JP4409001B2

JP4409001B2 - Seedling box ground treatment equipment

Info

Publication number: JP4409001B2
Application number: JP26609299A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 芳夫館; 道夫手塚; 真幸原田; 正人山口; 義昭後藤
Original assignee: Kubota Corp
Current assignee: Kubota Corp
Priority date: 1999-09-20
Filing date: 1999-09-20
Publication date: 2010-02-03
Anticipated expiration: 2019-09-20
Also published as: JP2001086869A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、育苗場に展開されている苗箱を回収したり展開したりする苗箱対地処理装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
苗箱を回収する装置としては、特開平１１−７５５５４号公報に開示されているように、「作業走行機体に前後搬送機構と共に支持されていて、地上に展開した苗箱の周縁を引っ掛けて持ち上げかつ前後搬送機構上に受け渡しする箱取り上げ機構であって、前記前後搬送機構の前上方に延設された前フレームと、この前フレームの前部に上部が前後揺動自在に支持されていて、この上部の前進移動で下部が苗箱の周縁を下方から引っ掛けかつ上部を中心に後上方へ円弧運動することにより苗箱を持ち上げる引掛具と、この引掛具が苗箱との掛合により一定角度揺動した後に引掛具を強制的に後上方へ跳ね挙げて苗箱から離脱させる強制離脱手段とを有することを特徴とする」ものがある。
【０００３】
前記箱取り上げ機構は前後搬送機構から前方に離れた位置にあって、上部が枢支された揺動可能な細長い引掛具を、苗箱の端部に掛合しながら前進させて、苗箱をその前端を中心に後部を引き上げて前後搬送機構に移載するように構成されている。
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
前記従来技術の箱取り上げ機構の引掛具は、苗箱の下にフイルム等を敷設していて、苗箱を容易に持ち上げられる場合には、苗箱の拾い上げ精度は高く、十分な機能を発揮できるが、苗の根が地面に絡んでいる場合には、細い引掛具が撓んだりして拾い上げミスを生じることがある。また、引掛具は苗箱を離した後に掛合可能位置まで戻し動作をしなくてはならなく、連続した動作が困難である。
本発明は、このような従来技術の問題点を解決できるようにした苗箱対地処理装置を提供することを目的とする。
【０００５】
本発明は、苗箱を掛合して持ち上げる持ち上げ手段を傾斜コンベヤ機構の前端に備えることにより、苗箱の苗の根が地面に絡んでいても確実にかつ連続して持ち上げて搬送処理ができるようにした苗箱対地処理装置を提供することを目的とする。
【０００６】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明における課題解決のための第１の具体的手段は、移動車体２上に後上がり傾斜状のコンベヤ手段３を有する傾斜コンベヤ機構４を設けており、この傾斜コンベヤ機構４の前端に、地上に展開している苗箱Ｎの縁部Ｎａに掛合して持ち上げる持ち上げ手段５を備えていることである。
これによって、苗箱Ｎの苗の根が地面に絡んでいても、持ち上げ手段５で確実に持ち上げて搬送処理する。
【０００７】
本発明における課題解決のための第２の具体的手段は、移動車体２上に後上がり傾斜状のコンベヤ手段３を有する傾斜コンベヤ機構４を設けており、この傾斜コンベヤ機構４の前端に、地上に展開している苗箱Ｎの縁部Ｎａに回転しながら断続的に掛合して持ち上げる持ち上げ手段５を備えていることである。
これによって、苗箱Ｎの苗の根が地面に絡んでいても、持ち上げ手段５で確実にかつ連続して持ち上げて搬送処理し、かつ振動を与えて付着土を払い落とす。
本発明における課題解決のための第３の具体的手段は、第１又は２の具体的手段に加えて、傾斜コンベヤ機構４から前方に突出した支持枠６に、持ち上げ手段５に先行して苗箱Ｎの縁部Ｎａに掛合して持ち上げる拾い上げ機構７を設けていることである。
【０００８】
これによって、苗箱Ｎの回収を持ち上げ手段５と拾い上げ機構７とで２段階回収を行い、回収洩れを無くす。
本発明における課題解決のための第４の具体的手段は、第１〜３のいずれかの具体的手段に加えて、前記持ち上げ手段５は外周面に軸方向間隔をおいて突部８を有する回転体９で形成していることである。
これによって、持ち上げ手段５を簡単に構成でき、駆動も容易になる。
本発明における課題解決のための第５の具体的手段は、第４の具体的手段に加えて、前記回転体９は外周面に周方向凹凸のある断面異形部材１０を軸方向に間隔をおいて設けていることである。
【０００９】
これによって、回転体９は断面異形部材１０で簡単に構成される。
本発明における課題解決のための第６の具体的手段は、第４の具体的手段に加えて、前記回転体９は断面楕円形の棒状部材で形成しており、その膨出部位の外面に軸方向に間隔をおいて、膨出部位の最径大部の外周回転域内に収まる突部８を設けていることである。
これによって、突部８によって苗箱Ｎを確実に掛合して持ち上げる。
本発明における課題解決のための第７の具体的手段は、第１〜６のいずれかの具体的手段に加えて、前記コンベヤ手段３から持ち上げ手段５へ動力を同期又は非同期に伝達する伝動手段１１を有することである。
【００１０】
これによって、持ち上げ手段５をコンベヤ手段３で駆動でき、かつ苗箱Ｎを搬送速度で持ち上げたり、又は速く持ち上げたりすることが可能になる。
本発明における課題解決のための第８の具体的手段は、第１〜７のいずれかの具体的手段に加えて、前記コンベヤ手段３の搬送速度を移動車体２の移動速度と同期又は非同期させる制御手段１２を有することである。
これによって、制御手段１２でコンベヤ手段３を苗箱処理に最適な搬送速度に設定可能になる。
【００１１】
本発明における課題解決のための第９の具体的手段は、第１〜８のいずれかの具体的手段に加えて、前記コンベヤ手段３は正逆転可能であることである。
これによって、コンベヤ手段３を正転して苗箱Ｎを回収し、逆転して苗箱Ｎをコンベヤ手段３から地上に展開可能になる。
本発明における課題解決のための第１０の具体的手段は、第９の具体的手段に加えて、前記コンベヤ手段３を逆転するときに、持ち上げ手段５を動作停止可能にしていることである。
【００１２】
これによって、コンベヤ手段を３逆転して苗箱Ｎを展開する時に、持ち上げ手段５を苗箱Ｎの展開障害にならないように停止可能になる。
本発明における課題解決のための第１１の具体的手段は、移動車体２上に後上がり傾斜状の傾斜コンベヤ機構４を設け、この傾斜コンベヤ機構４の前方に、地上に展開している苗箱Ｎの縁部Ｎａに掛合して持ち上げながら前記傾斜コンベヤ機構４に乗せる拾い上げ機構７を配置し、前記傾斜コンベヤ機構４に加振手段５を備えていることである。
【００１３】
これによって、拾い上げ機構７で拾い上げて傾斜コンベヤ機構４に載置した苗箱Ｎを、加振手段５で振動を与えて付着土を払い落としながら回収搬送する。
【００１４】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の実施の形態を図面に基づいて説明する。
図１〜１１において、苗箱対地処理装置１は大別して、移動車体２と、この移動車体２上に配置された傾斜コンベヤ機構４と、この傾斜コンベヤ機構４から前方に突出した拾い上げ機構７とを備え、移動車体２に１台以上の台車２６を着脱自在に連結して苗箱処理機が構成される。
傾斜コンベヤ機構４は、矩形状コンベヤ枠５５に前端、後端及び中途部にローラを設け、このローラに左右一対のベルト５６を張って後上がり傾斜状のコンベヤ手段３を形成しており、前記コンベヤ枠５５の後部に設けた駆動モータ５７によって正逆転可能に駆動される。
【００１５】
このコンベヤ手段３の搬送速度は、制御手段１２を介して移動車体２の移動速度と同期又は非同期させ得るようになっていて、制御手段１２でコンベヤ手段３を苗箱処理に最適な搬送速度に設定可能である。前記制御手段１２は遠隔操作手段５２によって設定及び操作が可能になっている。
前記コンベヤ枠５５の前部には、ブラケット５０ａを介して接地そり体５０が上下位置調整自在に設けられており、この接地そり体５０が接地した状態でコンベヤ手段３の前端は地面から若干浮き上がった状態に配置される。この接地状態で、コンベヤ手段３は前端から後部近傍までが後上がり傾斜状で、後部近傍で屈曲し、後部が略水平に配置されることになる。
【００１６】
前記傾斜コンベヤ機構４は、コンベヤ枠５５の前端にブラケット５８ａを突出して回転軸５８を支持しており、コンベヤ手段３から伝動手段１１を介して動力伝達可能になっている。この伝動手段１１はチェーン巻掛伝動手段及び電磁クラッチ等を有して構成されていて、コンベヤ手段３の動力を同期（等速）又は非同期（増減速）で伝達し、また、コンベヤ手段３を駆動していても回転軸５８を停止することが可能になっている。
