JP2018148854A - Seeding-box supply and conveyance system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make seeding boxes be not easily damaged even under a great conveyance resistance.SOLUTION: A seeding-box supply and conveyance system includes: seeding boxes 10; a seeding-box automatic supply device 16 which supplies the seeding boxes 10 to a conveyance passage 2; and a seeding-box conveyance device 1 which conveys the seeding boxes 10 while pressing engaged parts on a bottom-face side of the seeding boxes 10 with engaging parts 8 provided in line on a chain 7. On the bottom-face side of the seeding boxes 10, between the lines of pots 11 arranged in the width direction of the conveyance passage 2, gaps G extended in the width direction are formed. The engaging parts 8 are formed to be able to fitted into the gaps G from the bottom-face side and, while being fitted, to be able to contact with a plurality of the pots 11 arranged in the width direction. The seeding-box automatic supply device 16 is configured to supply the seeding boxes 10 at a timing where the engaging part 8 fits into the gaps G in the forward process. The seeding-box conveyance device 1 is configured to convey the seeding boxes 10 through pressing, with the engaging parts 8, the plurality of pots 11 existing in the forward side of the conveying direction of the gaps G as the engaged parts.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a seedling box supply / conveyance system including a seedling box for raising seedlings of rice, vegetables, etc., a seedling box automatic supply device for supplying the seedling box, and a seedling box transporting device for transporting the seedling box. .

  As shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C, the seedling box 10 used for growing pot seedlings is formed in a rectangular shape with a resin material having flexibility, and has a lattice in the long side direction and the short side direction. A large number of pots 11 are formed in an array (see Patent Document 1). In the long side end portion 10a of the seedling box 10, rectangular feed holes 12 are provided at the same pitch as the pot 11 in the long side direction. On the bottom surface of the seedling box 10, continuous grooves 10 c are formed at the locations connecting the midpoints of the short side end portions 10 b on both sides with the spacing between the adjacent pots 11, as shown in FIG. In addition, two protrusions 10d protrude from the central portion. The protrusion 10d is used when the seedling box 10 is conveyed or the seedling box 10 is positioned. The seedling box 10 is configured symmetrically with respect to the center line in both the long side direction and the short side direction. When the seedling box 10 is transported, one of the short side end portions 10b is directed forward in the transport direction, and the protrusion 10d on the rear side in the transport direction is pushed forward among the two protrusions 10d. . For this reason, in the following, unless specifically stated otherwise, when the seedling box 10 is transported, the protrusion 10d refers to the one on the rear side in the transport direction.

  A conventional seedling box transfer device is provided with a pair of front and rear sprockets (not shown) that are spaced apart from each other in the transfer direction of the transfer path and are rotatably supported via shafts extending in the width direction of the transfer path. And a plurality of hooks 52 that are protruded toward the outer peripheral side of the chain 51 and arranged in the circumferential direction of the chain 51 at regular intervals. The hook 52 that circulates with the chain 51 that is driven in a circulating manner is configured to convey the seedling box by pushing a protrusion 10d provided on the bottom surface of the seedling box 10 (see FIG. 5B).

  Moreover, as a conventional seedling box conveyance apparatus, it is comprised so that a seedling box may be conveyed by pushing the rear end part (short side side edge part 10b of the conveyance direction rear side) of the seedling box 10 with a hook ( Some are configured to convey the seedling box by pushing both the rear end portion and the protrusion 10d (see Patent Document 3).

JP 2002-262670 A JP 2011-87512 A Japanese Patent No. 5891531

  However, in the conventional seedling box transport apparatus, since specific portions such as the protrusions 10d and the rear end of the seedling box 10 are used during transport, the seedling box 10 is used particularly in the transport path when the seedling box 10 is used repeatedly. When there is a process such as earthing or holding the earth, there is a problem that the transfer resistance from the front in the transfer direction is large, and the portion is easily damaged.

  In addition, since the seedling box 10 is made of a resin material, the size may slightly change depending on the aging and usage conditions. Depending on the manufacturer of the seedling box 10, the size may be slightly different. In the conventional seedling box transport device, the protrusion 10d provided at the center rear in the transporting direction of the seedling box 10 and the rear end portion of the seedling box 10 are used as locked portions during transport. 10, various devices such as a soiling device, a seeding device, a drug application device, and a soil covering device start to act when the front end in the transport direction of the seedling box 10 arrives at them. Because the distance between the front ends is long, if there are seedling boxes of different sizes as described above, it is easily affected by the difference in size during transportation, and the seedling box is clogged or damaged during transportation. There is a problem of occurrence.

