JP2004329207A - Stacking device for raising seedling box - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide stacking device for raising seedling box with enhanced processing potential of total device by quickly carrying out a group of raising seedling boxes which are stacked highly. <P>SOLUTION: The stacking device for raising seedling box comprises a raising seedling box stacking mechanism 1 which brings up conveyed raising seedling boxes w and sequentially stacks up from bottom, a conveying and loading mechanism 2 which brings together the groups w of raising seedling boxes stacked up in a predetermined numbers and conveys onto a taking/transporting mechanism 3 waiting at a predetermined seedling box loading position, wherein the taking/transporting mechanism 3 is provided with a fork-like transport/load supporting arm 73, a driving means moving the transport/load supporting arm 73 to-and-fro along the longitudinal direction of the arm and a driving means vertically and parallelly moving the transport/load supporting arm 73, and the groups W of the raising seedling boxes loaded/held on the taking/transporting mechanism 3 are set to transfer and to be loaded on a conveying carrier D waiting on a predetermined position by the parallel lifting and movement of the transport/load supporting arm 73. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a seedling box stacking apparatus used for, for example, stacking seedling boxes after sowing treatment in multiple stages and performing germination processing.

Conventionally, seedling boxes that have been transported horizontally are lifted up by a push-up plate driven by an air cylinder and sequentially stacked from below on seedling boxes that are received and supported by elastically retractable locking claws, and a predetermined number of seedling boxes are stacked. When the stacking is supported, they are collectively grasped by a pair of chucks, lifted and conveyed, once stacked in the storage frame of the storage room, and when the number of sheets stacked in the storage room reaches a predetermined amount, the seedling box group stored and stored is stacked. 2. Description of the Related Art There has been known a configuration in which an extruding plate is horizontally pressed and moved to transfer and carry out on a chain conveyor (see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-8-12081 ([0009] to [0022], FIGS. 1 to 5)

  In the above-described conventional configuration, subsequent seedling boxes cannot be accommodated until the seedling box group stacked in the storage frame of the storage room is completely unloaded and returned to the initial state, and the time required for the extrusion unloading is reduced. The shorter, the higher the processing capacity. However, since a large number of seedling boxes (30 sheets in the example) are stacked high in the housing frame, when the seedling boxes are directly pressed by an extruding plate and moved on a chain conveyor, the stacked seedling boxes are loose. It was necessary to perform the pressing movement at a low speed so as not to occur.

  In other words, in the specification in which the seedling box group that is stacked high is directly pressed and moved, the pressing speed at which the seedling box group can be stably moved must be low, and therefore, the processing capacity of the entire apparatus is required. Was difficult to increase.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to improve the processing capability of the entire apparatus by devising so that a group of highly stacked nursery boxes can be quickly carried out.

A seedling raising box stacking device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a seedling raising box stacking mechanism that lifts a seedling box mounted on a transfer device and conveyed by a lift mechanism and sequentially stacks the seedling boxes from below, and a predetermined number of seedlings stacked. A loading and transferring mechanism that lifts the group of boxes together by the gripping mechanism, transports and transfers it onto the transfer mechanism that is waiting at a predetermined seedling box loading position,
The transfer mechanism includes a fork-shaped transfer support arm for placing and supporting the seedling box group transferred and transferred by the loading transfer mechanism, and the transfer support arm along the arm longitudinal direction. Arm raising / lowering driving means for moving forward / backward and raising / lowering driving means for raising / lowering the transfer support arm in parallel, and raising / raising the seedling box group placed and supported on the transfer mechanism, the parallel movement of the transfer support arm and It is characterized in that it is configured to be transferred onto a transport trolley waiting at a predetermined position by a protruding operation.

  According to the above configuration, the seedling boxes that have been carried to the stacking position of the seedling box stacking mechanism are lifted by the lift mechanism and sequentially stacked from below, and when a predetermined number of seedling boxes are stacked, the loading transfer mechanism operates. The seedling box group is then lifted together by the gripping mechanism and stacked on the transfer mechanism. When a predetermined number of seedling boxes are stacked on the transfer mechanism, the transfer support arms are raised in parallel and protrude to reach the transfer carriage waiting at a predetermined position. Next, the transfer support arm is lowered in parallel to transfer the loaded seedling box onto the transport trolley, and then the transfer support arm returns to the original loading position and is ready for subsequent loading. Prepare.

  Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the seedling box group stacked on the inheritance transfer mechanism is transferred and transferred onto the transfer trolley while being placed on the transfer support arm. Compared to a configuration in which the group is directly pressed and moved along a transport path such as a roller conveyor, less external force or vibration that causes collapse is applied to the group of seedling boxes, and the transfer support The arm can be operated relatively quickly, and the unloading processing time can be shortened. As a result, the processing capacity of the entire apparatus can be increased.