前記回転軸５８には回転体９が装着されて持ち上げ手段５が構成されている。図４〜６、８に示すように、回転体９は断面楕円形の棒状部材で形成されており、その膨出部位（径長先端側）の外面に軸方向に間隔をおいて突部８を設けている。この突部８は楕円形の膨出部位の最径大部の外周回転域Ｐ内に収まるように位置している。
【００１７】
また、軸方向の間隔は苗箱Ｎの短辺の長さより短く設定されていて、１枚の苗箱Ｎに対して２つ以上の突部８が掛合できるように配置されており、苗箱Ｎの周囲の縦リブＮｂの間で縁部Ｎａと掛合する。また、先行する突部８が持ち上げた苗箱Ｎの底の縁を後行の突部８が掛合する。
持ち上げ手段５の回転体９は、接地そり体５０が接地した状態でコンベヤ手段３の前端よりも地面に近接され、図８において時計方向に回転することにより、地上に展開している苗箱Ｎの縁部Ｎａに突部８を掛合して持ち上げ、移動車体２の前進力によって、持ち上げた苗箱Ｎをコンベヤ手段３の上に載せて行く。
【００１８】
持ち上げ手段５はコンベヤ枠５５に堅牢に支持され、接地そり体５０からも遠く離れているものでないので、苗箱Ｎを強力に持ち上げることができ、苗箱Ｎの苗の根が地面に絡んでいても確実に持ち上げて搬送処理する。
また、回転体９は回転するので、苗箱Ｎを連続して持ち上げることができ、１つの突部８が掛合を失敗しても順次後続の突部８が掛合に関与でき、苗箱持ち上げが極めて確実にできる。
さらに、回転体９は突部８が最径大部の外周回転域Ｐ内に位置すると、苗箱Ｎの下にマルチシートを敷いてあっても、そのマルチシートを引っ掛けて巻き込むということがない。
【００１９】
前記持ち上げ手段５は、回転体９の外周回転域Ｐを、コンベヤ手段３のコンベヤ面３８の延長線上より上側に突出する位置に設定しておくと、苗箱Ｎがコンベヤ手段３上に載置された状態でも回転体９が苗箱Ｎの底に接触することになり、回転体９が回転することにより苗箱Ｎを断続的（周期的）に突き上げることができる。
すなわち、持ち上げ手段５は苗箱Ｎに上下振動（負荷変動）を与える加振手段となり、コンベヤ手段３上での搬送中に、苗箱Ｎの底に付着している土を振動で払い落とすことができる。
【００２０】
なお、回転体９を外周回転域Ｐをコンベヤ面３８より高くなるようにしても、断面楕円形であるので、苗箱Ｎの展開時に、最径大部又は突部８の先端がコンベヤ面３８より下になる状態で停止させることが可能になる。この回転体９の停止は、目視により行ってもよいが、エンコーダ等を使って設定位置に自動的に停止させるようにすることが好ましい。但し、回転体９は苗箱Ｎの展開時に逆転させ、突部８を苗箱Ｎの底のリブに積極的に掛合させて、苗箱Ｎをコンベヤ手段３から押し出しす作用をさせることも可能である。
【００２１】
図１７〜２１は持ち上げ手段５の回転体９の第１〜５変形例を示しており、図１７に示す第１変形例は、回転体９に円形パイプ５９を使用しており、その外周面に軸方向及び周方向に間隔をおいて多数の小ネジ６０を螺合して突部８を形成している。回転軸５８は円形パイプの両端に固定されている。
図１８に示す持ち上げ手段５の第２変形例は、回転軸５８に楕円体６１と円筒体６２とを交互に嵌合固定固定して回転体９を形成しており、楕円体６１の膨出部位が突部８となっている。
【００２２】
図１９に示す持ち上げ手段５の第３変形例は、回転軸５８に四角花形体６３と円筒体６２とを交互に嵌合固定して回転体９を形成しており、四角花形体６３の４隅の膨出部位が突部８となっている。
前記楕円体６１及び四角花形体６３は、外周面に周方向凹凸のある断面異形部材１０であり、円筒体６２を間に配置することにより、突部８を周方向及び軸方向に間隔をおいて多数配置することになる。前記断面異形部材１０としては、三角形、五角形、長円形等の真円形以外の外周面を有する部材が使用でき、突部８を特別に形成するよりも安価に製作できる。
【００２３】
図２０に示す持ち上げ手段５の第４変形例は、回転軸５８に羽根車体６４と円筒体６２とを交互に嵌合固定して回転体９を形成しており、羽根車体６４の４枚の羽根が突部８となっている。
図２１に示す持ち上げ手段５の第５変形例は、回転軸５８に鋸歯体６５と円筒体６２とを交互に嵌合固定固定して回転体９を形成しており、鋸歯体６５の歯が突部８となっている。
なお、前記図１８〜２１の回転体９は、円筒体６２を楕円体６１、四角花形体６３、羽根車体６４、鋸歯体６５等と一体成形してもよい。
【００２４】
傾斜コンベヤ機構４のコンベヤ枠５５から前上方に支持枠６が突出されており、この支持枠６に多数本の拾い上げ部材１５を有する拾い上げ機構７が設けられている。
前記拾い上げ部材１５は、左右方向において苗箱Ｎの短辺長さの半分より短い間隔で複数本設けており、苗箱Ｎの並べ方が短辺と長辺のどちらが左右方向になっていても、総ての苗箱Ｎに対して２本の拾い上げ部材１５が掛合して、拾い上げることができるようになっている。
【００２５】
すなわち、拾い上げ部材１５は回転体９の突部８と同様に、少なくとも２つが苗箱Ｎの縁部Ｎａと掛合するようになっており、通常、苗箱Ｎは６００ｍｍＸ３００ｍｍであるので、拾い上げ部材１５の左右間隔は、１５０ｍｍ以下に設定されている。
この拾い上げ部材１５は、先端１７ａが苗箱Ｎの縁部Ｎａと掛合可能に略Ｌ字状に屈曲された爪部材１７と、この爪部材１７と屈曲可能に連結されていて左右方向の支持軸２３に枢支されたアーム部材１８とで形成されている。
【００２６】
支持枠６の前部には支持ブラケット６６が複数設けられており、この各支持ブラケット６６に設けた支持軸２３に２本１組で前記アーム部材１８の上部が枢支されている。アーム部材１８の支持軸２３に嵌合する孔は長手方向の長孔１８ａとなっており、アーム部材１８の上下移動を許容している。
前記アーム部材１８は、断面コ字状のチャンネル材等で形成されており、爪部材１７の上端に棒材を固着して形成された軸部１７ｂを揺動自在に支持しており、アーム部材１８の中途部のピン１８ｂと爪部材１７の中途部のピン１７ｃとの間に引っ張りバネ６７が張設されている。
【００２７】
この引っ張りバネ６７は不安定切換手段１９を構成するものであり、アーム部材１８に対して爪部材１７を直線状態Ｓ（図５に示す）を境にして、爪部材１７がアーム部材１８の先端に当接した状態と、爪部材１７が直線状態を越えて揺動した状態とを弾力的に切り換えることができる。
前記爪部材１７がアーム部材１８の先端に弾力的に当接した状態では、爪部材１７はアーム部材１８に対して若干屈曲しているが略直線に近い状態であり、この状態が苗箱縁部Ｎａに掛合する作用姿勢となる。
【００２８】
支持枠６には左右方向全幅にわたって横棒６８が設けられている。この横棒６８は作動手段２０を構成するもので、前記作用姿勢で後方へ揺動したきた爪部材１７の比較的上部と当接し、その揺動を規制するようになっている。
前記爪部材１７の比較的上部が横棒６８に当接した状態（図５に２点鎖線で示す）から、爪部材１７の下部が相対的にさらに後方へ移動すると、爪部材１７は横棒６８を中心に先端１７ａが後上方へ移動するように跳ね上がり動作をし、アーム部材１８に対して直線状態Ｓを越えた揺動となり、直線状態Ｓを越えると引っ張りバネ６７による付勢力の方向は、拾い上げ部材１５を二つ折りの屈曲姿勢にするように切り換わる（図６参照）。
【００２９】
前記爪部材１７は、二つ折れ動作で傾斜姿勢から略水平姿勢に急激に変化して先端１７ａが上昇するので、掛合していた苗箱Ｎを瞬時に離し、苗箱Ｎをコンベヤ手段３上に確実に落下する。
前記不安定切換手段１９及び作動手段２０等により、拾い上げ部材１５を苗箱縁部Ｎａに掛合する作用姿勢から前進して苗箱Ｎと掛合しながら後方揺動したときに二つ折りの屈曲姿勢に切り換える切り換え機構１６が構成されている。
支持枠６の支持軸２３より後側には支軸７０を介して揺動アーム７１が枢支され、この揺動アーム７１の先端に全アーム部材１８と当接可能な横棒材７２が設けられている。
【００３０】
７３は略円形状の駆動カム体で、支持枠６に固定の駆動モータ７４の出力軸に設けられており、前記揺動アーム７１を前後揺動すべくリンク７５を介して連動連結している。
前記支持枠６には、リミットスイッチ、マイクロスイッチ等で形成された２個の検出体６９が設けられており、前記駆動カム体７３の略半回転を検出するように配置されている。
前記揺動アーム７１、横棒材７２、駆動カム体７３、検出体６９等によって揺動手段２１が形成されており、拾い上げ部材１５が二つ折りの屈曲姿勢になっている状態で揺動アーム７１を後方向（図６で反時計方向）に揺動すると、アーム部材１８を後方向に揺動して、爪部材１７と略直線状態の作用姿勢に姿勢変更する。
【００３１】
また、拾い上げ部材１５が作用姿勢（略垂下姿勢）であるときに揺動アーム７１を後方向に揺動すると、爪部材１７とアーム部材１８とを略直線状態のまま後方向に揺動して、苗箱Ｎの拾い上げ作業状態から退避させることができる（図６１点鎖線状態）。
前記不安定切換手段１９、作動手段２０及び揺動手段２１等によって拾い上げ機構７が構成されている。
