JP3063337U - Seedling box alignment machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To fix a direction changing wheel in a straight running state or to turn a direction changing wheel left or right by a hand operation such as grasping or releasing a release lever of a steering wheel. That is, when moving from a storage location to a greenhouse or the like, the user can move the vehicle while steering while holding the handle. A traveling vehicle (1) capable of self-propelling, a conveyor (2) installed on the traveling vehicle (1) to be inclined forward toward the ground (P), and an operation unit for changing the direction of a direction changing wheel (4) of the traveling vehicle (1). The transporting conveyor 2 sends out the seedling boxes X one by one to the ground P and aligns them on the ground P while moving the running vehicle 1 backward. Handle 3-1 provided at the rear, this handle 3-1
Has one end pivotally connected to the lower end of the vertical rod 3-2, and the other end pivotally connected to the direction changing wheel 4 so that the direction changing wheel 4 and the vertical rod 3-2
And a connecting rod 3-3 for connecting the connecting arm 3-4 at the lower end, and a straight knock mechanism 6 for holding the running vehicle 1 running straight.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

 The present invention relates to a seedling box aligning machine used for mechanically aligning seedling boxes after sowing or germination on the ground such as a greenhouse.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a seedling box aligning machine for arranging seedling boxes after germination on the ground such as a greenhouse is known from, for example, JP-A-8-266159. This conventional seedling box aligning machine lays a vertical race on the ground in a greenhouse for straight running, and moves a vertically moving vehicle along the vertical rails by the same distance as the length of the seedling box. Then, while moving the laterally moving vehicle by the same distance as the width of the seedling box along the horizontal rail extending in the left-right direction from the vertically moving vehicle, the seedling boxes stacked on the laterally moving vehicle are sequentially moved. By repeating the work of arranging the seedlings one by one on the ground, the seedling boxes are arranged in a row on the ground in the house. This is a fully automatic seedling box alignment machine that was developed to automatically align seedling boxes on the ground in the house.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

 By the way, as described above, the conventional seedling box aligning machine can fully align the seedling boxes on the ground in the house, thereby greatly reducing the labor of the operator such as eliminating the work in the waist posture. There is an advantage to say. However, on the other hand, because of the full automation, the installation of vertical and horizontal races is indispensable, and the structure of the vertical and horizontal moving vehicles is very complicated, and the entire aligning machine becomes large, etc. This leads to a rise in production costs, and as a result, the price offered to users becomes very high. For this reason, there remains a problem that it is very difficult to set a low price according to the needs of the user, and it is not widely used at present.

Therefore, the applicant of the present application has previously proposed a seedling box aligning machine developed to meet the needs of the user.

The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional situation, and the purpose thereof is to make it possible to set a low price according to the needs of the user by drastically simplifying the structure and reducing the size. Moreover, it is another object of the present invention to provide a seedling box aligning machine capable of running straight in a direction in which nurseries are aligned without the need for rails.

[0006]

[Means for achieving the object]

 In order to achieve the object, the present invention relates to a self-propelled traveling vehicle equipped with a driving wheel and a direction changing wheel, and a transport conveyor that is installed on the traveling vehicle and inclined forward to contact or approach the ground. And an operation unit for changing the direction of the direction changing wheel of the traveling vehicle.The seedling boxes transported from the transport starting end side of the transport conveyor are transported one by one to the ground from the transport end portion while the traveling vehicle is traveling backward. A seedling box aligning machine configured to be aligned on the same ground, wherein the operating section is provided with a handle provided via a rotatable vertical rod at the rear of the traveling vehicle, and a vertical rod of the handle. One end is pivotally connected to the lower end of the vehicle, and the other end is pivotally connected to the direction changing wheel, and is constituted by a connecting rod connecting the direction changing wheel and the vertical rod, and holds the traveling vehicle in a straight running state. Equipped with a straight knock mechanism The the gist. In addition, the direction changing wheels are fixed to the lower end of a rotating shaft that is rotatably mounted at the center of the front part of the body frame of the traveling vehicle. The shaft is attached, and the direction changes in the left-right direction about the rotation axis. That is, it is provided so as to be swivelable like a caster. The other end of the connecting rod is pivotally connected to the end of the axle protruding from the direction changing wheel, so that the handle is turned in either the left or right direction. The direction change wheel changes the direction by the same angle in the direction. According to such technical means, a self-propelled traveling vehicle and a seedling box are supplied by an operator's hand, so that the seedling boxes are sequentially transported one by one, and are sent to the ground and aligned, and a traveling conveyor and a traveling vehicle are provided. Since it is composed of an operation unit that controls the traveling direction, the structure is greatly simplified and the size is reduced as compared with the conventional fully automatic seedling box sorting machine. When aligning the seedling boxes, the straightening knock mechanism holds the direction-changing wheels in the straight-ahead direction. Can be sent out and aligned.

