JP2010193762A - Granule feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To excellently convey a material to be treated without inducing complication of installation accuracies of electric blower, etc., even when the supply direction of sending air is changed to any side of a convey duct side and a discharge duct side. <P>SOLUTION: A granule feeder comprises a supply route for conveying a material to be conveyed by air transportation and a discharge route for conveying the material to be conveyed by air transportation separately from the supply route and is equipped with a branched route for selectively sending conveying air supplied from an electric blower 40 for blowing to the supply route and the discharge route. The cross-section area of the branched route is larger than those of the supply route and the discharge route. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention comprises a supply path for conveying a conveyance object made of granular material by wind conveyance, and a discharge path for conveying the conveyance object by wind conveyance separately from the supply path. It is related with the improvement of the granular material supply apparatus comprised so that the residual granular material of this can be taken out with wind force.

As described above, as a powder and particle supply device provided with a discharge route by wind transportation separately from the supply route, a device described in the following [1] has been known.
[1] A transport duct as a supply path for transporting a transported object made of granular material by wind transport, and a discharge as a discharge path for transporting a transported object made of granular material by wind power transport separately from the supply path A duct is provided, and the blowing direction of the electric blower is switched to either the transport duct side or the discharge duct side so that the object to be transported can be selected to be supplied to the supply path or taken out from the discharge path ( For example, see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2008-29214 (paragraph “0008”, FIGS. 5 and 6)

As in the prior art described in [1] above, whether the blower direction of the electric blower is switched between the conveyance duct side and the discharge duct side, and the object to be conveyed is supplied to the supply path or taken out from the discharge path. Can be selected, which is useful in that the transported object remaining in the storage unit can be easily discharged using wind power.
However, in the above-described conventional structure, the cross-sectional area of the flow path in the branching path when supplying the conveyance air from the electric blower to the conveyance duct side and the discharge duct side is not sufficient. It was formed to the same extent as the area. For this reason, if the position of the electric blower and the path switching valve and the air blowing direction for each duct are biased toward one duct, the supply pressure of the conveying air supplied into the other duct is greatly reduced. As a result, the conveyance performance may be reduced.
Therefore, in such a structure, the electric blower and the path switching valve are arranged for each duct so that the required pressure acts on the flow path in the duct on either side as the conveying wind supply pressure from the electric blower. It is necessary to set the position and the air blowing direction strictly, and there is a problem that it is necessary to improve the mounting accuracy of the position and orientation of the electric blower and the path switching valve.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an electric blower in a granular material supply apparatus having a structure for supplying an object to be conveyed by wind conveying so that the wind for conveying the wind can also be used for taking out the residual granular material. In this way, it is possible to carry out a good workpiece transfer even when the supply direction of the transfer air is switched to either the transfer duct side or the discharge duct side without incurring the complicated mounting accuracy. .

In order to achieve the above object, the powder and particle supply apparatus according to the present invention employs the following technical means.
[Solution 1]
The granular material supply apparatus according to the present invention includes a supply path for conveying an object to be conveyed made of granular material by wind conveyance, and a discharge path for conveying an object to be conveyed made of granular material by wind conveyance separately from the supply path. A branch path that selectively feeds the conveying air supplied from the wind blower electric blower to the supply path and the discharge path, and determines the cross-sectional area of the branch path between the supply path and the discharge path. It is larger than the area.

[Operation and effect of invention according to Solution 1]
As described above, the cross-sectional area of the branch path that selectively feeds the conveying air supplied from the electric blower for raising wind to the supply path and the discharge path is larger than the cross-sectional area of the supply path and the discharge path. As a result, the following operations and effects are obtained.
That is, when the entire amount of the conveyance air supplied from the electric blower is supplied to the supply path or the discharge path without changing the flow path cross-sectional area or the flow direction, the total pressure of the conveyance air is selected on the path side. Will be introduced. However, in the structure that selects the route where the conveyance wind should be introduced in the branch path where the influence of the dynamic pressure of the conveyance wind is the largest, the dynamic pressure is affected by the installation accuracy such as the mounting position and posture of the electric blower and the path switching valve. There is a case where the total pressure on the selected route side is not set as predetermined.
In contrast, in the present invention, a portion having a large channel cross-sectional area is provided in the branch path where the influence of the dynamic pressure of the conveying wind supplied from the electric blower is the largest, and a part of the dynamic pressure is statically applied at this location. The ratio of the static pressure to the total pressure is increased by changing to. Thus, by increasing the proportion of the static pressure that is not easily affected by the position and orientation of the electric blower and the path switching valve in the total pressure of the conveying wind, the influence of the mounting accuracy can be reduced.

Therefore, by providing a location where the flow path cross-sectional area increases in the middle of the air blowing path from the electric blower to the duct on the supply path side or the discharge path side, a part of the dynamic pressure is changed to static pressure, There is an advantage that the ratio of the static pressure to the total pressure is increased, the influence of the position and posture of the electric blower and the path switching valve on the pressure setting in the transport path is reduced, and these can be easily installed.
Moreover, it is also useful in that the degree of freedom in design is increased by reducing the influence of the position and posture of the electric blower and the path switching valve.

[Solution 2]
In the invention according to Solution 2, in the powder and granular material supply device described above, the fixed frame portion fixedly installed on the vehicle body frame side, and the posture tilted about the horizontal axis along the horizontal direction with respect to the fixed frame portion A granular material feeding device comprising a support frame composed of a movable frame portion that can be changed, and comprising a granular material storage unit and a feeding mechanism for delivering the granular material by a predetermined amount, the movable frame side And a wind guide conveying means comprising a wind blow electric blower and a wind guide pipe having a branching path, a supply path, and a discharge path are supported on the movable frame side. It is characterized by being.

