【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、畑用の苗移植機の技術分野に属する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来、機体を自走させる走行装置と、上下動するよう設けて上位で上方から苗を受入れて下位で受入れた苗を圃場に放出する苗植付け体と、該苗植付け体に上方から苗を落下させて供給する苗供給装置とを備え、前記苗供給装置には、上下に開口する筒状体と該筒状体の下側の開口部を開閉する底蓋とを有しループ状に連結した複数の苗収容体と、該苗収容体を前記苗植付け体の上方を通過する状態のループ状軌跡で周回動させる苗収容体移動機構と、前記苗収容体の底蓋を苗植付け体の上方位置で開放する底蓋開放機構を設けた苗移植機があるが、前記複数の苗収容体は、駆動回転する無端チェンの外周に取付けた構成としたり、弾性部材による連結体で互いに連結した構成としていた。当該従来の技術は、例えば、特許文献１、特許文献２に開示されている。
【０００３】
【特許文献１】
特開昭５９−７８６１１号公報
【０００４】
【特許文献２】
特開２００２−８４８２６号公報（図８、図９、図１１、図１２）
【０００５】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
上記の従来の技術は、苗収容体を機体平面視円形軌跡で周回動させる所謂ターンテーブルと呼ばれる周知の苗供給装置と比べると、機体の大型化をできるだけ回避しつつ苗収容体の周回軌跡を長く形成でき、そのぶん苗収容体を多く装備できて、苗収容体への苗供給作業が余裕をもって行えるという利点がある。
【０００６】
しかしながら、従来の構成では、苗収容体が周回動中に周回方向に沿って揺動したりして、苗収容体の列が乱れて苗収容体の位置が苗植付け体に対してずれてしまい、その結果、苗植付け体に対する苗供給が適正に行われず、適正な姿勢で苗の植付けが行えないことがある。
【０００７】
そこで、本発明は、苗供給作業が余裕をもって行える上記のような構成の苗移植機にあって、苗植付け体に対する苗供給が適正に行われるようにして、適確な苗の移植ができるようにすることを課題とする。
【０００８】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明は、上記課題を解決するために、以下のような構成のものとした。
請求項１記載の発明は、機体を自走させる走行装置１と、上下動するよう設けて上位で上方から苗を受入れて下位で受入れた苗を圃場に放出する苗植付け体４と、該苗植付け体４に上方から苗を落下させて供給する苗供給装置４２とを備え、前記苗供給装置４２には、上下に開口する筒状体４３と該筒状体４３の下側の開口部４３ａを開閉する底蓋４４とを有しループ状に連結した複数の苗収容体４５と、該苗収容体４５を前記苗植付け体４の上方を通過する状態のループ状軌跡で周回動させる苗収容体移動機構４６と、前記苗収容体４５の底蓋４４を苗植付け体４の上方位置で開放する底蓋開放機構４７を設けた苗移植機において、前記苗供給装置４２には、苗収容体４５の周回移動軌跡に沿う移動を案内するガイド体６５を苗収容体４５の周回移動軌跡の内側と外側とに設けたことを特徴とする苗移植機とした。
【０００９】
請求項２記載の発明は、前記苗収容体４５に周回移動軌跡の内側と外側に突出する突出部６６を形成し、該突出部６６の上側に前記ガイド体６５が位置するように設けたことを特徴とする請求項１記載の苗移植機とした。
【００１０】
【作用】
本発明の苗移植機は、走行装置１によって機体が自走する。走行中、苗植付け体４は上下動し、上位に位置するときに苗供給装置４２から落下供給された苗を上方から苗を受入れて、下位に位置するときに受入れた苗を圃場に放出して苗を圃場に移植する。苗供給装置４２は、上下に開口する筒状体４３と該筒状体４３の下側の開口部４３ａを開閉する底蓋４４とを有した苗収容体４５が複数備えられてループ状に連結され、苗収容体移動機構４６によって苗植付け体４の上方を通過する状態のループ状軌跡で周回動する。このとき、苗収容体４５は、その周回移動軌跡に沿うガイド体６５に案内されて周回移動する。そして、底蓋開放機構４７により苗植付け体４の上方位置で苗収容体４５の底蓋４４が開放される。従って、苗収容体４５の中に収容された苗は、苗収容体４５の周回動によって苗植付け体４の上方位置まで移送されそこで落下し苗植付け体４に供給される。
【００１１】
【発明の効果】
本件発明は、機体を自走させる走行装置１と、上下動するよう設けて上位で上方から苗を受入れて下位で受入れた苗を圃場に放出する苗植付け体４と、該苗植付け体４に上方から苗を落下させて供給する苗供給装置４２とを備え、前記苗供給装置４２には、上下に開口する筒状体４３と該筒状体４３の下側の開口部４３ａを開閉する底蓋４４とを有しループ状に連結した複数の苗収容体４５と、該苗収容体４５を前記苗植付け体４の上方を通過する状態のループ状軌跡で周回動させる苗収容体移動機構４６と、前記苗収容体４５の底蓋４４を苗植付け体４の上方位置で開放する底蓋開放機構４７を設けた苗移植機としたので、苗供給作業が余裕をもって行え、作業能率の向上が図れる。
【００１２】
そして、請求項１記載の発明は、苗収容体４５がガイド体６５に案内されて周回移動するので、苗収容体４５の周回移動が適確且つ円滑に行われ、周回移動中に苗収容体４５が前後に揺動して苗植付け体４の上方を通過するときに苗収容体４５が前後にずれて苗植付け体４に対する苗供給が適確に行われなくなるのを防止できる。従って、苗植付け体４に対する苗供給が適正に行われ、適確な苗の移植が可能となる。
【００１３】
更に、請求項２記載の発明は、苗収容体４５に形成した突出部６６の上側にガイド体６ ５が位置するので、周回移動中に苗収容体４５の浮き上がりも防止されて、苗収容体４５の周回動が適確に行われるようになる。また、苗収容体４５の底蓋４４が下方に回動して開く構成としたときには、底蓋４４が周回移動中に開いて苗収容体４５内に収容した苗が底蓋４４が開いて生じた隙間からはみ出て苗を傷めるといった事態も防止できるものとなる。
【発明の実施の形態】
この発明の一実施形態としての苗移植機を以下に説明する。尚、以下の図示例についての説明で前又は後というときは、操縦ハンドル２を配置した側を後とし、その反対側、即ちエンジン５を配置した側を前そしていう。そして、右又は左というときは、機体後部において機体前部側を前側として立つ作業者から見て右手側を右とし、左手側が左としていう。
【００１４】
苗移植機は、走行装置１と操縦ハンドル２を備えた機体に、昇降駆動するリンク機構３と連結して昇降動作する開閉可能なくちばし状の苗植付け体４，４を左右に二体備えた構成としている。
走行装置１は、図示例では、エンジン５と、該エンジン５の動力が伝達されて駆動回転する左右一対の後輪６，６と、該車輪６，６の前方に転動自在に支持した左右一対の前輪７，７とを備えたものとしている。
【００１５】
エンジン５の後部には、ミッションケース８を配置し、そのミッションケース８は、その左側部からエンジン５の左側方に延びるケース部分を有し、これがエンジン５の左側部と連結している。このケース部分にエンジン５の出力軸が入り込んでミッションケース８内の伝動機構（走行部系変速伝動部Ｃ１と作業部系変速伝動部Ｃ２）に動力が伝達する構成となっている。ミッションケース８の左右両側部に伝動ケース９，９を回動自在に取り付け、この伝動ケース９，９の回動中心にミッションケース８から左右両外側方に延出させた車輪駆動軸の先端が入り込んで、ミッションケース８内の走行部系変速伝動部Ｃ１を経た走行用の動力が伝動ケース９，９内の伝動機構に伝達している。そして、走行用の動力は伝動ケース９，９内の伝動機構を介して、機体後方側に延びてその後端側の側方に突出する車軸１０，１０に伝動し、後輪６，６が駆動回転するようになっている。
【００１６】
また、伝動ケース９，９のミッションケース８への取付部には、上方に延びるアーム１１，１１を一体的に取り付けていて、これがミッションケース８に固定された昇降用油圧シリンダ１２のピストンロッド先端に上下軸心周りに回動自在に取り付けた天秤杆１３の左右両側部と連結している。その連結部の右側はロッド１４で連結し、左側は伸縮作動可能な左右水平制御用油圧シリンダ１５で連結している。
【００１７】
昇降用油圧シリンダ１２が作動してそのピストンロッドが機体後方に突出すると、左右の前記アーム１１，１１は後方に回動し、これに伴い伝動ケース９，９が下方に回動して、機体が上昇する。反対に、昇降用油圧シリンダ１２のピストンロッドが機体前方に引っ込むと、左右の前記アーム１１，１１は前方に回動し、これに伴い伝動ケース９，９が上方に回動して、機体が下降する。この昇降用油圧シリンダ１２は、機体に対する畝上面高さを検出するセンサーＳの検出結果に基づいて機体を畝上面高さに対して設定高さになるよう作動するよう構成しており、また、操縦ハンドル２近傍に配置した操作具Ｌの人為操作によって機体を上昇或は下降させるよう作動する構成ともしている。
【００１８】
また、前記左右水平制御用油圧シリンダ１５が伸縮作動すると、前記天秤杆１３が、その左右中央部の昇降用油圧シリンダ１２のピストンロッド先端と連結する上下軸心周りに回動して左右の伝動ケース９，９を互い違いに上下動させ機体を左右に傾斜させる。この左右水平制御用油圧シリンダ１５は、左右水平に対する機体の左右傾斜を検出するセンサの検出結果に基づいて機体を左右水平になるように作動するよう構成している。
【００１９】
前記左右前輪７，７は、エンジン５下方の左右中央位置で前後方向の軸心周りに回動自在に取り付けた前輪支持フレーム１６の左右両側部の下方に延びるアーム部分の下端部側方に固定した車軸１７，１７に回転自在に取り付けている。従って、左右前輪７，７は、機体の左右中央の前後方向の軸心周りにローリング動自在となっている。
【００２０】
前記操縦ハンドル２は、ミッションケース８に前端部を固定した機体フレーム２ｂの後端部に取り付けている。機体フレーム２ｂは、機体の左右中央から右側に偏った位置に配置されて後方に延び、また、前後中間部から斜め後上方に延びている。操縦ハンドル２は、機体フレーム２ｂの後端部から左右に後方に延びてその各後端部を操縦ハンドル２のグリップ部２ａ，２ａとしている。操縦ハンドル２の左右のグリップ部２ａ，２ａは、作業者がそのグリップ部２ａ，２ａを楽に手で握れるように適宜高さに設定する。なお、図例ではグリップ部２ａ，２ａを左右に分かれた構成としているが、操縦ハンドル２の左右の後端部を互いに左右に連結してその連結部分をグリップ部としても良い。
【００２１】
尚、上記走行装置１は、四輪構成としたものであるが、左右一対の駆動輪のみの２輪構成でもよいし、前輪の替わりに畝上面を転動する鎮圧輪としてもよい。また、クローラー式の走行装置としてもよい。
次に、リンク機構３及び苗植付け体４について説明する。
【００２２】
リンク機構３は、ミッションケース８内の作業部系変速伝動部Ｃ２を経た苗移植作業部駆動用の動力を受けて伝動する伝動機構を内装する植付け伝動ケース１８に装着している。図例のように植付け伝動ケース１８は、その前部がミッションケース８の後部に連結しそこから後斜め上方に延びる第一ケース部１８ａと、この第一ケース部１８ａの上部左側部に固定されそこから後方に延びる第二ケース部１８ｂを有するものとしている。これら第一ケース部１８ａ、第二ケース部１８ｂ内にリンク機構３を昇降駆動するための動力を伝達する伝動機構を内装している。なお、第一ケース部１８ａ内に内装した伝動機構には、リンク機構３及び苗植付け体４，４をその昇降動最上位の位置で或はその近傍位置で設定時間停止させる間欠駆動機構Ｋと、リンク機構３及び苗植付け体４，４の昇降動を停止させるクラッチ機構とを備える。間欠駆動機構Ｋによって停止する時間は、該間欠駆動機構Ｋの伝動上手側に設けた株間変更用変速部Ｃ３によって調節され、この調節によって苗植付け体４，４による苗植付株間が変更調節されるようになっている。
【００２３】
