JP2853021B2 - Method and apparatus for transferring rows of linked seedlings - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for transplanting and cultivating agricultural crops, which comprises separating a group of connected seedlings, each of which includes a plurality of seedlings such as paper tube seedlings, into individual rows of seedlings. And a device for transferring a row of linked seedlings, in which the seedlings are sequentially transferred to a conveyor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional row separating apparatus for a group of linked seedlings,
There is a configuration shown in FIG. The apparatus includes a seedling separation unit 1 and two connected seedling groups P and Q directed toward the seedling separation unit 1.
And a transport conveyor 3 for transporting the seedling rows separated by the seedling separating section 1 in the transport direction indicated by the arrow.

[0005] The seedling separating section 1 inserts a seedling separating needle 1b into each seedling in the foremost seedling row of the connected seedling group P in contact with the separating plate 1a to separate the seedlings one by one. This is sequentially transferred to the transport conveyor 3, and on the side of the transport conveyor 3, the transport of the foremost seedling row of the connected seedling group P contacting the separation plate 1 a of the seedling row separating unit 1 is performed. The optical sensor 4 is arranged so as to oppose the outermost seedling that is the front side in the direction.

In the above-described conventional apparatus, of the two seedling rows P'n, P '(n + 1) adjacent to each other in the connected seedling group P, the following seedling row P' ( n + 1) to seedling separation unit 1
When the seedlings Pnb are separated, the preceding seedlings Pn, which have been transferred to the conveyor 3 before separation, are gradually conveyed, and the rearmost seedlings Pnb on the rear side in the conveying direction of the seedlings Pn.
Is detected by the optical sensor 4, the subsequent seedling row P (n + 1) after the separation is transferred onto the conveyor 3.

[0005] When the succeeding seedling row is indicated by P '(n + 1), it is in a state before the seedling row is separated from the connected seedling group P, and when indicated by P (n + 1), The one after separation is shown. Similarly, Pn,
It is indicated by P'n.

In the above-described apparatus, while the preceding connected seedling group P is being separated, the preceding seedling row P transferred onto the conveyor 3
The transfer operation is performed without a gap being generated between the last seedling Pnb of n and the first seedling Pa of the following seedling row P (n + 1), and these ends are not overlapped. Can be.

By the way, the connected seedling groups P and Q are shown in FIG.
Is divided into three (FIG. 8B) or two (FIG. 8C). The connected seedling group R is made of seedlings having a honeycomb structure.
A seedling row Ry in which adjacent seedlings are closely connected with each other, and a seedling row Rx in which adjacent seedlings are alternately sandwiched and separated from each other. The connected seedling groups P and Q are loaded on the supply conveyor 2 with the seedling row Ry in which the adjacent seedlings are closely contacted and connected to face the seedling row separating section 1.

[0008]

However, when a single connected seedling group R is divided, the length of the seedling row Ry cannot be actually equalized between the divided connected seedling groups P and Q. Not only that, it is also difficult to load them on the supply conveyor 2 with the seedlings facing the optical sensor 4 aligned.

Therefore, when the connecting seedling group Q having a shorter seedling row than the connecting seedling group P is transferred to the transport conveyor 3 while keeping the installation position of the optical sensor 4 as it is, the seedling rows of the two connecting seedling groups P and Q are moved. A gap L0 corresponding to the difference in the lengths is generated (FIG. 7).

On the other hand, if the optical sensor 4 is re-installed at the position for detecting the seedling at the end of the seedling row of the linked seedling group Q, the transfer operation can be performed without the gap L0. Can be.

However, when the length of the seedling row of the other connected seedling group following this connected seedling group Q is longer than the length of the connected seedling group Q, the transfer operation of the seedling row is performed with the optical sensor 4 kept as it is. Then, the preceding seedling row and the side ends of the succeeding seedling row overlap each other on the conveyor 3. On the other hand, when the length of the seedling row of the other connected seedling group following the connected seedling group Q is shorter than the connected seedling group Q, a gap similar to the gap L0 is generated.