[Operation and effect of invention according to Solution 2]
In the invention according to the solution means 2, both the powder body feeding device and the wind conveying means are supported on the movable frame portion side which can be tilted around the horizontal axis along the horizontal direction with respect to the fixed frame portion and the posture can be changed. I'm allowed. For this reason, during the maintenance work in which the granular material delivery device is tilted around the horizontal axis, the wind-fed conveying means is similarly tilted around the horizontal axis. Wind conveying means can be used.
As a result, it is possible to use the air blow by the electric blower during maintenance work for discharging the residual powder, cleaning the discharge duct part and the powder storage part, and drying after washing. There is.

[Solution 3]
In the invention according to the solution means 3, in the powder and granular material supply device, the electric blower is disposed at a position overlapping the horizontal axis as viewed in the direction of the horizontal axis, which is the rotation fulcrum of the movable frame portion. It is characterized by.

[Operation and effect of invention according to Solution 3]
In the invention according to the solution means 3, since the electric blower is disposed at a position overlapping with the horizontal axis that is the pivot point of the movable frame portion, the powder body feeding device, the blast conveying means, Even if the electric blower is tilted, the electric blower does not move so much only by rotating around the horizontal axis and changing its inclination.
Therefore, while a relatively large electric blower is moved, the electric blower can be prevented from moving too much, and there is no need to secure a space for moving the electric blower on the traveling machine body. There is an advantage that a loss in space utilization efficiency can be avoided.

[Solution 4]
In the invention according to the solution means 4, in the above-described powder supply apparatus, the powder body discharge port on the side of the feed case that houses the feed mechanism is provided between the axis of the feed roll constituting the feed mechanism and the upper end of the feed case. It is provided in the position of.

[Operations and effects of invention according to Solution 4]
In the invention concerning the solution means 4, the powder body discharge port on the side of the feed case is provided at a position between the axis of the feed roll constituting the feed mechanism and the upper end of the feed case. By tilting around the rotation fulcrum, most of the granular material remaining in the reservoir can be discharged. Therefore, there is an advantage that the residual granular material can be efficiently discharged from the storage unit, and the maintenance work can be performed efficiently.

[Solution 5]
In the invention relating to the solution means 5, in the above-described powder supply apparatus, the horizontal axis that is the pivot point of the movable frame portion is provided in a position closer to the powder discharge port side than the feeding roll in the front-rear direction. It is characterized by being.

[Operation and effect of invention according to Solution 5]
In the invention according to the solution means 5, the horizontal axis that is the pivot point of the movable frame portion is provided in the front-rear direction at a location closer to the granular material outlet than the feeding roll. By the tilting around the rotation fulcrum, the feeding roll side far from the rotation fulcrum moves largely upward, and the powder outlet on the side close to the rotation fulcrum is positioned relatively low. .
As a result, there is an advantage that the granular material remaining in the vicinity of the upper portion of the feeding roll is more easily discharged to the granular material discharge port side.

Whole side view which shows the riding type rice transplanter to which the granular material supply apparatus of this invention is applied The whole top view which shows the riding type rice transplanter to which the granular material supply apparatus of this invention is applied Front view showing the powder supply device Plan view showing the powder supply device Sectional view in the vertical direction along the machine body longitudinal direction Sectional view in the vertical direction along the machine body longitudinal direction Cross-sectional view in the horizontal direction showing the posture change mechanism part in the powder and particle feeder Left side view of powder supply device Left side view of powder supply device A plan view showing the wake conveying means Front view showing the discharge duct side of the wake conveying means Vertical sectional view showing the discharge duct Cross-sectional view in the horizontal direction showing the vicinity of the branch duct of the wind-generating means A branch duct is shown, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a front view, and (c) is a side view. The short pipe of a conveyance duct is shown, (a) is a rear view, (b) is a top view, (c) is a cc line sectional view in (a). Fig. 2 shows a transport duct connector, (a) is a side view, and (b) is a front view. An air guide member is shown, (a) is a sectional view, (b) is a rear view, and (c) is a side view. Fig. 4A shows a coupling device for a transport duct, where Fig. 7A is a partially cutaway sectional view and Fig. 5B is a partially cutaway sectional view showing an assembled state. XIX-XIX sectional view taken along line XIX-XIX in FIG. A fertilizer hopper is shown, (a) is a cross-sectional view in the vertical direction along the left-right direction of the machine body, (b) is a plan view Cross-sectional view in the vertical direction along the fuselage left and right direction showing the fertilizer hopper Side view showing the fertilizer hopper connection mechanism Exploded perspective view showing the coupling mechanism Cross-sectional view in the vertical direction showing the fertilization location of the seedling planting device XXV-XXV cross-sectional view in FIG. The other embodiment of a fertilizer hopper is shown, (a) is sectional drawing in the up-down direction in alignment with the left-right direction of a body, (b) is a top view Plan view of a riding type rice transplanter showing another embodiment of the intake duct Partially cutaway side view showing another embodiment of the intake duct

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.
[Overall configuration of work equipment]
FIG.1 and FIG.2 has shown the riding type rice transplanter which is an example of the working machine to which the granular material supply apparatus A of this invention is applied.
This riding type rice transplanter includes an engine 13 and a transmission case 14 on the front side of a vehicle body frame 10 of a traveling machine body 1 including a pair of left and right front wheels 11 and a pair of left and right rear wheels 12 that can be steered. . A control unit 15 equipped with a steering handle or the like and a driver seat 16 are provided at the center of the traveling machine body 1, and the powder supply device A is disposed on the rear step 18 at the rear part of the vehicle body frame 10 constituting the traveling machine body 1. Has been.

  Driving unit steps having substantially flat step portions positioned lower than the rear step 18 on both the left and right sides of the engine 13 and between the control unit 15 and the driving seat 16 and on both the left and right sides of the driving seat 16. 17 is provided. On the outer side of the operation unit step 17, a reserve seedling base 26 is disposed at the left and right locations facing the location where the engine 13 is disposed.

