JP2843017B2 - Crop seedling box packing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a seedling storage box used for transporting crop seedlings such as rush seedlings and transferring crop seedlings to a seedling cradle of a seedling transplanter. The present invention relates to an apparatus for packing crops and seedlings into which boxes are packed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in the case of rush seedlings, an operator separates a mother plant grown from a seed stock into approximately one rush seedling for planting, either manually or by using a stocking device. The separated rush plants were manually packed into the seedling storage box.

[0003]

Since the operation of packing the separated seedlings into the seedling storage box as described above is very time-consuming and requires a large amount of labor, the efficiency of the pre-processing work for the planting operation is improved. In view of this, automation of the operation of packing crop seedlings into a seedling storage box is desired. If there is variation in the packing condition (density) of crop seedlings in the seedling storage box,
Even after the transfer of the crop seedlings to the seedling rest of the seedling transplanter, the degree of packing (density) of the crop seedlings at the seedling rest remains uneven. In some cases, a plant may be formed, or the number of plant seedlings planted may vary. An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for packing crop seedlings in which the seedlings can be packed in a seedling storage box without variation in density (density).

[0004]

[1]

The plant is provided with a feeding mechanism for feeding the crop seedlings from the top to the seedling storage box in which the upper part is opened, and the sending part of the crop seedling of the feeding mechanism is arranged so as to enter the seedling storage box, A pressing mechanism for pressing the crop seedlings sent from the feeding mechanism into the seedling storage box toward a predetermined wall of the seedling storage box, and a support for movably supporting the seedling storage box along the pressing direction of the pressing mechanism. The seedling storage box is pressed by pressing the crop seedlings fed into the seedling storage box in a standing posture with the root portion down toward the predetermined wall side of the seedling storage box by the pressing mechanism. While moving along the direction, the crop seedlings are packed in the seedling storage box. [2] In the configuration of the above item [1], a pressing mechanism is arranged near the crop seedling delivery section of the delivery mechanism.

[0005]

[I] According to the feature of the first aspect, the seedling is fed into the seedling storage box by the feeding mechanism in a standing posture with the root part down, and the crop seedling sent to the seedling storage box is pressed by the pressing mechanism. Then, the seedling storage box is pressed toward a predetermined wall. Thereby, when the crop seedling first sent to the seedling storage box reaches a predetermined wall portion of the seedling storage box, the subsequent feeding of the crop seedling to the seedling storage box, and the pressing of the crop seedling by the pressing mechanism, A predetermined wall portion of the seedling storage box is pressed by the pressing mechanism via the crop seedling, and the seedling storage box moves in the pressing direction of the pressing mechanism. Therefore, between the predetermined wall portion of the seedling storage box and the pressing mechanism, the crop seedlings in the seedling storage box are compressed to have a substantially uniform density, and the seedling storage box is moved along the pressing direction of the pressing mechanism. As they move, the seedlings are packed in the seedling storage box.

[II] According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the delivery portion of the crop seedling of the feeding mechanism is arranged so as to enter the seedling storage box, the delivery portion and the bottom portion of the seedling storage box are close to each other. Therefore, the left and right lateral wall portions of the seedling storage box are located on both the left and right sides of the sending section. Thus, when the crop seedlings are sent from the delivery unit to the seedling storage box, the crop seedlings are sent to the seedling storage box without spilling out. further,
When the crop seedlings are sent from the delivery section to the seedling storage box, the height of the crop seedlings (root) from the delivery section to the bottom of the seedling storage box is low, so that the shock when the crop seedlings fall is small. Point, and even if the crop seedlings are inclined to the left and right when the crop seedlings are separated from the sending part, the lateral walls of the seedling storage box are already located on the left and right of the crop seedlings, and the inclination of the crop seedlings is prevented. Then, the crop seedlings are sent from the feeding mechanism into the seedling storage box without disturbing the posture.