[0012] Even in the same group of linked seedlings P (Q), some of the seedlings may be partially missing (indicated by Pz) as shown in FIG. Even in such a missing state, the opening and stacking of the seedling rows on the conveyor 3 occur between the adjacent seedling rows in the same manner as described above. Furthermore, the seedlings arranged at the side ends of the connected seedling group are in an unstable connection state, and when mounted on the supply conveyor 2, there is a fear that the seedlings may be separated from other adjacent seedlings and fall.

[0013] An object of the present invention is to prevent the seedlings from falling down and to prevent the seedlings that are sequentially transferred to the transport conveyor from having the same length even when the length of the seedlings is not uniform. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for transferring a seedling row of a connected seedling group, which prevent a gap between a succeeding seedling row to be transferred later from opening or a stack of opposing ends thereof.

[0014]

According to the present invention, there is provided a method for transferring a seedling row of a connected seedling group, wherein the seedling rows are separated one by one from a connected seedling group P and each seedling row is sequentially transferred to a conveyor E. , The length L1 of the preceding seedling P′n before separation is calculated, and then the preceding seedling P′n is separated and transferred to the transport conveyor E, and the preceding seedling Pn is transported by the transport conveyor E. During the operation, the following seedling line P '(n + 1) following the preceding seedling line Pn is separated, and when the preceding seedling line Pn is transported by the calculated length L1, the separation is performed. After that, the row P (n + 1) is transferred to the conveyor E.

The length L1 of the preceding seedling P'n before separation is
After that, the preceding seedlings P′n are separated and transferred to the transport conveyor E, and the preceding seedlings P
While conveying n, the length of the succeeding seedling P '(n + 1) following the preceding seedling Pn before separation is calculated and separated, and the preceding seedling Pn is When transported by the calculated length L1, the separated row P (n + 1) may be transferred to the transport conveyor E after separation.

Each of the pair of length-measuring arms 48, which are in contact with the seedlings at both ends of the group of connected seedlings P and rotate according to the length of the first row of the seedlings, is used as an angle detecting sensor. It is preferable to detect at S1 and S2 and calculate the length L1 of the preceding seedling row P '(n + 1) before separation based on these detected angles.

The apparatus for transferring a row of seedlings of the present invention is as follows. A seedling row length calculating means 71 for calculating the length L1 of the preceding seedling row P'n before separation, and the preceding seedling row P'n is separated and transferred to the transport conveyor E. While the seedlings Pn are being transported, the preceding seedlings P
n, a seedling separation section B for separating the following seedlings P ′ (n + 1), and a separated preceding seedling P transferred to the conveyor E.
transport distance calculating means 72 for calculating the transport distance L3 of n
When the transport distance L3 matches the calculated length L1, the separated rear row P (n + 1) is transferred to the transport conveyor E
And a transfer control means 73 for transferring the data to the server.

A pair of length-measuring arms 48, 48 which elastically contact with the seedlings on both side ends of the connected seedling group P and rotate and displace in accordance with the length of the first row of the seedlings,
A pair of angle detection sensors S for detecting the rotation angles of 8, 48
1 and S2, and the seedling row length calculating means 71 detects each of the length measuring arms 48 and 48 detected by the angle detection sensors S1 and S2.
It is preferable to calculate the length of the preceding seedling row P'n before separation based on the rotation angle of 48.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. The seedling transfer device of the present invention is incorporated in a seedling separation device A mounted on a seedling transplanter.

As shown in FIG. 1, the seedling transplanter has a main frame 5 on which connecting pieces 5a and 5b for connecting to a tractor (not shown) are formed, a driving wheel 6, and a cutting machine for cutting off impurities. Rolling corta 7, an opener 8 for forming a furrow, a seedling planter 9 for planting seedlings in the furrow, a crushing wheel 10 for suppressing the planted seedlings, and the like.

The seedling row separating apparatus A includes the above-described connected seedling groups P,
The seedling separation part B for separating Q for each row, the support mechanism C for supporting the seedling separation part B, and the connected seedling groups P,
There is a seedling supply unit D for transferring Q, and a transfer conveyor E for transferring the seedlings separated by the seed separation unit B to the seedling transplanter side (FIGS. 1 and 2).