そして、リンク機構３は、左右の苗植付け体４，４の前側の開閉支点となる軸１９の左右二個所で回動自在に連結する第一昇降アーム２０と、苗植付け体４の後側の開閉支点となる軸２１の左側部に回動自在に連結する第二昇降アーム２２とを備える。そして、第一昇降アーム２０の下端部は、第二ケース部１８ｂの下部にから右側に延びる取付軸に揺動自在に取り付けた第一揺動アーム２３の先端部と回動自在に連結し、第二昇降アーム２２の下端部は、第二ケース部１８ｂの後部側下部にから右側に延びる取付軸に揺動自在に取り付けた第二揺動アーム２４の先端部と回動自在に連結する。また、第一昇降アーム２０の中間部は、第二ケース部１８ｂの右側部から突出し駆動回転する第一駆動軸２５に固定されて駆動回転する第一駆動アーム２６の先端部と回動自在に連結し、第二昇降アーム２２の中間部は、第二ケース部１８ｃの後部側右側部から突出し駆動回転する第二駆動軸２７に固定されて駆動回転する第二駆動アーム２８の先端部と回動自在に連結する。従って、第一駆動アーム２６と第二駆動アーム２８とが植付け伝動ケース１８内の伝動機構によって動力が伝達されて駆動回転すると、第一昇降アーム２０と第二昇降アーム２２が揺動しながら昇降動し、その結果、左右の苗植付け体４，４の下端部が側面視で上下に長い閉ループ軌跡Ｔで昇降動する。また、第一駆動アーム２６と第二駆動アーム２８とは、共に、左側方から見て反時計回りに回転して左右の苗植付け体４，４の下端部が左側方から見て反時計回りに閉ループ軌跡Ｔで昇降回動する。従って、作業走行しながら左右の苗植付け体４，４が上記回転方向で前記軌跡Ｔを描くように昇降回動すると、軌跡Ｔの下端部で苗植付け体４，４の下端部が圃場の畝Ｕの土壌中に付き刺さったとき、苗植付け体４が畝Ｕに対して前後に大きくずれないようになり、前後に大きく植え跡を残さずに適確な姿勢で苗を植付けることができる。なお、くちばし状の苗植付け体４、４は、その昇降動最下位まで下降すると前後に開いて苗植付け体４，４内の苗を畝Ｕの土壌に放出する。
【００２４】
左右の苗植付け体４，４は、それぞれ下方に向かって延びるくちばし状に形成したもので前後に開閉可能に構成している。このくちばし状部の前側部分である前側くちばし部４Ｆ，４Ｆは、その上部側が後方にアーム状にのびてその先端部が苗植付け体４，４の後側の開閉支点となる軸２１に回動自在に連結し、くちばし状部の後側部分である後側くちばし部４Ｂ，４Ｂは、その上部側が前方にアーム状にのびてその先端部が苗植付け体４，４の前側の開閉支点となる軸１９に回動自在に連結する。そして、前側くちばし部４Ｆ，４Ｆ上部の後方にのびるアーム状部と後側くちばし部４Ｂ，４Ｂ上部の前方にのびるアーム状部とは、それぞれ前側の軸１９と後側の軸２１との前後中央位置に設けた長孔に横軸方向の軸部を有するナットを嵌めて連結し、前側くちばし部４Ｆ，４Ｆと後側くちばし部４Ｂ，４Ｂの一方側は他方側の動作に連動して回動し両者が前後に開閉動作するようになっている。また、前側くちばし部４Ｆと後側くちばし部４Ｂとはスプリングにて苗植付け体４を閉じる方向互いに連結している。更に、第一昇降アーム２０と第一揺動アーム２３とが互いに連結する軸部分に、左右の苗植付け体４，４を開閉動作させるための開閉アーム３１を回動自在に連結し、その開閉アーム３１の先端部と左右の前側くちばし部４Ｆ，４Ｆの各上部から上方に延びる各アーム部を互いに左右に連結する連結軸とを連結ロッド３２で連結している。開閉アーム３１の中間部には、苗植付け体４，４がその昇降動最下位まで下降したときに、第一昇降アーム２０を回動自在に連結している第一駆動アーム２６の先端部に固定の軸に固定したカム３４と該カム３４に開閉アーム３１を圧接させるスプリングの作用によって前後揺動して開閉アーム３１が前後に回動し、開閉アーム３１が後方に回動すると左右の前側くちばし部４Ｆ，４Ｆを後側の回動支点である軸２１周りに上方回動し、これとともに後側くちばし部４Ｂ，４Ｂを前側の回動支点である軸１９周りに上方回動して、苗植付け体４が開く。そして、苗植付け体４，４が上昇途中でカム３４の開き作用から開放され苗植付け体４，４が閉じる。なお、上記のカム３４、開閉アーム３１、連結ロッド３２等は、苗植付け体４の開閉機構を構成するが、公知の別の開閉機構を採用してもよい。
【００２５】
苗植付け体４，４の上部には、苗植付け体４，４内に苗を案内する筒状の案内体３５，３５を取り付けている。この案内体３５，３５は、苗植付け体４，４の開閉支点となる軸１９，２１より上方に突出させて設けていて、上方から投入された苗を苗植付け体４，４内の下端部に苗を案内する。
【００２６】
上記苗植付け体４，４が植付けた苗に対して覆土鎮圧するための接地転動輪３６，３６；３６，３６を、左右の苗植付け体４，４の苗植付け個所の各後方左右両側近傍位置に設けている。該接地転動輪３６，３６；３６，３６は、機体フレーム２ｂの途中部に前部が左右軸回りに回動自在に取付けた支持フレーム３７，３７；３７，３７の後部側にそれぞれ横軸回りに回転自在に取付けている。支持フレーム３７，３７；３７，３７の左右内側２つのフレームの後部と左右外側２つのフレームの後部はそれぞれ互いに連結する連結部３８，３８を有し、該連結部３８，３８と、機体後部側に設けた支持部材３９，３９に下降下限位置を設定して上下動自在に取付けた後部支持ロッド４０，４０の下端部を横軸回りに取付けて支持している。この後部支持ロッド４０，４０には、接地転動輪３６，３６；３６，３６に設定した鎮圧力を与えるようウエイト４１，４１を装着している。
【００２７】
上記構成の苗移植機は、苗植付け体４，４に上方から苗を落下させて供給する苗供給装置４２を備える。
即ち、機体を自走させる走行装置１と、上下動するよう設けて上位で上方から苗を受入れて下位で受入れた苗を圃場に放出する苗植付け体４，４と、該苗植付け体４，４に上方から苗を落下させて供給する苗供給装置４２とを備え、前記苗供給装置４２には、上下に開口する筒状体４３…と該筒状体４３…の下側の開口部４３ａ…を開閉する底蓋４４…とを有し互いにループ状に連結する複数の苗収容体４５…と、該苗収容体４５…を前記苗植付け体４，４の上方を通過する状態で機体平面視非円形のループ状の軌跡で周回動させる苗収容体移動機構４６と、前記苗収容体４５…の底蓋４４…を苗植付け体４，４の上方位置で開放する底蓋開放機構４７を設けた構成としている。
【００２８】
この苗移植機は、以下のように作用するものとなる。走行装置１によって機体が自走する。走行中、苗植付け体４，４は上下動し、上位に位置するときに苗供給装置４２から落下供給された苗を上方から苗を受入れて、下位に位置するときに受入れた苗を圃場に放出して苗を圃場に移植する。苗供給装置４２は、上下に開口する筒状体４３…と該筒状体４３…の下側の開口部４３ａ…を開閉する底蓋４４…とを有した苗収容体４５…が複数備えられて互いにループ状に連結し、苗収容体移動機構４６によって苗植付け体４，４の上方を通過する状態で機体平面視非円形のループ状の軌跡で周回動する。そして、底蓋開放機構４７により苗植付け体４，４の上方位置で苗収容体４５…の底蓋４４…が開放される。従って、苗収容体４５…の中に収容された苗は、苗収容体４５…の周回動によって苗植付け体４，４の上方位置まで移送されそこで落下し苗植付け体４，４に供給される。よって、この苗移植機は、苗供給作業を余裕をもって行え、作業能率の向上が図れる。
【００２９】
そして、苗供給装置４２は、前記苗収容体４５…の外周に円筒外周部４３ｃ…を形成し、該円筒外周部４３ｃ…に外側から回動自在に係合する係合部４８を有して二つの苗収容体４５，４５を連結する連結体４９を複数設け、該連結体４９…の前記係合部４８…を苗収容体４５…の前記円筒外周部４３ｃ…に回動自在に係合し該円筒外周部４３ｃ…を回動軸として隣の苗収容体４５…が回動自在に連結する状態として前記複数の苗収容体４５…を互いに連結した構成としている。これにより、この苗移植機は、苗収容体４５…は、苗収容体４５…の円筒外周部４３ｃ…を回動軸として隣の苗収容体４５…が回動しながら周回動することになって、苗収容体４５…の間隔の変動が生じ難いものとなり、よって、苗植付け体４，４に対する苗供給が適正に行われて適確な苗の移植ができ、また、苗収容体４５…の個数と周回動する範囲を設定したうえで、苗収容体の上側開口部４３ｂ…を可能な限り広く形成できて、機体のコンパクト化を図りつつ苗収容体４５…への苗供給作業をできるだけ容易に行えるものとなる。なお、図９に示すように、苗収容体４５’の円筒外周部４３’の外側に設けた回動軸心部Ｂで互いに回動自在に連結する対照例の構成と比べても上記の効果を奏することが明らかである。本例では、移動作用体のまわりを回るときの隣接する苗収容体４５…との間隔Ｗｃは、直線的に移動するときの隣接する苗収容体４５…との間隔Ｗｓと同じ間隔になる。一方、対照例では、移動作用体のまわりを回るときの隣接する苗収容体４５’…との間隔Ｗｃ’が、直線的に移動するときの隣接する苗収容体４５’…との間隔Ｗｓ’よりも狭くなる。そのため、対照例では、移動作用体の回りを回るときの隣接する苗収容体４５’…との間隔Ｗｃ’を基準として苗収容体４５’…の上側開口部４３ｂ’の径を設定しなければならない。従って、本例と比べると、苗収容体の個数と周回動する範囲を設定したうえで、苗収容体の上側開口部が狭いものとなってしまうのである。
【００３０】
また、苗供給装置４２は、前記苗収容体４５…の筒状体４３…に底蓋４４…を開閉回動可能に取付け、該苗収容体４５…のそれぞれに前記連結体４９…を一つづつ一体的に取付け、該連結体４９…の前記係合部４８を隣の苗収容体４５…の前記円筒外周部４３ｃ…に回動自在に係合させて苗収容体４５…を互いに連結した構成としている。これにより、この苗移植機は、苗収容体４５…は、苗収容体４５…の円筒外周部４３ｃ…を回動軸として隣の苗収容体４５…が回動しながら周回動し、しかも、苗収容体４５…が周回動するとき、連結体４９…が周回方向に沿う姿勢で移動するとともに、連結体４９…を筒状体４３…に一体的に取付けた苗収容体４５…も、底蓋４４…の取付部５０…が周回方向に対し設定方向に位置する状態を維持しながら移動することになる。よって、苗収容体４５…の底蓋４４…は、苗植付け体４，４の上方位置においていつも同じ方向に開放動作するものとなり、底蓋開放機構４７による底蓋４４…の開放が適確に作動するようになり、苗植付け体４，４に対する苗供給が一層適正に行われて適確な苗の移植ができるものとなる。
【００３１】
そしてまた、この苗移植機は、前記苗植付け体４，４は左右方向に複数体並べて設け、前記苗供給装置４２は、苗収容体４５…が機体平面視で左右方向に直線的に移動する区間ＳＳを有する軌跡で周回動する構成とし、且つ、苗収容体４５…が左右方向に直線的に移動する区間ＳＳで左右に並列する複数の苗植付け体４，４の上方を通過するように配置した構成として、圃場に苗を複数条同時に移植されるものとしている。よって、複数の苗植付け体４，４に対して苗を供給する苗供給装置４２を簡略に構成でき、また、苗収容体４５…に対して苗を供給しやすくするために苗収容体４５…が連続的に移動するように苗収容体移動機構４６を駆動しても、左右方向に複数並列する苗植付け体４，４のそれぞれに対しそれぞれ同様な落下軌跡で苗を苗収容体４５…から落下供給できて、複数の苗植付け体４，４に対する苗の供給が適確に行え、複数条同時の苗移植が適確に行える。
【００３２】
ところで、本例のように、苗植付け体４，４を左右に二体並べて設けて同時に２条植付け可能に構成した場合は、右側の苗植付け体４に落下供給する苗収容体４５と左側の苗植付け体４に落下供給する苗収容体４５とが交互になるように連結し、且つ、右側の苗植付け体４に落下供給する苗収容体４５が右側の苗植付け体４の上方に位置するとき、左側の苗植付け体４に落下供給する苗収容体４５が丁度左側の苗植付け体４の上方に位置する状態となるように構成し、更に、苗植付け体４，４の植付昇降動作が一動作する間に苗収容体４５が２個分周回移動するように構成する。これにより、苗収容体４５…が左右の苗植付け体４，４の上方を左右方向に直列的に通過しながら左右両方の苗植付け体４，４に対して苗供給漏れが生じることなく同時に苗を供給でき、且つ、左右の苗植付け体４，４の上方を通過した後に苗が供給されなかった苗収容体４５…が生じないよう余すことなく左右両方の苗植付け体４，４に対して苗を供給できるものとなり、苗供給作業が余裕をもって行え、且つ、左右に並ぶ二体の苗植付け体４，４に対して確実に苗を供給できて２条植えが適確に行える。
【００３３】
