JP2014093990A - Grafting tube fitting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide means capable of securely coupling a rootstock and a scion with a sufficient strength without causing damage of the contact between a rootstock and a scion, lowering of the survival ratio of grafting seedlings due to dryness or the like, or crooking of the stem of a grafting seedling.SOLUTION: During operation of a tube fitting device 51, a long tube 42 with a vortex-like transverse section is supplied from a tube reel 52 to a tube guide 53. The long tube 42 is extended radially, untangled the vortex-like shape and transformed to a nearly C shape in a transverse section by the tube guide 53. Below the tube guide 53, a lower end portion of the long tube 42 with the nearly C-shaped transverse section is held by a tube fitting head 56, and then cut by a tube cutter 55 to a predetermined length to become a tube piece 43. The tube piece 43 is externally engaged with and fitted to the stem of a rootstock 7 and a scion 9 by the tube fitting head 56.

Description

  In the present invention, a tube piece is externally fitted and attached to a stem portion of a grafted seedling made of rootstock and hogi arranged so that the stem portions are in coaxial contact with each other, and the rootstock and hogi are fixed. The present invention relates to a graft attachment device for grafting.

  In recent years, grafted seedlings obtained by grafting rootstocks and hogi coaxially have been widely used for cultivation of plants such as fruits and vegetables. When manufacturing such grafted seedlings, it is necessary to connect the stem part of the rootstock and the stem part of the scion tree in a coaxial manner and then bond them together. Conventionally, adhesive tape, scissors clips, adhesives, sticks, or the like have been used as the coupling means for coupling the stem stalk and the stalk stem.

  However, in these conventional coupling means, there is a problem that the coupling strength between the root of the rootstock and the stem of the scion is not sufficient. Therefore, using a tube or a pipe as a coupling means, and inserting the stem part of the rootstock and the stem part of the scion into the hollow part of the tube from the opposite ends, respectively, A grafting device or grafting method that combines the stems of the hogi has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4). However, in the conventional grafting device or grafting method disclosed in, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4, using tubes or pipes as coupling means, insertion of roots and stems into stem tubes may fail. There is a problem.

  Therefore, a tube having a substantially C-shaped cross section formed of an elastic material and having both ends in the circumferential direction spaced apart from each other is elastically deformed by applying an external force so that a gap between the free ends is widened, Move the tube so that it surrounds the stem of the grafted seedling, then remove the external force and return the tube to its original state by elasticity, and fit the tube to the stem of the grafted seedling and attach it to the rootstock. There has been proposed a grafting device or grafting method that joins hogi to each other (see, for example, Patent Document 5).

JP-A-5-30856 JP-A-9-107795 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-121677 JP-A-11-168974 JP 2007-124936 A

  However, in the grafting device or grafting method described in Patent Document 5, for example, the cross section of the tube is substantially C-shaped, and there is a gap between both free ends in the circumferential direction. The stem part of the seedling is exposed to the outside. For this reason, there exists a problem that the coupling | bonding intensity | strength of rootstock and hogi cannot fully be ensured. There is also a problem that the stem part of the grafted seedling bulges and enters the gap, and the cross-sectional shape of the stem part becomes irregular. Furthermore, there is a problem in that the activity of the grafted seedling is lowered and the survival rate is lowered due to damage to the contact portion of the rootstock and the scion at the position corresponding to the gap, drying, or the like.

  In the grafting device or grafting method described in Patent Document 5, after the tube is externally fitted to and attached to the stem of the grafted seedling, a pressing force that acts to narrow the gap is applied to the tube to plastically deform the tube. To reduce the gap. However, since the tube is made of an elastic material, it seems difficult to plastically deform the tube in this way.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described conventional problems, and the grafted seedling is caused by the cross-sectional shape of the stem portion of the grafted seedling, the damage of the abutment part of the rootstock and the scion, drying, etc. It is an object to be solved to provide means that can securely bond a rootstock and a hogi with sufficient strength without causing problems such as a decrease in the survival rate.

  According to the present invention made to solve the above problems, a tube piece is externally fitted and attached to a stem part of a grafted seedling made of rootstock and a safflower arranged so that stem parts abut against each other coaxially. The graft mounting device for fixing the rootstock and hogi (hereinafter referred to as “tube mounting device” for short) includes a tube supply mechanism, a tube guide, a tube feed mechanism, a tube cutter, and a tube. And a mounting portion.

