JP2013090614A - Movable cultivation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify a structure for conveyance of each of cultivation benches 10 in a closed loop shaped movable cultivation apparatus 1 which circularly conveys the plurality of cultivation benches 10 for cultivating fruits and vegetables.SOLUTION: The movable cultivation apparatus includes: a pair of conveyer devices 40A and 40B reversing the conveying direction to each other; a pair of guiding devices 20A and 20B connecting on a downstream side of conveyance of one conveyer device and an upstream side of conveyance of the other conveyer device; a sliding body 13 sliding each of the cultivation benches on the each of the guiding devices 20A and 20B; and a pair of extruding devices 21A and 21B extruding and moving the cultivation benches 10 from the downstream side of the conveyance of each conveyer devices 40A and 40B to the guiding devices 20A and 20B. The plurality of cultivation benches 10 on each of the guiding devices 20A and 20B are conveyed in a piling up state in accordance with the extruding movement of the cultivation benches 10 by each of the extruding devices 21A and 21B.

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile cultivation apparatus capable of cultivating vegetables and flower buds in a highly densely planted state.

  Conventionally, techniques for cultivating fruit vegetables and the like using a plurality of horizontally long cultivation benches are well known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a closed-loop mobile cultivation apparatus that circulates and conveys a plurality of cultivation benches.

  The mobile cultivation apparatus of Patent Literature 1 includes a pair of transport conveyor devices arranged in parallel with the transport directions opposite to each other, a transport downstream side of the one transport conveyor device, and a transport upstream side of the other transport conveyor device. A pair of guide devices for connecting, a comb-shaped rod for moving the cultivation bench group in the longitudinal direction of each guide device (hereinafter referred to as a vertical direction), and a moving actuator for moving the comb-shaped rod in the vertical direction And a rotation actuator for rotating the comb-shaped rod. The cultivation benches are circulated and conveyed in a closed loop by interlocking the vertical conveyance of the comb-shaped rods and the horizontal conveyance of the conveyance conveyor devices.

JP 2010-57448 A

  However, in the mobile cultivation apparatus of Patent Document 1, as the driving mechanism for each comb rod, the moving actuator that moves the comb rod in the vertical direction and the rotation that rotates the comb rod. An actuator is required. For this reason, it is understood that the structure of the drive mechanism becomes large, and the cost increases in relation to the number of parts, and there is room for improvement from the viewpoint of cost control.

  This invention is made | formed as a technical subject to provide the mobile cultivation apparatus which examined the present conditions as mentioned above and aimed at the improvement.

  The invention of claim 1 is a closed-loop mobile cultivation device that circulates and conveys a plurality of cultivation benches for cultivating fruit vegetables and the like, and a pair of conveyance conveyor devices arranged in parallel with the conveyance directions opposite to each other, A pair of guide devices that connect the transport downstream side of one transport conveyor device and the transport upstream side of the other transport conveyor device, a sliding body that slides each cultivation bench on each guide device, and each transport A pair of extrusion devices that extrude and move the cultivation bench toward the guide device facing the conveyor device from the conveying downstream side of the conveyor device, and with the extrusion movement of the cultivation bench by each extrusion device, The plurality of cultivation benches on the guide device are conveyed in a ball shape.

  The invention of claim 2 is the mobile cultivation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the extrusion devices is arranged on the downstream side of conveyance of each of the conveyance conveyor devices.

  The invention of claim 3 is the mobile cultivation apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each cultivation bench has an abutting body extending in a longitudinal direction of each guiding apparatus, and the abutting body is adjacent to the abutting body. In the state of abutting on the cultivation bench, it is configured such that an appropriate interval is opened along the longitudinal direction of each guide device between the adjacent cultivation benches.

  According to the present invention, a closed-loop mobile cultivation device that circulates and conveys a plurality of cultivation benches for cultivating fruit vegetables and the like, and a pair of conveyance conveyor devices arranged in parallel with the conveyance directions opposite to each other, A pair of guide devices that connect the transport downstream side of the transport conveyor device and the transport upstream side of the other transport conveyor device, a sliding body that slides the cultivation benches on the guide devices, and the transport conveyor devices A pair of extrusion devices that extrude and move the cultivation bench toward the guide device facing the conveyance device from the downstream side of the conveyance, and each guidance device as the cultivation bench is moved by the extrusion devices. Since a plurality of the above-mentioned cultivation benches are conveyed in a ball shape, a driving mechanism necessary for conveying the plurality of cultivation benches in the vertical direction on each guide device The extrusion apparatus can simply be circulated and conveyed reliably plurality cultivation benches an extremely simple structure. Since it is not necessary to provide a comb-shaped rod, a moving actuator, and a rotating actuator for each guide device as in the mobile cultivation device of Patent Document 1, significant cost reduction can be achieved.

