JP2004313127A

JP2004313127A - Seedling transplanter

Info

Publication number: JP2004313127A
Application number: JP2003114575A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Yoshihiko Okubo; 大久保　　嘉彦; Eiichiro Kinoshita; 木下　　栄一郎; Shiro Katsuno; 勝野　　志郎; Hajime Kitte; 切手　　肇
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: 2003-04-18
Filing date: 2003-04-18
Publication date: 2004-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 2023-04-18
Also published as: KR100540921B1; JP3743435B2; KR20040090692A

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a transplanter for a runner seedling such as sweet potato, having a compact machine body and a light and simplified seedling transporting part, and sufficiently securing the inclination range of the body without deteriorating the seedling feeding workability. <P>SOLUTION: This transplanter is provided with a traveling part 1 for the self-propelling of a machine body and a number of partition plates standing at regular intervals on the traveling part 1 in the circumferential direction along the length of the outer circumference of a broad flexible endless belt for transporting the transplanting runner seedling. The part divided by the partition plates is used as the seedling holding part. The runner seedling transported to a seedling delivery part through the seedling transporting part 3 having an upper lateral transporting part 3a, a descending transporting part 3b and an ascending transporting part 3c and through the ascending transporting part 3b of the seedling transporting part 3 is received by a seedling planting part 4, the base part of the seedling is held and the planting part is lifted and lowered along a closed loop orbit by side view to plant the seedling on a field. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

【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。
【従来の技術】
従来、下記特許文献１に記載されるように、機体の左右に駆動車輪を設けて該左右の駆動車輪を互いに異なる高さに変更可能に設けた走行部と、つる状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上下に複数設けた前後方向に軸心が向く軸の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下側に搬送されてきたつる状苗の基部側を保持して取出して圃場に植付ける苗植付け体とを備えた苗移植機において、前記苗搬送部は、苗収容部を機体上部側で左右外側から内側に搬送する上部横搬送部と、該上部横搬送部により搬送されてきた苗収容部を、機体下側で苗植付け体が苗を取出す苗取出し個所に向けて下降搬送する下降搬送部と、該下降搬送部により搬送されてきた苗収容部を苗取出し個所から機体外側斜上方に搬送し前記上部横搬送部の搬送始端側に戻す上昇搬送部とを備え、前記上昇搬送部は前記左右の駆動車輪の間から駆動車輪の上方に重なる位置に配置した苗移植機が知られている。
また下記特許文献２に記載されているように、苗搬送部を、湾曲自在の幅広無端ベルトの外周面に前後方向に沿う板状の仕切り部材を周方向に設定間隔で多数立設して該仕切り部材で周方向に挟まれた個所のそれぞれを苗収容部として構成し、前記幅広無端ベルトの仕切り部材で周方向に挟まれた個所の前後一端部につる状苗の基部側部分を保持する苗保持部を設けた苗移植機も知られている。
なお、下記特許文献１、２に記載のものは、いずれも苗搬送部の上昇搬送部が直線的に形成されている。
【特許文献１】
特開２００２−３０５９１８号公報
【特許文献２】
特開２０００−３３３５１５号公報
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
上記特許文献１に記載されるものは、苗搬送部を、その上昇搬送部が左右の駆動車輪の間から駆動車輪の上方に重なるように配置しているので、機体のコンパクト化が図れる。しかし、圃場の左右傾斜等に対応して車体が左右水平になるよう左右の駆動車輪を異なる高さに変更するときに、その高さ変更の範囲が直線的に形成されて駆動車輪の上方に重なるように設けられた上昇搬送部に規制され、このため、機体の傾斜適応性が低いものとなっている。また、機体の傾斜適応性を充分に確保しようとすると上部横搬送部の区間が短くなるか機体の高い位置に配置されるものとなって、苗供給作業が行い難くなり、作業性が低下する。
また、特許文献２に記載されるものは、上記と同様に、苗搬送部を、その上昇搬送部が左右の駆動車輪の間から駆動車輪の上方に重なるように配置しているので、機体のコンパクト化が図れ、また、苗搬送部に幅広の無端ベルトを利用して構成したので、苗搬送部の軽量化、簡略化が図れる。ところで、このものは、左右の駆動車輪を異なる高さに変更可能に構成しているかどうか不明であるが、仮に、そのように構成したものであっても、上記特許文献１記載のものと同様に、その高さ変更の範囲が直線的に形成されて駆動車輪の上方に重なるように設けられた上昇搬送部に規制され、このため、機体の傾斜適応性が低いものといえる。
そこで本発明は、この種の苗移植機において、機体のコンパクト化と苗搬送部の軽量化、簡略化を図ると共に、機体の傾斜適応範囲を充分に確保し、且つ、苗供給の作業性も損なわないものとすることを課題とする。
【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、機体の左右に駆動車輪を設けて該左右の駆動車輪を互いに異なる高さに変更可能に設けた走行部と、つる状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上下に複数設けた前後方向に軸心が向く回転軸の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下側に搬送されてきたつる状苗の基部側を保持して取出して圃場に植付ける苗植付け体とを備えた苗移植機において、前記苗搬送部は、湾曲自在の幅広無端ベルトの外周面に前後方向に沿う板状の仕切り部材を周方向に設定間隔で多数立設して該仕切り部材で周方向に挟まれた個所のそれぞれを苗収容部として構成し、前記幅広無端ベルトの仕切り部材で周方向に挟まれた個所の前後一端部につる状苗の基部側部分を保持する苗保持部を設け、前記苗搬送部は、苗収容部を機体上部側で左右外側から内側に搬送する上部横搬送部と、該上部横搬送部により搬送されてきた苗収容部を、機体下側で苗植付け体が苗を取出す苗取出し個所に向けて下降搬送する下降搬送部と、該下降搬送部により搬送されてきた苗収容部を苗取出し個所から機体外側斜上方に搬送し前記上部横搬送部の搬送始端側に戻す上昇搬送部とを備え、前記上昇搬送部は前記左右の駆動車輪の間の位置から駆動車輪の上方に重なる位置に配置し、且つ、該上昇搬送部の幅広無端ベルトの外周面にテンションローラを押し当てて該上昇搬送部が周回内側に屈折する構成としたことを特徴とする苗移植機である。
請求項１記載の発明によれば、この苗移植機は、走行部の左右の駆動車輪が駆動回転して自走し、そして、苗搬送部は、苗収容部が上下に複数設けた前後方向に軸心が向く軸の周りに一列で周回動し、作業者により前後方向に向く姿勢で一つずつ苗収容部に収容されたつる状苗を搬送する。苗搬送部によって搬送されたつる状苗は、苗植付け体がその基部側を保持して取出し圃場に植付ける。
上記苗搬送部は、湾曲自在の幅広無端ベルトの外周面に前後方向に沿う板状の仕切り部材を周方向に設定間隔で多数立設していて、その仕切り部材で周方向に挟まれた個所のそれぞれが苗収容部となっている。また、苗収容部に供給されるつる状苗の基部側部分は、幅広無端ベルトの仕切り部材で周方向に挟まれた個所の前後一端部に設けた苗保持部に保持させて供給される。また、この苗搬送部への苗の供給は、苗収容部を機体上部側で左右外側から内側に横搬送する上部横搬送部を搬送される苗収容部に供給される。上部横搬送部で苗が供給された苗収容部は、機体下側に下降搬送する下降搬送部を経て苗取出し個所に搬送され、苗取出し個所に搬送された苗を苗植付け体が取出して圃場に植付ける。苗が取出された後の苗収容部は、機体外側斜上方に搬送する上昇搬送部を経て上部横搬送部の搬送始端側に戻る。
また、この苗移植機は、圃場面が左右に傾斜しているときには、左右の駆動車輪を人為的或は自動的な操作により互いに異なる高さに変更して機体が左右水平に或は適宜傾斜姿勢になるよう修正する。このとき、苗搬送部の上昇搬送部は左右の駆動車輪の間から駆動車輪の上方に重なるようになっているが、この上昇搬送部の幅広無端ベルトの外周にテンションローラが押し当てられて上昇搬送部が周回内側に屈折しているので、上昇搬送部の下側に位置する駆動車輪の上下移動範囲が充分に確保される。
請求項２記載の発明は、前記幅広無端ベルトの外周面に立設する前記仕切り部材を、前記幅広無端ベルトの前後幅より短い前後幅に設けるとともに、前端部が前記幅広無端ベルトの前端部より後側で、後端部が前記幅広無端ベルトの後端部より前側になるよう設け、
前記テンションローラを、幅広無端ベルトの外周面にあって、該ベルトの前後方向一端側個所と、該ベルトの前後方向他端側で前記苗保持部と仕切り部材の前後一端部との間の個所で仕切り部材が無い個所に配置したことを特徴とする請求項１記載の苗移植機である。
請求項２記載の発明によれば、請求項１記載の発明の作用に加えて、幅広無端ベルトの外周面に立設する前記仕切り部材は、幅広無端ベルトの前後幅より短い前後幅で、しかも、前端部が幅広無端ベルトの前端部より後側で、後端部が前記幅広無端ベルトの後端部より前側になっている。そして、前記テンションローラが、幅広無端ベルトの外周面にあって、該ベルトの前後方向一端側個所と、該ベルトの前後方向他端側で前記苗保持部と仕切り部材の前後一端部との間の仕切り部材が無い個所に押し当てられていて、幅広無端ベルトのテンションを前後にわたってバランスよく与えることができて、また、テンションローラが仕切り部材を押し倒すこともなく、苗搬送部を的確且つ円滑に周回駆動できる。しかも、テンションローラの接当個所を前後両側ともにベルトの端部側外周面に設定すると、苗保持部より前後方向外側にベルトの端部を張出させる構成となって、苗植付け体が苗を取出すときに苗保持部より前後方向外側に張出すベルト端部に引っかかるような事態が生じやすくなるが、上記のように構成したことによりそのような事態も回避できるものとなった。
請求項３記載の発明は、前記幅広無端ベルトの外周面に立設する前記仕切り部材を、前記幅広無端ベルトの前後幅より短い前後幅に設けるとともに、前端部が前記幅広無端ベルトの前端部より後側で、後端部が前記幅広無端ベルトの後端部より前側になるよう設け、前記幅広無端ベルトに、該幅広無端ベルトを周回駆動する駆動回転体の外周部の突起に係合する送り孔を周方向設定間隔で多数形成し、該幅広無端ベルトの送り孔は、幅広無端ベルトの外周面にあって、該ベルトの前後方向一端側個所と、該ベルトの前後方向他端側で前記苗保持部と仕切り部材の前後一端部との間の個所で仕切り部材が無い個所に設けたことを特徴とする請求項１又は２記載の苗移植機である。
請求項３記載の発明によれば、請求項１、２記載の発明の作用に加えて、幅広無端ベルトの送り孔は、幅広無端ベルトの外周面にあって、該ベルトの前後方向一端側個所と、該ベルトの前後方向他端側で前記苗保持部と仕切り部材の前後一端部との間の仕切り部材が無い個所とに設けられているので、幅広無端ベルトを前後にわたってバランスよく駆動回転でき、苗搬送部を的確且つ円滑に周回駆動できる。しかも、幅広無端ベルトの送り孔を前後両側ともにベルトの端部側外周面に設定すると、苗保持部より前後方向外側にベルトの端部を張出させる構成となって、苗植付け体が苗を取出すときに苗保持部より前後方向外側に張出すベルト端部に引っかかるような事態が生じやすくなるが、上記のように構成したことによりそのような事態も回避できるものとなった。
【発明の効果】