The seedling supply section D is supported at the rear end of the main frame 5 of the seedling transplanter, and the transport conveyor E is supported at an intermediate portion thereof. The support mechanism C is supported by a pair of upright frames 11, 11 (one of which is not shown) erected on the front end side of the main frame 5, and connects the seedling separation unit B to the connected seedling on the seedling supply unit D. It is opposed to the group P.

The seedling supply unit D is provided with a supply conveyor F for directly supplying the preceding connected seedling group P to the seedling separation unit B and a subsequent connected seedling group Q stored in a seedling carrying case (not shown). It comprises a receiving conveyor G to receive, and a transfer conveyor H arranged between the supply conveyor F and the receiving conveyor G to transfer the connected seedling group Q sent from the seedling transport case to the supply conveyor D.

The supply conveyor F includes a pair of side plates 12 and 12.
A pair of tensioning rollers 13 and 14 are arranged at a required interval on the downstream side in the supply direction X of the connected seedling group P, which is closer to the seedling row separating portion B, and the connected seedling group P is placed thereon. The supply belt 15 is stretched. Reference numeral 16 denotes a belt tensioner, and SP1 denotes a sprocket fixed to one end of the tension roller 14.

The transfer conveyor H includes a pair of tension rollers 1
7 and 18 are arranged at required intervals, and a transfer belt 19 for mounting the connected seedling group Q transferred from the receiving conveyor G is stretched over them. 20 is a belt tensioner, SP2 and SP3 are at one end of the tension roller 17,
It is a sprocket that is fixed by overlapping inside and outside.

Between the side plates 12, 12, an output shaft M1a projects from the outer surface of one of the side plates, and a geared motor M1 is disposed. The output shaft M1a has two sprockets SP4, SP5. It is polymerized and fixed inside and outside.

A roller chain 21 is stretched between the sprocket SP5 and the sprocket SP1 of the tension roller 14, and a roller chain 22 is stretched between the sprocket SP4 and the sprocket SP2 of the tension roller 17. I have. Thereby, the supply belt 15 and the transfer belt 1
9. In other words, the supply conveyor F and the transfer conveyor H are
The geared motors M1 are driven in synchronization with each other by driving.

The traveling speed of the supply belt 15 and the transfer belt 19 is set such that the traveling speed of the transfer belt 19 is slightly higher than that of the supply belt 15 by a combination of the number of teeth such as sprockets.

The receiving conveyor G transfers the connected seedling group Q in the seedling carrying case mounted thereon to the transfer conveyor H, and is located upstream of the transfer conveyor H, that is, at the rear end of the side plates 12 and 12. On the unit side, five rotating rollers 23 to 27 are arranged at required intervals. These rotating rollers 23 to
Reference numeral 27 designates two cylindrical contact portions 23b to 2 on rotating shafts 23a to 27a rotatably straddling between the side plates 12, 12, respectively.
7b.

Gears 29 to 32 are fixed to one ends of the rotating rollers 24 to 27, and a sprocket SP6 and a gear 28 connected to a sprocket SP3 and a roller chain 28 'are fixed to one end of the rotating roller 23. doing. Further, between the rotating rollers 24 to 27, the idle gears 33 to 3 are respectively meshed with these adjacent gears.
6 are arranged so that the rotating rollers 23 to 27 simultaneously rotate in the same direction in synchronization with the driving of the transfer conveyor H.

A transfer belt 1 is provided on both sides of the transfer conveyor H.
A pair of transfer guides I, I for guiding the connected seedling group Q mounted on the top 9 are provided. Reprint guide I
Is a U-shaped frame 37 erected on the side plate 12,
On the lower surface of the horizontal bent piece 37a, three rotating rollers 38 to 40 arranged in parallel to the supply direction X of the connected seedling group, and the connection wound around these and mounted on the transfer belt 19 Guide belt 41 abutting on the seedling on the opposite side end of seedling group Q
Consists of

The guide belt 41 is made of rubber or sponge and has elastic projections 41a formed on the outer surface thereof at predetermined intervals so as to contact the seedlings at the side ends of the connecting seedling group Q. It travels according to the movement.

