JP4002853B2 - Growing equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a culture soil producing apparatus for producing a culture soil for raising seedlings used for raising seedlings of crops such as paddy rice.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, seedlings of crops such as paddy rice have been grown using a nursery, and soil cultivation has been generally used as the bed soil of this nursery. However, such soil cultivation has been difficult to obtain due to its relatively high quality (homogeneous) floor soil and is difficult to obtain. Accordingly, floor soil (culture soil) that replaces such soil cultivation has been proposed (see Patent Document 1 as an example).
[0003]
The soil shown in the above publication has a structure in which a plant material (bark compost made from bark, pulp chips, sawdust, etc.) is consolidated and dried using a hydrophilic urethane prepolymer as a binder. Yes. In addition, as a binder, polyvinyl alcohol and starches may be used. This type of soil can effectively use so-called industrial waste such as bark and pulp chips as a soil material, and this plant material is also relatively inexpensive.
[0004]
However, the conventional soil as described above still has the following drawbacks. That is, it takes a long time (for example, about 1 to 3 hours) to bond the culture material (consolidation drying using a binder), and mass production is difficult, resulting in high cost. In addition, the completed soil (that is, the soil material solidified and dried with a binder) is hard but easily cracked or chipped, so that the shape is broken during transportation, and the handling is troublesome and complicated. It was. On the other hand, in actual use, when the conventional cultivated soil is irrigated for raising seedlings, the shape is more easily lost than before irrigation. For this reason, for example, even if it is set on a seedling stand of an automatic rice transplanter and attempts to carry out rice planting, the finger part of the apparatus cannot grasp the seedling well, and a smooth operation may be difficult. Above all, in the conventional cultivating material as described above, the cultivating material itself is relatively inexpensive, but a binder such as a hydrophilic urethane prepolymer is expensive, and as a result, it is still expensive as a whole.
[0005]
In view of this, the applicant has already proposed a culture soil producing apparatus that can inexpensively and mass-produce a culture soil for raising seedlings that does not break or collapse and is easy to handle (Japanese Patent Application No. 10-184893).
[0006]
The seedling culture soil produced by the proposed soil culture production apparatus is obtained by stirring and mixing rice husks and core-sheath fibers, and compression-molding the stirred rice husks and core-sheath fibers. This seedling culture soil is rich in flexibility and water retention, is not easily broken or chipped, does not lose its shape during transportation, and is easy to handle. In order to manufacture such a seedling-cultivating soil, the proposed soil-producing apparatus includes a pair of upper and lower belt conveyors. According to this soil production apparatus, the raw material obtained by stirring and mixing rice husks and core-sheath fibers is layered and conveyed while being sandwiched between a pair of upper and lower belt conveyors, and is compression-molded in the middle of this conveyance, so-called mat-like seedlings A culture soil is obtained.
[0007]
As described above, in the above-mentioned soil culturing apparatus, the raw material is sandwiched and conveyed by a pair of upper and lower belt conveyors, and thus compression molding is performed. Therefore, a series of operations can be performed automatically in sequence, which greatly improves work efficiency. . Therefore, it is possible to mass-produce the seedling culture soil as described above at low cost.
[0008]
By the way, in the above-mentioned soil culturing apparatus, rice husks and core-sheath fibers are agitated on the belt conveyor located upstream and below the opposed portions of the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors (the raw material holding and conveying portion). Although the mixed raw material is configured to be supplied in a fall, the raw material supplied in a falling manner rises like a mountain, and it is difficult to evenly and evenly level it. If the raw material that has been supplied in this way is compressed and molded without being even and flat, the finished seedling culture soil does not form a mat with a uniform density (compression degree) as a whole, Therefore, it was necessary to take measures to prevent this from occurring.
[0009]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Publication No.56-18165
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to mass-produce a seedling for growing seedlings that is easy to handle without cracking or collapsing at low cost and with a small number of work steps. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for producing a culture medium in which the density of the culture medium for raising seedlings is uniform throughout and high quality.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A soil culture production apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a pair of upper and lower belt conveyors arranged to face each other, on a belt conveyor positioned upstream and below a facing portion of the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors. In addition, the raw material obtained by stirring and mixing the rice husk and the core-sheath fiber is dropped and supplied, and the raw material supplied in the fall is conveyed and compressed while being sandwiched between the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors for raising seedlings. A soil production apparatus for producing soil, which is disposed along the width direction of the lower belt conveyor corresponding to the raw material that is dropped and supplied to the lower belt conveyor. A first leveling screw conveyor to a third leveling screw that forcibly move the supplied raw material along the width direction of the belt conveyor located on the lower side and level it uniformly and flatly. And a first leveling screw conveyor to a leveling screw conveyor adjacent to each other along the raw material conveying direction by the belt conveyor located on the lower side, and the third leveling conveyor. The flat screw conveyor is provided at a position above a predetermined distance with respect to the first flat screw conveyor and the second flat screw conveyor.