以下に、苗供給装置４２の苗収容体移動機構４６の構成について説明する。即ち、ループ状に連結した苗収容体４５…を巻き掛ける移動作用体５１，５１を機体の左右に設け、該移動作用体５１，５１を駆動回転する構成として、ループ状に連結した苗収容体４５…を機体平面視で左右に長い長円軌跡を描かせて周回移動する構成としている。移動作用体５１，５１の外周には、その外周に巻き掛けられた苗収容体４５…の円筒外周部５２…に係合する凹部を苗収容体４５…の連結間隔に対応する間隔で複数形成して、苗収容体４５…を確実に移動させられるように設けている。移動作用体５１，５１の駆動構成は、苗植付け体４，４を間欠駆動する前記間欠駆動機構Ｋの伝動上手側で前記株間変更用変速部Ｃ３の伝動下手側の伝動経路から動力を取出して移動作用体５１，５１を連続回転駆動し、苗収容体４５…を連続的に周回移動させるように構成している。具体的は、植付け伝動ケース１８の第一ケース部１８ａの左側部から連続回転する回転軸５３ａを突出させ、該回転軸５３ａに自在継ぎ手を介して伝動軸５３ｂを連結し、該伝動軸５３ｂにて機体左側に設けた伝動ケース５４に伝動し、該伝動ケース５４から上方に突出させた回転軸５５に一体回転するように取付けた左側の移動作用体５１を駆動回転する構成としている。また、回転軸５５にはスプロケット５６も一体回転するように取付け、該スプロケット５６と、右側の移動作用体５１の回転軸５７に一体回転するように取付けたスプロケット５８とに伝動チェン５９を巻き掛けて、左右の移動作用体５１，５１の両方を駆動回転する構成としている。ところで、一方側の移動作用体を駆動回転する構成の場合、駆動回転する移動作用体に取り込まれていく側の苗収容体の列は緊張した連結状態となるが、駆動回転する移動作用体から繰出される側の苗収容体の列は弛緩した連結状態となる。このため、駆動回転する移動作用体から苗収容体が繰出される個所で、移動作用体が苗収容体に係合する部位から苗収容体が外れることがあり、また、駆動回転する移動作用体から苗収容体が繰出された後の苗収容体の列が乱れて、苗収容体の列の下側を支持する部材等との摩擦が大きくなって突然引っかかったようになり、苗収容体の移動が円滑に行われなくなることが生じる。しかしながら、上記のように左右の移動作用体５１，５１の両方を駆動回転する構成としたので、移動作用体５１，５１から苗収容体４５…が外れたり苗収容体４５…の列が乱れたりすることが生じにくくなって苗収容体４５…が円滑に移動するものとなり、これにより苗植付け体４，４への苗の供給が良好に行われて苗移植作業を良好に継続できるものとなった。
【００３４】
なお、前記伝動ケース５４内の伝動機構は、該伝動ケース５４の前側に突出する入力軸６０が、その前端部が前記伝動軸５３の後端部と自在継ぎ手を介して連結して伝動回転し、伝動ケース５４内で、入力軸６０の後端部に形成したベベルギヤ６１が、前記移動作用体５１の回転軸５５と一体回転するように取付けたベベルギヤ６２と噛み合うように設けている。従って、前記伝動軸５３を介して伝動されてきた回転動力は、この伝動ケース５４内で上下方向の前記回転軸５５回りの回転に変換されて前記移動作用体５１を伝動回転する構成としている。本例では、苗供給装置４２の後側に移動してきた苗収容体４５…が右側に移動する方向となるように苗収容体４５…の周回移動方向Ｄを設定していて、操縦ハンドル２の左側方で苗供給装置４２の後側位置に立って苗収容体４５…に右手で供給する苗供給作業形態で作業者が苗を供給しやすいようになっている。
【００３５】
本例では、機体の左右一方側に複数の苗植付け体４，４を左右に並べて設け、その左右反対側に、苗供給装置４２の移動作用体５１，５１を駆動回転する動力を入力して左右一方側の移動作用体５１の回転軸５５に伝動する上記伝動要素６０，６１，６２を備え該回転軸５５を上方に突出させて駆動回転可能に支持する上記伝動ケース５４を設けた構成としている。従って、仮に、上記伝動ケース５４を苗植付け体４，４を配置した側に設けた場合には、苗植付け体４，４と苗収容体４５…との間に上記伝動ケース５４が入り込んで、苗供給装置４２が高い位置に配置されてしまうことになったり、また、それを回避するために、外側方に苗供給装置４２が突出したものとなってしまう。しかしながら、本例では、上記のように左右に振り分けて構成したので、機体の左右重量バランスが良好になり、苗供給装置４２の左右幅を過大に広く構成することなく必要充分な幅を有しつつコンパクトに構成でき、尚且つ、苗供給装置４２から苗植付け体４，４への苗の落下距離ができるだけ短くなるよう苗供給装置４２を低く配置できて、苗植付け体４，４への苗の落下供給が適確に行え、また、苗供給装置４２への苗の供給が容易に行える高さに設定しやすくなる。従って、上記のように構成したことにより、機体の左右重量バランスが良好になるとともに、機体の構成をできるだけコンパクトに構成でき、しかも、苗植付け体４，４への苗の落下供給が適確に行え、且つ、苗供給装置４２への苗供給が容易に行える高さに設定しやすい構成のものとなる。
【００３６】
苗供給装置４２を駆動する動力は、前記のとおり、苗植付け体４，４を間欠駆動する前記間欠駆動機構Ｋの伝動上手側で、前記株間変更用変速部Ｃ３の伝動下手側の伝動経路から取出している。これにより、苗植付け体４，４は間欠的に駆動し、苗供給装置４２は連続的に駆動する構成とした苗移植機にあって、苗植付け体４，４が昇降軌跡Ｔの上位において間欠的に停止する時間を変更して苗植付株間を変更可能とするよう株間変更用変速部Ｃ３を間欠駆動機構Ｋの伝動上手側に設けた構成において、上記のように苗供給装置４２を駆動する動力を取出す構成としたので、間欠駆動する苗植付け体４，４の間欠停止時間を変更して苗植付株間を変更しても、それに対応して、連続的に駆動される苗供給装置４２の動作速度も変更されるので、苗供給装置４２から苗植付け体４，４への苗の供給が良好に行われ、作物等の種類に応じて、適宜、苗植付株間を変更調節しても良好に苗移植作業が行えるものとなる。
【００３７】
また、苗供給装置４２への伝動を入り切りするクラッチ手段ＣＬ１を、苗供給装置４２を駆動する動力を前記間欠駆動機構Ｋの伝動上手側で、前記株間変更用変速部Ｃ３の伝動下手側から移動作用体５１を回転駆動する回転軸５５への伝動経路に設け、一方、苗植付け体４，４への伝動を継続して切ることを可能とするクラッチ手段ＣＬ２を前記間欠駆動機構Ｋに設けている。そして、苗供給装置４２側のクラッチ手段ＣＬ１と苗植付け体４，４側のクラッチ手段ＣＬ２は、操縦ハンドル２側に設けた一つの人為操作具（例えば操作レバー等）によって同時に切り操作及び入り操作されるように構成している。前記間欠駆動機構Ｋには、苗植付け体４，４を一サイクル植付け動作させて自動的に停止させる一回転停止機構とこの一回転停止機構による苗植付け体４，４を一サイクル植付け動作の開始操作を行う一回転開始機構を備えて、その一回転開始機構の作動タイミングが前記株間変更用変速部Ｃ３によって調節される構成となる。従って、前記一回転開始機構の作用部と一回転停止機構の非作用部との位置関係を作用しあわない位置に変更操作するだけで、苗植付け体４，４を設定位置で継続的に停止できる。このように、間欠駆動機構Ｋを利用して前記クラッチ手段ＣＬ２を構成すれば、苗植付け体４，４を設定位置で停止でき、且つ、構成の簡略化が図れる。一方、苗供給装置４２は連続的に駆動するため、前記クラッチ手段ＣＬ１は間欠駆動機構Ｋの伝動上手側に設けることになり、苗植付け体４，４側の前記クラッチＣＬ２を上記ように間欠駆動機構Ｋを利用すると当該クラッチＣＬ２と共用できない。しかしながら、苗供給装置４２側のクラッチ手段ＣＬ１と苗植付け体４，４側のクラッチ手段ＣＬ２を一つの人為操作具によって同時に切り操作及び入り操作するように構成することによって、苗植付け体４，４側の前記クラッチＣＬ２を上記ように間欠駆動機構Ｋを利用する利点を生かしながら、連続的に駆動される苗供給装置４２の停止及び駆動再開を、苗植付け体４，４の停止及び駆動再開のタイミングに合わせて行うことができる。
【００３８】
なお、前記苗供給装置４２側のクラッチ手段ＣＬ１は、伝動負荷が設定値以上になると自動的に動力を切断する機構を備えている。また、苗植付け体４，４側と苗供給装置４２側とに動力が分岐する前の作業部系伝動経路にも、伝動負荷が設定値以上になると自動的に動力を切断する機構を有するクラッチ手段ＣＬ３を設けている。そして、該クラッチ手段ＣＬ３において自動的に動力を切断する伝動負荷の設定値は、前記苗供給装置４２側のクラッチ手段ＣＬ１において自動的に動力を切断する伝動負荷の設定値よりも高い値に設定している。これにより、前記苗供給装置４２への苗供給作業中に作業者等が誤って接触して苗収容部４５…の周回移動を強制的に停止させるような過負荷状態が苗供給装置４２の駆動系に生じても、前記クラッチ手段ＣＬ１が作動して苗供給装置４２の駆動系の破損を適宜回避できるようになる。この苗供給装置４２への伝動を自動的に遮断するのを苗植付け体４，４側と苗供給装置４２側とに動力が分岐する前の作業部系伝動経路に設けた前記クラッチ手段ＣＬ３にて動作させようとすると、圃場に苗を植付けるために土壌中に突入するために伝動負荷が苗供給装置４２の駆動系よりも大きいものとなる苗植付け体４，４の駆動が適確に継続することができなくなる。しかしながら、上記のように構成したことにより、苗植付け体４，４と苗供給装置４２の駆動を適確に継続できるようにし、且つ、苗植付け体４，４に対して生じた過負荷と苗供給装置４２に対して生じた過負荷をそれぞれ前記クラッチ手段ＣＬ１，ＣＬ３にて適確に解放できて、苗植付け体４，４と苗供給装置４２の両駆動系を適確に保護することができる。
【００３９】
上記苗供給装置４２の支持構成は、以下のように構成している。左右の車輪６，６；７，７の間にエンジン５とミッションケース８を配置した機体前部側から、機体下部側を後方に向って延びて後部側を後上がり状態に形成した機体フレーム２ｂを設けて該機体フレーム２ｂの後端部に操縦ハンドル２を装着するとともに、前記機体前部側から機体上部側を後方に向って延びる第一支持フレーム６３を設けて該第一支持フレーム６３の後部側を前記機体フレーム２ｂと連結し、該支持フレーム６３から左右両外側方に延びる第二支持フレーム６４を設け、該第二支持フレーム６４の左右両側部で、ループ状に連結した苗収容体４５…を機体平面視で左右に長い長円軌跡を描かせて周回移動させる左右の移動作用体５１，５１の回転軸を支持する構成とした。従って、第一支持フレーム６３が、操縦ハンドル２を装着する機体フレーム２ｂとともに機体の中央部寄りに配置されるとともに機体フレーム２ｂと連結して機体の左右バランスが良好で且つ強硬なフレーム構造を形成するものとなり、そして、このように構成した第一支持フレーム６３から左右両外側方に第二支持フレーム６４を延ばして、その左右両側で苗収容体４５…を周回移動させる左右の移動作用体５１，５１の回転軸を支持するので、苗供給装置４２の支持構造が簡潔且つ充分な強度を有したものとなり、機体のコンパクト化、軽量化が図れる。
【００４０】
また、第二支持フレーム６４を、第一支持フレームと連結する側の基部側フレーム部６４ａと、移動作用体５１，５１の回転軸を支持する側の支持部側フレーム部６４ｂとで分割構成し、基部側フレーム部６４ａに対して支持部側フレーム部６４ｂを左右方向に移動調節可能に設けている。これにより、左右の移動作用体５１，５１の外周に巻き掛けられるループ状に連結した苗収容体４５…の緊張状態を適宜調節することが容易に行え、組み立てやメンテナンスが容易になる。
【００４１】
苗供給装置４２には、苗収容体４５…を、その周回移動軌跡に沿う移動を案内するガイド体６５，６５，６５を苗収容体４５…の周回移動軌跡の内側と外側とに設けている。一方、苗収容体４５…には、周回移動軌跡の内側と外側に突出する突出部６６を形成し、前記ガイド体６５，６５，６５が前記突出部６６の上側に位置し且つ苗収容体４５…を周回移動軌跡の内外から挟み込むように配置した構成にしている。これにより、苗収容体４５…の周回移動が適確且つ円滑に行われ、苗収容体４５…が左右方向に直線的に移動する区間ＳＳで苗植付け体４，４の上方を通過するように配置した構成にあって、周回移動中に苗収容体４５…が前後に揺動して、苗植付け体４，４の上方を通過するときに苗収容体４５…が前後にずれて苗植付け体４，４に対する苗供給が適確に行われなくなるのを防止できる。しかも、苗収容体４５…に形成した突出部６６の上側に前記ガイド体６５，６５，６５が位置するので、周回移動中に苗収容体４５…の浮き上がりも防止されて、苗収容体４５…の周回動が適確に行われるようになる。苗収容体４５…の周回移動軌跡の下方には、苗収容体４５…の周回移動中で且つ苗植付け体４，４の上方位置以外で、苗収容体４５…を、下方回動により開放動作する底蓋４４が閉じた状態となるようにして支持する支持体６７を周回移動軌跡に沿って設けている。従って、前記ガイド体６５，６５，６５と前記突出部６６の上記構成は、苗収容体４５…の底部に設けた底蓋４４が周回移動中に開いて苗収容体４５…内に収容した苗が底蓋４４が開いて生じた隙間からはみ出て苗を傷めることも防止するものとなる。また、本例では、苗収容体４５…のそれぞれに一体的に設けた連結体３９…に上記突出部６６を形成したので、構成の簡略化が図れている。なお、前記支持体６６と前記ガイド体６５，６５，６５は、第一支持フレーム６３に取付けた取付部材６８に取付けて支持している。