On both sides of the supply conveyor F, a supply belt 1 is provided.
A pair of supply guides J, J for guiding the group of connected seedlings P mounted on the top 5 are provided, and their configuration is as follows. On the lower surface of the horizontally bent piece 42 a of the U-shaped frame 42 fixed on the side plate 12, a large-diameter tension roller 43 is provided from the upstream to the downstream in the supply direction X of the connected seedling group P. Four guide rollers 44 to 47 smaller in diameter than
Are rotatably arranged.

A base end of a length measuring arm 48 is rotatably attached to a rotating shaft 43 a of the tension roller 43, and a torsion spring for urging the tip of the arm 48 toward the connected seedling group P. 51 are fitted.

The length measuring arm 48 elastically contacts the seedlings at the side ends of the connected seedling group P, and measures the length L1 of the first seedling row. It is located on the side of the first seedling row of the connected seedling group P and is bent toward the seedling on the opposite side end of the seedling row, and two rotating rollers 49, 50 are provided at the tip thereof. Installed. A locking pin 48a for locking a locking member 52 of the angle detection sensors S1 and S2 described below is formed on the upper surface of the intermediate portion of the length measuring arm 48.

A guide belt 41 having the same structure as described above is stretched between the tension roller 43 and the two rotation rollers 49 and 50 of the length measuring arm 48. The rotation roller 49 is connected via the guide belt 41. Indirectly elastically contacts the seedling at the side end of the first seedling row of the connected seedling group P, and the length measuring arm 48 is rotated and displaced according to the position of the seedling.

An angle detection sensor S1 (S2) for detecting the rotation angle of the length measuring arm 48 is mounted on the upper surface of the horizontally bent piece 42a of the frame 42. The angle detection sensor S1 (S2) includes a potentiometer 53 and the locking member 52 having a base end fixed to a detection shaft thereof.
A guide groove 52 a for guiding the locking pin 48 a of the length measuring arm 48 is formed at the tip of the locking member 52.

The angle detection sensors S1 and S2 have the same structure. The angle detection sensor S1 is disposed on the supply guide J on the front side in the transport direction Y of the transport conveyor E, and the supply guide J on the rear side in the transport direction. Is provided with an angle detection sensor S2.

The coupling guide portion K includes rotating rollers 54, 5 provided on the front end of the frame 37 and the rear end of the frame 42.
5 and a guide belt 41 having the same structure as above, which is stretched over them. The guide belt 41 comes into contact with the upper part of the seedlings on the opposite side ends of the connected seedling groups P and Q.

Next, the principle of calculating the length of the seedling row based on the rotation angle of the length measuring arm 48 will be described. First, the length measuring arms 48, 48 of the pair of supply guides J, J
The distance between the guide belts 41, 41 of the supply guides J, J when each is moved to the initial position (a) is defined as L0, and the supply direction X of the connected seedling group of the potentiometer 53 at that time. The initial angle is θ1, and the rotation from the initial position (A) to the rotation position (B) where the guide belt 41 is in contact with the preceding seedling row P′n in the first row of the connected seedling group P before separation. Assuming that the angle is θ2, the distance from the axis of the potentiometer 53 to the contact point of the guide belt 41 with the preceding seedling row P′n is La, and the length of the preceding seedling row P′n is L1, the seedling row P The length L1 of 'n is represented by the following equation.

L1 = L0− (La · tan θ1 + La · tan θ3) (1) where θ3 = θ2−θ1 As is clear from the equation (1), both the length measuring arms 48, 4
By detecting the rotation angle of No. 8, the length of the preceding seedling row P'n in the first row of the connected seedling group P before separation can be obtained.