[0007] The above-mentioned rectilinear knock mechanism is horizontally attached to a lower end of a vertical rod of a handle, has a knock hole, and has one end of a connecting rod pivotally supported on an open end side. A knock pin, which is movably provided up and down while being urged downward, and which is removably inserted into and disengaged from the knock hole of the connecting arm while the direction changing wheel is directed in the straight traveling direction. The knock pin is connected to a release lever provided on the handle, and the operation of grasping the release lever pulls out the knock pin from the knock hole, so that the fixed state of the direction changing wheel in the straight traveling direction is released. It is to be constituted. According to such technical means, the direction changing wheel is held in a straight running state or the direction changing wheel is turned right and left by a hand operation such as grasping or releasing the release lever of the steering wheel. That is, when moving from a storage location to a greenhouse or the like, it is possible to move while steering while holding the handle.

[0008]

[Embodiment of the invention]

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view showing an example of an embodiment of the seedling box aligner of the present invention. The traveling vehicle 1 is capable of self-propelling, and a transport conveyor 2 is installed on the traveling vehicle 1 in an inclined forward direction. An operation unit 3 is provided at the rear of the traveling vehicle 1 and operates a direction changing wheel 4. The traveling vehicle 1 is driven backward by a driving wheel 5 at a predetermined speed, and the traveling start side of the transportation conveyor 2 is moved. The seedling boxes X are sequentially conveyed from the conveying end to the conveying end side, and the seedling boxes X are arranged in a line on the ground P while being sent out one by one from the conveying end to the ground P. Further, a linear knock mechanism 6 for fixing the operation unit 3 so as to be able to be disengaged and holding the linear traveling of the traveling vehicle 1 is provided.

The traveling vehicle 1 is provided with driving wheels 5 on the rear side of the vehicle body frame 1-1 in a state where the driving wheels 5 are connected to a driving motor 7 with a speed reducer by a suitable connecting means 8 such as a belt or a chain. The unit is provided with a direction changing wheel 4 for swinging rotation, and is configured to be driven by a driving wheel 5 in a backward or forward direction at a predetermined speed.

Although not shown, the connecting state of the drive motor 7 and the drive wheel 5 by the above-described connecting means 8 is switched or disconnected by a switching clutch or other means, so that the traveling vehicle can be switched. It is, of course, possible to enable the free running of the vehicle 1 by driving the motor 7 and pushing or pulling by the operator. For example, when moving the seedling box aligner from the storage location to the greenhouse, the drive wheel is in a free state, and the worker manually operates the seedling box aligner by using the handle 3-1 of the operation unit 3 described later. Of course, it is also possible to make it possible to move by grasping and pushing or pulling.

The direction changing wheel 4 is attached to an axle 10 fixed to the lower end of a rotatable shaft 9 rotatably provided at the center of the front part of the body frame 1-1 of the traveling vehicle 1 in a substantially inverted T-shape on the front. The shaft 9 is rotatably mounted on both sides so as to sandwich the shaft 9, and the direction changes in the left-right direction with the rotation shaft 9 as a fulcrum. In other words, it is equipped with a rotatable swing like a caster. Then, the other end of a connecting rod 3-3, which will be described later, of the operation unit 2 is pivotally connected to the protruding end of the axle 10 protruding from the direction changing wheel 4, so that the handle 3-1 can be moved in either the left or right direction. By steering in the direction, the direction is changed by the same angle in the same direction as the rudder direction (the solid line in FIG. 2 and the two-dot chain line).

The transport conveyor 2 is installed in a forwardly inclined shape at a desired inclination angle toward the ground from above the traveling vehicle 1 in a state where the conveyor 2 is supported by the front and rear columns 11 standing up from the vehicle body frame 1-1. The seedling box X is sequentially conveyed from the conveyance start end to the conveyance end side at a speed synchronized with the retreat speed of the traveling vehicle 1, and serves to send out the seedlings one by one to the ground P from the conveyance end. The left and right parallel frame members 2-1 extending in the front-rear direction at the same width as or longer than the long side width of the box X, and an endless belt 2 is provided between the left and right frame members 2-1. -2 is wound and stretched, and the seedling box X is moved by the power from the drive motor 12 equipped with a speed reducer from the transport start side on the traveling vehicle 1 to the transport end side where it comes into contact with or approaches the ground P. It is configured to convey and send out one by one to the ground plane P from the same conveyance end.