  In the nursery box stacking apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the raising and lowering drive means is configured to move the elevating frame up and down in parallel with respect to the base with a constant stroke by horizontal movement of the cam. The base end of the transfer support arm is supported on a chain which is supported on the frame so as to be horizontally movable only in the arm longitudinal direction with respect to the frame, and is wound around the base along the support arm longitudinal direction. The arm protruding drive means is configured so that the side of the arm is linked and the transfer support arm is driven forward and backward in the longitudinal direction of the arm by the rotation of the chain.

  According to the above configuration, by moving the cam horizontally to raise and lower the lifting frame parallel to the base, the transfer support arm supported by the lifting frame can be raised and lowered in parallel, and the chain can be rotated. By moving the transfer support arm, the transfer support arm can be moved back and forth in the arm longitudinal direction with respect to the elevating frame, whereby the group of seedling boxes placed on the transfer support arm is protruded and transported to the transport trolley. Can be transferred.

  Here, the chain is wound around a fixed base and is driven and rotated, and a motor for driving the chain and the like are fixedly provided on the base. A change in the vertical position of the transfer support arm to which the chain is interlocked can be absorbed by the up and down flexibility of the interlocking connection.

  In addition, it is also possible to implement the chain and its driving motor and the like on an elevating frame. However, according to this, the weight of the structure that moves up and down is increased, and a mechanism for driving the elevating cam is required. It is necessary to increase the capacity to a large size, which may cause the transfer mechanism to become large and increase the cost.However, the chain and its drive motor are installed on the base side, so the structure that moves up and down The weight of the body is reduced, and the mechanism for driving the elevating cam can be made smaller and smaller.

  Therefore, according to the second invention, it is possible to achieve the above-described effect of the first invention, and to suppress the enlargement of the inheritance transport mechanism for transferring the stacked seedling box groups on the transport trolley, thereby making it possible to inexpensively configure. Thus, it is possible to provide a seedling box stacking device excellent in practical convenience.

  In the nursery box stacking apparatus according to a third aspect, in the first aspect, the arm protruding drive means for moving the transfer supporting arm forward and backward along the arm longitudinal direction, and vertically moving the transfer supporting arm. The raising and lowering drive means is disposed above the seedling box mounting portion of the transfer support arm and is provided.

  According to the above configuration, even if soil spills from the seedling box group mounted and supported on the transfer support arm, it does not fall on the arm protruding drive means or the elevation drive means.

  Therefore, according to the third invention, the above-described effects of the first invention can be obtained, and malfunctions and failures caused by the adhesion of the spilled soil can be avoided beforehand, and a stop due to inspection and repair is forced. The stacking and unloading work can be continuously and efficiently performed without any trouble.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 32 show a first embodiment. The seedling box stacking apparatus is used in a process of stacking seedling boxes after sowing treatment in multiple stages and sending the seedling boxes to the germination facility. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the seedling boxes w are stacked in multiple stages. Receiving the seedling box stacking mechanism 1, a loading / transferring mechanism 2 that collectively lifts and transports a predetermined number of stacked seedling boxes w, and receives the seedling box group W conveyed by the loading / transferring mechanism 2, and moves the seedling box group W to a predetermined position. And a transfer mechanism 3 that transfers the data onto the transfer carriage D that is on standby.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the seedling box stacking mechanism 1 horizontally transports the seedling box w, which places the seedling box w and carries it in along the longitudinal direction of the box, and the seedling box w reaching a predetermined stacking position. And a box support mechanism 6 for receiving and supporting the seedling raising box w lifted to a predetermined height from below, and the structure of each part will be described in detail below. In the following description, the long side direction of the nursery box w is referred to as the front-back direction, and the short side direction is referred to as the left-right direction.

  The transport device 4 is configured to run a pair of right and left chains 8 driven by a motor 7 along a rail 9 and receives the seeding-treated seedling raising box w sent from the end of the seeding line 10. Place and send to stacking position. A pair of guide rods 11, 12, 13, and 14 made of a bar material are arranged in a vertical posture and attached to the apparatus frame 15 before and after the stacking position and on both left and right sides, and are sequentially stacked from below at the stacking position. A stacking path L for guiding the multi-stage seedling boxes w from front and rear and from left and right is formed.

  Here, of the guide rods 11, 12, 13, and 14 forming the stacking path L, the lower end of the guide rod 12 that is a skilled transporter is set to a height that does not hinder the passage of the nursery box w to be carried in. The lower end of the guide rod 11 on the lower side of the conveyance is set to a height that interferes with the box conveyance path so as to abut and support the front end of the seedling raising box w that has been carried in, and is slightly lower than the lower ends of the left and right guide rods 13 and 14. It is formed so as to spread downward, and can absorb a positional shift in the left-right direction at the time of carrying in. The front and rear guide rods 11 and 12 are fixed to the apparatus frame 15 assembled in a tower shape so that the front and rear positions can be adjusted, and the left guide rod 13 is also fixed to the apparatus frame 15 so that the left and right positions can be adjusted. As shown in FIG. 7, only the right guide rod 14 is slidably supported on the apparatus frame 15 to the left and right within a predetermined range via a support rod 14a, and is urged by the spring 16 toward the stacking path L. Even if the width of the nursery box w is slightly different, the difference can be absorbed.