[III] For example, it is conceivable to pack crop seedlings in a seedling storage box while stacking them in a state of being laid sideways. As the stalks become lower and the roots become higher as they are stacked, the crop seedlings are tilted and stacked. In such a state, the crop seedlings in the seedling storage box are generally biased toward the stem due to vibrations during transportation, and the stems of the crop seedlings are orthogonal to the lateral walls of the seedling storage box. The roots of the crop seedlings stacked on top of the well-ventilated part may be quickly dried due to being pressed and broken in a state. In this case, if the roots are dried, there is a possibility that the survival rate of the crop seedlings will decrease after planting. Also, in the case of a crop such as a rush seedling that grows a new shoot using the stem as a nutrient source after planting, if the stem breaks, the growth of the new shoot may be hindered.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the seedlings are packed in the seedling storage box in a standing posture with the root part down, the crop seedlings in the seedling storage box are moved to one side by vibration during transportation. Even if it moves, the state where the stem of the crop seedling is pressed in a state orthogonal to the lateral wall of the seedling storage box does not occur, and the stem of the crop seedling does not break. Further, since the root of the crop seedling is located at the bottom of the seedling storage box, the root of the crop seedling is not easily dried.

[IV] According to the feature of claim 2, similar to the case of claim 1, the "action" described in the above-mentioned [I], [II], and [III] is provided. It has various “actions”.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the pressing mechanism is arranged near the crop seedling sending-out portion of the feeding mechanism, the pressing mechanism is surely prevented from coming off the crop seedling that is separated from the feeding mechanism (feeding portion). Acts and presses.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain an apparatus for packing crop seedlings into the seedling storage box at a substantially uniform density. It is now possible to prevent the harmful effects of not being packed (such as occurrence of missing stocks during planting work and variation in the number of plant seedlings planted). Thereby, the planting accuracy of the crop seedling by the seedling transplanter can be improved. Without spilling out of the crop seedling sending-out part of the feeding mechanism, and without disturbing the posture,
Since the crop seedlings are fed into the seedling storage box, it is further advantageous in that the crop seedlings are packed in the seedling storage box at a substantially uniform density.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the crop seedlings are packed in the seedling storage box in a standing posture with the roots down, so that the stems of the crops may break or the roots may be dried immediately. This will prevent the harmful effects of broken stems and dried roots of crop seedlings (such as a decrease in survival rate and adverse effects on the growth of shoots). Rate can be improved.

According to the features of claim 2, the "effect of the invention" of claim 1 is provided as in the case of claim 1. According to the crop seedling box packing device of the second aspect, the pressing mechanism works reliably and pushes the crop seedlings separated from the feeding mechanism (delivery portion) without coming off, so that the crop seedlings are substantially stored in the seedling storage box. It is more advantageous in terms of packing at a uniform density, and the planting accuracy of the plant seedling by the seedling transplanter can be further improved.

[0013]

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG.
FIG. 2 shows a box packing device for rush seedlings (corresponding to crop seedlings). This box packing device separates a mother plant W of rush seedlings grown from a seed plant into approximately one rush seedling for planting, and then transfers the separated planting rush seedlings to a seedling transplanter (shown in the figure). ) Are automatically packed into the transporting seedling storage box 1 for supply.

[0014] A seedling storage box 1 for storing rush seedlings in a standing posture with the root portion down is placed on a substantially horizontal mounting surface of a belt conveyor 2 (corresponding to a support mechanism). The seedling storage box 1 is movably supported while being provided with a predetermined resistance. A frictional resistance is applied to a rotation supporting portion of the belt winding pulley 3 in the belt conveyor 2 so that the belt conveyor 2 does not rotate freely. Seedlings are formed on locking projections 4 formed on the belt conveyor 2. The storage box 1 is abutted, and the seedling storage box 1 is placed so as to prevent relative movement with respect to the belt conveyor 2.

A stock splitting unit 7 for loosening a mother plant W of rush seedlings on a support 6 in an oblique position (corresponding to a feeding mechanism) to separate the rush seedlings into approximately one rush seedling for planting; A transport unit 8 for holding and transporting the seedlings is provided. In the stock splitting section 7, a pair of left and right endless rotating bands 9a and 9b are arranged to face each other in a C-shape in plan view, and a needle-like member 10 protruding outward on the outer peripheral surface of the endless rotating bands 9a and 9b. The endless rotating belts 9a and 9b are mounted in a large number in two rows along the direction and rotate from the wide carry-in port 11 to the narrow delivery port 12 side.

