同時に切り操作及び入り操作されるように構成している。前記間欠駆動機構Ｋには、苗植付け体４，４を一サイクル植付け動作させて自動的に停止させる一回転停止機構とこの一回転停止機構による苗植付け体４，４を一サイクル植付け動作の開始操作を行う一回転開始機構を備えて、その一回転開始機構の作動タイミングが前記株間変更用変速部Ｃ３によって調節される構成となる。従って、前記一回転開始機構の作用部と一回転停止機構の非作用部との位置関係を作用しあわない位置に変更操作するだけで、苗植付け体４，４を設定位置で継続的に停止できる。このように、間欠駆動機構Ｋを利用して前記クラッチ手段ＣＬ２を構成すれば、苗植付け体４，４を設定位置で停止でき、且つ、構成の簡略化が図れる。一方、苗供給装置４２は連続的に駆動するため、前記クラッチ手段ＣＬ１は間欠駆動機構Ｋの伝動上手側に設けることになり、苗植付け体４，４側の前記クラッチＣＬ２を上記ように間欠駆動機構Ｋを利用すると当該クラッチＣＬ２と共用できない。しかしながら、苗供給装置４２側のクラッチ手段ＣＬ１と苗植付け体４，４側のクラッチ手段ＣＬ２を一つの人為操作具によって同時に切り操作及び入り操作するように構成することによって、苗植付け体４，４側の前記クラッチＣＬ２を上記ように間欠駆動機構Ｋを利用する利点を生かしながら、連続的に駆動される苗供給装置４２の停止及び駆動再開を、苗植付け体４，４の停止及び駆動再開のタイミングに合わせて行うことができる。
【００４４】
なお、前記苗供給装置４２側のクラッチ手段ＣＬ１は、伝動負荷が設定値以上になると自動的に動力を切断する機構を備えている。また、苗植付け体４，４側と苗供給装置４２側とに動力が分岐する前の作業部系伝動経路にも、伝動負荷が設定値以上になると自動的に動力を切断する機構を有するクラッチ手段ＣＬ３をを設けている。そして、該クラッチ手段ＣＬ３において自動的に動力を切断する伝動負荷の設定値は、前記苗供給装置４２側のクラッチ手段ＣＬ１において自動的に動力を切断する伝動負荷の設定値よりも高い値に設定している。これにより、前記苗供給装置４２への苗供給作業中に作業者等が誤って接触して苗収容部４５…の周回移動を強制的に停止させるような過負荷状態が苗供給装置４２の駆動系に生じても、前記クラッチ手段ＣＬ１が作動して苗供給装置４２の駆動系の破損を適宜回避できるようになる。この苗供給装置４２への伝動を自動的に遮断するのを苗植付け体４，４側と苗供給装置４２側とに動力が分岐する前の作業部系伝動経路に設けた前記クラッチ手段ＣＬ３にて動作させようとすると、圃場に苗を植付けるために土壌中に突入するために伝動負荷が苗供給装置４２の駆動系よりも大きいものとなる苗植付け体４，４の駆動が適確に継続することができなくなる。しかしながら、上記のように構成したことにより、苗植付け体４，４と苗供給装置４２の駆動を適確に継続できるようにし、且つ、苗植付け体４，４に対して生じた過負荷と苗供給装置４２に対して生じた過負荷をそれぞれ前記クラッチ手段ＣＬ１，ＣＬ３にて適確に解放できて、苗植付け体４，４と苗供給装置４２の両駆動系を適確に保護することができる。
【００４５】
上記苗供給装置４２の支持構成は、以下のように構成している。左右の車輪６，６；７，７の間にエンジン５とミッションケース８を配置した機体前部側から、機体下部側を後方に向って延びて後部側を後上がり状態に形成した機体フレーム２ｂを設けて該機体フレーム２ｂの後端部に操縦ハンドル２を装着するとともに、前記機体前部側から機体上部側を後方に向って延びる第一支持フレーム６３を設けて該第一支持フレーム６３の後部側を前記機体フレーム２ｂと連結し、該支持フレーム６３から左右両外側方に延びる第二支持フレーム６４を設け、該第二支持フレーム６４の左右両側部で、ループ状に連結した苗収容体４５…を機体平面視で左右に長い長円軌跡を描かせて周回移動させる左右の移動作用体５１，５１の回転軸を支持する構成とした。従って、第一支持フレーム６３が、操縦ハンドル２を装着する機体フレーム２ｂとともに機体の中央部寄りに配置されるとともに機体フレーム２ｂと連結して機体の左右バランスが良好で且つ強硬なフレーム構造を形成するものとなり、そして、このように構成した第一支持フレーム６３から左右両外側方に第二支持フレーム６４を延ばして、その左右両側で苗収容体４５…を周回移動させる左右の移動作用体５１，５１の回転軸を支持するので、苗供給装置４２の支持構造が簡潔且つ充分な強度を有したものとなり、機体のコンパクト化、軽量化が図れる。
【００４６】
また、第二支持フレーム６４を、第一支持フレームと連結する側の基部側フレーム部６４ａと、移動作用体５１，５１の回転軸を支持する側の支持部側フレーム部６４ｂとで分割構成し、基部側フレーム部６４ａに対して支持部側フレーム部６４ｂを左右方向に移動調節可能に設けている。これにより、左右の移動作用体５１，５１の外周に巻き掛けられるループ状に連結した苗収容体４５…の緊張状態を適宜調節することが容易に行え、組み立てやメンテナンスが容易になる。
【００４７】
苗供給装置４２には、苗収容体４５…を、その周回移動軌跡に沿う移動を案内するガイド体６５，６５，６５を苗収容体４５…の周回移動軌跡の内側と外側とに設けている。一方、苗収容体４５…には、周回移動軌跡の内側と外側に突出する突出部６６を形成し、前記ガイド体６５，６５，６５が前記突出部６６の上側に位置し且つ苗収容体４５…を周回移動軌跡の内外から挟み込むように配置した構成にしている。これにより、苗収容体４５…の周回移動が適確且つ円滑に行われ、苗収容体４５…が左右方向に直線的に移動する区間ＳＳで苗植付け体４，４の上方を通過するように配置した構成にあって、周回移動中に苗収容体４５…が前後に揺動して、苗植付け体４，４の上方を通過するときに苗収容体４５…が前後にずれて苗植付け体４，４に対する苗供給が適確に行われなくなるのを防止できる。しかも、苗収容体４５…に形成した突出部６６の上側に前記ガイド体６５，６５，６５が位置するので、周回移動中に苗収容体４５…の浮き上がりも防止されて、苗収容体４５…の周回動が適確に行われるようになる。苗収容体４５…の周回移動軌跡の下方には、苗収容体４５…の周回移動中で且つ苗植付け体４，４の上方位置以外で、苗収容体４５…を、下方回動により開放動作する底蓋４４が閉じた状態となるようにして支持する支持体６７を周回移動軌跡に沿って設けている。従って、前記ガイド体６５，６５，６５と前記突出部６６の上記構成は、苗収容体４５…の底部に設けた底蓋４４が周回移動中に開いて苗収容体４５…内に収容した苗が底蓋４４が開いて生じた隙間からはみ出て苗を傷めることも防止するものとなる。また、本例では、苗収容体４５…のそれぞれに一体的に設けた連結体３９…に上記突出部６６を形成したので、構成の簡略化が図れている。なお、前記支持体６６と前記ガイド体６５，６５，６５は、第一支持フレーム６３に取付けた取付部材６８に取付けて支持している。
【００４８】
苗供給装置４２の苗収容体４５…の周回移動軌跡の内側部位は、上側をガバー体６９で覆っている。従って、作業者が苗供給装置４２の後側から苗収容体４５…に苗を供給するときに、このカバー体６９の上に苗を一時的に置け、しかも、このカバー体６９上に置いた苗は、苗収容体４５…に苗供給する作業者から取出すのも容易であり、従って、苗供給作業が容易に行え、作業能率の向上が図れる。本例のカバー体６９は、苗収容体４５…の周回移動軌跡の内側ほぼ全域を覆うように構成しているので、カバー体６９の上に置いた苗が落下することが生じ難い。また、カバー体６９の上面が平坦な面となるように形成しているので、カバー体６９の上に置いた苗が取り出し難い個所に移動することが生じにくくなり、作業性の向上が図れる。更に、カバー体６９の上面をざらつきのある面に形成しておけば、苗が滑りにくく、前記の効果が一層顕著になる。
【００４９】
以下、苗供給装置４２の苗収容体４５…の底蓋４４…を苗植付け体４，４の上方位置で開放する底蓋開放機構４７について説明する。