  In this tube mounting apparatus, the tube supply mechanism is formed of an elastically deformable material or an elastic material, and has a spiral or substantially “-”-shaped cross section, and both end portions in the circumferential direction are free. Feed the long tube at the end. The tube guide has a cross section of a circle or an ellipse (ellipse) and is formed in a tapered shape in which the circumference or diameter of the circle or the ellipse increases from the upper side to the lower side. Are arranged coaxially with the long tube, the circumference or diameter of the upper end is shorter than the circumference or diameter of the hollow part of the long tube, and the circumference of the lower end is more than the total circumference of the spiral of the long tube It has a long expanded part. The tube feeding mechanism intermittently moves the long tube surrounding the outer periphery of the tube guide downward by a predetermined length (that is, the length of the tube piece). The tube cutter is arranged below the tube guide, and the hollow portion is pushed and widened by the tube guide to cut a long tube having a substantially C-shaped cross section to create a tube piece having the predetermined length. To do. Before the long tube is cut by the tube cutter, the tube mounting portion holds or grips the portion in which the cross section of the long tube is substantially C-shaped, and after the long tube is cut by the cutter, A tube piece having a substantially C-shaped cross section is externally fitted and attached to the stem part of the grafted seedling so as to cover the contacting part of the rootstock and the hogi, and the rootstock and the hogi are fixed.

  In the tube attachment device for grafting according to the present invention, the expanded diameter portion of the tube guide has a truncated cone-shaped tapered portion and a cylindrical portion located below the tapered portion and having the same diameter as the lower end portion of the tapered portion. It is preferable. In this case, it is more preferable that the cylindrical portion is provided with a flat plate-like support plate that extends or expands radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion and supports the enlarged diameter portion. And it is further more preferable that the compressed air supply hole which supplies compressed air to the hollow part of a long tube is formed over a support plate and a cylindrical part.

  In the grafting tube mounting device according to the present invention, the tube feeding mechanism is in contact with a long tube that is externally fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion, and the long tube is intermittently downward by the predetermined length. It is preferable that the tube feed roller mechanism be moved to the position. The long tube supply mechanism is preferably a tube reel around which the long tube is wound.

  According to the present invention, the stem portion of the grafted seedling is entirely surrounded by a tube piece having a spiral cross section and is not exposed to the outside. Therefore, the rootstock does not cause problems such as the cross-sectional shape of the stem part of the grafted seedling becoming distorted, the contact part of the rootstock and the safflower being damaged, or the survival rate of the grafted seedling decreasing due to drying, etc. And Hogi can be reliably bonded with sufficient strength.

It is a typical top view of the grafting apparatus provided with the tube mounting apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a typical top view of an index table. FIG. 3 is a schematic elevational sectional view of the index table shown in FIG. 2. It is a schematic plan view of a rotary table provided with a chuck set and a chuck opening / closing cam at a rear position. It is a schematic plan view of the rotary table provided with the chuck set and the chuck opening / closing cam at the front side position. It is a perspective view of a chuck raising / lowering cam. (A) is a schematic elevation view of the Hogi V-cut device, and (b) is a schematic elevation view of the rootstock V-cut device. (A) is a typical elevation view of a tube mounting apparatus, (b) is a cross-sectional view of a long tube. It is an elevation view of a tube guide. (A)-(e) is a plane sectional view which shows the shape of the cross section of the elongate tube externally fitted by the tube guide. (A)-(c) is a typical top view of a tube mounting head.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention (embodiments of the present invention) will be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the grafting device 1 is provided with an index table 2. Each of the index tables 2 includes a rotary table 3, a chuck opening / closing cam 4, and a chuck lifting / lowering cam 5 that are substantially circular in a plan view. Six sets of chuck sets 6 are arranged on the turntable 3 so as to be spaced apart from each other by 60 ° in the circumferential direction in the circumferential direction. Each chuck set 6 includes a rootstock chuck 8 that can put the rootstock 7 into an unclamped state or a clamped state by opening and closing, and a hogi chuck 10 that can put the headwood 9 into an unclamped state or clamped state by opening and closing. And have. Here, although the vertical position of the rootstock chuck 8 is constant, the hogi chuck 10 can be displaced in the vertical direction.

  The turntable 3 rotates intermittently by 60 ° at regular intervals in the direction indicated by the arrow A1. The chuck opening / closing cam 4 has a large-diameter cam surface 4a that engages with each chuck set 6 to open the rootstock chuck 8 and the hogi chuck 10, and a small-diameter cam surface 4b that closes. . The chuck raising / lowering cam 5 has an upper cam surface 5a for engaging with the hogi chuck 10 to position the hogi chuck 10 at the upper position, and a lower cam surface 5b for positioning at the lower position (see FIG. 6).

  Around the index table 2, the work set station 11, the first work cut station 12, the second work cut station 13, and the tube are installed in order of 60 ° apart from each other in the center angle as viewed in the rotating table rotation direction. Station 14 is provided. Furthermore, a workpiece take-out station 15 is provided at a position 120 ° apart from the tube mounting station 14 at the central angle. Each of these stations 11 to 15 is arranged at a position corresponding to or engaging any one of the chuck sets 6 when the rotary table is stopped.

  At the work set station 11, the rootstock 7 and the hogi 9 are automatically set on the rootstock chuck 8 and the hogi chuck 10, respectively. In addition, when set in this way, the upper end part of the rootstock 7 and the lower end part of the scion 9 are separated moderately.