従って、拾い上げ部材１５は、アーム部材１８に対して爪部材１７を略直線状態にした略垂下状態の作用姿勢にしておいて、その状態で前進させると爪部材１７が苗箱Ｎと掛合し、この状態から移動車体２をさらに前進させると拾い上げ部材１５が相対的に後方揺動し、爪部材１７が作動手段２０の横棒６８に当接することによって、不安定切換手段１９が作動して爪部材１７とアーム部材１８とは急激に二つ折りの屈曲姿勢に切り換わり、爪部材１７の跳ね上がりにより縁部Ｎａから外れて苗箱Ｎをコンベヤ手段３上に移載する。
【００３２】
その後に、駆動カム体７３を略１８０度回動して、揺動手段２１の横棒材７２を後方移動してアーム部材１８を揺動し、拾い上げ部材１５を作用姿勢に戻す。さらに駆動カム体７３を略１８０度回動すると、横棒材７２は前方移動し、作用姿勢の拾い上げ部材１５を元の苗箱掛合可能位置に戻る。
苗箱対地処理装置１を後進したり、作業位置に移動したりするときは、揺動手段２１を作動して、略垂下状態で接地している拾い上げ部材１５を作用姿勢のまま後方へ揺動し、爪部材１７を上方に退避させておき、拾い上げ部材１５が地面につっかえるというのを回避する。
【００３３】
なお、アーム部材１８は長孔１８ａが支持軸２３に嵌合しているので、苗箱Ｎと掛合するときも、苗箱対地処理装置１を後進するときも、拾い上げ部材１５はつっかえることなく上方に逃げることができる。
移動車体２は機体５３の左右にクローラ走行装置５４を有し、このクローラ走行装置５４は電動モータで駆動されるようになっている。
前記傾斜コンベヤ機構４のコンベヤ枠５５の左右側面には、前後方向中途部に前後一対の連結点が形成されていて、移動車体２の機体５３に設けられてた前後連結部と連結可能になっている。コンベヤ枠５５の前連結点はピン孔を有する連結板で形成され、後連結点はピン７６で形成されている。
【００３４】
機体５３の前連結部はピン孔を有する連結板で形成され、コンベヤ枠５５の前連結点とピン孔を一致させて側方からピン７７を挿入して連結しており、これらによって、左右軸回り揺動自在に連結支持しかつ連結解除可能な前連結手段２５Ｆが構成されている。
また、コンベヤ枠５５の後連結点は、機体５３から立設した支持台７８の上部に凹部７８ａを形成し、この凹部７８ａにピン７６を嵌合受持するようになっており、これらによって、左右軸回り揺動自在に連結支持しかつ連結解除可能な後連結手段２５Ｒが構成されている。なお、凹部７８ａに嵌入したピン７６を抜け止め部材で抜け止めするようにしてもよい。
【００３５】
移動車体２の機体５３上には、傾斜コンベヤ機構４を跨ぐように正面視門形の支持フレーム４１が取り付けられており、この支持フレーム４１上にはエンジン、発電機及び燃料タンク等の駆動機器４２が搭載されていると共に、制御手段１２及び昇降手段２４等が設けられている。
この昇降手段２４は、ケーブル７９を巻き取るウインチであり、ケーブル７９の先端は支持枠６に連結されていて傾斜コンベヤ機構４の前部を吊り持ちしており、ウインチを作動することにより、傾斜コンベヤ機構４の前部を上下移動し、停止することにより傾斜コンベヤ機構４の前部を所要高さで保持可能になっている。なお、前記ウインチは手動式であるが、電動式にしてもよい。
【００３６】
前記傾斜コンベヤ機構４は、前連結手段２５Ｆが傾斜コンベヤ機構４の前後方向の略重心位置に位置しており、この前連結手段２５Ｆで移動車体２に支持され、後連結手段２５Ｒを連結解除した状態で接地そり体５０が接地し、その状態で地面と苗箱Ｎの受け渡しをする対地作業が行われる。
そして、前記昇降手段２４を作動して傾斜コンベヤ機構４の前部を地面から浮き上がらせ、凹部７８ａにピン７６を嵌合受持し、後連結手段２５Ｒを連結状態にすると、図１１に実線で示されるように、傾斜コンベヤ機構４の前部が地面に当たることなく移動できる姿勢となる。育苗場内等での移動にはこのような姿勢が採られる。
【００３７】
傾斜コンベヤ機構４は、前記前部浮き上がり姿勢から前連結手段２５Ｆを連結解除した後、さらに昇降手段２４を作動して傾斜コンベヤ機構４を後連結点を中心に回動させると、図１１に２点鎖線で示すように、その前部を大きく上昇させることができ、このような姿勢は、苗箱対地処理装置１をトラック等の荷台に歩み板を使って積み込むときに、その先端部が歩み板と干渉するのを回避するのに有効である。
前述のように、傾斜コンベヤ機構４はその前後方向中途部、特に重心位置に対地作業時の連結枢支点を設定していることにより、前後バランスが良好になると共に、傾斜コンベヤ機構４を後上方へ長く延設することが可能になり、昇降手段２４で傾斜コンベヤ機構４の姿勢を簡単かつ容易に変更・維持することができる。
【００３８】
なお、前連結手段２５Ｆのみ又は後連結手段２５Ｒのみを連結解除可能にし、他方を固定の連結点としても、傾斜コンベヤ機構４の前部昇降は可能になる。
前記実施の形態では、後連結手段２５Ｒを連結解除した状態で傾斜コンベヤ機構４を苗箱Ｎ受け渡し可能な姿勢にしており、この状態でも接地そり体５０が接地しているので、作業に支障はないが、図１０に示すように、支持フレーム４１と後ピン７６とを補助支持手段１３でその姿勢を保持するように構成してもよい。
【００３９】
補助支持手段１３はターンバックル等の連結体８１で形成され、一端を支持フレーム４１の上部に枢支連結し、他端をピン７６に嵌合連結している。この他端にはピン７６に嵌合する長孔８１ａが形成され、傾斜コンベヤ機構４の前部の若干の昇降を許容している。
すなわち、前記連結体８１は傾斜コンベヤ機構４を地面の凹凸に追従する上下動を許容しながら苗箱受け渡し可能な姿勢に保持しており、この連結体８１を取ると、傾斜コンベヤ機構４を簡単に前部浮き上がり姿勢（上方待機姿勢）に変更可能である。
【００４０】
図１、２、１２〜１５において、移動車体２の後方には傾斜コンベヤ機構４と苗箱Ｎの受け渡しをする台車２６が配置されてる。この台車２６は苗箱Ｎを載置搬送可能なローラコンベヤ台車であり、前輪２７Ｆ及び後輪２７Ｒを有し、人為的に押すことにより移動可能になっており、前輪浮き上がり状態で移動車体２と連結する連結手段２８を備えている。
連結手段２８は機体５３の後端に設けた凹部２８ａと台車２６の前部に設けた連結杆製の被連結部３１とを有し、地上から凹部２８ａまでの距離は、地上から被連結部３１までの距離より若干長く設定されており、台車２６の前部を持ち上げながら、被連結部３１を凹部２８ａに挿入することにより、移動車体２に対して台車２６が連結され、かつ前輪２７Ｆが浮き上がった状態（図１に示す寸法Ｔだけ浮き上がった状態）になり、移動車体２を操舵したとき、その操舵に台車２６が容易に追随することになる。なお、車輪２７はフリーキャスタ式であることが好ましい。
【００４１】
図２２は連結手段２８の第１変形例を示しており、この連結手段２８は、前輪２７Ｆ接地状態の台車２６の被連結部３１と連結した状態から回動することにより被連結部３１を持ち上げる連結部材３２を有する。
連結部材３２は機体５３に枢支された軸８４に複数設けられ、各先端に被連結部３１を受け入れる凹部３２ａを有し、前記軸８４に連結されたレバー８５を回動することにより、略水平状態で凹部３２ａ内に受け入れた被連結部３１を上向き回動することにより持ち上げ、台車２６前部を浮き上がらせるようになっている。
【００４２】
なお、前記レバー８５は回動した位置で固定可能である。また、被連結部３１を機体５３に設け、連結部材３２を台車２６側に下向き回動可能に設けてもよく、連結部材３２をアクチュエータで駆動するようにしてもよい。
図２３、２４は連結手段２８の第２変形例を示しており、この連結手段２８は、台車２６を前輪浮き上がり状態で連結する浮上連結部２９と、前輪２７Ｆを接地させて相対上下動可能に連結するフリー連結部３０とを有する。
機体５３の後端の左右に板材で形成された連結構成体８６が固着され、この左右連結構成体８６に棒材を架設して浮上連結部２９を形成し、左右連結構成体８６に上下方向の長孔８６ａを形成し、その長孔８６ａに棒材を挿入してフリー連結部３０を形成している。
【００４３】
一方、台車２６の被連結部３１は、下向き凹部８７ａを有する連結腕８７を設けており、台車２６の前部を持ち上げながら、連結腕８７の下向き凹部８７ａを浮上連結部２９に嵌合することにより、前輪２７Ｆを浮き上がり状態にした連結ができ、また、前輪２７Ｆを接地したまま、連結腕８７の下向き凹部８７ａにフリー連結部３０を嵌入してネジ８８で抜け止めをすることにより、フリー連結部３０が長孔８６ａの範囲内で相対上下動可能な状態にした連結ができ、台車２６は前輪２７Ｆが接地したまま移動車体２に牽引される。
【００４４】
前記台車２６にはその後部に後続台車３３が後続連結手段３４で連結されている。この後続連結手段３４は図１２〜１５に示すように、苗箱Ｎを載置搬送可能なローラコンベヤ台車であり、前記台車２６の後下部に設けた連結ピン９０と、後続台車３３の前下部に設けたフック９１と、このフック９１を後続台車３３の後方から回動操作する操作手段３５とを有している。
フック９１は先端外面に案内面９１ａを有し、台車２６に後続台車３３を近づけていったときに、連結ピン９０に案内面９１ａが当たって一旦逃げるように回動した後に、連結ピン９０に係合するようになっている。
【００４５】
また、操作手段３５は紐又はワイヤ等で形成されており、その一端はフック９に連結され、他端は後続台車３３の後部に連結されており、引っ張り操作することにより、フック９１を連結ピン９０から離脱する方向に回動し、フック９１を離脱した状態で後続台車３３を後方移動すると、台車２６との連結が解除される。