The support mechanism C includes a link mechanism M for supporting the seedling separation section B, and hydraulic cylinders 56, 5 for driving these.
And 7 actuators. The configuration of the link mechanism M is as follows. The pair of upright frames 11, 1
One end of each of horizontal frames 58, 58 (one of which is not shown) is fixed to the upper end of the pair 1, and a pair of side-face inverted L-shaped swing links 59, 59 (one of which is shown) is provided between the intermediate portions. (Not shown) is suspended from above, and a support shaft 60 that supports the seedling separation part B and the movable frame T, which will be described in detail later, in a tiltable manner is suspended between the lower ends thereof. .

A hanging frame 61 is fixed to the other end of the horizontal frame 58, and a base end of a fine movement link 62 is attached to a lower end thereof.

The movable frame body T has a front lower end portion pivotally supported by the support shaft 60 and a rear upper end portion pivotally supported by a distal end portion of the fine movement link 62. Are not shown), and a pair of side plates 63, 6
Seedling separation parts B are arranged between the three (FIGS. 1 and 2).

When the drive rod 56a of the hydraulic cylinder 56 is expanded and contracted, the swing link 59 moves between an initial position (c) and a tilt position (d) according to the expansion and contraction. T moves around the support shaft 60 between an initial position (e) and a tilt position (f) indicated by a two-dot chain line.

The configuration of the seedling separation unit B is as follows.
Reference numeral 64 denotes a flat U-shaped plate frame. Lower ends of both bent portions 64a, 64a (one of which is not shown) are supported by a support shaft 60, and a seedling contact plate 65 is provided therebetween.
A shaft 66 and the like for suspending and supporting the tiltably are suspended.

A hydraulic cylinder 57 is provided between the plate frame 64 and the movable frame T, and its sliding rod 57
By expanding and contracting a, the seedling separation part B moves around the support shaft 60 between a seedling separation position (g) indicated by a solid line and a separation end position (h).

The seedling contact plate 65 is a horizontal rectangle whose upper end is fixed to the shaft 66, and the first row of the connected seedling group P contacting the seedling contact plate 65 is provided on the back surface thereof. The motor M2 to which the seedling separation needle 67 for separating the eye seedling row P '(n + 1) is fixed.

The seedling separating needle 67 is a needle-like needle which is formed in a C-shape at a continuous interval between the seedlings forming the first seedling row, and is driven by the motor M2. It moves between the stab position where the seedlings of the first seedling row are stabbed and the extracted position where the seedlings are extracted.

The seedling separating section B having the above-described structure moves the movable seedling T from the initial position (e) to the tilting position (f) and separates the following seedling P (n + While holding 1), it is moved from the separation end position (h) to a seedling release position (i) where the row seedling P (n + 1) is released thereafter.

The transport conveyor E is disposed below the seedling row releasing position (R) of the seedling row separating section B, and is separated from rotating rollers 68, 68 (one of which is not shown). , And the row of seedlings placed on the transport belt 69 is transported downstream in the transport direction Y. Further, a rotary encoder EN for measuring the number of rotations of the rotating roller 68, that is, the transport distance L3 of the row of seedlings mounted on the rotating roller 68 is attached to one end of the one rotating roller 68.

The angle detection sensors S1 and S2, the rotary encoder EN and the like are connected to the input side of the sequencer SQ shown in FIG.
Are connected.

The sequencer SQ is provided with a memory 70 in which the length measuring arms 48, 48 of the pair of supply guides J, J are respectively located at the initial positions (A) together with the above equation (1). The distance L between the surfaces of the guide belts 41, 41 of the supply guide portions J, J when being moved.
0, the initial angle θ1, which is the supply direction X of the connected seedling group of the potentiometer 53, and the initial position (A), guide the preceding seedling row P'n in the first row of the connected seedling group P before separation. The rotation angle θ2 to the rotation position (b) where the belt 41 abuts, the distance La from the axis of the potentiometer 53 to the contact point of the guide belt 41 with the preceding seedling row P′n, and the preceding seedling row P 'N length L1 and the like are stored.

Further, the sequencer SQ is provided in the memory 7
0 is provided, and (1) a seedling row length calculating means 71 for calculating the length of the preceding seedling row P'n before separation, whereby the pair of angle detection sensors S1 and S2 respectively detect Length measuring arms 48, 48
Are substituted into the equation (1) stored in the memory 70 to calculate the length of the preceding seedling row P'n.