  In the 1st work cut station 12 and the 2nd work cut station 13, the stem part of the scion 9 and the stem part of the rootstock 7 are cut so that both may be in the shape which can contact coaxially, respectively. . In this grafting device 1, the vicinity of the lower end portion of the hogi 9 is cut into a V shape (wedge shape), while the vicinity of the upper end portion of the rootstock 7 is cut into a V shape (V shape valley shape). And the V-shaped surfaces of the rootstock 7 are brought into contact with each other. Specifically, the first work cutting station 12 is provided with a hogi V-cut device 47 (see FIG. 7A) that cuts the vicinity of the lower end portion of the hogi 9 into a V shape (wedge shape). . On the other hand, the second work cutting station 13 is provided with a rootstock V-cut device 49 (see FIG. 7B) that cuts the vicinity of the upper end portion of the rootstock 7 into a V shape (V-shaped valley shape).

  It should be noted that after the lower end portion of the hogi 9 and the upper end portion of the rootstock 7 are obliquely cut at the same inclination angle, the hogi 9 and the rootstock 7 are brought into contact with each other between the inclined surfaces. Also good. In this case, the first work cutting station 12 may be provided with an oblique cutting device that obliquely cuts the vicinity of the lower end of the hogi 9 and the vicinity of the upper end of the rootstock 7 simultaneously. In this case, the second work cutting station 13 is not provided with a cutting device.

  In the tube mounting station 14, a tube piece 43 (FIGS. 8A and 8B) is placed on a stem portion of a grafted seedling composed of a rootstock 7 and a hogi 9 arranged so that the stem portions are in coaxial contact with each other. (See) is externally fitted and mounted, and the rootstock 7 and the hogi 9 are fixed. In a state where no external force is applied, or in a state where the tube piece 43 is externally fitted to the stem portion of the grafted seedling, the tube piece 43 has a spiral or substantially “No” cross section, and both end portions in the circumferential direction are respectively It is a free end. In this way, the stem part of the grafted seedling is entirely covered with the tube piece 43, and in particular in the circumferential direction, it is covered with the double tube layer. 43 are firmly connected to each other.

  At the workpiece removal station 15, grafted seedlings are removed. In addition, in each station 11-15, each said process with respect to the rootstock 7, the hotwood 9, or a graft seedling is performed substantially simultaneously at the time of a rotary table stop.

  Hereinafter, the structure and function of the index table 2 will be described in detail. In the substantially disk-shaped rotary table 3 constituting the index table 2, chuck sets 6 each having a rootstock chuck 8 and a hogi chuck 10 are separated from each other by 60 ° at the central angle in the circumferential direction of the rotary table. 6 sets are arranged. Here, the rootstock chuck 8 is disposed on the lower side, and the hogi chuck 10 is disposed on the upper side. However, in plan view, both are disposed at substantially overlapping positions. Under each rootstock chuck 8, a tray 18 for receiving soil that falls off the rootstock 7 is provided.

  The turntable 3 is controlled by a control device (not shown), and intermittently rotates in the direction of the arrow A1 in FIG. Note that the number of chuck sets 6 is not limited to six, and may be seven or more. However, when the number of chuck sets 6 is 7 or more, the center angle and the rotation angle are not 60 °, but are values obtained by dividing 360 ° by the number of chuck sets.

  Here, the rotation phase of the rotary table 3 is controlled so that any chuck set 6 is positioned on the front face F when the rotary table is stopped. Accordingly, when the rotary table is stopped, one of the chuck sets 6 is located at a position separated by 60 ° from the front face F by a central angle as viewed in the circumferential direction of the rotary table. Hereinafter, the front F is referred to as a first stop position, and positions spaced 60 degrees counterclockwise from the front F (first stop position) when viewed in the circumferential direction of the rotary table are sequentially designated as a second stop position, Third stop position: referred to as a sixth stop position.

  And in this grafting device 1, in the part corresponding to the 1st-4th stop position and the 6th stop position, respectively, work set station 11, the 1st work cut station 12, the 2nd work cut station 13, A tube mounting station 14 and a work removal station 15 are disposed.

  The hogi chuck 10 includes a cam follower 10a that contacts the cam surface of the chuck opening / closing cam 4, a pair of gear sets 10b, and a pair of arm sets 10c. The chuck opening / closing cam 4 is formed with a large-diameter cam surface 4a and a small-diameter cam surface 4b, and both cam surfaces 4a and 4b are smoothly provided at a connecting portion between the large-diameter cam surface 4a and the small-diameter cam surface 4b. A transition cam surface 4c for connection is formed. Here, the chuck opening / closing cam 4 opens the arm set 10c when the large-diameter cam surface 4a contacts the cam follower 10a (unclamped state), and closes the arm set 10c when the small-diameter cam surface 4b contacts the cam follower 10a. (Clamped state). In addition, since the opening / closing mechanism of the rootstock chuck 8 is the same as that of the hogi chuck 10, the description thereof is omitted.