まず、前記のとおり、苗収容体４５…の周回移動軌跡の下方には、苗収容体４５…の周回移動中で且つ苗植付け体４，４の上方位置以外で、苗収容体４５…を、下方回動により開放動作する底蓋４４が閉じた状態となるようにして支持する支持体６７を周回移動軌跡に沿って設けている。この支持体６７は、苗植付け体４，４の上方位置では、底蓋４４が下方回動して開放動作可能となるように底蓋４４の下方領域から退避した位置に変位させて設けている。また、底蓋４４を下方回動可能に取付けている取付部５０を苗収容体４５…の周回移動方向Ｄの上手側になるように構成している。
【００５０】
更に、この支持体６７は、左右の苗植付け体４，４のそれぞれに対応して苗を供給する苗収容体４５…を設定しており、例えば、本例のように、苗植付け体４，４を左右に二体並べて設けて同時に２条植付け可能に構成した場合には、前記のように、右側の苗植付け体４に落下供給する苗収容体４５と左側の苗植付け体４に落下供給する苗収容体４５とを交互に連結している。従って、右側の苗植付け体４に落下供給するよう設定した苗収容体４５が右側の苗植付け体４の上方を通過するときにのみその苗収容体４５の底蓋４４が開放されるようにし、且つ、左側の苗植付け体４に落下供給するよう設定した苗収容体４５が左側の苗植付け体４の上方を通過するときにのみその苗収容体４５の底蓋４４が開放されるようにする必要がある。このため、底蓋４４に苗収容体４５…の周回移動軌跡に対して外側に突出する突出部４４ａを設けたものと、内側に突出する突出部４４ｂを有するものを設け、外側突出部４４ａを設けた底蓋４４と内側突出部４４ｂを設けた底蓋４４とを互いに連結する苗収容体４５…に対して交互に設ける。そして、先に苗植付け体４の上方を通過することになる右側（周回移動方向Ｄの上手側）の苗植付け体４に落下供給するよう設定した苗収容体４５が右側の苗植付け体４の上方を通過するとき、前記支持体６７は、前記突出部４４ａ或は４４ｂを支持する位置から退避し、且つ、反対側に突出する突出部４４ｂ或は４４ａを支持する位置に変位するように設ける。また、後に苗植付け体４の上方を通過することになる左側（周回移動方向Ｄの下手側）左側の苗植付け体４に落下供給するよう設定した苗収容体４５が左側の苗植付け体４の上方を通過するとき、前記支持体６７は、前記突出部４４ｂ或は４４ａを支持する位置から退避し、且つ、反対側に突出する突出部４４ａ或は４４ｂを支持する位置となる個所に変位するように設ける。これにより、右側の苗植付け体４に落下供給するよう設定した苗収容体４５が右側の苗植付け体４の上方を通過するときは、その苗収容体４５の底蓋４４が開放可能となり、且つ、左側の苗植付け体４に落下供給するよう設定した苗収容体４５が右側の苗植付け体４の上方を通過するときは、その苗収容体４５の底蓋４４は閉じた状態に支持される。また、左側の苗植付け体４に落下供給するよう設定した苗収容体４５が左側の苗植付け体４の上方を通過するときは、その苗収容体４５の底蓋４４が開放可能となり、且つ、右側の苗植付け体４に落下供給するよう設定した苗収容体４５が左側の苗植付け体４の上方を通過するときは、その苗収容体４５の底蓋４４は閉じた状態に支持される。従って、この構成を採用すれば、左右の苗植付け体４，４の上方位置に移動した苗収容体４５…の底蓋４４は、苗供給すべき苗植付け体４に対応して支持体６７による支持状態が解除されて開放動作することになる。よって、左右の苗植付け体４，４に対して適確に苗を落下供給でき、良好に苗移植作業が行える。
【００５１】
更に、本例では、苗収容体４５が、苗植付け体４，４の上方位置に移動しても、苗植付け体４，４が苗収容体４５の直下に位置する個所まで上昇するまで底蓋４４を閉じた状態で支持し、且つ、苗植付け体４，４が苗収容体４５の直下に位置する個所まで上昇すると前記底蓋４４の支持状態を解除してを底蓋４４を開放動作させる可動支持体７０を設けている。この可動支持体７０は、底蓋４４を閉じた状態に支持する底蓋支持位置と底蓋４４を開放可能にする底蓋非支持位置とに移動可能に設けて、苗植付け体４，４とともに昇降動する昇降部材７１，７１と接当することにより可動支持体７０が底蓋支持位置から底蓋非支持位置に移動し、前記昇降部材７１，７１が接当しないときにはスプリング等の弾性部材によって底蓋支持位置に位置するように構成している。従って、苗植付け体４，４が間欠駆動機構ＫＫによって間欠的に動作するのに対し苗収容体４５が連続的に周回移動する構成にあっても、苗植付け体４，４が苗収容体４５の直下に位置する個所まで上昇してから底蓋４４が開放動作することになって、苗収容体４５から苗植付け体４，４への苗の落下供給が良好に行われる。
【００５２】
ところで、本例では、苗植付け体４，４を左右に二体並べて設けて同時に２条植付け可能に構成したものであるが、この構成で１条植えを行うときには、植付けを行わない苗植付け体４に苗を供給するように設定している苗収容体４５…の上側開口部４５ｂ…を閉じる蓋（図示省略）を装着する構成としている。これにより、植付けを行う左右一方側の苗植付け体４に苗を供給するように設定している苗収容体４５…のみに苗を供給することが容易に行え、２条植えと１条植えとが容易に行えるものとなる。尚、苗植付け体４の下部をその上部から着脱可能に構成し、上記のようにして１条植えを行う場合に、植付けを行わない苗植付け体４の下部を取外せば、植付けを行わない苗植付け体４が圃場面に孔を形成することがなくなり、一層良好な１条植えが可能となる。
【００５３】
尚、上記苗移植機は、苗供給装置４２に供給する苗を予備的に置いておくための苗台８０を機体上部で苗供給装置４２の前側位置に取付けている。作業者は、この苗台８０から苗をまとめて取って苗供給装置４２に補給していく。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】苗移植機の側面図。
【図２】苗移植機の平面図。
【図３】苗移植機の伝動構成を示す説明図。
【図４】苗収容体の連結構成を示す斜視図。
【図５】苗供給装置の一部を示す平面図。
【図６】苗供給装置の一部を示す断面側面図。
【図７】苗供給装置から苗植付け体への苗供給部を示す正面図。
【図８】苗供給装置から苗植付け体への苗供給部を示す平面図。
【図９】本例と対照例の苗収容体連結状態をそれぞれ示す平面図。
【符号の説明】
１：走行装置
４：苗植付け体
４２：苗供給装置
４３：筒状体
４３ａ：筒状体の下側開口部
４４：底蓋
４５：苗収容体
４６：苗収容体移動機構
４７：底蓋開放機構
[Document name] statement
[Title of the Invention] Seedling container of seedling supply device
[Claim of claim]
[Claim 1] Of the cylindrical body 43 into which the seedlings are putOuter circumference of cylinder43cFormOf the other tubular body 43 in the tubular body 43.Cylindrical outer periphery43cEngaging portion rotatably engaged from the outsideFormed 48Connected body49Provided, the connected body49'sEngaging section48 of the other tube 43Cylindrical outer periphery43cEngage rotatablyThepluralTubular body 43Connected to each otherConfigurableIt is characterized bySeedling container of seedling supply device.