On the rear side of the vehicle body frame 10, a pair of left and right support frame plates 10B constituting the vehicle body frame 10 are erected on a main frame 10A which also forms the vehicle body frame 10, and one end side is provided on the support frame plate 10B. A riding type rice transplanter is configured by mounting the seedling planting device 2 which is an example of the working device B on the other end side of the pivotally linked link mechanism 19. The link mechanism 19 includes a lift cylinder 19a and connects the seedling planting device 2 to the traveling machine body 1 so as to be movable up and down.
As shown in FIG. 2, the seedling planting device 2 is configured as an eight-row planting, and includes four planting transmission cases 20 and a rotating case 21 that is rotatably supported on the left and right sides of the planting transmission case 20. The rotating case 21 includes a pair of planting claws 22, five grounding floats 23, a seedling bed 24, and the like.

[Configuration of powder supply device]
Next, the structure of the granular material supply apparatus A will be described.
The granular material supply device A stores the fertilizer as the granular material that is the object to be conveyed, and fertilizer 3 for feeding and supplying the fertilizer by a predetermined amount, and for conveying the granular material to the working device B side by wind power. And the wind-generating and conveying means 4. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fertilizer application device 3 and the wind-up conveying means 4 are arranged on the vehicle body frame 10 at the rear part of the traveling machine body 1 and arranged side by side near the rear side of the driver seat 16. It is supported by the support frame 5.

[Fertilizer]
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the fertilizer application device 3 is a payout housing a fertilizer hopper 30 made of a transparent resin for storing fertilizer and four fertilizer feeding mechanisms 32 arranged below the fertilizer hopper 30. A case 31 is provided.
The fertilizer feeding mechanism 32 has a feeding roll 33 in which a large number of recesses 33a for entering the granular material are formed on the outer periphery along the circumferential direction, at a position lower than the granular material discharge port 31A of the feeding case 31, and It arrange | positions rotatably above the funnel part 34 (an example of the start end part of a fertilizer supply path | route). In addition, the code | symbol 32a in FIG. 5 is a brush which slidably contacts with the surrounding surface of the supply roll 33, and acts by grinding.

The driving force to the fertilizer feeding mechanism 32 is transmitted from the transmission case 14 to the feeding drive shaft 35 through a transmission mechanism including a one-way clutch mechanism (not shown). The fertilizer feed mechanism 32 is driven by the feed roll 33 being rotationally driven along with the intermittent rotation of the feed drive shaft 35.
As a result, the fertilizer stored in the fertilizer hopper 30 enters the recess 33 a of the feed roll 33, and the fertilizer is fed to the funnel portion 34 with the intermittent rotation of the feed drive shaft 35. The fertilizer fed to the funnel portion 34 is supplied with high-pressure wind from the electric blower 40 of the wind-generating and conveying means 4 to be described later to the funnel portion 34 via the conveyance duct 41, so that the high-pressure wind Then, it is sent out from the tubular member 37 on the outlet side of the funnel portion 34 to the working device B side. That is, the cylindrical member 37 is connected to a supply hose 39 for supplying fertilizer to the grooving device 25 of the seedling planting device 2, and the cylindrical member 37 is connected to the supply hose 39. Corresponds to the connecting part.

The cylindrical member 37 has a spherical inner connecting portion 37b that is inscribed in a spherical receiving portion 34b on the outlet side of the funnel portion 34 on the other end side of the cylindrical connecting portion 37a to which the supply hose 39 is connected. And is supported so as to be movable relative to the funnel portion 34. In other words, the spherical inner connecting portion 37b of the cylindrical member 37 and the spherical receiving portion 34b on the funnel portion 34 side are connected while maintaining the connection state of the supply hose 39 to the cylindrical member 37. A posture changing mechanism 36 for changing the posture is configured.
As shown in FIG. 5, the spherical receiving portion 34b of the funnel portion 34 is configured to be split at the largest diameter portion of the spherical surface, and the internal connecting portion 37b can be attached and detached by dividing the receiving portion 34b. It is configured to do so.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 13 to 15, the granular material discharge port 31 </ b> A is a discharge duct which will be described later with residual fertilizer in the fertilizer hopper 30 at a position higher than the feeding roll 33 on the upper side of the funnel portion 34. It is provided so as to constitute a confluence channel r for discharging to the 42 side. In addition, in the powder body discharge port 31A, an open / close operation that can be switched between a state in which the fertilizer present in the fertilizer hopper 30 is discharged to the outside without passing through the feeding roll 33 and a state in which the discharge is prevented is freely performed. Although a mechanism 38 (an example of an opening / closing means for merging the objects to be conveyed) is provided, the opening / closing operation mechanism 38 is not attached to the granular material discharge port 31A itself, but of the blast conveying means 4 described later. It is provided in a part and is configured to be attachable from the outside to the powder body discharge port 31A.
Further, the powder body outlet 31A constituting the merging flow path r for discharging the residual fertilizer in the fertilizer hopper 30 to the discharge duct 42 side, and the powder constituting the merging flow path r on the discharge duct 42 side. In the state where the fertilizer hopper 30 is changed to the backward tilted posture as shown in FIG. 6 or the state where the fertilizer hopper 30 is returned to the original fertilizer supply posture as shown in FIG. In order to make it easy to flow, it is formed in a state where the discharge duct 42 side is inclined.

  The opening / closing operation mechanism 38 configured as described above is operated in a closed position shown by a solid line in FIG. 5 during normal seedling planting work so that the fertilizer from the fertilizer hopper 30 is fed to the funnel portion 34. To. When the normal seedling planting operation is completed, the driving of the seedling planting device 2 (specifically, the driving of the PTO axis (not shown)) is stopped, and the virtual line in FIG. As shown in the figure, when the opening / closing operation mechanism 38 is operated to the open posture, the fertilizer remaining in the fertilizer hopper 30 is discharged to the outside from the granular material discharge port 31A.

[Wind conveying means]
The wind-up conveying means 4 for conveying the fertilizer (powder particles) fed from the fertilizer feeding mechanism 32 to the working device B side by wind force is configured as follows.
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, 8, and 9, the wake conveying means 4 serves as a motive power electric blower 40 and a supply path for conveying the granular material to the working device B side. It is configured to include a transport duct 41 and a discharge duct 42 serving as a discharge path for carrying out the powder particles to the outside.