[0012]
The upper position (predetermined distance) of the third leveling screw conveyor is, for example, about 5 mm from the surface of the raw material material leveled by the first leveling screw conveyor and the second leveling screw conveyor. It is preferable to set the positions apart from each other.
[0013]
Here, the seedling culture soil produced by the soil production apparatus according to claim 1 is obtained by stirring and mixing rice husks and core-sheath fibers, and compression-molding the stirred and mixed rice husks and core-sheath fibers. This seedling-growing soil is strong like a sponge, is rich in flexibility and water retention, is not easily broken or chipped, and does not lose its shape during transportation. Moreover, even if watering for raising seedlings, the shape does not collapse, and the handling becomes easy.
[0014]
Therefore, in order to produce such a seedling culture soil, the soil culture production apparatus according to claim 1 is provided with a pair of upper and lower belt conveyors. According to this soil production apparatus, the raw material obtained by stirring and mixing rice husk and core-sheath fiber is dropped and supplied onto the belt conveyor located upstream and below the opposed portions of the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors. Further, the sheet is sequentially conveyed while being sandwiched between a pair of upper and lower belt conveyors, and is compression-molded. Thereby, a so-called mat-shaped seedling-growing soil is obtained.
[0015]
Here, in the soil culture production apparatus according to claim 1, the first leveling unit is provided along the width direction of the belt conveyor located on the lower side corresponding to the material material to be dropped and supplied to the material material dropping supply site. A flat screw conveyor to a third flat screw conveyor are arranged adjacent to each other. The raw material dropped and supplied onto the lower belt conveyor is forced by the first to third screw conveyors along the width direction of the lower belt conveyor. To be leveled evenly and flatly.
[0016]
Here, the raw material that is dropped and supplied to the belt conveyor is obtained by stirring and mixing rice husks and core-sheath fibers. As described above, the first flat screw conveyor and the second flat screw conveyor are used. While being leveled by the screw conveyor, the core-sheath fiber of the raw material floats on the surface, and the second leveling screw conveyor causes the end portion in the feed direction (for example, both ends in the width direction of the belt conveyor). In some cases, the core-sheath fibers are entangled to form a cotton-like lump.
[0017]
In this respect, in the soil production apparatus according to claim 1, the third leveling screw conveyor is provided adjacent to the downstream side of the second leveling screw conveyor in the raw material conveying direction, and this third leveling screw conveyor is provided. Since the flat screw conveyor is provided at a position above the first flat screw conveyor and the second flat screw conveyor by a predetermined distance, the core-sheath fiber of the raw material is second flat as described above. Even if the surface of the screw conveyor floats on the downstream side in the raw material conveyance direction and is collected by being offset to form a flocculent lump, the third flat screw conveyor screens the rice husks mixed in the flocculent lump. The cotton-like lump of the core-sheath fiber can be effectively scattered again along the width direction of the belt conveyor.
[0018]
As a result, the seedling culture soil formed by compression molding does not become abnormally hard only at both ends in the width direction, for example, and becomes a mat having a uniform density (compression degree) as a whole. For this reason, seedling variability (uneven growth due to seedling root condition) and rooting phenomenon (seed root does not enter the mat and the seedling does not grow) may occur. Is prevented.
[0019]
In this way, the culture soil production apparatus according to claim 1 can mass-produce the culture material for raising seedlings that is easy to handle without being broken or broken, and can be mass-produced at a low cost and with less work man-hours. The overall density is uniform and high quality.
[0020]
On the other hand, the soil culturing apparatus of the invention according to claim 2 is the soil culturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first flat screw conveyor has a spiral direction of a spiral blade opposite to the axial center portion as a boundary. The feed direction of the raw material by the spiral blade is set so as to be directed from the both end portions of the shaft to the central portion of the shaft, and the second leveling screw conveyor has the spiral direction of the spiral blade as the boundary of the central portion of the shaft. The third flat screw conveyor is set so that the feed direction of the raw material by the spiral blade is directed from the central portion of the shaft toward both ends of the shaft, and the spiral direction of the spiral blade is the central portion of the shaft. The feed direction of the raw material by the spiral blade is set so as to face from the both ends of the shaft to the central portion of the shaft.
[0021]
In the soil culture manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2, the spiral direction of the first flat screw conveyor of the first flat screw conveyor is opposite to the central part of the shaft, and the feed direction of the raw material by the spiral blade is the both ends of the shaft. Because it is set so as to face the central part of the shaft (because it is a so-called collective screw conveyor), and in the second flat screw conveyor, the spiral direction of the spiral blade is opposite to the central part of the shaft. Since the feed direction of the raw material by the spiral blade is set so as to be directed from the central portion of the shaft to both end portions of the shaft (because it is a so-called diffusion screw conveyor), the third equalizing In the flat screw conveyor, like the first flat screw conveyor, the spiral direction of the spiral blade is opposite to the center of the shaft, and the feed direction of the raw material by the spiral blade is from both ends of the shaft. Because they are set to face the central portion (so-called because it is a set screw conveyor), a drop supplied feedstock can be leveled more uniform and flat, it is even more effective.