  According to invention of Claim 2, since each said extrusion apparatus is arrange | positioned in the conveyance downstream of each said conveyance conveyor apparatus, the structure which requires driving force, such as electricity and hydraulic pressure, is gathered in each said conveyance conveyor apparatus side. In other words, no electrical wiring, hydraulic piping, or the like is required on each guide device side. This can also contribute to cost reduction.

  According to invention of Claim 3, each said cultivation bench has a contact body extended in the longitudinal direction of each said guidance apparatus, and the said adjacent in the state which the said contact body contact | abuts to the said next cultivation bench. Since it is configured so that an interval is appropriately opened along the longitudinal direction of each guide device between the cultivation benches, the infestations and fruits such as fruit vegetables cultivated on each cultivation bench collide with the adjacent cultivation benches. There is no risk of injury.

It is a schematic plan view of the mobile cultivation apparatus in an embodiment. It is a top view of a pair of conveyance conveyor apparatus. It is an enlarged plan view which shows the extrusion apparatus of a shortened state. It is an enlarged plan view which shows the extrusion apparatus of an expansion | extension state. It is a perspective view of a cultivation bench. It is a top view explaining the circulation conveyance aspect of a cultivation bench, and is a figure which shows the state before extrusion by an extrusion apparatus. It is a top view explaining the circulation conveyance aspect of a cultivation bench, and is a figure which shows the state in the middle of extrusion by an extrusion apparatus. It is a top view explaining the circulation conveyance aspect of a cultivation bench, and is a figure which shows the state of the completion | finish of extrusion by an extrusion apparatus. It is a top view explaining the circulation conveyance aspect of a cultivation bench, and is a figure which shows the state in the middle of the horizontal direction conveyance of each conveyance conveyor apparatus.

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

  First, the schematic structure of the mobile cultivation apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, when using a term indicating a specific direction or position as necessary (for example, “left / right”, “up / down”, etc.), the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. Alternatively, the horizontal direction is the left-right direction or the horizontal direction. These terms are used for convenience of explanation, and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

  In the embodiment, the vertical direction and the horizontal direction are both parallel to the horizontal plane (ground) (perpendicular to the gravitational direction), but the present invention is not limited to this, such as strawberry and spinach. The vertical direction and the horizontal direction may be slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal plane so long as they do not hinder the cultivation of fruit vegetables and the like.

  As shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2, the mobile cultivation apparatus 1 of embodiment is a closed loop-shaped thing which circulates and conveys the several cultivation bench 10 which grows fruit vegetables, such as a strawberry and spinach. In this case, the mobile cultivation apparatus 1 includes a pair of transport conveyor devices 40A and 40B arranged in parallel with the transport directions opposite to each other, the transport downstream side of one transport conveyor device 40A (40B), and the other transport conveyor device. A pair of guide devices 20A (20B) connecting the upstream side of 40B (40A), a sliding body 13 for sliding each cultivation bench 10 on each guide device 20A, 20B, and each of the conveyor devices 40A, 40B A pair of push-out devices 21A and 21B are provided that push and move the cultivation bench 10 toward the guide devices 20A and 20B facing each other from the conveyance downstream side.

  First, the detailed structure of the cultivation bench 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The cultivation bench 10 includes a planter 2 that is an upward-opening horizontally-long box-like container, and a horizontally-long box-frame-like frame frame 11 in which the planter 2 is accommodated. The planter 2 accommodates soil for cultivation, and a drain hole (not shown) for discharging excess water and chemicals to the outside is formed on the bottom surface thereof. The front and rear edges of the upper surface of the planter 2 are formed with locking pieces 2a that engage with the horizontally long upper frame 12 constituting the frame 11, and the locking pieces 2a are hooked on the upper frame 12 to be engaged. The planter 2 is supported by the cultivation bench 10 by doing.