図１２〜１５において、３６は台車２６の後端に設けたスクレーパ兼用のストッパ部材であり、その上部が台車２６の苗箱載置面３９より上側に突出しており、退避手段３７によって苗箱載置面３９より下側になるように退避可能になっている。
【００４６】
前記ストッパ部材３６は、金属、ゴム材或いはプラスチックで、帯板状にしたもの、帯板の上部を波形状或いは凹凸形状にしたもの、又は棒材をコ字状に屈曲したもの等で形成されており、その上下方向中途部が支点軸９２で台車２６の後上部に横軸回り揺動自在に支持されており、コイルスプリング等でその上端が苗箱載置面（コンベヤ面）３９から突出するように付勢されている。
前記退避手段３７は、後続台車３３の前部に設けた突出部材であり、図１５の状態から後続台車３３を台車２６に近づけていくと、退避手段３７がストッパ部材３６の下側に当接してコイルスプリングに抗して揺動させ、ストッパ部材３６の上部を苗箱載置面３９より下側まで移動させる（図１４の状態）。
【００４７】
前記ストッパ部材３６は、台車２６に後続台車３３を連結しないときに、苗箱載置面３９から苗箱Ｎが落下するのを防止し台車２６に後続台車３３を連結したときに、台車２６と後続台車３３との間で苗箱Ｎを受け渡しできるように退避する。
ストッパ部材３６の上縁を波形状或いは凹凸形状に形成しておくことにより、苗箱Ｎの底を引っ掻いて付着土を落とすスクレーパとして機能させることができる。
【００４８】
なお、前記ストッパ部材３６を傾斜コンベヤ機構４の後端に設けかつ退避手段３７を台車２６の前端に設けたり、または逆に、ストッパ部材３６を台車２６の前端に設けかつ退避手段３７を傾斜コンベヤ機構４の後端に設けたり、後続台車３３の後部にさらに後続台車３３を連結する場合は、ストッパ部材３６を前後続台車３３の後端に設け、退避手段３７を後後続台車３３の前端に設けたりしてもよい。
いずれにしても、育苗場内では苗箱対地処理装置１の左右には敷設の苗箱Ｎが存在するので、ストッパ部材３６より後方の台車２６又は後続台車３３を遠近移動させることにより、退避手段３７を作動してストッパ部材３６を自動的に後退又は突出できるようにしておくことが好ましい。
【００４９】
また、台車２６及び後続台車３３には、左右側部に苗箱載置面３９より高いストッパ部材３６を固定又は苗箱載置面３９より低い位置まで退避可能に設けてもよい。
次に、前述した第１の実施の形態の苗箱対地処理装置１における苗箱Ｎの処理動作を説明する。
育苗場において横長状態又は縦長状態に多数枚が多数列に敷設されている苗箱Ｎを回収する場合、傾斜コンベヤ機構４を昇降手段２４で図１１の実線位置まで上昇させた状態で、苗箱対地処理装置１を育苗場まで移動し、苗箱Ｎの前後方向に平行に配置する。
【００５０】
この際、台車２６は機体５３に予め連結しておいても、育苗場で連結してもよく、移動時も苗箱回収作業中も、台車２６は前輪２７Ｆが浮き上がった状態で移動車体２に連結されるので、移動車体２の操舵に良好に追従する。
昇降手段２４で傾斜コンベヤ機構４を下げて接地そり体５０を接地させ、爪部材１７の先端１７ａを略接地させ、持ち上げ手段５の回転体９を地面に近接させ、その状態で移動車体２を前進させる。
移動車体２の前進に伴い、多数本の爪部材１７の先端１７ａが複数枚の苗箱Ｎの縁部Ｎａに同時に引っ掛かる。さらに移動車体２を前進すると、各拾い上げ部材１５が略直線姿勢で後方揺動し、各苗箱Ｎの端部を持ち上げ、爪部材１７が作動手段２０の横棒６８に当接することにより、不安定切換手段１９が作動して拾い上げ部材１５が二つ折れ姿勢となり、アーム部材１８に対して爪部材１７が跳ね上がって苗箱Ｎから外れ、苗箱Ｎをコンベヤ手段３上に落下する。
【００５１】
二つ折れ姿勢となった拾い上げ部材１５は、揺動手段２１の作動によって略直線姿勢に戻され、揺動手段２１の横棒材７２が元位置に戻ることによって、拾い上げ部材１５は次の苗箱Ｎと掛合可能な垂下姿勢に戻される。
拾い上げ部材１５が苗箱Ｎの拾い上げを失敗した場合、または、拾い上げ機構７を設けていない場合、地上の苗箱Ｎに持ち上げ手段５の回転体９が回転しながら当接し、突部８が縁部Ｎａと掛合して苗箱Ｎを強力に持ち上げ、突部８による断続的な掛合によって、苗箱Ｎは上下振動を伴いながらコンベヤ手段３上に載せられる。
【００５２】
前記回転体９の突部８がコンベヤ手段３のコンベヤ面３８より突出していると、コンベヤ手段３上に載った苗箱Ｎは、拾い上げ部材１５で拾い上げられたものも持ち上げ手段５で持ち上げられたものも、突部８と断続的に掛合して振動が与えられるので、底に付着している土が払い落とされる。
コンベヤ手段３上に載った苗箱Ｎは、コンベヤ手段３の正転動作によってコンベヤ手段３の後上部へ送られかつ台車２６へ移載され、台車２６の後端のストッパ部材３６で止められるまで、苗箱載置面（コンベヤ面）３９に溜められる。台車２６上の苗箱Ｎは人為的に取り出される。この取り出しの際に、ストッパ部材３６の上縁をスクレーパとして使用し、苗箱Ｎの下面の付着土を除去する。
【００５３】
台車２６に後続台車３３を連結する場合は、後続台車３３を台車２６の真後から近づけ、後続連結手段３４で連結し、ストッパ部材３６を退避手段３７で苗箱載置面３９より下方に退避させる。
回収した苗箱Ｎを載置した後続台車３３を台車２６から分離して育苗場から取り出す場合は、後続台車３３の真後から操作手段３５を操作して、後続連結手段３４を連結解除する。
育苗場に苗箱Ｎを展開する場合、拾い上げ機構７は使用しないので、揺動手段２１を作動して垂下姿勢の拾い上げ部材１５を後上方へ持ち上げておき、持ち上げ手段５も使用しないので、回転体９の突部８がコンベヤ手段３のコンベヤ面３８から突出しない状態で停止しておく。
【００５４】
そして、傾斜コンベヤ機構４を昇降手段２４で図１１の実線位置まで上昇させた状態で、苗箱対地処理装置１を育苗場の敷設端部まで移動し、昇降手段２４で傾斜コンベヤ機構４を下げて接地そり体５０を接地させ、持ち上げ手段５の回転体９を地面に近接させる。
台車２６及び後続台車３３には予め苗箱Ｎを載置しておいても、後から載置してもよく、コンベヤ手段３を逆転させながら、その上に台車２６から苗箱Ｎを送り込み、その状態で移動車体２を後進させ、コンベヤ手段３から苗箱Ｎを順次地上に展開していく。
【００５５】
図１６は苗箱対地処理装置１の第２の実施の形態を示しており、前記第１の実施の形態と異なる点についてのみ、次に説明する。
傾斜コンベヤ機構４は、コンベヤ手段３のコンベヤ面３８を中高形状にして、前急傾斜コンベヤ面３８Ｆと後緩傾斜コンベヤ面３８Ｒとを形成しており、拾い上げ時に傾けられている苗箱Ｎの傾斜角度を、段階的に緩やかにして、略水平又は後下向きの載置面を有する台車２６へ円滑に移載できるようにしている。
傾斜コンベヤ機構４のコンベヤ枠５５は、機体５３に対して後連結手段２５Ｒで枢支され、前連結手段２５Ｆが上下方向に相対移動可能になっており、昇降手段２４で昇降するときは、後連結手段２５Ｆを中心に揺動する。
【００５６】
支持枠６は前後２分割されていて、拾い上げ機構７を支持する前支持枠６Ｆは後支持枠６Ｒに対して前後位置調整自在に取り付けられ、傾斜コンベヤ機構４に対する拾い上げ機構７の前後位置を適宜調整できるようになっている。
移動車体２の後部には、台車２６を連結するときの台車２６の左右位置を案内する案内部材９４が設けられ、台車２６の後部にも後続台車を連結する際に左右案内をする案内部材９５が設けられている。
移動車体２に台車２６を連結する連結手段９６は、前記実施の形態における後続連結手段３４と同様な構造であって、移動車体２に設けた被連結杆９７に台車２６に枢支したフック９８を係合するようになっており、フック９８は台車２６の後部から紐、ワイヤ、ロッド等の操作手段９９で解除操作可能になっている。
【００５７】
台車２６は前後輪２７Ｆ、２７Ｒを有する基台部１００に４本の下支柱１０１を立設し、ローラコンベヤ部１０２に４本の連結支柱１０３の上部を枢支し、この４本の連結支柱１０３を下支柱１０１に嵌入してボルト等で固定するようになっており、連結支柱１０３は下支柱１０１に高さ位置調整自在に連結され、ローラコンベヤ部１０２の苗箱載置面３９を水平姿勢にも、後方下向き傾斜姿勢にもできるようになっている。
この台車２６にも、後方下向き傾斜の苗箱載置面を有する後続台車を連結することができる。
【００５８】
なお、本発明は前記実施の形態に限定されるものではなく、種々変形することができる。例えば、第１、第２の実施の形態の構成及び変形例を組み替えたり、台車２６及び後続台車３３を連結せずに、傾斜コンベヤ機構４のみで苗箱Ｎの展開・回収を行ったりしてもよい。
持ち上げ手段５は、拾い上げ機構７と共に設ける場合は、苗箱Ｎの拾い上げの補助手段となるが、拾い上げ機構７を設けずに持ち上げ手段５単独で苗箱Ｎの回収を行なわせてもよく、また、持ち上げ手段５単独の場合は加振手段となり、拾い上げ機構７と併用の場合でも、突部８をコンベヤ面３８より突出すれば加振手段となるが、コンベヤ手段３にベルト５６を局部的に上下動させる加振手段を別途設けることもできる。
【００５９】
接地体５０は、軟弱地で機体を沈み込ませないそり形状が好ましいが、接地車輪等の他の接地体を使用してもよい。