[0022]
In addition, as a core-sheath-type fiber in Claim 1 or Claim 2 mentioned above, a core-sheath-type polyester (made by Unitika) can be used, for example. In this case, the sheath portion is softened at 110 ° C., and the core portion is softened at 250 ° C. For this reason, if the rice husk and the core-sheath type polyester are stirred and mixed and then subjected to heat compression molding at 130 ° C. to 200 ° C. (preferably around 140 ° C.), the seedling culture medium can be obtained. Further, as the core-sheath fiber, for example, Bionore (manufactured by Showa Polymer Co., Ltd.) can be used. In this case, the sheath portion is softened at 90 ° C., and the core portion is softened at 115 ° C. For this reason, if the rice husk and the bionore are stirred and mixed and then subjected to heat compression molding at 100 ° C., the seedling culture soil can be obtained.
[0023]
The rice husk is preferably compression-ground rice husk.
[0024]
Furthermore, as a mixing ratio of rice husk and core-sheath fiber, for example, when the rice husk is 600 g, the core-sheath fiber may be 15 g, but this mixing ratio can be changed as appropriate.
[0025]
Furthermore, the degree of pressurization when heat-compressing the stir-mixed rice husk and core-sheath fiber is as follows: when the thickness of the stir-mixed raw material (chaff and core-sheath fiber) is 4 cm The thickness is preferably about 2 cm.
[0026]
Moreover, in the above-mentioned soil production apparatus according to claim 1 and claim 2, fertilizer for raising seedlings is applied to the raw material (rice husk and core-sheath fiber) conveyed by a pair of upper and lower belt conveyors and a pair of left and right side belt conveyors. In addition, they may be stirred and mixed and supplied, and these may be compression molded.
[0027]
In this case, the seedling fertilizer is wrapped together by the rice husks entangled with each other by the core-sheath type fiber, and is integrally enclosed and molded.
[0028]
For this reason, when raising seedlings, it is not necessary to add another new fertilizer to the seedling culture soil. In addition, if different types of seedling cultivation soils are prepared by appropriately changing the type and mixing ratio of the seedling fertilizer according to the type of crops to be seeded and the weather (climate), etc. Expands.
[0029]
In addition, as a fertilizer for raising seedlings, a fertilizer for medium-term cultivation (for example, trademark: Long M100), a high-quality soil fungus breeding agent (for example, zeolite), an early-grown fertilizer (for example, phosphorous sulfate), a healthy seedling growing agent ( For example, a trademark: FTE), a germination inhibitor removing agent (for example, citric acid), and the like are included.
[0030]
Furthermore, as a mixing ratio of rice husk and core-sheath fiber and each fertilizer for seedling, for example, when rice husk is 600 g, 15 g of core-sheath fiber, 60 g of medium-term fertilizer, and a good soil fungus breeding agent 6 g, 7 g of the initial growing fertilizer, 0.36 g of the healthy seedling growing agent, and 1.2 g of the germination inhibitor removal agent may be used, but this mixing ratio can be changed as appropriate.
[0031]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 8 shows an external perspective view of the seedling culture soil 10 manufactured by the culture soil manufacturing apparatus 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0032]
The seedling culture soil 10 includes rice husk 12 as a culture base material, core-sheath fiber 14 as a binder, and a plurality of seedling fertilizers 16. In this embodiment, for example, seedlings In order to enter the box 60 (see FIG. 10), it is formed into a mat shape having a vertical dimension of 28 cm, a horizontal dimension of 58 cm, and a thickness dimension of 2 cm. Here, an example of the type and content of each constituent material of the seedling-growing soil 10 is shown below.
[0033]
Rice husk: 600g
Core-sheath type fiber (core-sheath type polyester: manufactured by Unitika): 15 g
Medium term fertilizer (Trademark: Long M100): 60g
Good soil fungus breeding agent (zeolite): 6g
Fertilizer for initial cultivation (sulfurized phosphorous acid): 7g
Healthy seedling breeding agent (trademark: FTE): 0.36 g
Germination inhibitor remover (citric acid): 1.2 g
The core-sheath type polyester (manufactured by Unitika) used as the core-sheath fiber 14 is composed of a core part 14A and a sheath part 14B (shown schematically in FIG. 9), and the sheath part 14B is softened at 110 ° C. The core portion 14A softens at 250 ° C. As the core-sheath fiber 14, for example, Bionore (manufactured by Showa Polymer Co., Ltd.) can be used. In this case, the sheath portion 14B is softened at 90 ° C., and the core portion 14A is softened at 115 ° C.
[0034]
In addition, the mixing ratio of the rice husk 12, the core-sheath fiber 14, and the plurality of seedling fertilizers 16 can be appropriately changed.
[0035]
Next, the culture medium manufacturing apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment for manufacturing the seedling culture medium 10 will be described.
[0036]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the entire configuration of the soil culturing apparatus 20. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the entire structure of the soil culturing apparatus 20, and FIG. 3 is a front view showing the structure of the main part of the soil culturing apparatus 20. Further, FIG. 4 shows a side view of the overall structure of the soil culturing apparatus 20.