[0013] The belt 2-2 is wound and stretched three times on a transport path from the transport start end to an intermediate location toward the transport end side, and extends from the intermediate location to the transport end portion. Two are wound and stretched in the transport path. By changing the winding and stretching form of the belt 2-2 in this way, the conveyor 2 is folded obliquely upward with the intermediate portion as a fulcrum, with the transport end toward the transport start. Thereby, when the seedling box aligner is moved to a vinyl house or the like or to a storage location, the transport end of the transport conveyor 2 is not caught on the ground P or the like. Further, a tilting plate 14 constantly urged upward by a spring material 13 is provided at the transfer end of the transfer conveyor 2, and the tilting plate 14 is driven by the weight of the belt 2-2 by its own weight on which the seedling box X is placed. It is tilted so as to approach or contact the ground P in a state flush with the conveyance path surface (from the state of the two-dot chain line to the state of the solid line in the enlarged view of FIG. 1). The seedling box transfer speed of the transfer conveyor 2 is set to be synchronized with the retreat speed of the traveling vehicle 1 described above. By adjusting the two speeds in this way, the transfer conveyor 2 sequentially operates. The seedling boxes X conveyed to the vehicle 1 are regularly sent out in a line in an aligned state adjacent to each other on the ground surface P as the traveling vehicle 1 retreats.

The operation ON and OFF of the drive motor 7 of the traveling vehicle 1 and the drive motor 12 of the transport conveyor 2 can be separately performed by a switch operation of a control box 15 provided with a handle portion. In addition, their driving speed can be finely adjusted by operating the volume.

The operation unit 3 is a hand fixedly provided at the upper end of a vertical rod 3-2 which is rotatably fitted and supported in a vertically movable manner in a support cylinder 16 vertically mounted on the rear center of the body frame 1-1. One end is pivotally connected to the open end of a connecting arm 3-4 horizontally attached to the lower end of a vertical rod 3-2 projecting from the support cylinder 16 and the other end of the direction changing wheel 4. It comprises a connecting rod 3-3 pivotally mounted on the axle 10 and connecting the direction changing wheel 4 and the vertical rod 3-2. The steering wheel 3-1 is steered in either the left or right direction. By taking this, the direction changing wheel 4 changes the direction by the same angle in the same direction (the state of the solid line and the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2).

The straight knock mechanism 6 serves to hold the direction changing wheel 4 in a straight running direction so that the traveling vehicle 1 can run straight, and a vertical rod 3 protruding from the support cylinder 16. A knock hole 6-1 is opened at an intermediate part of a connecting arm 3-4 horizontally attached to the lower end of the protrusion so as to form a substantially P-shape parallel to the handle 3-1. And a knock pin 6-2 which is provided above the knockout wheel 4 and is removably inserted into the knock hole 6-1 while the direction changing wheel 4 is directed straight.

The knock pin 6-2 is attached to the lower end of the support cylinder 16 at the rear part of the vehicle body frame 1-1 and is vertically movable on a bracket 17 positioned above the connecting arm 3-4 by a spring material 18 and downward. It is provided in a constantly urged state, is inserted into the knock hole 6-1 of the connecting arm 3-4 by the spring material 18, and this inserted state is maintained (an enlarged view of FIG. 3). See). The knock pin 6-2 is connected to a release lever 19 provided on the grip portion 3-10 of the handle 3-1 by an endless connecting member 20 made of a wire or the like, and grips the release lever 19. The operation is such that the knock pin 6-2 is pulled out from the knock hole 6-1 (the state of FIG. 5). That is, when the operator grips the release lever 19, the holding state of the direction changing wheel 4 in the straight traveling direction is released, and the steering wheel 3-1 is moved to change the direction of the direction changing wheel 4 to an arbitrary left and right direction. (The state shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 and the solid line in FIG. 6).