【００４２】
苗供給装置４２の苗収容体４５…の周回移動軌跡の内側部位は、上側をガバー体６９で覆っている。従って、作業者が苗供給装置４２の後側から苗収容体４５…に苗を供給するときに、このカバー体６９の上に苗を一時的に置け、しかも、このカバー体６９上に置いた苗は、苗収容体４５…に苗供給する作業者から取出すのも容易であり、従って、苗供給作業が容易に行え、作業能率の向上が図れる。本例のカバー体６９は、苗収容体４５…の周回移動軌跡の内側ほぼ全域を覆うように構成しているので、カバー体６９の上に置いた苗が落下することが生じ難い。また、カバー体６９の上面が平坦な面となるように形成しているので、カバー体６９の上に置いた苗が取り出し難い個所に移動することが生じにくくなり、作業性の向上が図れる。更に、カバー体６９の上面をざらつきのある面に形成しておけば、苗が滑りにくく、前記の効果が一層顕著になる。
【００４３】
以下、苗供給装置４２の苗収容体４５…の底蓋４４…を苗植付け体４，４の上方位置で開放する底蓋開放機構４７について説明する。
まず、前記のとおり、苗収容体４５…の周回移動軌跡の下方には、苗収容体４５…の周回移動中で且つ苗植付け体４，４の上方位置以外で、苗収容体４５…を、下方回動により開放動作する底蓋４４が閉じた状態となるようにして支持する支持体６７を周回移動軌跡に沿って設けている。この支持体６７は、苗植付け体４，４の上方位置では、底蓋４４が下方回動して開放動作可能となるように底蓋４４の下方領域から退避した位置に変位させて設けている。また、底蓋４４を下方回動可能に取付けている取付部５０を苗収容体４５…の周回移動方向Ｄの上手側になるように構成している。
【００４４】
更に、この支持体６７は、左右の苗植付け体４，４のそれぞれに対応して苗を供給する苗収容体４５…を設定しており、例えば、本例のように、苗植付け体４，４を左右に二体並べて設けて同時に２条植付け可能に構成した場合には、前記のように、右側の苗植付け体４に落下供給する苗収容体４５と左側の苗植付け体４に落下供給する苗収容体４５とを交互に連結している。従って、右側の苗植付け体４に落下供給するよう設定した苗収容体４５が右側の苗植付け体４の上方を通過するときにのみその苗収容体４５の底蓋４４が開放されるようにし、且つ、左側の苗植付け体４に落下供給するよう設定した苗収容体４５が左側の苗植付け体４の上方を通過するときにのみその苗収容体４５の底蓋４４が開放されるようにする必要がある。このため、底蓋４４に苗収容体４５…の周回移動軌跡に対して外側に突出する突出部４４ａを設けたものと、内側に突出する突出部４４ｂを有するものを設け、外側突出部４４ａを設けた底蓋４４と内側突出部４４ｂを設けた底蓋４４とを互いに連結する苗収容体４５…に対して交互に設ける。そして、先に苗植付け体４の上方を通過することになる右側（周回移動方向Ｄの上手側）の苗植付け体４に落下供給するよう設定した苗収容体４５が右側の苗植付け体４の上方を通過するとき、前記支持体６７は、前記突出部４４ａ或は４４ｂを支持する位置から退避し、且つ、反対側に突出する突出部４４ｂ或は４４ａを支持する位置に変位するように設ける。また、後に苗植付け体４の上方を通過することになる左側（周回移動方向Ｄの下手側）左側の苗植付け体４に落下供給するよう設定した苗収容体４５が左側の苗植付け体４の上方を通過するとき、前記支持体６７は、前記突出部４４ｂ或は４４ａを支持する位置から退避し、且つ、反対側に突出する突出部４４ａ或は４４ｂを支持する位置となる個所に変位するように設ける。これにより、右側の苗植付け体４に落下供給するよう設定した苗収容体４５が右側の苗植付け体４の上方を通過するときは、その苗収容体４５の底蓋４４が開放可能となり、且つ、左側の苗植付け体４に落下供給するよう設定した苗収容体４５が右側の苗植付け体４の上方を通過するときは、その苗収容体４５の底蓋４４は閉じた状態に支持される。また、左側の苗植付け体４に落下供給するよう設定した苗収容体４５が左側の苗植付け体４の上方を通過するときは、その苗収容体４５の底蓋４４が開放可能となり、且つ、右側の苗植付け体４に落下供給するよう設定した苗収容体４５が左側の苗植付け体４の上方を通過するときは、その苗収容体４５の底蓋４４は閉じた状態に支持される。従って、この構成を採用すれば、左右の苗植付け体４，４の上方位置に移動した苗収容体４５…の底蓋４４は、苗供給すべき苗植付け体４に対応して支持体６７による支持状態が解除されて開放動作することになる。よって、左右の苗植付け体４，４に対して適確に苗を落下供給でき、良好に苗移植作業が行える。
【００４５】
更に、本例では、苗収容体４５が、苗植付け体４，４の上方位置に移動しても、苗植付け体４，４が苗収容体４５の直下に位置する個所まで上昇するまで底蓋４４を閉じた状態で支持し、且つ、苗植付け体４，４が苗収容体４５の直下に位置する個所まで上昇すると前記底蓋４４の支持状態を解除して底蓋４４を開放動作させる可動支持体７０を設けている。この可動支持体７０は、底蓋４４を閉じた状態に支持する底蓋支持位置と底蓋４４を開放可能にする底蓋非支持位置とに移動可能に設けて、苗植付け体４，４とともに昇降動する昇降部材７１，７１と接当することにより可動支持体７０が底蓋支持位置から底蓋非支持位置に移動し、前記昇降部材７１，７１が接当しないときにはスプリング等の弾性部材によって底蓋支持位置に位置するように構成している。従って、苗植付け体４，４が間欠駆動機構ＫＫによって間欠的に動作するのに対し苗収容体４５が連続的に周回移動する構成にあっても、苗植付け体４，４が苗収容体４５の直下に位置する個所まで上昇してから底蓋４４が開放動作することになって、苗収容体４５から苗植付け体４，４への苗の落下供給が良好に行われる。
【００４６】
ところで、本例では、苗植付け体４，４を左右に二体並べて設けて同時に２条植付け可能に構成したものであるが、この構成で１条植えを行うときには、植付けを行わない苗植付け体４に苗を供給するように設定している苗収容体４５…の上側開口部４５ｂ…を閉じる蓋（図示省略）を装着する構成としている。これにより、植付けを行う左右一方側の苗植付け体４に苗を供給するように設定している苗収容体４５…のみに苗を供給することが容易に行え、２条植えと１条植えとが容易に行えるものとなる。尚、苗植付け体４の下部をその上部から着脱可能に構成し、上記のようにして１条植えを行う場合に、植付けを行わない苗植付け体４の下部を取外せば、植付けを行わない苗植付け体４が圃場面に孔を形成することがなくなり、一層良好な１条植えが可能となる。
【００４７】
尚、上記苗移植機は、苗供給装置４２に供給する苗を予備的に置いておくための苗台８０を機体上部で苗供給装置４２の前側位置に取付けている。作業者は、この苗台８０から苗をまとめて取って苗供給装置４２に補給していく。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】苗移植機の側面図。
【図２】苗移植機の平面図。
【図３】苗移植機の伝動構成を示す説明図。
【図４】苗収容体の連結構成を示す斜視図。
【図５】苗供給装置の一部を示す平面図。
【図６】苗供給装置の一部を示す断面側面図。
【図７】苗供給装置から苗植付け体への苗供給部を示す正面図。
【図８】苗供給装置から苗植付け体への苗供給部を示す平面図。
【図９】本例と対照例の苗収容体連結状態をそれぞれ示す平面図。
【符号の説明】
１：走行装置
４：苗植付け体
４２：苗供給装置
４３：筒状体
４３ａ：筒状体の下側開口部
４４：底蓋
４５：苗収容体
４６：苗収容体移動機構
４７：底蓋開放機構
６５：ガイド体
６６：突出部 [0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention belongs to the technical field of field seedling transplanters.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a traveling device that self-propels the aircraft, a seedling planting body that is provided to move up and down, accepts seedlings from above at the upper level, and releases seedlings received at the lower level to the field, and drops seedlings from above into the seedling planting body A seedling supply device for supplying the seedling, and the seedling supply device has a cylindrical body that opens up and down and a bottom lid that opens and closes an opening on the lower side of the cylindrical body, and is connected in a loop shape. A plurality of seedling containers, a seedling container moving mechanism for rotating the seedling containers in a loop-like locus in a state of passing above the seedling planting body, and a bottom lid of the seedling container body above the seedling planting body Although there is a seedling transplanter provided with a bottom lid opening mechanism that opens at a position, the plurality of seedling containers are configured to be attached to the outer periphery of an endless chain that is driven to rotate, or are connected to each other by a connecting body using an elastic member I was trying. The conventional technique is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 59-78611 A [0004]
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2002-84826 A (FIGS. 8, 9, 11, and 12)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Compared with a known seedling supply device called a so-called turntable that rotates the seedling container around a circular trajectory in a plane view of the seedling body, the above-described conventional technology can avoid the increase in the size of the body as much as possible. long it can be formed, and be equipped much that amount seedling container, seedling supply work to the seedling container is advantageous in that allows to have a margin.