[0037]
The soil production apparatus 20 includes a pair of upper and lower belt conveyors 22 and 23. The belt conveyor 22 located on the lower side includes a pair of rolls 24 and 26 and a belt 28. The belt 28 is, for example, a steel belt, or a synthetic resin fiber belt using both Teflon (R) and glass fiber. When the belt 28 moves in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2, the raw material G can be conveyed.
[0038]
On the other hand, a raw material supply port 32 is provided above the upstream end (roll 24) in the transport direction of the belt conveyor 22, and the rice husk 12 and the core-sheath fiber 14 and the plurality of seedling fertilizers 16 are stirred and mixed. The raw material G can be dropped and supplied downward (that is, the belt conveyor 22). Thereby, with the operation of the belt conveyor 22, the raw material G is sequentially transported in the arrow direction in FIG. 2 while being dropped and stacked on the belt conveyor 22.
[0039]
Further, just above the belt conveyor 22 and to the side of the raw material supply port 32, a collecting screw 70 as a first leveling screw conveyor, a diffusion screw 72 as a second leveling screw conveyor, and a third Collective screws 73 as flat screw conveyors are provided adjacent to each other along the width direction of the belt conveyor 22.
[0040]
In the present embodiment, in the collective screw 70, the spiral direction (winding direction) of the spiral blades is opposite to the shaft center portion, and the feed direction by the spiral blades is from the shaft end portions to the shaft center portion. It is set to face. Therefore, the raw material G dropped and supplied onto the belt conveyor 22 is moved from the both ends in the width direction of the belt conveyor 22 to the center portion in the width direction by the collective screw 70 as indicated by arrows in FIG. On the other hand, the diffusion screw 72 is set so that the spiral direction (winding direction) of the spiral blade is opposite to the central portion of the shaft, and the feed direction by the spiral blade is directed from the central portion of the shaft to both ends of the shaft. ing. Therefore, the raw material G dropped and supplied onto the belt conveyor 22 is moved from the central portion in the width direction of the belt conveyor 22 to both ends in the width direction by the diffusion screw 72 as shown by arrows in FIG.
[0041]
Further, as with the collective screw 70, the collective screw 73 has the spiral direction (winding direction) of the spiral blades opposite to the central portion of the shaft, and the feed direction by the spiral blades is the center of the shaft from both ends of the shaft. It is set to face the part. Moreover, the collective screw 73 is provided at a position above the collective screw 70 and the diffusion screw 72 by a predetermined distance as shown in FIG. Therefore, the raw material G dropped and supplied onto the belt conveyor 22 is moved from the both ends in the width direction of the belt conveyor 22 to the center portion in the width direction by the collective screw 73 as shown by arrows in FIG.
[0042]
That is, the raw material G dropped and supplied from the raw material supply port 32 onto the belt conveyor 22 by the cooperation of the collective screw 70, the diffusion screw 72, and the collective screw 73 is uniformly and flat on the surface of the belt conveyor 22. It is a configuration that can be leveled.
[0043]
Note that the upper position (predetermined distance) of the collective screw 73 is preferably set to a position separated by about 5 mm from the surface of the raw material G leveled by the collective screw 70 and the diffusion screw 72, for example.
[0044]
The collective screw 70, the diffusion screw 72, and the collective screw 73 are all connected to a drive motor via a chain (not shown), and are rotated in the same direction by the single drive motor. Yes.
[0045]
A belt conveyor 23 located on the upper side is arranged on the side of the collecting screw 73 (downstream in the conveying direction) and immediately above the belt conveyor 22. The belt conveyor 23 includes a pair of rolls 25 and 27 and a belt 29. Similarly to the belt 28, the belt 29 is a steel belt or a synthetic resin fiber belt. The belt 29 moves in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2 together with the belt 28 of the belt conveyor 22, so that the raw material G is conveyed while being held together with the belt 28 of the belt conveyor 22.
[0046]
A pair of upper and lower heating compressors 38 and 40 are disposed on the opposing portion of the belt 28 of the belt conveyor 22 and the belt 29 of the belt conveyor 23 (a portion for holding and conveying the raw material G). The lower heating compression platen 38 is provided on the endless inner side of the belt 28 of the belt conveyor 22, and the upper heating compression platen 40 is provided on the inner endless side of the belt 29 of the belt conveyor 23. Are facing each other.
[0047]
Here, FIG. 5 shows the details of the heating compression plates 38 and 40 in a sectional view. A wire heater (heat tube) 50 is provided inside the heating compression plates 38 and 40. The wire heater 50 has a structure in which a heating element wound in a coil shape is inserted into the center of a metal tube, and heat resistant electric insulating powder that can withstand high temperatures is solidified at a high pressure in the metal tube. Thus, the temperature of the heating compression plates 38 and 40 can be raised to a predetermined temperature (for example, 150 ° C.). Both ends of the wire heater 50 in the longitudinal direction are electrically connected to the terminals 51, respectively. Further, the terminal 51 is connected to a power source 53. Thus, the wire heater 50 can be energized via the terminal 51. The number of wire heaters 50 can be changed as appropriate.
