JP2009035361A - Seedling culture box transporting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a seedling culture box transporting device capable of efficiently moving seedling culture boxes between a seedling culture box delivery section or a seedling culture box receiving section and a transporting carriage. <P>SOLUTION: This seedling culture box transporting device comprises a movable transporting carriage 6 and an auxiliary transporting carriage 150 capable of moving between a seedling culture box delivery section 5 or a seedling culture box receiving section 165 and the transporting carriage 6, and is structured to move seedling culture boxes C between the seedling culture box delivery section 5 or the seedling culture box receiving section 165 and the transporting carriage 6 with the auxiliary transporting carriage 150. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a seedling box transport apparatus including a movable transport cart and a seedling box delivery unit or a seedling box receiving unit.

  As a conventional technique, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a seedling box group (G in FIG. 2 of Patent Document 1) stacked by a stacking and laminating apparatus (9 in FIG. 2 of Patent Document 1), A seeding plant configured to be transported downstream by a front conveyor and a rear conveyor (10A and 10B in FIG. 3 of Patent Document 1) and to be moved by a transport cart (12 in FIG. 3 of Patent Document 1) is known. ing.

JP-A-7-123809 (see FIGS. 2 and 3)

  In Patent Literature 1, the nursery box group that has been transported near the transport carriage by the front conveyor and the rear conveyor has been manually transferred by the operator from the downstream end of the front conveyor to the transport carriage several steps at a time. It is thought that it took a lot of labor and time to transfer the seedling box from the downstream end of the front conveyor to the transport cart. As a result, there is room for improvement in order to lightly reduce the labor of workers and to efficiently move the nursery box.

In addition, for example, if the seedling boxes are stacked too high by the stacking and laminating apparatus, it becomes difficult to transfer the seedling boxes from the downstream end of the front conveyor to the transport carriage, so that it exceeds the reach of the operator's hand. It was difficult to stack nursery boxes. As a result, there was room for improvement from the viewpoint of efficiently moving the nursery box.
An object of this invention is to implement | achieve the seedling box conveyance apparatus which can perform the movement of a seedling box between a seedling box delivery part or a seedling box receiving part, and a conveyance trolley efficiently.

[I]
(Constitution)
The first feature of the present invention is that the seedling box transporting device is configured as follows.
A movable carriage, and a nursery box delivery section or a seedling box receiving section and an auxiliary conveyance carriage that can move between the carriage and
The seedling box is configured to be movable between the nursery box delivery unit or the seedling box receiving unit and the transport cart by the auxiliary transport cart.

(Function)
According to the first feature of the present invention, the seedling box of the seedling box transfer section can be moved to the transport cart by the auxiliary transport cart, or the seedling box of the transport cart can be moved to the seedling box receiving section by the auxiliary transport cart. Can do. As a result, for example, it is not necessary to manually transfer the nursery box several stages at a time, and the nursery box can be easily and quickly moved between the nursery box delivery unit or the nursery box receiving unit and the transport carriage. it can.

  According to the first feature of the present invention, it is difficult to limit the stacking height of the seedling box to be moved by the auxiliary transport carriage, for example, even if it is a seedling box stacked high beyond the reach of the operator's hand, It can be moved between the nursery box delivery section or the seedling box receiving section and the transport cart. As a result, a large number of seedling boxes can be moved at once by the auxiliary transport cart.

(The invention's effect)
According to the 1st characteristic of this invention, an operator's labor can be reduced and the moving operation | work of a seedling box can be performed efficiently.

[II]
(Constitution)
The second feature of the present invention resides in the following configuration in the nursery box transport device of the first feature of the present invention.
A connection mechanism capable of connecting the nursery box delivery section or the seedling box receiving section and the transport cart in a state where the transport cart is connected to the seedling box delivery section or the seedling box receiving section.

(Function)
According to the second feature of the present invention, the “action” described in the preceding item [I] is provided in the same manner as the first feature of the present invention, and in addition to this, the following “action” is provided.
According to the 2nd characteristic of this invention, the conveyance trolley in the state connected to the seedling box delivery part or the seedling box acceptance part can be connected with a seedling box delivery part or a seedling box acceptance part by a connection mechanism. As a result, when the nursery box is moved between the nursery box delivery unit or the nursery box receiving unit and the transport cart, the nursery box delivery unit or the nursery box receiving unit and the transport cart can be prevented from being separated, and the nursery box delivery is performed. It is not necessary to hold the transport carriage so that the transport carriage is not separated from the section or the seedling box receiving section.

(The invention's effect)
According to the second feature of the present invention, the “effect of the invention” described in the preceding item [I] is provided in the same manner as the first feature of the present invention. In addition, the following “effect of the invention” is provided. ing.
According to the 2nd characteristic of this invention, an operator's labor can further be reduced and the movement operation of a seedling box can be performed still more efficiently.

[III]
(Constitution)
The third feature of the present invention resides in the following configuration in the nursery box transport device of the first feature or the second feature of the present invention.
A positioning mechanism is provided for positioning the position of the transport cart with respect to the nursery box delivery section or the seedling box receiving section.

(Function)
According to the third feature of the present invention, the “action” described in the preceding item [I] [II] is provided in the same manner as the first feature or the second feature of the present invention. Is provided.
According to the third feature of the present invention, the positioning mechanism can easily and quickly position the transport carriage with respect to the seedling box delivery section or the seedling box receiving section, and transports to the seedling box delivery section or the seedling box receiving section. The carriage can be accurately positioned. As a result, it is possible to improve the workability of the positioning operation of the transport cart with respect to the nursery box delivery unit or the seedling box receiving unit.

(The invention's effect)
According to the third feature of the present invention, the “effect of the invention” described in the preceding paragraphs [I] and [II] is provided in the same manner as the first feature or the second feature of the present invention. “Effect of the invention” is provided.
According to the third feature of the present invention, the labor of the operator can be further reduced, and the moving operation of the nursery box can be performed more efficiently.

[IV]
(Constitution)
A fourth feature of the present invention resides in the following configuration in the nursery box transfer device according to any one of the first to third features of the present invention.
A lifting prevention mechanism is provided that prevents the transfer cart from being lifted when the nursery box is moved between the nursery box transfer unit or the nursery box receiving unit and the transfer cart.

(Function)
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the “action” described in the preceding paragraphs [I], [II], and [III] is provided in the same manner as any one of the first to third characteristics of the present invention. In addition, it has the following “actions”.
According to the fourth feature of the present invention, when the nursery box is moved between the nursery box delivery unit or the nursery box receiving unit and the transport cart by the lifting prevention mechanism, the transport cart is lifted by the weight of the seedling box. Can be prevented. As a result, the nursery box can be moved between the nursery box delivery unit or the nursery box receiving unit and the transport carriage in a stable state.

(The invention's effect)
According to the fourth feature of the present invention, the “effect of the invention” described in the preceding paragraphs [I], [II], and [III] is provided as in any one of the first feature to the third feature of the present invention. In addition, the following “effects of the invention” are provided.
According to the 4th characteristic of this invention, an operator's labor can further be reduced and the moving operation | work of a seedling box can be performed still more efficiently.

[Overall structure of seedling raising device]
Based on FIGS. 1-3, the whole structure of the seedling raising apparatus 1 is demonstrated. FIG. 1 shows an overall layout plan view of the seedling raising device 1, and FIGS. 2 and 3 show an overall side view and an overall plan view of the seedling raising device 1, respectively. In the following description, except for the description of the transport cart 6 and the auxiliary transport cart 150 described later, the left side of the paper in FIG. 1 (the transport downstream side of the seedling box C) is displayed as the front, and the right side of the paper in FIG. The upstream side of the nursery box C) is displayed as rear. Moreover, the upper side of the paper surface in FIG. 1 (right side with respect to the conveyance direction of the seedling box C) is displayed as the right side, and the lower side of the paper surface in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the seedling raising device 1 stacks the seedling box 2 that piles up the seedling box C on the seedling box C and sowing the seedling box C that is conveyed from the seeding machine 2. The apparatus 3, the roller conveyor 4 that conveys the seedling box C stacked by the seedling box stacking apparatus 3 to the downstream side, the nursery box delivery unit 5 that delivers the seedling box C from the roller conveyor 4 to the transport carriage 6, and the seedling box A transport cart 6 that transports the seedling box C from the delivery unit 5 to the seedling container 7 and a seedling container 7 that seeds seeds seeded in the seedling box C are configured. Thus, by separating the part for stacking the seedling box C and the part for transporting the seedling box C, the structure of the whole seedling apparatus 1 can be simplified, and the seedling apparatus 1 is compact and low cost. Can be configured.

  By a control device (not shown) connected to the seedling box stacking device 3 or the like, the seedling box C that has been automatically conveyed to the seedling box stacking device 3 via the roller conveyor 2a connected to the seeding machine 2, The nursery box stacking device 3 automatically stacks the seedling boxes C stacked by the seedling box stacking device 3 and automatically conveys them to the roller conveyor 4. The seedling box is manually transferred from the roller conveyor 4 to the seedling box delivery unit 5. Move C. Then, the nursery box C transported to the nursery box delivery section 5 is manually transferred to the transport cart 6, and the transport cart 6 with the seedling box C is transported to the nursery device 7 by human power. It is comprised so that it may set to the seedling raising device 7 from the conveyance trolley | bogie 6. FIG.

[Overall configuration of nursery box stacking device]
Based on FIGS. 4-10, the whole structure is demonstrated to the seedling box stacking apparatus 3. FIG. FIG. 4 shows an overall side view of the seedling box stacking device 3. 5 shows a cross-sectional plan view at the position XX in FIG. 4, and FIGS. 6 and 7 show cross-sectional views of the upstream portion and the downstream portion at the position Y-Y in FIG. 4, respectively. Show. FIG. 8 shows a side view of the lower part of the front part of the seedling box stacking device 3, and FIGS. 9 and 10 show longitudinal rear views of the rear part and the front part of the upstream-side transport conveyor 11, respectively.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the seedling box stacking device 3 is connected to the main body frame 10 from the upstream side conveyor 11 and the upstream side conveyor 11 for conveying the seedling box C from the seeder 2 to the downstream side. A seedling box stacking mechanism 12 that transports the seedling box C upward, forward, and downward in an inverted U shape to stack the seedling box C, and a downstream that transports the seedling box C stacked by the seedling box stacking mechanism 12 to the downstream side The upstream conveyor 11 functions as a seedling box receiving portion of the seedling box stacking device 3, and the downstream conveyor 13 is a seedling box of the seedling box stacking device 3. It is comprised so that it may function as a stacking part.

  The main body frame 10 includes a base frame 14 and a frame-like frame 15 erected from the base frame 14. The base frame 14 is provided across the left and right main frames 14a that are long in the front-rear direction, the front horizontal frame 14b provided across the front ends of the left and right main frames 14a, and the rear ends of the left and right main frames 14a. And a rear horizontal frame 14c. The front horizontal frame 14b is formed in a U-shape that opens downward, and a free front caster 16 that is rotatable about a vertical axis on the lower surface side of both left and right ends of the front horizontal frame 14b. Is installed. The rear horizontal frame 14c is formed in a U-shape that opens downward, and fixed rear casters 17 are mounted on the lower surface sides of the left and right ends of the rear horizontal frame 14c.

  The frame-shaped frame 15 includes left and right front vertical frames 15 a erected from the front end portion of the base frame 14, a middle vertical frame 15 b erected from the front and rear center portions of the base frame 14, and a rear end portion of the base frame 14. A rear vertical frame 15c standing from the front, a front vertical frame 15a, a middle vertical frame 15b, and an upper frame 15d fixed to the upper end of the rear vertical frame 15c.

  Adjustable bolts 18 are provided on both the left and right side portions of the front horizontal frame 14b and the left and right side portions of the rear horizontal frame 14c so that the vertical position can be adjusted. And the rear casters 16 and 17 can be supported and moved, and the nursery box stacking device 3 is moved and the adjustment bolt 18 is adjusted to support the nursery box stacking device 3 by the adjusting bolt 18 and stack the seedling boxes. The apparatus 3 can be held so as not to move to a predetermined place.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 8, the upstream conveyor 11 includes a left and right conveyor frame 20, a plurality of conveyor rollers 21 that are rotatably supported across the left and right conveyor frames 20, and an upstream An electric first conveyance motor 22 that rotationally drives the side conveyance conveyor 11 is provided.