  Further, the hogi chuck 10 includes a cam follower 10 d that comes into contact with the cam surface of the chuck lifting cam 5. As shown in FIG. 6, the chuck elevating cam 5 is formed with an upper cam surface 5a having a high height from the bottom surface and a lower cam surface 5b having a lower height, and the upper cam surface 5a and the lower cam surface 5b. A transition cam surface 5c for smoothly connecting both cam surfaces 5a and 5b is formed at the connecting portion. Here, the chuck raising / lowering cam 5 is configured such that when the upper cam surface 5a comes into contact with the cam follower 10d, the hogi chuck 10 is positioned at the upper position (while the rootstock 7 and the hogi 9 are separated), the lower cam When the surface 5b comes into contact with the cam follower 10d, the hotwood chuck 10 is positioned at the lower position (the rootstock 7 and the hotwood 9 come into contact).

Hereinafter, the structure and operation of the chuck opening / closing cam 4 and the chuck raising / lowering cam 5 for controlling the operation of the chuck set 6 (the rootstock chuck 8 and the hogi chuck 10) will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the chuck opening / closing cam 4 does not rotate, but can rotate between the front side position and the rear side position around the center of the rotary table as viewed in the rotary table rotation direction. It is like that. The chuck opening / closing cam 4 is located at the rear position in FIG. 4, and is located at the front position in FIG. As is apparent from FIG. 4, when the chuck opening / closing cam 4 is located at the rear position, only the chuck set 6 located at the workpiece take-out station 15 is opened, and the other chuck sets 6 are closed. . Further, as apparent from FIG. 5, when the chuck opening / closing cam 4 is located at the front side position, only the chuck set 6 located at the work set station 11 is opened, and the other chuck sets 6 are closed. Become.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the chuck raising / lowering cam 5 is a fixed cam that does not rotate and does not rotate. The chuck raising / lowering cam 5 includes an upper cam surface 5a from the slightly rear position of the portion corresponding to the work set station 11 to the slightly front position of the portion corresponding to the second work cutting station 13 when viewed in the circumferential direction of the rotary table. It is formed as follows. Therefore, the chuck raising / lowering cam 5 is arranged at the upper position at the work setting station 11 and the two work cutting stations 12 and 13, and at the other stations 14 and 15, the hogi chuck 10 is at the lower position. Deploy.

Hereinafter, specific configurations and functions of the stations 11 to 15 will be described.
Again, as shown in FIG. 1, the work set station 11 includes a rootstock setting unit 21 for setting the rootstock 7 on the rootstock chuck 8, and a hogi setting unit 22 for setting the earstock 9 on the hogi chuck 10. And the cutting blade 23 (circular 1 blade) which cuts the unnecessary part of the rootstock 7 and the hogi 9, ie, the upper part of the rootstock 7, and the lower part of the hogi 9, is provided.

  The rootstock set unit 21 includes a rootstock input chuck 24 that can reciprocate in the direction of arrow A2. When the rootstock 7 is set on the rootstock chuck 8, the rootstock 7 is first chucked by the rootstock input chuck 24 by hand at the front position (on the side opposite to the rootstock chuck 8). The rootstock 7 is carried into the rootstock set unit 21 by the rootstock supply conveyor 25.

  Thereafter, the rootstock input chuck 24 moves toward the rootstock chuck 8. On the way, the upper part (unnecessary part) of the rootstock 7 is cut by the cutting blade 23. Then, the rootstock input chuck 24 sets the rootstock 7 on the rootstock chuck 8 in the open state (unclamped state). Next, by rotation of the chuck opening / closing cam 4, the rootstock chuck 8 is closed, and the rootstock 7 is clamped by the rootstock chuck 8. Thereafter, the rootstock input chuck 24 unchucks the rootstock 7 and returns to the original position. Thus, the rootstock 7 is clamped (set) to the rootstock chuck 8.

  The hogi setting unit 22 includes a hogi insertion chuck 26 that can reciprocate in the direction of arrow A3. When the hogi 9 is set on the hogi chuck 10, the hogi 9 is first chucked by the hogi charging chuck 26 at the front position (on the side opposite to the hogi wood chuck 10). The hogi 9 is carried into the hogi setting unit 22 by the hogi supply conveyor 27.

  Thereafter, the hogi charging chuck 26 moves toward the hogi chuck 10. On the way, the lower part (unnecessary part) of the hogi 9 is cut off by the cutting blade 23. Then, the hogi throwing chuck 26 sets the hogi 9 on the hogi chuck 10 in the open state (unclamped state). Next, with the rotation of the chuck opening / closing cam 4, the hotwood chuck 10 is closed, and the hotwood 9 is clamped by the hotwood chuck 10. Thereafter, the hogi charging chuck 26 unchucks the hogi 9 and returns to the original position. Thus, the hogi 9 is clamped (set) to the hogi chuck 10. Note that the setting of the rootstock 7 to the rootstock chuck 8 and the setting of the hogi 9 to the hogi chuck 10 may be completely automated or may be performed manually.