(2) A transport distance calculating means 72 for calculating the transport distance L3 of the separated preceding seedling row Pn transferred to the transport conveyor E is provided, whereby the encoder EN attached to the rotating roller 68 The number of output pulses is converted to the transport distance L3 of the preceding seedling row Pn.

(3) A transfer control means 73 is provided, so that when the transport distance L3 matches the length L1 of the preceding seedling row Pn, the seedling separating section B sets the following seedling row P (n + 1) is transferred to the conveyor E. The transfer control means 73
Are the seedlings on the downstream side in the transport direction Y of the succeeding seedling row P '(n + 1) are the same as the seedlings on the downstream side in the transport direction Y of the preceding seedling row P'n and the supply direction of the connected seedling group. If they are not located on a straight line at X, the transport distance L3 is corrected as follows, and the following seedling row P
Transfer (n + 1).

The transport direction Y of the following seedling P '(n + 1) before separation
When the position of the youngest seedling on the downstream side is located upstream of the preceding seedling row P'n before separation in the transport direction Y, a value obtained by subtracting the correction distance from the length L1 of the preceding seedling row P'n. When the transport distance L3 coincides with the seedling row separation section B, the following seedling row P (n
+1) is transferred to the conveyor E.

The transport direction Y of the following seedling row P '(n + 1) before separation
When the position of the youngest seedling on the downstream side is located on the downstream side in the transport direction Y from that of the preceding seedling P'n before separation, a value obtained by adding the correction distance to the length L1 of the preceding seedling P'n. The transport distance L
When 3 matches, the seedling separation part B sets the following seedling P (n +
1) is transferred to the conveyor E.

Next, a series of operations for separating the connected seedling groups for each seedling row and transferring the separated seedling rows to the conveyor will be described. In FIG. 6, the number of seedlings in the seedling row and each part are shown in a simplified manner.

When the connected seedling groups P and Q are placed on the seedling row supplying section D and the separating operation is started, the connected seedling groups P and Q are elastically moved at their side ends by the guide portions I to K. While being supported, it is moved toward the seedling row separation part B. Then, when the preceding seedling row P′n located in the first row of the connected seedling group P comes into contact with the seedling contact plate 65 of the seedling row separating section B, the rotation of both length measuring arms 48, 48 at that time is performed. The moving angle is the angle detection sensor S1,
S2, the length L1 of the preceding seedling row P'n
Is calculated and stored in the memory 70. The state at this time is shown in FIG.

Next, the motor M2 is driven, and the seedling separation needle 67 is inserted into the upper part of each seedling forming the preceding seedling row P'n,
The preceding seedling row P′n is held by the seedling contact plate 65 and the seedling separation needle 67. By the end of the piercing operation, the hydraulic cylinder 57 is driven, the seedling row separating section B starts to tilt from the seedling row separating position (g) toward the separation end position (h), and the preceding seedling row P'n. Is gradually peeled downward from its upper end and separated from the connected seedling group P. This is referred to as a preceding seedling row Pn.

When the above peeling operation is completed,
The sliding rod 56a of the hydraulic cylinder 56 is driven to retract,
This causes the swing frame 59 to move from the initial position (C) to the tilt position (D). Thus, the seedling separation unit B moves the seedling separation part B to the seedling release position (i) above the transport conveyor E while holding the separated preceding seedling Pn with the seedling separation needle 67. Is driven to pull out the seedling separation needle 67 from each seedling in the preceding seedling row Pn.
On the lower conveyor E.

After the release operation is completed, the swing frame 59
Is returned to the initial position (c), and the trailing seedling row P '(n + 1) of the connected seedling group P comes to the first row and comes into contact with the seedling contact plate 65 of the seedling row separating section B. , Then both length measuring arms 4
From the rotation angles of 8, 48, the length of the succeeding seedling row P '(n + 1), which is the first row, is calculated and stored in the memory 70. The state at this time is shown in FIG.