  A motor bracket 23 is fixed to the lower part of the conveyor frame 20 located on the left side of the conveyance roller 21 located on the most upstream side, and a first conveyance motor 22 incorporating a speed reducer on the left side of the motor bracket 23. Is fixed. The first transport motor 22 is linked to the left end portion of the transport roller 21 located on the most upstream side via a coupling, and when the first transport motor 22 is rotated by the output from the control device, the most upstream side. It is comprised so that the conveyance roller 21 located in may rotate. The plurality of transport rollers 21 are interlocked and connected via the chain transmission mechanism 24 to the transport roller 21 located on the most upstream side that is interlocked and connected to the first transport motor 22, and when the first transport motor 22 is driven to rotate. The plurality of transport rollers 21 are configured to work together.

  The conveyance roller 21 is configured by externally fixing a cylindrical roller 21a divided into two on the left and right sides to a shaft 21b, and a groove having irregularities is formed in the longitudinal direction of the outer peripheral surface of the roller 21a. Thereby, the unevenness | corrugation of the outer peripheral surface of the roller 21a engages with the lower surface side of the seedling box C, and the conveyance capability of the conveyance roller 21 can be improved.

  The left and right rear guide members 25, the left and right center guide members 26, and the left and right front guide members 27 can be adjusted in the left and right directions at the rear end, front and rear center and front ends of the left and right conveyor frames 20, respectively. The seedling box C from the seeding machine 2 can be guided to the left and right central sides by the guide members 25, 26, and 27. Since the rear guide member 25, the center guide member 26, and the left and right front guide members 27 are attached so that their positions can be adjusted in the left-right direction, for example, even if the kind and size of the seedling box C are different. By changing and adjusting the positions of the rear guide member 25, the center guide member 26, and the left and right front guide members 27 according to the type and size of the seedling box C, the receiving width of the seedling box C is changed. Can accept.

  The rear end portions of the left and right rear guide members 25, the rear end portions of the left and right center guide members 26, and the rear end portions of the left and right front guide members 27 are each formed by bending outward in a plan view. Guide portions 25a, 26a, and 27a having bent shapes are formed, and the seedling box C from the seeding machine 2 can be guided while being positioned on the downstream side without difficulty. The width in the left-right direction of the rear guide member 25 is set to be wider than the width in the left-right direction of the center guide member 26 and the front guide member 27, and the seedling box C from the seeder 2 is gradually left and right in the center. It is comprised so that it can guide to a downstream side, approaching to the side.

  A positioning member 33 that is also used as a mounting bracket for a limit switch 28, which will be described later, is attached to the front ends of the left and right conveyor frames 20 (see FIG. 10). The seedling box C from the seeder 2 is the positioning member 33. The seedling box C is positioned at a rising start position where the raising of the seedling box C is started by the seedling box stacking mechanism 12 described later.

  A limit switch 28 serving as a position detecting means is fixed to a middle position between the left and right of the front end portions of the left and right conveyor frames 20 via a positioning member 33 extending upward from the horizontal frame 15e. A position detection member 28a is swingably supported around the left and right axial centers of the portions. When the seedling box C from the seeder 2 is conveyed to the rising start position at the front end of the upstream conveyor 11 and comes into contact with the position detection member 28a, the position detection member 28a swings upward around the horizontal axis. The posture is changed to the posture, and the operation of the position detection member 28a can be detected by the operation unit of the limit switch 28.

  Accordingly, it is determined whether or not the seedling box C is being transported to the rising start position of the front end portion of the upstream side conveyor 11, and the upstream side conveyor 11 and the seedlings are linked with the seedling box stacking mechanism 12 described later. The seedling boxes C can be efficiently stacked by matching the operation timing with the box stacking mechanism 12.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the front and rear center portions of the conveyor frame 20 of the upstream side conveyor 11 are supported by a support frame 30 that extends upward from the rear lateral frame 14 c of the base frame 14 via an adjustment bracket 29. It is supported. The adjustment bracket 29 is formed with left and right elongated holes 29a that are long in the vertical direction. By moving the adjustment bracket 29 up and down with respect to the support frame 30 along the long hole 29a, the adjustment bracket 29 is moved forward and backward. The height of the central part can be changed and adjusted.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the front end portion of the conveyor frame 20 of the upstream transport conveyor 11 has left and right support brackets 32 extending downward from the horizontal frame 15 e of the frame-like frame 15 via an adjustment bracket 31. It is supported by. The support bracket 32 is formed with left and right elongated holes 32a which are long in the vertical direction, and the adjustment bracket 31 is moved up and down with respect to the support bracket 32 along the elongated hole 32a. It is configured to change and adjust the height of the front part.

  Thereby, the height of the upstream conveyor 11 with respect to the base frame 14, that is, the height of the conveyor surface 11A of the upstream conveyor 11 is changed by moving the upstream conveyor 11 upward or downward. It is configured to be adjustable. As a result, the height of the upstream conveyor 11 can be changed and adjusted according to the height of the device on the seeder 2 side. For example, the type or manufacturer of the device on the seeder 2 side differs, Even if the heights of the devices are different, the receiving height on the nursery box stacking device 3 side can be arbitrarily changed and adjusted, and the nursery box stacking device 3 can have versatility.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and 8, the downstream conveyance conveyor 13 includes a left and right conveyor frame 34, a plurality of conveyance rollers 35 that are rotatably supported across the left and right conveyor frames 34, and a downstream side. A second transport motor 36 that rotates the side transport conveyor 13, a support roller 37, and a rear support roller 38 are provided.

  The downstream conveyor 13 is fixed to the left and right brackets 39 whose rear end portions of the left and right conveyor frames 34 are extended upward from the horizontal frame 15e of the frame-like frame 15 so that the position can be adjusted in the front-rear direction. A front end portion of the frame 34 is fixed to a front support frame 40 extending upward from the front portion of the base frame 14 so that the position thereof can be adjusted in the front-rear direction. Unlike the upstream transport conveyor 11, the downstream transport conveyor 13 is not configured to be adjustable in height up and down, but the downstream transport conveyor 13 can be adjusted up and down in the same manner as the upstream transport conveyor 11. By configuring, for example, the height of the downstream transport conveyor 13 can be changed and adjusted according to the height of the downstream equipment connected to the downstream transport conveyor 13, and the nursery box stacking device 3 has versatility. Can be made.

  The front support frame 40 is formed in a U shape whose longitudinal cross-sectional shape is opened downward, and a second transport motor 36 incorporating a speed reduction device is fixed to the front support frame 40. The second transport motor 36 is coupled to the left end portion of the transport roller 35 located on the most downstream side via a coupling, and when the second transport motor 36 is rotated by the output from the control device, the most downstream side. The conveyance roller 35 located in the position is configured to rotate.

  The conveyance roller 35 is configured by externally fitting a plurality of (four) belt pulleys 35a each having a V-groove formed on the shaft 35b. The conveyance rollers 35 are arranged on the belt pulleys 35a of the plurality of conveyance rollers 35 arranged in front and rear. When a total of four conveyor belts 35c are wound and stretched, and the conveyor roller 35 located on the most downstream side is rotationally driven, the plurality of conveyor rollers 35 are interlocked via the plurality of conveyor belts 35c and the belt pulley 35a. Is configured to do.

  Support rollers 37 are attached to the front and rear central portions of the left and right conveyor frames 34. The support roller 37 is configured by rotatably supporting the roller via bearings at both ends of a fixed shaft that is long on the left and right sides. The height of the upper end of the outer peripheral surface of the roller is the height of the transport roller 35. The height is set to be substantially flush with the height of the upper surface side of the conveyor belt 35c.

  Rear support rollers 38 are attached to the rear portions of the left and right conveyor frames 34. The rear support roller 38 is configured by rotatably supporting four rollers at a plurality of locations on the left and right long support shafts, and the inner peripheral surface of the upper conveyor belt 35c is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rollers. The rear support roller 38 is mounted so that the upper surface side of the conveyor belt 35 is substantially horizontal.

  Thus, the left and right ends of the seedling box C stacked at the lowered stacking position can be stably supported by the support roller 37, and the left and right ends of the seedling box C stacked at the lowered stacking position are located upward. It is possible to prevent bending downward due to the weight of the seedling boxes C stacked on the bottom. Moreover, the rear part of the seedling box C stacked in the lowered stacking position can be stably supported by the rear support roller 37, and the rear end part of the seedling box C stacked in the lowered stacking position is stacked upward. It is possible to prevent bending downward due to the weight of the seedling box C. As a result, the vertical deformation of the seedling box C can be prevented, and the seedling boxes C can be stacked stably.

[Detailed structure of nursery box stacking mechanism]
The detailed structure of the seedling box stacking mechanism 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 11 to 15. 11 and 12 show a schematic side view for explaining the structure around the seedling box stacking mechanism 12 and a schematic side view for explaining the transmission structure of the seedling box stacking mechanism 12, respectively. FIGS. 13 and 14 show the vicinity of the holder 85. 11 is a longitudinal front view at the position of ZZ in FIG. 11 for explaining the structure of FIG. 11 and a longitudinal front view for explaining the structure of the holder 85 on the right side. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional plan view taken along the line V-V in FIG. 11 for explaining the structure of the right holder 85.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 12, left and right upper rear frames 41 are fixed to the upper rear portion of the frame-shaped frame 15, and the cross sectional shape of the upper rear frame 41 is open inwardly. Character-shaped left and right upper rear brackets 42 are fixed. A left and right upper support shaft 43 extends from the upper part on the inner side of the left and right upper rear brackets 42, and a lower support shaft 44 extends from the lower part on the inner side of the upper rear bracket 42. The upper support shaft 43 is set to be shorter than the lower support shaft 44, and the first outer sprocket 45 is rotatably supported on the tip end portion of the upper support shaft 43 via a bearing, and the bearing is provided on the tip end portion of the lower support shaft 44. The 1st inner side sprocket 46 is rotatably supported through (refer FIG. 13).

  The left and right upper front frames 47 are fixed to the upper front portion of the frame-shaped frame 15, and the left and right upper front brackets 48 having a U-shaped cross-sectional shape opened inwardly in the upper front frame 47. Is fixed. An upper support shaft 49 extends from the upper part on the inner side of the left and right upper front brackets 48, and a lower support shaft 50 extends from the lower part on the inner side of the upper front bracket 48. The upper support shaft 49 is set to be shorter than the lower support shaft 50, and has the same structure as the first outer sprocket 45 and the first inner sprocket 46 described above. The sprocket 51 is rotatably supported, and the second inner sprocket 52 is rotatably supported at the tip of the lower support shaft 50 via a bearing.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and 12, left and right lower front frames 53 are fixed to the lower front portion of the frame-shaped frame 15, and the cross-sectional shape is inwardly facing the lower front frame 53. Opened U-shaped left and right lower front brackets 54 are fixed. A support shaft 55 extends from the inner side of the left and right lower front brackets 54. A third outer sprocket 56 is rotatably supported by the support shaft 55 via a bearing. A third inner sprocket 57 is rotatably supported at the tip end portion of the support shaft 55 on the inner side through a bearing.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 12, left and right lower rear frames 58 are fixed to the lower rear portion of the frame-shaped frame 15, and a rotating shaft 59 that is long to the left and right across the left and right lower rear frames 58. Is supported by left and right bearing members with built-in bearings so as to be rotatable around the axis in the left-right direction. A boss member 60 is fixed to each of the right end portion and the left end portion of the rotary shaft 59, and an outer drive sprocket 61 is fixed to the outside of the boss member 60 so as to be integrally rotatable. 62 is fixed to be integrally rotatable.

  A motor bracket 63 having a hat-like cross section is fastened and fixed across the left lower rear frame 58 and the rear vertical frame 15c. An electric drive motor 64 with a built-in reduction gear is fastened and fixed to the motor bracket 63, and a lateral output shaft of the drive motor 64 is coupled to the left end portion of the rotary shaft 59 through a coupling. Yes.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a lateral swing shaft 65 extends inwardly from the rear part of the left and right lower front frames 53, and the swing arm 66 is laterally directed to the swing shaft 65. (See FIG. 7). A fourth inner sprocket 67 is rotatably supported around the left and right axis through a left and right support shaft at the tip of the swing arm 66, and below the swing arm 66, A stopper 68 that regulates the downward swing range of the swing arm 66 is provided so as to change and adjust the downward swing range.