Detailed Description of the Invention
[0001]
Field of the Invention
The present inventionSeedling container of seedling supply deviceBelongs to the technical field of
[0002]
[Prior Art]
Conventionally, a traveling device for self-propelled airframe, a seedling planting body provided so as to move up and down to receive seedlings from above at the upper level and release the seedling received at lower position to the field, and dropping seedlings from above onto the seedling planting body And a seedling feeding device for feeding the seedling feeding device, the seedling feeding device having a cylindrical body opening upward and downward and a bottom lid opening and closing an opening on the lower side of the cylindrical body A plurality of seedling container bodies, a seedling container moving mechanism for rotating the seedling container in a loop-like locus with a non-circular shape in plan view of the plant body in a state where the seedling container passes above the seedling planter; There is a seedling transplanting machine provided with a bottom lid opening mechanism that opens the bottom lid at a position above the seedling planting body, but the plurality of seedling containers are attached to the outer periphery of a drivingly rotating endless chain, or an elastic member It is set as the structure mutually connected by the connection body by. The related art is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-78611
[0004]
[Patent Document 2] JP-A-2002-84826 (FIGS. 8, 9, 11, and 12)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The above-mentioned prior art can avoid the upsizing of the fuselage as much as possible, as compared with a known seedling supply device called a so-called turntable which rotates the seedling container around a circular trajectory in plan view of the seedling container. There is an advantage that it can be formed long, so that a large number of seedling containers can be equipped, and the seedling supply operation to the seedling containers can be performed with time.
[0006]
However, in the conventional configuration, as described above, the plurality of seedling storage bodies are attached to the outer periphery of the drivingly rotating endless chain, or are connected to each other by a connecting member by an elastic member. In this case, since the seedling container is cantilevered on the outside of the chain, the seedling container swings along the circumferential direction during the circumferential rotation, and in the latter configuration, the seedling container rotates circumferentially. The state of contact with a guide member or the like for guiding the movement of the seedling container changes, the frictional resistance received from the guide member or the like changes, and the connection body formed by the elastic member expands and contracts during circumferential rotation. Therefore, in the conventional configuration as described above, since the gap between the seedling containers changes, when the seedlings are dropped at the position above the seedling planting body to supply the seedling to the seedling planting body, the position of the seedling container is As a result, the seedling planting body may be shifted, and as a result, the seedling supply to the seedling planting body may not be properly performed, and the planting may not be performed in an appropriate posture.
[0007]
Therefore, the present invention isIn the seedling feeding apparatus, when the plurality of seedling containers connected to each other are circulated along a non-circular loop-like locus, the interval between the seedling containers is not changed, so that seedling supply is properly performed.To be an issue.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention is configured as follows in order to solve the above problems.
The invention according to claim 1 isOf the cylindrical body 43 into which the seedlings are putOuter circumference of cylinder43cFormOf the other tubular body 43 in the tubular body 43.Cylindrical outer periphery43cEngaging portion rotatably engaged from the outsideFormed 48Connected body49Provided, the connected body49'sEngaging section48 of the other tube 43Cylindrical outer periphery43cEngage rotatablyThepluralTubular body 43Connected to each otherConfigurableIt is characterized bySeedling container of seedling supply deviceAnd
[0009]
[0010]
[0011]
【Function】
[0012]
In the invention according to claim 1,,Connected body49'sEngaging section48TheAnother tube 43Cylindrical outer periphery43cEngage pivotablyTheMultipleTubular body 43Connected to each otherThen, the cylindrical body 43Next to the outer circumference of theTubular body 43As it rotates while rotating, rotation of the seedling container is less likely to occur.
[0013]
[0014]
[0015]
【Effect of the invention】
[0016]
PetitionIn the invention according to claim 1,Of the cylindrical body 43 into which the seedlings are putOuter circumference of cylinder43cFormOf the other tubular body 43 in the tubular body 43.Cylindrical outer periphery43cEngaging portion rotatably engaged from the outsideFormed 48Connected body49Provided, the connected body49'sEngaging section48 of the other tube 43Cylindrical outer periphery43cEngage rotatablyThepluralTubular body 43Connected to each otherConfigured as possibleTherefore, fluctuations in the spacing between the seedling containers are unlikely to occur.,Seedling supply is carried out properlyBecome so.
[0017]
[0018]
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A seedling transplanter according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In the following description of the illustrated example, when the front or rear is used, the side on which the steering handle 2 is disposed is referred to as the rear, and the opposite side, that is, the side on which the engine 5 is disposed is referred to as the front. And when it says right or left, it sees from the worker who stands with the front part side of a body as the front side in the back of a body, says the right hand side as the right and the left hand side as the left.
[0020]
The seedling transplanting machine is provided on the left and right with two beak-like seedling planters 4 and 4 which can be opened and closed to be moved up and down by connecting to the link mechanism 3 to be moved up and down. It has composition.
In the illustrated example, the traveling device 1 supports the engine 5, the pair of left and right rear wheels 6, 6 that are driven to rotate by receiving the power of the engine 5, and the left and right supported rotatably in front of the wheels 6, 6. A pair of front wheels 7, 7 is provided.
[0021]
A transmission case 8 is disposed at the rear of the engine 5, and the transmission case 8 has a case portion extending from the left side thereof to the left side of the engine 5, which is connected to the left side of the engine 5. The output shaft of the engine 5 enters this case portion, and power is transmitted to the transmission mechanism in the transmission case 8 (travel unit system transmission unit C1 and working unit system transmission unit C2). Transmission cases 9, 9 are rotatably attached to the left and right sides of the transmission case 8, and the tip of the wheel drive shaft extended outward from the transmission case 8 from the transmission case 8 to the rotation center of the transmission cases 9, 9 is The power for traveling, which has passed through the traveling unit system speed change transmission unit C1 in the transmission case 8, is transmitted to the transmission mechanism in the transmission cases 9, 9. The power for traveling is transmitted to the axles 10 and 10 which extend to the rear side of the machine body and project to the side of the rear end via the transmission mechanism in the transmission cases 9 and 9, and the rear wheels 6, 6 drive and rotate. It is supposed to
[0022]
In addition, the arms 11 and 11 extending upward are integrally attached to the attachment portion of the transmission case 9 and 9 to the transmission case 8, and the end of the piston rod of the lifting hydraulic cylinder 12 fixed to the transmission case 8 And the left and right sides of a balance rod 13 rotatably mounted 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 telescopic left and right horizontal control hydraulic cylinder 15 which can be extended and contracted.
[0023]
When the raising and lowering hydraulic cylinder 12 operates and its piston rod projects rearward of the machine body, the left and right arms 11, 11 turn rearward, and accordingly, the transmission cases 9, 9 turn downward, the machine body Will rise. On the other hand, when the piston rod of the lifting hydraulic cylinder 12 is pulled forward of the machine body, the left and right arms 11, 11 turn forward, and accordingly the transmission cases 9, 9 rotate upward, and the machine body becomes Go down. The raising and lowering hydraulic cylinder 12 is configured to operate the vehicle body so as to have a set height with respect to the upper surface height based on the detection result of the sensor S that detects the upper surface height with respect to the vehicle body. The manual operation of the operation tool L disposed in the vicinity of the steering handle 2 is also configured to operate to raise or lower the machine.