駆動機器４２にはエンジン及び発電機を備え、傾斜コンベヤ機構４、拾い上げ機構７及びクローラ走行装置５４等は電動モータを使用しているが、油圧ポンプと油圧モータで駆動するように構成してもよい。
台車２６及び後続台車３３はローラコンベヤ台車を使用しているが、ベルトコンベヤ、その他のコンベヤ面を有する台車であってもよい。
【００６０】
コンベヤ手段３を逆転して苗箱Ｎを展開する場合は、持ち上げ手段５を取り外してもよく、コンベヤ手段３の搬送速度は移動車体２の移動速度を同一にしてもよい。
持ち上げ手段５における回転体９の突部８の左右方向間隔及び拾い上げ機構７における拾い上げ部材１５の左右方向間隔は、苗箱Ｎが縦置きであっても、横置きであっても、また中央通路があっても、１つの苗箱Ｎに対して２つ以上が掛合するように兼用仕様で設定されているが、縦置き用と横置き用とに専用仕様にしたり、組み替えや調整式にして縦置き対応状態と横置き対応状態とに切り換えるように構成することもできる。
【００６１】
移動車体２上に駆動機器４２を搭載しているが、エンジン及び発電機等を別装置とし、苗箱対地処理装置１に電源ケーブルで給電したり、電灯線から給電するようにしたりしてもよい。
【００６２】
【発明の効果】
以上詳述した本発明によれば、第１に、持ち上げ手段５を傾斜コンベヤ機構４の前端に備えているので、苗箱Ｎの苗の根が地面に絡んでいても、確実にかつ連続して持ち上げて搬送処理することができる。
第２に、持ち上げ手段５を傾斜コンベヤ機構４の前端に回転駆動自在に備えているので、苗箱Ｎの苗の根が地面に絡んでいても、断続的に掛合しながら確実に持ち上げて搬送処理でき、かつ振動を与えて付着土を払い落とすことができる。
【００６３】
第３に、持ち上げ手段５に先行して拾い上げ機構７を設けているので、苗箱Ｎの回収を２段階に行うことができ、回収ミスを無くすことが可能になる。
第４に、持ち上げ手段５を外周面に軸方向間隔をおいて突部８を有する回転体９で形成しているので、苗箱Ｎを持ち上げる機構を簡単に構成でき、駆動も容易になる。
第５に、回転体９を外周面に周方向凹凸のある断面異形部材１０を軸方向に間隔をおいて設けているので、回転体９を簡単に構成することができる。
【００６４】
第６に、回転体９を断面楕円形の棒状部材に突部８を設けて構成しているので、苗箱Ｎの縁部Ｎａに確実に掛合して持ち上げる回転体９を簡単に形成できる。
第７に、伝動手段１１でコンベヤ手段３から持ち上げ手段５へ動力伝達するので、コンベヤ手段３で持ち上げ手段５を駆動でき、かつ持ち上げ手段５で苗箱Ｎを搬送速度で持ち上げたり、又は速く持ち上げたりすることができる。
第８に、制御手段１２でコンベヤ手段３の搬送速度を移動車体２の移動速度と同期又は非同期させるので、コンベヤ手段３を苗箱処理に最適な搬送速度に設定できる。
【００６５】
第９に、コンベヤ手段３は正逆転可能であるので、コンベヤ手段３を正転して苗箱Ｎを回収し、逆転して苗箱Ｎをコンベヤ手段３から地上に展開することができる。
第９に、コンベヤ手段３を逆転して苗箱Ｎを地上に展開する時に、持ち上げ手段５を苗箱Ｎの展開障害にならないように停止させておくことができる。
第１１に、傾斜コンベヤ機構４に加振手段５を備えているので、拾い上げ機構７で拾い上げて傾斜コンベヤ機構４に載置した苗箱Ｎを、加振手段５で振動を与えて付着土を払い落としながら回収搬送することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】台車を連結した本発明の実施の形態を示す全体側面図である。
【図２】同全体平面図である。
【図３】台車を離脱した本発明の実施の形態を示す全体側面図である。
【図４】同全体平面図である。
【図５】苗箱拾い上げ開始時の装置前部の断面側面図である。
【図６】苗箱拾い上げ完了時の装置前部の断面側面図である。
【図７】拾い上げ機構の斜視図である。
【図８】持ち上げ手段の側面図である。
【図９】回転体の斜視図である。
【図１０】補助支持手段を設けた斜視図である。
【図１１】傾斜コンベヤ機構の持ち上げ姿勢を示す側面図である。
【図１２】台車及び後続台車を示す側面図である。
【図１３】同平面図である。
【図１４】ストッパ及び台車連結構造の連結時の状態を示す側面図である。
【図１５】同非連結状態を示す側面図である。
【図１６】本発明の第２の実施の形態を示す側面図である。
【図１７】回転体の第１変形例を示す斜視図である。
【図１８】回転体の第２変形例を示す斜視図である。
【図１９】回転体の第３変形例を示す斜視図である。
【図２０】回転体の第４変形例を示す斜視図である。
【図２１】回転体の第５変形例を示す斜視図である。
【図２２】連結手段の第１変形例を示す側面図である。
【図２３】連結手段の第２変形例を示す側面図である。
【図２４】同分解斜視図である。
【符号の説明】
１苗箱対地処理装置
２移動車体
３コンベヤ手段
４傾斜コンベヤ機構
５持ち上げ手段
６支持枠
７拾い上げ機構
８突部
９回転体
１１伝動手段
１２制御手段
１５拾い上げ部材
１６切り換え機構
１７爪部材
１８アーム部材
１９不安定切換手段
２０作動手段
２１揺動手段
２４昇降手段
２５連結手段
２６台車
Ｎ苗箱
Ｎａ縁部[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a seedling box ground treatment apparatus that collects or deploys a seedling box deployed in a nursery.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As an apparatus for recovering a seedling box, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-75554, “It is supported by a work traveling machine together with a front-rear transport mechanism and hooks and lifts the periphery of the seedling box developed on the ground. And a box pick-up mechanism that delivers on the front-rear transport mechanism, and a front frame that extends in front of the front-rear transport mechanism, and an upper portion that is supported by the front portion of the front frame so as to be swingable back and forth. With the forward movement of the upper part, the lower part hooks the periphery of the seedling box from below and makes a circular movement from the upper part to the rear upwards, and the hooking tool swings at a fixed angle by engaging with the seedling box. And a forcible detachment means for forcibly jumping the hooking tool rearward and upward from the seedling box after moving. "
[0003]
The box pick-up mechanism is located at a position away from the front / rear transport mechanism, and a swingable and slender hooking tool pivotally supported on the upper part is advanced while engaging the end of the seedling box, and the seedling box is The rear part is lifted around the front end and transferred to the front-rear transport mechanism.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The hook of the box picking mechanism of the prior art has a high accuracy of picking up the seedling box when the film is laid down under the seedling box and the seedling box can be easily lifted, and can perform a sufficient function. However, when the roots of the seedling are tangled with the ground, the thin hooking tool may be bent and a pick-up error may occur. In addition, the hooking tool must return to the position where it can be engaged after releasing the seedling box, and it is difficult to perform continuous operation.