  Left and right brackets 69 extend upward from the base frame 14, and a tension arm 70 is supported on an upper end portion of the bracket 69 so as to be swingable around a horizontal axis. A tension sprocket 71 is supported at the tip end portion of the tension arm 70 so as to be rotatable around a left-right axis through a left-right support shaft.

  Left and right brackets 72 extend forward from the left and right ends of the horizontal frame 15e provided across the left and right middle and vertical frames 15b, and extend between the distal end of the bracket 72 and the distal end of the swing arm 66. The elastic spring 73 is attached so that the tension can be adjusted. An elastic spring 74 is attached to a portion extending downward from the bracket 72 and the rear end portion of the tension arm 70 so that the tension can be adjusted.

  A horizontal swing shaft 75 extends inwardly from the rear of the left and right lower rear frames 58, and a swing arm 76 is supported by the swing shaft 75 so as to be swingable around a left and right axis. (See FIG. 6). A fifth inner sprocket 77 is rotatably supported around the left and right axis through a left and right support shaft at the tip of the swing arm 76, and below the swing arm 76, A stopper 78 that regulates the downward swing range of the swing arm 76 is provided so as to change and adjust the downward swing range.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the outer transmission chain 79 is wound around the first outer sprocket 45, the second outer sprocket 51, the third outer sprocket 56, the tension sprocket 71, and the outer drive sprocket 61. When the outer drive sprocket 61 is rotated by driving the drive motor 64 to rotate, the upper part of a holder 85, which will be described later, mounted on the outer transmission chain 79 can be moved along the chain locus of the outer transmission chain 79. It is configured as follows.

  The inner transmission chain 80 is wound around the first inner sprocket 46, the second inner sprocket 52, the third inner sprocket 57, the fourth inner sprocket 67, the fifth inner sprocket 77, and the inner drive sprocket 62. When the inner drive sprocket 62 is rotated by driving the drive motor 64 to rotate, the lower part of a holder 85 (described later) attached to the inner transmission chain 80 can be moved along the chain locus of the inner transmission chain 80. It is configured.

  The length of the outer transmission chain 79 is set to be substantially the same as the length of the inner transmission chain 80, and the outer transmission chain 79 and the inner transmission chain 80 are outside in the ascending section, the upper lateral movement section, and the descending section. The relative positional relationship between the chain body 79a of the transmission chain 79 and the chain body 80a of the inner transmission chain 80 does not change, and the seedling box C held by a holder 85 described later can be translated in a substantially horizontal state. Has been. The inner transmission chain 80 is formed by a fourth inner sprocket 67 and a fifth inner sprocket 77 disposed above the third inner sprocket 57 and the inner drive sprocket 62 in the lower lateral movement section where the seedling box C is not held by the holder 85. The length difference from the outer transmission chain 79 is adjusted.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, a chain bracket 81 having an L-shaped vertical cross section is connected to the chain body 79 a of the outer transmission chain 79 via left and right connecting members 82. A left and right support shaft 83 is fixed to the portion bent downward of the inner end of the shaft. A left and right support shaft 84 is connected to the chain body 80 a of the inner transmission chain 80.

  The holder 85 includes a holder bracket 86 coupled to the outer transmission chain 79 and the inner transmission chain 80, a support claw mounting member 87 coupled to the upper portion of the holder bracket 86, and a support coupled to the support claw mounting member 87. The claw 88 includes a guide member 89 attached to the lower portion of the holder bracket 86, and a positioning member 90 fixed to the outer surface side of the holder bracket 86. The support claw 88 swings toward the nursery box C side. The posture can be changed between an action posture that has been moved and laid down and a non-action posture in which the support claw 88 swings upward and stands up.

  The holder bracket 86 is formed in a U shape whose transverse cross section is opened inward, and is formed in a vertically long shape. A boss member 91 having a left and right through hole is fixed to the upper portion of the holder bracket 86, and a support shaft 83 connected to the outer transmission chain 79 is rotatably fitted to the boss member 91. ing. The holder bracket 86 and the positioning member 90 are formed with a long elongated hole 86a in the vertical direction, and the support shaft 84 connected to the inner transmission chain 80 is rotated through the cylindrical member 92 in the elongated hole 86a. It is freely attached and movably attached along the elongated hole 86a.

  A lower support shaft 93 facing left and right is fixed to the lower portion of the positioning member 90, and a cylindrical guide member 89 is fitted into the lower support shaft 93 so as to be rotatable around an axis in the left and right direction. A guide groove 89 a is formed on the outer periphery of the guide member 89 over the entire periphery.

  The positioning member 90 is fixed to the inner surface side of the holder bracket 86, and is configured such that a guide groove 90 a that is recessed over the entire circumference of the holder bracket 86 is formed by the holder bracket 86 and the positioning member 90. .

  Inclined portions 86b that are inclined obliquely inward are formed at the upper and lower ends of the holder bracket 86, and inclined portions 90b that are inclined obliquely outward are formed at the upper and lower ends of the positioning member 90. The first and second rear guides 94 and 95, which will be described later, and the first and second front guides 96 are formed in the guide groove 89a of the holder bracket 86 by the inclined portions 86b and 90b of the holder bracket 86 and the positioning member 90. 97 can be guided without difficulty.

  The front and rear boss portions 86c are integrally formed on the upper portion of the holder bracket 86, and the support claw mounting member 87 is inserted into the front and rear through hole formed in the boss portion 86c via a pin and has a longitudinal center P1. It is attached so that it can swing around.

  A contact portion 87a is formed in the lower portion of the support claw mounting member 87, and the contact portion 87a contacts the upper inner surface side of the holder bracket 86, so that the support claw attachment member 87 is swung downward. The movement is regulated, so that the seedling box C can be supported.

  As shown in FIG. 14, on the upper surface side of the support claw mounting member 87, the screw does not protrude from the upper surface side of the support claw 88 and the lower surface side of the support claw mounting member 87 located below the support claw 88. The support claw 88 is fastened and fixed by a countersunk screw from above. The support claw 88 is formed in a flat plate shape that is long in the front and rear, the inner side end 88A is formed into a shape that is bent obliquely inwardly downward, and is bent and formed obliquely outwardly at the outer side end. The stopper portion 88B is integrally molded.

  The shape of the inner side end 88A is such that the angle α formed by the seedling box placement surface on which the seedling box C of the support claw 88 is placed and the inner side end 88A is about 30 ° to about 45 °. So that it is smoothly curved across the seedling box placement surface and the inner side end 88A, and is formed in a shape extending linearly downward inward from the curved end. Is set.

  As shown in FIG. 15, diagonally cutout portions 88 </ b> C are formed on the inner side of the front end portion and the rear end portion of the support claw 88. The shape of the cutout portion 88C is formed in a shape that is obliquely cut out in a straight line shape, and both end portions of the cutout portion 88C cut out in a straight line shape are formed in a rounded curved shape. The cutout portion 88C is configured such that the length cut in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction) is longer than the length cut in the short direction (left-right direction).

  In the state where the holder 85 is positioned on both sides of the seedling box C stacked by the notch 88C formed at the rear end of the support claw 88, when the seedling box C is carried out by the downstream conveyor 13, It is possible to prevent the rear portion of the support claw 88 from being caught on the nursery box C and to prevent the nursery box C and the holder 85 from being damaged.

  Specifically, for example, when the nursery box C is carried out by the downstream transfer conveyor 13 in a state where the holder 85 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 33 (e) is positioned on both sides of the nursery box C stacked. , The notch 88C provided at the rear end of the support claw 88 makes it difficult for the rear corner of the support claw 88 to be caught on the side surface of the nursery box C, so that the nursery box C can be comfortably moved by the downstream conveyor 13. Can be carried out.

  Further, the front end portion of the support claw 88 in the case where the nursery box C supported by the holder 85 is stacked on the already grown seedling box C by the notch portions 88C formed at the front end portion and the rear end portion of the support claw 88. In addition, it is possible to prevent the rear end portion from being caught on the bottom of the seedling box C, and the seedling boxes C can be stacked without difficulty.

  As shown in FIG. 14, in a state where the support claw 88 is attached to the support claw attachment member 87, the holder bracket 86 is positioned so that the center of gravity position of the support claw attachment member 87 is located on the inner side of the longitudinal axis P1. When the support claw mounting member 87 is swingably supported and the holder bracket 86 moves up and down, the support claw mounting member 87 to which the support claw 88 is attached is changed in posture to the action posture by its own weight, When the support claw 88 is pushed upward from the lower side by the seedling box C in which the support claws 88 are stacked, the support claw attachment member 87 and the support claw 88 swing upward about the left and right axis P1 to change the posture to the non-acting posture. It is configured to be.

  For example, an urging member such as an elastic spring may be provided across the support claw attachment member 87 and the holder bracket 86 so that the support claw attachment member 87 and the support claw 88 are urged toward the action posture side. Good.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 15, left and right first and second rear guides 94 and 95 that are vertically long are fixed to the rear vertical frame 15 c of the frame-shaped frame 15, and the front vertical frame 15 a of the frame-shaped frame 15 is fixed. The left and right first and second front guides 96 and 97 that are long in the vertical direction are fixed.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 13, left and right upper guides 98 that are long in the front-rear direction are fixed across the upper rear frame 41 and the upper front frame 47 fixed to the frame-shaped frame 15.

  As shown in FIGS. 11, 13, and 15, when the holder 85 moves in the rising section, the first and second rear guides 94 and 95 are respectively formed in the front and rear guide grooves 90 a formed in the positioning member 90. When engaged, the holder bracket 86 rises along the first and second rear guides 94, 95, and the first and second front guides 96, 97 are positioned when the holder 85 moves in the lowering section. The holder bracket 86 descends along the first and second front guides 96 and 97 by engaging with the front and rear guide grooves 90a formed in the member 90, respectively. Thus, the vertical movement of the holder bracket 86 can be regulated by the first and second rear guides 94 and 95 and the first and second front guides 96 and 97, and the seedling box C held by the holder 85 Can be conveyed without difficulty in a substantially horizontal state upward and downward.

  Further, when the holder 85 moves in the upper lateral movement section, the upper guide 98 engages with the guide groove 89 a of the guide member 89 from below, and the holder bracket 86 can be moved along the upper guide 98. It is configured as follows. As a result, the downward movement of the holder bracket 86 is regulated by the upper guide 98, and the outer transmission chain 79 and the inner transmission chain 80 are bent downward due to the weight of the seedling box C supported by the holder 85. The seedling box C held by the holder 85 can be conveyed without difficulty in a substantially horizontal state.

  As a result, the holder bracket 86 of the holder 85 moves vertically up and down substantially in the rising section, the upper lateral movement section, and the lowering section of the outer transmission chain 79 and the inner transmission chain 80, and the lower portion of the rising section is raised. The seedling box C held at the start position is transported to the descending section through the upper lateral movement section in the state where the seedling box C is substantially horizontal, and the seedling box C is sequentially placed at the lower stack position of the lower section of the descending section. Can be stacked.

  When the holder 85 holding the seedling box C approaches the nursery box C that has already been stacked from above, and the support claws 88 of the holder 85 come into contact with the seedling box C that has already been stacked, the support claw attachment members 87 of the holder 85 are moved back and forth. The posture is changed to the non-operating posture by swinging upward around the direction axis P1, and the nursery box C held by the holder 85 can be stacked on the already grown seedling box C. Then, it moves downward through the left and right sides of the seedling box C that has already been stacked, and the lengths of the outer transmission chain 79 and the inner transmission chain 80 are adjusted in the lower lateral movement section, and then moved to the rising section again. The 85 holder brackets 86 are in a vertically upright state, and the support claws 88 are changed in posture to the action posture.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 11, the front positioning restriction member is formed by bending the left and right central portions of the front end portion of the upper frame 15 d in the frame-like frame 15 into a downward L-shape. Reference numeral 100 is attached so that the attachment position in the front-rear direction can be changed and adjusted. The front positioning restriction member 100 is formed with a contact portion 100A extending downward from a front end portion extending forward from the upper frame 15d, and the seedling box C conveyed from the upper lateral movement section is this The front positioning restriction member 100 is in contact with the contact portion 100A and is configured to be positioned in the front-rear direction in which the seedling boxes C are stacked.

  The left and right front side regulating members 101 are attached to the frame-like frame 15 so as to change and adjust the mounting position in the left-right direction across the upper ends of the left and right front vertical frames 15a and the left and right sides of the front support frame 40. ing.