  A box arrival sensor 17 for detecting that the seedling box w has been carried into the stacking position is provided below the back of the stacking position, and the lift mechanism 5 is activated based on the detection of the box arrival. Has become. The box arrival sensor 17 is constituted by a limit switch that operates by detecting contact with the bottom surface of the brought-in seedling raising box w. The seedling raising box w is installed in a position deviated to the lower side in the transport direction, and is brought in with the seedling box w being tilted in a plane posture, and the box front end is caught by one of the left and right guide rods 13 and 14 and stopped. In such a case, the arrival of the box is not sensed, and a situation in which the lift mechanism 5 is unduly activated in a state where the box is not properly loaded is prevented from occurring.

  Rubber dropping members 28 are provided in the front and rear of the device frame 15 so as to protrude into the stacking path. The dropping members 28 slide on the front and rear walls of the seedling raising box w which is raised by the lift mechanism 5. It is configured to contact and scrape mud and soil adhering here. In the sowing line, soil adheres not only to the front and rear walls but also to the left and right side walls of the seedling raising box w, but the soil on the left and right side walls can be easily removed with a brush or the like during transportation to the stacking position. .

  The lift mechanism 5 is configured by disposing a rotary lift member 18 on the left and right of the stacking position. The lift member 18 has a pair of front and rear arm members 20 fixedly mounted on a rotating support shaft 19 supported horizontally in the front-rear direction, and a scoop member 21 erected and fixed horizontally in the front-rear direction over three tops of the front and rear arm members 20. The left and right lift members 18 are rotated by a motor 22 at a constant pitch (120 ° pitch in this example) in opposite directions.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the scooping member 21 is formed as a hollow body that has been lowered by a sheet metal press. A convex curved surface Sa having a curvature is provided, and a box sliding guide surface Sb is continuously provided over a predetermined length on the upper side in the rotation direction of the convex curved surface Sa. The box sliding guide surface Sb is formed as a convex curved surface having a large curvature connected to the convex curved surface Sa having a small curvature, so that the entire box sliding guide surface Sb gradually moves with respect to the maximum rotation locus A of the lift member 18. Is set so as to retreat toward the rotation center side.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the box supporting mechanism 6 is provided in a pair at the left and right sides of the lower part of the stacking path L at positions separated from the front and rear of the lift member 18, and a swing arm in a standing posture. 23 is supported so as to be able to oscillate laterally around a horizontal fulcrum a at a position lower than the height at which the nursery box is carried in, and has a tapered engagement at the upper end of the oscillating arm 23 projecting toward the stacking path L side. The structure has a claw 24 attached thereto. The locking claw 24 is bolted to the swing arm 23 so as to be position-adjustable in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction. The locking claw 24 has an appropriate width in the front-rear direction, and its downward rear surface has a stacking path L. The guide surface s1 is inclined at 45 ° toward the side, and the upper surface of the locking claw 24 is formed as a horizontal box locking surface s2.

  A spring 25 is provided over the lower extending end of the swing arm 23 and the device frame 15, and the upper end of the swing arm 23 is swing-biased so as to protrude toward the stacking path L side. When the downwardly extending end of the swing arm 23 comes into contact with the contact bolt 26 provided on the apparatus frame 15, the biasing swing limit of the swing arm 23 is restricted. By adjusting the contact bolt 26 forward and backward, it is possible to adjust the limit position of the engaging claw 24 attached to the upper end of the arm into the stacking path L.

  The seedling raising box stacking mechanism 1 is configured as described above. Next, the stacking operation will be described in the order of steps based on FIGS.

  (1) As shown in FIG. 12, when the first seedling raising box w is carried into the stacking position in a state where the seedling raising box w is not supported by the box support mechanism 6, the first seedling raising box w is brought into contact with and supported by the front guide member 11. The positioning in the front-back direction is performed. At this time, the lift member 18 of the lift mechanism 5 is on standby at a position where the one scooping member 21 has entered the lower left and right of the box moving path.

  (2) As shown in FIG. 13, when the box arrival to the stacking position is detected by the box arrival sensor 17, the motor 22 is started, and the left and right lift members 18 are rotated in synchronism with each other in the opposite directions. The nursery box w at the stacking position is lifted horizontally so as to be picked up by the scooping members 21 of the left and right lift members 18.

  (3) When the seedling raising box w is lifted, the outer edges at the upper left and right sides thereof are brought into contact with the obliquely downward guide surface S1 of the left and right locking claws 24 of the box supporting mechanism 6 which stands by at the position where it enters the stacking path L. As the outer edge of the seedling raising box w rises while being in sliding contact with the guide surface S1 of the locking claw 24, the locking claw 24 is moved backward and laterally outward against the spring 25.