In order to solve the above problems, the seedling box supply and conveyance system of the present invention is:
A seedling box in which a large number of pots for growing seedlings are formed in a grid-like arrangement;
A seedling box automatic supply device for supplying the seedling box to the transport path from above;
A plurality of locking portions are arranged at regular intervals on an endless body moving on an endless track, and the locking portions are on the bottom side of the seedling box in the forward travel direction before moving forward in the transport direction of the transport path. A seedling box supply and transport system comprising a seedling box transport device configured to transport the seedling box by pushing the locked portion forward in the transport direction,
On the bottom side of the seedling box, a gap extending in the width direction is formed between the rows of pots arranged in the width direction of the transport path,
The locking portion is formed so as to be able to be fitted into the gap from the bottom surface side and to be able to contact the plurality of pots arranged in the width direction in the fitted state.
The seedling box automatic supply device is configured to supply the seedling box at a timing when the locking portion in the forward travel is inserted into the gap,
The said seedling box conveyance apparatus is comprised so that the said seedling box may be conveyed by pushing with the said latching | locking part by making the said several pot in the said conveyance direction front in the said gap into the said to-be-latched part.

  According to this structure, the said latching | locking part is comprised so that the said seedling box may be conveyed by pushing the said some pot as said to-be-latched part. For this reason, as the number of pots pressed by the locking portion is increased, it is possible to avoid a load during transportation from being concentrated at a specific location in the seedling box, and the seedling box is less likely to be damaged.

As the seedling box supply and conveyance system,
After the seedling box supplied by the seedling box automatic supply device falls on the transport path, the locking portion moves forward in the transport direction at least by a distance equal to the length of the pot in front of the transport direction. In the meantime, the aspect provided with the resistance means which provides the resistance force which tries to prevent the forward movement with respect to the said seedling box is illustrated.

  The resistance force is greater than the frictional resistance between the upper end portion of the locking portion and the bottom surface of the pot, and when the locking portion fitted in the gap starts to push the locked portion The pressing force is set smaller than the pressing force so that the seedling box is not damaged by the pressing force.

  According to this configuration, when the seedling box falls on the conveyance path, for some reason (for example, when the seedling box has a damaged portion and is caught in the configuration of the seedling box automatic supply device or the conveyance path). Even if the position and position of the seedling box are disturbed, the supply position of the seedling box is shifted back and forth compared to normal, and the locking part does not fit into the gap, the following correction is made. It can be done. That is, even if the locking portion comes into contact with the bottom surface of the pot, and the locking portion tries to move the seedling box forward in the transport direction in that state, the resistance means moves the front of the seedling box. As a result, the locking part moves relatively forward with respect to the seedling box, and finally the locking part fits into the gap.

As the seedling box supply and conveyance system,
At least the front end side of the forward travel is formed so as to incline forward downward relative to the transport path,
The said latching | locking part illustrates the aspect comprised so that it might be extracted below from the said clearance gap at the time of the movement by this front end side.

  According to this configuration, the locking portion can be gradually removed downward from the gap as it approaches the front end of the forward travel. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the pot from being damaged due to a sudden change in the state of the locking portion at the time of removal, or the soil from jumping out of the pot.

As the seedling box supply and conveyance system,
The said seedling box automatic supply apparatus illustrates the aspect comprised so that the said seedling box may be supplied at the timing which the said latching | locking part fits in the said clearance gap before the center of the said seedling box in the said conveyance direction. .

  According to this configuration, the closer the locked portion used for transport is to the front end portion in the transport direction of the seedling box, the shorter the distance from the locked portion to the front end portion becomes. Even when the seedling boxes having slightly different sizes due to deterioration, usage conditions, and the like are mixed, it is difficult to be affected by the difference in size, and it is difficult for conventional defects to occur.

  According to the seedling box supply and conveyance system according to the present invention, there is an excellent effect that the seedling box can be hardly damaged even when the conveyance resistance is large.