  In this index table 2, since the root chuck chuck 8 and the hogi chuck 10 are simultaneously opened and closed by one chuck opening / closing cam 4, the setting of the rootstock 7 and the setting of the hogi 9 are performed at substantially the same timing. However, a chuck opening / closing cam may be provided for each of the rootstock chuck 8 and the hogi chuck 10, and the setting of the rootstock 7 and the setting of the hogi 9 may be performed at different timings.

  FIG. 7A schematically shows a configuration of a hogi V-cutting device 47 that is provided in the first work cutting station 12 and cuts the vicinity of the lower end portion of the hogi 9 into a V shape (wedge shape). FIG. 7B schematically shows the configuration of a rootstock V-cutting device 49 provided at the second work cutting station 13 and for cutting the vicinity of the upper end of the rootstock 7 into a V shape (V-shaped valley shape). Show.

  As shown to Fig.7 (a), the hogi V cut device 47 clamps the thin left blade 47a and the right blade 47b which were each inclined and inclined downward from the left-right opposite direction, and the stem part of the hogi 9. And a clamper 48. The clamper 48 includes a left-side slit 48a and a right-side slit 48b that are arranged to be inclined at the same inclination angle as that of the left blade 47a and the right blade 47b from opposite directions. Here, both the slits 48 a and 48 b are formed so as to be positioned near the lower end of the stem portion of the hogi 9. The left slit 48a and the right slit 48b can insert the left blade 47a and the right blade 47b, respectively. Thus, by inserting the left blade 47a and the right blade 47b into the left slit 48a and the right slit 48b, respectively, the vicinity of the lower end portion of the hogi 9 can be cut into a V shape (wedge shape).

  As shown in FIG. 7 (b), the rootstock V-cut device 49 clamps the thin left blade 49a and right blade 49b, which are respectively inclined downward from the left and right opposite directions, and the stem portion of the rootstock 7. And a clamper 50. The clamper 50 includes a left-side slit 50a and a right-side slit 50b that are arranged to be inclined at the same inclination angle as the left blade 49a and the right blade 49b from opposite directions. Here, both the slits 50 a and 50 b are formed so as to be positioned near the upper end of the stem portion of the rootstock 7. The left slit 50a and the right slit 50b can be inserted with a left blade 49a and a right blade 49b, respectively. Thus, by inserting the left blade 49a and the right blade 49b into the left slit 50a and the right slit 50b, respectively, the vicinity of the upper end portion of the rootstock 7 can be cut into a V shape (V valley shape).

  As shown in FIG. 8 (a), the tube attachment station 14 has a tube piece 43 on the stem of a grafted seedling composed of a rootstock 7 and a panicle 9 arranged so that the stems abut against each other coaxially. A tube mounting device 51 is provided for fixing the rootstock 7 and the hogi 9 by external fitting and mounting. The tube mounting device 51 includes a tube reel 52 (tube supply mechanism), a tube guide 53, a tube feed roller mechanism 54 (tube feed mechanism), a tube cutter 55, and a tube mounting head 56 (tube mounting portion). I have.

  The tube reel 52 can rotate around a rotating shaft 52a extending in the horizontal direction. The tube reel 52 is made of an elastically deformable material or an elastic material such as a vinyl acetate resin or a vinyl chloride resin. A long tube 42 is wound (for example, several tens of meters to several hundreds of meters). As shown in FIG. 8B, the long tube 42 has a spiral (spiral) or substantially “no” cross section, and both end portions in the circumferential direction are free ends. Yes. In the long tube 42, the portion where the outer tube layer and the inner tube layer overlap in a plan view is, for example, in the range of 30 to 150 ° at the central angle of the substantially cylindrical hollow portion 44 in the long tube 42. It is preferable that it is in the range of 60 to 120 °. The long tube 42 is unwound downwardly from the tube reel 52 toward the tube guide 53. The diameter of the cross section of the hollow portion 44 of the long tube 42 is set according to the type or size of the grafted seedling, but is slightly larger than the diameter (for example, 2 to 3 mm) of the stem portion of the grafted seedling.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the tube guide 53 is disposed coaxially with the long tube 42 in the hollow portion 44 of the long tube 42 and extends in the vertical direction. The long tube 42 includes a diameter-enlarged portion composed of a truncated cone-shaped tapered portion 57 and a cylindrical columnar portion 58 whose diameter increases downward, and a thin flat plate-like support plate that supports the expanded-diameter portion. 59. The taper portion 57, the cylindrical portion 58, and the support plate 59 are integrally formed of a metal material such as stainless steel or aluminum alloy. The circumferential length or diameter of the circular upper end surface of the tapered portion 57 is shorter than the circumferential length or diameter of the transverse section of the hollow portion 44 of the long tube 42 (for example, a diameter of 1 to 1.5 mm). On the other hand, the circumferential length of the circular lower end surface of the tapered portion 57 is longer than the entire circumferential length of the spiral of the long tube 42. The diameter of the cylindrical portion 58 is equal to the diameter of the lower end surface of the tapered portion 57. Note that the connecting portion between the tapered portion 57 and the cylindrical portion 58 may be chamfered or rounded so that the outer peripheral surfaces of the tapered portion 57 and the cylindrical portion 58 are connected smoothly or rounded.