請求項１記載の発明によれば、苗搬送部を幅広無端ベルトを利用して構成したので、苗搬送部の軽量化及び簡略化が図れ、また、苗搬送部の上昇搬送部を左右の駆動車輪の間から駆動車輪の上方に重なる位置に配置しているので、機体の前後長が短いコンパクトな機体構成となり、しかも、上昇搬送部の幅広無端ベルトの外周にテンションローラを押し当てて該上昇搬送部が周回内側に屈折する構成としたので、上部横搬送部の巾と高さを適宜設定して苗供給の作業性を損なわないようにしながらも、上昇搬送部の下側に位置する駆動車輪の上下移動範囲を充分に確保できて、機体の傾斜適応性が良好なものとなる。
請求項２記載の発明によれば、請求項１記載の発明の効果に加えて、幅広無端ベルトのテンションを前後にわたってバランスよく与えることができ、また、テンションローラが仕切り部材を押し倒すこともなく、苗搬送部を的確且つ円滑に周回駆動できる。しかも、苗保持部より前後方向外側にベルト端部を張出させる構成も回避できて、苗植付け体の苗の取出しも良好に行われるものとなる。
請求項３記載の発明によれば、請求項１、２記載の発明の作用に加えて、幅広無端ベルトを前後にわたってバランスよく駆動回転でき、苗搬送部を的確且つ円滑に周回駆動でき、しかも、苗保持部より前後方向外側にベルト端部を張出させる構成も回避できて、苗植付け体の苗の取出しも良好に行われるものとなる。
【発明の実施の形態】
本発明の実施の形態の苗移植機について図面と共に説明する。◎
つる状の苗として甘しょ苗を植え付ける場合を例に説明する。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していい、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に向っ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。
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背面図である。
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。
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。
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内の伝動機構に動力が伝達され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。
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。
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。
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（図示せず）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。
左右の駆動車輪を人為的或は自動的な操作により互いに異なる高さに変更して機体が左右水平になるよう修正するとき、苗搬送部３の上昇搬送部３ｃは左右の駆動用の後輪６の間から後輪６の上方に重なるようになっているが、この上昇搬送部３ｃの幅広無端ベルト２６ａの外周にテンションローラ３６が押し当てられて上昇搬送部３ｃが周回内側に屈折しているので、上昇搬送部３ｃの下側に位置する後輪６の上下移動範囲が充分に確保される。
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。
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。
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。
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４ａ１、４ａ２）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。
苗植付け体４を駆動する駆動部は、ミッションケース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まわりに回動自在に取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。
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。
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。
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と一体に設けた支持フレーム２３の後端部に回転自在に支持されている。
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は一対の支持アーム４ｂ１、４ｂ２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４ａ１、４ａ２と、前記支持部４ｂの各支持アーム４ｂ１、４ｂ２の基部を支持する一対の開閉部材４ｃ１、４ｃ２と、該開閉部材４ｃ１、４ｃ２との基部側に回転自在に設けたローラー４ｄ１、４ｄ２とからなる。一対の開閉部材４ｃ１、４ｃ２はその中間部で回動自在に交差しており、常時は挟持具４ａ１、４ａ２を閉じる方向にスプリング４ｅで付勢されている。また、ローラー４ｄ１、４ｄ２が後述する円盤状のカム５４の左右両側面に形成したカム面にそれぞれ当接している。
前記カム５４は、駆動アーム１９の先端部に一体的に取付けられ支持リンク部２１の上端部を回動自在に取付けている連結軸５５に一体回転するように取付けられている。円盤状のカム５４の左右両側面に形成されるカム面は、前記ローラー４ｄ１、４ｄ２が当接する円盤外周側部分の左右の厚みを変化させることによって構成し、一対の挟持具４ａ１、４ａ２が苗搬送部３から苗を取出して土中に苗を持って行くために苗を挟持する区間で閉じ状態となり、それ以外の区間で開き状態となるように開閉動作するよう形成している。このようにカム面を形成したカム５４を、挟持具４ａ１、４ａ２が上記のように開閉動作するカム面の位相となるように駆動アーム１９の姿勢を基準として取付け姿勢を調節して取付ける。
従って、駆動軸２０が駆動回転して駆動アーム１９が回動すると、該駆動アーム１９の先端部と揺動リンク２２の下端部とに回動自在に連結された支持リンク部２１が設定した軌跡で動作するとともに、前記ローラー４ｄ１、４ｄ２がカム５４の左右から挟み込むように当接する円盤外周側部分のカム面が前記ローラー４ｄ１、４ｄ２に対して回転することになる。そして、回転するカム５４のカム面の作用を受けて開閉部材４ｃ１、４ｃ２の左右上端部が左右に拡縮動作して支持アーム４ｂ１、４ｂ２が左右に開閉動作し、左右の挟持具４ａ１、４ａ２が開閉する。
これにより、苗植付け体４の一対の挟持具４ａ１、４ａ２は、苗搬送部３の苗取出し個所Ｐを通過するときに閉じて、そこに搬送されたつる状苗の基部側部分を挟持する。そして、挟持具４ａ１、４ａ２が閉じたまま土中に突入した後、機体進行方向に沿う方向に移動し、挟持した苗を土中に挿入する。そして、機体進行方向に沿う方向に設定距離移動した後に挟持具４ａ１、４ａ２が開いて苗を開放し、次に、上昇して土中から抜け出すように動作する。
ところで、駆動アーム１９の先端部に一体的に取付ける連結軸５５を、駆動アーム１９の取付位置を変えずに連結軸５５をその軸心回りに回動調節可能とする調節機構を設けることにより、連結軸５５に一体回転するように取り付けたカム５４のカム面を連結軸５５の軸心回りに移動調節して挟持具４ａ１、４ａ２の開閉タイミングを調節することが容易に行える。
カム５４を連結リンク５５に沿った左右方向にスライド可能に取付けることで一対の苗植付け挟持具４ａ１、４ａ２の先端も左右方向に微調整できるので、苗植付け挟持具４ａ１、４ａ２が苗搬送部３の苗収容部２６から苗を取り出すとき、茎支持部材２６ｃと苗植付け挟持具４ａ１、４ａ２との位置が左右にずれているときに、前記のようにして苗植付け挟持具４ａ１、４ａ２の先端位置を左右に微調整すれば、容易に位置ずれを解消することができる。
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６に示すような軌跡Ｔ又は軌跡Ｔ’（図７）を描いて運動することになる。なお、図６に示すような軌跡Ｔは、機体停止時に機体に対して苗植付け作用部４ａが描く運動軌跡であり、図７に示す軌跡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。
苗植付け体４の概略駆動系の構成について説明する。図５には苗搬送部３と苗植付け体４の概略駆動系を示し、図６にはケース１８ｂ、１８ｃ内の駆動系の断面略図を示す。
苗植付け体４に動力を伝達する伝動系（伝動経路上）に、植付け体４が土中で機体進行方向に沿う方向に移動するときの速度を変更可能とする変速伝動部、即ち、苗植付け体４の苗植付け作用部４ａが土中において機体進行方向に沿う方向へ移動を開始する個所から該方向への移動を終了する個所までの区間の平均移動速度を変更可能とする変速伝動部８０を設けている。
変速伝動部８０は、植付け体４の苗植付け作用部４ａが土中で機体進行方向に沿う方向に移動するときの伝動回転速度が異なる状態となる伝動部を同一の変速比で複数設けて、該複数の伝動部を択一的に伝動状態に切換える切換え操作手段を備える。また、複数の伝動部の少なくとも一つは、偏芯或は非円形のギヤやスプロケット等による不等速伝動部で構成する。
また、図５及び図６に示すように、不等速伝動部を、ギヤの歯のピッチ円半径が１回転中に変化する偏芯或は非円形のギヤ対による不等速伝動ギヤ対とし、他の伝動部を等速伝動ギヤ対或は別の不等速伝動ギヤ対として、前者の伝動部による伝動状態と後者の伝動部による伝動状態とに切換可能に設ける場合、伝動上手側の入力軸に取付ける複数のギヤと、該ギヤにそれぞれ噛合う伝動下手側に取付ける複数のギヤとの回転比をそれぞれ一対一に設定するとともに、伝動上手側の入力軸に取付ける複数のギヤは該入力軸に対して一体回転するように取付け、伝動下手側に取付ける複数のギヤは該出力軸に対して回転自在に取付けるとともに、切換え操作手段は、伝動下手側に取付ける複数のギヤのうち一つのギヤのみを出力軸と一体回転する状態に切換るよう構成し、且つ、出力軸とギヤとはそれぞれ一箇所で係合して一体回転する構成とする。これにより、切換え操作手段の操作によって不等速伝動部の位相がずれることがなくなり、切換え操作が容易且つ的確に行えるものとなる。
図６に示した変速伝動部８０の具体例について説明する。この変速伝動部８０は、入力軸となる伝動軸８５と出力軸となる伝動軸８６との間に、等速伝動する円形ギヤ８３、８７を経由して伝動する等速伝動部と、不等速伝動する偏芯ギヤ８２、９３を経由して伝動する不等速伝動部とを並列に設け、該等速伝動部の回転比と不等速伝動部の回転比は、それぞれ１対１に設定し、等速伝動部を経由する伝動状態と不等速伝動部を経由する伝動状態とに択一的に切換える切換え操作機構を設ける。不等速伝動部を経由する伝動状態のときには、入力軸となる伝動軸８５側の偏芯ギヤ８２の短径部分の歯が出力軸となる伝動軸８６側の偏芯ギヤ９３の長径部分の歯と噛合っているとき、即ち、遅い伝動状態のとき、苗植付け体４の苗植付け作用部４ａが土中に突入して機体進行方向に沿う方向に移動するときとなるように設定する。これにより、苗植付け体４が軌跡Ｔで動作しながら機体が前進すると、等速伝動部を経由する伝動状態に切換えた時には、図７の一点鎖線で示した軌跡Ｔ’で動作するものとなり、不等速伝動部を経由する伝動状態に切換えた時には、図７の二点鎖線で示した軌跡Ｔ”で動作するものとなり、この不等速伝動時の軌跡Ｔ”は、等速伝動時の軌跡Ｔ’と比べて苗植付け体４の先端が土中に突入してから機体進行方向に沿う方向に移動する距離が短くなる。したがって、図８に示すように、等速伝動時の苗の挿入長さは不等速伝動時と比べて長くなり、不等速伝動時の苗の挿入長さは等速伝動時と比べて短くなる。なお、不等速伝動部において、入力軸（伝動軸８５）側の偏芯ギヤ８２の長径部分の歯が出力軸（伝動軸８６）側の偏芯ギヤ９３の短径部分の歯と噛合っているとき、即ち、速い伝動状態のとき、苗植付け体４の苗植付け作用部４ａが土中に突入して機体進行方向に沿う方向に移動するときとなるように設定すると、等速伝動時の軌跡Ｔ’と比べて苗植付け体４の先端が土中に突入してから機体進行方向に沿う方向に移動する距離が長くなって、苗の挿入長さが長くなる。このように設定した不等速伝動部を、変速伝動部８０に更に追加したり、上記等速伝動部と置き換えたり、又、上記不等速伝動部の設定をこのように変更することもできる。
また、図６に示した変速伝動部８０では、入力軸は、植付け伝動ケース１８の第二ケース部１８ｂ内から第三ケース１８ｃ内に突出する伝動軸８５であり、この伝動軸８５の第三ケース１８ｃ内に突出した部分に、該伝動軸８５に取付けたキーに係合して一体回転するように偏芯ギヤ８２と円形ギヤ８３とを取付け、これらのギヤ８２、８３にそれぞれ噛合う偏芯ギヤ９３、円形ギヤ８７を第三ケース１８ｃ内に設けた出力軸となる伝動軸８６に取付ける。この偏芯ギヤ９３、円形ギヤ８７は切換え操作機構によって伝動軸８６に対して自由回転する状態から伝動軸８６と一体的に回転する状態に択一的に切換えられる。伝動軸８６には、スプロケット８９が一体回転するように取付けられ、このスプロケット８９と、第三ケース１８ｃの後端部に設けた駆動軸２０に取付けたスプロケットとの間にチェン８９ａが掛けられ、変速伝動部８０を経た動力が苗植付け体４を駆動する。
切換え操作機構は、伝動軸８６の外周部の一箇所で、軸方向において偏芯ギヤ９３の取付け部から円形ギヤ８７の取付け部にかけて形成したキー溝に軸方向スライド自在にシフトキー９１ａを取付け、このシフトキー９１ａに対し軸方向に係合した状態でシフター９１ｂを伝動軸８６に軸方向にスライド自在に取付ける。このシフター９１ｂには、第三ケース１８ｃの外側に取付けたシフトレバー９０の操作によって軸方向に移動操作されるシフトピン９１が係合する。シフトレバー９０を入力軸（伝動軸８５）側位置に移動させた状態で、シフター９１ｂが円形ギヤ８７側（図６の左側）に移動してシフトキー９１ａが円形ギヤ８７のキー溝に嵌合して円形ギヤ８３、８７を経由する等速伝動状態となる。シフトレバー９０を図６の矢印Ｆ方向に移動して出力軸（伝動軸８６）側位置に切換え操作すると、シフトピン９１が図６の矢印Ｇ方向に回動してシフター９１ｂが偏芯ギヤ９３側（図６の右側）に移動しシフトキー９１ａが偏芯ギヤ９３のキー溝に嵌合して偏芯ギヤ８２、９３を経由する不等速伝動状態に切替る。