  A bracket 102 extends forward from the upper part of the left and right middle vertical frame 15b in the frame-shaped frame 15, and the left and right lower brackets 103 are fixed to a horizontal frame 15e provided across the lower part of the left and right middle vertical frame 15b. A rear side regulating member 104 is attached to the bracket 102 and the lower bracket 103 so that the mounting position in the left-right direction can be changed and adjusted.

  The upper bracket 105 and the lower bracket 106 are fixed to the front and rear from the left and right central portions of the upper and lower horizontal frames 15e and 15e, respectively, fixed over the left and right middle and vertical frames 15b of the frame-shaped frame 15 (see FIG. 8). The rear positioning restriction member 107 is attached to the front upper bracket 105 and the lower bracket 106 so as to change and adjust the mounting position in the front-rear direction. The rear upper bracket 105 and the lower bracket 106 are extended. A rising side regulating member 108 is attached.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the seedling box C that has been transported downstream by the upstream transport conveyor 11 contacts the positioning member 33 and is positioned at the ascending start position. The seedling box C positioned at the rising start position is lifted by the holder 85 from the lower side and conveyed upward. In this case, the seedling box C rises while being restricted by the forward movement while being guided by the ascending restriction member 108.

  The seedling box C that has moved to the upper lateral movement section is conveyed forward, comes into contact with the front positioning restriction member 100, the position of the nursery box C in the front-rear direction is positioned, and the front positioning restriction member 100, front part The upper part of the descending section is lowered in a state where movement in the front-rear and left-right directions is restricted by the curved part 107A on the upper part of the side part restricting member 101 and the rear part positioning restricting member 107 while the seedling box C is guided.

  When the seedling box C further descends, the lower section is controlled in a state where the rearward movement of the seedling box C is restricted by the front side part regulating member 101, the rear side part regulating member 104, and the rear positioning regulation member 107. The seedling box C is accurately stacked on the seedling box C that has already been stacked.

  As described above, the raising seedling box C is not shifted from each other by the ascending-side regulating member 108, the front part regulating member 100, the front side part regulating member 101, the rear side part regulating member 104, and the rear part regulating member 107. Accurately stacks high.

[Operation status of nursery box stacking device]
Based on FIG.2 and FIG.4, the driving | running state of the seedling box stacking apparatus 3 is demonstrated. As shown in FIG.2 and FIG.4, the seedling box C sowed from the roller conveyor 2a connected to the seeder 2 is transported to the upstream transport conveyor 11 in a state where it is connected to the front and rear. The transport speed of the upstream conveyor 11 is set to be faster than the transport speed of the roller conveyor 2a. When the seedling box C from the roller conveyor 2a is transported to the upstream conveyor 11, the transport speed is slightly increased. A gap is formed between the seedling boxes C. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the next seedling box C from being transported to the ascent start position before the seedling box C transported to the ascent start position is lifted by the holder 85.

  When the seedling box C from the roller conveyor 2a is conveyed to the rising start position, it is supported by the holder 85 of the seedling box stacking mechanism 12 and rises in the rising section. When the seedling box C rises from the rising start position, the next seedling box C is conveyed to the rising start position. In this case, the roller conveyor 2a and the upstream conveyance conveyor 11 are continuously driven, and the seedling box C is continuously supplied.

  The seedling box stacking mechanism 12 is configured to be driven and stopped (intermittently driven) at a predetermined timing, and the seedling box stacking mechanism 12 is intermittently driven with respect to the upstream-side transport conveyor 11 that is continuously driven. Thus, the raising timing by the holder 85 of the seedling box stacking mechanism 12 and the conveying timing of the seedling box C supplied to the rising start position are matched, and the seedling box C can be efficiently stacked. . In addition, you may comprise so that the upstream conveyance conveyor 11 may be driven intermittently and the seedling box stacking mechanism 12 may be driven continuously.

  The seedling box C supported by the holder 85 is sequentially stacked on the upper portion of the downstream side conveyor 13. Then, when stacked in a predetermined number of stages (for example, 30 stages), it is detected by the height detection means (not shown) installed in the upper part of the seedling box stacking device 3 that the stacking in the predetermined number of stages is immediately downstream. The conveyor 13 is driven.

  The downstream end of the downstream conveyor 13 is equipped with position detection means (not shown) for detecting the passing position of the seedling box C, and the seedling box C is placed above the roller conveyor 4 by this position detection means. The downstream conveyor 13 is configured to stop when it is determined that it has moved to (the seedling box C has been unloaded from the downstream conveyor 13).

  If the position detection means does not determine that the nursery box C has moved to the upper part of the roller conveyor 4 until a predetermined time has elapsed after the downstream side conveyor 13 is driven, there is an abnormality in the carrying out of the nursery box C. It is judged that it has occurred, and the seedling box stacking device 3 and the roller conveyor 2a connected to the seeder 2 are configured to stop. Thereby, for example, the seedling box C can be continuously stacked on the downstream conveyor 13 while preventing the seedling box C from being further stacked on the seedling box C stacked in a predetermined number of stages.

  The seedling box C conveyed to the roller conveyor 4 comes into contact with a stopper member 113 provided at the downstream end of the roller conveyor 4 described later and stops.

  As soon as the seedling box C is carried out from the downstream side conveyor 13, the next seedling box C is stacked on the downstream side conveyor 13 by the seedling box stacking mechanism 12, and thereafter, the above operation is repeated, The seedling boxes C continuously conveyed from the seeder 2 can be stacked.

[Detailed structure of nursery box delivery section]
Based on FIGS. 16-19, the detailed structure of the seedling box delivery part 5 is demonstrated. 16 and 17 show an overall side view and an overall plan view of the seedling box delivery unit 5, and FIG. 18 shows a side view of the main part of the seedling box delivery unit 5. FIG. 19 is a side view illustrating the height relationship on the upstream side of the nursery box delivery unit 5.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the seedling box delivery section 5 is connected to the front end portion of the roller conveyor 4 connected to the front end portion of the downstream-side transport conveyor 13 of the seedling box stacking device 3. In this way, by separating the seedling box delivery unit 5 from the seedling box stacking device 3, the structure of the seedling raising device 1 as a whole can be simplified. The manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with the case of configuring the apparatus (not shown).

  As shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, the roller conveyor 4 is configured such that a plurality of rollers 111 are supported by left and right conveyor frames 110 so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis. Support frames 112 are connected to the left and right conveyor frames 110, and adjusters 112 b are attached to the lower ends of the left and right support legs 112 a of the support frames 112 so as to be adjustable in the vertical direction. It is configured to change and adjust.

  The rear end portion of the roller conveyor 4 is connected to the left and right conveyor frames 34 of the downstream conveying conveyor 13 of the seedling box stacking device 3, and the front end portion of the roller conveyor 4 is the rear end of the seedling box transfer unit 5 described later. It is connected to the part.

  The seedling box delivery unit 5 was transported to the delivery table 115, the front and rear and left and right support frames 116 that support the delivery table 115, the roller conveyor 117 fixed to the upper part of the delivery table 115, and the seedling box delivery unit 5. A seedling box stopper 118 for receiving the seedling box C is provided.

  The delivery table 115 includes left and right frames 119 that are long in the front and rear, and front and rear horizontal frames 120 that are provided across the front and rear ends of the left and right frames 119. The front and rear guide rails 121 that guide wheels 154 of an auxiliary transport carriage 150 described later are fixed to the upper surface side of the frame 120. The front and rear guide rails 121 are formed in an L shape in a longitudinal section when viewed from the side, and left and right nuts are fixed to the left and right ends of the front and rear guide rails 121.

  By screwing the bolt 122 into the right or left nut fixed to the left and right ends of the guide rail 121, the position where the wheel 154 of the auxiliary transport carriage 150, which will be described later, enters the guide rail 121 most deeply is regulated. It is configured to function as a stopper to prevent the dropout of the auxiliary transport carriage 150 described later. Further, by fixing the bolt 122 to the nut on the opposite side of the guide rail 121, an auxiliary transport carriage 150 (to be described later) can be received from the opposite side of the seedling box delivery unit 5.

  Engagement holes 119A having a rectangular shape in plan view are formed at the four corners of the frame 119 of the delivery table 115, and lock claws 145 of the carriage 6 described later are engaged with the engagement holes 119A. Thereby, it is comprised so that the conveyance trolley | bogie 6 can be fixed to the delivery stand 115 from the right side and the left side.

  In this way, by constructing the auxiliary transfer device 150 so that it can be connected from the left and right sides of the nursery box delivery unit 5, the nursery box delivery unit 5 can have versatility. Arrangement or the like is difficult to be restricted, and installation of the nursery box delivery unit 5 is facilitated.

  A support frame 116 is connected to the front and rear ends of the left and right frames 119, and adjusters 116b are attached to the lower ends of the left and right support legs 116a of the support frame 116 so as to be adjustable in the vertical direction. The height of the nursery box delivery unit 5 can be changed and adjusted.

  The roller conveyor 117 is configured such that a plurality of rollers 124 are supported by left and right conveyor frames 123 so as to be rotatable about a left and right axis, and a conveyance surface 117A formed by the plurality of rollers 124 is slightly forward. A plurality of rollers 124 are arranged with their positions shifted vertically so as to incline downward. The left and right conveyor frames 123 are formed with front and rear positioning holes 123A in the left and right direction, and a lifting prevention portion 138A of a support member 138 of the transport carriage 6 to be described later enters the positioning holes 123A, so that the nursery box delivery portion 5 The conveyance carriage 6 can be positioned, and the conveyance carriage 6 can be prevented from being lifted.

  On the front side and the rear side of the roller conveyor 117, an auxiliary conveyance carriage space W before and after an auxiliary conveyance carriage 150 to be described later enters, and the nursery box C is a roller conveyor by the front and rear auxiliary conveyance carriage spaces W. The auxiliary transport carriage 150 can be taken in and out of the seedling box delivery section 5 while being transported to the upper part of 117.

  A support bracket 125 is fixed to the rear side of the lateral frame 120 on the rear side, and the conveyor frame 110 of the roller conveyor 4 is fastened and fixed to the upper portion of the support bracket 125 so that the rear part of the seedling box delivery unit 5 is The front end of the roller conveyor 4 is connected.

  The seedling box stopper 118 includes a stopper portion 126 that is long in the vertical direction, a support frame 127 that is connected to the central portion of the stopper portion 126, and a connection frame 128 that is connected across the stopper portion 126 and the support frame 127. It is prepared for.

  The stopper unit 126 has a height and a width in the left-right direction set in accordance with the height and width in the left-right direction of the seedling box C conveyed to the seedling box transfer unit 5. A contact surface 118A for contact with the seedling box C is formed, and the seedling box C conveyed to the seedling box delivery unit 5 is configured to contact and align with the contact surface 118A of the seedling box stopper 118. Yes.

  The support frame 127 is connected to the upper and lower center portions of the stopper portion 126, and the connection frame 128 is connected to the upper and lower center portions of the support frame 127 and the lower portion of the stopper portion 126, so that the seedling box C received by the stopper portion 126 is received. The load can be supported by the support frame 127.

  The seedling box stopper 118 is configured so that the contact surface 118A of the seedling box stopper 118 is slightly inclined forward, and an angle formed by the contact surface 118A of the seedling box stopper 118 and the conveying surface 117A of the roller conveyor 117. β is configured to be approximately 90 °.

  In addition, the inclination angle of the conveyance surface 117A of the roller conveyor 117 can be adjusted by changing the height of the plurality of rollers 124 of the roller conveyor 117, and the inclination angle of the seedling box stopper 118 is the support frame. 127 is configured to be changed and adjusted by an adjustment tool (not shown) installed in 127 and an adjustment tool 126a below the stopper portion 126.

  As shown in FIG. 19, the conveyance surface 4 </ b> A of the roller conveyor 4 and the conveyance surface of the downstream conveyance conveyor 13 are set such that the height of the conveyance surface 4 </ b> A of the roller conveyor 4 is lower than the conveyance surface 13 </ b> A of the downstream conveyance conveyor 13. A step h1 is formed between the roller conveyor 117 and the roller conveyor 117 so that the height of the transfer surface 117A of the roller conveyor 117 of the nursery box delivery unit 5 is lower than the height of the transfer surface 4A of the roller conveyor 4. A step h <b> 2 is formed between the surface 117 </ b> A and the transport surface 4 </ b> A of the roller conveyor 4.