  The vertical dimension of the support plate 59 is the same as the length (vertical dimension) of the cylindrical portion 58, and extends radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 58. The thickness of the support plate 59 is expanded by the cylindrical portion 58 in the radial direction, and the spiral is unwound, and the gap between both free ends in the circumferential direction of the long tube 42 having a substantially C-shaped cross section is obtained. It is set to be slightly smaller (for example, 0.8 to 1 mm). Note that the vertical dimension of the support plate 59 may be shorter than the length of the cylindrical portion 58. Further, the support plate 59 may be provided across the cylindrical portion 58 and the tapered portion 57.

  Inside the support plate 59 and the cylindrical portion 58, a compressed air supply hole 45 that supplies compressed air to the hollow portion 44 of the long tube 42 is formed across the support plate 59 and the cylindrical portion 58. The compressed air supply hole 45 is formed in the vicinity of the position where the tube feed roller mechanism 54 is disposed in the vertical direction. As will be described later, the tube feed roller mechanism 54 is displaced in the vertical direction, but the compressed air supply hole 45 is preferably disposed at the upper end of the upper or lower displacement range of the tube feed roller mechanism 54 or in the vicinity thereof. During operation of the tube mounting device 51, compressed air is supplied between the long tube 42 and the cylindrical portion 58 through a compressed air supply hole 45 from a compressor (not shown). The frictional resistance between them is reduced, and the downward movement of the long tube 42 is facilitated.

  10A to 10E show cross sections of the tube guide 53 and the long tube 42 at the positions indicated by P1 to P5 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10 (a), at the position indicated by P1, the circumferential length or diameter of the taper portion 57 is shorter than the circumferential length or diameter of the cross section of the hollow portion 44 of the long tube 42. A substantially annular gap exists between the portion 57 and the long tube 42. As shown in FIG. 10B, at the position indicated by P2, the circumferential length or diameter of the taper portion 57 is equal to the circumferential length or diameter of the hollow portion 44 of the long tube 42, and the taper portion 57 and The long tube 42 is in contact. As shown in FIG. 10C, at the position indicated by P <b> 3, the spiral or substantially “no” -shaped long tube 42 is expanded (expanded) radially outward by the tapered portion 57, and the spiral is generated. It is unraveled and it is in the state which coat | covers the taper part 57 with a single layer.

  As shown in FIG. 10D, at the position indicated by P4, the long tube 42 is further expanded (expanded) radially outward by the cylindrical portion 58, and both free ends in the circumferential direction of the long tube 42 are The long tubes 42 are spaced apart from each other and have a substantially C-shaped cross section. Here, the support plate 59 extends outward in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 58 at a gap portion between both free ends. As shown in FIG. 10E, the compressed air supply hole 45 opens at the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 58 at the position indicated by P5. The long tube 42 has a substantially C-shaped cross section below the lower end surface of the columnar portion 58, with the two free ends in the circumferential direction spaced apart from each other in the same manner as when surrounding the columnar portion 58. Have. That is, even when the long tube 42 is below the lower end surface of the columnar portion 58, the long tube 42 is at a certain length (at least about 1.5 times the length of the tube piece 43) so that the columnar portion 58 is radially outward. Maintain the expanded (expanded) state.

  Again, as shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 9, the tube feed roller mechanism 54 includes a tube piece to be attached to the stem portion of the grafted seedling with the long tube 42 surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the columnar portion 58. It is designed to move intermittently downward by the length. Specifically, the tube feed roller mechanism 54 includes a tube feed lever 54b that rotates or swings in a direction indicated by arrows B1 and B2 around the rotation shaft 54a within a range corresponding to the length of the tube piece 43. And a tube feed roller 54d attached in the vicinity of the tip of the tube feed lever 54b via the rotating shaft 54c. The tube feed roller 54d is disposed so as to come into contact with the long tube 42 surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 58 with an appropriate pressing force by biasing, for example, a spring. A one-way clutch (not shown) is provided in the tube feed roller 54d. This one-way clutch rotates the tube feed roller 54d freely in the direction of arrow C1, while preventing rotation in the direction of arrow C2.

  When the long tube 42 is moved downward, the tube feed lever 54b rotates or swings in the B1 direction. At this time, since the one-way clutch prevents the tube feed roller 54d from rotating in the direction of arrow C2, the tube feed roller 54d moves downward without rotating. At that time, since the tube feed roller 54d and the long tube 42 are frictionally engaged by the pressing force therebetween, the long tube 42 is dragged by the tube feed roller 54d and the length of the tube piece 43 is reached. Can only be moved downwards. Thereafter, the tube feed lever 54b rotates or swings in the B2 direction. At this time, since the tube feed roller 54d is not prevented from rotating by the one-way clutch, the tube feed roller 54d is moved upward by the length of the tube piece 43 while rotating in the direction of the arrow C1. In this case, since the upward force hardly acts on the long tube 42, the long tube 42 does not move upward and remains stationary. Thus, by rotating or swinging the tube feed lever 54b intermittently in the B1 and B2 directions, the long tube 42 is the length of the tube piece 43 to be attached to the stem portion of the grafted seedling. It can be moved intermittently downward.