なお、シフトレバー９０を入力軸（伝動軸８５）側位置と出力軸（伝動軸８６）側位置との中間位置にすると、シフトキー９１ａが、円形ギヤ８７のキー溝に嵌合せず偏芯ギヤ９３のキー溝にも嵌合しない非伝動状態となる。このように、切換え操作手段に、変速伝動部８０の入力軸側から出力軸側への伝動を遮断した非伝動状態への切換え操作も可能に構成することで、苗植付け体４の作動を停止するクラッチ操作装置として用いることもできる。
苗搬送部３は、図４に示すように苗収容部２６を機体上部側で左右外側から内側への搬送方向Ｃに搬送する上部横搬送部３ａと、該上部横搬送部３ａにより搬送されてきた苗収容部２６を、機体下側で苗植付け体４が苗を取出す苗取出し個所Ｐに向けて下降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を苗取出し個所Ｐから機体外側斜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とを備える。
また、苗搬送部３は、上記の搬送部３ａ、３ｂ、３ｃを形成するように配置した駆動回転する回転体２９、２９と自由回転する複数の回転体３０、３１、３２に湾曲自在の幅広無端ベルト２６ａを掛け回し、該幅広無端ベルト２６ａの外周面に前後方向に沿う板状の仕切り部材２６ｂを周方向に設定間隔で多数立設して、該仕切り部材２６ｂで周方向に挟まれた個所のそれぞれを苗収容部２６として構成している。幅広無端ベルト２６ａの仕切り部材２６ｂで周方向に挟まれた個所の前後一端部につる状苗の基部側部分を左右の苗挟持部材によって保持する苗保持部２６ｃを設けている。幅広無端ベルト２６ａの前後両端側に周方向設定間隔で送り孔２６ｄ（図１）を多数形成し、前記駆動回転体２９、２９の外周部の突起がその送り孔２６ｄに係合して幅広無端ベルト２６ａを周回駆動する構成としている。苗保持部２６ｃは、図示例では、苗搬送方向上手側の苗挟持部材を毛先が苗搬送方向下手側の苗挟持部材に向うブラシ体で構成し、苗搬送方向下手側の苗挟持部材はスポンジ等の弾性部材で構成し、これら左右の苗挟持部材間につる状苗の基部側部分を押し込んで挟持させる構成としている。
苗搬送部３を駆動回転する回転体２９、２９は、機体上部側で左右中央側に前後方向に配置した回転軸３３の前後に一体回転するように取付けて配置し、機体上部側で左右外側に自由回転する前後に長いローラで構成した回転体を配置し、そして、機体下部側に前後に長いローラで構成した回転体３１、３２を苗取出し個所Ｐを挟んで左右に接近させて並べて配置している。これらの回転体２９、２９；３０、３１、３２は、第三ケース１８ｃと支持フレーム２３に組み付けた支持部材によって支持している。そして、苗搬送部３を駆動回転する回転体２９、２９と、苗植付け体４の支持リンク２１の下端部を揺動支持する揺動リンク２２とを伝動機構を介して連動連結している。揺動リンク２２の中途部に連動ロッド３４（図１）の下端部を枢着し、該連動ロッド３４の上端部をラチェット機構により構成した間欠駆動装置３５に連結し、間欠駆動装置３５の間欠駆動出力部を苗搬送部３を駆動回転する回転体２９、２９を取付けている回転軸３３の端部に接続している。揺動リンク２２の上下揺動によって連動ロッド３４が上下往復動し、この上下往復動の上動時に間欠駆動装置３５が駆動回転出力し、下動時に間欠駆動装置３５が駆動回転出力を停止する構成としている。従って、苗植付け体４が苗を土中で開放して上昇するときに苗搬送部３が駆動され、苗植付け体４が苗を苗取出し個所Ｐから取出して土中に突入し苗を開放して上昇するときまでは苗搬送部３が駆動停止される。
苗搬送部３は、上記のように幅広無端ベルト６２ａを用いて構成したので、苗搬送部の軽量化及び簡略化が図れ、また、前記上昇搬送部３ｃは左右の駆動車輪６、６の間から駆動車輪６の上方に重なる位置に配置して、機体の前後長が短いコンパクトな機体構成となり、しかも、上昇搬送部３ｃの幅広無端ベルト２６ａの外周にテンションローラ３６を押し当てて該上昇搬送部３ｃが周回内側に屈折する構成としているので、上部横搬送部の巾と高さを適宜設定して苗供給の作業性を損なわないようにしながらも、上昇搬送部の下側に位置する駆動車輪の上下移動範囲を充分に確保できて、機体の傾斜適応性が良好なものとなる。
幅広無端ベルト２６ａの外周面に立設する前記仕切り部材２６ｂを、前記幅広無端ベルト２６ａの前後幅より短い前後幅に設けるとともに、前端部が前記幅広無端ベルト２６ａの前端部より後側で、後端部が前記幅広無端ベルト２６ａの後端部より前側になるよう設け、前記テンションローラ３６を、幅広無端ベルト２６ａの外周面にあって、該ベルト２６ａの前後方向一端側個所と、該ベルト２６ａの前後方向他端側で前記苗保持部２６ｃと仕切り部材２６ｂの前後一端部との間の仕切り部材が無い個所とに配置している。これにより、幅広無端ベルト２６ａのテンションを前後にわたってバランスよく与えることができ、また、テンションローラ３６が仕切り部材２６ｂを押し倒すこともなく、苗搬送部３を的確且つ円滑に周回駆動できる。しかも、苗保持部２６ｃより前後方向外側にベルト端部を張出させる構成も回避できて、苗植付け体４の苗の取出しも良好に行われるものとなる。
また、図９に前記幅広無端ベルト２６ａの外周面の一部平面図に示すように前記幅広無端ベルト２６ａの外周面に立設する前記仕切り部材２６ｂを、前記幅広無端ベルト２６ａの前後幅より短い前後幅に設けるとともに、前端部が前記幅広無端ベルト２６ａの前端部より後側で、後端部が前記幅広無端ベルト２６ａの後端部より前側になるよう設け、前記幅広無端ベルト２６ａに、該幅広無端ベルト２６ａを周回駆動する駆動回転体２９、２９の外周部の突起に係合する送り孔２６ｄを周方向設定間隔で多数形成し、該幅広無端ベルト２６ａの送り孔２６ｄは、幅広無端ベルト２６ａの外周面にあって、該ベルト２６ａの前後方向一端側個所と、該ベルト２６ａの前後方向他端側で前記苗保持部２６ｃと仕切り部材２６ｂの前後一端部との間の仕切り部材が無い個所とに設けている。これにより、幅広無端ベルト２６ａを前後にわたってバランスよく駆動回転でき、苗搬送部３を的確且つ円滑に周回駆動でき、しかも、苗保持部２６ｃより前後方向外側にベルト端部を張出させる構成も回避できて、苗植付け体４の苗の取出しも良好に行われるものとなる。
更に、苗搬送部３は、幅広無端ベルト２６ａを用いて構成して苗搬送部３の軽量化、簡略化を図ったものであるとともに、その幅広無端ベルト２６ａに取付ける苗保持部２６ｃは、その取付け部材が苗搬送部３の周回動中に容易に撓まない部材で構成し、苗搬送部３の周回動中に苗保持部２６ｃから苗が脱落し難いようにしたものでありながら、苗保持部２６ｃの取付け部材のそれぞれは、幅広無端ベルト２６ａの各取付け部に対しその周方向において単一個所で取付けて、幅広無端ベルト２６ａの周回動中に苗保持部２６ｃの取付け部材の左右側が幅広無端ベルト２６ａの外周面から離間可能となっているので、幅広無端ベルト２６ａの周回軸（前記回転体２９、２９；３０、３１、３２の回転軸）の周りの屈曲移動が円滑に行われ、苗搬送部３が円滑且つ的確に周回動するものとなる。
苗植付け体４で圃場に移植した苗に対して土を寄せて鎮圧する覆土鎮圧輪４０、４０を苗搬送部３の苗取出し個所Ｐの後方の左右両側方に設けている。この覆土鎮圧輪４０、４０は、支持フレーム２３の後部に固着の支持部材４１に取付けた支持装置４２の下部に回転自在に取付けている。苗搬送部３及び苗植付け体４を支持するフレーム（第三ケース部１８ｃとそれに一体の支持フレーム２３）は、前記のようにその前部において横方向の軸芯回りに回動自在に機体側に取付けられて後部が上下動可能に構成しているので、覆土鎮圧輪４０、４０は、苗搬送部３及び苗植付け体４の重量を地面に受けさせる接地輪としても機能する。また、支持装置４２は、上部に設けたハンドル４３を操作することにより下側支持部４２ｂが上側支持部４２ａに対して上下動する構成としていて、覆土鎮圧輪４０、４０を上下に位置調節可能となっている。従って、覆土鎮圧輪４０、４０の上下位置調節によって、苗搬送部３及び苗植付け体４の支持高さが上下調節されることになる。なお、苗搬送部３及び苗植付け体４の全重量を畝上面に受けさせると畝表面の土が軟らかい場合は、畝を崩してしまうおそれがあるので、苗搬送部３及び苗植付け体４の重量の一部は、走行装置１で支持されている機体側に受けさせるように、苗搬送部３及び苗植付け体４を支持するフレームの後部（前記支持部材４１に固着の取付部材）と走行装置１で支持されている機体（ハンドル２に固着の取付部材）とにスプリング４４を掛けている。
更に、苗植付け体４で圃場に移植した苗に対して覆土鎮圧輪４０、４０が土を寄せて鎮圧した後、土中に挿入された苗の基部側部分の上方に寄せられた土に対してその上方から下降して鎮圧する第二鎮圧輪４５を設けている。第二鎮圧輪４５は、第二鎮圧輪支持部材４６の後部に横軸回りに回転自在に取付けている。第二鎮圧輪支持部材４６の前部は、第二ケース部１８ｃの後端側下部に回動自在に取付けた横軸４７に取付け、該横軸４７の苗植付け体４取付け側に、先端部にベアリング等の回転体を取付けたアーム４８を取付け、このアーム４８の先端部が苗植付け体４の駆動軸１９の基部側に駆動軸１９と一体回転するように取付けたカム体４９の外周に接当可能に設け、また、第二鎮圧輪支持部材４６を上方に引上げるよう付勢するスプリング５０を設ける。前記カム体４９によって第二鎮圧輪支持部材４６が適宜タイミングで下方回動し、土中に挿入された苗の基部側部分の上方の表土に第二鎮圧輪４５が下降して鎮圧する。なお、第二鎮圧輪４５の下降をスプリング５０による付勢で動作するようにし、第二鎮圧輪４５の上昇をカム体４９の作用で動作するように設けても良い。
図示の苗移植機は、機体上部に予備の苗を載置しておく予備苗載せ枠６０を設けている。また、機体前部で前輪７、７より前側に畝の両側部に接触して転動する案内ローラ６１、６１を左右に設けて、該案内ローラ６１、６１により機体が畝に沿って進行するようになる。また、案内ローラ６１、６１は、機体前部に横軸回りに回動可能に取付け、駆動車輪６、６が上昇するときは案内ローラ６１、６１を上昇させ駆動車輪６、６が下降するときは案内ローラ６１、６１を下降させる連動機構６２を設けている。これにより、機体を畝の端から畝に跨がせた状態で入りこませるとき、苗搬送部３の下端部が畝と接触しないように、駆動車輪６、６を下降して機体を上昇させた状態にして入り込ませる。このとき駆動車輪６、６の下降に連動して案内ローラ６１、６１が上方に移動しているので、案内ローラ６１を上下固定した従来技術と比べ、案内ローラ６１が畝に接触しする事態が生じにくくなり、機体の操縦が行いやすくなる。
ところで、図示例の苗移植機は、苗搬送部３の下部後側で苗植付け体４が苗を取出して土中に突入し機体進行方向に沿う機体後方へ移動し、設定距離その方向に移動した後に苗を開放して苗を土中に挿入し、そして、上昇して土中から抜け出すように動作する構成であり、即ち、苗搬送部３の後側で苗の植付けを行う構成であり、このような構成で変速伝動部８０を上記のように設けたものであるが、苗搬送部３の前側で苗の植付けを行う構成、即ち、苗搬送部３の下部前側で苗植付け体４が苗を取り出して土中に突入し機体進行方向に沿う機体前方に移動し、設定距離その方向に移動した後に苗を開放して苗を土中に挿入し、そして、上昇して土中から抜け出すように動作する構成としたものにおいても本件発明の技術思想を適用した変速伝動部を設けることができる。
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、苗植付け体４が苗を取り出す個所Ｐ（最下降位置）まで下降し、その個所で苗植付け体４が苗を取り出して苗を圃場に植え付ける。苗が取り出された後の苗収容体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。
苗植付け体４の苗植付け作用部４ａが、苗搬送部３の苗取出し個所Ｐからつる状苗を基部側部分を保持して取出して土中に突入し、そして、土中において機体進行方向に沿う方向に移動して、保持した苗を土中に挿入する。機体進行方向に沿う方向に設定距離移動した後に苗植付け作用部４ａが苗を開放して上昇し土中から抜け出す。苗の挿入長さを変更する場合は、変速伝動部８０を切換え操作して、苗植付け体４が土中で機体進行方向に沿う方向に移動するときの速度を変更することで可能となる。
特開２０００−３３３５１５号公報記載の従来の苗移植機は、先に説明したように、苗搬送部を、湾曲自在の幅広無端ベルトの外周面に前後方向に沿う板状の仕切り部材を周方向に設定間隔で多数立設して該仕切り部材で周方向に挟まれた個所のそれぞれを苗収容部として構成し、前記幅広無端ベルトの仕切り部材で周方向に挟まれた個所の前後一端部につる状苗の基部側部分を保持する苗保持部を設けた苗移植機である。
上記公報記載のものは、苗搬送部を、幅広の無端ベルトを利用して構成したので、苗搬送部の軽量化、簡略化が図れる。苗保持部の幅広無端ベルトへの具体的な取付け構造は不明であるが、苗保持部の取付け部材が周回移動中に撓むと、その取付け部材に設けた苗保持部材の苗保持作用が弱くなるので、苗保持部の取付け部材は容易に撓まない部材で設けられる。幅広無端ベルト自体は湾曲自在なので周回軸の周りを円滑に屈曲移動するが、容易に撓まない苗保持部の取付け部材が幅広無端ベルトに周回方向所定幅で密着していると、幅広無端ベルトの周回軸の周りの円滑な屈曲移動を妨げ、そのため幅広無端ベルトとその駆動回転体とのズレが生じたりするなど、苗搬送部が円滑且つ的確に周回動にしにくいものとなる。