An object of the present invention is to provide a seedling box ground treatment apparatus that can solve such problems of the prior art.
[0005]
The present invention is provided with a lifting means for engaging and lifting the seedling box at the front end of the inclined conveyor mechanism, so that even if the seedling root of the seedling box is tangled with the ground, it can be reliably and continuously lifted and conveyed. An object of the present invention is to provide a seedling box ground treatment apparatus.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The first specific means for solving the problems in the present invention is provided with an inclined conveyor mechanism 4 having a conveyor means 3 inclined upward on the moving vehicle body 2. Is provided with lifting means 5 for engaging and lifting the edge Na of the seedling box N.
As a result, even if the roots of the seedlings in the seedling box N are tangled with the ground, the lifting means 5 reliably lifts and conveys them.
[0007]
The second specific means for solving the problems in the present invention is provided with an inclined conveyor mechanism 4 having a conveyor means 3 inclined upward on the moving vehicle body 2, and at the front end of the inclined conveyor mechanism 4, the ground It is provided with a lifting means 5 that intermittently engages and lifts the edge Na of the seedling box N that is unfolded.
As a result, even if the roots of the seedlings in the seedling box N are tangled with the ground, the lifting means 5 reliably and continuously lifts and conveys them, and applies vibrations to remove the attached soil.
The third specific means for solving the problems in the present invention includes, in addition to the first or second specific means, a support frame 6 protruding forward from the inclined conveyor mechanism 4 and a seedling preceding the lifting means 5. The pick-up mechanism 7 is provided so as to engage with the edge Na of the box N and lift it.
[0008]
As a result, the recovery of the seedling box N is recovered in two stages by the lifting means 5 and the pick-up mechanism 7 to eliminate recovery leakage.
According to a fourth specific means for solving the problem in the present invention, in addition to any one of the first to third specific means, the lifting means 5 has protrusions 8 on the outer peripheral surface at an axial interval. That is, the rotating body 9 is used.
As a result, the lifting means 5 can be configured easily and can be driven easily.
According to a fifth specific means for solving the problems in the present invention, in addition to the fourth specific means, the rotating body 9 has a cross-sectionally deformed member 10 having a circumferential unevenness on the outer peripheral surface spaced in the axial direction. It is that it is provided.
[0009]
Thereby, the rotating body 9 is simply constituted by the cross-section deformed member 10.
According to a sixth specific means for solving the problem in the present invention, in addition to the fourth specific means, the rotating body 9 is formed of a rod-shaped member having an elliptical cross section, and is formed on the outer surface of the bulging portion. Protrusions 8 are provided in the outer peripheral rotation region of the largest diameter portion of the bulging portion at intervals in the axial direction.
Thereby, the seedling box N is reliably hooked and lifted by the protrusion 8.
The seventh specific means for solving the problems in the present invention includes, in addition to any one of the first to sixth specific means, transmission means for transmitting power from the conveyor means 3 to the lifting means 5 synchronously or asynchronously. 11.