As a result, the needle-like member 10 sequentially enters the root of the mother plant W of the rush seedlings fed from the carry-in port 11, and the left and right endless rotating bands 9a, 9b near the delivery port 12.
When the needle-shaped member 10 is separated outwardly in an arc shape, the root portion of the mother plant W is torn, loosened and separated into approximately one plant, and the separated plant is sent out. To go.

The transport section 8 includes a pair of left and right endless rotating belts 13.
a, 13b (corresponding to a feeding mechanism) so that the stems of the separated rush seedlings are nipped and conveyed, and the conveyance start ends of the endless rotating belts 13a, 13b are partially connected to the stock division 7 in plan view. They are arranged in an overlapping state so that the separated rush seedlings can be smoothly delivered. The stock splitting section 7 and the transport section 8 are configured to be rotationally driven by the power from the electric motor M via the transmission chain 14.

As shown in FIG. 1, the endless rotating belt 13
a, 13b at the seedling storage box 1
The end of the support base 6 (corresponding to the sending-out part) for supporting the rush seedling is inserted into the seedling storage box 1. Below the end of the support 6, the rush seedlings fed into the seedling storage box 1 from the endless rotating belts 13 a, 13 b and the support 6 are transferred to the wall 15 on one end side of the seedling storage 1 (a predetermined wall portion). ) Is provided with an extruding tool 16 (corresponding to a pressing mechanism) for pushing out toward the side.

The extruding device 16 is swingably supported around the horizontal axis X at the end of the support base 6, and the extruding device 16 and the crank arm 18 provided on the drive shaft 17 on the starting end side of the transport unit 8 are connected. And a push-pull rod 19 for interlocking connection. As a result, the extruder 16 is driven to swing back and forth around the horizontal axis X at a predetermined pitch in conjunction with the rotation operation of the transporting unit 8, and the rush seedlings sent into the seedling storage box 1 are moved to the seedling storage box 1. Is pushed out toward the wall portion 15 side.

A U-shaped receiving member 20 for receiving and supporting the stem portion of the fed rush seedling is provided near the end of the endless rotating belts 13a and 13b and extends from the support base 6 in a plan view. The root of the rush seedling enters the bottom of the seedling storage box 1 so that the rush seedling is in a standing posture while the stem of the rush seedling sent from the transport unit 8 is received by the receiving device 20. Will be guided to.

As the rush seedlings are packed into the seedling storage box 1 as described above, the wall portion 15 of the seedling storage box 1 is pushed out by the pushing tool 16 indirectly via the rush seedlings. Thus, the pushing force of the pushing tool 16 causes the seedling storage box 1 to gradually move against the resistance of the belt conveyor 2. As a result, the seedling storage box 1 is packed with rush seedlings at a substantially uniform density.

In the claims, reference numerals are provided to facilitate comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the configuration shown in the attached drawings.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall side view of a box packing device.

FIG. 2 is an overall front view of the box packing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 seedling storage box 2 support mechanism 6, 13a, 13b feeding mechanism 15 predetermined wall portion of seedling storage box 16 pressing mechanism

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A feeding mechanism (6), (13a), (13b) for feeding a crop seedling from above into a seedling storage box (1) having an open top, with a root portion standing down. The feeding portions of the seedlings of the feeding mechanisms (6), (13a), and (13b) are arranged so as to enter the seedling storage box (1), and the feeding mechanisms (6), (13a), (13b) A pressing mechanism (16) for pressing the crop seedlings sent to the seedling storage box (1) toward a predetermined wall (15) side of the seedling storage box (1); A support mechanism (2) for movably supporting the seedling storage box (1) along a pressing direction, wherein the crop seedlings fed into the seedling storage box (1) in a standing posture with the root part down are provided. The pressing mechanism (16) moves toward the predetermined wall (15) side of the seedling storage box (1). The seedling storage box (1) is configured to be packed in the seedling storage box (1) while moving the seedling storage box (1) in the pressing direction by pressing and pressing. 2. The feeding mechanism (6), (13a),
The box packing device for crop seedlings according to claim 1, wherein the pressing mechanism (16) is arranged in the vicinity of the crop seedling feeding section (13b).