図１０（図４の回転軸３３部分の拡大図）、図１１（図１０の苗保持部の斜視図）に示す構成は、機体を自走させる走行部と１、つる状苗を前後方向に向く姿勢で一つづつ収容する苗収容部（苗収容体）２６を複数設けて該苗収容部２６を上下に複数設けた前後方向に軸心が向く周回軸（回転軸）３３に設けた各回転体２９の周りに一列で周回動させて苗を搬送する苗搬送部３と、該苗搬送部３によって下側に搬送されてきたつる状苗の基部側を保持して取出して圃場に植付ける苗植付け体４とを備えた苗移植機において、前記苗搬送部３は、湾曲自在の幅広無端ベルト２６ａの外周面に前後方向に沿う板状の仕切り部材２６ｂを周方向に設定間隔で多数立設して該仕切り部材２６ｂで周方向に挟まれた個所のそれぞれを苗収容部２６として構成し、前記幅広無端ベルト２６ａの仕切り部材２６ｂで周方向に挟まれた個所の前後一端部につる状苗の基部側部分を保持する苗保持部２６ｃを設け、該苗保持部２６ｃは、弾性部材であるスポンジ２７ａとブラシ２７ｂからなる左右の挟持部材２７と該左右の挟持部材２７を取付ける取付け部材２８とを備え、該苗保持部２６ｃの取付け部材２８のそれぞれは、幅広無端ベルト２６ｃの各取付け部に対しその周方向において単一個所で取付けて幅広無端ベルト２６ｃの周回動中に取付け部材の左右側が幅広無端ベルト２６ａの外周面から離間可能に設けたことを特徴とする苗移植機である。
上記苗保持部２６ｃの構成により、この苗移植機は、走行部１により自走し、そして、苗搬送部３は、苗収容部２６が上下に複数設けた前後方向に軸心が向く周回軸３３に設けた各回転体２９〜３２の周りに一列で周回動し、作業者により前後方向に向く姿勢で一つづつ苗収容部２６に収容されたつる状苗を搬送する。苗搬送部２６によって搬送されたつる状苗は、苗植付け体４がその基部側を保持して取出し圃場に植付ける。
苗搬送部３は、湾曲自在の幅広無端ベルト２６ａの外周面に前後方向に沿う板状の仕切り部材２６ｂを周方向に設定間隔で多数立設していて、その仕切り部材２６ｂで周方向に挟まれた個所のそれぞれが苗収容部２６となっている。また、苗収容部２６に供給されるつる状苗の基部側部分は、幅広無端ベルト２６ａの仕切り部材２６ｂで周方向に挟まれた個所の前後一端部に設けた苗保持部２６ｃに保持させて供給される。
苗保持部２６ｃは、取付け部材２８に設けた弾性部材２７ａ、２７ｂからなる左右の挟持部材２７によってつる状苗の基部側部分を挟持して保持する。苗保持部２６ｃの取付け部材２８のそれぞれは、幅広無端ベルト２６ａの各取付け部対応部に対して、その周方向において単一個所で取付けて、幅広無端ベルト２６ａの周回動中に取付け部材２８の左右側が幅広無端ベルト２６ａの外周面から離間可能となっている。
そのため、上記構成の苗移植機は、苗搬送部３を、幅広無端ベルト２６ａを用いて構成し、苗搬送部３の軽量化、簡略化を図ったものであり、また、その幅広無端ベルト２６ａに取付ける苗保持部２６ｃは、その取付け部材２８が苗搬送部３の周回動中に容易に撓まない部材で構成し、苗搬送部３の周回動中に苗保持部２６ｃから苗が脱落し難いようにしたものでありながら、苗保持部２６ｃの取付け部材２８のそれぞれは、幅広無端ベルト２６ａの各取付け部対応部に対して、その周方向において単一個所で取付けて、幅広無端ベルト２６ａの周回動中に取付け部材２８の左右側が幅広無端ベルト２６ａの外周面から離間可能となっているので、幅広無端ベルト２６ａの周回軸の周りの屈曲移動が円滑に行われ、苗搬送部３が円滑且つ的確に周回動するものとなる。
また、図１２には上昇搬送部３ｃの部分斜視図を示すが、苗取出し個所を通過した個所で苗保持部２６ｃの周回軌跡に沿う個所に苗外し部材５１を設け、該苗外し部材５１の作用部は、周回方向上手側がベルト２６ａの外周面に比較的近く周回方向下手側がベルト外周面より比較的遠くにあるように設けて、苗取出し個所を通過した後もなお苗保持部２６ｃに保持された苗の基部側部分を苗搬送部３の周回動に伴って周回外側方向に押出す構成とした。
苗植付け体４が取出し損ねた苗を、作業者が苗供給を行う上部横搬送部３ａに戻る前に、自動的に取外しでき、苗供給作業を能率良く行える。
【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の苗移植機の苗搬送部の背面図。
【図５】図１の苗移植機の苗搬送部と苗植付け体の概略駆動系を示す図。
【図６】図１の苗移植機の植付けケース内の駆動系の断面略図。
【図７】図１の苗移植機の苗植付け体の先端の軌跡を示す図。
【図８】苗植付状態を示す断面側面図。
【図９】図１の苗移植機の幅広無端ベルトの外周面の一部平面図
【図１０】図４の苗移植機の苗搬送部の周回軸部分の拡大図。
【図１１】図１０の苗保持部の斜視図。
【図１２】図４の苗移植機の苗搬送部の上昇搬送部の部分斜視図。
【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４ａ１、４ａ２挟持具
４ｂ支持部４ｂ１、４ｂ２支持アーム
４ｃ１、４ｃ２開閉部材４ｄ１、４ｄ２ローラー
４ｅスプリング５エンジン
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
２４センサ２５支持軸
２６苗収容体２６ａ幅広無端ベルト
２６ｂ仕切部材２６ｃ苗保持部
２６ｄ送り孔２７ａスポンジ
２７ｂブラシ２７挟持部材
２８取付け部材
２９、３０、３１、３２回転体
３３回転軸３４連動ロッド
３５間欠駆動装置３６テンションローラ
４０覆土鎮圧輪４１支持部材
４２支持装置４３ハンドル
４４スプリング４５第二鎮圧輪
４６第二鎮圧輪支持部材４７横軸
４８アーム４９カム体
５０スプリング５１苗外し部材
５４カム５５連結軸
６１案内ローラ６０予備苗載せ枠
８０変速伝動部８２偏芯ギア
８３円形ギア８５入力軸
８６出力軸８７円形ギア
８９スプロケット８９ａチェン
９０シフトレバー９１シフトピン
９１ａシフトキー９１ｂシフター
９３偏芯ギア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.
[Prior art]
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART Conventionally, as described in the following patent document 1, the driving | running | working part which provided the drive wheel on the left and right of the fuselage, and provided the said right and left drive wheel so that it could be changed to a mutually different height, and turns a vine-shaped seedling to front-back direction. A seedling transport unit that provides a plurality of seedling storage units that house one by one in a posture, and a plurality of the seedling storage units are provided vertically, and the seedling transfer unit that transfers the seedlings by rotating in a line around an axis that is oriented in the front-rear direction and that is oriented in the front-rear direction. A seedling transplanter having a seedling plant that holds and removes the base side of the vine-shaped seedling conveyed downward by the seedling conveying unit and transplants the seedling in a field. The upper horizontal transport unit that transports inward from the left and right outer sides on the upper side of the fuselage, and the seedling storage unit that has been transported by the upper horizontal transport unit descends toward the seedling removal point where the seedling planter takes out seedlings on the lower side of the fuselage. The descending transport section for transporting, and the seedling storage section transported by the descending transport section An ascending transport unit that conveys the obliquely upward outside of the machine body from the take-out point and returns to the transport start end side of the upper lateral transport unit, wherein the ascending transport unit is disposed at a position overlapping between the left and right drive wheels and above the drive wheels. Known seedling transplanters are known.
Further, as described in Patent Document 2 below, a large number of plate-like partition members extending in the front-rear direction are provided upright at set intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of a bendable wide endless belt. Each of the portions sandwiched in the circumferential direction by the partition member is configured as a seedling storage portion, and holds the base-side portion of the vine-shaped seedling at the front and rear end portions of the portion sandwiched in the circumferential direction by the partition member of the wide endless belt. A seedling transplanter provided with a seedling holding unit is also known.
In each of the following Patent Documents 1 and 2, the ascending transport section of the seedling transport section is formed linearly.
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-305918 A
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2000-333515 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the apparatus described in Patent Literature 1, since the seedling transfer section is disposed such that the ascending transfer section overlaps above the drive wheels from between the left and right drive wheels, the body can be made more compact. However, when the left and right drive wheels are changed to different heights so that the vehicle body becomes horizontal in the left and right direction in accordance with the left and right inclination of the field, the range of the height change is formed linearly, and the height change range is formed above the drive wheels. It is restricted by the ascending transport unit provided so as to overlap, and therefore, the inclination adaptability of the body is low. In addition, in order to sufficiently secure the inclination adaptability of the aircraft, the section of the upper horizontal transport unit is shortened or arranged at a high position of the aircraft, and it becomes difficult to perform seedling supply work, and the workability is reduced. .