  Thus, when the seedling box C stacked on the upper side of the downstream side conveyor 13 moves downstream by rotating the downstream side conveyor 13, the rollers set lower than the conveying surface 13A of the downstream side conveyor 13 The nursery box C from the downstream side conveyor 13 moves to the conveyor surface 4A of the conveyor 4 without difficulty, and the nursery box C is moved over the roller conveyor 4 by the inertial force applied to the nursery box C by the downstream side conveyor 13. Moving. In this case, for example, even if the edge of the seedling box C is deformed downward due to the weight of the stacked seedling boxes C, the seedling box C can be moved to the roller conveyor 4 side without difficulty by the step h1.

  In addition, in order to connect the front end of the downstream conveyor 13 and the rear end of the roller conveyor 4 of the roller conveyor 4, the transport roller 35 positioned most downstream of the downstream conveyor 13 and the most of the roller conveyor 4 are connected. Even if the distance from the roller 111 positioned on the upstream side is set to the dimension L1 longer than the pitch of the rollers 111 of the roller conveyor 4, the raising seedling box C can be moved to the roller conveyor 4 side without difficulty by the step h1.

  The seedling box C that has moved onto the roller conveyor 4 comes into contact with a stopper member 113 provided at the front end of the roller conveyor 4 and stops on the roller conveyor 4 (see FIG. 18). Then, manually operating the stopper member 113 (for example, operating the stopper member 113 downward so as to be positioned below the transfer surface 4A) and pushing the seedling box C forward slightly with a hand, the seedling box C is raised. It moves on the roller conveyor 117 of the box delivery unit 5. In this case, for example, even if the edge of the seedling box C is deformed downward due to the weight of the stacked seedling boxes C, the seedling box C can be moved to the roller conveyor 117 side without difficulty by the step h2. Then, the seedling box C that has moved onto the roller conveyor 117 comes into contact with the seedling box stopper 118 and stops, and is ready for delivery to the transport cart 6.

  Further, in order to form an auxiliary conveyance carriage space W for receiving a wheel 154 of the auxiliary conveyance carriage 150 to be described later between the roller conveyor 4 and the roller conveyor 117, the roller 111 and the roller located on the most downstream side of the roller conveyor 4 Even if the roller 124 positioned on the most upstream side of the conveyor 117 is set to a dimension L2 longer than the pitch of the rollers 111 of the roller conveyor 4 and the pitch of the rollers 124 of the roller conveyor 117, the nursery box C is easily rolled by the step h2. It can be moved to the conveyor 117 side.

  For example, even if a part of the seedling box C stacked by the seedling box stacking device 3 is shifted forward or backward, the seedling box C is positioned when it contacts the seedling box stopper 118, and the seedling box is delivered. In the state of being transported to the section 5 and supported by the roller conveyor 117, the stacked seedling boxes C are configured to be aligned.

  Thereby, the shift | offset | difference and inclination of the seedling box C which arose in the seedling box C at the time of the stacking of the seedling box C and the conveyance to the seedling box delivery part 5 can be corrected.

[Detailed structure of transport cart]
Based on FIGS. 20-23, the detailed structure of the conveyance trolley | bogie 6 is demonstrated. 20 and 21 show an overall side view and an overall plan view of the transport carriage 6, respectively. FIG. 22 shows a rear view of the transport carriage 6, and FIG. 23 shows a longitudinal side view of the front portion of the transport carriage 6. In the following description of the transport carriage 6, the left and right sides in FIG. 21 are indicated as front and rear, respectively, and the upper and lower sides in FIG. 21 are indicated as right and left, respectively.

  As shown in FIGS. 20 to 23, the transport cart 6 has a cart frame 130, a front caster 131 and a rear caster 132 mounted on the cart frame 130, left and right handrails 133, and a height above the cart frame 130. And an elevating frame 134 attached to be adjustable.

  The carriage frame 130 includes a U-shaped front and rear horizontal frame 135 that is open to the left and right, and left and right front and rear frames 136 that are provided across the left and right ends of the front and rear horizontal frame 135. The fixed front casters 131 are fastened and fixed to the front portions of the left and right front and rear frames 136, and the rear casters 132 are fastened and fixed to the rear portions of the left and right front and rear frames 136. The rear caster 132 is configured to be freely rotatable about a vertical axis and is provided with a lock 132a capable of locking and unlocking the caster wheel by stepping on the foot.

  The elevating frame 134 is a U-shaped upper horizontal frame 137 fitted into the front and rear horizontal frames 135 from above and opened downward, and a support member fixed to the left and right central portions of the front and rear upper horizontal frames 137. 138.

  The support member 138 is formed in a U shape whose longitudinal section is opened downward, and the seedling box C moved to the transport cart 6 side by the auxiliary transport cart 150 can be supported on the upper surface side of the support member 138. It is configured as follows.

  A plurality of vertically long vertical frames 139 are fixed to the left and right sides of the upper portion of the upper horizontal frame 137, and an upper guide rail 140 is fixed over the upper portions of the plurality of vertical frames 139. A lower guide rail 141 is fixed over the lower part of the frame 139. A wheel 154 of an auxiliary transport carriage 150 (described later) enters between the lower surface side of the upper guide rail 140 and the upper surface side of the lower guide rail 141, and the auxiliary transport carriage 150 is moved along the upper guide rail 140 and the lower guide rail 141. It is configured so that it can be attached to and detached from the transport carriage 6.

  An adjustment bolt 142 as an adjustment tool is provided across the left and right end portions of the front and rear horizontal frames 135 and the left and right end portions of the front and rear upper horizontal frames 137. The adjustment bolts 142 are provided in the elongated holes 137a of the upper horizontal frame 137. The height of the upper horizontal frame 137 relative to the horizontal frame 135, that is, the height of the elevating frame 134 can be changed and adjusted.

  The front end portion of the support member 138 is integrally formed with left and right lifting prevention portions 138A (corresponding to a lifting prevention mechanism) projecting forward. In this state, it is possible to prevent the conveyance carriage 6 from being lifted.

  The leading ends of the left and right lifting prevention portions 138A are formed in a shape that is inclined laterally outward. When the transport cart 6 is brought close to the roller conveyor 117 of the nursery box delivery portion 5, the lifting prevention portions 138A are formed. The lift prevention unit 138A enters the left and right positioning holes 123A formed in the conveyor frame 123 of the roller conveyor 117 while being guided by the front end of the roller conveyor 117 so that the position of the transport carriage 6 with respect to the seedling box delivery unit 5 can be positioned without difficulty. It is configured.

  A contact portion 138B is formed at the front end portion of the support member 138. When the transport carriage 6 is brought close to the roller conveyor 117 of the nursery box delivery section 5 from the side and the transport carriage 6 is pushed into the roller conveyor 117, The contact portion 138B is configured to contact the outer surface of the conveyor frame 123 of the roller conveyor 117 so that the position of the transport carriage 6 with respect to the seedling box transfer portion 5 can be easily positioned.

  As described above, the support member 138 is also configured to function as a positioning mechanism when the transport cart 6 is connected to the seedling box transfer unit 5, and thus the transport cart 6 can be easily connected to the seedling box transfer unit 5. (See FIGS. 29 and 30).

  A connecting mechanism 143 for connecting the transport cart 6 to the seedling box transfer unit 5 and the seedling container 7 described later is provided over the front end portions of the left and right lower guide rails 141. The coupling mechanism 143 includes a cylindrical member 144, left and right lock claws 145, and left and right operation tools 146.

  Boss portions are formed in the left and right lower guide rails 141, and a cylindrical member 144 that is long on the left and right is rotatably fitted in the boss portions. The left and right lock claws 145 and the left and right operation tools 146 are fixed to the left and right sides of the cylindrical member 144, and the right or left operation tool 146 is swung to move the cylindrical member 144 to a left-right axis. When rotating around the center, the left and right lock claws 145 are configured to swing in conjunction with the swing operation of the right or left operation tool 146.

  Engagement portions 145A projecting downward and linear contact portions 145B are formed at the front ends of the left and right lock claws 145, and the engagement portions 145A are formed on the frame 119 of the delivery table 115. By engaging with the engaging hole 119A and the contact portion 145B is in contact with the upper surface of the frame 119 of the delivery table 115, the transport carriage 6 can be fixed to the nursery box delivery portion 5 without difficulty. Further, the engaging portion 145A of the lock claw 145 is configured to engage with an opening portion 167A formed in a lateral frame 167 of the seedling raising device 7 described later, and the front end of the engaging portion 145A of the lock claw 145 is The conveyor cart 6 can be fixed to the seedling plant 7 by entering the inside from the opening 167A of the horizontal frame 167 and the contact portion 145B of the lock claw 145 contacting the upper surface of the horizontal frame 167 of the seedling plant 7 ( (See FIG. 27).

  The shape of the engaging portion 145A of the left and right lock claws 145 is tapered, and the front end of the engaging portion 145A is fixed to the frame 119 of the delivery table 115 or the horizontal frame 167 of the seedling raising device 7. 119 and a shape that enters the inside of the lateral frame 167. Thereby, the lock claw 145 can be prevented from coming off upward, and the transport carriage 6 can be stably fixed to the nursery box delivery unit 5 and the nursery device 7.

  Left and right positioning members 147 (corresponding to a positioning mechanism) protruding forward are fixed to the front end portions of the left and right lower guide rails 141. The left and right positioning members 147 are formed in a horizontal flat plate shape, and are formed with a guide portion 147A inclined obliquely in plan view and a positioning portion 147B that contacts and guides a guide guide member 168 of the seedling breeder 7 described later. Has been. When the transport cart 6 is brought close to a seedling device 7 described later, the transport cart 6 is guided to the center side with respect to the seedling device 7 by the guide portion 147A of the positioning member 147, and transported to the seedling device 7 by the positioning portion 147B of the positioning member 147. The position of the carriage 6 is determined. As described above, the positioning member 147 is configured to function as a positioning mechanism when the transport cart 6 is connected to the nursery device 7, and thereby, the transport cart 6 can be simply and quickly positioned on the seedling device 7. (See FIG. 27).

  Left and right handrails 133 are fixed to the left and right sides of the horizontal frame 135 before and after the lifting frame 134. The lock 132a of the rear caster 132 is released and the left and right handrails 133 are pushed and pulled by the left and right hands. By doing so, it is comprised so that the conveyance trolley | bogie 6 can be moved back and forth.

[Detailed structure of auxiliary transport cart]
A detailed structure of the auxiliary transport carriage 150 will be described with reference to FIGS. 24 and 25 show an overall plan view and an overall side view of the auxiliary transport carriage 150, respectively, and FIG. 26 shows a longitudinal rear view of the main part of the auxiliary transport carriage 150. In the following description of the auxiliary conveyance carriage 150, the left and right sides in FIG. 24 are indicated as front and rear, respectively, and the upper and lower sides in FIG. 24 are indicated as right and left, respectively.

  As shown in FIGS. 24 to 26, the auxiliary transport carriage 150 is provided across the carrier frame 151, the lifting / lowering part 152 mounted on the carrier frame 151 so as to be movable up and down, and the carrier frame 151 and the lifting / lowering part 152. A lifting link mechanism 153 having a parallel quadruple link structure and front and rear and left and right wheels 154 attached to the carrier frame 151, and a rising posture in which the lifting portion 152 is raised and a lowered posture in which the lifting portion 152 is lowered. The posture can be changed.

  The carrier frame 151 is composed of left and right front and rear frames 155 having a U-shaped vertical cross-section opening downward, and a pipe connection frame 156 fixed across the left and right front and rear frames 155. Front and rear bosses with left and right through-holes are provided at the front and rear ends of the left and right front and rear frames 155, and left and right front support shafts 157 are formed outward from the front and rear bosses. The rear support shaft 158 is fixed, and the front and rear and left and right wheels 154 are rotatably supported by the front support shaft 157 and the rear support shaft 158.

  The wheel 154 is integrally formed with a flange portion 154A. The flange portion 154A contacts the guide rails 121 before and after the transfer table 115 and the lower guide rail 141 of the transfer carriage 6 so that the transfer table 115 and the transfer table 115 are conveyed. The auxiliary conveyance carriage 150 can be moved without moving left and right with respect to the carriage 6.