[0024]
Also, when the left and right horizontal control hydraulic cylinder 15 is extended and contracted, the balance rod 13 rotates around the vertical axis connected to the tip end of the piston rod of the lifting hydraulic cylinder 12 in the left and right center portion thereof to transmit left and right. The case 9 is alternately moved up and down to tilt the machine left and right. The left and right horizontal control hydraulic cylinder 15 is configured to operate so as to be horizontally and horizontally on the basis of a detection result of a sensor that detects left and right inclination of the body with respect to left and right horizontal.
[0025]
The left and right front wheels 7, 7 are fixed to the lower end side of the lower arm portion of the left and right side portions of the front wheel support frame 16 rotatably mounted around the axial center in the front and rear direction at the left and right center position under the engine 5. It is rotatably mounted on the axles 17, 17. Therefore, the left and right front wheels 7, 7 are free to roll around the longitudinal center of the left and right center of the vehicle.
[0026]
The steering handle 2 is attached to the rear end of the machine frame 2 b whose front end is fixed to the transmission case 8. The airframe 2b is disposed at a position deviated to the right from the left and right center of the airframe and extends rearward, and extends obliquely rearward and upward from the front and rear intermediate portion. The steering handle 2 extends rearward to the left and right from the rear end portion of the machine body frame 2 b, and the rear end portions thereof serve as grip portions 2 a and 2 a of the steering handle 2. The right and left grips 2a, 2a of the steering handle 2 are set at appropriate heights so that the operator can grip the grips 2a, 2a with ease. In the illustrated example, the grips 2a and 2a are divided into right and left, but the left and right rear end portions of the steering handle 2 may be connected to each other to make the connected part a grip.
[0027]
Although the traveling device 1 has a four-wheel configuration, it may have a two-wheel configuration consisting of only a pair of left and right drive wheels, or may be a pressure-compacted wheel rolling on the upper surface of the heel instead of the front wheel. In addition, it may be a crawler type traveling device.
Next, the link mechanism 3 and the seedling planting body 4 will be described.
[0028]
The link mechanism 3 is attached to a planting transmission case 18 that internally incorporates a transmission mechanism that receives and transmits power for driving the seedling transplanting work unit via the working unit system transmission unit C2 in the transmission case 8. As shown in the figure, the planting transmission case 18 is fixed to the upper left portion of the first case portion 18a, and the first case portion 18a whose front portion is connected to the rear portion of the transmission case 8 and extends diagonally upward from the rear. A second case portion 18b extending rearward from there is provided. A transmission mechanism for transmitting power for vertically moving the link mechanism 3 is internally provided in the first case portion 18a and the second case portion 18b. The transmission mechanism installed in the first case portion 18a includes an intermittent drive mechanism K for stopping the link mechanism 3 and the seedling planters 4, 4 at the uppermost position of the raising / lowering movement at or near the position. , And a clutch mechanism for stopping the raising and lowering movement of the link mechanism 3 and the seedling planting bodies 4. The time for stopping by the intermittent drive mechanism K is adjusted by the inter-stock change changing portion C3 provided on the transmission upper side of the intermittent drive mechanism K. It has become so.
[0029]
The link mechanism 3 includes a first lift arm 20 rotatably connected at two right and left positions of a shaft 19 serving as an opening and closing fulcrum on the front side of the left and right seedling planters 4 and 4. A second lifting arm 22 rotatably connected to the left side of the shaft 21 serving as the opening and closing fulcrum is provided. The lower end portion of the first lift arm 20 is rotatably coupled to the tip end portion of the first swing arm 23 swingably attached to a mounting shaft extending from the lower portion of the second case portion 18b to the right side, The lower end portion of the second lifting arm 22 is rotatably connected to the tip end portion of the second swing arm 24 swingably attached to a mounting shaft extending from the lower portion on the rear side of the second case portion 18b to the right. In addition, the middle portion of the first lift arm 20 is fixed to the first drive shaft 25 which is driven to rotate by being fixed to the first drive shaft 25 which is driven to rotate from the right side of the second case portion 18b. The middle portion of the second lifting arm 22 is fixed to the second drive shaft 27 which is driven to rotate and protrudes from the rear right side portion of the second case portion 18c, and the tip portion of the second drive arm 28 which is driven to rotate. Connect freely. Therefore, when power is transmitted by the transmission mechanism in the planting transmission case 18 to drive and rotate the first drive arm 26 and the second drive arm 28, the first lift arm 20 and the second lift arm 22 move up and down while swinging. As a result, the lower end portions of the left and right seedling planters 4, 4 move up and down in a closed loop trajectory T which is long in the vertical direction in a side view. The first drive arm 26 and the second drive arm 28 both rotate counterclockwise as viewed from the left side, and the lower end portions of the left and right seedling planters 4, 4 as viewed from the left side rotate counterclockwise. Up and down with a closed loop locus T. Therefore, when the left and right seedling planters 4, 4 move up and down to draw the locus T in the rotational direction while traveling, the lower ends of the seedling planters 4, 4 at the lower end of the locus T When sticking in the U soil, the planting plant body 4 does not largely shift back and forth with respect to the cocoon U, and it is possible to plant the seedlings in a proper posture without leaving a large planting trace back and forth . When the beak-like seedling planters 4 are lowered to the lowermost end of the raising and lowering movement, the beak-like seedling planters 4 are opened back and forth to release the seedlings in the seedling planters 4 into the soil of the pot U.
[0030]
The left and right seedling planters 4, 4 are formed in the form of a beak extending downward, and are configured to be able to open and close in the front and back. The upper part of the front beak part 4F, 4F which is the front part of this beak-like part extends in the shape of an arm at the upper part to the rear and the tip part turns around the axis 21 which becomes the opening and closing fulcrum of the rear side The upper sides of the rear bill parts 4B and 4B, which are freely connected to each other and are the rear part of the bill part, extend in the form of an arm to the front, and the tip thereof serves as the opening and closing fulcrum of the planter plant 4 It is rotatably connected to the shaft 19. An arm-like portion extending rearward of the upper portions of the front side bill portions 4F, 4F and an arm-like portion extending forward of the upper portions of the rear side bill portions 4B, 4B are center portions of the front side shaft 19 and the rear side shaft 21 respectively. A nut having a shaft in the horizontal axis direction is inserted into and connected to a long hole provided at a position, and one side of the front beaks 4F, 4F and the rear beaks 4B, 4B rotate in conjunction with the operation of the other side Both are opened and closed back and forth. Moreover, the front side bill part 4F and the back side bill part 4B are mutually connected with the direction which closes the seedling planting body 4 with a spring. Furthermore, an opening / closing arm 31 for opening / closing the left and right seedling planters 4, 4 is rotatably connected to a shaft portion where the first lifting arm 20 and the first swinging arm 23 are connected to each other. A connecting rod 32 connects the distal end of the arm 31 and a connecting shaft which connects the arms extending upward from the upper portions of the left and right front beaks 4F and 4F to each other on the left and right. In the middle part of the opening and closing arm 31, when the seedling planting body 4, 4 is lowered to its lowest position, the tip end of the first drive arm 26 rotatably connecting the first raising and lowering arm 20 By the action of the cam 34 fixed to the fixed shaft and the spring for pressing the open / close arm 31 into pressure contact with the cam 34, the open / close arm 31 pivots back and forth when the open / close arm 31 pivots backward Rotate the beaks 4F and 4F upward about the axis 21 as the fulcrum on the rear side, and simultaneously rotate the rear beaks 4B and 4B upward about the axis 19 as the fulcrum on the front side, Seedling planter 4 opens. Then, the seedling planting bodies 4, 4 are released from the opening action of the cam 34 while rising, and the seedling planting bodies 4, 4 are closed. In addition, although said cam 34, opening-and-closing arm 31, connection rod 32 grade | etc., Comprise the opening-and-closing mechanism of the seedling plant attachment body 4, you may employ | adopt another well-known opening-and-closing mechanism.