[0048]
The heating and compression discs 38 and 40 having the above-described structure are heated to a predetermined temperature by the heat generated by the wire heater 50, thereby sandwiching the raw material G sandwiched and conveyed by the belt 28 of the belt conveyor 22 and the belt 29 of the belt conveyor 23. Thus, compression molding can be performed while heating.
[0049]
Further, on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the pair of heat compression plates 38, 40, as in the case of the heat compression plates 38, 40, opposed portions of the belt 28 of the belt conveyor 22 and the belt 29 of the belt conveyor 23 (the raw material G of A pair of upper and lower cooling compression plates 42 and 44 are disposed in the nipping and conveying portion. The cooling compression platen 42 located on the lower side is provided on the endless inner side of the belt 28 of the belt conveyor 22, and the cooling compression platen 44 located on the upper side is provided on the endless inner side of the belt 29 of the belt conveyor 23. Are facing each other.
[0050]
FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing details of the cooling compression plates 42 and 44. A water pipe 58 is provided inside the cooling compression plates 42 and 44. The water pipe 58 can cool the cooling compression plates 42 and 44 to a predetermined temperature (for example, 20 ° C. to 30 ° C.) by supplying and circulating water. The water pipe 58 is connected to the pump 34 and the tank 36 via a pipe 59 to form a circulation path, and water is circulated by the operation of the pump 34. The number of water pipes 58 can be changed as appropriate.
[0051]
The cooling compression boards 42 and 44 having the above-described configuration are cooled to a predetermined temperature by circulating water through the water pipe 58, thereby further cooling the raw material G immediately after being heated and compressed by the heating rolls 38 and 40. Compression molding can be performed.
[0052]
Further, a pair of left and right side belt conveyors 74 and 76 are arranged on both sides in the width direction of the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors 22 and 23. One side belt conveyor 74 includes a pair of rolls 78 and 80 and a belt 82. Similarly to the belt 28 and the belt 29, the belt 82 is a steel belt or a synthetic resin fiber belt. The other side belt conveyor 76 includes a pair of rolls 84 and 86 and a belt 88. As with the belt 82, the belt 88 is also a steel belt or a synthetic resin fiber belt. These side belt conveyors 74 and 76 correspond to the widthwise ends of the raw material G conveyed by the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors 22 and 23, respectively.
[0053]
In addition, a pair of left and right side compression discs 90 and 92 are disposed in a facing portion of the belt 82 of the side belt conveyor 74 and the belt 88 of the side belt conveyor 76 (a portion for holding and conveying the raw material G). One side compression plate 90 is provided on the endless inner side of the belt 82 of the side belt conveyor 74 in correspondence with the nipping and conveying portion of the raw material G, and the other side compression plate 92 is provided on the side belt conveyor 76. The belt 88 is provided on the endless inner side of the belt 88 so as to correspond to the nipping and conveying portion of the raw material G and face each other. These side compression discs 90 and 92 can be compression-molded by sandwiching both ends in the width direction of the raw material G held and conveyed by the belt 82 of the side belt conveyor 74 and the belt 88 of the side belt conveyor 76. is there.
[0054]
Next, the manufacturing procedure of this seedling-growing soil 10 will be described.
[0055]
First, the rice husk 12, the core-sheath fiber 14, and each of the seedling fertilizers 16 are mixed with stirring. The rice husk 12 is preferably a compression pulverized rice husk. The core-sheath fiber 14 composed of the core portion 14A and the sheath portion 14B is mixed with the rice husk 12 and each seedling fertilizer 16 with stirring, thereby forming a complicated and fine net-like shape and entangled with the rice husk 12 and each seedling fertilizer 16; Wrap the rice husk 12 and each seedling fertilizer 16.
[0056]
Next, the rice husk 12, the core-sheath fiber 14, and the seedling fertilizer 16 (raw material G) that have been stirred and mixed are laminated in a predetermined state by the soil cultivation apparatus 20.
[0057]
That is, in the culturing apparatus 20, the agitated and mixed material material G is dropped and supplied onto the belt conveyor 22 from the material supply port 32. Further, the raw material G dropped and supplied onto the belt conveyor 22 is sequentially layered while being evenly and flattened on the surface of the belt conveyor 22 by the cooperation of the collecting screw 70, the diffusion screw 72, and the collecting screw 73. While being stacked and conveyed, and further sandwiched between opposing portions of the belt 28 of the belt conveyor 22 and the belt 29 of the belt conveyor 23, the belt 82 of the side belt conveyor 74 and the belt 88 of the side belt conveyor 76 also crosswise. It is conveyed while sandwiching both ends.
[0058]
Next, the stacked rice husks 12, the core-sheath fiber 14 and the seedling fertilizer 16 (raw material G) conveyed while being sandwiched as described above are sandwiched by the heat compression plates 38 and 40 and compressed while being heated. Molded.