[0010]
As a result, the lifting means 5 can be driven by the conveyor means 3, and the seedling box N can be lifted at the conveying speed or can be quickly lifted.
In addition to any one of the first to seventh specific means, the eighth specific means for solving the problems in the present invention synchronizes or asynchronously moves the conveying speed of the conveyor means 3 with the moving speed of the moving vehicle body 2. And having control means 12.
As a result, the control means 12 can set the conveyor means 3 to an optimum conveying speed for the seedling box processing.
[0011]
A ninth specific means for solving the problems in the present invention is that, in addition to any one of the first to eighth specific means, the conveyor means 3 can be rotated forward and backward.
As a result, the conveyor means 3 can be rotated forward to recover the seedling box N, and the reverse can be reversed to deploy the seedling box N from the conveyor means 3 to the ground.
The tenth specific means for solving the problems in the present invention is that, in addition to the ninth specific means, the lifting means 5 can be stopped when the conveyor means 3 is reversed.
[0012]
This makes it possible to stop the lifting means 5 so as not to obstruct the development of the seedling box N when the conveyor means is reversed three times to develop the seedling box N.
An eleventh specific means for solving the problems in the present invention is that a tilting conveyor mechanism 4 that is inclined upward on the moving vehicle body 2 is provided, and a seedling box deployed on the ground in front of the tilting conveyor mechanism 4. A pick-up mechanism 7 to be placed on the inclined conveyor mechanism 4 while being hooked and lifted on the edge Na of N is arranged, and the inclined conveyor mechanism 4 is provided with a vibration means 5.
[0013]
As a result, the seedling box N picked up by the pick-up mechanism 7 and placed on the inclined conveyor mechanism 4 is recovered and conveyed while applying vibration by the vibration means 5 and removing the attached soil.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 to 11, the seedling box ground processing apparatus 1 is roughly divided into a movable vehicle body 2, an inclined conveyor mechanism 4 disposed on the movable vehicle body 2, and a pickup mechanism 7 protruding forward from the inclined conveyor mechanism 4. The seedling box processing machine is configured by detachably connecting one or more carts 26 to the moving vehicle body 2.
The inclined conveyor mechanism 4 includes a rectangular conveyor frame 55 provided with rollers at the front end, rear end, and midway, and a pair of left and right belts 56 are stretched on the rollers to form a conveyor means 3 that rises backward. It is driven by a drive motor 57 provided at the rear of the conveyor frame 55 so as to be able to rotate forward and backward.
[0015]
The conveying speed of the conveyor means 3 can be synchronized or asynchronous with the moving speed of the moving vehicle body 2 via the control means 12, and the control means 12 sets the conveyor means 3 to an optimum conveying speed for seedling box processing. It can be set. The control means 12 can be set and operated by a remote operation means 52.
A ground sled body 50 is provided at the front portion of the conveyor frame 55 through a bracket 50a so that the vertical position can be adjusted. The front end of the conveyor means 3 is slightly lifted from the ground with the ground sled body 50 grounded. Placed in a state. In this grounding state, the conveyor means 3 is inclined upward from the front end to the vicinity of the rear part, bent near the rear part, and the rear part is arranged substantially horizontally.
[0016]
The inclined conveyor mechanism 4 supports a rotating shaft 58 by projecting a bracket 58 a at the front end of the conveyor frame 55, so that power can be transmitted from the conveyor means 3 via the transmission means 11. The transmission means 11 includes a chain winding transmission means and an electromagnetic clutch, and transmits the power of the conveyor means 3 synchronously (constant speed) or asynchronously (acceleration / deceleration). The rotating shaft 58 can be stopped even if it is driven.
A rotating body 9 is attached to the rotating shaft 58 to constitute the lifting means 5. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, 8, the rotating body 9 is formed of a rod-like member having an elliptical cross section, and the protrusion 8 is spaced apart in the axial direction on the outer surface of the bulging site (the long tip side). Is provided. The protrusion 8 is positioned so as to be within the outer peripheral rotation region P of the largest diameter portion of the elliptical bulge portion.
[0017]
Further, the axial interval is set to be shorter than the length of the short side of the seedling box N, and the seedling box is arranged so that two or more protrusions 8 can be engaged with one seedling box N. Engage with the edge Na between the vertical ribs Nb around N. Further, the trailing protrusion 8 engages the edge of the bottom of the seedling box N lifted by the preceding protrusion 8.
The rotating body 9 of the lifting means 5 is closer to the ground than the front end of the conveyor means 3 in a state where the ground sled body 50 is grounded, and rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. The projecting part 8 is engaged with the edge Na and lifted, and the lifted seedling box N is placed on the conveyor means 3 by the forward force of the moving vehicle body 2.
[0018]
Since the lifting means 5 is firmly supported by the conveyor frame 55 and is not far from the ground sled body 50, the seedling box N can be lifted strongly, and the seedling roots of the seedling box N are tangled with the ground. Even if it is, it will be lifted and processed.
Further, since the rotating body 9 rotates, the seedling box N can be lifted continuously, and even if one protrusion 8 fails to engage, the succeeding protrusions 8 can be successively involved in the engagement, and the seedling box can be lifted. It can be done very reliably.
Further, when the protrusion 8 is located in the outermost rotation area P having the largest diameter, the rotating body 9 does not catch the multi-sheet by being caught even if the multi-sheet is laid under the seedling box N. .
[0019]
When the lifting means 5 sets the outer peripheral rotation area P of the rotating body 9 at a position protruding above the extended line of the conveyor surface 38 of the conveyor means 3, the seedling box N is placed on the conveyor means 3. Even in this state, the rotating body 9 comes into contact with the bottom of the seedling box N, and the rotating seedling box N can be pushed up intermittently (periodically) as the rotating body 9 rotates.
That is, the lifting means 5 becomes a vibration means that gives vertical vibration (load fluctuation) to the seedling box N, and during the transfer on the conveyor means 3, the soil adhering to the bottom of the seedling box N is wiped off by vibration. Can do.
[0020]
Even if the rotating body 9 has an outer peripheral rotational area P higher than the conveyor surface 38, it has an elliptical cross section, so that when the seedling box N is unfolded, the largest diameter portion or the tip of the protrusion 8 is the conveyor surface 38. It becomes possible to stop in a lower state. Although the rotating body 9 may be stopped visually, it is preferable to automatically stop the rotating body 9 at a set position using an encoder or the like. However, the rotating body 9 can be reversed when the seedling box N is deployed, and the protrusion 8 can be actively engaged with the bottom rib of the seedling box N so that the seedling box N is pushed out of the conveyor means 3. It is.
[0021]
17 to 21 show first to fifth modifications of the rotating body 9 of the lifting means 5, and the first modification shown in FIG. 17 uses a circular pipe 59 for the rotating body 9, and its outer peripheral surface. A plurality of small screws 60 are screwed together at intervals in the axial direction and the circumferential direction to form the protrusion 8. The rotating shaft 58 is fixed to both ends of the circular pipe.
In the second modification of the lifting means 5 shown in FIG. 18, the ellipsoid 61 and the cylinder 62 are alternately fitted and fixed to the rotation shaft 58 to form the rotator 9. The part is a protrusion 8.
[0022]
In the third modification of the lifting means 5 shown in FIG. 19, the rotating body 58 is formed by alternately fitting and fixing the rectangular flower body 63 and the cylindrical body 62 to the rotating shaft 58. The protruding part of the corner is a protrusion 8.
The ellipsoid 61 and the square flower-shaped body 63 are cross-sectionally deformed members 10 having circumferential irregularities on the outer peripheral surface, and the protrusions 8 are spaced apart in the circumferential direction and the axial direction by arranging the cylindrical body 62 therebetween. Many will be arranged. A member having an outer peripheral surface other than a true circle, such as a triangle, a pentagon, or an oval, can be used as the deformed cross-section member 10 and can be manufactured at a lower cost than the special formation of the protrusion 8.
[0023]
In the fourth modification of the lifting means 5 shown in FIG. 20, the rotating body 9 is formed by alternately fitting and fixing the blade body 64 and the cylindrical body 62 to the rotating shaft 58. The blade is a protrusion 8.