Next, in the same manner as in the preceding seedling row P'n,
The following seedling row P ′ (n + 1) before separation is gradually peeled downward from its upper end and separated from the connected seedling group P. This is referred to as a succeeding seedling row P (n + 1). At this time, the preceding seedling row Pn on the transport conveyor E is gradually moved to the downstream side in the transport direction Y, and the transport distance L3 is set to the length L1 of the preceding seedling row Pn '.
In other words, when the last seedling Pnb of the preceding seedling Pn is moved to a position in contact with the foremost seedling Pa of the succeeding seedling P (n + 1), By driving the motor M2 of the separation section B, the seedling separation needle 67 is extracted from each seedling in the following seedling row P (n + 1), and the seedling row P (n + 1) is released on the lower conveyor E. I do. Thereby, on the conveyor E,
The last seedling Pnb of the preceding seedling Pn and the following seedling P (n + 1)
Is brought into a state where the foremost seedling Pa is properly abutted (FIG. 4,
(FIG. 6 (C)).

By the way, the above series of operations is such that the outermost end of the seedling row P′n and the succeeding seedling row P ′ (n + 1) on the downstream side in the transport direction Y is straightforward in the supply direction X of the connected seedling group. Although the case where the seedling is located on the line has been described, the seedling at the downstream end in the transport direction Y of the following seedling row P '(n + 1) is the transporting direction Y of the preceding seedling row P'n.
When the seedlings at the downstream end and the connected seedling group are not located on a straight line in the supply direction X, the following operation is performed.

The transport direction Y of the following seedling row P '(n + 1) before separation
When the position of the youngest seedling on the downstream side is located on the upstream side in the transport direction Y from that of the preceding seedling row P'n before separation, the separated preceding seedling row Pn is transported by the transport conveyor E by the length L1. Then, even if the succeeding seedling P (n + 1) after separation is transferred to the conveyor E, the rear end of the preceding seedling Pn and the trailing seedling P
(n + 1) overlaps. In this case, when the transport distance L3 matches the value obtained by subtracting the correction distance from the length L1 of the preceding seedling P'n, the succeeding seedling P ( n + 1) is released onto the conveyor E, so that the last seedling P in the preceding seedling row Pn is released.
nb and the foremost seedling Pa of the following seedling row P (n + 1) are in a state of properly abutting.

Further, the position of the outermost end of the seedling P ′ (n + 1) in the transport direction Y downstream of the seedling P ′ (n + 1) before separation is more Y direction than that of the preceding seedling P′n before separation. When on the downstream side,
The separated seedling row Pn is transported by the conveyor E to the length L1.
When the following seedlings P (n + 1) are separated and transferred to the conveyor E, the rear end of the preceding seedlings Pn and the trailing seedlings P (n + 1) Will open between the front end of the
In this case, when the transport distance L3 matches the value obtained by adding the correction distance to the length L1 of the preceding seedling P'n, the following seedling P
(n + 1) is released on the conveyor E,
The last seedling Pnb of n and the foremost seedling Pa of the succeeding seedling row P (n + 1) are in a state of being in proper contact. The following seedling P ′
The (n + 1) seedling on the upstream end in the transport direction Y is the preceding seedling row P '
In the case where n and n are not located on a straight line in the supply direction X of the seedling on the upstream side and the connected seedling group in the transport direction Y, there is no relation to the transport distance in the transport direction Y, so that the correction is not necessary.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified within the scope of the invention. In the above embodiment, the example in which the length measurement arm is brought into contact with the outermost seedling of the first row of seedlings has been described. However, in the case where the seedling at the side end of the connected seedling group is missing. Even if there is, the number of seedlings in the first row and the number of seedlings in the second or third row are often the same, so the second or third row The length-measuring arm may be brought into contact with the seedlings at the side ends of the seedling row, and the length of the first row of seedlings may be calculated based on the arm.

[0069]

According to the present invention, the length of the preceding seedling row before separation is calculated, and then the preceding seedling row is separated and transferred to the transport conveyor, and the preceding seedling row is transported by the transport conveyor. During the operation, the succeeding seedling that follows the preceding seedling is separated, and when the preceding seedling is conveyed by the calculated length, the separated succeeding seedling is transferred to the conveyor. Therefore, even if the lengths of seedlings that are sequentially transferred to the conveyor are not uniform, the gap between the preceding and succeeding seedlings may be open or their opposing ends may be stacked. Can be prevented.