[0006]
However, in the conventional configuration , the seedling container swings in the circumferential direction during the rotation, and the row of the seedling containers is disturbed, so that the position of the seedling container is shifted with respect to the seedling planting body. As a result, seedlings may not be properly supplied to the seedling planting body, and seedlings may not be planted in an appropriate posture.
[0007]
Therefore, the present invention is a seedling transplanting machine configured as described above that can perform seedling supply work with sufficient margin, so that seedling supply to a seedling planted body is appropriately performed so that an appropriate seedling can be transplanted. The challenge is to make it.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has the following configuration.
The invention described in claim 1 includes a traveling device 1 for self-propelling the aircraft, a seedling planting body 4 provided to move up and down, accepting seedlings from above in the upper part, and releasing seedlings accepted in the lower part to the field, and the seedlings The seedling supply device 42 includes a seedling supply device 42 that drops and supplies seedlings to the planted body 4 from above, and the seedling supply device 42 includes a cylindrical body 43 that opens up and down, and an opening 43a below the cylindrical body 43. a plurality of seedling storage body 45 which is connected in a loop and a bottom cover 44 for opening and closing the seedlings to orbiting motion of該苗container 45 looped trajectory of state passing above the planting member 4 accommodated In the seedling transplanting machine provided with a body moving mechanism 46 and a bottom lid opening mechanism 47 that opens the bottom lid 44 of the seedling container 45 at a position above the seedling planting body 4 , the seedling feeder 42 includes a seedling container. 45 seedlings container 45 the guide body 65 for guiding the movement along the circular movement path of That provided on the inside and outside of the circular movement locus was seedling transplanter characterized.
[0009]
In the invention described in claim 2, the seedling container 45 is provided with a protruding portion 66 that protrudes inward and outward of the orbital movement trajectory, and is provided so that the guide body 65 is positioned above the protruding portion 66. A seedling transplanter according to claim 1, wherein:
[0010]
[Action]
In the seedling transplanter of the present invention, the machine body is self-propelled by the traveling device 1 . During traveling, the seedling planting body 4 moves up and down, accepts the seedling dropped from the seedling supply device 42 when it is positioned at the upper position, and releases the seedling received when positioned at the lower position to the field. Transplant the seedlings in the field. Seedling supply device 42, the connecting vertical cylindrical body 43 and the seedling container 45 having a bottom cover 44 for opening and closing the lower opening 43a of the cylindrical body 43 having an opening is provided plurality in a loop shape Then , the seedling container moving mechanism 46 rotates around a loop trajectory in a state of passing over the seedling planting body 4 . At this time, the seedling container 45 moves around while being guided by the guide body 65 along the orbital movement trajectory. Then, the bottom lid 44 of the seedling container 45 is opened at a position above the seedling planting body 4 by the bottom lid opening mechanism 47 . Therefore, the seedling accommodated in the seedling container 45 is transferred to an upper position of the seedling planting body 4 by the circumferential rotation of the seedling container 45 and is dropped there and supplied to the seedling planting body 4 .
[0011]
【The invention's effect】
Present invention, the traveling device 1 for self-propelled fuselage, the seedlings received in the lower accept seedlings from above by the upper provided so as to be moved up and down with the planting member 4 for release in the field, the該苗planting member 4 upper seedlings allowed to fall from a seedling supply device 42 supplies, to the seedling supply device 42, to open and close the lower opening portion 43a of the cylindrical body 43 and the cylindrical body 43 which is open vertically bottom A plurality of seedling containers 45 having a lid 44 and connected in a loop shape, and a seedling container moving mechanism 46 for rotating the seedling containers 45 around a loop-like locus in a state of passing above the seedling planting body 4 If, because the bottom cover 44 of the seedling container 45 was seedling transplanter provided with a bottom lid opening mechanism 47 for opening above the position of the planting member 4, seedling supply operation performed with a margin, improvement of work efficiency I can plan.
[0012]
In the invention described in claim 1, since the seedling container 45 is guided by the guide body 65 and moves around, the seedling container 45 moves around properly and smoothly. 45 can be prevented from seedling supply seedlings container 45 for planting member 4 deviates back and forth is not performed in accurately when passing over the planting member 4 swings back and forth. Therefore, the seedling supply to the seedling planting body 4 is appropriately performed, and an appropriate seedling transplant can be performed.
[0013]
Further, an invention according to claim 2, wherein the guide member 6 5 on the upper side of the projecting portion 66 formed in the seedling container 45 is positioned, with floating seedlings container 45 is also prevented in the circular movement, seedling container The 45 rotations can be performed accurately. In addition, when the bottom lid 44 of the seedling container 45 is rotated and opened downward, the bottom lid 44 is opened during the circular movement, and the seedling stored in the seedling container 45 is generated when the bottom lid 44 is opened. It is possible to prevent a situation in which the seedlings are damaged by protruding from the gaps.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A seedling transplanter as an embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In the following description of the illustrated example, when referring to the front or the rear, the side on which the steering handle 2 is disposed is referred to as the rear, and the opposite side, that is, the side on which the engine 5 is disposed is referred to as the front. When the term “right” or “left” is used, the right hand side is referred to as the right and the left hand side is referred to as the left when viewed from the operator standing at the rear of the body with the front side of the body as the front side.
[0014]
The seedling transplanting machine is provided with two open and closeable beak-shaped seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 that are connected to a link mechanism 3 that is driven to move up and down on a machine body that includes a traveling device 1 and a steering handle 2. It is configured.
In the illustrated example, the traveling device 1 includes an engine 5, a pair of left and right rear wheels 6 and 6 that are driven and rotated by transmission of the power of the engine 5, and left and right wheels that are rotatably supported in front of the wheels 6 and 6. A pair of front wheels 7 and 7 is provided.
[0015]
A mission case 8 is disposed at the rear of the engine 5, and the mission case 8 has a case portion extending from the left side of the engine 5 to the left side of the engine 5, and this is connected to the left side of the engine 5. The output shaft of the engine 5 enters the case portion, and the power is transmitted to the transmission mechanism (the traveling part system transmission transmission part C1 and the working part system transmission transmission part C2) in the transmission case 8. The transmission cases 9 and 9 are rotatably attached to the left and right sides of the transmission case 8, and the tip ends of the wheel drive shafts extending from the transmission case 8 to the left and right outer sides at the rotation centers of the transmission cases 9 and 9. The power for traveling that has entered and has passed through the traveling part system transmission transmission C1 in the transmission case 8 is transmitted to the transmission mechanism in the transmission cases 9 and 9. Then, the driving power is transmitted to the axles 10, 10 extending rearward of the machine body and projecting to the side of the rear end side via the transmission mechanism in the transmission cases 9, 9, and the rear wheels 6, 6 are driven. It is designed to rotate.
[0016]
Also, upwardly extending arms 11, 11 are integrally attached to the attachment parts of the transmission cases 9, 9 to the transmission case 8, and this is the tip of the piston rod of the lifting hydraulic cylinder 12 fixed to the transmission case 8. Are connected to the left and right sides of a balance rod 13 that is pivotably mounted around a vertical axis. The right side of the connecting portion is connected by a rod 14, and the left side is connected by a left / right horizontal control hydraulic cylinder 15 which can be expanded and contracted.
[0017]
When the lifting / lowering hydraulic cylinder 12 is actuated and the piston rod projects rearward, the left and right arms 11 and 11 are rotated rearward, and accordingly the transmission cases 9 and 9 are rotated downward, and the airframe. Rises. On the contrary, when the piston rod of the elevating hydraulic cylinder 12 is retracted forward, the left and right arms 11 and 11 are rotated forward, and accordingly the transmission cases 9 and 9 are rotated upward so that the aircraft is Descend. The elevating hydraulic cylinder 12 is configured to operate the airframe to be a set height with respect to the height of the heel surface based on the detection result of the sensor S that detects the height of the heel surface with respect to the airframe. It is also configured to operate so as to raise or lower the aircraft by human operation of the operation tool L arranged in the vicinity of the steering handle 2.
[0018]
Further, when the left / right horizontal control hydraulic cylinder 15 expands / contracts, the balance rod 13 rotates around the vertical axis connected to the tip of the piston rod of the lifting hydraulic cylinder 12 at the center of the left / right to transmit left / right transmission. Cases 9 and 9 are moved up and down alternately to incline the aircraft from side to side. The left / right horizontal control hydraulic cylinder 15 is configured to operate so that the airframe is horizontally horizontal based on a detection result of a sensor that detects the right / left inclination of the airframe relative to the left / right horizontal.
[0019]
The left and right front wheels 7 and 7 are fixed to the side of the lower end portion of the arm portion extending below the left and right side portions of the front wheel support frame 16 attached to the left and right central positions below the engine 5 so as to be rotatable around the front and rear axis. It is attached to the axles 17 and 17 rotatably. Accordingly, the left and right front wheels 7 and 7 are capable of rolling around the longitudinal center of the left and right center of the aircraft.
[0020]
The steering handle 2 is attached to a rear end portion of a body frame 2b having a front end portion fixed to the mission case 8. The airframe frame 2b is disposed at a position deviated from the right and left center of the airframe to the right side and extends rearward, and extends obliquely rearward and upward from the front and rear intermediate portion. The steering handle 2 extends rearward from the rear end portion of the body frame 2b to the left and right, and the rear end portions thereof serve as grip portions 2a and 2a of the steering handle 2. The left and right grip portions 2a, 2a of the steering handle 2 are set to an appropriate height so that the operator can easily grip the grip portions 2a, 2a with hands. In the example shown in the figure, the grip portions 2a, 2a are divided into left and right, but the left and right rear end portions of the steering handle 2 may be connected to each other left and right, and the connecting portion may be used as the grip portion.
[0021]
Although the traveling device 1 has a four-wheel configuration, the traveling device 1 may have a two-wheel configuration including only a pair of left and right drive wheels, or may be a pressure-reducing wheel that rolls on the upper surface instead of the front wheels. Moreover, it is good also as a crawler type traveling apparatus.