[0059]
Here, in the heat compression molding using the heat compression plates 38 and 40, the sheath 14B of the core-sheath fiber 14 contained in the raw material G is softened, but the heat compression molding is performed at a temperature at which the core 14A is not softened. In this case, for example, when a core-sheath type polyester (manufactured by Unitika) is used as the core-sheath fiber 14, the sheath part 14B is softened at 110 ° C and the core part 14A is softened at 250 ° C. Heat molding is performed at a temperature of about 100 ° C. (preferably around 140 ° C.). On the other hand, for example, when Bionore (manufactured by Showa Polymer Co., Ltd.) is used as the core-sheath fiber 14, the sheath part 14B softens at 90 ° C and the core part 14A softens at 115 ° C. What is necessary is just to heat-mold.
[0060]
In this case, the degree of pressurization is the thickness of the raw material G (rice husk 12 and core-sheath fiber 14 and seedling fertilizer 16 and non-woven fabrics 18 and 19) that are stirred and mixed as described above and laminated in a predetermined state. When the thickness is 4 cm, it is preferable that the thickness after pressurization is 2 cm.
[0061]
Thus, by carrying out heat compression molding with the heat compression boards 38 and 40, the sheath part 14B of the core-sheath-type fiber 14 is softened and welded together, becomes a net shape, and becomes intertwined with the chaff 12.
[0062]
Further, the raw material G (rice husk 12, core-sheath fiber 14, and seedling fertilizer 16) that has been heat compression molded by the heat compression plates 38 and 40 is immediately cooled and compression molded by the cooling compression plates 42 and 44.
[0063]
Furthermore, when the raw material G is compression-molded by the heating and compression plates 38 and 40 and the cooling compression plates 42 and 44 while being sandwiched between the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors 22 and 23 as described above, Both ends in the width direction of G are also compression-molded in the width direction by the side compression discs 90 and 92.
[0064]
As a result, the sheath portion 14B of the core-sheath fiber 14 is solidified while being in a net-like shape and intertwined with the rice husks 12, thereby completing a so-called mat-shaped seedling culture medium 10.
[0065]
The seedling culture soil 10 thus completed is formed in a state in which the sheath portion 14B of the core-sheath fiber 14 is softened and welded together to form a net-like shape and intertwined with the rice husk 12. Here, in FIG. 9, the state of the core-sheath fiber 14 after compression molding as described above is schematically shown in a partially simplified manner. As shown in FIG. 9, the sheath portion 14B is softened and welded together so that the core portions 14A that are not softened are intertwined with each other in a mesh shape and enclose the rice husk 12 and the seedling fertilizer 16. As a result, a seedling culture medium 10 having flexibility and water retention like a so-called sponge is obtained.
[0066]
When using the seedling culture soil 10 obtained as described above, as shown in FIG. 10, the seedling culture soil 10 is laid on a seedling box 60, irrigated, seeded with a seedling 62 of a crop such as paddy rice, and further covered with soil. After giving 64, it is nurtured by irrigation and temperature control every day.
[0067]
In the case of raising seedlings using this seedling-growing soil 10, for example, when a core-sheath type polyester (manufactured by Unitika) is used as the core-sheath type fiber 14, the core-sheath type polyester is hydrolyzed and used in the field for a long time. On the other hand, when, for example, Bionore (manufactured by Showa Polymer Co., Ltd.) is used as the core-sheath fiber 14, the Bionore is biodegraded and decomposes in the field for a long time. For this reason, there is no adverse effect on others.
[0068]
Here, the seedling culture medium 10 manufactured by the culture medium manufacturing apparatus 20 as described above is obtained by stirring and mixing the rice husk 12, the core-sheath fiber 14, and the seedling fertilizer 16 and compressing and molding them. This seedling culture soil 10 is configured as a culture soil in which the core-sheath fiber 14 is formed into a fine net shape and is intertwined with the rice husk 12 so that it is firm like a sponge and has flexibility and water retention. For this reason, it is rich in flexibility and water retention, is not easily cracked or chipped, and does not lose its shape during transportation. Moreover, even if watering for raising seedlings, the shape does not collapse, and the handling becomes easy. Therefore, in the case of actual use, for example, when the rice planting is carried out by setting on a seedling stand of an automatic rice transplanter, the finger part of the apparatus can grasp the seedling well, and a smooth operation can be performed.
[0069]
Furthermore, in the seedling-growing soil 10, the rice husk 12 itself as the cultivating base material is extremely inexpensive (more specifically, the husk 12 as so-called industrial waste can be effectively used as the cultivating base material), and Since the core-sheath fiber 14 as the binder can be applied at a low price, the overall cost is significantly reduced.
[0070]
Furthermore, since the seedling culture soil 10 is configured to include the seedling fertilizer 16, it is not necessary to add another new fertilizer when raising seedlings. In addition, if different types of seedling fertilizer 16 and the mixing ratio described above are appropriately changed according to the type of crop to be raised and the weather (climate), etc. The scope of application is expanded.
[0071]
Therefore, in order to produce such a seedling-growing soil 10, in the soil-producing apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment, the belt conveyors 22, 23, the collecting screw 70, the diffusion screw 72, the collecting screw 73, a pair of upper and lower heating The compressors 38 and 40, a pair of upper and lower cooling compressors 42 and 44, side belt conveyors 74 and 76, and side compressors 90 and 92 are provided.