[0031]
On the upper part of the seedling planting bodies 4, 4, cylindrical guide bodies 35, 35 for guiding the seedlings into the seedling planting bodies 4, 4 are attached. The guide members 35 and 35 are provided to project upward from the shafts 19 and 21 serving as the opening and closing fulcrums of the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4, and the lower end portion of the seedling introduced from the upper side in the seedling planting bodies 4 Guide the seedlings to
[0032]
The ground contact rolling wheels 36, 36; 36, 36 for covering soil pressure on the seedlings planted by the above-mentioned seedling planting bodies 4, 4 and the positions on the rear left and right sides of the planting site of the left and right seedling planting bodies 4, 4. Provided in The ground contact rolling wheels 36, 36; 36, 36 have respective horizontal axes on the rear side of the support frames 37, 37; 37, 37, the front portions of which are rotatably mounted around the left and right axes in the middle of the machine frame 2b. Is rotatably mounted on the The rear portions of the two left and right inner frames of the support frames 37, 37; 37, 37 and the rear portions of the two left and right outer frames have connecting portions 38, 38 respectively connected to each other, and the connecting portions 38, 38; The lower end portion of the rear support rods 40, 40 are mounted and supported around the horizontal axis by setting the lower limit position of lowering to the support members 39, 39 provided on the lower support. Weights 41, 41 are attached to the rear support rods 40, 40 so as to apply pressure reduction to the contact rolling wheels 36, 36; 36, 36.
[0033]
The seedling transplanting machine of the said structure is provided with the seedling supply apparatus 42 which makes a seedling planting body 4 and 4 drop a seedling from upper direction, and supplies it.
That is, a traveling device 1 for self-propelled airframe, a seedling planting body 4, 4 provided so as to move up and down to receive seedlings from above at the upper level and release the seedling received at lower level to the field, the seedling planting body 4, 4. Seedling supply device 42 for dropping and supplying seedlings from above onto seedling 4. The seedling supply device 42 includes cylindrical members 43 that open vertically and an opening 43a on the lower side of the cylindrical members 43. ... A plurality of seedling containers 45 ... having bottom lids 44 ... which open and close and connected to each other in a loop shape, and a plane of the machine with the seedling containers 45 ... passing above the seedling planters 4 and 4 A seedling container moving mechanism 46 which rotates around a non-circular loop locus and a bottom lid opening mechanism 47 which opens bottom lids 44 of the seedling containers 45 at positions above the seedling planters 4, 4 It is set as the composition provided.
[0034]
This seedling transplanter works as follows. The vehicle travels by the traveling device 1. The seedling planting bodies 4, 4 move up and down while traveling, and when they are located at the upper position, they receive the seedlings dropped from the seedling supply device 42 from above and receive the seedlings from above, and when they are located at the lower position, they receive Release and transplant the seedlings to the field. The seedling feeding device 42 is provided with a plurality of seedling container 45 having a cylindrical body 43 that opens vertically and a bottom cover 44 that opens and closes the lower opening 43a of the cylindrical body 43. Then, the seedling container moving mechanism 46 rotates around the non-circular loop locus in plan view of the planting body in a state where it passes above the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4. Then, the bottom lid 44 of the seedling container 45 is opened at a position above the seedling planting bodies 4 by the bottom lid opening mechanism 47. Therefore, the seedlings stored in the seedling container 45 are transferred to the position above the seedling planters 4, 4 by the circumferential rotation of the seedling containers 45, are dropped there, and supplied to the seedling planters 4, 4 . Therefore, this seedling transplanting machine can carry out the seedling supply operation with time, and the working efficiency can be improved.
[0035]
The seedling feeder 42 has cylindrical outer peripheral portions 43c on the outer periphery of the seedling container 45, and has engaging portions 48 rotatably engaged with the cylindrical outer peripheral portions 43c from the outside. A plurality of connecting members 49 for connecting two seedling containers 45, 45 are provided, and the engaging portions 48 of the connecting members 49 are rotatably engaged with the cylindrical outer peripheral portions 43c of the seedling container 45. The plurality of seedling containers 45 are connected to each other in a state where the seedling containers 45 adjacent to each other are rotatably connected to each other with the cylindrical outer peripheral portions 43c as pivot shafts. As a result, in this seedling transplanting machine, the seedling container 45 is rotated around the other seedling container 45 with the cylindrical outer peripheral portion 43c of the seedling container 45 as a rotation axis. Therefore, the variation of the interval of the seedling container 45 is unlikely to occur, so that the seedling supply to the seedling planting body 4, 4 is properly performed, and the appropriate seedling can be transplanted, and the seedling container 45 ... The upper opening 43b of the seedling container can be formed as wide as possible by setting the number and the range of rotational rotation of the seedling container, and the seedling supplying operation to the seedling container 45 can be performed as much as possible while achieving compactness of the machine body. It will be easy to do. In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, even when compared with the configuration of the control example in which the pivoting shaft portions B provided on the outer side of the cylindrical outer peripheral portion 43 'of the seedling container 45' are connected rotatably It is clear to play. In this example, the distance Wc between the adjacent seedling container 45 when traveling around the transfer agent is the same as the distance Ws between the adjacent seedling container 45 when moving linearly. On the other hand, in the control example, the distance Wc 'between the adjacent seedling container 45' when moving around the transfer agent is the distance Ws 'with the adjacent seedling container 45' when moving linearly. It becomes narrower than. Therefore, in the control example, the diameter of the upper opening 43b 'of the seedling container 45' ... should be set based on the interval Wc 'with the adjacent seedling container 45' ... when rotating around the transfer agent. It does not. Therefore, as compared with this example, the upper opening of the seedling container becomes narrow after setting the number of the seedling container and the range of rotational rotation.
[0036]
Further, the seedling supply device 42 has bottom lids 44 attached to the cylindrical bodies 43 of the seedling container 45 so as to be capable of opening and closing, and one of the connected bodies 49 is provided to each of the seedling containers 45. The seedling containers 45 are connected to each other by integrally attaching them one by one, rotatably engaging the engaging portions 48 of the coupling bodies 49 with the cylindrical outer peripheral portions 43c of the seedling containers 45 next to each other. It has composition. As a result, in the seedling transplanting machine, the seedling storage body 45 rotates around while the next seedling storage body 45 rotates with the cylindrical outer peripheral portion 43c of the seedling storage body 45 as a rotation axis, When the seedling container 45 is rotated, the connecting member 49 moves in a posture along the circumferential direction, and the seedling container 45 integrally mounting the connecting member 49 on the cylindrical member 43 also has a bottom. The mounting portions 50 of the lids 44 move while maintaining the state of being positioned in the set direction with respect to the circumferential direction. Therefore, the bottom lids 44 of the seedling container 45 are always open in the same direction at the positions above the seedling planters 4, 4, and the opening of the bottom lid 44 by the bottom lid opening mechanism 47 is appropriate. As a result, the seedling planters 4 and 4 can be more properly supplied with seedlings and transplanted appropriate seedlings.
[0037]
Also, in this seedling transplanting machine, a plurality of the seedling planters 4, 4 are provided side by side in the left-right direction, and the seedling supply body 42 linearly moves the seedling container 45 in the left-right direction in plan view of the machine body. The seedling container 45 is configured to rotate around a locus having a section SS, and to pass above the plurality of seedling planters 4 arranged in parallel in the left and right direction in a section SS in which the seedling storage body 45 linearly moves in the left and right direction. As arrangement composition, it is assumed that several rows of seedlings are transplanted to a field simultaneously. Therefore, the seedling supply body 42 for supplying the seedling to the plurality of seedling planting bodies 4, 4 can be simply configured, and the seedling storage body 45 can be provided to easily supply the seedling to the seedling storage body 45. Even if the seedling container moving mechanism 46 is driven so that the plant moves continuously, the seedlings are transferred from the seedling container 45 with a similar fall trajectory to each of the plurality of seedling planters 4 arranged in parallel in the left-right direction. Fall supply can be performed, and the supply of seedlings to the plurality of seedling planters 4 and 4 can be appropriately performed, and the multiple seedlings can be properly transplanted.