  (4) When the raised seedling raising box w passes through the locking claw 24, as shown in FIG. 14, the locking claw 24 returns to the stacking path L side together with the swing arm 23, and the locking claw 24 is raised. It goes under the box w. Thereafter, the lift member 18 is further rotated and detached from the seedling raising box w, and the seedling raising box w released from the support by the lift member 18 is received and supported by the box locking surfaces s2 of the left and right locking claws 24.

  In this case, in the stacking operation, the rotating left and right scooping members 21 smoothly scoop up the seedling raising box w at the tip portion formed on the convex curved surface Sa having a small curvature and lift the seedling raising box to the highest position. The corner portion rides on the sliding guide surface Sb, and with the continued rotation of the scooping member 21, the seedling raising box w relatively slides down along the sliding guide surface Sb, and returns to the stacking diameter L road side. It is received and supported by the 24 box locking surfaces s2 with little impact.

  (5) The next box is carried in while the seedling box w is being lifted, and once stopped when the lift member 18 rotates one pitch (120 °), the next seedling box w is carried into the stacking position. When it is confirmed that the lifting operation has been performed, the lift member 18 is driven to rotate again, and the next box lifting operation is performed as described above.

  (6) In lifting the second and subsequent boxes, as shown in FIG. 15, the locking claws 24 that receive and support the upper seedling raising box w are moved backward with the lifting of the lower seedling raising box w. The lower seedling box w is stacked below the upper seedling box w.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 11, a vertical rib 27 is formed for reinforcement on the outer surface of the seedling raising box w, and the locking claw 24 is set on the swing arm 23 so as to face the vertical rib 27. Installed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 16, even if the locking claw 24 comes off from the bottom of the upper seedling raising box w, the locking claw 24 acts on the vertical rib 27, so that the upper seedling raising box w does not immediately fall. Instead, the distance between the upper and lower seedling raising boxes w gradually decreases as the locking claws 24 move backward, and the boxes are stacked without impact.

  (8) Thereafter, by sequentially performing the above operations, a large number (10 in this example) of seedling boxes w can be sequentially stacked from below, and a predetermined number of stacked seedling boxes w are loaded and transferred. It is carried out by the loading mechanism 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 17 to 25, the loading / transferring mechanism 2 includes a gripping mechanism 31 that collectively lifts a predetermined number of seedling boxes w stacked by the seedling box stacking mechanism 1, and a stacking position of the gripping mechanism 31. And a loading / conveying mechanism 32 which reciprocates left and right between the loading position and the loading position distant to the lateral side. The structure of each part will be described in detail below. Also in this description, the long side direction of the seedling raising box w is referred to as the front-back direction and the short side direction is referred to as the left-right direction, as in the previous description.

  The loading / conveying mechanism 32 includes a pair of front and rear long rails 33 attached to the upper end of the device frame 15, a carrier frame 34 movably mounted left and right along the rails 33, and is provided on the upper portion of the device frame 15. A belt 35 wound around and parallel to one of the rails 33 is connected to the belt 36 by rotating the belt 36 forward and backward by the motor 35. The transport frame 34 is reciprocated right and left.

  A pair of front and rear bosses 37 are provided on the transfer frame 34, and an elevating frame 39 is connected to lower ends of a pair of guide shafts 38 slidably inserted into the bosses 37. The elevating frame 39 is suspended and connected to a chain 41 wound around a large-diameter sprocket 40 provided on the carrier frame 34, and the elevating frame 39 is driven by the motor 42 driving the sprocket 40 forward and reverse. The guide is raised and lowered in parallel with a large stroke. The lifting frame 39 is also provided with a pair of front and rear bosses 43. The boss 43 is vertically slidably inserted into each boss 43 within a certain small range, and the gripping mechanism 31 is provided at the lower end of the guide shaft 44 which is prevented from dropping by the stopper 44a. Are connected.

  The gripping mechanism 31 includes a support frame 51 connected to the lower end of the guide shaft 44, a support arm 52 extending downward from the front and rear ends of the support frame 51, and front and rear attached to the left and right sides of the support arm 52. It is composed of a pair of gripping arms 53, etc., and is attached to the lower ends of the front and rear gripping arms 53 to protrude inward in a state where the stacked seedling raising boxes w are housed between the front and rear supporting arms 52. The support claws 54 receive the seedling box group W from below and support it.

  The front and rear support arms 52 function as box support members for supporting the stacked seedling box groups W from front and rear, and are configured to be wide in the lateral direction.

  The grip arm 53 is connected and fixed to a support shaft 55 that is rotatably inserted around a horizontal fulcrum b above the support arm 52, and an operation arm portion 53 a extends upward from the grip arm 53. . The operation arm portion 53a is interlockedly connected to both ends of a drive arm 56 provided on the support frame 51 via rods 57. The arm 53 swings back and forth to open and close, and the support claw 54 is driven to move back and forth.