Further, in the apparatus described in Patent Document 2, the seedling transport section is arranged so that the ascending transport section overlaps above the drive wheels from between the left and right drive wheels in the same manner as described above. Compactness can be achieved, and the seedling transport section is configured using a wide endless belt, so that the weight of the seedling transport section can be reduced and simplified. By the way, it is unknown whether the left and right drive wheels are configured to be changeable to different heights, but if such a configuration is used, it is the same as that described in Patent Document 1 described above. In addition, the range of the height change is linearly formed, and is restricted by the ascending transport section provided so as to overlap above the drive wheels, and therefore, it can be said that the inclination adaptability of the body is low.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a seedling transplanter of this type, in which the size of the body is reduced, the weight of the seedling transport section is reduced and simplified, the inclination adaptation range of the body is sufficiently ensured, and the workability of seedling supply is improved. It is an object to not impair.
[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 driving section in which drive wheels are provided on the left and right sides of the fuselage so that the left and right drive wheels can be changed to different heights, and a vine-shaped seedling is oriented one by one in the front-rear direction. A seedling transfer section for providing a plurality of seedling storage sections for housing, and providing a plurality of the seedling storage sections vertically, and rotating in a line around a rotation axis having an axial center in a front-rear direction to transfer seedlings; A seedling transplanter, which holds the base side of the vine-shaped seedling conveyed downward and takes out the seedling, and transplants the seedling in a field. A large number of plate-like partition members are provided upright at set intervals in the circumferential direction on the surface, and each of the locations sandwiched by the partition members in the circumferential direction is configured as a seedling storage section, and the wide endless belt is partitioned. Base of vine-shaped seedlings at one end in front and back of the part sandwiched by members in the circumferential direction A seedling holding unit that holds the seedlings, the seedling transfer unit includes an upper lateral transfer unit that transfers the seedling storage unit from the left and right outer sides to the inside at the upper part of the fuselage, and a seedling storage unit that has been transferred by the upper horizontal transfer unit. A downward transport section for transporting the seedlings downwardly to a seedling removal location where the seedling planted body takes out the seedlings on the lower side of the aircraft, and transporting the seedling storage section transported by the downward transport section upward obliquely outside the fuselage from the seedling removal location. And an ascending transport section returning to the transport start end side of the upper horizontal transport section, wherein the ascending transport section is disposed at a position overlapping the drive wheels from a position between the left and right drive wheels, and A seedling transplanter characterized in that a tension roller is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the wide endless belt of the section so that the ascending transport section bends inwardly.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the seedling transplanter is configured such that the right and left drive wheels of the running unit are driven to rotate and self-propelled, and the seedling transport unit is provided with a plurality of seedling storage units provided in the front-rear direction. In this manner, the vines are rotated in a line around an axis having an axial center, and are transported one by one by a worker in a posture facing in the front-rear direction, one by one in the seedling storage unit. The vine-shaped seedlings conveyed by the seedling conveying unit are taken out by the seedling-planting body while holding the base side thereof, and are planted in the field.
The seedling transport section is provided with a large number of plate-shaped partition members extending in the front-rear direction at set intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the bendable wide endless belt, and the portion sandwiched in the circumferential direction by the partition members. Each is a seedling storage unit. The base-side portion of the vine seedling supplied to the seedling storage portion is supplied while being held by a seedling holding portion provided at one of the front and rear ends of a portion sandwiched in the circumferential direction by a partition member of a wide endless belt. In addition, the seedlings are supplied to the seedling transfer section by feeding the seedlings to the seedling storage section which is transferred through the upper horizontal transfer section which horizontally transfers the seedling storage section from the left and right outer sides to the inside on the upper side of the machine body. The seedling storage unit, to which the seedlings are supplied by the upper horizontal transfer unit, is transported to a seedling removal location via a descending transport unit that is transported downward to the lower side of the machine, and a seedling plant is taken out of the seedlings transported to the seedling removal location. To plant. After the seedlings are taken out, the seedling storage section returns to the transport start end side of the upper horizontal transport section via the ascending transport section which transports the seedling obliquely upward and outward.
In addition, when the field scene is tilted left and right, the seedling transplanter changes the left and right drive wheels to different heights by artificial or automatic operation so that the machine body is horizontally or horizontally tilted as appropriate. Modify the posture. At this time, the ascending transport section of the seedling transport section overlaps above the drive wheels from between the left and right drive wheels, but the tension roller is pressed against the outer periphery of the wide endless belt of this ascend transport section to ascend. Since the transport section is bent inward in the circling direction, the vertical movement range of the drive wheel located below the ascending transport section is sufficiently ensured.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the partition member provided on the outer peripheral surface of the wide endless belt is provided at a front-rear width shorter than the front-rear width of the wide endless belt, and a front end of the wide endless belt is closer to a front end of the wide endless belt. On the rear side, a rear end is provided so as to be more front than a rear end of the wide endless belt,
The tension roller is located on the outer peripheral surface of the wide endless belt, and is located at one end in the front-rear direction of the belt and at the other end of the belt in the front-rear direction between the seedling holding unit and the front and rear end of the partition member. The seedling transplanter according to claim 1, wherein the seedling transplanter is disposed at a position where there is no partition member.
According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, the partition member erected on the outer peripheral surface of the wide endless belt has a front-rear width shorter than the front-rear width of the wide endless belt, and The front end is located behind the front end of the wide endless belt, and the rear end is located forward of the rear end of the wide endless belt. The tension roller is located on the outer peripheral surface of the wide endless belt, and is located between one end in the front-rear direction of the belt and one end of the belt at the other end in the front-rear direction of the belt. Of the wide endless belt can be applied in a well-balanced manner in the front and rear directions, and the tension roller does not push down the partition member, so that the seedling transport section can be accurately and smoothly performed. Circular drive is possible. Moreover, if the contact point of the tension roller is set on the outer peripheral surface on the end side of the belt on both the front and rear sides, the end of the belt is extended outwardly in the front-rear direction from the seedling holding portion, and the seedling seeding body At the time of taking out, the situation that the belt ends protruding outward in the front-rear direction from the seedling holding portion is likely to be caught, but such a situation can be avoided by the above configuration.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the partition member provided on the outer peripheral surface of the wide endless belt is provided at a front-rear width shorter than the front-rear width of the wide endless belt, and a front end of the wide endless belt is closer to a front end of the wide endless belt. On the rear side, a feed end is provided such that a rear end is located forward of a rear end of the wide endless belt, and the wide endless belt is engaged with a protrusion on an outer peripheral portion of a driving rotating body that drives the wide endless belt. A large number of holes are formed at circumferentially set intervals, and the feed holes of the wide endless belt are located on the outer peripheral surface of the wide endless belt, at one end in the front-rear direction of the belt, and at the other end in the front-rear direction of the belt. The seedling transplanter according to claim 1, wherein the seedling transplanter is provided at a location between the seedling holding portion and one of the front and rear ends of the partitioning member, where the partitioning member is not provided.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the functions of the first and second aspects of the present invention, the feed hole of the wide endless belt is located on the outer peripheral surface of the wide endless belt, and is located at one end of the wide endless belt in the front-rear direction. And a portion where there is no partition member between the seedling holding portion and one of the front and rear ends of the partition member at the other end in the front-rear direction of the belt, so that the wide endless belt can be driven and rotated in a well-balanced manner over the front and rear. In addition, it is possible to drive the seedling conveying section accurately and smoothly. Moreover, if the feed holes of the wide endless belt are set on the outer peripheral surface of the belt on both the front and rear sides, the end of the belt is extended outwardly in the front-rear direction from the seedling holding portion, so that the seedlings can be planted. At the time of taking out, the situation that the belt ends protruding outward in the front-rear direction from the seedling holding portion is likely to be caught, but such a situation can be avoided by the above configuration.
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the seedling transport section is configured using the wide endless belt, the weight and simplification of the seedling transport section can be achieved, and the raising transport section of the seedling transport section is driven left and right. Since it is located at a position that overlaps above the drive wheels from between the wheels, it has a compact body structure with a short front-to-rear length of the body, and furthermore, the tension roller is pressed against the outer periphery of the wide endless belt of the ascending transport section to raise the body. Since the transport unit is configured to bend inward, the width and height of the upper horizontal transport unit are appropriately set so as not to impair the workability of seedling supply, but the drive located below the ascending transport unit The vertical movement range of the wheels can be sufficiently ensured, and the inclination adaptability of the aircraft can be improved.
According to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, the tension of the wide endless belt can be given in a well-balanced manner in the front and rear directions, and the tension roller does not push down the partition member, The seedling transfer section can be driven to rotate accurately and smoothly. In addition, it is possible to avoid a configuration in which the belt end protrudes outward in the front-rear direction from the seedling holding portion, and the seedlings can be satisfactorily taken out of the seedling plant.
According to the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the functions of the first and second aspects of the invention, the wide endless belt can be driven and rotated in a well-balanced manner in the front-rear direction, and the seedling conveying section can be driven to rotate accurately and smoothly, and It is also possible to avoid a configuration in which the belt end protrudes outward in the front-rear direction from the seedling holding part, and the seedlings can be satisfactorily taken out of the seedling plant.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A seedling transplanter according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. ◎
A case where a sweet potato seedling is planted as a vine-shaped seedling will be described as an example. In the following description of the illustrated example, when the front or the rear is referred to, the side on which the steering wheel 2 is disposed is referred to as the rear, the opposite side, that is, the side on which the engine 5 is disposed, is referred to as the front, and the right or left is referred to. Sometimes, 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 toward the front of the body at the rear of the body.
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. 1, and FIG. 3 shows a seedling transfer unit and a seedling plant of the seedling transplanter of FIG. FIG. 4 is a partially omitted rear view showing the seedling transfer section and the seedling plant of the seedling transplanter of FIG. 1.
The seedling transplanting machine includes a seedling transfer unit 3 for transferring sweet potato seedlings to a body provided with a traveling device 1 and a steering handle 2, and a seedling plant 4 for planting the seedlings transferred by the seedling transfer unit 3 in a field. This is a seedling transplanter equipped with:
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.
A transmission case 8 is arranged at the rear of the engine 5, and the transmission case 8 has a case portion extending from the left side to the left side of the engine 5, and 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 a transmission mechanism in the transmission case 8. Transmission cases 9, 9 are rotatably mounted on both left and right sides of the transmission case 8, and the front ends of wheel drive shafts extending from the transmission case 8 to the left and right outside at the center of rotation of the transmission cases 9, 9. The driving power is transmitted to the transmission mechanism inside the transmission cases 9, 9 after entering. 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.
Further, arms 11, 11 extending upward are integrally attached to the attachment portions of the transmission cases 9, 9 to the transmission case 8, and the arms 11, 11 are attached to the tip of a piston rod of a lifting hydraulic cylinder 12 fixed to the transmission case 8. Is connected to the left and right sides of a balance rod 13 which is 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 hydraulic cylinder 15 for left and right horizontal control capable of expanding and contracting.
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 the aircraft at a set height with respect to the ridge upper surface height based on a detection result of a sensor 24 that detects a ridge upper surface height with respect to the aircraft. It is configured to operate to raise or lower the body by manual operation of an operating tool disposed near the steering handle 2.
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 left and right horizontal of the aircraft is based on a detection result of a sensor (not shown) that detects the left-right inclination of the aircraft with respect to the left and right horizontal.
When the left and right drive wheels are changed to different heights by artificial or automatic operation to correct the machine to the left and right horizontal, the ascending transport section 3c of the seedling transport section 3 is driven by the left and right driving rear wheels. 6, the tension roller 36 is pressed against the outer periphery of the wide endless belt 26a of the ascending transport section 3c, and the ascending transport section 3c is bent inwardly. Therefore, the vertical movement range of the rear wheel 6 located below the ascending transport section 3c is sufficiently ensured.
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.
The steering handle 2 is attached to a rear end of a handle frame 2b having a front end fixed to the 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.
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.
Next, the seedling plant 4 and the seedling transport section 3 will be described. ◎
The seedling-planting body 4 is connected to a driving 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 clamps 4a1 and 4a2) is connected to the seedling transport unit 3. To act on the seedlings conveyed by the method and plant the seedlings in the field.