[0072]
According to the soil production device 20, the raw material G supplied from the raw material supply port 32 is evenly and evenly distributed on the surface of the belt conveyor 22 by the cooperation of the collective screw 70, the diffusion screw 72, and the collective screw 73. Then, the layers are sequentially laminated, conveyed while being sandwiched between opposed portions of the belt 28 of the belt conveyor 22 and the belt 29 of the belt conveyor 23, and continuously heated and compressed by the heating compression plates 38 and 40 while being conveyed. And, immediately after that, since the cooling compression molding is continuously performed by the cooling compression plates 42 and 44, a series of operations can be performed automatically in sequence, which greatly improves the working efficiency. Therefore, it is possible to mass-produce the seedling culture medium 10 as described above at low cost.
[0073]
Further, immediately after the sheath 14B of the core-sheath fiber 14 is softened and welded by the heating compression plates 38 and 40 to be in a net-like state and intertwined with the rice husk 12, the cooling compression plates 42 and 44 are used for cooling. For example, the sheath portion 14B of the core-sheath fiber 14 softened and welded and entangled with the rice husk 12 does not swell unnecessarily due to the elasticity of the rice husk 12 so that the welded entangled state is not unnecessarily released. The seedling culture medium 10 can be formed by solidifying the sheath portion 14B of the sheath-type fiber 14 in a state in which the sheath portion 14B is intertwined with the rice husk 12.
[0074]
Further, in this case, since compression is performed by a flat plate-like member such as the heating compression plates 38 and 40, the cooling compression plates 42 and 44, or the side compression plates 90 and 92, the compression time and the area are large. Therefore, the forming degree (finished condition) of the seedling-growing soil 10 is good (uniform). Furthermore, the heating compression plates 38 and 40, the cooling compression plates 42 and 44, or the side compression plates 90 and 92 are positioned inside the belt 28, the belt 29, the belt 82, and the belt 88, respectively, and compress the raw material G. Therefore, the heating compression plates 38 and 40, the cooling compression plates 42 and 44, or the side compression plates 90 and 92 serve as a holding mold at the time of compression molding, and the belt 28, the belt 29 or the belt 82, the belt 88 is prevented from being bent, and this also improves the degree of molding (finished condition) of the seedling-growing soil 10.
[0075]
In addition, while sandwiching and conveying the layered raw material G by the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors 22 and 23, the raw material G is not only compressed in the vertical direction by the heating compression plates 38 and 40 or the cooling compression plates 42 and 44, The pair of left and right side belt conveyors 74 and 76 also regulates both ends in the width direction of the raw material G, and the side compression plates 90 and 92 compress and form both width direction both ends of the raw material G in the width direction. Both end portions (so-called ear portions) in the width direction of the soil 10 are also sufficiently compressed, and the width of the soil 10 for raising seedlings can be made uniform. Accordingly, it is not necessary to cut the both ends (ear portions) in the width direction of the molding medium after molding as in the prior art, and the work man-hours and costs are reduced. In addition, since it is not necessary to cut both end portions (ear portions) in the width direction of the molding soil as described above, the raw material G is not wasted.
[0076]
Further, in particular, the soil culturing apparatus 20 includes a collective screw 70, a diffusion screw 72, and a collective screw 73 as a leveling screw conveyor, and the collective screw 70, the diffusion screw 72, and the collective screw 73 work together. Thus, the raw material G dropped and supplied from the raw material supply port 32 onto the belt conveyor 22 can be evenly and evenly distributed on the surface of the belt conveyor 22, so that the seedling culture medium 10 is then compression-molded. Becomes a mat having a uniform density (compression degree) as a whole. For this reason, seedling variability (uneven growth due to seedling root condition) and rooting phenomenon (seed root does not enter the mat and the seedling does not grow) may occur. Is prevented.
[0077]
Further, as described above, the raw material G dropped and supplied onto the belt conveyor 22 located on the lower side is obtained by stirring and mixing the rice husk 12 and the core-sheath fiber 14. While being leveled by 72, the core-sheath fiber 14 of the raw material G floats on the surface, and the diffusion screw 72 tends to gather on the surface of both end portions of the belt conveyor 22 in the width direction. The core-sheath fiber 14 may be a so-called cotton-like lump.
[0078]
In this respect, in the soil cultivation apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment, the collective screw 73 is provided adjacent to the downstream side of the diffusion screw 72 in the conveying direction of the raw material G, and the collective screw 73 is the collective screw as described above. Since it is a conveyor and is provided at a predetermined distance above the collecting screw 70 and the diffusion screw 72, the core-sheath fiber while sieving the rice husk 12 mixed in the cotton-like lump by the collecting screw 73 The 14 flocs are again scattered as a whole toward the central portion of the belt conveyor 22 in the width direction.