Next, the operation of arranging the seedling boxes by the seedling box arranging machine of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. When the seedling box aligner is moved from the storage location to the greenhouse or the like by the power of the drive motor 7 or when the operator moves manually, the release lever 19 is gripped and the holding state (knock state) of the direction changing wheel 4 is changed. In the released state, move the seedling box aligner while steering the steering wheel with the handle 3-1 (the state shown in FIGS. 5 and 6). When the seedling box X is aligned, the release lever 19 is released with the direction changing wheel 4 facing the straight running direction, and the knock pin 6-2 of the straight knock mechanism 6 is connected to the connecting arm 3 by the spring material 18. -4 is inserted into the knock hole 6-1 (the enlarged view of FIG. 3 and the state of FIG. 4), the drive motor 7 causes the seedling box aligning machine to retreat, and is carried by a cart or the like. The seedling boxes X are supplied one by one to the transfer end portion (seedling box supply section) of the transfer conveyor 2 one by one. Then, the seedling boxes X on the transport conveyor 2 are transported to the transport end side at a transport speed synchronized with the retreat speed of the traveling vehicle 1, sent out from the transport end to the ground P one by one, and aligned with the ground P. (See FIG. 1). At this time, the backward traveling state of the traveling vehicle 1 does not meander left and right, and the straight traveling knock mechanism 6 retains the straight traveling state of the direction changing wheel 4 (knock state). The seedling boxes X sent out one by one are arranged on the ground P while being arranged in a row in a state of being adjacent to each other without a gap.

[0019]

[Effect of the invention]

 Since the seedling box aligner of the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects. . According to claim 1, a self-propelled traveling vehicle and a seedling box are supplied by a worker's hand, so that the seedling boxes are sequentially conveyed one by one to be sent out to the ground and aligned, and the traveling direction of the traveling vehicle. Since it is composed of an operation unit for operating the, the structure is greatly simplified and the size is reduced as compared with the conventional fully automatic seedling box aligning machine. As a result, production costs can be significantly reduced, and low prices can be set to meet user needs. In addition, when aligning seedling boxes, the straightening knock mechanism holds the direction-changing wheels in the straight-ahead direction, so that the seedling box is sent out to the ground by the transport conveyor while the traveling vehicle travels straight by itself. The operator can release the hands from the operation unit and supply the seedling boxes transported by a trolley or the like one by one to the transport start end (supply unit) of the transport conveyor. Can be lined up in a line on the ground. That is, one or two workers can perform the work of arranging the seedling boxes.

[0020] According to the second aspect, the direction changing wheel is fixed in the straight running state or the direction changing wheel is turned right and left by a hand operation such as grasping or releasing the release lever of the steering wheel. In other words, when moving from a storage location to a greenhouse or the like, it is possible to move while steering while holding the steering wheel.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to set a low price in response to the needs of the user, and furthermore, it is possible to set up a nursery without a troublesome and troublesome race like a conventional seedling box aligning machine. It is possible to provide a seedling box aligning machine capable of efficiently performing a seedling box aligning operation while running straight in a direction in which the seedling boxes are aligned.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an example of an embodiment of a seedling box alignment machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same, with a part cut away;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a main part, showing a holding state in which a knock pin is inserted into a knock hole of a connecting arm and a direction changing wheel is fixed in a straight running state.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the state in which the release lever of the handle is grasped, the knock pin is pulled out from the knock hole of the connecting arm, and the holding state of the direction changing wheel is released.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which a steering lever of a traveling vehicle is steered by grasping a release lever of the steering wheel and moving the steering wheel left and right.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Traveling vehicle 1-1 ... Body frame 2 ... Transport conveyor 3 ... Operation part 3-1 ... Handle 3-2 ... Vertical rod 3-3 ... Connecting rod 3-4 ... Connecting arm 4 ... Direction changing wheel 5 ... Drive wheel 6: Straight knock mechanism 6-1: Knock hole 6-2: Knock pin 19: Release lever 20: Linking member

Claims (2)

[Utility model registration claims] 1. A seedling box comprising a self-propelled traveling vehicle, a transport conveyor installed on the traveling vehicle in a forwardly inclined shape, and an operation unit for changing the direction of a direction changing wheel of the traveling vehicle. An alignment machine, wherein the operation unit is provided at a rear portion of a traveling vehicle,
One end is pivotally attached to the lower end of the handle, and the other end is pivotally connected to the direction changing wheel, and is constituted by a connecting rod connecting the direction changing wheel and the handle, and the direction changing wheel is directed in the straight traveling direction. A seedling box aligning machine characterized by comprising a straight knock mechanism for holding a straight running of a running vehicle by fixing a movement of a steering wheel so as to be able to be freely disengaged in a state where the steering wheel is moved. 2. The seedling box aligning machine according to claim 1, wherein the rectilinear knock mechanism is horizontally attached to a lower end of a vertical rod of the handle, has a knock hole, and has one end of a connecting rod pivotally supported on an open end side. A connecting arm, which is provided above and below the connecting arm so as to be vertically movable in a state of being urged downward, and can be detachably inserted into and disengaged from the knock hole with the direction changing wheel directed straight. And a knock pin to be inserted therein, wherein the knock pin is connected to a release lever provided on the handle, and is configured to be pulled out from the knock hole by the release lever. Alignment machine.