It is a side view showing the outline of the whole seeding device composition including the seedling box supply conveyance system concerning one embodiment which materialized the present invention. It is a side view of the seedling box supply conveyance system. It is a top view of the seedling box supply conveyance system. It is a figure which shows the latching | locking part of the seedling box conveyance apparatus, (a) is a top view, (b) is a side view, (c) is the cc sectional view taken on the line of (b). It is a principal part expanded side view which shows the 1st step in the operation example of the seedling box supply conveyance system. It is a principal part expanded side view which shows the 2nd step in the operation example. It is a principal part expanded side view which shows the 3rd step in the operation example. It is a seedling box, (a) is a plan view, (b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line bb of (a), and (c) is a view taken in the direction of arrow c of (a).

  FIGS. 1-7 has shown the seedling box supply conveyance system of one Embodiment which actualized this invention, This seedling box supply conveyance system is the seedling box 10, the seedling box automatic supply apparatus 16, and seedling box conveyance. The device 1 is included. In each figure, the arrow F indicates the front of the seedling box transporting direction by the seedling box transporting device 1. FIG. 1 shows a seeding device 15 including this seedling box supply / conveyance system. The seeding device 15 includes a seedling box automatic supply device 16, a seedling box transport device 1, a soil putting device 17, a seeding device 18, a drug application device 19, and a soil covering device 20, and the seedling box 10 is placed in a certain direction on the transport path 2 While being conveyed in the right direction in FIG. 1, the seedling box 10 is put into soil, sowing, applying medicine, and covering soil. In this seeding device 15, the seedling box transport device 1 of the present example is configured to send the seedling box 10 automatically supplied from the seedling box automatic supply device 16 to the subsequent soiling device 17 and the seeding device 18. ing.

  The seedling box 10 processed by the seeding device 15 of the present example has the same configuration as that described in the background art, and thus a duplicate description is omitted. On the bottom side of the seedling box 10, a gap G extending in the width direction is formed between the rows of pots 11 arranged in the width direction of the conveyance path 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the seedling box transport device 1 is spaced apart from each other in the transport direction at the transport path 2 that horizontally supports the seedling box 10 from the lower side and the center in the width direction of the transport path 2. A pair of sprockets 3a and 3c that are disposed and supported rotatably, an intermediate sprocket 3b that is rotatably supported between the two sprockets, and a drive that is rotatably supported obliquely below the front sprocket 3c. A sprocket 3d, a guide sprocket 3e rotatably supported below and obliquely below the rear sprocket 3a, a chain 7 as an endless body that is wound around these sprockets 3a to 3e and moves on an endless track, and a drive A tension sprocket 3f for applying tension to the chain 7 substantially rearward of the sprocket 3d, and a chain arranged at regular intervals in the circumferential direction of the chain 7 (In this example four) plurality which comprises engaging portions 8 of, ... and a resistance means 9. The sprockets 3a to 3f are rotatably supported through shafts 4a to 4f extending in the width direction of the transport path 2, respectively. The drive sprocket 3d is driven by a motor 5. The space | interval of the latching | locking parts 8 is set a little longer than the length of the long side direction of the seedling box 10, as shown in FIG. Then, in the forward travel (described later) in which the locking portion 8 moves forward in the transport direction of the transport path 2, a locked portion (described later) on the bottom side of the seedling box 10 is pushed forward in the transport direction. 10 is transported.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the endless track 14 of the chain 7, the forward travel distance in which the locking portion 8 moves forward in the transport direction of the transport path 2 is between the sprockets 3 a to 3 c. Among these, the stroke between the sprockets 3 a to 3 b is formed to be parallel to the transport path 2. Further, the stroke 14a between the sprockets 3b to 3c, which is the front end side of the forward travel, is formed so as to incline forward and downward relative to the transport path 2. Further, the stroke 14 b between the guide sprockets 3 e to 3 a is formed so as to incline forward relative to the transport path 2.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the locking portion 8 is formed so as to be able to be inserted into the gap G from the bottom surface side of the seedling box 10 and to be able to contact the plurality of pots 11 arranged in the width direction in the inserted state. ing. The locking portion 8 of this example is composed of a pair of left and right projecting piece members 13, 13, and the left and right projecting piece members 13, 13 are at their base end portions so as to be symmetric with respect to the chain 7. Are attached to the left and right side surfaces of the chain 7, respectively. The projecting piece member 13 includes a projecting piece 13a extending to the side of the chain 7, and is formed so as to be able to contact two pots 11 in this example. And it is comprised so that the seedling box 10 may be conveyed by pushing by the latching | locking part 8 by making the some pot 11 in the said conveyance direction front in the clearance gap G into the to-be-latched part. Moreover, the latching | locking part 8 is comprised so that it may be extracted below from the clearance gap G at the time of the movement in the process 14a.