  The front and rear support arms 52 are provided with a pair of vertically long alignment members 60 supported by a pair of upper and lower parallel quad links 59, respectively, and the parallel quad links 59 are driven by the air cylinder 61. Thus, the positioning member 60 is configured to open and close in parallel between an action position for pressing the corner of the seedling box group W and a retreat position upward and away from the corner of the seedling box group W. Have been.

  The loading / transferring mechanism 2 is configured as described above. Next, the loading operation will be described in the order of stroke.

  (1) While the seedling box stacking mechanism 1 is performing the seedling box stacking process, the transport frame 34 is located above the seedling box stacking mechanism 1, and the gripping mechanism 31 is in a state where the support claws 54 are opened. It is lowered to the height of and is waiting. At this time, the support claws 54 are at the lowest position where they can enter the lower part of the seedling raising box w.

  (2) When it is confirmed by the counting means that the stacking of a predetermined number (ten in this example) is completed, the gripping arm 53 that has been opened and swung is closed and swung, and the holding arm 53 is moved forward and backward below the seedling raising box group W. The support claws 54 are inserted.

  (3) Next, the lifting frame 39 is driven up and the gripping mechanism 31 holding the seedling box group W is raised above the seedling box stacking mechanism 1. In this case, the distal ends of the projecting arms 51 a of the support frame 51 in the gripping mechanism 31 are abutted and supported on the lower ends of four receiving members 45 provided on the movable frame 34 via the contact rubber 46. Thus, the gripping mechanism 31 is stably held without swinging (see FIGS. 20 and 21).

  (4) When the nursery box group W is lifted, the movable underframe 34 travels to a predetermined loading position and stops, and the gripping mechanism 31 is lowered.

  (5) The transfer mechanism 3 is provided at the loading position, and the seedling raising box group W held by the holding mechanism 31 is placed on the receiving frame 71 of the transfer mechanism 3. In this case, the positioning member 60 is first retracted outward and upward near the receiving frame 71. Then, even if the seedling box group W is placed on the receiving frame 71, the lowering of the elevating frame 39 is still continued, and the supporting frame 51 cannot be lowered by the contact of the supporting claw 54 with the receiving frame 71. The lifting frame 39 descends.

  Here, a detection piece 63 made of an iron plate is erected on the support frame 51, and a proximity switch 64 for the detection piece 63 is provided on the elevating frame 39. When the distance between the two frames 51 and 39 approaches the set value or less, the proximity switch 64 detects the detection piece 63, thereby detecting the landing of the seedling box group W and stopping the lowering of the lifting frame 39. (See FIG. 22).

  (6) Next, the gripping arm 53 is opened and the support claws 54 at the lower end thereof are pulled out from under the seedling box group W, and the seedling box group W is transferred onto the receiving frame 71. In this case, the dragging movement of the seedling raising box w accompanying withdrawal of the support claws 54 is prevented and received by the wide support arm 52, and the seedling raising box group W is loaded into the receiving frame 71 while maintaining a predetermined stacked state.

  (7) When the loading of the seedling box group W into the receiving frame 71 is completed, the gripping mechanism 31 is raised to above the transferred seedling box group W, and is returned to the origin position above the stacking position, The gripping mechanism 31 is lowered to the initial lifting height, whereby one loading / transfer process is completed.

  (8) In this example, the loading of 10 seedlings is performed three times, and 30 seedling raising boxes w are loaded in the receiving frame 71 for convenience. In the second and third loadings, the positioning member 60 in the closed position is applied to the corner of the seedling box group W (1) or W (2) loaded earlier, so that the next loading is performed. The second-stage seedling box group W (2) or the third-stage seedling box group W (3) that has been transported to the lower seedling box group W (1), W (2) Can be stacked. Also in the second and third loading, after the seedling box group W grasped by the grasping mechanism 31 is placed on the seedling box group W at the lower stage and cannot be lowered, the lifting frame 39 is accommodated. The proximity switch 64 detects the further fall in the range by the set amount as described above, whereby the landing of the seedling raising box group W is sensed, and the lowering of the elevating frame 39 is stopped, and the next operation is performed. .

  (9) When the loading of the three-stage (30) seedling raising boxes is completed at two places on the left and right sides of the receiving frame 71, the transfer mechanism 3 starts to operate, and the transfer support arm 72 is moved up and down in parallel and protruding. Then, the nursery box group is transferred onto the transport trolley D waiting at a predetermined position. The transfer to the transport trolley D is performed twice while shifting the position of the trolley, and when the transfer of the four blocks to the transport trolley D is completed, the transport trolley D is unloaded from the transfer position, and is then transferred to the germination facility by manual pushing. It is being done.