[0079]
As a result, the seedling culture soil 10 formed by compression molding thereafter does not become abnormally hard only at both ends in the width direction, for example, and becomes a mat having a uniform density (compression degree) as a whole. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the seedling variation and the rooting phenomenon from occurring even more effectively.
[0080]
As described above, the culture soil production apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment can mass-produce the culture material 10 for raising seedlings that is easy to handle without being broken or broken, and that can be mass-produced with less work man-hours. The density of the cultivated soil 10 is uniform and high quality as a whole.
[0081]
In the above-described embodiment, a preferable example is shown in which the setting position of the collecting screw 73 is set to a position separated by about 5 mm from the surface of the raw material G leveled by the collecting screw 70 and the diffusion screw 72. The installation position of the collective screw 73 is not limited to this, and can be set as appropriate according to the size (thickness) of the seedling growth soil 10 to be molded, the type and characteristics of the raw material G, and the like.
[0082]
In the above embodiment, the collecting screw 70 is applied as the first flat screw conveyor, the diffusion screw 72 is applied as the second flat screw conveyor, and the collecting screw 73 is applied as the third flat screw conveyor. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to configure the feed direction of the raw material G of each flat screw conveyor in the direction opposite to that of the above embodiment.
[0083]
In other words, a diffusion screw conveyor is provided as the first leveling screw conveyor, and the raw material G is moved from the central part in the width direction of the belt conveyor 22 to both ends in the width direction, and is gathered as the second leveling screw conveyor. A screw conveyor is provided to move the raw material G from the widthwise opposite ends of the belt conveyor 22 to the central portion in the width direction. Further, a diffusion screw conveyor is provided as a third flat screw conveyor, and the raw material G is belted. The conveyor 22 may be configured to move from the center portion in the width direction to both ends in the width direction.
[0084]
Even in this case, the raw material G dropped and supplied onto the belt conveyor 22 can be evenly and evenly distributed on the surface of the belt conveyor 22, and then the seedling culture soil 10 formed by compression molding is obtained. The overall density is uniform and high quality.
[0085]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the culture soil production apparatus according to the present invention can mass-produce a culture material for raising seedlings that is easy to handle without cracking or collapsing at a low cost and with a small number of work steps. Has an excellent effect of being uniform and high quality as a whole.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an overall configuration of a soil culturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing an overall configuration of a soil culturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a front view showing the configuration of the main part of the soil culturing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing the entire configuration of the soil culturing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing details of a heating compression board of the soil culturing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing details of a cooling compression platen in the soil culturing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the feed direction of the raw material by the screw conveyor of the soil culturing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an external perspective view of the seedling culture soil produced by the soil production apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a partially simplified schematic diagram showing a state of core-sheath fiber after compression molding in the seedling culture soil manufactured by the soil culture manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a use state of the seedling culture soil produced by the soil production apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Raising soil for raising seedlings
12 Rice husk
14 Core-sheath fiber
14A core
14B sheath
16 Fertilizer for raising seedlings
20 Soil production equipment
22 Belt conveyor
23 Belt conveyor
32 Raw material supply port
38 Heating compression board
40 Heating compression board
42 Cooling compression board
44 Cooling compression board
70 Collecting screw (first flat screw conveyor)
72 Diffusion screw (second flat screw conveyor)
73 Collecting screw (third flat screw conveyor)
74 side belt conveyor
76 side belt conveyor
90 side compression board
92 side compression board

Claims (2)

A pair of upper and lower belt conveyors arranged opposite to each other is provided, and the rice husk and the core-sheath fiber are stirred and mixed on the belt conveyor located upstream and lower than the opposed portion of the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors. It is a culture soil production apparatus for producing a culture soil for raising seedlings by dropping and supplying the raw material material, and conveying and compressing the raw material material supplied by falling while being sandwiched by the pair of upper and lower belt conveyors,
It is arranged along the width direction of the lower belt conveyor corresponding to the raw material that is dropped and supplied to the lower belt conveyor, and the lower supplied raw material is located on the lower side. Comprising a first leveling screw conveyor to a leveling screw conveyor forcibly moving along a width direction of the belt conveyor to level uniformly and flatly,
Along with the raw material conveying direction by the belt conveyor located on the lower side, and arranged adjacent to the first flat screw conveyor to the third flat screw conveyor in this order,
The third flat screw conveyor is provided at a predetermined position above the first flat screw conveyor and the second flat screw conveyor.
A soil cultivation device characterized by that. The first flat screw conveyor is set so that the spiral direction of the spiral blade is opposite to the central portion of the shaft, and the feed direction of the raw material by the spiral blade is directed from both ends of the shaft to the central portion of the shaft. And
The second flat screw conveyor is set such that the spiral direction of the spiral blade is opposite to the central portion of the shaft, and the feed direction of the raw material by the spiral blade is directed from the central portion of the shaft to both end portions of the shaft. And
The third flat screw conveyor is set so that the spiral direction of the spiral blade is opposite to the central portion of the shaft, and the feed direction of the raw material by the spiral blade is directed from both ends of the shaft to the central portion of the shaft. ing,
The soil cultivation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

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