[0038]
By the way, as in this example, when two plantings 4 and 4 are provided side by side on the left and right and two rows can be planted at the same time, the seedling container 45 and the left side Seedling container 45 which is dropped and supplied to the seedling planting body 4 is alternately connected, and the seedling container 45 which is dropped and supplied to the right seedling planting member 4 is positioned above the right seedling planting member 4 When the seedling container 45 dropped and supplied to the left seedling planting body 4 is positioned just above the seedling planting body 4 on the left side, further, the planting elevating operation of the seedling planting body 4, 4 The seedling container 45 is configured to move by two rounds during one operation. As a result, while the seedling container 45 passes in series in the left and right direction above the left and right seedling planters 4, 4, seedling supply leakage does not occur at the same time with respect to both the left and right seedling planters 4, 4. Can be supplied, and after passing above the left and right seedling planters 4, 4, seedling receptacles 45 ... which are not supplied with seedlings do not have any surplus for both left and right seedling planters 4, 4 Seedlings can be supplied, and the seedling supply operation can be performed with ease, and can be reliably supplied to the two seedling planting bodies 4 arranged side by side, and two-row planting can be appropriately performed.
[0039]
Below, the structure of the seedling container transfer mechanism 46 of the seedling supply apparatus 42 is demonstrated. That is, the transfer working bodies 51, 51 for winding the seedling storage bodies 45 ... connected in a loop shape are provided on the left and right of the machine body, and the seedling storage bodies connected in a loop shape .. Are configured to draw a long oval locus on the left and right in a plane view of the aircraft, and to move around. A plurality of recesses are formed on the outer periphery of the transfer working body 51, 51 to engage with the cylindrical outer peripheral portion 52 of the seedling container 45 wound around the outer periphery at intervals corresponding to the connection interval of the seedling container 45. Are provided so that the seedling container 45 can be moved reliably. The drive configuration of the transfer working bodies 51, 51 is such that the power is taken from the transmission path on the transmission lower side of the transmission changing section C3 between the stock on the transmission upper side of the transmission of the intermittent drive mechanism K that intermittently drives the seedling planters 4, 4 The movable working bodies 51, 51 are driven to rotate continuously, and the seedling container 45 is continuously circulated. Specifically, the rotating shaft 53a that continuously rotates is projected from the left side of the first case portion 18a of the planting transmission case 18, the transmission shaft 53b is connected to the rotation shaft 53a via a universal joint, and the transmission shaft 53b is A transmission case 54 provided on the left side of the machine body is transmitted, and a left moving operation body 51 mounted so as to rotate integrally with a rotary shaft 55 projecting upward from the transmission case 54 is driven to rotate. Further, the sprocket 56 is also attached to the rotation shaft 55 so as to rotate integrally, and the transmission chain 59 is wound around the sprocket 56 and the sprocket 58 attached so as to rotate integrally with the rotation shaft 57 of the moving operation body 51 on the right. Thus, both left and right moving acting bodies 51, 51 are driven to rotate. By the way, in the case of the structure which drives and rotates the moving action body on one side, the row of seedling storage bodies taken in by the moving action body which is driven and rotated is connected in a tensioned state. The row of seedling receptacles on the side to be fed out is in a relaxed connected state. For this reason, at a portion where the seedling storage body is fed out from the driving and rotating moving action body, the seedling storage body may be detached from a portion where the moving action body engages with the seedling storage body. The row of seedling containers after the seedling container was fed out is disturbed, and the friction with a member etc. supporting the lower side of the row of the seedling containers becomes large, and it is suddenly caught, Movement may not be performed smoothly. However, as described above, since both of the left and right moving acting bodies 51 and 51 are driven and rotated, the seedling containing body 45 is detached from the moving acting bodies 51 and 51 or the row of the seedling containing body 45 is disturbed And the seedling container 45 can be moved smoothly, thereby providing a good supply of seedlings to the seedling planting bodies 4, 4 and allowing the seedling transplanting work to be continued favorably. The
[0040]
In the transmission mechanism in the transmission case 54, the input shaft 60 projecting to the front side of the transmission case 54 is coupled to the rear end of the transmission shaft 53 via a universal joint, and the transmission shaft rotates. In the transmission case 54, a bevel gear 61 formed at the rear end of the input shaft 60 is provided so as to mesh with a bevel gear 62 mounted so as to rotate integrally with the rotation shaft 55 of the movable working body 51. Therefore, the rotational power transmitted through the transmission shaft 53 is converted into rotation around the rotation shaft 55 in the vertical direction in the transmission case 54 to transmit and rotate the movable working body 51. In this example, the circumferential movement direction D of the seedling container 45 is set such that the seedling container 45 moved to the rear side of the seedling supply device 42 moves in the right direction. The operator can easily supply a seedling in a seedling supply operation mode, which is provided on the rear side of the seedling supply device 42 on the left side and is supplied to the seedling container 45 with a right hand.
[0041]
In this example, a plurality of seedling planting bodies 4, 4 are provided side by side on the left and right sides of the machine body, and the motive power for driving and rotating the moving action bodies 51 and 51 of the seedling supply device 42 is input on the opposite side. The transmission case 60 is provided with the transmission elements 60, 61, 62 for transmitting to the rotation shaft 55 of the left and right one side of the moving action body 51 and projecting the rotation shaft 55 upward to support driving rotation. There is. Therefore, if the transmission case 54 is provided on the side where the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 are disposed, the transmission case 54 enters between the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 and the seedling container 45, The seedling supply device 42 may be disposed at a high position, or the seedling supply device 42 may protrude outward in order to avoid it. However, in the present embodiment, since the left and right weights are distributed as described above, the right and left weight balance of the machine becomes good, and the necessary and sufficient width is provided without making the left and right width of the seedling supply device 42 excessively large. While the seedling feeding device 42 can be arranged low so that the drop distance of the seedling from the seedling feeding device 42 to the seedling planting body 4, 4 is as short as possible, the seedling to the seedling planting body 4, 4 Can be set appropriately to the height at which the supply of seedlings to the seedling supply device 42 can be easily performed. Therefore, with the above-described configuration, the right and left weight balance of the vehicle body is improved, and the structure of the vehicle body can be configured as compact as possible, and furthermore, the drop supply of seedlings to the planter bodies 4 and 4 is appropriate It is possible to easily set the height at which the seedling supply to the seedling supply device 42 can be easily performed.
[0042]
As described above, the power for driving the seedling feeder 42 is from the transmission path on the transmission lower side of the inter-strain changing transmission portion C3 on the transmission upper side of the intermittent drive mechanism K that intermittently drives the seedling planters 4 and 4 as described above. It is taking out. As a result, the seedling planting bodies 4, 4 are intermittently driven, and the seedling supply device 42 is continuously driven with the seedling transplanting machine. In the configuration in which the inter-strain changing transmission portion C3 is provided on the transmission upper side of the intermittent drive mechanism K so as to change the time to stop the planting plant so that the planting plant can be changed, the seedling feeder 42 is driven as described above. Therefore, even if the intermittent stop time of the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 to be intermittently driven is changed to change the interval between plantings and seedlings, the seedling supply device is continuously driven according to the change. Since the operation speed of 42 is also changed, the supply of the seedlings from the seedling supply device 42 to the planters 4, 4 is performed well, and depending on the type of crop etc., the interval between the seedlings with seedlings is appropriately adjusted. However, the planting work can be carried out well.