  Next, a detailed structure of the transfer mechanism 3 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The transfer mechanism 3 includes a base 70 fixedly mounted on the floor surface, the receiving frame 71 fixedly and horizontally disposed at three front and rear positions above the base 70, and supported so as to be movable up and down in parallel with the base 70. A pair of front and rear elevating frames 72 are provided, and a transfer support arm 73 supported movably in the horizontal and horizontal directions with respect to the elevating frames 72.

  Legs 72a extend downward to the left and right of the lifting frame 72, and the legs 72a are vertically slidably inserted and supported by a pair of left and right guides 74 fixedly provided on the base side. An elevating frame 72 is supported so as to be able to elevate and lower in parallel. A roller 75 is provided at a lower end of the leg 72a, and a cam 76 for receiving the left and right rollers 75 is connected to and supported by a support plate 77. The support plate 77 is provided with three rollers 78 along the left-right direction, and these rollers 78 are rotatably guided along rails 79 mounted horizontally on the base 70 in the left-right direction. ing. Further, the support plate 77 is connected to an air cylinder 80 fixed to the base 70, and the cam 76 is moved horizontally by moving the support plate 77 horizontally by the expansion and contraction of the air cylinder 80. Is to be moved to.

  The cam 76 has an outwardly rising inclined cam surface c, and when the support plate 77 is moved to the left in the drawing, the roller 75 follows the lower portion of the inclined cam surface c to move up and down. When the support plate 77 is moved rightward in the drawing, the roller 75 is pushed up to the high portion of the inclined cam surface c, and the roller 75 is moved downward to a position lower than the receiving frame 71. The elevating frame 72 rises in parallel to a position higher than the receiving frame 71.

  The transfer support arm 73 has a pair of front and rear arm bodies 73a made of a U-shaped channel material and has a seedling box receiving portion 73b attached thereto, and a cantilevered fork shape having the base side of the arm body 73a connected by a stay 73c ". The base end side of the arm main body 73a is guided and supported by two sets of upper and lower guide rollers 81 disposed one by one near the lateral outer side of the elevating frame 72, so that the transfer support arm 73 is Guided by the guide rollers 81, it can move horizontally left and right.

  A drive sprocket 83 rotatably driven by a motor 82 and a corresponding idle sprocket 84 are rotatably supported on the left and right of the front and rear central portion of the base, and a chain 85 extends across these sprockets 83 and 84. It is wound and mounted in a vertical position. Then, a comb-shaped connecting metal member 86 fixed to the base end stay 73c of the transfer support arm 73 is engaged and connected to an upper portion of the vertically wound chain 85 so as to be relatively vertically movable. The transfer support arm 73 is configured to move right and left by moving the chain 85 in the forward and reverse directions.

  The transfer mechanism 3 is configured as described above, and its operation will be described below.

  In the loading process, the transfer support arm 73 is waiting to retreat below the receiving frame 71, and the loading operation is performed on the receiving frame 71 a predetermined number of times as described above.

  When a predetermined number (30) of the seedling raising boxes w are stacked at two places on the left and right sides of the receiving frame 71, first, the cam 76 is driven horizontally by the air cylinder 80, and the elevating frame 72 is raised in parallel to the retreat position. A transfer support arm 73 is raised to lift the seedling raising box group W on the receiving frame 71 in parallel.

  Next, the chain 85 is driven and rotated, and the transfer support arm 73 horizontally protrudes and moves laterally outward with the seedling box group W placed thereon.

  When the transfer support arm 73 that has been protruded has arrived at the first half of the transporting carrier D on standby, the cam 76 is horizontally driven in the opposite direction by the air cylinder 80, and the elevating frame 72 is lowered in parallel. When the transfer support arm 73 is lowered below the mounting surface of the transport trolley D, the two blocks of seedling box groups W are transferred to the transport trolley D.

  Thereafter, the chain 85 is driven and rotated in the opposite direction, and the transfer support arm 73 passes through the carrier D and retreats horizontally, returns to the standby position below the receiving frame 71, and prepares for the next loading.

  When the first transfer to the transport trolley D is completed, the transport trolley D is moved forward by a predetermined distance, the next transfer is performed on the latter half of the transport trolley D, and the transport trolley D has four blocks for convenience. (120) nursery boxes will be placed.

  As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the transport trolley D used here is configured to have a size capable of placing the seedling raising box w at four positions in front, rear, left and right, and a support frame 88 for preventing falling. A guide rod 89 is provided upright, and caster wheels 90 are provided at four corners, and can be manually pushed in any direction with handles 91 attached to the front and rear of a support frame 88.

  Left and right rails 93 for guiding the carriage D to the transfer position are laid on the laterally outer floor of the transfer mechanism 3, and guide rails are supplied between the left and right rails 93. A carriage transport mechanism 94 is provided for feeding the transport carrier D to the transfer position, adjusting the position according to the transfer operation, and sending the vehicle forward when the transfer is completed.