Next, the link mechanism 3 and the seedling planting body 4 are described.
[0022]
The link mechanism 3 is attached to a planting transmission case 18 that includes a transmission mechanism that receives power for driving the seedling transplanting operation unit that has passed through the operation unit transmission transmission unit C2 in the mission case 8. As shown in the figure, the planting transmission case 18 is fixed to the first case portion 18a whose front portion is connected to the rear portion of the mission case 8 and extends rearward and obliquely upward therefrom, and the upper left portion of the first case portion 18a. It has the 2nd case part 18b extended from there back. A power transmission mechanism for transmitting power for driving the link mechanism 3 to move up and down is provided in the first case portion 18a and the second case portion 18b. The transmission mechanism incorporated in the first case portion 18a includes an intermittent drive mechanism K for stopping the link mechanism 3 and the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 at the uppermost position of the raising / lowering movement or at a position near the upper and lower positions for a set time. And a clutch mechanism for stopping the lifting and lowering movement of the link mechanism 3 and the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4. The time for stopping by the intermittent drive mechanism K is adjusted by the inter-change changing transmission part C3 provided on the upper transmission side of the intermittent drive mechanism K, and this adjustment changes and adjusts between the seedling planting stocks by the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4. It has become so.
[0023]
The link mechanism 3 includes a first lifting arm 20 that is rotatably connected at two left and right shafts 19 serving as opening and closing fulcrums on the front side of the left and right seedling planting bodies 4, 4, and a rear side of the seedling planting body 4. And a second lifting arm 22 rotatably connected to the left side of the shaft 21 serving as an opening / closing fulcrum. And the lower end part of the 1st raising / lowering arm 20 is rotatably connected with the front-end | tip part of the 1st rocking | swiveling arm 23 attached to the attachment shaft extended on the right side from the lower part of the 2nd case part 18b, The lower end portion of the second lifting arm 22 is rotatably connected to the tip end portion of the second swing arm 24 that is swingably attached to a mounting shaft that extends to the right side from the lower portion on the rear side of the second case portion 18b. Further, the intermediate portion of the first lifting arm 20 protrudes from the right side portion of the second case portion 18b and is fixed to the first drive shaft 25 that is driven and rotated, and is rotatable with the tip portion of the first drive arm 26 that is driven and rotated. The intermediate portion of the second elevating arm 22 is connected to the front end portion of the second drive arm 28 that rotates and is fixed to the second drive shaft 27 that projects from the rear right side of the second case portion 18c and rotates. Connect freely. Therefore, when the first drive arm 26 and the second drive arm 28 are driven and rotated by transmission of power by the transmission mechanism in the planting transmission case 18, the first lift arm 20 and the second lift arm 22 are moved up and down while swinging. As a result, the lower ends of the left and right seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 are moved up and down along a closed loop locus T that is long in the vertical direction in a side view. The first drive arm 26 and the second drive arm 28 both rotate counterclockwise when viewed from the left side, and the lower end portions of the left and right seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 are counterclockwise when viewed from the left side. It moves up and down on a closed loop trajectory T. Accordingly, when the left and right seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 are moved up and down so as to draw the locus T in the rotation direction while traveling, the lower ends of the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 at the lower end of the locus T When stabbed in the soil of U, the seedling planting body 4 will not be greatly displaced back and forth with respect to the ridge U, and the seedling can be planted in an appropriate posture without leaving a large planting front and back. . In addition, when the beak-like seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 are lowered to the lowest position, the beak-like seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 open back and forth to release the seedlings in the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 to the soil of the cocoon U.
[0024]
The left and right seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 are each formed in a beak shape extending downward, and are configured to be openable and closable in the front-rear direction. The front beak portions 4F and 4F, which are the front side portions of the beak-like portions, are pivoted around the shaft 21 that has an upper portion extending rearward in an arm shape and a tip portion serving as an opening and closing fulcrum on the rear side of the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4. The rear beak portions 4B and 4B, which are freely connected and are rear portions of the beak-shaped portions, have upper arms extending forward in an arm shape, and their tip portions serve as opening and closing fulcrums on the front side of the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4. The shaft 19 is rotatably connected. The front-side arm portion extending to the rear of the upper beak portion 4F, 4F and the rear-side arm portion extending to the front of the upper portion of the rear beak portion 4B, 4B are respectively the front and rear centers of the front shaft 19 and the rear shaft 21. A nut having a shaft portion in the horizontal axis direction is fitted and connected to a long hole provided at a position, and one side of the front beak portions 4F and 4F and the rear beak portions 4B and 4B is rotated in conjunction with the operation of the other side. Both of them are opened and closed back and forth. Further, the front beak portion 4F and the rear beak portion 4B are connected to each other in a direction in which the seedling planting body 4 is closed by a spring. Further, an opening / closing arm 31 for opening and closing the right and left seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 is pivotally connected to a shaft portion where the first lifting arm 20 and the first swing arm 23 are connected to each other, and the opening and closing thereof is performed. A connecting rod 32 connects the distal end portion of the arm 31 and the connecting shaft that connects the arm portions extending upward from the upper portions of the left and right front beak portions 4F and 4F to the left and right. At the middle part of the opening / closing arm 31, when the seedling planting bodies 4, 4 are lowered to the lowest position, the first raising / lowering arm 20 is pivotally connected to the distal end of the first driving arm 26. A cam 34 fixed to a fixed shaft and a spring that presses the open / close arm 31 against the cam 34 swing back and forth, the open / close arm 31 rotates back and forth, and when the open / close arm 31 rotates backward, the left and right front sides The beak portions 4F and 4F are rotated upward around the shaft 21 which is the rear pivot, and the rear beak portions 4B and 4B are rotated upward around the shaft 19 which is the front pivot, The seedling planting body 4 opens. Then, the seedling planting bodies 4, 4 are released from the opening action of the cam 34 during the ascent and the seedling planting bodies 4, 4 are closed. The cam 34, the opening / closing arm 31, the connecting rod 32 and the like constitute an opening / closing mechanism of the seedling planting body 4, but another known opening / closing mechanism may be employed.
[0025]
On the upper part of the seedling planting bodies 4, 4, cylindrical guide bodies 35, 35 for guiding the seedlings in the seedling planting bodies 4, 4 are attached. The guide bodies 35, 35 are provided so as to protrude upward from the shafts 19, 21 that serve as opening / closing fulcrums of the seedling planting bodies 4, 4, and the seedlings introduced from above are the lower ends of the seedling planting bodies 4, 4. Guide the seedlings.
[0026]
The grounding rolling wheels 36, 36; 36, 36 for covering the seedlings planted by the seedling planting bodies 4, 4 are positioned in the vicinity of the rear left and right sides of the seedling planting locations of the left and right seedling planting bodies 4, 4. Provided. The grounded rolling wheels 36, 36; 36, 36 are respectively supported by support frames 37, 37; 37, 37 on the rear sides of the support frames 37, 37; It can be freely rotated. The rear portions of the two left and right inner frames and the rear portions of the two left and right outer frames of the support frames 37 and 37; 37 and 37 have connecting portions 38 and 38, respectively, which are connected to each other. The lower end portions of the rear support rods 40, 40 mounted on the support members 39, 39 at the lower limit lower limit position and mounted so as to be movable up and down are mounted and supported around the horizontal axis. Weights 41, 41 are attached to the rear support rods 40, 40 so as to apply a set pressure to the grounded rolling wheels 36, 36; 36, 36.
[0027]
The seedling transplanter configured as described above includes a seedling supply device 42 that supplies seedlings 4 and 4 by dropping seedlings from above.
That is, a traveling device 1 that self-propels the aircraft, a seedling planting body 4, 4 that is provided so as to move up and down, accepts seedlings from the upper side and releases seedlings received at the lower level, and the seedling planting body 4, 4 is provided with a seedling supply device 42 that drops and supplies seedlings from above, and the seedling supply device 42 includes a cylindrical body 43 that opens up and down and an opening 43a on the lower side of the cylindrical body 43. A plurality of seedling containers 45 that have a bottom lid 44 that opens and closes and is connected to each other in a loop shape, and the plane of the body in a state that the seedling containers 45 are passed above the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4. A seedling container moving mechanism 46 that rotates around a non-circular loop-like trajectory, and a bottom lid opening mechanism 47 that opens the bottom lid 44 of the seedling container 45... At a position above the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4. The configuration is provided.
[0028]
This seedling transplanter operates as follows. The aircraft is self-propelled by the traveling device 1. During traveling, the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 move up and down, accepting seedlings dropped from the seedling supply device 42 from above when positioned at the upper position, and receiving seedlings received when positioned at the lower position in the field. Release and transplant the seedlings in the field. The seedling supply device 42 includes a plurality of seedling containers 45 having a cylindrical body 43 that opens up and down and a bottom lid 44 that opens and closes a lower opening 43a of the cylindrical body 43. Are connected to each other in a loop shape, and are rotated around a loop-shaped trajectory that is non-circular in plan view of the machine body while passing over the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 by the seedling container moving mechanism 46. Then, the bottom lids 44 of the seedling containers 45 are opened by the bottom lid opening mechanism 47 above the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4. Therefore, the seedlings accommodated in the seedling container 45 are transferred to the upper position of the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 by the circumferential rotation of the seedling container 45. . Therefore, this seedling transplanting machine can perform the seedling supply work with a margin and can improve the work efficiency.
[0029]
The seedling supply device 42 has cylindrical outer peripheral portions 43c... On the outer periphery of the seedling containers 45, and has an engaging portion 48 that engages with the cylindrical outer peripheral portions 43c. A plurality of connecting bodies 49 for connecting the two seedling containers 45 are provided, and the engaging portions 48 of the connecting bodies 49 are rotatably engaged with the cylindrical outer peripheral portions 43c of the seedling containers 45. The plurality of seedling containers 45 are connected to each other so that the adjacent seedling containers 45 are rotatably connected with the cylindrical outer peripheral portions 43c as rotation axes. Accordingly, in this seedling transplanter, the seedling containers 45 are rotated while the adjacent seedling containers 45 are rotated around the cylindrical outer peripheral portion 43c of the seedling containers 45 as a rotation axis. Therefore, the fluctuation of the interval between the seedling containers 45 is difficult to occur, so that the seedlings are properly supplied to the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 so that the seedlings can be transplanted accurately, and the seedling containers 45. The upper opening 43b of the seedling container can be formed as wide as possible, and the seedling supply operation to the seedling container 45 can be performed as much as possible while making the body compact. It will be easy to do. In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, the above-described effect is obtained even when compared with the configuration of the control example in which the rotation shaft center portion B provided outside the cylindrical outer peripheral portion 43 ′ of the seedling container 45 ′ is rotatably connected to each other. It is clear that In this example, the distance Wc between the adjacent seedling container bodies 45 when turning around the moving action body is the same as the distance Ws between the adjacent seedling container bodies 45 when moving linearly. On the other hand, in the control example, the interval Wc ′ with the adjacent seedling container 45 ′ when rotating around the moving action body is the distance Ws ′ with the adjacent seedling container 45 ′ when moving linearly. Narrower than. Therefore, in the control example, the diameter of the upper opening 43b ′ of the seedling container 45 ′ is not set based on the interval Wc ′ between the adjacent seedling containers 45 ′ when turning around the moving action body. Don't be. Therefore, in comparison with the present example, the number of the seedling containers and the rotational range are set, and the upper opening of the seedling container becomes narrow.