The drive unit for driving the seedling plant 4 is provided in a planting transmission case 18 in which a transmission mechanism for receiving and transmitting power for driving the seedling plant 4 from inside the transmission case 8 is installed. As shown in the figure, the planting transmission case 18 has a front portion connected to the rear portion of the transmission case 8 and extending obliquely upward from the front, and a left and right upper portion of the first case portion 18a. Seedling 18b that is rotatably mounted around the axial center of the direction and extends leftward, and seedlings are planted in a third case 18c that is fixed to the left end of the second case 18b and extends obliquely downward. A power transmission mechanism for transmitting power for driving the body 4 is provided.
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.
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.
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 provided integrally with the third case portion 18c.
As shown in an enlarged perspective view of the seedling plant 4 in FIG. 3, the seedling plant 4 has a support portion 4b including a pair of support arms 4b1 and 4b2, and a pair of support members 4b for holding the seedling at the distal end of the support portion 4b. And a pair of opening / closing members 4c1 and 4c2 for supporting the bases of the support arms 4b1 and 4b2 of the support portion 4b, and rotatably provided on the base side of the opening and closing members 4c1 and 4c2. Rollers 4d1 and 4d2. The pair of opening / closing members 4c1 and 4c2 intersect rotatably at an intermediate portion thereof, and are normally urged by a spring 4e in a direction to close the holding members 4a1 and 4a2. The rollers 4d1 and 4d2 are in contact with cam surfaces formed on both left and right sides of a disc-shaped cam 54 described later.
The cam 54 is attached so as to rotate integrally with a connecting shaft 55 which is integrally attached to the distal end of the drive arm 19 and rotatably attaches the upper end of the support link 21. The cam surfaces formed on the left and right side surfaces of the disk-shaped cam 54 are formed by changing the left and right thicknesses of the disk outer peripheral portion with which the rollers 4d1 and 4d2 abut, and the pair of holding tools 4a1 and 4a2 are used as seedlings. The opening and closing operation is performed so that the seedlings are taken out from the transporting unit 3 and brought into the soil, so that the seedlings are closed in a section where the seedlings are sandwiched and open in other sections. The cam 54 having the cam surface formed as described above is mounted by adjusting the mounting posture with reference to the posture of the drive arm 19 so that the holding members 4a1 and 4a2 have the phase of the cam surface that opens and closes as described above.
Accordingly, when the drive shaft 20 is driven to rotate and the drive arm 19 is rotated, the locus set by the support link portion 21 rotatably connected to the distal end of the drive arm 19 and the lower end of the swing link 22 is set. , And the cam surface of the disk outer peripheral portion where the rollers 4d1 and 4d2 abut the right and left of the cam 54 to rotate with respect to the rollers 4d1 and 4d2. Then, under the action of the cam surface of the rotating cam 54, the right and left upper ends of the opening and closing members 4c1 and 4c2 expand and contract to the left and right, and the support arms 4b1 and 4b2 open and close to the left and right. Open and close.
As a result, the pair of holding tools 4a1 and 4a2 of the seedling plant 4 closes when passing through the seedling removal point P of the seedling transfer section 3, and holds the base-side portion of the vine-shaped seedling transferred there. Then, after the clamps 4a1 and 4a2 rush into the soil while being closed, the clamps 4a1 and 4a2 move in a direction along the machine body traveling direction and insert the clamped seedlings into the soil. Then, after moving the set distance in the direction along the machine body traveling direction, the clamps 4a1 and 4a2 open to release the seedlings, and then operate to rise and get out of the soil.
By the way, by providing an adjusting mechanism that allows the connecting shaft 55 to be integrally attached to the distal end portion of the driving arm 19 to be able to adjust the rotation of the connecting shaft 55 about its axis without changing the mounting position of the driving arm 19. The cam surface of the cam 54 attached so as to rotate integrally with the connection shaft 55 can be easily moved around the axis of the connection shaft 55 to adjust the opening / closing timing of the holding members 4a1 and 4a2.
By mounting the cam 54 so as to be slidable in the left-right direction along the connecting link 55, the tips of the pair of seedling-holding tools 4a1, 4a2 can be finely adjusted in the left-right direction. When the seedlings are taken out from the seedling accommodating portion 26, the position of the stem support member 26c and the position of the seedling holding members 4a1, 4a2 are shifted left and right, and the tip positions of the seedling holding members 4a1, 4a2 as described above. By finely adjusting the position to the left and right, the displacement can be easily eliminated.
When the drive arm 19 is driven to rotate 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. T or T '(FIG. 7). The trajectory T as shown in FIG. 6 is a movement trajectory drawn by the seedling planting portion 4a with respect to the aircraft when the aircraft is stopped, and the trajectory T ′ shown in FIG. It is a movement locus drawn by the seedling planting section 4a with respect to the field at the time of the execution.
The configuration of a schematic drive system of the seedling plant 4 will be described. FIG. 5 shows a schematic drive system of the seedling transporting unit 3 and the seedling plant 4, and FIG. 6 shows a schematic sectional view of the drive system in the cases 18 b and 18 c.
A transmission system for changing the speed at which the planting body 4 moves in the direction along the machine body traveling direction in the soil, that is, a seedling planting, in a power transmission system (on a transmission path) for transmitting power to the seedling planting body 4. A shift transmission unit 80 capable of changing an average moving speed in a section from a position where the seedling planting action unit 4a of the body 4 starts moving in the direction along the body traveling direction in the soil to a position where the movement in the direction ends. Is provided.
The speed change transmission portion 80 is provided with a plurality of transmission portions having different transmission rotation speeds at the same speed ratio when the seedling planting action portion 4a of the planting body 4 moves in the soil along the body traveling direction, A switching operation means for selectively switching the plurality of transmission units to a transmission state; In addition, at least one of the plurality of transmission units is constituted by an unequal speed transmission unit such as an eccentric or non-circular gear or a sprocket.
Also, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the unequal-speed transmission portion is an eccentric or non-circular transmission gear pair formed by an eccentric or non-circular gear pair in which the pitch circle radius of the gear teeth changes during one rotation. When the other transmission unit is provided as a constant-speed transmission gear pair or another non-constant-speed transmission gear pair so as to be switchable between the transmission state by the former transmission unit and the transmission state by the latter transmission unit, The rotation ratio between the plurality of gears mounted on the input shaft and the plurality of gears mounted on the lower transmission side meshing with the gears is set to one-to-one, and the plurality of gears mounted on the input shaft on the upper transmission side are the input gears. A plurality of gears mounted on the lower shaft side of the transmission so as to rotate integrally with the shaft are rotatably mounted on the output shaft, and the switching operation means is one of a plurality of gears mounted on the lower side of the transmission. Only rotates with the output shaft State To Setsu換Ru so configured, and, the output shaft and the gear and configured to rotate integrally engaged with each one place. Thus, the phase of the unequal-speed transmission portion does not shift due to the operation of the switching operation means, and the switching operation can be performed easily and accurately.
A specific example of the transmission unit 80 shown in FIG. 6 will be described. The speed change transmission unit 80 is provided between a transmission shaft 85 serving as an input shaft and a transmission shaft 86 serving as an output shaft, and a constant speed transmission unit that transmits through circular gears 83 and 87 that transmit at a constant speed. A non-constant speed transmission unit that transmits power via eccentric gears 82 and 93 that transmit at high speed is provided in parallel, and the rotation ratio of the constant speed transmission unit and the rotation ratio of the non-constant speed transmission unit are 1: 1. A switching operation mechanism for setting and selectively switching between a transmission state via a constant speed transmission unit and a transmission state via a non-constant speed transmission unit is provided. In the transmission state via the unequal-speed transmission portion, the teeth of the short-diameter portion of the eccentric gear 82 on the transmission shaft 85 side serving as the input shaft correspond to the long-diameter portion of the eccentric gear 93 on the transmission shaft 86 side serving as the output shaft. The setting is made so that when the teeth are meshed with each other, that is, when the transmission is in a slow state, the seedling planting portion 4a of the seedling plant 4 enters the soil and moves in a direction along the machine body traveling direction. As a result, when the aircraft body moves forward while the seedling-planting body 4 operates along the locus T, when the transmission is switched to the transmission state via the constant-speed transmission unit, the plant operates on the locus T 'shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. When the transmission state is switched to the transmission state via the unequal speed transmission unit, the trajectory T ″ operates at the trajectory T ″ shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. As compared with the trajectory T ′, the distance that the tip of the seedling plant 4 enters the soil and moves in the direction along the machine body traveling direction becomes shorter. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the insertion length of the seedling at the time of constant speed transmission is longer than that at the time of non-constant speed transmission, and the insertion length of the seedling at the time of non-uniform speed transmission is longer than at the time of constant speed transmission. Be shorter. In the unequal speed transmission portion, the teeth of the long diameter portion of the eccentric gear 82 on the input shaft (transmission shaft 85) mesh with the teeth of the short diameter portion of the eccentric gear 93 on the output shaft (transmission shaft 86) side. If the setting is made such that the seedling planting action portion 4a of the seedling planting body 4 rushes into the soil and moves in the direction along the body traveling direction when the vehicle is in the fast transmission state, In comparison with the locus T ′, the distance that the tip of the seedling plant 4 enters the soil and moves in the direction along the machine body traveling direction becomes longer, and the insertion length of the seedling becomes longer. The unequal-speed transmission set in this way can be further added to the transmission 80, replaced with the above-mentioned constant-speed transmission, or the setting of the unequal-speed transmission can be changed in this way. .
In the speed change transmission unit 80 shown in FIG. 6, the input shaft is a transmission shaft 85 protruding from the second case portion 18b of the planting transmission case 18 into the third case 18c. An eccentric gear 82 and a circular gear 83 are attached to a portion protruding into the case 18c so as to rotate integrally with a key attached to the transmission shaft 85, and the eccentric gear 82 and the circular gear 83 mesh with these gears 82, 83, respectively. The core gear 93 and the circular gear 87 are mounted on a transmission shaft 86 serving as an output shaft provided in the third case 18c. The eccentric gear 93 and the circular gear 87 are selectively switched by the switching operation mechanism from a state of free rotation with respect to the transmission shaft 86 to a state of rotating integrally with the transmission shaft 86. A sprocket 89 is attached to the transmission shaft 86 so as to rotate integrally therewith. A chain 89a is hung between the sprocket 89 and a sprocket attached to the drive shaft 20 provided at the rear end of the third case 18c. The power that has passed through the speed change transmission unit 80 drives the seedling plant 4.
The switching operation mechanism mounts the shift key 91a slidably in the axial direction in a key groove formed from the mounting portion of the eccentric gear 93 to the mounting portion of the circular gear 87 in the axial direction at one location on the outer peripheral portion of the transmission shaft 86. The shifter 91b is attached to the transmission shaft 86 slidably in the axial direction while being engaged with the shift key 91a in the axial direction. A shift pin 91 that is operated to move in the axial direction by operating a shift lever 90 attached to the outside of the third case 18c is engaged with the shifter 91b. With the shift lever 90 moved to the input shaft (transmission shaft 85) side position, the shifter 91b moves to the circular gear 87 side (left side in FIG. 6), and the shift key 91a fits into the key groove of the circular gear 87. As a result, a constant speed transmission state is established via the circular gears 83 and 87. When the shift lever 90 is moved in the direction of arrow F in FIG. 6 to switch the position to the output shaft (transmission shaft 86) side, the shift pin 91 is rotated in the direction of arrow G in FIG. (Right side in FIG. 6), the shift key 91a is fitted into the key groove of the eccentric gear 93, and the state is switched to the non-uniform speed transmission state via the eccentric gears 82 and 93.
When the shift lever 90 is set at an intermediate position between the input shaft (transmission shaft 85) side position and the output shaft (transmission shaft 86) side position, the shift key 91a does not fit into the key groove of the circular gear 87 and the eccentric gear 93 does not fit. In a non-transmission state in which no key groove is fitted. In this manner, the switching operation means can be switched to the non-transmission state in which the transmission from the input shaft side to the output shaft side of the speed change transmission unit 80 is cut off, thereby stopping the operation of the seedling plant 4. It can also be used as a clutch operating device.