  The elevating unit 152 includes left and right elevating frames 159 that are long in the front-rear direction. The left and right elevating frames 159 are formed in a U shape with a vertical cross section opened downward, and bosses having left and right through holes are formed at the front end and the rear end thereof.

  A seedling box placement plate 161 is fixed on the upper surface side of the left and right lifting frames 159. A positioning part 161a extending obliquely rearward and upward is formed at the rear part of the seedling box mounting plate 161. When the auxiliary transport carriage 150 is inserted into the seedling box delivery part 5 in which the seedling boxes C are stacked, The positioning unit 161a is configured to contact the nursery box C positioned at the lowermost part so that the auxiliary transport cart 150 can be positioned with respect to the nursery box C.

  A front link 162 is pivotally connected across the front boss of the lifting frame 159 and the front support shaft 157, and a rear link 163 extends between the rear boss and the rear support shaft 158 of the lifting frame 159. A lift link mechanism 153 that is pivotally connected and lifts the lift 152 is configured. A pipe elevating operation unit 160 is fixed over the rear end portions of the left and right rear links 163, and the elevating operation unit 160 is configured to operate the elevating link mechanism 153 to elevate the elevating unit 152. ing.

  An urging mechanism (not shown) constituted by an elastic spring is provided across the carrier frame 151 and the elevating frame 159, and by urging the elevating part 152 toward the lowered posture by this urging mechanism, The elevating unit 152 can be easily lowered, and the auxiliary transport carriage 150 can be easily changed in posture from the raised posture to the lowered posture.

  By configuring the auxiliary transport carriage 150 as described above, when the lifting operation section 160 is pushed downward, the lifting section 152 is lifted via the lifting link mechanism 153, and the auxiliary transport carriage 150 is changed to the raised posture. Is done. When the downward pushing operation of the lifting / lowering unit operation unit 160 is released, the auxiliary transport carriage 150 is changed to a lowered posture by its own weight and urging mechanism of the lifting / lowering unit 152.

  In addition, by installing a rising posture holding device (not shown) that holds the rising posture of the auxiliary conveyance cart 150, the auxiliary conveyance cart 150 can be moved in a state where the posture is changed to the rising posture, and the lifting operation unit 160 is moved. It is not necessary to move the auxiliary conveyance carriage 150 while pushing the button downward, and the operability of the auxiliary conveyance carriage 150 can be improved.

[Detailed structure of the nursery receiving part]
Based on FIG.1, FIG.27 and FIG.28, the detailed structure of the seedling device side receiving part 165 (equivalent to a seedling box receiving part) in the seedling growing device 7 is demonstrated. FIG.27 and FIG.28 shows the vertical side view and top view of the nursery device side receiving part 165, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 27 and FIG. 28, the seedling raising device 7 has a seedling box C stacked upward, and the longitudinal direction of the seedling box C is the left-right direction in FIG. The right and left nursery boxes C are arranged so as to be arranged in the front-rear direction in FIG. 1 (the left-right direction in FIG. 1).

  As shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, the seedling raising device 7 includes a vertical frame 166 and a horizontal frame 167 provided over the vertical frame 166. A single plate-like guide guide member 168 is fixed to both sides of the vertical frame 166 (see FIG. 32), and a guide rail portion 168A is formed on the guide guide member 168, and the guide rail portion 168A includes The wheel 154 of the auxiliary conveyance cart 150 enters and the auxiliary conveyance cart 150 can be attached to and detached from the nursery device 7 along the guide rail portion 168A.

  A seedling box mounting portion 168B is formed on the upper portion of the guide guide member 168, and a support frame 169 is fixed to the front and rear center portions of the front and rear vertical frames 166. When the nursery box C is moved to the nursery device 7 side by the auxiliary transport cart 150 and the posture of the auxiliary transport cart 150 is changed to the lowered posture, both ends of the seedling box C are in contact with and supported by the seedling box mounting portion 168B, The center portion of the seedling box C is configured to be in contact with and supported by the upper surface side of the support frame 169.

  The horizontal frame 167 has a vertical cross-sectional shape formed in a U shape, and is configured to function as an engagement hole by an opening 167A formed in a U shape, and the distal end of the engagement portion 145A of the lock claw 145 Enters the inside from the opening 167A of the horizontal frame 167, and the contact portion 145B of the lock claw 145 contacts the upper surface of the horizontal frame 167 of the nursery device 7, whereby the transport cart 6 can be fixed to the seedling device 7. .

[Handling of nursery boxes]
The delivery situation of the seedling box C will be described with reference to FIGS. 29 and 30 show a longitudinal front view and a longitudinal side view for explaining the delivery situation of the nursery box C from the nursery box delivery section 5 to the transport cart 6, and FIGS. 31 and 32 show the nursery device from the transport cart 6 The front view explaining the delivery situation of the nursery box C to 7 and a vertical side view are shown.

  As shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, in the state where the seedling box C stacked by the seedling box stacking device 3 is transported to the seedling box transfer unit 5, the transport cart 6 on which the auxiliary transport cart 150 is placed is transferred to the seedling box transfer unit. 5, the locking tool 132 a of the rear caster 132 of the transfer carriage 6 is locked, and the operation tool 146 of the connection mechanism 143 of the transfer carriage 6 is operated to fix the transfer carriage 6 to the seedling box delivery unit 5.

  In this case, the conveyance carriage 6 can be simply and quickly positioned on the seedling box delivery section 5 by the lifting prevention section 138A of the support member 138 provided on the conveyance carriage 6, and the conveyance carriage 6 can be accurately positioned on the seedling box delivery section 5. Can be positioned.

  Next, the auxiliary transport cart 150 placed on the transport cart 6 is pushed down to the seedling box delivery unit 5 side in a lowered posture, and the auxiliary transport cart 150 is inserted below the seedling box C transported to the seedling box delivery unit 5; The raising / lowering operation part 160 of the auxiliary conveyance cart 150 is pushed downward to change the posture of the auxiliary conveyance cart 150 to the rising posture, and the seedling box C is supported by the auxiliary conveyance cart 150. And the raising / lowering operation part 160 of the auxiliary | assistant conveyance trolley 150 is pulled to the conveyance trolley 6 side, and the auxiliary | assistant conveyance trolley 150 which supported the seedling box C is moved to the conveyance trolley 6 side with a raising posture.

  In this case, when the seedling box C from the seedling box delivery unit 5 is moved to the transport cart 6 by the auxiliary transport cart 150, the weight of the seedling box C acts on the transport cart 6, and the front portion of the transport cart 6 is moved. Even if a force that pushes downward is applied (the white arrow pointing downward in FIG. 29) and a force that lifts the rear part of the transport carriage 6 is acting upward (the white arrow pointing upward in FIG. 29), the lifting prevention portion of the support member 138 138A can prevent the lower part of the front part of the transport carriage 6 and the upper part of the rear part of the transport carriage 6 from being lifted, and stably feed the seedling box C from the seedling box delivery part 5 by the auxiliary transport carriage 150. 6 can be moved.

  Further, the transport mechanism 6 can be connected to the seedling box transfer unit 5 by the connecting mechanism 143, and when the auxiliary transport cart 150 on which the seedling box C is placed is moved between the seedling box transfer unit 5 and the transport cart 6, the seedlings are raised. It can prevent that the box delivery part 5 and the conveyance trolley 6 leave | separate.

  When the auxiliary transport carriage 150 moves on the transport carriage 6 and the pushing operation of the lifting operation section 160 of the auxiliary transport carriage 150 to the lower side is released, the posture of the auxiliary transport carriage 150 is changed to the lowered posture, and the seedling box C Is supported by the support member 138 of the transport cart 6, and the movement of the seedling box C from the seedling box transfer unit 5 to the transport cart 6 is completed.

  The operation tool 146 of the coupling mechanism 143 of the transport cart 6 is operated to release the fixation of the transport cart 6 to the nursery box delivery unit 5 and the lock tool 132a of the rear caster 132 of the transport cart 6 is released. A state where the transport carriage 6 on which C is placed can be moved can be displayed.

  As shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, the transport cart 6 on which the seedling box C is placed is positioned close to the seedling device 7, the locking tool 132 a of the rear caster 132 of the transport cart 6 is locked, and the connection mechanism of the transport cart 6. The operation tool 146 of 143 is operated to fix the transport cart 6 to the nursery device 7.

  Next, the raising / lowering operation part 160 of the auxiliary conveyance cart 150 placed on the conveyance cart 6 is pushed downward to change the posture of the auxiliary conveyance cart 150 to the rising posture, and the seedling box C is supported by the auxiliary conveyance cart 150. The auxiliary transport cart 150 whose posture has been changed to the raised posture is pushed toward the nursery device 7 side, and the auxiliary transport cart 150 on which the seedling box C is placed is moved to the nursery device 7 side while remaining in the raised posture.

  When the auxiliary conveyance carriage 150 moves on the seedling raising device 7 and the pushing operation of the raising / lowering operation section 160 of the auxiliary conveyance carriage 150 to the lower side is released, the posture of the auxiliary conveyance carriage 150 is changed to the lowered attitude, and the seedling box C is Supported by the seedling raising device 7, the movement of the seedling box C from the transport cart 6 to the seedling raising device 7 is completed.

  The auxiliary conveyance carriage 150 whose posture is changed to the lowered attitude is pulled toward the conveyance carriage 6, the auxiliary conveyance carriage 150 is moved onto the conveyance carriage 6, and the operation tool 146 of the coupling mechanism 143 of the conveyance carriage 6 is operated to carry the conveyance carriage 6. By releasing the fixation of the cart 6 to the nursery box delivery unit 5 and releasing the lock 132a of the rear caster 132 of the transport cart 6, a state in which the transport cart 6 on which the seedling box C is placed can be moved is displayed. .

[Stacking status of nursery boxes]
Based on FIG.33 and FIG.34, the stacking condition of the seedling box C is demonstrated. FIG. 33 shows a longitudinal rear view of the vicinity of the holder 85 for explaining the stacking situation of the seedling box C, and FIG. 34 shows the vicinity of the holder 85 for explaining the stacking situation of the seedling box C when the linear support claws 99 are adopted. FIG. FIG. 34 shows a comparison object for explaining the effect of the support claws 88 of the holder 85 in the seedling box stacking device 3. 33 and 34 show the state in which the seedling boxes C are stacked in the order of (A), (B), (C), (D), and (E), and FIG. (E) corresponds to each of FIGS. 33 (a) to 33 (e).

  As shown in FIGS. 33 (a) and (b), the descending section is lowered with the seedling box C supported on the upper surface side of the support claws 88 of the holder 85, and the upper part of the seedling box C that has already been stacked is viewed from above. When approaching, the lower surface side of the support claw attachment member 87 contacts the upper surface side of the edge portion Ca of the seedling box C that has already been stacked.

  As shown in FIGS. 33 (b) and 33 (c), when the holder 85 is further lowered, the support claw mounting member 87 swings upward around the longitudinal axis P1 and is fixed to the support claw mounting member 87. The support claw 88 also swings upward about the longitudinal axis P1. In this case, the seedling box C is gradually lowered while being guided toward the left and right center side by the inclination of the inner side end 88A formed on the support claw 88.

  As shown in FIGS. 33 (c) and (d), the shape of the inner side end 88A of the support claw 88 is formed to be inclined obliquely inwardly downward, so that the state of FIG. 33 (c) The height ha of the tip of the support claw 88 with the corner Cb of the seedling box C that has already been stacked at the fulcrum can be kept low, and the lifting of the seedling box C held by the holder 85 is prevented, and the support claw 88 Are gradually piled up and moved gradually with respect to the nursery box C, and the inner end 88A of the support claw 88 shown in FIG. It will be in the state of being sandwiched between C.

  As shown in FIGS. 33 (d) and (e), when the holder 85 is further lowered, the tip of the inner end 88A of the support claw 88 comes out from the state shown in FIG. The nursery box C can be stably and stably stacked on the stacked seedling boxes C.

  The holder 85 that has released the holding of the seedling box C descends with the support claw mounting member 87 and the support claw 88 swinging on the side of the already stacked seedling box C, and is already positioned at the lowest side. When reaching the lower side of the stacked seedling boxes C, the support claw mounting member 87 and the support claw 88 swing downward due to their own weight. And the raising seedling box C can be hold | maintained from a downward side in a raise start position again.