  On the lower surface side of the frame 11, two sets of wheels 13 as a sliding body for sliding the cultivation bench 10 on each of the guide devices 20 </ b> A and 20 </ b> B are attached. A total of four sets of wheels 13 are arranged side by side in the lateral direction of the cultivation bench 10 (frame frame 11) at appropriate intervals according to the arrangement width of the guide rails 35 (details will be described later) of the respective guide devices 20A and 20B. Yes. In addition, you may provide a sliding body in each guide apparatus 20A, 20B side. Further, the sliding body is not limited to the wheel 13 but may be another structure such as a roller, a slider, or a roller. On the upper surface side of the frame frame 11, a receiving rod 14 for collecting excess water and chemicals discharged from the discharge holes on the lower surface of the planter 2 is attached. The water and the chemical solution collected in the receiving basket 14 of each cultivation bench 10 are collected and collected in the collection baskets 30A and 30B (see FIG. 1) extending along the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) of the guide devices 20A and 20B. The

  A pair of regulating arms 15 as a contact body extending in the longitudinal direction of each guide device 20A, 20B is detachably attached to one upper frame 12 in each cultivation bench 10. Both the regulation arms 15 of the embodiment are formed in an L shape in plan view that protrudes toward the front-side transport conveyor device 40A. In a state in which both regulating arms 15 are in contact with the adjacent cultivation bench 10, an appropriate interval (about 500 mm in the embodiment) is provided between the adjacent cultivation benches 10 along the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) of each guide device 20A, 20B. Will open. When the restriction arm 15 is configured to be detachable, the arrangement interval between the adjacent cultivation benches 10 can be changed to increase or decrease the cultivation benches 10, and the cultivation bench 10 can be increased or decreased depending on the type or variety of fruit vegetables. And convenient. The contact body is not limited to the structure of the restriction arm 15 fixed to the upper frame 12. It protrudes from each cultivation bench 10 so that it can open a space | interval suitably along the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) of each guide apparatus 20A, 20B between the adjacent cultivation bench 10 in the state contact | abutted to the adjacent cultivation bench 10. FIG. Any structure can be used.

  A plurality of support arms 16 projecting in the same direction as the two restriction arms 15 are provided between the two restriction arms 15 in the frame 11. Although not shown in detail, a wire rod is tied to a fixing hole formed in the protruding piece portion of both restriction arms 15, and a midway portion of the wire rod is hooked from above into a guide groove formed on the upper surface of each support arm 16. For example, put a net on top. The part of the net is supported from below by the two restriction arms 15, the plurality of support arms 16, and the wire rod, and protects the part extending to the outside of the planter 2 in the fruit vegetables or the like during cultivation.

  An IC tag 17 that stores (reads and writes) various kinds of information such as fruit vegetables grown on the cultivation bench 10 is provided on the lower center side of the frame 11. By using the IC tag 17, the traceability of fruit vegetables and the like can be improved.

  Next, the detailed structures of the conveyor devices 40A and 40B and the guide devices 20A and 20B will be described with reference to FIGS. The pair of transport conveyor devices 40A and 40B and the pair of guide devices 20A and 20B are configured in a closed loop shape for circulating and transporting the plurality of cultivation benches 10.

  A pair of conveyance conveyor apparatuses 40A and 40B are arranged in parallel with a space in the front-rear direction (longitudinal direction), and each conveys the cultivation bench 10 in the opposite conveyance direction (lateral direction). It is configured. The pair of guide devices 20A and 20B are arranged in parallel with a space in the left-right direction (lateral direction), and are configured to guide the cultivation bench 10 in directions opposite to each other (vertical direction). Has been.

  The left half of the front-side transport conveyor device 40A is positioned on the front side of the feed-side guide device 20A, and the right half of the front-side transport conveyor device 40A is positioned on the front side of the return-side guide device 20B. The left half of the back-side transport conveyor device 40B is located on the back side of the feed-side guide device 20A, and the right half of the back-side transport conveyor device 40B is located on the back side of the return-side guide device 20B. Each of the conveyor devices 40A and 40B is configured to be able to exchange the cultivation bench 10 with the guide devices 20A and 20B. Each cultivation bench 10 circulates in the clockwise direction in the plan view of FIG. 1 in the order of the front-side transport conveyor device 40A → the feed-side guide device 20A → the back-side transport conveyor device 40B → the return-side guide device 20B → the front-side transport conveyor device 40A. Be transported. Needless to say, the circulating conveyance direction may be counterclockwise in a plan view of FIG.