  2, 3, and 5 to 7, the resistance means 9 is rotatably supported at the rear end portion of the conveyance path 2 by a shaft 9 d extending in the width direction of the conveyance path 2. The rotating body 9a, the resistance portion 9b provided at the distal end of the rotating body 9a, and the distal end portion in a state in which the distal end portion faces substantially forward in the transport direction with respect to the base end portion of the rotating body 9a. And a spring 9c as an urging means for urging the upper part upward. The rotating body 9a is rotatable downward relative to the base end portion of the rotating body 9a rather than a state in which the distal end portion faces substantially forward in the transport direction. The rotating body 9a of this example is composed of a plate body having a support surface that supports the rear side in the transport direction of the seedling box 10 supplied from the seedling box automatic supply device 16, and in the width direction of the transport path 2 of the plate body. A resistance portion 9b is formed by bending the extending edge portion upward. And the resistance means 9 makes the latching | locking part 8 at least the distance equal to the length of the pot 11 in the front of the said conveyance direction, after the seedling box 10 supplied by the seedling box automatic supply apparatus 16 falls on the conveyance path 2. Is moved forward in the conveying direction, the resistance portion 9b contacts the bottom surface of the seedling box 10 to give the seedling box 10 a resistance force to prevent the forward movement.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the seedling box automatic supply device 16 has a gap G (in this example, the tenth gap from the front in the transport direction) in front of the center of the seedling box 10 in the transport direction. G) is configured to supply the seedling box 10 at the timing when the engaging portion 8 is fitted. In this example, the seedling box automatic supply device 16 and the seedling box transport device 1 are configured to be driven by the same drive source, whereby the seedling box 10 supply by the seedling box automatic supply device 16 and the seedling box transport device 1 are performed. It is comprised so that the movement of the latching | locking part 8 may become said timing synchronizing.

Next, operation | movement of a seedling box supply conveyance system is demonstrated.
(1) As shown in FIG. 5, the seedling box 10 is supplied to the transport path 2 from above by the seedling box automatic supply device 16 from above.

(2) When the seedling box 10 falls on the transport path 2, the locking portion 8 is fitted into the tenth gap G from the front in the transport direction.
By the way, as shown in FIG. 6, when the supply position of the seedling box 10 from the seedling box automatic supply device 16 is shifted in the front-rear direction, the locking portion 8 hits the bottom surface of the pot 11 without fitting into the gap G. May be in a state. At that time, the action of the resistance means 9 prevents the forward movement of the seedling box 10 with respect to the forward movement of the locking portion 8 in the conveying direction, and as a result, the locking portion 8 is relative to the seedling box 10. The locking portion 8 is finally inserted into the gap G.

(3) Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the locking portion 8 pushes the locked portion in front of the gap G, and the seedling box 10 is transferred to the front of the transfer path 2. Here, the stroke 14 a between the sprockets 3 b to 3 c is formed so as to be inclined forward and downward relative to the transport path 2, so that the locking portion 8 is gradually removed downward from the gap G. The In this example, before the locking part 8 does not push the locked part forward in the conveying direction due to the removal, it is provided in the subsequent device (in this example, the earthing device 17) in the seeding device 15. The conveying means is configured to start acting on the seedling box 10.

  According to the seedling box supply and conveyance system of the present example configured as described above, the locking unit 8 transfers the seedling box 10 by pushing the plurality of pots 11 as the locked parts. It is configured. For this reason, as the number of pots 11 pressed by the locking portion 8 is increased, it is possible to avoid a load during transportation from being concentrated at a specific location in the seedling box 10, and the seedling box 10 is less likely to be damaged.

  Further, the seedling box supply / conveyance system of the present example has a distance equal to at least the length of the pot 11 in the forward direction in the conveyance direction after the seedling box 10 supplied by the automatic seedling box supply device 16 falls on the conveyance path 2. During the movement of the locking portion 8 forward in the conveying direction, there is provided resistance means 9 that applies a resistance force to the seedling box 10 to prevent the seedling box 10 from moving forward. According to this configuration, when the seedling box 10 falls on the conveyance path 2, the posture and position at the time of supplying the seedling box 10 are disturbed for some reason, and the supply position of the seedling box 10 is shifted back and forth from the normal time. Thus, even if the locking portion 8 does not fit into the gap G, it can be corrected as follows. That is, even when the locking portion 8 comes into contact with the bottom surface of the pot 11 and the locking portion 8 tries to move the seedling box 10 forward in the transport direction in this state, the resistance means 9 moves the front of the seedling box 10. As a result, the locking portion 8 moves relatively forward with respect to the seedling box 10 and finally the locking portion 8 is inserted into the gap G.