  As shown in FIG. 34, for example, when the shape of the inner end 99A of the support claw 99 is formed in a straight line, the corner Cb of the seedling box C already stacked in the state of FIG. The height hb of the tip of the inner end 99A of the supporting claw 99 to be increased is increased, and the nursery box C is easily displaced when the nursery box C is stacked on the nursery box C that has already been stacked.

  Further, in the state where the inner side end 99A of the support claw 99 shown in FIGS. 34 (b) to (d) enters the nursery box C side, the upper corner 99B of the inner side end 99A of the support claw 99 is It moves to the lateral side in contact with the lower surface side of the seedling box C. Therefore, the force in the left-right direction is likely to act on the seedling boxes C to be stacked, and the seedling boxes C are easily displaced when the seedling boxes C are stacked on the seedling boxes C that have already been stacked.

  By adopting the shape of the inner end 88A of the support claw 88 as shown in FIG. 33, the nursery box C can be stably stacked. For example, soil spills and seedling boxes placed in the nursery box C It is possible to prevent the seeds (eg, pods) sown in C from being exposed. Moreover, the shift | offset | difference at the time of stacking the seedling box C can be prevented, and the seedling box C can be accurately stacked on the seedling box C already stacked. As a result, for example, the speed of the seedling box stacking mechanism 12 can be increased to stack the seedling box C at a relatively high speed, and the processing capacity of the seedling box stacking apparatus 3 can be improved.

  In addition, as a result of being able to stack the seedling box C without difficulty, it is difficult for excessive force to act on the holder 85 and the seedling box C, and damage to the holder 85 and the seedling box can be prevented. During operation, troubles such as stopping of the seedling box stacking device 3 due to breakage of the holder 85 or the like hardly occur.

[First Alternative Embodiment of the Invention]
In the above-mentioned [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention], the seedling box C transported to the seedling box delivery section 5 is moved to the transport cart 6 by the auxiliary transport cart 150 and the seedling box C is moved by the transport cart 6. Although the example in which the seedling raising device 1 is configured to move to the seedling raising device 7 has been shown, as shown in FIGS. 35 to 41, the seedling box C conveyed to the seedling box delivery unit 5 is transferred to the pallet 173 by the auxiliary conveyance cart 150. You may comprise the seedling raising apparatus 1 so that it may move to.

  FIG. 35 is an overall plan view of the seedling box transfer unit 5 and the pallet moving cart 180, and FIGS. 36 and 37 are front views of the seedling box transfer unit 5 and the pallet moving cart 180, and the pallet moving cart 180 on the left side. Each side view is shown from the side. 38 to 40 show a plan view, a longitudinal side view, and a longitudinal front view showing the connecting portion between the nursery box delivery unit 5 and the pallet moving carriage 180, respectively. FIG. 41 shows an operation method of the remote operation tool 200. The longitudinal front view to explain is shown. Other configurations other than those described later are the same as those described in [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention].

  As shown in FIGS. 35 to 37, the roller conveyor 4 is connected to the downstream side of the seedling box stacking device 3, and the seedling box delivery unit 5 is connected to the downstream side of the roller conveyor 4.

  The seedling box delivery unit 5 was transported to the delivery table 115, the front and rear and left and right support frames 116 that support the delivery table 115, the roller conveyor 117 connected to the upper part of the delivery table 115, and the seedling box delivery unit 5. A seedling box stopper 118 for receiving the seedling box C is provided.

  The front and rear guide rails 170 having a longitudinal cross-sectional shape opened inward are fixed to the upper surface side of the left and right sides of the delivery table 115, and the wheels of the auxiliary transport carriage 150 are attached to the front and rear guide rails 170. 154 enters, and the auxiliary conveyance carriage 150 can be moved in the left-right direction along the guide rail 170. Note that the flange 154A is not formed on the wheel 154 of the auxiliary transport carriage 150 in this embodiment, and the outer peripheral surface of the wheel 154 of the auxiliary transport carriage 150 is a rail 175 mounted on the guide rail 170 and a pallet 173 described later. It is comprised so that it may move along.

  The delivery table 115 is formed in a shape extending leftward from the roller conveyor 117, and a rail is provided below the end portion of the delivery platform 115 extending leftward via a bracket 171. The member 172 is fixed. The rail member 172 is equipped with a rail body 172a which is long in the front-rear direction and is formed in accordance with the width of a wheel 182 of the pallet moving carriage 180 which will be described later, and the pallet movement which will be described later from the front or rear part of the rail body 172a. By positioning and moving the wheel 182 of the carriage 180, the pallet 173 placed on the pallet movement carriage 180 can be moved back and forth with high precision along the rail member 172.

  A pallet moving carriage 180 that can move in the front-rear direction along the rail member 172 is connected to the left end of the nursery box delivery section 5. The pallet moving carriage 180 includes a frame member 181, front and rear and left and right wheels 182 mounted at lower portions of the four corners of the frame member 181, and an operation tool 183 mounted at the front left and right center portions of the frame member 181. And is configured.

  The frame member 181 includes a U-shaped left and right front and rear frames 184 having a long longitudinal cross section opened downward, and a left and right longitudinal cross section provided across the left and right front and rear frames 184 having a bottom opened downward. It comprises a plurality of character-shaped horizontal frames 185. A U-shaped movable frame 186 whose vertical cross-sectional shape opens downward from above is attached to the horizontal frame 185 so that the vertical position can be adjusted. By adjusting the movable frame 186 up and down with respect to the horizontal frame 185, The height of the pallet 173 placed on the upper surface side of the movable frame 186 can be changed and adjusted.

  A plurality of guide members 187 having guide portions 187a inclined obliquely outward and upward are fixed to the four corners of the frame member 181. When the pallet 173 is placed on the pallet moving carriage 180, the plurality of guide members 187 are provided. The guide member 187 is configured so that the pallet 173 can be positioned.

  Front and rear and left and right wheels 182 are fixed to the front end and rear end of the front and rear frame 184 of the pallet moving carriage 180 from the lower side, and the frame 188 extends from the left and right center of the front and rear horizontal frame 185. The left and right operation tools 183 are mounted. A cart stopper 183a is provided at the lower center of the operation tool 183 so that the vertical position can be adjusted, and a pallet moving cart is brought into contact with the floor surface by a rubber member attached to the lower end of the cart stopper 183a. It is comprised so that the movement to the front-back direction of 180 can be controlled.

  Front and rear brackets 189 are fixed to the front end portion and the rear end portion of the right end portion of the pallet moving carriage 180, and the front and rear brackets 189 are equipped with front and rear positioning stoppers 190 so that the pallet moving carriage 180 can be railed. When moved along the member 172, the contact portion 190a of the positioning stopper 190 comes into contact with the side surface of the delivery table 115 of the seedling box delivery unit 5, and the pallet movement cart 180 (pallet movement cart 180) with respect to the seedling box delivery unit 5 is reached. The pallet 173) placed on the front and rear can be positioned in the front-rear direction.

  Two handles 190b are respectively attached to the positioning stopper 190, and the position of the positioning stopper 190 relative to the bracket 189 is changed and adjusted by loosening the handle 190b on the bracket 189 side and operating the outer handle 190b, The position of the pallet moving carriage 180 (pallet 173 placed on the pallet moving carriage 180) positioned by the positioning stopper 190 can be changed and adjusted.

  By placing the pallet 173 on the upper surface side of the movable frame 186 of the pallet moving carriage 180, the pallet 173 can be moved together with the pallet moving carriage 180. The pallet 173 is formed with an opening 173a penetrating in the left-right direction. By inserting a lift claw (not shown) of a transport device (not shown) such as a forklift into the opening 173a, a forklift or the like The pallet 173 can be moved by the transport device.

  As shown in FIG. 35, four seedling boxes C can be arranged side by side so that the longitudinal direction of the seedling box C is in the front-rear direction on the front seedling box mounting part 173F located on the front side of the pallet 173. The four seedling boxes C can be arranged side by side so that the longitudinal direction of the seedling box C is front and rear in the rear seedling box mounting part 173R located on the rear side of the pallet 173. Yes.

  As shown in FIGS. 35 to 37, a plurality of support members 174 that are long in the left-right direction are fixed to the upper surface side of the pallet 173, and by placing the seedling raising box C on the support member 174, It is comprised so that the front-and-rear both-ends part and front-back center part of the seedling raising box C can be supported by the supporting member 174. FIG.

  The support member 174 that supports the front end portion and the rear end portion of the seedling box C is fixed with a rail 175 having an L-shaped longitudinally long cross section on the left and right sides (see FIG. 39), and assists along the rail 175. The wheel 154 of the conveyance cart 150 moves so that the auxiliary conveyance cart 150 supporting the seedling box C can be moved on the pallet 173 without difficulty. By attaching the rails 175 to the auxiliary transport carriage 150, for example, even if the surface of the pallet 173 is uneven, the wheels 154 of the auxiliary transport carriage 150 can be moved along the rails 175 without difficulty.

  As shown in FIGS. 35 and 36, a positioning mechanism 191 for positioning the support member 174 in the front-rear direction with respect to the guide rail 170 of the seedling box transfer unit 5 is provided at the left end of the transfer table 115 of the seedling box transfer unit 5. Is installed.

  As shown in FIGS. 38 to 40, the positioning mechanism 191 is supported by the front and rear support shafts 192 fixed to the left end portion of the delivery table 115 and the front and rear support shafts 192 so as to be rotatable. The positioning member 193 and a connecting operation portion 194 provided across the front and rear positioning members 193 are configured so that the positioning member 193 shown in FIG. The posture can be changed between a tilted posture that has been moved and tilted, and a standing posture in which the positioning member 193 shown in FIG.

  The positioning member 193 includes a connecting portion 193a that is connected to the support shaft 192, a guide portion 193b that comes into contact with the rail 175 that is fixed to the side portion of the support member 174, and a rail positioning that is bent from the guide portion 193b. Part 193c.

  The upper surface of the guide part 193b of the positioning member 193 is in a lying posture and is substantially flush with the surface of the guide rail 170 of the nursery box delivery part 5 through which the wheels 154 of the auxiliary transport carriage 150 pass (or the auxiliary transport carriage). 150 so that the guide member 193b of the positioning member 193 is connected to the guide rail 170 on the nursery box delivery unit 5 side and the rail 174 on the pallet moving cart 180 side. It is configured to function as a bridging member that fills a gap between the guide rail 170 and the rail 174 when the auxiliary transport carriage 150 moves between them. Thereby, the auxiliary conveyance cart 150 supporting the seedling box C can be moved from the nursery box delivery unit 5 to the pallet 173 of the pallet moving carriage 180 without difficulty.

  The width of the front and rear rail positioning portions 193b is set to be slightly narrower than the width of the front and rear rails 175, and the posture of the positioning member 193 can be changed without difficulty. The rail positioning portions 193c of the rail 175 and the positioning member 193 have a slight gap. Is configured to be opened (see FIG. 39).

  A single plate-like connection operation part 194 is fixed over the upper surface side of the front and rear positioning members 193, and the front operation member 193 and the rear position member 193 can be interlocked by this connection operation part 194. It is configured as follows. A handle portion 194a is integrally formed at the front and rear central portions of the connection operation portion 194, and the positioning member 193 can be changed in posture by operating the handle portion 194a.

  As described above, when switching between the first state in which the seedling box C is moved to the front seedling box mounting part 173F of the pallet 173 and the second state in which the seedling box C is moved to the rear seedling box mounting part 173R of the pallet 173 The pallet moving carriage 180 on which the pallet 173 is placed is moved forward or backward along the rail member 172 in a state where the positioning member 193 is changed to the standing posture.

  Then, the positioning stopper 190 mounted on the pallet moving carriage 180 is brought into contact with the delivery table 115 of the seedling box delivery unit 5 to position the pallet movement carriage 180 with respect to the delivery table 115 of the seedling box delivery unit 5, and the positioning member 193. By changing the posture to the lying posture, the position of the pallet moving carriage 180 relative to the delivery stand 115 of the seedling box delivery unit 5 can be accurately determined. In this case, since the positioning member 193 restricts the movement of the pallet moving carriage 180 in the front-rear direction, the positioning member 193 can function as a means for restricting the movement of the pallet moving carriage 180 in the front-rear direction.

  As shown in FIG. 41, when moving the seedling box C from the seedling box delivery section 5 to the pallet moving carriage 180 side by the auxiliary conveyance carriage 150, the remote control tool 200 is used. The remote operation tool 200 is made of a long pipe material and is lightweight and high in strength. The remote control tool 200 is provided with an operation part 200a at one end and a hook metal fitting 200b at the other end.