[0030]
In addition, the seedling supply device 42 attaches a bottom lid 44 to the cylindrical bodies 43 of the seedling containers 45 so as to be capable of opening and closing, and one of the connecting bodies 49 is attached to each of the seedling containers 45. Each of the joints 49 is attached integrally, and the engaging part 48 of the connecting body 49 is rotatably engaged with the cylindrical outer peripheral part 43c of the adjacent seedling container 45, thereby connecting the seedling containers 45 to each other. It is configured. Thereby, this seedling transplanter rotates the circumference while the adjacent seedling container 45 rotates around the cylindrical outer peripheral portion 43c of the seedling container 45 as a rotation axis, When the seedling containers 45 are rotated, the connecting bodies 49 are moved in a posture along the circumferential direction, and the seedling containers 45 are integrally attached to the cylindrical bodies 43. The mounting portions 50 of the lids 44 are moved while maintaining a state where the mounting portions 50 are positioned in the setting direction with respect to the rotation direction. Therefore, the bottom lids 44 of the seedling containers 45 are always opened in the same direction above the seedling planting bodies 4, 4, and the bottom lids 44 are appropriately opened by the bottom lid opening mechanism 47. It comes to operate | move, and the seedling supply with respect to the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 is performed more appropriately, and a transplant of an appropriate seedling can be performed.
[0031]
In this seedling transplanter, a plurality of the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 are provided side by side in the left-right direction, and the seedling supply device 42 has the seedling container 45... Linearly moves in the left-right direction in plan view of the body. It is configured to rotate around a trajectory having a section SS, and so that the seedling container 45... Passes over a plurality of seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 juxtaposed in the left and right in the section SS that moves linearly in the left and right direction. As an arrangement, a plurality of seedlings are transplanted simultaneously in the field. Therefore, the seedling supply device 42 for supplying the seedlings to the plurality of seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 can be simply configured, and the seedling container 45. Even if the seedling container moving mechanism 46 is driven such that the seedlings move continuously, the seedlings are transferred from the seedling containers 45 in a similar fall trajectory with respect to each of the plurality of seedling planting bodies 4, 4 arranged in parallel in the left-right direction. The seedling can be supplied in a falling manner, so that the seedlings can be properly supplied to the plurality of seedling planting bodies 4 and 4, and the seedling transplanting can be accurately performed at the same time.
[0032]
By the way, as shown in this example, when the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 are arranged side by side on the left and right so that two seedlings can be planted at the same time, the seedling container 45 and the left side seedling planting body 45 to be supplied to the right seedling planting body 4 are supplied. The seedling container 45 that is dropped and supplied to the seedling planting body 4 is alternately connected, and the seedling container 45 that is dropped and supplied to the right seedling planting body 4 is positioned above the right seedling planting body 4. At this time, the seedling container 45 to be dropped and supplied to the left seedling planting body 4 is configured to be positioned just above the left seedling planting body 4, and the planting raising and lowering operations of the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 are performed. It is configured that the seedling container 45 moves by two times during one operation. As a result, the seedling container 45... Passes through the left and right seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 in series in the left and right direction without causing seedling supply leakage to both the left and right seedling planting bodies 4 and 4. Can be supplied to both the right and left seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 without leaving a seedling container 45 that has not been supplied with seedlings after passing over the left and right seedling planting bodies 4 and 4. The seedling can be supplied, so that the seedling supply operation can be performed with a margin, and the seedlings can be reliably supplied to the two seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 arranged on the left and right sides, so that two-row planting can be performed accurately.
[0033]
Below, the structure of the seedling container moving mechanism 46 of the seedling supply apparatus 42 is demonstrated. That is, the moving action bodies 51 and 51 around which the seedling containers 45 connected in a loop shape are wound are provided on the left and right sides of the machine body, and the moving action bodies 51 and 51 are driven and rotated. 45... Is configured to move around by drawing a long oval locus to the left and right in the plane view of the aircraft. A plurality of recesses are formed on the outer periphery of the moving action bodies 51 and 51 at intervals corresponding to the connection intervals of the seedling containers 45... Thus, the seedling containers 45 are provided so as to be reliably moved. The drive structure of the moving action bodies 51 and 51 is such that power is taken out from the transmission path on the lower transmission side of the inter-change change transmission unit C3 on the upper transmission side of the intermittent drive mechanism K that intermittently drives the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4. The moving action bodies 51 and 51 are continuously driven to rotate, and the seedling containers 45 are continuously moved around. Specifically, a rotating shaft 53a that continuously rotates is projected from the left side of the first case portion 18a of the planting transmission case 18, and the transmission shaft 53b is connected to the rotating shaft 53a via a universal joint, and the transmission shaft 53b is connected to the transmission shaft 53b. Thus, the left moving action body 51 mounted to rotate integrally with a rotation shaft 55 that is transmitted to a transmission case 54 provided on the left side of the machine body and protrudes upward from the transmission case 54 is driven and rotated. Further, a sprocket 56 is attached to the rotary shaft 55 so as to rotate integrally therewith, and a transmission chain 59 is wound around the sprocket 56 and a sprocket 58 attached so as to rotate integrally with the rotary shaft 57 of the right moving action body 51. Thus, both the left and right moving action bodies 51 and 51 are driven and rotated. By the way, in the case of the configuration in which the one side moving action body is driven and rotated, the row of seedling container bodies that are taken into the driving action body that is driven to rotate is in a tensioned connection state, but from the moving action body that is driven to rotate The row | line | column of the seedling container by the side of drawing out will be in the loose connection state. For this reason, the seedling container may be removed from the part where the moving action body engages with the seedling container at the place where the seedling container is drawn out from the driving action body that rotates. The row of seedling containers after the seedling containers have been fed out is disturbed, the friction with the members that support the lower side of the row of seedling containers becomes large and suddenly caught, The movement may not be performed smoothly. However, since both the left and right moving action bodies 51 and 51 are driven and rotated as described above, the seedling container bodies 45 are detached from the moving action bodies 51 and 51 and the rows of the seedling container bodies 45 are disturbed. This makes it difficult for the seedling container 45 to move smoothly, so that the seedlings can be supplied to the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 and the seedling transplanting operation can be continued well. It was.
[0034]
Note that the transmission mechanism in the transmission case 54 has an input shaft 60 projecting to the front side of the transmission case 54 and the front end portion thereof is connected to the rear end portion of the transmission shaft 53 via a universal joint for transmission rotation. In the transmission case 54, a bevel gear 61 formed at the rear end portion of the input shaft 60 is provided so as to mesh with a bevel gear 62 attached so as to rotate integrally with the rotating shaft 55 of the moving action body 51. Therefore, the rotational power transmitted through the transmission shaft 53 is converted into rotation around the rotation shaft 55 in the vertical direction in the transmission case 54 to transmit and rotate the moving action body 51. In this example, the rotational movement direction D of the seedling containers 45 is set so that the seedling containers 45 moved to the rear side of the seedling supply device 42 are moved to the right side. An operator can easily supply seedlings in a seedling supply operation mode in which the seedling supply device 42 is standing on the left side at the rear side position and supplied to the seedling containers 45 with the right hand.
[0035]
In this example, a plurality of seedling planting bodies 4, 4 are provided side by side on the left and right sides of the machine body, and the power for driving and rotating the moving action bodies 51, 51 of the seedling supply device 42 is input to the left and right sides thereof. The transmission case is provided with the transmission elements 60, 61, 62 that transmit to the rotation shaft 55 of the left and right side moving action body 51, and the rotation case 55 is protruded upward to support the drive rotation. Yes. Therefore, if the transmission case 54 is provided on the side where the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 are disposed, the transmission case 54 enters between the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 and the seedling container 45. The seedling supply apparatus 42 will be arrange | positioned in a high position, and in order to avoid that, the seedling supply apparatus 42 will protrude to the outer side. However, in this example, the left and right weight balance of the airframe is improved as described above, so that the right and left weight balance of the machine body is improved and the seedling supply device 42 has a necessary and sufficient width without excessively widening the left and right width. The seedling supply device 42 can be arranged low so that the fall distance of the seedlings from the seedling supply device 42 to the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 can be as short as possible. It is easy to set the height so that the drop supply can be accurately performed and the seedling supply device 42 can be easily supplied with the seedling. Therefore, by configuring as described above, the right and left weight balance of the aircraft is improved, the configuration of the aircraft can be configured as compactly as possible, and the seedling drop supply to the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 can be accurately performed. This configuration is easy to set, and can be easily set to a height at which seedling supply to the seedling supply device 42 can be easily performed.
[0036]
As described above, the driving power for driving the seedling supply device 42 is from the transmission upper side of the intermittent drive mechanism K that intermittently drives the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 from the transmission path on the lower transmission side of the inter-change change transmission unit C3. It is taken out. Thus, the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 are intermittently driven, and the seedling supply device 42 is a seedling transplanting machine configured to be continuously driven. In the configuration in which the inter-strain change transmission unit C3 is provided on the upper transmission side of the intermittent drive mechanism K so that the time for stopping the plant can be changed by changing the stop time, the seedling supply device 42 is driven as described above. Since it is configured to take out the power to perform, even if the intermittent stop time of the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 that are intermittently driven is changed to change between the seedling planting stocks, the seedling supply device that is continuously driven correspondingly 42 also changes the operation speed, so that the seedling supply device 42 can supply seedlings to the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 well, and change and adjust between the seedling planting stocks appropriately according to the type of crops and the like. However, seedling transplanting work can be performed well.
[0037]
Further, the clutch means CL1 for turning on and off the transmission to the seedling supply device 42 is moved from the lower transmission side of the inter-change change transmission unit C3 with the power for driving the seedling supply device 42 on the upper transmission side of the intermittent drive mechanism K. The intermittent drive mechanism K is provided with a clutch means CL2 that is provided in a transmission path to the rotary shaft 55 that rotationally drives the acting body 51, and that can continuously cut off the transmission to the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4. Yes. The clutch means CL1 on the seedling supply device 42 side and the clutch means CL2 on the seedling planting body 4 and 4 side are simultaneously turned off and entered by one artificial operating tool (such as an operating lever) provided on the steering handle 2 side. It is configured to be. The intermittent drive mechanism K includes a one-rotation stop mechanism for automatically stopping the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 by performing a one-cycle planting operation, and starting a one-cycle planting operation of the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 by the one-rotation stopping mechanism. A one-rotation start mechanism for performing the operation is provided, and the operation timing of the one-rotation start mechanism is adjusted by the inter- stock change transmission unit C3. Therefore, the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 are continuously stopped at the set position only by changing the positional relationship between the action part of the one-rotation start mechanism and the non-action part of the one-rotation stop mechanism to a position that does not act. it can. Thus, if the said clutch means CL2 is comprised using the intermittent drive mechanism K, the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 can be stopped in a setting position, and simplification of a structure can be achieved. On the other hand, since the seedling supply device 42 is continuously driven, the clutch means CL1 is provided on the transmission upper side of the intermittent drive mechanism K, and the clutch CL2 on the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 side is intermittently driven as described above. If the mechanism K is used, it cannot be shared with the clutch CL2. However, the seedling planting body 4, 4 is configured by simultaneously operating the clutch means CL 1 on the seedling supply device 42 side and the clutch means CL 2 on the seedling planting body 4, 4 side with one artificial operating tool. Taking advantage of the intermittent drive mechanism K as described above for the clutch CL2 on the side, the seedling supply device 42 that is continuously driven is stopped and restarted, and the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 are stopped and restarted. It can be done according to the timing.
[0038]
The clutch means CL1 on the seedling supply device 42 side includes a mechanism that automatically cuts the power when the transmission load exceeds a set value. Also, a clutch having a mechanism that automatically cuts the power when the transmission load exceeds a set value in the working system transmission path before the power branches to the seedling planting body 4 and 4 side and the seedling supply device 42 side. Means CL3 is provided. The set value of the transmission load that automatically cuts the power in the clutch means CL3 is set higher than the set value of the transmission load that automatically cuts the power in the clutch means CL1 on the seedling supply device 42 side. is doing. Accordingly, an overload state in which an operator or the like accidentally contacts the seedling supply device 42 during the seedling supply operation and forcibly stops the orbital movement of the seedling container 45 is driven by the seedling supply device 42. Even if it occurs in the system, the clutch means CL1 operates to prevent the drive system of the seedling supply device 42 from being damaged appropriately. The clutch means CL3 provided in the working part system transmission path before the power splits between the seedling planting body 4 and 4 side and the seedling feeding device 42 side automatically shuts off the transmission to the seedling feeding device 42. In order to plant the seedlings in the field, the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 are appropriately driven so that the transmission load is larger than the driving system of the seedling supply device 42 in order to enter the soil. It will not be possible to continue. However, by configuring as described above, the driving of the seedling planting bodies 4, 4 and the seedling supply device 42 can be continued properly, and the overload and the seedling generated on the seedling planting bodies 4, 4 can be maintained. The overload generated on the supply device 42 can be properly released by the clutch means CL1 and CL3, respectively, and both drive systems of the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 and the seedling supply device 42 can be protected appropriately. it can.