The electric blower 40 is arranged in a state where the rotational axis y of a wind-up blade (not shown) driven by the electric motor 40a is along the vertical direction, takes in outside air from the downward intake port 40b, and travels. An air supply port 40c that opens horizontally in the horizontal direction is provided so as to blow the conveying air from one side of the left side of the body 1 toward the other side.
An air guide pipe 4A composed of a bifurcated branch duct 43, a transport duct 41 constituting a supply path, and a discharge duct 42 constituting a discharge path with respect to the air supply port 40c of the electric blower 40. Is connected.
As shown in FIG. 2, the intake port 40b is provided with a suction opening near the engine 13, and an intake duct 27 is connected so as to suck the warm outside air around the engine 13. The intake duct 27 is manufactured by including a cylindrical portion 27c having a bellows-like flexibility at the end connected to the electric blower 40, and can be deformed so as to allow the posture change of the electric blower 40. It is configured.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the branch duct 43 has a receiving side connection port 43 a that fits into the air supply port 40 c of the electric blower 40 and a supply side that is connected to the transport duct 41. A connection port 43b and a discharge side connection port 43c connected to the discharge duct 42 are formed. Accordingly, the blower from the electric blower 40 is configured to be branched and supplied to each of the transport duct 41 and the discharge duct 42.
Of the supply-side connection port 43b and the discharge-side connection port 43c, the supply-side connection port 43b is on the same rotation surface as the rotation surface on which the wind-up blades of the electric blower 40 rotate, and supplies air to the electric blower 40. It is located in a state substantially opposite to the port 40c, and is configured to send wind into the transport duct 41 in a direction substantially along the extended line L in the blowing direction from the air supply port 40c.

Of the supply side connection port 43b and the discharge side connection port 43c formed in the branch duct 43, the discharge side connection port 43c has the air supply port 40c in plan view as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG.11 and FIG.14, it is located from the rotation surface where the wind-up blade of the electric blower 40 rotates also in the up-down direction. Is also provided in a state of being located at a location deviated upward.
And as for the ventilation path | route from the reception side connection port 43a connected to the said air supply port 40c to the discharge side connection port 43c, as shown in FIG. 14, the reception side connection port 43a and the discharge side connection port 43c are smooth. It is formed so as to be connected by a curve. The flow passage cross-sectional area in the direction perpendicular to the blowing direction in the branch duct 43 is formed so that the flow passage cross-sectional area in the branch duct 43 is larger than the flow passage cross-sectional area in the discharge duct 42. Has been. Further, in the branch duct 43, the flow passage cross-sectional area is formed so as to increase toward the upper side in the blowing direction except for the vicinity of the supply side connection port 43b.

In the branch duct 43, a path switching valve 44 (discharge) for switching and supplying the wind supplied from the air supply port 40C of the electric blower 40 to either the supply path side or the discharge path side. Equivalent to air supply / discharge means for the duct 42).
As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the path switching valve 44 is equipped with an operation shaft 44a penetrating up and down in the branch duct 43 and a rotatable operation around the vertical axis y2 of the operation shaft 44a. It is comprised with the plate-shaped valve body 44b made. The valve body 44b is configured to be switchable in a range of approximately 90 degrees over a supply path opening posture shown in FIG. 13 (a) and a discharge path opening posture shown in FIG. 13 (b). Further, on the inner surface side of the branch duct 43, step portions 43d and 43d are formed which contact at the limit positions on both sides of the posture change range of the valve body 44b, and by contact with the step portions 43d and 43d, The discharge path opening posture and the supply path opening posture of the valve body 44b are stably maintained.

[Transport duct]
Of the transport duct 41 and the discharge duct 42 connected to the branch duct 43, the transport duct 41 is configured as shown in FIGS. 10 and 15 to 19.
That is, the transport duct 41 is formed in a continuous cylindrical shape having a predetermined length by connecting a plurality of short pipes 41A concentrically via an annular connector 41B.

As shown in FIG. 15, each short pipe 41 </ b> A has a small protrusion 41 a for locking at both ends, and mounting holes for fixing an air guide member 45 (described later) in a fitted state at an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction. 41d is formed.
As shown in FIGS. 16 and 18, the annular connector 41 </ b> B has a pair of short pipes 41 </ b> A that are adjacent to each other and formed at an outer peripheral position near the opposite end in a state where the opposite end is abutted. Two cam-shaped cutouts 41b and 41b for engaging the locking small protrusions 41a and 41a are formed.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19, among the pair of short pipes 41A and 41A whose ends are positioned in abutting state, first, the locking small protrusion 41a of one short pipe 41A is connected to the connector. By engaging with one cam-shaped notch 41b of 41B and then engaging the small protrusion 41a for locking of the other short pipe 41A with the other cam-shaped notch 41b of the connector 41B The pair of short pipes 41A and 41A adjacent to each other can be connected.
The pair of short pipes 41A and 41A in which the end portions are located in a butted state are slightly enlarged in diameter near the opposed end portions, and a pair of backing members 41C are provided on the inner peripheral side of the enlarged diameter portion 41e. , 41C are mounted. The inner diameters of the backing members 41C and 41C are formed to have the same dimensions as the inner diameters of the short pipes 41A and 41A excluding the enlarged diameter portion 41e, and the inner circumferential surface of the transport duct 41 is useless stepped portion or the like. It is configured to have a smooth surface without any gaps.
In addition, the code | symbol 41c shown in FIG.18 and FIG.19 is a rib for slip prevention at the time of hold | gripping and rotating the outer periphery of the cyclic | annular coupling tool 41B.