Since the pair of length-measuring arms oppose the seedlings on both sides of the connected seedling group, the falling of the seedlings can be prevented.

The rotation angle of the length-measuring arm, which is rotated and displaced according to the length of the preceding seedling row, is detected, and the length of the preceding seedling row is calculated based on this angle. A stable operation can be performed even in a state of being adhered to and dirty.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a seedling transplanter equipped with a seedling separation device incorporating a seedling transfer device of a connected seedling group of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the seedling separation device.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of a seedling supply unit.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the seedling separation device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the seedling row transfer device of the present invention.

FIGS. 6A to 6C are simplified plan views showing a transfer state of a preceding seedling row after separation and a subsequent seedling row after separation to be transferred later.

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of a seedling separation device incorporating a conventional seedling transfer device for a connected seedling group.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing one connected seedling group, and FIG.
Is a perspective view showing the connected seedling group divided into three, (C)
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one connected seedling group divided into two.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a connected seedling group in which a part is missing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 48 length measuring arm 71 seedling row length calculating means 72 transport distance calculating means 73 transfer control means B seedling separating section E transport conveyor P'n preceding seedling row before separation Pn preceding seedling row P '(n + 1) ) Trailing seedling P (n + 1) before separation Trailing seedling P, Q after separation Connected seedling group S1, S2 Angle detection sensor

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method for transferring a seedling row of a connected seedling group, wherein the seedling rows are separated from the linked seedling groups one by one and each of the seedling rows is sequentially transferred to a conveyor. After that, the preceding seedling row is separated and transferred to the transport conveyor, and while the preceding seedling row is being transported by the transport conveyor, the subsequent seedling row following the preceding seedling row is separated. And a method of transferring a seedling row of a linked seedling group, wherein the separated seedling row is transferred to a transport conveyor when the preceding seedling row is transported by the calculated length. 2. A method of transferring a seedling row from a linked seedling group to a row of connected seedlings, wherein the row of seedlings is separated from the connected seedlings one by one and each seedling row is sequentially transferred to a conveyor. After that, the preceding seedling row is separated and transferred to the transport conveyor, and while the preceding seedling row is being transported by the transport conveyor, the succeeding seedling row before the separation following the preceding seedling row. And calculating the length of the seedlings, and when the preceding seedlings are transported by the calculated length, the separated seedlings are transferred to the transport conveyor after separation. Seedling row transfer method. 3. A rotation angle of a pair of length-measuring arms, which come into contact with the seedlings on both side ends of the connected seedling group and rotate according to the length of the first seedling row, are detected by angle detection sensors. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the length of the preceding seedling row before separation is calculated based on the detected angles. 4. In a seedling row transfer device for a linked seedling group, which separates seedling rows from the linked seedling group for each row and sequentially transfers each seedling row to a conveyor, the length of the preceding seedling row before separation. And a seed row length calculating means for calculating the preceding seedling row, separating the preceding seedling row and transferring it to the conveyor, and while the preceding seedling row is being conveyed by the transport conveyor, a succeeding row following the preceding seedling row. A seedling separation unit that separates seedlings, a transfer distance calculating unit that calculates the transfer distance of the separated preceding seedling transferred to the transfer conveyor, and when the transfer distance matches the calculated length. And a transfer control means for transferring the separated succeeding seedlings to a transport conveyor in the seedling separating section. 5. A pair of length-measuring arms which elastically contact with the seedlings on both sides of the group of connected seedlings and which are rotated and displaced according to the length of the first row of the seedlings, and rotation of these length-measuring arms. A pair of angle detection sensors for detecting the angle, and the seedling row length calculating means determines the length of the preceding seedling row before separation based on the rotation angle of each length measuring arm detected by the angle detection sensors. The seedling row transfer device for a connected seedling group according to claim 4, wherein