  The tube cutter 55 cuts the long tube 42 in the tube radial direction (direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the long tube 42) at a position directly above the tube mounting head 56 (for example, 1 to 2 mm above). Create The long tube 42 is cut by the tube cutter 55 after the vicinity of the lower end of the long tube 42 is held by the tube mounting head 56. Therefore, the tube piece 43 generated by being cut by the tube cutter 55 is held or gripped by the tube mounting head 56 without falling downward.

  Before the long tube 42 is cut by the tube cutter 55, the tube mounting head 56 holds the vicinity of the lower end of the long tube 42 whose cross section is substantially C-shaped below the lower end surface of the columnar portion 58. Or grasp. Here, the tube mounting head 56 makes the long tube 42 parallel to the stems of the grafted seedlings (that is, the stems of the rootstock 7 and the scrub 9 that are in contact with each other coaxially), that is, vertically. Holding or gripping to extend in the direction. And after the long tube 42 is cut | disconnected by the tube cutter 55, as shown by arrow D1, the tube mounting head 56 moves to a grafting seedling horizontally, and a cross section becomes a substantially C shape. The tube piece 43 is externally fitted and attached to the stem portion of the grafted seedling so as to cover the contact portion between the rootstock 7 and the earwood 9, and the rootstock 7 and the earwood 9 are fixed. The tube mounting head 56 retreats to the original position (the position shown in FIG. 8A) after the tube piece 43 is externally fitted and mounted on the stem portion of the grafted seedling. Thereafter, the tube feed roller mechanism 54 feeds the long tube 42 downward again by a length corresponding to the tube piece 43. Such operation | movement is repeated and the tube piece 43 is attached to the stem part of a grafted seedling one after another.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 11A to 11C, the operation of mounting the tube piece 43 on the stem portion of the grafted seedling by the tube mounting head 56 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 11A to 11C, the tube mounting head 56 is a tube that presses the back surface of the tube piece 43 having a substantially C-shaped cross section (the surface opposite to the gap between the free ends). A pushing block 60 and a pair of tube fingers 63 and 64 that can be rotated around rotating shafts 61 and 62, respectively, are provided.

  When the tube mounting head 56 is in the retracted position (the position shown in FIG. 8A), the tube pushing block 60 is connected to the tube piece 43 (or long tube as shown in FIG. 11A). The tube fingers 63 and 64 are engaged with both free ends in the circumferential direction of the tube piece 43. At this time, the tube fingers 63 and 64 slightly widen the gap between the two free ends in the circumferential direction of the tube piece 43, and appropriately expand the tube piece 43 (or the long tube 42) outward in the radial direction. .

  Next, as shown in FIG. 11B, the tube fingers 63 and 64 are rotated about the rotation shafts 61 and 62 to be appropriately widened. Thereby, both the tube fingers 63 and 64 greatly widen the gap between both free ends in the circumferential direction of the tube piece 43, and greatly expand the tube piece 43 having a substantially C-shaped cross section by elastic deformation. In this state, the tube mounting head 56 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow D1 toward the grafted seedlings (stock 7 and hogi) 9 (see FIG. 8A). As a result, if the position of the tube mounting head 56 is fixed and considered relatively, the stems of the grafted seedlings (stock 7 and hogi 9) have a substantially C-shaped cross section through the widened gap. It is accommodated in the piece 43 and contacts the inner peripheral surface of the tube piece 43. The grafted seedlings (stock 7 and hogi 9) do not move.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 11C, the tube fingers 63 and 64 are further rotated around the rotation shafts 61 and 62 so as to be largely expanded. As a result, the tube fingers 63 and 64 are disengaged from both free ends in the circumferential direction of the tube piece 43 and the engagement is released, so that no external force acts on the tube piece 43. As a result, the tube piece 43 generally returns to the original spiral shape that is not elastically deformed or in a substantially “no” shape. However, the tube piece 43 is in a state slightly expanded in the radial direction as compared with the original spiral shape or substantially “no” shape, and an appropriate pressing force is applied to the stem portion of the grafted seedling located in the hollow portion. Closely with. This is because the long tube 42 is preferably set so that the substantially cylindrical hollow portion 44 has a slightly smaller diameter than the stem portion of the grafted seedling. Thus, the tube piece 43 is attached to the stem portion of the grafted seedling (the rootstock 7 and the earwood 9), and the rootstock 7 and the earwood 9 are firmly bonded and fixed to each other.

  Again, as shown in FIG. 1, the work take-out station 15 is provided with a work take-out device 36 that takes out the grafted seedling formed by joining the rootstock 7 and the hogi 9 from the chuck set 6. The workpiece take-out device 36 first chucks the graft seedlings clamped by the rootstock chuck 8 and the hogi chuck 10 with the take-out chuck 37.