  By hooking the hook 200b of the remote operation tool 200 on the metal fitting 160a of the raising / lowering operation unit 160 of the auxiliary transport carriage 150 and pushing the operation unit 200a of the remote operation tool 200 slightly downward, the lever principle can be used with a small force. The raising / lowering operation part 160 of the auxiliary conveyance cart 150 can be swung downward, and the stacked seedling boxes C can be supported by the auxiliary conveyance cart 150.

  In the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 41 in which the operation unit 200a of the remote operation tool 200 is pushed downward, the auxiliary transport that supports the seedling box C by pushing the operation unit 200a of the remote operation tool 200 toward the pallet moving carriage 180 side. The carriage 150 can be moved to the pallet moving carriage 180 side. When the auxiliary conveyance carriage 150 supporting the seedling box C moves to a predetermined position of the pallet moving carriage 180, the operation unit 200a of the remote operation tool 200 is lifted slightly upward and the seedling box C is supported by the support member 174 of the pallet 173. Then, the auxiliary conveyance cart 150 can be moved to the nursery box delivery unit 5 by pulling the remote control tool 200 toward the front side. As a result, the nursery box C from the seedling box delivery unit 5 can be moved to the pallet movement cart 180 by an operation from the right side of the seedling box delivery unit 5 without moving near the pallet movement cart 180, The workability of the transshipment work to the pallet 173 can be improved.

  In the above-described order, the auxiliary transport carriage 150 is used to transfer the seedling box C from the seedling box transfer section 5 in order from the back side to the front side of the front nursery box placement section 173F of the pallet 173 using the auxiliary transport carriage 150. The nursery box C is moved to the front nursery box mounting portion 173F of the pallet 173. When the movement of the seedling box C to the front nursery box mounting part 173F is completed, the pallet moving carriage 180 is moved forward and positioned along the rail member 172, and the auxiliary transport carriage 150 is used by using the remote operation tool 200. The nursery box C from the nursery box delivery unit 5 is moved by the auxiliary transport cart 150 in order from the rear side to the front side of the rear nursery box placement unit 173R of the pallet 173.

  When the transfer of the seedling box C to the pallet 173 (front and rear seedling box mounting parts 173F, 173R) is completed, the lift claws of the transport device such as a forklift are inserted into the opening 173a of the pallet 173, and the seedling box C is The loaded pallet 173 is lifted by a transport device such as a forklift, and is moved to a nursery device (not shown), a nursery place, or the like, for example. Although not shown, the pallet moving carriage 180 on which the seedling box C and the pallet 173 are mounted may be moved to a seedling device, a seedling place, or the like without using a transport device such as a forklift.

  When the movement of the pallet 173 by the transport device such as a forklift is completed, an empty pallet 173 equipped with a new support member 174 or the like is set on the pallet moving carriage 180 by a transport device such as a forklift or by human power. Then, the seedling box C from the seedling box delivery unit 5 is moved again to the pallet 173 placed on the pallet moving carriage 180 in the order described above.

  As described above, by configuring the nursery box delivery unit 5, the auxiliary transport carriage 150, and the pallet moving carriage 180, for example, compared to a case where the nursery box C stacked by the nursery box stacking device 3 is manually transferred to the pallet 173. The nursery box C stacked by the nursery box stacking device 3 can be simply and quickly transferred to the pallet 173. Further, for example, when the nursery box C is transferred by human power, the nursery box C can be transferred only at a height within the reach of human hands, but the nursery box C is moved using the auxiliary transport cart 150. Thus, even if the seedling box C is stacked at a height that is difficult for human hands to reach, the seedling box C can be directly transferred to the pallet 173 without being limited to the stacked height of the seedling box C. As a result, the workability of the transfer work of the seedling box C stacked by the seedling box stacking apparatus 3 to the pallet 173 can be improved.

  Further, for example, by configuring so that human power can be effectively used for the movement of the auxiliary conveyance carriage 150 and the movement of the pallet movement carriage 180, a drive source for moving the auxiliary conveyance carriage 150, the pallet movement carriage 180, etc. is not necessary. Thus, the mechanism for moving the seedling box C to the pallet 173 can be simplified, and a compact and low-cost seedling raising apparatus 1 can be realized.

[Second Embodiment of the Invention]
In the above-mentioned [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention] and [First Different Mode of Carrying Out the Invention], the shape of the inner side end 88A of the support claw 88 is changed to the seedling box placement surface and the inner side. Although an example is shown in which it is smoothly curved over the end portion 88A and is set to have a shape extending linearly from the curved end portion obliquely inwardly downward, as shown in FIG. The shape of the inner end 88A of the support claw 88 may be adopted.

  As shown in FIG. 42 (a), the shape of the inner end 88A of the support claw 88 may be constituted only by a curved portion, and as shown in FIG. May be.

  As shown in FIG. 42 (c), the shape of the tip 88D of the inner end 88A of the support claw 88 may be inclined obliquely inward and downward, although not shown, The shape of the tip 88D of the inner side end 88A may be a curved shape or a spherical shape. Thereby, the seedling box C can be stacked more stably and accurately.

  As shown in FIG. 42 (d), the support claw mounting member 87 and the support claw 88 may be integrally formed. By configuring in this way, the thickness of the vertical holder 85 can be reduced. Furthermore, the seedling boxes C can be stacked with high accuracy. In this case, the stopper portion 87A may be attached as a separate part to the support claw attachment member 87 as shown in FIG. 42 (d), or may be integrally formed with the support claw attachment member 87 (not shown).

  Although not shown, the angle α formed by the seedling box placement surface on which the seedling box C of the support claw 88 is placed and the inner end 88A may be set to a different angle. The length of the side end 88A may be set to a different length.

  In the above-mentioned [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention] and [First Alternative Embodiment of the Invention], an example in which the shape of the notch 88C of the support claw 88 is formed in a straight line is shown. For example, you may employ | adopt the shape of the notch part 88C of the support nail | claw 88 as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 43 (a), the shape of the cutout portion 88C of the support claw 88 may be formed into a curved shape, and as shown in FIG. It may be configured.

  Moreover, although not shown in figure, the magnitude | size and length which notch the support nail | claw 88 in the notch part 88C of the support nail | claw 88 may employ | adopt a different magnitude | size and length.

[Third Another Embodiment of the Invention]
In the above-mentioned [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention], [First Alternative Embodiment of the Invention] and [Second Alternative Embodiment of the Invention], the seedlings connected downstream of the seedling box stacking device 3 Although the example which employ | adopted the box delivery part 5 was shown, if the seedling box C which moves by the conveyance trolley | bogie 6 is mounted, the seedling raising by which a different apparatus was employ | adopted as an upstream apparatus of the seedling box delivery part 5 The same can be applied to the box conveying device.

  In the above-mentioned [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention], [First Alternative Embodiment of the Invention] and [Second Alternative Embodiment of the Invention], the nursery device side of the nursery device 7 serves as a seedling box receiving section. Although the receiving unit 165 has been shown as an example, in the nursery box transport apparatus in which different devices are employed as the seedling box delivery unit as well as the seedling container 7 as long as the seedling box C is moved from the transport cart 6. Can be applied similarly.

  The connecting mechanism 143, the positioning portion 138A, the positioning member 147, which are shown in the above-mentioned [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention], [First Alternative Embodiment of the Invention] and [Second Alternative Embodiment of the Invention] Instead of the lifting prevention member 138, a connecting member, a positioning mechanism, and a lifting prevention mechanism having different mechanisms may be employed.

[Fourth Embodiment of the Invention]
In the above-mentioned [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention], [First Alternative Embodiment of Invention], [Second Alternative Embodiment of Invention] and [Third Alternative Embodiment of Invention] Although the example in which the seedling device 1 is configured so that the longitudinal direction of the box C coincides with the transport direction is shown, the seedling device 1 may be configured so that the short direction of the seedling box C matches the transport direction, Moreover, although the example which comprised the seedling box stacking apparatus 3 so that the both ends of the transversal direction of the seedling box C was supported was shown, the seedling box stacking apparatus 3 so that the both ends of the longitudinal direction of the seedling box C may be supported. May be configured.

  In the above-mentioned [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention], [First Alternative Embodiment of the Invention], [Second Alternative Embodiment of the Invention] and [Third Alternative Embodiment of the Invention] Although the transport cart 6 and the auxiliary transport cart 150 that can move the seedling box C sowed by the machine 2 are shown as examples, the present invention can be similarly applied to the case of moving an empty seedling box that has not been sowed.

Whole layout plan view of seedling raising device Whole side view of seedling raising device Overall plan view of seedling raising device Whole side view of nursery box stacking device Cross-sectional plan view at position XX in FIG. 4 showing the structure of the seedling box stacking device Cross-sectional plan view at the position of YY in FIG. 4 showing the structure of the seedling box stacking device Cross-sectional plan view at the position of YY in FIG. 4 showing the structure of the seedling box stacking device Side view of the front lower part of the seedling box stacking device Longitudinal rear view of the rear part of the upstream conveyor Longitudinal rear view of the front of the upstream conveyor Schematic side view showing the structure around the nursery box stacking mechanism Schematic side view showing the transmission structure of the seedling box stacking mechanism A longitudinal front view at the position of ZZ in FIG. 11 showing the structure near the holder Longitudinal front view showing the structure of the right holder FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional plan view at the position VV in FIG. 11 showing the structure of the right holder. Whole side view of nursery box delivery section Overall plan view of the nursery box delivery section Side view of essential parts of nursery box delivery section Side view explaining the height relationship on the upstream side of the nursery box delivery section Overall side view of transport cart Overall plan view of transport cart Rear view of transport cart Longitudinal side view of the front of the carriage Overall plan view of auxiliary transport cart Overall side view of auxiliary transport cart Rear view of the main parts of the auxiliary transport cart Longitudinal front view of the nursery device side receiving part Top view of the nursery device side receiving part Longitudinal front view explaining the delivery of nursery boxes to the transport cart Longitudinal side view explaining the delivery status of nursery boxes to the transport cart Longitudinal front view explaining the delivery status of nursery boxes to nurseries Longitudinal side view explaining the delivery of nursery boxes to nurseries Longitudinal rear view near the holder explaining the stacking situation of nursery boxes Longitudinal rear view near the holder explaining the stacking situation of seedling boxes when using straight support claws Whole plan view of nursery box delivery section and pallet moving cart in the first alternative embodiment of the invention Whole seedling box delivery part and pallet moving cart front view in the first alternative embodiment of the invention Whole side view of the pallet moving cart in the first alternative embodiment of the invention The top view which shows the connection part of the nursery box delivery part and pallet movement cart in 1st another form of implementation of invention The vertical side view which shows the connection part of the nursery box delivery part and pallet movement cart in 1st another form of implementation of invention The longitudinal front view which shows the connection part of the nursery box delivery part and pallet movement cart in 1st another form of implementation of invention Longitudinal front view for explaining a method of operating a remote control tool according to the first embodiment of the invention Longitudinal rear view for explaining the shape of the support claw in the second alternative embodiment of the invention The top view explaining the shape of the support nail of the left side in 2nd another form of implementation of invention

Explanation of symbols

5 Nursery box delivery section 6 Carriage cart 138A Lift prevention section (lift prevention mechanism, positioning mechanism)
143 Connection mechanism 147 Positioning member (positioning mechanism)
150 Auxiliary conveyance cart 165 Nursery device side receiving part (nursing box receiving part)
C Nursery box

Claims (4)

A movable carriage, and a nursery box delivery section or a seedling box receiving section and an auxiliary conveyance carriage that can move between the carriage and
A seedling box transport device configured to be able to move a seedling box between the nursery box delivery unit or the seedling box receiving unit and the transport cart by the auxiliary transport cart.   The connection mechanism which can connect the said seedling box delivery part or the said seedling box acceptance part, and the said conveyance cart in the state which connected the said transportation cart to the said seedling box delivery part or the said seedling box acceptance part is provided. The nursery box transport device as described.   The seedling box transport device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a positioning mechanism for positioning the transport cart with respect to the seedling box transfer section or the seedling box receiving section.   4. A lift prevention mechanism for preventing the transfer cart from being lifted when the nursery box is moved between the nursery box transfer unit or the nursery box receiving unit and the transfer cart. 5. The nursery box transport device according to item.

Images