  The basic structure of each conveyor device 40A, 40B is the same. Each of the conveyor devices 40A and 40B includes two horizontally long conveyor frames 47 supported by a plurality of legs. A pair of left and right sprockets 42 and 43 are rotatably supported between the left and right ends of both conveyor frames 47. Two substantially parallel conveyor chains 41 are stretched between the conveyor frames 47 via drive and driven sprockets 42 and 43. The conveyor chain 41 is wound around driving and driven sprockets 42 and 43. An electric motor 45 is connected to the drive shaft of the drive sprocket 42 via a chain and a sprocket transmission system, and two substantially parallel conveyor chains 41 are synchronously rotated by the electric motor 45 in the same direction. Has been.

  On both conveyor chains 41, mounting plates 46 on which the wheels 13 of the cultivation bench 10 delivered from the respective guide devices 20A and 20B are mounted are attached at appropriate intervals. In a state where each wheel 13 of the cultivation bench 10 is placed on the corresponding placement plate 46, the pair of conveyor chains 41 are driven to rotate by the electric motor 45, so that each conveyor conveyor device 40A, 40B moves the cultivation bench 10 sideways. Transport in the direction.

  In the embodiment, the near side space (especially the near side space near the return side guide device 20B) of the near side transport conveyor device 40A is set as the work space of the operator. The worker can perform various operations (for example, harvesting operation, weeding operation, pruning operation, planter 2 replacement operation, etc.) in the operation space. Moreover, in embodiment, the irrigation apparatus 31 and the control apparatus 32 (chemical | medical solution spraying apparatus) are arrange | positioned in the position most distant from work space in the mobile cultivation apparatus 1, ie, the back | inner side conveyance conveyor apparatus 40B side. The irrigation device 31 sprays water toward the cultivation bench 10 that is transported in the lateral direction by the back-side transport conveyor device 40B. The irrigation device 31 of the embodiment is provided in the middle part in the longitudinal direction of the back side conveyor device 40B. The control device 32 is for spraying a control agent or a chemical solution toward the cultivation bench 10 that is transported in the lateral direction by the back-side transport conveyor device 40B. In the same manner as the irrigation device 31, the control device 32 of the embodiment is disposed in the middle part in the longitudinal direction of the back-side transport conveyor device 40B. Therefore, it is excellent at the point which can prevent reliably that a control agent and a chemical | medical solution adhere to the worker in a work space.

  On the other hand, the basic structure of each guide device 20A, 20B is the same. Each of the guide devices 20A and 20B includes a plurality of guide rails 35 (four in the embodiment) on which the frame 13 of the cultivation bench 10 travels. The guide rail 35 group is arranged at intervals in the left-right direction (lateral direction), and is supported by a framework composed of a large number of columns and horizontal frames. Each guide rail 35 is formed in a V-shape that is bent upward in the front-rear direction (longitudinal direction) and opened upward as viewed from the longitudinal direction. With such a guide rail 35 having a V-shaped cross section, the plurality of cultivation benches 10 can be easily guided to the transport conveyor devices 40A and 40B without removing the wheels 13.

  Extruding devices 21A and 21B are provided on the transport downstream side of the respective transport conveyor devices 40A and 40B as means for transporting the cultivation bench 10 at the relevant location in the vertical direction toward the guide devices 20A and 20B facing it. ing. Each extrusion device 21A, 21B of the embodiment is a direct acting actuator such as an electromagnetic solenoid or an air cylinder, and is configured to expand and contract in multiple stages. A horizontally long contact bar 22 that contacts the cultivation bench 10 is connected to the distal end side of the piston rod constituting each of the extrusion devices 21A and 21B.

  The extrusion device 21A (21B) extends in multiple stages, and the contact bar 22 contacts the front side surface (back side surface) of the cultivation bench 10 on the conveyance downstream side of one conveyance conveyor device 40A (40B). By pushing toward the guide device 20A (20B), the plurality of cultivation benches 10 on the guide device 20A (20B) collide one after another in a ball shape, and the cultivation on the most downstream side of the guide device 20A (20B). The bench 10 is pushed out to the transport upstream side of the other transport conveyor device 40B (40A) (see FIGS. 6 to 9).