As shown in FIG. 4, the seedling transport section 3 transports the seedling storage section 26 in the transport direction C from the left and right outer sides to the inner side at the upper part of the machine body, and is transported by the upper horizontal transport section 3a. The descending transport unit 3b that transports the seedling storage unit 26 downward toward the seedling removal point P where the seedling plant 4 takes out the seedlings under the machine body, and the seedling storage unit 26 transported by the downward transport unit 3b. And an ascending transport unit 3c which transports the seedlings from the place P to the obliquely upper side of the machine body and returns to the transport start end side of the upper horizontal transport unit 3a.
In addition, the seedling transfer section 3 has a wide, freely bendable rotating body 29, 29 and a plurality of freely rotating body 30, 31, 32, which are arranged so as to form the above-described transfer sections 3a, 3b, 3c. The endless belt 26a is looped around, and a large number of plate-like partition members 26b extending in the front-rear direction are set up on the outer peripheral surface of the wide endless belt 26a at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction, and are sandwiched in the circumferential direction by the partition members 26b. Each of the locations is configured as a seedling storage unit 26. A seedling holding portion 26c is provided at one end of the wide endless belt 26a at the front and rear ends of the portion sandwiched between the partition members 26b in the circumferential direction, for holding the base side portion of the vine seedling with left and right seedling holding members. A large number of feed holes 26d (FIG. 1) are formed at both front and rear ends of the wide endless belt 26a at circumferentially set intervals, and projections on the outer peripheral portions of the driving rotators 29, 29 engage with the feed holes 26d to form a wide endless belt. The belt 26a is driven to rotate. In the example shown in the figure, the seedling holding portion 26c is configured such that the seedling holding member on the upper side in the seedling transfer direction is a brush body whose tip is directed to the seedling holding member on the lower side in the seedling transfer direction, and the seedling holding member on the lower side in the seedling transfer direction is It is constituted by an elastic member such as a sponge, and the base side portion of the vine-shaped seedling is pushed and pinched between the left and right seedling holding members.
The rotating bodies 29, 29 for driving and rotating the seedling transporting section 3 are attached and arranged so as to rotate integrally with a rotating shaft 33 arranged in the front-rear direction on the left and right central sides on the upper side of the body, and are disposed on the left and right outer sides on the upper body side. The rotating bodies composed of long rollers before and after freely rotating are arranged, and the rotating bodies 31 and 32 composed of long rollers in the longitudinal direction are arranged side by side on the lower side of the fuselage so as to approach the right and left with the seedling removal point P interposed therebetween. are doing. These rotating bodies 29, 29; 30, 31, 32 are supported by a supporting member assembled to the third case 18c and the supporting frame 23. The rotating bodies 29, 29 for driving and rotating the seedling transporting section 3 and the swing link 22 for swinging and supporting the lower end of the support link 21 of the seedling plant 4 are interlockingly connected via a transmission mechanism. The lower end of the interlocking rod 34 (FIG. 1) is pivotally connected to a middle part of the swing link 22, and the upper end of the interlocking rod 34 is connected to an intermittent driving device 35 constituted by a ratchet mechanism. The drive output unit is connected to the end of a rotating shaft 33 to which rotating bodies 29 for driving and rotating the seedling transporting unit 3 are attached. The interlocking rod 34 reciprocates up and down by the up and down swing of the swing link 22, and the intermittent drive 35 outputs the drive rotation when the up and down reciprocation moves up, and the intermittent drive 35 stops the drive rotation output when it moves down. It has a configuration. Accordingly, the seedling transporting unit 3 is driven when the seedling-planting body 4 opens and lifts the seedling in the soil, and the seedling-planting body 4 takes out the seedling from the seedling removal point P, enters the soil, and opens the seedling. The driving of the seedling transporting unit 3 is stopped until it rises.
Since the seedling transporting section 3 is configured using the wide endless belt 62a as described above, the weight and simplification of the seedling transporting section can be achieved, and the ascending transporting section 3c is located between the left and right drive wheels 6,6. From above to the drive wheel 6 to form a compact body having a short longitudinal length of the body, and furthermore, the tension roller 36 is pressed against the outer periphery of the wide endless belt 26a of the ascending transport section 3c to carry out the ascending transport. Since the section 3c is configured to bend inward, the width and height of the upper horizontal transport section are appropriately set so as not to impair the workability of the seedling supply, while the drive located at the lower side of the ascending transport section. The vertical movement range of the wheels can be sufficiently ensured, and the inclination adaptability of the aircraft can be improved.
The partition member 26b which stands upright on the outer peripheral surface of the wide endless belt 26a is provided with a front-rear width shorter than the front-rear width of the wide endless belt 26a, and a front end portion is located behind the front end portion of the wide endless belt 26a. The tension roller 36 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the wide endless belt 26a, and one end of the wide endless belt 26a in the front-rear direction and the belt 26a. At the other end in the front-rear direction and at a location where there is no partition member between the seedling holding portion 26c and the front and rear end portions of the partition member 26b. Thus, the tension of the wide endless belt 26a can be applied in a well-balanced manner in the front and rear directions, and the seedling conveying section 3 can be driven to rotate accurately and smoothly without the tension roller 36 pushing down the partition member 26b. In addition, it is possible to avoid a configuration in which the belt end protrudes outward in the front-rear direction from the seedling holding portion 26c, and the seedlings can be satisfactorily taken out from the seedling planting body 4.
Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a partial plan view of the outer peripheral surface of the wide endless belt 26 a, the partition member 26 b erected on the outer peripheral surface of the wide endless belt 26 a is shorter than the front-rear width of the wide endless belt 26 a. The front end of the wide endless belt 26a is located behind the front end of the wide endless belt 26a, and the rear end is located forward of the rear end of the wide endless belt 26a. A large number of feed holes 26d are formed at circumferentially set intervals to engage with protrusions on the outer peripheral portions of the driving rotators 29, 29 for driving the wide endless belt 26a to rotate. The feed holes 26d of the wide endless belt 26a are wide endless belts. On the outer peripheral surface of the belt 26a, between one end of the belt 26a in the front-rear direction and the other end of the belt 26a in the front-rear direction, between the seedling holding portion 26c and the front and rear end of the partition member 26b. Are provided to the point partition member is not. Thereby, the wide endless belt 26a can be driven and rotated in a well-balanced manner in the front-rear direction, and the seedling transporting unit 3 can be driven to rotate accurately and smoothly, and the belt end is not extended beyond the seedling holding unit 26c in the front-rear direction. As a result, the removal of the seedlings from the seedling plant 4 can be performed well.
Further, the seedling transfer section 3 is configured using a wide endless belt 26a to reduce the weight and simplify the seedling transfer section 3, and the seedling holding section 26c attached to the wide endless belt 26a is The mounting member is made of a member that does not easily bend during rotation of the seedling transporting section 3 so that the seedlings are unlikely to fall out of the seedling holding section 26c during the rotation of the seedling transporting section 3. Each of the attachment members of the holding portion 26c is attached to each attachment portion of the wide endless belt 26a at a single location in the circumferential direction, and the left and right sides of the attachment member of the seedling holding portion 26c are rotated during the circumferential rotation of the wide endless belt 26a. Since the wide endless belt 26a can be separated from the outer peripheral surface, the bending movement of the wide endless belt 26a around the rotation axis (the rotation axis of the rotating bodies 29, 29; 30, 31, and 32) is performed smoothly. , Carrying seedlings Part 3 becomes what is smoothly and accurately orbiting motion.
The soil-removing rings 40, 40 for bringing the soil to the seedlings transplanted to the field with the seedling plant 4 and repressing the soil are provided on both left and right sides behind the seedling removal point P of the seedling transport unit 3. These soil-reducing wheels 40, 40 are rotatably attached to the lower part of a support device 42 attached to a support member 41 fixed to the rear of the support frame 23. The frame (the third case portion 18c and the support frame 23 integral therewith) that supports the seedling transfer portion 3 and the seedling plant 4 is, as described above, rotatable around the horizontal axis at the front portion thereof. And the rear part is configured to be movable up and down, so that the soil covering pressure reduction wheels 40, 40 also function as grounding wheels for receiving the weight of the seedling transporting unit 3 and the seedling plant 4 on the ground. Further, the support device 42 has a configuration in which the lower support portion 42b moves up and down with respect to the upper support portion 42a by operating the handle 43 provided on the upper portion, and the position of the soil cover pressure reduction wheels 40, 40 can be adjusted vertically. It has become. Therefore, by adjusting the vertical position of the soil covering pressure reduction wheels 40, 40, the support height of the seedling transporting unit 3 and the seedling plant 4 is adjusted vertically. When the entire weight of the seedling transfer part 3 and the seedling plant 4 is received on the ridge upper surface, if the soil on the ridge surface is soft, the ridge may be broken. A part of the weight travels with the rear part of the frame (an attachment member fixed to the support member 41) supporting the seedling transporting unit 3 and the seedling plant 4 so that a part of the weight is received by the body supported by the traveling device 1. A spring 44 is hung on an airframe (an attachment member fixed to the handle 2) supported by the device 1.
Further, after the cover soil crushing rings 40, 40 crush the soil by transplanting the seedlings to the seedlings transplanted in the field with the seedling plant 4, the soil moved above the base side portion of the seedlings inserted into the soil is removed. A second pressure-reducing wheel 45 is provided to lower the pressure from above the pressure-reducing wheel. The second compression wheel 45 is attached to the rear portion of the second compression wheel support member 46 so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis. The front portion of the second compression wheel supporting member 46 is attached to a horizontal shaft 47 that is rotatably attached to the lower rear end of the second case portion 18c. An arm 48 to which a rotating body such as a bearing is attached is mounted on the outer periphery of a cam body 49 which is attached to the base side of the drive shaft 19 of the seedling plant 4 so as to rotate integrally with the drive shaft 19. A spring 50 is provided so as to be able to contact and urges the second compression wheel support member 46 to be pulled upward. By the cam body 49, the second compression wheel support member 46 is rotated downward at an appropriate timing, and the second compression wheel 45 is lowered on the top soil above the base side portion of the seedling inserted into the soil to suppress the pressure. The lowering of the second presser wheel 45 may be provided by the bias of the spring 50, and the raising of the second presser wheel 45 may be provided by the action of the cam body 49.
The illustrated seedling transplanter is provided with a spare seedling placing frame 60 for placing spare seedlings on the upper part of the machine. Further, guide rollers 61, 61 which roll on the front side of the front wheels 7, 7 in contact with both sides of the ridge in front of the front wheels 7, 7 are provided on the left and right sides, and the body is advanced along the ridge by the guide rollers 61, 61. Become like The guide rollers 61, 61 are attached to the front of the body so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis, and when the drive wheels 6, 6 are raised, the guide rollers 61, 61 are raised, and when the drive wheels 6, 6 are lowered. Is provided with an interlocking mechanism 62 for lowering the guide rollers 61. Thereby, when the body is put in a state of straddling the ridge from the end of the ridge, the drive wheels 6, 6 are lowered and the body is raised so that the lower end of the seedling transporting section 3 does not contact the ridge. And let it enter. At this time, since the guide rollers 61, 61 are moving upward in conjunction with the lowering of the drive wheels 6, 6, there is a situation where the guide rollers 61 come into contact with the ridges compared to the prior art in which the guide rollers 61 are fixed vertically. It is less likely to occur, making it easier to control the aircraft.
Incidentally, in the seedling transplanter shown in the figure, the seedling plant 4 takes out the seedlings at the lower rear side of the seedling transporting section 3, rushes into the soil, moves to the rear of the machine along the machine traveling direction, and moves in the direction of the set distance. After the seedlings are opened, the seedlings are inserted into the soil, and then the seedlings are moved up and out of the soil. That is, the seedlings are planted behind the seedling transport unit 3. In this configuration, the speed change transmission unit 80 is provided as described above. However, a configuration in which seedlings are planted in front of the seedling transport unit 3, that is, a seedling plant 4 in the lower front side of the seedling transport unit 3. Takes out the seedlings, rushes into the soil, moves forward in the direction of the aircraft along the aircraft traveling direction, after moving in the direction set, opens the seedlings, inserts the seedlings into the soil, and rises from the soil A gearshift that applies the technical idea of the present invention even in a configuration that operates so as to escape Moving parts can be provided.