The wind guide member 45 mounted in the mounting hole 41d formed in the middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the short pipe 41A is formed as a whole made of a rubber material. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 17, the air guide member 45 has two cylindrical guide portions that are fitted into a mounting hole 41d formed in the short pipe 41A on one side of the pedestal portion 45a. 45b and 45b are integrally formed, and a concave portion 45c is formed on the other side of the pedestal portion 45a so as to be externally fitted to the conveying air intake port 34a formed in the funnel portion 34 of the fertilizer applicator 3.
Therefore, by inserting the two cylindrical guide portions 45b and 45b of the rubber air guide member 45 into the mounting hole 41d formed in the middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the short pipe 41A, the transport duct 41 is inserted. The air guide member 45 can be attached to the. Then, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the concave portion 45 c of the air guide member 45 is externally fitted to the conveying air intake 34 a formed in the funnel portion 34, so that the fertilizer application device 3 is conveyed to the funnel portion 34. The duct 41 can also be connected. As described above, the rubber air guide member 45 serves as a transport air guide for facilitating intake of the transport air, as well as means for connecting the transport duct 41 to the funnel portion 34 of the fertilizer applicator 3, and It will also serve as a seal member at that location.

The two cylindrical guide portions 45b and 45b are arranged at positions before and after the flow direction of the conveying wind, but from the cylindrical guide portion 45b positioned on the upper side in the flowing direction of the conveying wind. Also, the cylindrical guide portion 45b located on the lower side is formed so as to largely protrude from the pedestal portion 45a.
And in each cylindrical guide part 45b and 45b, the cylindrical outer peripheral surface of each cylindrical guide part 45b and 45b is so that the conveyance wind from the upper side in the flow direction of the conveyance wind can be satisfactorily performed. The surface facing the upper side is lower than the surface facing the lower side. Further, the protruding end side of the cylindrical outer peripheral surface of each of the cylindrical guide portions 45b, 45b is formed as a partial conical surface that becomes thinner toward the distal end side, and the direction of the conveying air flowing in the conveying duct 41 is smooth. And is formed so as to be easily taken into the funnel portion 34 side.

  Since the transport duct 41 needs to be closed at the end in the transport direction, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 10, the end on the end side is closed as a short pipe 41A at the end. However, the present invention is not limited to such a structure, and a closing member may be separately attached to the end side of the short pipe 41A having both ends open.

[Exhaust duct]
Of the transport duct 41 and the discharge duct 42 connected to the branch duct 43, the discharge duct 42 is configured as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 10 to 13. FIG.
That is, the discharge duct 42 is formed in a continuous cylindrical shape having a predetermined length by connecting a plurality of short pipes 42A and 42B concentrically, and a detachable end pipe 42C is connected to the end portion. Configured.
In the case of this discharge duct 42, it is not connected using an annular connector 41B such as the transport duct 41, but is continuous by devising the end shapes of the short pipes 42A and 42B and the end pipe 42C. A cylindrical discharge duct 42 is configured.

That is, the discharge duct 42 is not only the short pipes 42A and 42B having a single type of end shape, but partially at both ends as shown in FIG. 10, FIG. 11, and FIG. A first short pipe 42A having a stepped end 42a having an enlarged diameter, a second short pipe 42B formed entirely in a straight tube shape, and one end side inserted into the first short pipe 42A, and the other end side thereof It is comprised in combination with the termination | terminus pipe 42C open | released outside.
Accordingly, the first short pipe 42A and the second short pipe 42B are connected in an alternating combination as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, and the terminal pipe 42C is connected to the final end portion, whereby a long length is obtained. The discharge duct 42 is configured.

Of the short pipes 42A and 42B, the first short pipe 42A is connected to the granular material outlet 31A of the fertilizer hopper 30 at the middle in the longitudinal direction, as shown in FIGS. And a slant guide portion 42d for guiding the joined powder particles toward the lower side in the flow direction of the conveying wind.
In this way, by forming the first short pipe 42A, in the cylindrical inside of the discharge duct 42, the flow path r for merging composed of the powder particle merging port part 42c and the inclined guide part 42d, A substantially rectangular outlet opening is formed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 13B, the wind introduced into the discharge duct 42 flows along the slope of the inclined guide part 42 or along the lateral side part of the granular material joining port part 42c. Since the residual fertilizer discharged from the flow path r is conveyed to the end side while sucking, there is little possibility that the residual fertilizer returns to the feeding case 31 side.

The second short pipe 42B is formed in a straight tube shape as a whole, and is connected in a state of being fitted into a stepped end 42a formed at the end of the first short pipe 42A facing both ends thereof, Further, a seal member 42b is sandwiched between the outer peripheral surface of the end portion of the second short pipe 42B and the stepped end portion 42a formed at the end portion of the first short pipe 42A. Yes.
The inner peripheral surface of the straight tubular body portion of the second short pipe 42B is formed to have the same diameter as the pipe inner peripheral surface excluding the stepped end portion 42a and the inclined guide portion 42d of the first short pipe 42A. Thus, a smooth flow path having a continuous inner peripheral surface side is formed in the discharge duct 42.

An opening / closing operation mechanism 38 for opening / closing the particulate discharge port 31A is mounted on the particulate joining port portion 42c of the first short pipe 42A. As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 10 to 12, the opening / closing operation mechanism 38 includes a plate-like valve body 38 a that faces the outside of the particulate discharge port 31 </ b> A, and an upper end of the plate-like valve body 38 a. A crank-shaped shaft body 38b mounted on the side, an operating rod 38c for rotating the crank-shaped shaft body 38b, and a pressing spring 38d.
Accordingly, the plate-like valve body 38a is switched to the open position by rotating the operating rod 38c from the closed position “closed” shown by a solid line in FIG. 5 to the open position “open” shown by a virtual line. can do. The operation portion of the crank-shaped shaft body 38b is engaged with a long hole 38e formed in the operation rod 38c, and a pressing spring 38d provided between the operation rod 38c and a lower end of the long hole 38e. By being pressed and biased to the side, the closed posture and the open posture of the plate-like valve body 38b are stably maintained.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first short pipe 42A is integrally provided with a mounting plate portion 42e made of a plate-like projecting piece along the longitudinal direction on the outer peripheral side thereof, and the mounting plate portion 42e is interposed through the mounting plate portion 42e. The support frame 5 is bolted and fixed. By fixing the first short pipe 42A to the support frame 5 in this manner, the second short pipe 42B positioned between the first short pipes 42A is also in the longitudinal direction and the longitudinal direction. Since the movement restriction in the orthogonal direction is performed, the position of the entire discharge duct 42 is restricted.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the end pipe 42C is opened at a predetermined interval between a main pipe 42f bent in an L shape and an opening 42h formed at a bent portion of the main pipe 42f. The cover body 42g is configured to cover the conveying air discharged from the opening 42h so as to guide it downward. The upper end of the main pipe 42f in the conveying air flow direction is fitted to the stepped end 42a of the rearmost first short pipe 42A.
Separating means 46 for separating the conveying wind and the granular material by providing only the conveying air by blocking the passage of the granular material conveyed by the wind in the discharge duct 42 to the end pipe 42C is provided. It is.