  In the embodiment, when the adjacent cultivation benches 10 are conveyed in a ball shape, the rear side surface of the cultivation bench 10 on the conveyance upstream side is on the both regulation arms 15 of the cultivation bench 10 on the conveyance downstream side on the feeding side guide device 20A. Abut. On the return-side guide device 20B, both regulating arms 15 of the cultivation bench 10 on the transport upstream side come into contact with the back side surface of the cultivation bench 10 on the transport downstream side. In addition, the stopper 23 which regulates the vertical conveyance of the cultivation bench 10 delivered to each conveyance conveyor apparatus 40A, 40B from the most downstream side of each guide apparatus 20A, 20B is provided on the conveyance upstream side of each conveyance conveyor apparatus 40A, 40B. Is fixed.

  As is clear from the above description and FIGS. 6 to 9, according to the mobile cultivation apparatus 1 of the embodiment, the pair of transport conveyor apparatuses 40 </ b> A and 40 </ b> B arranged in parallel with the transport directions opposite to each other, and the one A pair of guide devices 20A, 20B connecting the transport downstream side of the transport conveyor device 40A (40B) and the transport upstream side of the other transport conveyor device 40B (40A), and the respective cultivation benches 10 to the respective guide devices 20A, A sliding body 13 that slides on 20B, and a pair of extrusion devices 21A that extrude and move the cultivation bench 10 from the conveying downstream side of the respective conveying conveyor devices 40A and 40B toward the guiding devices 20A and 20B facing each other. , 21B, and with the pushing movement of the cultivation bench 10 by the pushing devices 21A, 21B, Since the plurality of cultivation benches 10 on 20A and 20B are conveyed in a ball shape, the driving mechanism necessary for conveying the plurality of cultivation benches 10 on the guide devices 20A and 20B in the vertical direction is the extrusion device. Only 21A and 21B are required, and the plurality of cultivation benches 10 can be reliably circulated and conveyed with an extremely simple structure. Since it is not necessary to provide a comb-shaped rod, a moving actuator, and a rotating actuator for each of the guide devices 20A and 20B as in the mobile cultivation device of Patent Document 1, significant cost reduction can be achieved.

  According to the embodiment, since each of the extrusion devices 21A and 21B is disposed on the downstream side of the conveyance conveyor devices 40A and 40B, a structure that requires a driving force such as electricity or hydraulic pressure is used. The devices 40A and 40B are collected on the side, and no electrical wiring, hydraulic piping, or the like is required on the guide devices 20A and 20B. This can also contribute to cost reduction.

  Further, according to the embodiment, each cultivation bench 10 has a contact body 15 extending in the longitudinal direction of each guide device 20A, 20B, and the contact body 15 is in contact with the adjacent cultivation bench 10. Then, since it is configured so that an interval is appropriately opened between the adjacent cultivation benches 10 along the longitudinal direction of each of the guide devices 20A, 20B, There is no possibility that the fruit will be damaged by the collision of the adjacent cultivation benches 10.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be embodied in various forms. The configuration of each other part is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In addition, the term “fruit vegetables etc.” used in the present specification is used as a concept including fruit vegetables such as strawberries and leaf vegetables such as spinach.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile cultivation apparatus 2 Planter 10 Cultivation bench 11 Frame frame 13 Wheel (sliding body)
15 Restriction arm (contact body)
20A, 20B Guide devices 21A, 21B Extrusion device 22 Abutment bar 40A, 40B Conveying conveyor device

Claims (3)

A closed-loop mobile cultivation device that circulates and conveys a plurality of cultivation benches for cultivating fruits and vegetables,
A pair of transport conveyor devices arranged in parallel with the transport directions opposite to each other; a pair of guide devices connecting the transport downstream side of the one transport conveyor device and the transport upstream side of the other transport conveyor device; and A sliding body that slides each cultivation bench on each guide device, and a pair of extrusion devices that push and move the cultivation bench toward the guide device facing the conveyance downstream side of each conveyance conveyor device Has
Along with pushing movement of the cultivation bench by each pushing device, the plurality of cultivation benches on each guiding device are conveyed in a ball shape.
Mobile cultivation equipment. Each of the extrusion devices is arranged on the downstream side of the conveyance conveyor device,
The mobile cultivation apparatus according to claim 1. Each cultivation bench has a contact body extending in the longitudinal direction of each guide device,
In a state where the contact body is in contact with the adjacent cultivation bench, it is configured so that an appropriate interval is opened along the longitudinal direction of the guide devices between the adjacent cultivation benches.
The mobile cultivation apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

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