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 conveyed by the descending conveyance section 3b descend to a point P (the lowest position) where the seedling plant 4 takes out the seedlings, at which point the seedling plant 4 takes out the seedlings. Seedlings are planted in the field. The seedling container 26 from which the seedlings have been removed is transported upward by the ascending transport unit 3c to the upper part of the machine body, and returns to the transport start end side of the upper horizontal transport unit 3a.
The seedling planting action part 4a of the seedling plant 4 takes out the vine-like seedling from the seedling take-out point P of the seedling transporting part 3 while holding the base side portion, rushes into the soil, and moves in the machine direction in the soil. Move along the direction and insert the retained seedlings into the soil. After moving the set distance in the direction along the machine body traveling direction, the seedling planting action section 4a opens the seedlings and rises to get out of the soil. In order to change the insertion length of the seedlings, it is possible to change the speed at which the seedling plant 4 moves in the soil along the body traveling direction by switching the speed change transmission unit 80.
As described above, in the conventional seedling transplanter described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-333515, the seedling transport unit is formed by forming a plate-shaped partition member along the front-rear direction on the outer peripheral surface of a bendable wide endless belt in the circumferential direction. A large number of standing portions are set up at set intervals and each of the locations sandwiched in the circumferential direction by the partition member is configured as a seedling storage portion, and at the front and rear end portions of the locations sandwiched in the circumferential direction by the partition member of the wide endless belt. This is a seedling transplanter provided with a seedling holding portion for holding a base portion of a vine seedling.
In the above-mentioned publication, since the seedling transport section is configured using a wide endless belt, the weight and simplification of the seedling transport section can be achieved. The specific mounting structure of the seedling holding part to the wide endless belt is unknown, but if the mounting member of the seedling holding part is bent during the orbital movement, the seedling holding function of the seedling holding member provided on the mounting member is weakened. Therefore, the attachment member of the seedling holding portion is provided by a member that does not easily bend. Since the wide endless belt itself is freely bendable, it bends smoothly around the orbiting axis, but if the mounting member of the seedling holding portion that does not easily bend is in close contact with the wide endless belt at a predetermined width in the circumferential direction, the wide endless belt is used. , The smooth movement of the seedling conveying portion is difficult to smoothly and accurately, for example, such that the wide endless belt is displaced from the driving rotating body thereof.
The configuration shown in FIGS. 10 (enlarged view of the rotating shaft 33 portion in FIG. 4) and FIG. 11 (perspective view of the seedling holding portion in FIG. 10) includes a traveling portion for self-propelling the body and 1, a vine-shaped seedling in the front-rear direction. A plurality of seedling accommodating portions (seedling accommodating bodies) 26 for accommodating one by one in a facing posture are provided. A seedling transfer unit 3 that transfers seedlings by rotating around the rotating body 29 in a single line, and holding and removing the base side of the vine-shaped seedlings transferred downward by the seedling transfer unit 3 and planting them in a field. In the seedling transplanting machine provided with the seedling plant 4 to be attached, the seedling transporting unit 3 includes a large number of plate-shaped partition members 26b extending in the front-rear direction on the outer peripheral surface of the flexible wide endless belt 26a at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. Each of the portions that are erected and sandwiched in the circumferential direction by the partition member 26b is used as a seedling storage portion 26. And a seedling holding portion 26c for holding a base side portion of a vine-shaped seedling at one end in front and rear of a portion sandwiched in the circumferential direction by the partition member 26b of the wide endless belt 26a, and the seedling holding portion 26c has elasticity. A left and right holding member 27 including a sponge 27a and a brush 27b, which are members, and an attachment member 28 for attaching the left and right holding members 27 are provided. Each of the attachment members 28 of the seedling holding portion 26c is a member of the wide endless belt 26c. A seedling transplanter characterized in that the right and left sides of the mounting member are provided so as to be separated from the outer peripheral surface of the wide endless belt 26a during the circumferential rotation of the wide endless belt 26c with respect to the mounting portion at a single location in the circumferential direction thereof. is there.
Due to the configuration of the seedling holding unit 26c, the seedling transplanting machine is self-propelled by the traveling unit 1, and the seedling transporting unit 3 is provided with a plurality of seedling storage units 26 provided vertically, and a revolving shaft whose axis is oriented in the front-rear direction. The vines are rotated around the rotating bodies 29 to 32 provided in 33 in a line, and the vine-shaped seedlings accommodated in the seedling accommodation section 26 are transported one by one in a posture facing forward and backward by an operator. The vine-like seedlings transported by the seedling transporting unit 26 are taken out by the seedling-planting body 4 while holding the base side thereof, and are planted in the field.
The seedling transfer section 3 has a large number of plate-like partition members 26b extending in the front-rear direction at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the bendable wide endless belt 26a, and is sandwiched in the circumferential direction by the partition members 26b. Each of the obtained locations is a seedling storage unit 26. Further, the base-side portion of the vine-shaped seedling supplied to the seedling storage portion 26 is held by a seedling holding portion 26c provided at one of the front and rear ends of a portion sandwiched in the circumferential direction by the partition member 26b of the wide endless belt 26a. Supplied.
The seedling holding portion 26c holds and holds the base side portion of the vine-shaped seedling by left and right holding members 27 formed of elastic members 27a and 27b provided on the mounting member 28. Each of the attachment members 28 of the seedling holding portion 26c is attached to each attachment portion corresponding portion of the wide endless belt 26a at a single location in the circumferential direction thereof, and the attachment member 28 of the attachment member 28 is rotated during the rotation of the wide endless belt 26a. The left and right sides can be separated from the outer peripheral surface of the wide endless belt 26a.
Therefore, in the seedling transplanter having the above-described configuration, the seedling transporting section 3 is configured using the wide endless belt 26a to reduce the weight and simplify the seedling transporting section 3, and the wide endless belt 26a The seedling holding portion 26c to be attached to the base is formed of a member whose attachment member 28 does not easily bend during rotation of the seedling transporting portion 3, and the seedlings fall off from the seedling holding portion 26c during the rotation of the seedling transporting portion 3. Each of the attachment members 28 of the seedling holding portion 26c is attached to each of the attachment portions corresponding to the attachment portion of the wide endless belt 26a at a single location in the circumferential direction thereof, and the wide endless belt 26a Since the left and right sides of the mounting member 28 can be separated from the outer peripheral surface of the wide endless belt 26a during the circumferential rotation of the wide endless belt 26a, the wide endless belt 26a smoothly bends around the orbital axis, and the seedling transport section 3 is moved. Smooth and accurate It becomes orbiting motion.
FIG. 12 shows a partial perspective view of the ascending transport unit 3c. A seedling removal member 51 is provided at a location along the orbit of the seedling holding unit 26c at a location passing the seedling removal location. The action portion is provided such that the upper side in the circling direction is relatively close to the outer peripheral surface of the belt 26a, and the lower side in the circulating direction is relatively far from the outer peripheral surface of the belt, and is held by the seedling holding portion 26c even after passing through the seedling removal point. The base-side portion of the seedlings was pushed outward in a circumferential direction with the circumferential rotation of the seedling transporting section 3.
The seedlings that the seedling plant 4 has failed to take out can be automatically removed before returning to the upper horizontal transport section 3a where the worker supplies the seedlings, and the seedling supply operation can be performed efficiently.
[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 of the seedling transplanter of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a rear view of a seedling transfer section of the seedling transplanter of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic drive system of a seedling transfer unit and a seedling plant of the seedling transplanter of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of a drive system in a planting case of the seedling transplanter of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a view showing a trajectory of a tip of a seedling plant of the seedling transplanter of FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a sectional side view showing a seedling planting state.
FIG. 9 is a partial plan view of the outer peripheral surface of the wide endless belt of the seedling transplanter of FIG. 1;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a rotating shaft portion of a seedling transfer section of the seedling transplanter of FIG. 4;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the seedling holding unit of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view of an ascending transport unit of the seedling transport unit of the seedling transplanter of FIG.
[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 4a1, 4a2 Holder
4b Support part 4b1, 4b2 Support arm
4c1, 4c2 Opening / closing member 4d1, 4d2 Roller
4e spring 5 engine
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 Hydraulic cylinder for horizontal control
16 Front wheel support frame 18 Planting transmission case
18a First case part 18b Second case part
18c Third case part 19 Drive arm
20 Drive shaft 21 Support link
22 Swing link 23 Support frame
24 Sensor 25 Support shaft
26 Seedling container 26a Wide endless belt
26b Partition member 26c Seedling holding part
26d feed hole 27a sponge
27b brush 27 holding member
28 Mounting member
29, 30, 31, 32 rotating body
33 rotating shaft 34 interlocking rod
35 intermittent drive device 36 tension roller
40 Cover soil compression wheel 41 Support member
42 Support device 43 Handle
44 Spring 45 Second compression wheel
46 Second compression wheel support member 47 Horizontal axis
48 Arm 49 Cam body
50 Spring 51 Seedling removal member
54 Cam 55 Connecting shaft
61 Guide roller 60 Spare seedling mounting frame
80 speed change transmission part 82 eccentric gear
83 Circular gear 85 Input shaft
86 Output shaft 87 Circular gear
89 sprocket 89a chain
90 shift lever 91 shift pin
91a Shift key 91b Shifter
93 Eccentric gear

Claims

A plurality of running parts provided with driving wheels on the left and right sides of the fuselage so that the left and right driving wheels can be changed to different heights, and a plurality of seedling storage sections for housing vine-shaped seedlings one by one in a front-rear direction. The seedling storage section is provided with a plurality of upper and lower seedling storage sections, and the seedling transfer section that rotates the circumference in a line around a rotation axis that is axially oriented in the front-rear direction to transfer seedlings, and has been transferred downward by the seedling transfer section. In a seedling transplanter having a seedling plant that holds and removes the base side of the vine seedling and transplants it to the field,
The seedling transporting section, a large number of plate-like partition members along the front-rear direction along the front-rear direction on the outer peripheral surface of the bendable wide endless belt, each of which is erected in the circumferential direction between the partition members in the circumferential direction at a predetermined interval. Is configured as a seedling storage portion, and a seedling holding portion for holding a base-side portion of a vine-shaped seedling at one of front and rear ends of a portion sandwiched in the circumferential direction by the partition member of the wide endless belt,
The seedling transfer unit, an upper horizontal transfer unit that transfers the seedling storage unit from the left and right outer sides to the inner side at the upper part of the machine body,
A descending transport unit that transports the seedling storage unit that has been transported by the upper horizontal transport unit downward toward a seedling extraction location where the seedling planted body takes out seedlings under the machine body,
An ascending transport unit that transports the seedling storage unit that has been transported by the descending transport unit from the seedling removal location to an obliquely upper outside of the body and returns to the transport start end side of the upper horizontal transport unit,
The ascending transport unit is arranged at a position overlapping the drive wheels from a position between the left and right drive wheels, and presses a tension roller against an outer peripheral surface of the wide endless belt of the ascending transport unit to push the ascending transport unit. The seedling transplanter is characterized in that the bend is bent inward.

The partition member, which stands upright on the outer peripheral surface of the wide endless belt, is provided in a front-rear width shorter than the front-rear width of the wide endless belt, and a front end portion is on a rear side of a front end portion of the wide endless belt, and a rear end portion is provided. Provided to be more forward than the rear end of the wide endless belt,
The tension roller is located on the outer peripheral surface of the wide endless belt, and is located at one end in the front-rear direction of the belt and at the other end of the belt in the front-rear direction between the seedling holding portion and the front and rear end of the partition member. 2. The seedling transplanter according to claim 1, wherein the seedling transplanter is disposed at a position where there is no partition member.

The partition member, which stands upright on the outer peripheral surface of the wide endless belt, is provided at a front-rear width shorter than the front-rear width of the wide endless belt, and a front end is located behind the front end of the wide endless belt, and a rear end is provided. The wide endless belt is provided so as to be located forward of the rear end thereof. The feed hole of the wide endless belt is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the wide endless belt, and at one end in the front-rear direction of the belt and at the other end in the front-rear direction of the belt, the front and rear of the seedling holding portion and the partition member. The seedling transplanter according to claim 1, wherein the partitioning member is provided at a location between the one end and the partition member where there is no partition member.