  Further, the stroke 14a on the front end side of the forward travel is formed so as to incline toward the front relative to the conveyance path 2, and the locking portion 8 is moved to the gap G when moving on the front end side. It is comprised so that it may be extracted below from. According to this configuration, the locking portion 8 can be gradually extracted downward from the gap G as it approaches the front end of the forward travel. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the pot 11 from being damaged or the soil from popping out in the pot 11 due to a sudden change in the state of the locking portion 8 at the time of removal.

  Furthermore, the seedling box automatic supply device 16 is configured to supply the seedling box 10 at a timing when the engaging portion 8 is fitted into the gap G that is in front of the center of the seedling box 10 in the transport direction. According to this configuration, the closer the locked portion used for transport is to the front end portion in the transport direction of the seedling box 10, the shorter the distance from the locked portion to the front end portion than before, Even when seedling boxes 10 having slightly different sizes due to deterioration, usage conditions, or the like are mixed, it is difficult to be affected by the difference in size, and conventional problems are unlikely to occur.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, For example, it can also be suitably changed and embodied as follows, for example in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of invention.
(1) Use a belt instead of the chain 7 as an endless body.
(2) Change the shape of the locking portion 8 as appropriate. For example, by changing the length of each protruding piece 13a in the width direction, the number of pots 11 that can be contacted by the protruding piece 13a can be changed.
(3) The timing to supply the seedling box 10 by the seedling box automatic supply device 16 is changed, and the engaging portion 8 is inserted into the gap G other than the tenth from the front in the transport direction.
(4) Change the configuration of the resistance means 9 as appropriate. For example, it may be configured to apply a resistance force to the long side end portion 10 a of the seedling box 10 and the feed hole 12.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Seedling box conveyance apparatus 2 Conveyance path 3a-3f Sprocket 4a-4f Shaft 5 Motor 7 Chain 8 Locking part 9 Resistance means 9a Rotating body 9b Resistance part 9c Spring 9d Shaft 10 Seedling box 10a Long side edge part 10b Short side side End 10c Continuous groove 10d Protrusion 11 Pot 12 Feeding hole 13 Projection piece member 13a Projection piece 14 Endless track 14a Process 14b Process 15 Seeding device 16 Seedling box automatic supply device 17 Earthing device 18 Seeding device 19 Dispensing device 20 Covering device F Seedling Forward direction of seedling box transport by box transport device G Gap

Claims (4)

A seedling box in which a large number of pots for growing seedlings are formed in a grid-like arrangement;
A seedling box automatic supply device for supplying the seedling box to the transport path from above;
A plurality of locking portions are arranged at regular intervals on an endless body moving on an endless track, and the locking portions are on the bottom side of the seedling box in the forward travel direction before moving forward in the transport direction of the transport path. A seedling box supply and transport system comprising a seedling box transport device configured to transport the seedling box by pushing the locked portion forward in the transport direction,
On the bottom side of the seedling box, a gap extending in the width direction is formed between the rows of pots arranged in the width direction of the transport path,
The locking portion is formed so as to be able to be fitted into the gap from the bottom surface side and to be able to contact the plurality of pots arranged in the width direction in the fitted state.
The seedling box automatic supply device is configured to supply the seedling box at a timing when the locking portion in the forward travel is inserted into the gap,
The seedling box transporting device is configured to transport the seedling box by pushing the plurality of pots in the gap in front of the transporting direction as the locked portions by the locking portions. Box supply transport system.   After the seedling box supplied by the seedling box automatic supply device falls on the transport path, the locking portion moves forward in the transport direction at least by a distance equal to the length of the pot in front of the transport direction. The seedling box supply and conveyance system according to claim 1, further comprising resistance means for imparting resistance to the seedling box to prevent forward movement of the seedling box. At least the front end side of the forward travel is formed so as to incline forward downward relative to the transport path,
The seedling box supply / conveyance system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking portion is configured to be extracted downward from the gap when moving on the front end side.   The said seedling box automatic supply apparatus is comprised so that the said seedling box may be supplied at the timing which the said latching | locking part fits into the said clearance gap before the center of the said seedling box in the said conveyance direction. The seedling box supply conveyance system as described in any one of 3.

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