  The carriage transport mechanism 94 is configured to drive a chain 95 wound vertically and horizontally horizontally by a motor 96, and includes a locking piece 97 attached to an appropriate position of the chain 95 at the front end of the carriage D. It is configured to engage the receiving piece 98 from behind and feed it forward.

[Another embodiment]
The first embodiment can be implemented in the following modes.

  (1) As a means for driving the support plate 77 provided with the cam 76 horizontally in the left and right direction, in addition to using the air cylinder 80 as described above, a screw feed mechanism driven by an electric motor can also be used.

  (2) In the above embodiment, the base end of the transfer support arm 73 and the upper end of the chain 85 are used as means for interlocking the base end of the transfer support arm 73 that is moved up and down with the chain 85. Are engaged and connected via a comb-like connecting fitting 86, but the base end stay 73c and the chain 85 are connected so as not to be able to move up and down relatively, and the up and down movement of the transfer support arm 73 is changed to the chain. It is also possible to absorb with a slack of 85.

  33 to 39 show a second embodiment. As in the first embodiment, the seedling box stacking device includes a seedling box stacking mechanism 1 for stacking seedling boxes w in multiple stages, and a loading transfer for collectively lifting and transporting a predetermined number of stacked seedling boxes w. A transfer mechanism 3 is provided that receives the seedling box group W conveyed by the loading and transferring mechanism 2 and transfers the seedling raising box group W onto a conveying trolley D waiting at a predetermined position.

  Since the nursery box stacking mechanism 1 and the loading / transferring mechanism 2 in this example are the same as those in the first embodiment, the same members or the same functional parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. The description is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, the transfer mechanism 3 in this example includes a receiving table 100 fixedly mounted on the floor surface, and a pair of front and rear members disposed in parallel with the left and right moving rails 33 of the gripping mechanism 31. A rail 101, a movable base 102 supported to be horizontally movable left and right along the rail 101, a lifting frame 103 supported to be movable up and down with respect to the movable base 102, and a pair of front and rear mounted and supported by the lifting frame 103 A transfer support arm 73 and the like are provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 34 and 37, the movable base 102 is formed in an inverted L shape when viewed in the front-rear direction, and a guide roller 104 provided on an upper side 102a thereof is attached to the rail 101 as shown in FIG. By being engaged from two orthogonal directions, the movable table 102 is suspended and supported on the rail 101 so as to be able to move horizontally and horizontally.

  A chain 107 is wound around a driving sprocket 105 and a driven sprocket 106 supported on left and right portions of the rail 33, and this chain is connected to both left and right ends of the movable base 102 and is disposed at an end of the rail 33. The motor 108 and the driving sprocket 106 are linked with a chain, and the motor 108 is driven in the normal and reverse directions to rotate the chain 107 in the normal and reverse directions, so that the movable table 102 is reciprocated right and left.

  As shown in FIG. 36, a pair of upper and lower guide rollers 109 provided before and after the elevating frame 103 are engaged with and supported by the vertical side portions 102b of the movable base 102, so that the elevating frame 103 can move up and down in the extension direction. The lifting frame 103 is supported by a pair of front and rear chains 110 with respect to a stay 102c provided on the vertical side portion 102b of the movable base 102.

  The stay 102c is provided with a pair of front and rear sprockets 111 around which the chain 110 is wound and connected, and is equipped with a motor 112 that is linked to the sprocket 111 by a chain. The motor 112 is driven to drive the sprocket 111. The forward / backward rotation causes the lifting frame 103 to be driven up and down. The motor 112 and the driving mechanism around it are protected by a cover 113.

  As shown in FIGS. 34 and 37, the transfer support arm 73 is formed in an L-shape when viewed in the front-rear direction. The transfer support arm 73 is cantilevered horizontally by being pivotally connected so as to be freely swingable about the center, and by contacting a contact bolt 114 provided below the vertical side to the outer surface of the lifting frame 103. It is held in a posture.

  The inheritance transport mechanism 3 of this example is configured as described above, and its operation will be described below.

  In the loading step, the transfer support arm 73 is lowered from the upper surface of the pedestal 100 to a standby height where it is immersed, and a predetermined number of loading operations are performed on the pedestal 100 as described above.

  When a predetermined number (30) of seedling raising boxes w are stacked on the cradle 100, first, the motor 112 is driven to raise the elevating frame 103 in parallel, and the transfer support arm 73 is moved from the standby position to the cradle 100. The seedling raising box group W on the cradle 100 is lifted in parallel to a predetermined height slightly higher than that.

  Next, the motor 108 is driven to rotate forward to move the movable base 102 laterally outward, and the transfer support arm 73 horizontally moves laterally outward with the seedling raising box group W placed thereon. Protrude and move.