Separating means 46 for separating the conveying wind and the granular material is provided in the terminal pipe 42C by blocking the passage of the granular material conveyed by the wind in the discharge duct 42 and allowing only the conveying wind to pass therethrough. It is provided.
The separating means 46 is constituted by the opening 42h and a net 46a provided in the opening 42h. That is, the open port 42h opens the entire flow path in the horizontal pipe portion at a position facing the horizontal pipe portion along the extending direction of the first short pipe 42A and the second short pipe 42B in the main pipe 42f. Notched to be. The mesh 46a is provided in the entire opening 42h, and has a large number of air holes of a size suitable for preventing the passage of powder particles flowing through the discharge duct 42 and allowing only the conveying air to pass. have.
Since it is constituted in this way, the granular material flowing in the discharge duct 42 is conveyed in the extending direction of the first short pipe 42A and the second short pipe 42B, and the net 46a as the separating means 46 is provided. When the contact is made, the movement in the extending direction is stopped and falls downward, and only the conveying wind passes through the mesh body 46a and is blown out in the extending direction.
Although not shown, the cover body 42g that covers the conveying air so as to guide downward is mounted so as to be swingable upward around the horizontal axis from the state shown in FIG. Thus, the posture may be changed to a posture largely opened upward. If the cover body 42g is configured to be changeable in this manner, the cover body 42g is opened to facilitate maintenance of the separating means 46.

As shown in FIGS. 10 to 13, the main pipe 42 f of the end pipe 42 </ b> C has a state in which the conveying air flowing in the discharge duct 42 is discharged from the end of the discharge duct 42 to the outside and discharged to the outside. An opening / closing valve 47 is provided as a flow path opening / closing means that can be switched to a blocking state.
The on-off valve 47 includes a lateral operation shaft 47a and a disc-like valve body 47b that rotates around the operation shaft 47a. By rotating the operation shaft 47a from the outside, the inside of the discharge duct 42 is provided. The channel is configured to be openable and closable at the end portion.

A linkage mechanism 48 is provided so that the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing valve 47 is performed by rotating the operation lever 38c of the opening / closing operation mechanism 38.
That is, as shown in FIG. 12, an operation piece 48a is integrally fixed to a part of the operation rod 38c, a linkage rod 48b linked to a part of the operation piece 48a, and an operation shaft 47a of the on-off valve 47. The operation arm 48c integrally connected to is connected. Accordingly, when the operating rod 38c is rotated to switch the opening / closing valve 47 to the flow path closing posture, the opening / closing operation mechanism 38 operates the plate-like valve body 38a to the open side, thereby the cylindrical member 37. Is switched to the open state.
Therefore, since the conveying air supplied into the discharge duct 42 is closed at the terminal end by the opening / closing valve 47, the conveying air flows back to the fertilizer hopper 30 side through the tubular member 37.

The linkage mechanism 48 not only links the opening / closing valve 47, which is the flow path opening / closing means, and the opening / closing operation mechanism 38 of the plate-like valve body 38a, which is the opening / closing means for merging the objects to be conveyed. The path switching valve 44 is also linked.
That is, as shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 13, the operating arm 44c provided on one end side of the operating shaft 44a of the path switching valve 44 and the path switching valve 44 of the operating rod 38c are positioned in the vicinity. The provided path switching operation piece 48d is linked by a linkage rod 48e.
As a result, the opening / closing valve 47 is switched to the flow path closing posture by the turning operation of the operating rod 38c, and the path switching valve 44 is moved to the discharge duct as the cylindrical member 37 is switched to the open state. The electric blower 40 is configured to be switched to a state of sending the wind to the side 42. Therefore, the operation lever 38 c also has a function as an operation part of the path switching valve 44.

  Although not shown, a fertilizer discharge hose may be provided at a portion of the end pipe 42C that opens downwardly from the main pipe 42f. Further, a bracket for fixing a collection bag for receiving the fertilizer discharged from the fertilizer discharge hose may be provided in a part of the support frame 5 or in a part of the rear step 18. At this time, it is preferable that the bracket is provided so as not to protrude outward from the rear side of the body with respect to the rear step 18 in a plan view and to be located on the rear side of the rear step 18.

[Support frame]
The support frame 5 that supports the fertilizer applicator 3 and the wind generating and conveying means 4 is configured as follows.
That is, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the support frame 5 has a fixed frame portion 5A installed on the traveling machine body 1 and a horizontal axis x around the horizontal direction of the machine body with respect to the fixed frame part 5A. It is comprised with the combination with the movable frame part 5B which can change attitude | position.
The fixed frame portion 5A includes a front column 51 that supports the front side of the movable frame unit 5B and a rear column 52 that supports the rear side, and the movable frame unit 5B is provided on the traveling machine body 1. The upper rectangular frame 50B formed in a horizontally long lattice shape so as to support the fertilizer hoppers 30 arranged side by side in the left-right direction is integrally connected downwardly on the rear side of the upper rectangular frame 50B. The support leg portion 50 </ b> A is connected to the upper end side of the side column 52.