[0043]
Further, the clutch means CL1 for turning on and off the transmission to the seedling supply device 42 moves the power for driving the seedling supply device 42 from the transmission lower side of the inter-strain changing transmission portion C3 on the transmission side of the intermittent drive mechanism K. The intermittent drive mechanism K is provided with clutch means CL2 provided on the transmission path to the rotary shaft 55 for rotationally driving the working body 51, and on the other hand, making it possible to continuously cut off the transmission to the seedling planting body 4,4. There is. The clutch means CL1 on the seedling feeding device 42 side and the clutch means CL2 on the seedling planting body 4 and 4 side are simultaneously turned off and on by one artificial operation tool (for example, an operation lever etc.) provided on the steering handle 2 side. Are configured to be In the intermittent drive mechanism K, a one rotation stop mechanism for causing the seedling planters 4 and 4 to perform one cycle planting operation and automatically stopping the start and a one cycle planting operation for the seedling planters 4 and 4 by this one rotation stop mechanism It comprises a one-rotation start mechanism for operation, and the operation timing of the one-rotation start mechanism is adjusted by the inter-share changing transmission part C3. Therefore, only by changing the positional relationship between the action part of the one rotation start mechanism and the non-action part of the one rotation stop mechanism to a position where it does not work, the seedling planting bodies 4, 4 are continuously stopped at the set position. it can. As described above, if the clutch means CL2 is configured using the intermittent drive mechanism K, the seedling planting bodies 4, 4 can be stopped at the set position, and the configuration can be simplified. On the other hand, since the seedling supply device 42 is continuously driven, the clutch means CL1 is provided on the transmission upper side of the intermittent drive mechanism K, and the clutch CL2 on the seedling planting body 4, 4 side is intermittently driven as described above. If the mechanism K is used, it can not be shared with the clutch CL2. However, by configuring the clutch means CL1 on the side of the seedling supply device 42 and the clutch means CL2 on the side of the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 to be simultaneously operated by one artificial operating tool, The stop and restart of the seedling feeder 42, which is continuously driven, can be performed by stopping and resuming the seedling planters 4, 4 while taking advantage of the advantage of using the intermittent drive mechanism K as described above. It can be done according to the timing.
[0044]
The clutch means CL1 on the seedling supply device 42 side is provided with a mechanism for automatically cutting off the power when the transmission load exceeds the set value. Also, a clutch having a mechanism that automatically cuts off the power when the transmission load exceeds the set value also in the working system transmission path before the power is branched to the seedling planting bodies 4, 4 side and the seedling supply device 42 side. Means CL3 is provided. The setting value of the transmission load for automatically cutting off the power in the clutch means CL3 is set to a value higher than the setting value of the transmission load for automatically cutting off the power in the clutch means CL1 on the seedling supply device 42 side. doing. As a result, an overload state in which the operator etc. erroneously contacts during the seedling supply operation to the seedling supply device 42 and forcibly stops the circular movement of the seedling storage portion 45... Drives the seedling supply device 42 Even if it occurs in the system, the clutch means CL1 can be operated, and damage to the drive system of the seedling supply device 42 can be appropriately avoided. In order to automatically shut off the transmission to the seedling feeder 42, the clutch means CL3 provided in the working part system transmission path before the power is branched to the seedling planting body 4, 4 and the seedling feeder 42 side. If you try to operate it, the drive of the seedling planting body 4, 4 whose drive load becomes larger than the drive system of the seedling feeder 42 in order to rush into the soil to plant the seedlings in the field appropriately It will not be possible to continue. However, with the above-described configuration, the driving of the seedling plant attachment bodies 4 and 4 and the seedling supply device 42 can be properly continued, and the overload and the seedling generated for the seedling plant attachment bodies 4 and 5 are realized. It is possible to properly release the overload generated to the supply device 42 by the clutch means CL1 and CL3 respectively, and to properly protect both drive systems of the seedling planters 4 and 4 and the seedling supply device 42. it can.
[0045]
The support configuration of the seedling supply device 42 is configured as follows. An airframe frame 2b in which the lower portion of the airframe is extended rearward from the front side of the airframe where the engine 5 and the transmission case 8 are disposed between the left and right wheels 6, 6; To attach the control handle 2 to the rear end portion of the machine frame 2b, and a first support frame 63 extending rearward from the front side of the machine body to the upper side of the machine body. A seedling container connected to the rear side of the vehicle body frame 2b and provided with a second support frame 64 extending outward from the support frame 63 to both left and right sides, and connected in a loop at the left and right sides of the second support frame 64 45 are drawn so as to draw a long oval locus on the left and right in plan view of the vehicle body, and support the rotation axes of the left and right moving acting bodies 51, 51 to be circulated. Accordingly, the first support frame 63 is disposed closer to the central portion of the fuselage frame together with the fuselage frame 2b to which the steering handle 2 is attached, and is coupled with the fuselage frame 2b to form a rigid frame structure with good balance of the fuselage right and left. And the second support frame 64 is extended outward from the first support frame 63 configured in this way, and the left and right moving action bodies 51 are made to circumferentially move the seedling container 45 on both left and right sides thereof. , 51, so that the support structure of the seedling feeder 42 is simple and has sufficient strength, so that the size and weight of the airframe can be reduced.
[0046]
Further, the second support frame 64 is divided into a base side frame portion 64a on the side to be connected to the first support frame and a support side frame portion 64b on the side to support the rotation shaft of the moving action members 51, 51 The support portion side frame portion 64b is provided so as to be movable and adjustable in the left and right direction with respect to the base side frame portion 64a. As a result, it is possible to easily adjust the tension state of the seedling container 45 connected in a loop shape wound around the outer periphery of the left and right transfer acting bodies 51, as appropriate, and assembly and maintenance become easy.
[0047]
The seedling container 45 is provided with a guide body 65, 65, 65 for guiding the movement along the orbit of the seedling supply device 42 on the inside and the outside of the orbit of the seedling container 45. . On the other hand, the seedling container 45 is formed with a projecting portion 66 projecting to the inside and the outside of the orbit, and the guide body 65, 65, 65 is positioned above the projecting portion 66 and the seedling container 45 ... are arranged so as to be sandwiched from inside and outside of the orbit. As a result, the circular movement of the seedling container 45 is properly and smoothly performed, and the seedling container 45 passes above the seedling planting bodies 4, 4 in the section SS where the holding container body 45 moves linearly in the left-right direction. In the arranged configuration, the seedling container 45 is rocked back and forth during the circumferential movement, and when passing above the seedling planting bodies 4, 4, the seedling container 45 is shifted to the front and rear and the seedling planter It is possible to prevent the supply of seedlings for 4, 4 from becoming improper. In addition, since the guide bodies 65, 65 and 65 are located above the projecting portions 66 formed in the seedling container 45, the floating of the seedling container 45 is also prevented during the circumferential movement, and the seedling container 45 and so on. Will be properly performed. The seedling container 45 is opened by downward rotation under the circumferential movement locus of the seedling container 45, while the circular movement of the seedling container 45 is except for the position above the seedling planters 4, 4. A support 67 is provided along the orbit of movement so as to support the bottom cover 44 in a closed state. Accordingly, the above-described configuration of the guide bodies 65, 65, 65 and the projecting portion 66 is the seedling which the bottom lid 44 provided at the bottom of the seedling storage body 45 is opened during circulation and stored in the seedling storage body 45. However, the bottom lid 44 is opened to prevent it from coming out of the gap and damaging the seedlings. Further, in the present embodiment, since the projecting portions 66 are formed in the connecting members 39 integrally provided in each of the seedling container 45, the configuration can be simplified. The support 66 and the guides 65, 65, and 65 are attached to and supported by an attachment member 68 attached to the first support frame 63.