  Thereafter, by rotation of the chuck opening / closing cam 4, the rootstock chuck 8 and the hogi chuck 10 are opened, and the grafted seedlings are released from the clamping state by the chuck set 6 and are only chucked by the take-out chuck 37. . Thereafter, the take-out chuck 37 rotates in the direction of the arrow A6, takes the grafted seedlings onto the take-out conveyor 38, and releases the chuck. Thus, the grafted seedling is carried out from the grafting apparatus 1. The grafted seedlings taken out are stocked at a predetermined place. In addition, you may make it return the grafted seedling carried out directly to the seedling raising tray.

  As described above, according to the grafting device 1 provided with the tube mounting device 51 according to the present invention, the cross-sectional shape of the stem portion of the grafted seedling is distorted, or the contact portion between the rootstock 7 and the scrub 9 is damaged or dried. Without causing problems such as a decrease in the survival rate of grafted seedlings, it is possible to reliably bond the rootstock 7 and the hogi 9 with sufficient strength.

  1 Grafting device, 2 index table, 3 rotary table, 4 chuck opening / closing cam, 4a large diameter cam surface, 4b small diameter cam surface, 4c transition cam surface, 5 chuck lifting cam, 5a upper cam surface, 5b lower cam surface, 5c transient Cam surface, 6 chuck set, 7 rootstock, 8 rootstock chuck, 9 hogi, 10 hogi chuck, 11 work set station, 12 first work cut station, 13 second work cut station, 14 tube mounting station, 15 Work take-out station, 18 tray, 21 rootstock set section, 22 hogi set section, 23 cutting blade, 24 rootstock input chuck, 25 rootstock supply conveyor, 26 hogi input chuck, 27 hogi supply conveyor, 36 Equipment, 37 take-out chuck, 38 take-out conveyor , 42 Long tube, 43 Tube piece, 44 Hollow part, 45 Compressed air supply hole, 47 Hogi V cut device, 47a Left blade, 47b Right blade, 48 clamper, 48a Left slit, 48b Right slit, 49 Rootstock V Cutting device, 49a left blade, 49b right blade, 50 clamper, 50a left slit, 50b right slit, 51 tube mounting device, 52 tube reel, 52a rotating shaft, 53 tube guide, 54 tube feed roller mechanism, 54a rotating shaft, 54b Tube feed lever, 54c Rotating shaft, 54d Tube feeding roller, 55 Tube cutter, 56 Tube mounting head, 57 Tapered portion, 58 Column portion, 59 Support plate, 60 Tube pushing block, 61 Rotating shaft, 62 Rotating shaft, 63 Tube fingers, 64 Tube finger.

Claims (6)

A graft that externally fits and attaches a tube piece to the stem of a grafted seedling made of rootstock and hogi arranged so that the stems are in coaxial contact with each other, and fixes the rootstock and the hogi A tube mounting device,
A tube supply mechanism for supplying a long tube having a spiral cross section formed of an elastically deformable material and having both ends in the circumferential direction each being a free end;
It has a cross section of a circle or an ellipse, is formed in a tapered shape in which the circumference of the circle or the ellipse increases from the upper side to the lower side, and is coaxial with the long tube in the hollow part of the long tube A tube guide having a diameter-expanded portion in which the circumference of the upper end is shorter than the circumference of the hollow portion of the long tube and the circumference of the lower end is longer than the entire circumference of the spiral of the long tube;
A tube feed mechanism that intermittently moves the long tube surrounding the outer periphery of the tube guide downward by a predetermined length;
The tube is disposed below the tube guide, the hollow portion is pushed and expanded by the tube guide, and the long tube having a substantially C-shaped cross section is cut to produce a tube piece having the predetermined length. A tube cutter,
Before the long tube is cut by the tube cutter, a portion in which the cross section of the long tube is substantially C-shaped is held, and after the long tube is cut by the tube cutter, The tube piece having a substantially C-shaped surface is externally fitted and attached to the stem portion of the grafted seedling so as to cover the abutment portion of the rootstock and the hogi, and the rootstock and the hogi A tube mounting device for grafting, comprising: a tube mounting portion for fixing   2. The graft according to claim 1, wherein the enlarged-diameter portion includes a truncated cone-shaped tapered portion and a cylindrical portion that is located below the tapered portion and has the same diameter as the lower end portion of the tapered portion. Tube mounting device.   The graft part according to claim 2, wherein the cylindrical part is provided with a plate-like support plate that extends radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical part and supports the enlarged diameter part. Tube mounting device.   The graft attachment device for grafting according to claim 3, wherein a compressed air supply hole for supplying compressed air to the hollow portion of the long tube is formed across the support plate and the cylindrical portion.   The tube feed mechanism is a tube feed roller mechanism that abuts on the long tube that is externally fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion, and moves the long tube intermittently downward by a predetermined length. The graft attachment device for grafting according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that:   The graft attachment device for grafting according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the tube supply mechanism is a tube reel around which the long tube is wound.

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