The front column 51 and the rear column 52 are fixed to the vehicle body frame 10 at the lower ends. Of the front strut 51 and the rear strut 52, the rear strut 52 is formed shorter than the front strut 51, and the support leg portion 50A of the movable frame portion 5B is on the horizontal axis on the upper end side of the rear strut 52. It is supported so as to be swingable around the center x.
Therefore, the movable frame portion 5B has a normal working posture in which the front end side is supported by the front support column 51 as shown in FIG. 8, and a maintenance posture inclined to the rear side around the horizontal axis x as shown in FIG. It is configured so that the posture can be switched.

To switch the movable frame portion 5B to the maintenance posture, it is necessary to release the support of the grid frame body 52 by the front support column 51. This release is performed as follows.
The front column 51 includes a hook member 53a that is swingably mounted on the movable frame portion 5B side, and an engaging / disengaging pin 53b that is provided on the front column 51 side so that the hook member 53a engages. The mechanism 53 is configured to be switchable between a state in which the members are engaged and connected to each other and a state in which the engagement and connection is released.
Therefore, the hook operating rod 53c shown by the solid line in FIG. 8 is pushed down as shown in FIG. 9 to release the engagement with the locking pin 53b, and this state is maintained to maintain the state of the fertilizer application device 3. When the whole is rotated around the horizontal axis x, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the entire fertilizer application device 3 can be switched to a maintenance posture in a backward inclined posture.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 9, the position of the center of gravity G of the entire fertilizer application device 3 is in a state of being positioned on the rear side beyond the vertical line y1 on the horizontal axis x. Easy to maintain. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, in the state of being in the normal working posture, the center of gravity G is located on the front side of the vertical line y1, but the lower end of the lower rear column 52 is lower. Since it pivots around the horizontal axis x, for example, it moves backward while moving the center of gravity G in the lifting direction compared to the case where it is pivoted around the axis at a high position such as the upper end of the front column 51. It does not require a large operating force to move. Further, since the horizontal axis x is disposed in a state in which the position in the front-rear direction enters the lower side of the fertilizer hopper 30, the distance from the center of gravity G is small even in the front-rear direction. In addition, the center of gravity G tends to exist at a relatively low position as indicated by reference numeral G1 shown in FIG. 8 in a state where the fertilizer is not filled therein, but even in this case, the position where the horizontal axis x is low. Thus, since it is located closer to the front, the degree of lifting the center of gravity G upward is less.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, 8, and 9, the fertilizer device 3 and the wind generating and conveying means 4 are connected to and supported by the movable frame portion 5 </ b> B, and around the horizontal axis x of the movable frame portion 5 </ b> B. With the rotation at, the fertilizer application device 3 and the wind conveying means 4 are also rotated.
That is, the front side and the rear side of the upper rectangular frame 50B of the movable frame portion 5B are bolted to the mounting brackets 30a and 30a formed before and after the fertilizer hopper 30 as shown in FIG.
And the conveyance duct 41 which comprises the wind raising conveyance means 4 is connected with the funnel part 34 of the fertilizer applicator 3, and the discharge duct 42 is attached to each 1st through the attachment stay 50a provided in the support leg part 50A of the movable frame part 5B. A mounting plate portion 42e of one short pipe 42A is connected, and the electric blower 40 is connected and fixed to a branch duct 43 to which the transport duct 41 and the discharge duct 42 are connected.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a support bracket 50b for rotatably supporting an operation rod 38c of the opening / closing operation mechanism 38 is also provided on the front side of the upper rectangular frame 50B.

[Powder storage part]
Specifically, the fertilizer hopper 30 for storing powder particles is configured as shown in FIGS.
In this structure, a fertilizer hopper 30 for eight-row planting is configured by connecting a plurality of intermediate container units 30A and end container units 30B via a connecting mechanism 6.

30 A of intermediate container units are provided with the communication part 30C in the both-sides wall part of the left-right direction, and it is formed so that an internal fertilizer may be in the state communicated by right and left in the upper half side of the container internal space, However, the upper half of the inner space of the container is configured to be movable to either the left or right side.
The end container unit 30B located on the laterally outer side of the intermediate container unit 30A is formed only on the inner side, that is, the side connected to the intermediate container unit 30A.

  As shown in FIG. 22, each of the intermediate container unit 30A and the end container unit 30B is integrally formed with a pair of left and right mounting brackets 30a, 30a for connection to the support frame 5 on both front and rear sides thereof. Each of these mounting brackets 30a, 30a is formed so as not to protrude outward from the front and rear upper end edges of the intermediate container unit 30A and the end container unit 30B. .

As shown in FIGS. 21 to 23, the connecting mechanism 6 for connecting the intermediate container units 30A to each other and the intermediate container unit 30A and the end container unit 30B has a shape along the periphery of the communication part 30C. Connecting member 60, a sealing member 61 having substantially the same shape as the connecting member 60, and a connecting bolt 62.
The coupling mechanism 6 includes a sealing member 61 sandwiched between the intermediate container units 30A or between the intermediate container unit 30A and the end container unit 30B, and a joint location between the intermediate container units 30A. Of the container unit bodies 30A, 30B, the seal member 61, and the connection member 60. The connection member 60 is fitted to the outside of the intermediate container unit body 30A and the end container unit body 30B. The whole is connected together with a connecting bolt 62 to form a horizontally long fertilizer hopper 30.

[Others]
On the side of the seedling planting device 2 to which fertilizer is supplied via the supply hose 39 of the fertilizer application device 3, as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, the impact sensor 7 is provided at the connection point between the supply hose 39 and the groove producing device 25. I have. The impact sensor 7 is for detecting whether or not fertilizer grains are discharged from the supply hose 39 by detecting an impact caused by the collision of the fertilizer grains, and is useful for detection of fertilizer clogging.
The impact sensor 7 is supported by a bellows-like cover body 70 provided at a connection point between the supply hose 39 and the groove forming device 25, and is configured so that vibrations of the airframe are not easily transmitted to the impact sensor 7. It is.