[0048]
The inside portion of the orbit of the circulation movement of the seedling container 45 of the seedling supply device 42 is covered with a gubber body 69 on the upper side. Therefore, when the worker supplies the seedling to the seedling container 45 from the rear side of the seedling supply apparatus 42, the seedling can be temporarily placed on the cover body 69, and placed on the cover body 69. Seedlings can be easily taken out from the worker who supplies the seedlings to the seedling container 45. Therefore, the seedling supplying operation can be easily performed, and the working efficiency can be improved. Since the cover body 69 of this example is configured to cover substantially the entire inside of the orbit of the seedling container 45, the seedlings placed on the cover body 69 are unlikely to fall. In addition, since the upper surface of the cover body 69 is formed to be a flat surface, it is difficult for the seedling placed on the cover body 69 to move to a location where extraction is difficult, and the workability can be improved. Furthermore, if the upper surface of the cover body 69 is formed to be a rough surface, the seedlings are less slippery, and the above-mentioned effect becomes more remarkable.
[0049]
The bottom lid opening mechanism 47 for opening the bottom lids 44 of the seedling container 45 of the seedling feeder 42 at the position above the seedling planters 4, 4 will be described below.
First, as described above, below the circling movement locus of the seedling container 45, the seedling container 45 is in the midst of the circumferential movement of the seedling container 45 and other than the position above the seedling planting bodies 4, 4. A support 67 is provided along the circumferential movement locus so as to support the bottom lid 44 which is opened by downward pivoting so as to be in a closed state. In the upper position of the seedling planting bodies 4, 4, the support 67 is provided so as to be displaced to a position retracted from the lower region of the bottom lid 44 so that the bottom lid 44 can be pivoted downward for opening operation. . Further, the mounting portion 50 to which the bottom cover 44 is rotatably attached downward is configured to be on the upper side of the circumferential movement direction D of the seedling container 45.
[0050]
Further, the support 67 sets seedling container 45, which supplies the seedlings corresponding to each of the left and right seedling planters 4, 4. For example, as in this example, the seedling planting body 4, When two rows of 4 are provided side by side and two rows can be planted at the same time, the seedling container 45 dropped and supplied to the seedling planting body 4 on the right and the dropped planting body 4 on the left are supplied as described above. Seedling container 45 is alternately connected. Therefore, the bottom cover 44 of the seedling container 45 is opened only when the seedling container 45 set to drop and supply to the right seedling planter 4 passes above the right seedling planter 4, Also, the bottom cover 44 of the seedling container 45 is opened only when the seedling container 45 set to drop and supply to the left seedling planter 4 passes above the left seedling planter 4. There is a need. For this reason, the bottom lid 44 is provided with a protrusion 44a protruding outward with respect to the orbit of the seedling container 45, and the one having a protrusion 44b protruding inward is provided, and the outside protrusion 44a is The bottom lids 44 provided and the bottom lids 44 provided with the inner protrusions 44b are alternately provided to the seedling receptacles 45... Then, the seedling container 45 set so as to drop and supply to the seedling planting body 4 on the right side (upper side of the circumferential movement direction D) which will pass above the seedling planting body 4 first When passing upward, the support 67 retracts from the position supporting the projection 44a or 44b, and is disposed to be displaced to a position supporting the projection 44b or 44a protruding in the opposite direction. . In addition, the seedling container 45 set to drop and supply the seedling planting body 4 on the left side (lower side of the circumferential movement direction D) that will pass through the upper part of the seedling planting body 4 later When passing upward, the support 67 retracts from the position supporting the projection 44b or 44a and is displaced to a position to support the projection 44a or 44b projecting in the opposite direction. To set up. Thereby, when the seedling container 45 set to drop and supply to the right seedling planting body 4 passes above the right seedling planting body 4, the bottom cover 44 of the seedling container 45 can be opened, and When the seedling container 45 set to drop and supply to the left seedling planting body 4 passes above the right seedling planting member 4, the bottom cover 44 of the seedling container 45 is supported in a closed state . When the seedling container 45 set to drop and supply to the left seedling planting body 4 passes above the left seedling planting body 4, the bottom cover 44 of the seedling container 45 can be opened, and When the seedling container 45 set to drop and supply to the right seedling planter 4 passes above the left seedling planter 4, the bottom cover 44 of the seedling container 45 is supported in a closed state. Therefore, if this configuration is adopted, the bottom lids 44 of the seedling container 45 moved to the upper position of the left and right seedling planters 4, 4 are supported by the support 67 corresponding to the seedling plant body 4 to be supplied with seedlings. The support state is released and the release operation is performed. Therefore, the seedlings can be appropriately dropped and supplied to the left and right seedling planters 4 and 4, and the seedling transplanting work can be performed favorably.
[0051]
Furthermore, in this example, even if the seedling container 45 is moved to the position above the seedling planters 4, 4, the bottom lid until the seedling planters 4, 4 ascend to a position located immediately below the seedling container 45. 44 is supported in a closed state, and when the plantlet planters 4 and 4 ascend to a position located immediately below the seedling container 45, the support state of the bottom cover 44 is released and the bottom cover 44 is opened. A movable support 70 is provided. The movable support 70 is movably provided at a bottom lid supporting position for supporting the bottom lid 44 in a closed state and at a bottom lid non-supporting position for enabling the bottom lid 44 to be opened. The movable support 70 moves from the bottom lid supporting position to the bottom lid non-supporting position by contacting with the elevating members 71, 71 moving up and down, and when the elevating members 71, 71 do not contact, by elastic members such as springs. It is comprised so that it may be located in a bottom cover support position. Therefore, the seedling planting body 4, 4 is operated by the intermittent drive mechanism KK while the seedling planting body 4, 4 is configured to move continuously and continuously. The bottom cover 44 is opened after rising to a position located immediately below the bottom surface of the seedling container 4. The seedling drop supply from the seedling container 45 to the seedling planting body 4, 4 is favorably performed.
[0052]
By the way, in this example, two plantlets planting bodies 4 and 4 are provided side by side and configured to be capable of two-row planting at the same time, but when one-row planting is performed with this configuration, the planter plant without planting A lid (not shown) for closing the upper openings 45b of the seedling container 45 set to supply the seedling to 4 is attached. As a result, it is possible to easily supply the seedlings only to the seedling container 45 set to supply the seedlings to the left and right seedling planting bodies 4 to be planted, and the two-row planting and the one-row planting Is easy to do. In addition, when the lower part of the seedling planting body 4 is configured to be removable from the upper part and single-row planting is performed as described above, planting is not performed if the lower part of the seedling planting body 4 not to be planted is removed. The seedling planting body 4 does not form a hole in a weir scene, and a better single-row planting becomes possible.
[0053]
In the seedling transplanting machine, a seedling stand 80 for preliminarily placing a seedling to be supplied to the seedling supply device 42 is attached to the front side position of the seedling supply device 42 at the upper part of the machine body. The worker gathers the seedlings from the seedling stand 80 and supplies the seedling supply device 42 with the seedlings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a side view of a seedling transplanting machine.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a seedling transplanting machine.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a transmission configuration of a seedling transplanting machine.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a connection structure of a seedling container.
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a part of a seedling feeder.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view showing a part of a seedling supply device.
FIG. 7 is a front view showing a seedling supply unit from a seedling supply device to a seedling planter.
FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a seedling supply unit from a seedling supply device to a seedling planter.
[FIG. 9] A plan view showing a seedling container connected state of the present example and a control example, respectively.
[Description of the code]
1: Traveling device
4: Seedling planter
42: Seedling feeder
43: Tubular body
43a: lower opening of cylindrical body
44: Bottom lid
45: Seedling container
46: Seedling container moving mechanism
47: Bottom lid opening mechanism