[0039]
The support structure of the seedling supply device 42 is configured as follows. An aircraft frame 2b that extends rearward from the front side of the aircraft where the engine 5 and the transmission case 8 are arranged between the left and right wheels 6, 6; The steering handle 2 is attached to the rear end portion of the airframe frame 2b, and a first support frame 63 extending rearward from the airframe front side toward the upper side of the airframe is provided. A seedling container in which a rear side is connected to the body frame 2b, a second support frame 64 extending from the support frame 63 to the left and right outer sides is provided, and a loop shape is connected to both left and right sides of the second support frame 64. 45... Are configured to support the rotating shafts of the left and right moving action bodies 51, 51 that move in a circular manner by drawing a long elliptical locus on the left and right in the plane view of the body. Accordingly, the first support frame 63 is disposed near the center of the airframe together with the airframe frame 2b on which the steering handle 2 is mounted, and is connected to the airframe frame 2b to form a rigid and rigid frame structure. The left and right moving action bodies 51 extend the second support frame 64 from the first support frame 63 thus configured to the left and right outer sides, and move the seedling containing bodies 45 around the left and right sides thereof. , 51 is supported, the support structure of the seedling supply device 42 has a simple and sufficient strength, and the body can be made compact and light.
[0040]
Further, the second support frame 64 is divided into a base frame portion 64a on the side connected to the first support frame and a support portion side frame portion 64b on the side supporting the rotating shafts of the moving working bodies 51 and 51. The support part side frame part 64b is provided so as to be movable in the left-right direction with respect to the base part side frame part 64a. This makes it easy to appropriately adjust the tension state of the seedling containers 45 connected in a loop around the outer periphery of the left and right moving action bodies 51, 51, and facilitates assembly and maintenance.
[0041]
In the seedling supply device 42, the seedling containers 45 are provided with guide bodies 65, 65, 65 for guiding the movement along the circular movement trajectory inside and outside the circular movement trajectory of the seedling container 45. . On the other hand, the seedling containers 45 are formed with protrusions 66 that protrude inward and outward of the orbital movement trajectory, and the guide bodies 65, 65, 65 are located above the protrusions 66 and the seedling container 45. Are arranged so as to be sandwiched between the inside and outside of the circular movement locus. Thus, the orbital movement of the seedling containers 45 is performed accurately and smoothly so that the seedling containers 45 pass above the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 in the section SS where the seedling containers 45 move linearly in the left-right direction. In the arrangement, the seedling container 45... Swings back and forth during the circular movement, and the seedling container 45... Shifts back and forth when passing over the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4. It can prevent that the seedling supply with respect to 4 and 4 is not performed correctly. Moreover, since the guide bodies 65, 65, 65 are located above the protrusions 66 formed in the seedling containers 45, the seedling containers 45 are prevented from being lifted during the circular movement, and the seedling containers 45 ... The circumferential rotation of the lens is accurately performed. Below the orbital movement trajectory of the seedling containers 45 ..., the seedling containers 45 ... are opened by the downward rotation while the seedling containers 45 ... are moving around and other than the positions above the seedling planting bodies 4, 4. A support 67 that supports the bottom cover 44 in a closed state is provided along a circular movement locus. Therefore, the above-described configuration of the guide bodies 65, 65, 65 and the projecting portion 66 is the seedling that the bottom cover 44 provided at the bottom of the seedling container 45 is opened during circular movement and accommodated in the seedling container 45. However, it is possible to prevent the seedling from being damaged by protruding from the gap generated when the bottom lid 44 is opened. Moreover, in this example, since the said protrusion part 66 was formed in the connection body 39 ... integrally provided in each of the seedling container 45 ..., the structure can be simplified. The support body 66 and the guide bodies 65, 65, 65 are attached to and supported by an attachment member 68 attached to the first support frame 63.
[0042]
The inner part of the orbital movement trajectory of the seedling containers 45 of the seedling supply device 42 is covered with a governor body 69 on the upper side. Therefore, when the worker supplies seedlings from the rear side of the seedling supply device 42 to the seedling container 45..., The seedlings are temporarily placed on the cover body 69 and placed on the cover body 69. The seedlings can be easily taken out from the operator who supplies the seedlings to the seedling container 45, so that the seedling supply operation can be easily performed and the work efficiency can be improved. Since the cover body 69 of the present example is configured to cover almost the entire inner side of the orbital movement trajectory of the seedling container 45, the seedling placed on the cover body 69 is unlikely to fall. Further, since the upper surface of the cover body 69 is formed to be a flat surface, the seedling placed on the cover body 69 is unlikely to move to a place where it is difficult to take out, and workability can be improved. Furthermore, if the upper surface of the cover body 69 is formed to have a rough surface, the seedlings are less likely to slip, and the above-described effect becomes more remarkable.
[0043]
Hereinafter, the bottom lid opening mechanism 47 that opens the bottom lids 44 of the seedling containers 45 of the seedling supply device 42 at positions above the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 will be described.
First, as described above, below the orbital movement trajectory of the seedling container 45 ..., the seedling container 45 ... is being moved around the seedling container 45 ... and other than the position above the seedling planting bodies 4, 4, A support body 67 that supports the bottom cover 44 that is opened by rotating downward is closed, and is provided along a circular movement locus. The support 67 is provided at a position above the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 so as to be displaced to a position retracted from the lower region of the bottom lid 44 so that the bottom lid 44 can be rotated downward to be opened. . Moreover, it is comprised so that the attaching part 50 which attaches the bottom cover 44 so that rotation in the downward direction is the upper side of the rotation direction D of the seedling container 45 ... is carried out.
[0044]
Furthermore, this support body 67 is set with a seedling container 45 for supplying seedlings corresponding to each of the left and right seedling planting bodies 4, 4. For example, as in this example, the seedling planting body 4, 4 are arranged side by side on the left and right so that two rows can be planted at the same time, as described above, the seedling container 45 that supplies the right seedling planting body 4 and the left seedling planting body 4 are supplied by dropping. The seedling containers 45 to be connected are alternately connected. Accordingly, the bottom cover 44 of the seedling container 45 is opened only when the seedling container 45 that is set to be supplied to the right seedling planting body 4 passes above the right seedling planting body 4. In addition, the bottom cover 44 of the seedling container 45 is opened only when the seedling container 45 set so as to be dropped and supplied to the left seedling planting body 4 passes over the left seedling planting body 4. There is a need. For this reason, the bottom lid 44 is provided with a protrusion 44a that protrudes outward with respect to the orbital movement trajectory of the seedling container 45, and the bottom cover 44 is provided with a protrusion 44b that protrudes inward, and the outer protrusion 44a is provided. The provided bottom lids 44 and the bottom lids 44 provided with the inner protrusions 44b are alternately provided for the seedling containers 45 connected to each other. And the seedling container 45 set so as to drop and supply the seedling planting body 4 on the right side (the upper side in the circumferential movement direction D) that passes above the seedling planting body 4 is the right seedling planting body 4. When passing above, the support 67 is provided so as to be retracted from a position for supporting the protrusion 44a or 44b and displaced to a position for supporting the protrusion 44b or 44a protruding to the opposite side. . In addition, the seedling container 45 set so as to drop and supply to the left seedling planting body 4 on the left side (the lower side of the circumferential movement direction D) that will pass above the seedling planting body 4 is the left seedling planting body 4. When passing above, the support 67 is retreated from the position supporting the protrusion 44b or 44a and displaced to a position where the protrusion 44a or 44b protruding to the opposite side is supported. Provide as follows. Thereby, when the seedling container 45 set so as to be dropped and supplied to the right seedling planting body 4 passes above the right seedling planting body 4, the bottom lid 44 of the seedling container 45 can be opened, and When the seedling container 45 set so as to be dropped and supplied to the left seedling planting body 4 passes above the right seedling planting body 4, the bottom cover 44 of the seedling container 45 is supported in a closed state. . In addition, when the seedling container 45 set so as to drop and supply to the left seedling planting body 4 passes over the left seedling planting body 4, the bottom lid 44 of the seedling container 45 can be opened, and When the seedling container 45 set so as to drop and supply to the right seedling planting body 4 passes above the left seedling planting body 4, the bottom lid 44 of the seedling container 45 is supported in a closed state. Therefore, if this structure is adopted, the bottom lid 44 of the seedling container 45... Moved to the upper position of the left and right seedling planting bodies 4, 4 is supported by the support 67 corresponding to the seedling planting body 4 to be supplied with seedlings. The support state is released and the opening operation is performed. Therefore, the seedling can be properly supplied to the left and right seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 so that the seedling transplanting operation can be performed satisfactorily.
[0045]
Furthermore, in this example, even if the seedling container 45 moves to a position above the seedling planting bodies 4, 4, the bottom cover is raised until the seedling planting bodies 4, 4 are raised to a position located directly below the seedling housing body 45. 44 is supported in a closed state, and when the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 are raised to a position located directly below the seedling container 45, the support state of the bottom lid 44 is released and the bottom lid 44 is opened. A support 70 is provided. The movable support 70 is provided so as to be movable between a bottom lid support position for supporting the bottom lid 44 in a closed state and a bottom lid non-support position for allowing the bottom lid 44 to be opened. The movable support 70 moves from the bottom cover support position to the bottom cover non-support position by contacting with the lift members 71 and 71 that move up and down, and when the lift members 71 and 71 are not in contact with each other, an elastic member such as a spring is used. It is comprised so that it may be located in a bottom cover support position. Accordingly, even if the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 are operated intermittently by the intermittent drive mechanism KK, the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 are configured to continuously move around, but the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 are still in the seedling housing body 45. The bottom lid 44 is opened after being lifted up to a position located directly below, so that the seedling is supplied from the seedling container 45 to the seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 in a favorable manner.
[0046]
By the way, in this example, two seedling planting bodies 4 and 4 are provided side by side and arranged so that two strips can be planted at the same time. 4 is configured to be fitted with a lid (not shown) for closing the upper openings 45b of the seedling containers 45 set so as to supply seedlings. Thereby, it is possible to easily supply seedlings only to the seedling container 45 which is set so as to supply seedlings to the right and left side seedling planting bodies 4 to be planted. Can be easily performed. In addition, when the lower part of the seedling planting body 4 is configured to be detachable from the upper part and single row planting is performed as described above, if the lower part of the seedling planting body 4 that is not planted is removed, planting is not performed. The seedling planting body 4 does not form a hole in the field scene, and better single row planting is possible.
[0047]
In the seedling transplanting machine, a seedling stand 80 for preliminarily placing seedlings to be supplied to the seedling supply device 42 is attached to the front side of the seedling supply device 42 in the upper part of the machine body. The operator collects seedlings from the seedling stand 80 and supplies them to the seedling supply device 42.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view of a seedling transplanter.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a seedling transplanter.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a transmission configuration of a seedling transplanter.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a connection configuration of a seedling container.
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a part of the seedling supply device.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view showing a part of the seedling supply device.
FIG. 7 is a front view showing a seedling supply unit from a seedling supply device to a seedling planting body.
FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a seedling supply unit from a seedling supply device to a seedling planting body.
FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the seedling container connection state of the present example and the control example.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Traveling device 4: Seedling planting body 42: Seedling supply device 43: Tubular body 43a: Lower opening 44 of the tubular body: Bottom lid 45: Seedling body 46: Seedling body moving mechanism 47: Opening the bottom lid mechanism
65: Guide body
66: Projection