  As described above, the driving of the fertilizer feeding mechanism 32 of the fertilizer applicator 3 may be performed by transmitting the driving force from the transmission case 14 using an appropriate transmission mechanism. The structure of the transmission mechanism, the transmission path, etc. Is not related to the gist of the present invention and will not be described. Usually, a transmission shaft (not shown) is appropriately extended from the mission case 14, and an intermediate rotation mechanism is interposed in the middle of the fertilizer feeding mechanism 31. A structure in which the shaft is transmitted to the drive shaft 35 is generally used.

[Other Embodiment 1]
FIGS. 26 (a) and 26 (b) show a fertilizer hopper 30 used in a six-row type riding type rice transplanter.
In this structure, as the intermediate container unit 30A, a volume constituted by one elongated container is adopted, although it has the same capacity as the left and right end container units 30B. This is a structure that corresponds to a structure in which the wheel base is shortened and the space between the driver's seat 16 and the fertilizer hopper 30 has no margin as the riding type rice transplanter has six rows. As shown in (b), the intermediate container unit 30A corresponding to the rear side of the driver seat 16 is configured to be recessed. In addition, the structure of the left and right end container units 30B, the connection structure of the intermediate container unit 30A and the left and right end container units 30B, and the like are the same as the fertilizer hopper for 8-row planting described above.

[Second embodiment]
In the above embodiment, the separation unit 46 is configured by the mesh body 46a. However, the separation unit 46 is not limited to this. For example, the separation unit 46 may be configured by a punching metal, or may have a cyclone structure to separate the granular material and the conveying air. Or by increasing the blowing distance in the exhaust duct 42 or changing the direction so that the energy released by the electric blower 40 is lost, so that most of the granular material falls by its own weight. Also good.

[3 of another embodiment]
Further, when a structure having vent holes such as the mesh body 46a is used as the separating means 46, the separation means 46 is not limited to the one configured to capture all of the powder particles by the mesh body 46a, but has a predetermined size or more. The granular material having a particle size may be captured and separated, and the granular material having a fine particle size may be discharged to another path together with the conveying air.

[4 of another embodiment]
The intake duct 27 connected to the intake side of the electric blower 40 is not limited to using the dedicated intake duct 27 as in the embodiment, and may be configured as shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, for example.
In this structure, the rear step 18 is constituted by a blow-molded step and has a space inside. A front intake duct 27a for introducing outside air from the engine 13 side is connected to the lower part of the front end portion of the rear step 18 made of a blow molded product from the lower side, and an intake portion 40b of the electric blower 40 is connected to the rear side of the rear step 18. A rear intake duct 27b connected in communication is provided.
That is, the internal space of the rear step 18 itself having a space sealed inside by blow molding is used as the intake duct 27.

[5 of another embodiment]
In the embodiment, the opening / closing valve 47 serving as the flow path opening / closing means and the path switching valve 44 serving as the air supply / discharge means are operated by the opening / closing operation mechanism 38 of the plate-like valve body 38a serving as the opening / closing means for merging the objects to be conveyed. Although the structure of the operation linked via the linkage mechanism 48 is illustrated as an example, the linkage mechanism 48 is not limited to the illustrated operation pieces 48a and 48d, the linkage rods 48b and 48e, or the operation arm 48c. Various types of devices such as electrical connection means may be employed.
Further, such a linkage structure may not be adopted, and all may be operated independently by separate operations, or only a part may be linked.

As shown in the embodiment, the granular material supply device of the present invention can be mounted on a traveling vehicle body as a fertilizer supply device and used as a riding rice transplanter. Moreover, it can also comprise as an apparatus which supplies a chemical | medical agent instead of a fertilizer, and the chemical | medical agent supply apparatus can be mounted in a traveling vehicle body, and can also be used as a chemical | medical agent spraying apparatus. Or it can also comprise as a direct seeding machine using the granular material supply apparatus of this invention as a means for supplying a seed soy.
In addition, it is not limited to paddy field work, and the powder supply apparatus of the present invention may be used as a means for spraying powders such as fertilizers, chemicals, and seed pods in a field.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Fertilizer 4 Winding conveyance means 5 Support frame 5A Fixed frame part 5B Movable frame part 30 Fertilizer hopper 31 Feeding case 31A Granule discharge port 32 Feeding mechanism 33 Feeding roll 34 Funnel part 40 Electric blower 41 Transport duct 42 Exhaust duct x Horizontal axis

Claims (5)

In addition to a supply path for conveying the object to be conveyed made of granular material by wind-powered conveyance, and a discharge path for conveying the object to be conveyed made of granular material by wind-powered conveyance separately from the supply path, electric power for wind generation A branch path that selectively feeds the conveying air supplied from the blower to the supply path and the discharge path is provided.
The granular material supply apparatus which made the cross-sectional area of the said branch path larger than the cross-sectional area of the said supply path and the discharge path. A support frame configured with a fixed frame portion fixedly installed on the vehicle body frame side, and a movable frame portion that is tiltable around a horizontal axis along the horizontal direction with respect to the fixed frame portion and capable of changing its posture,
A powder body feeding device comprising a powder body storage part and a feeding mechanism that feeds the powder body by a predetermined amount is supported on the movable frame part side so that the posture can be changed, and
The wind-up conveying means comprising an electric blower for wind-up and a wind guide pipe provided with a branch path, a supply path, and a discharge path through which the conveyance wind is sent is supported on the movable frame portion side. Powder body supply device.   The granular material supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an electric blower is disposed at a position overlapping the horizontal axis when viewed in the direction of the horizontal axis, which is a pivotal support point of the movable frame portion.   The granular material supply according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the powder body discharge port on the side of the feeding case that houses the feeding mechanism is provided at a position between the axis of the feeding roll constituting the feeding mechanism and the upper end of the feeding case. apparatus.   The granular material supply apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the horizontal axis that is a pivotal fulcrum of the movable frame portion is provided in a position closer to the granular material discharge port than the feeding roll in the front-rear direction.

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