  When the transfer support arm 73 that has been protruded has arrived at the first half portion of the waiting transport vehicle D, the transfer support arm 73 descends below the mounting surface of the transport vehicle D, and The nursery box group W of the blocks is transferred to the transport cart D.

  Thereafter, as the movable table 102 retreats, the transfer support arm 73 passes through the transport vehicle D and retreats horizontally, returns to the standby position where it is immersed in the receiving table 100, and then onto the receiving table 100. The next loading is performed.

  When the next predetermined number (30) of seedling boxes w are stacked on the receiving table 100, the transfer support arm 73 is raised in the same manner as described above, and then moves onto the transport vehicle D. At the time of the second loading, the movable base 102 moves to a position closer to the front than the first loading, and the second loading is performed next to the seedling box group W transferred at the first loading.

  When the transfer to the transport trolley D is completed twice, the transport trolley D is moved forward by a predetermined distance, and the transfer is performed twice on the rear half portion of the transport trolley D. A group of seedling boxes of blocks (120 sheets) will be placed.

Overall plan view of the seedling box stacking device in the first example Side view of the seedling box stacking device viewed from the unloading side Front view of the entire seedling box stacking device A perspective view showing the flow of the nursery box Top view of seedling box stacking mechanism Side view of seedling box stacking mechanism Front view of seedling box stacking mechanism Side view (a) and plan view (b) showing the soil removal means of the seedling box stacking mechanism Front view of lift member Side view of lift member Perspective view of nursery box Front view showing the stacking operation of the seedling box stacking mechanism Front view showing the stacking operation of the seedling box stacking mechanism Front view showing the stacking operation of the seedling box stacking mechanism Front view showing the stacking operation of the seedling box stacking mechanism Front view showing main part of stacking operation Side view of loading / conveying mechanism Side view showing the loading and transporting mechanism with the nursery box gripped Front view of loading / conveying mechanism Front view showing the loading and transporting mechanism with the nursery box gripped Plan view showing the main part of the loading / conveying mechanism Side view showing the loading transport mechanism in the seedling box loading operation state Side view showing the seedling box gripping part of the loading and conveying mechanism Front view showing the nursery box gripper of the loading and transporting mechanism Cross-sectional plan view showing the nursery box gripping part of the loading and conveying mechanism Plan view of the transfer mechanism Side view of the transfer mechanism with the receiving frame lowered Side view of the transfer mechanism with the receiving frame raised Front view of the transfer mechanism with the receiving frame lowered Front view of the transfer mechanism with the receiving frame raised Front view of the transfer mechanism with the receiving frame extended and moved Side view of the inheritance point with the receiving frame protruding and moving Overall plan view of the seedling box stacking device in the second example Front view of the entire seedling box stacking device The perspective view which shows the flow of the nursery box in the 2nd example Side view of the transfer mechanism with the transfer support arm lowered Front view of inherited transport state Plan view of the transfer mechanism Side view of arm protrusion drive means

Explanation of reference numerals

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 seedling box stacking mechanism 2 loading / transferring mechanism 3 transfer mechanism 4 transfer device 5 lift mechanism 31 gripping mechanism 70 base 72 elevating frame 73 transfer support arm 76 cam 85 chain w seedling box W seedling box group D transporting cart

Claims (3)

A seedling box stacking mechanism that lifts a seedling box placed and conveyed on a transfer device by a lifting mechanism and sequentially stacks the seedling boxes from below, and a predetermined number of stacked seedling box groups are lifted together by a gripping mechanism. A loading and transferring mechanism for transferring and transferring onto a transfer mechanism that is waiting at the seedling box loading position of
The transfer mechanism includes a fork-shaped transfer support arm for placing and supporting the seedling box group transferred and transferred by the loading transfer mechanism, and the transfer support arm along the arm longitudinal direction. Arm raising / lowering driving means for moving forward / backward and raising / lowering driving means for raising / lowering the transfer support arm in parallel, and raising / raising the seedling box group placed and supported on the transfer mechanism, the parallel movement of the transfer support arm and A seedling box stacking device characterized in that it is configured to be transferred onto a carrier cart waiting at a predetermined position by a protruding operation.   The elevating drive means is configured to vertically elevate the elevating frame by a constant stroke with respect to the base by the horizontal movement of the cam, and the transferring support arm is horizontally moved only in the arm longitudinal direction with respect to the elevating frame. The transfer support arm is connected to a chain wound around the base side along the longitudinal direction of the support arm, and the base end side of the transfer support arm is operatively connected to the chain. The seedling box stacking device according to claim 1, wherein the arm protruding drive means is configured to be driven forward and backward in the longitudinal direction of the arm. The arm raising drive means for moving the transfer support arm forward and backward along the arm longitudinal direction, and the elevating drive means for moving the transfer support arm up and down in parallel, placing the seedling box on the transfer support arm 2. The seedling raising box stacking device according to claim 1, wherein the seedling raising box stacking device is disposed above the section.

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