In the fifth modification of the lifting means 5 shown in FIG. 21, the rotary body 58 is formed by alternately fitting and fixing the sawtooth body 65 and the cylindrical body 62 to the rotary shaft 58, and the teeth of the sawtooth body 65 are The protrusion 8 is formed.
18 to 21, the cylindrical body 62 may be integrally formed with the ellipsoid 61, the square flower body 63, the blade body 64, the sawtooth body 65, and the like.
[0024]
A support frame 6 protrudes forward and upward from the conveyor frame 55 of the inclined conveyor mechanism 4, and a pickup mechanism 7 having a number of pickup members 15 is provided on the support frame 6.
The pick-up member 15 is provided in plural in the left-right direction at intervals shorter than half of the short side length of the seedling box N, and whether the seedling box N is arranged in the left-right direction, either the short side or the long side, Two pick-up members 15 are engaged with all the seedling boxes N so that they can be picked up.
[0025]
That is, at least two pick-up members 15 are engaged with the edge Na of the seedling box N in the same manner as the protrusions 8 of the rotating body 9. Usually, the seedling box N is 600 mm × 300 mm. Is set to 150 mm or less.
The pick-up member 15 includes a claw member 17 whose tip 17a is bent in a substantially L shape so as to be able to engage with the edge Na of the seedling box N, and a support shaft in the left-right direction that is connected to the claw member 17 so as to be bent. 23 and an arm member 18 pivotally supported by 23.
[0026]
A plurality of support brackets 66 are provided at the front portion of the support frame 6, and the upper portion of the arm member 18 is pivotally supported by a pair of support shafts 23 provided on each support bracket 66. The hole fitted into the support shaft 23 of the arm member 18 is a long hole 18a in the longitudinal direction, and allows the arm member 18 to move up and down.
The arm member 18 is formed of a channel material or the like having a U-shaped cross section, and supports a shaft portion 17b formed by sticking a bar to the upper end of the claw member 17 so as to be swingable. A tension spring 67 is stretched between the pin 18 b in the middle part of 18 and the pin 17 c in the middle part of the claw member 17.
[0027]
The tension spring 67 constitutes the unstable switching means 19, and the claw member 17 is connected to the tip of the arm member 18 with the claw member 17 being in a straight line state S (shown in FIG. 5) with respect to the arm member 18. And the state where the claw member 17 is swung beyond the linear state can be elastically switched.
When the claw member 17 is in elastic contact with the tip of the arm member 18, the claw member 17 is slightly bent with respect to the arm member 18, but is almost in a straight line. This state is the seedling box edge. It becomes an action posture which engages with part Na.
[0028]
A horizontal bar 68 is provided on the support frame 6 over the entire width in the left-right direction. This horizontal bar 68 constitutes the actuating means 20, and abuts against the relatively upper part of the claw member 17 that has swung backward in the above-mentioned action posture, thereby restricting its swinging.
When the lower part of the claw member 17 is moved further rearward from the state in which the relatively upper part of the claw member 17 is in contact with the horizontal bar 68 (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5), the claw member 17 is moved to the horizontal bar. 68, the tip 17a jumps up so that the tip 17a moves rearward and upward, and swings beyond the linear state S with respect to the arm member 18. When the linear state S is exceeded, the direction of the urging force by the tension spring 67 is Then, the pick-up member 15 is switched so as to be folded in two (see FIG. 6).
[0029]
The claw member 17 suddenly changes from an inclined posture to a substantially horizontal posture by a two-folding operation, and the tip 17a rises, so that the engaged seedling box N is instantaneously separated, and the seedling box N is placed on the conveyor means 3. Will surely fall.
When the pick-up member 15 is moved forward from the acting position where the pick-up member 15 is engaged with the seedling box edge Na by the unstable switching means 19 and the actuating means 20 and swings backward while being engaged with the seedling box N, the folded state is changed to a folded state. A switching mechanism 16 for switching is configured.
On the rear side of the support shaft 23 of the support frame 6, a swing arm 71 is pivotally supported via a support shaft 70, and a horizontal bar 72 capable of contacting all the arm members 18 is provided at the tip of the swing arm 71. It has been.
[0030]
A substantially circular drive cam body 73 is provided on an output shaft of a drive motor 74 fixed to the support frame 6, and is interlocked and connected via a link 75 to swing the swing arm 71 back and forth. .
The support frame 6 is provided with two detection bodies 69 formed by limit switches, microswitches, etc., and is arranged so as to detect approximately half rotation of the drive cam body 73.
The oscillating means 21 is formed by the oscillating arm 71, the horizontal bar 72, the drive cam body 73, the detecting body 69, and the like, and the oscillating arm 71 is in a state in which the pick-up member 15 is in a folded state. Is swung backward (counterclockwise in FIG. 6), the arm member 18 is swung back, and the posture is changed to the action posture in a substantially linear state with the claw member 17.
[0031]
Further, if the swing arm 71 swings backward while the pick-up member 15 is in the acting posture (substantially hanging posture), the claw member 17 and the arm member 18 swing backward in the substantially linear state. The seedling box N can be retreated from the picking up work state (dotted line state in FIG. 61).
A pick-up mechanism 7 is constituted by the unstable switching means 19, the operating means 20, the swinging means 21 and the like.
Therefore, when the pick-up member 15 is in a substantially hanging action posture in which the claw member 17 is in a substantially straight state with respect to the arm member 18, the claw member 17 engages with the seedling box N when advanced in that state. When the moving vehicle body 2 is further moved forward from this state, the pick-up member 15 swings relatively backward, and the claw member 17 comes into contact with the horizontal bar 68 of the actuating means 20, whereby the unstable switching means 19 is activated and the claw is moved. The member 17 and the arm member 18 are suddenly switched to a folding posture in which the member 17 and the arm member 18 are bent.
[0032]
Thereafter, the drive cam body 73 is rotated approximately 180 degrees, the horizontal bar 72 of the swinging means 21 is moved backward to swing the arm member 18, and the pickup member 15 is returned to the working posture. When the drive cam body 73 is further rotated by approximately 180 degrees, the horizontal bar 72 moves forward, and the pick-up member 15 in the acting posture is returned to the original seedling box engaging position.
When the seedling box ground processing apparatus 1 is moved backward or moved to the work position, the swinging means 21 is operated to swing the pick-up member 15 that is grounded in a substantially suspended state to the rear in the acting posture. Then, the claw member 17 is retracted upward to avoid the pick-up member 15 from being put on the ground.
[0033]
Since the arm member 18 has the long hole 18a fitted in the support shaft 23, the pick-up member 15 is not moved upward even when it is engaged with the seedling box N or when the seedling box ground treatment apparatus 1 is moved backward. Can escape.
The moving vehicle body 2 has crawler travel devices 54 on the left and right of the machine body 53, and the crawler travel devices 54 are driven by an electric motor.
A pair of front and rear connection points are formed in the front and rear direction midway part on the left and right side surfaces of the conveyor frame 55 of the inclined conveyor mechanism 4, and can be connected to the front and rear connection parts provided on the machine body 53 of the movable vehicle body 2. ing. The front connection point of the conveyor frame 55 is formed by a connection plate having pin holes, and the rear connection point is formed by pins 76.
[0034]
The front connecting portion of the machine body 53 is formed of a connecting plate having pin holes, and the front connecting point of the conveyor frame 55 and the pin holes are aligned to insert and connect pins 77 from the side. A front connecting means 25F is provided which is connected and supported so as to be swingable and can be released.
Further, the rear connection point of the conveyor frame 55 is formed with a concave portion 78a on the upper portion of the support stand 78 erected from the machine body 53, and the pin 76 is fitted and received in the concave portion 78a. A rear connecting means 25R is provided which is connected and supported so as to be swingable around the left and right axis and which can be released. In addition, you may make it prevent the pin 76 inserted in the recessed part 78a with a retaining member.
[0035]
A front-view-type support frame 41 is attached on the body 53 of the moving vehicle body 2 so as to straddle the inclined conveyor mechanism 4. Driving devices such as an engine, a generator, and a fuel tank are mounted on the support frame 41. 42 is mounted, and the control means 12, the raising / lowering means 24, etc. are provided.
The elevating means 24 is a winch that winds up the cable 79. The tip of the cable 79 is connected to the support frame 6 and suspends the front portion of the inclined conveyor mechanism 4. By operating the winch, the elevating means 24 is inclined. By moving the front part of the conveyor mechanism 4 up and down and stopping, the front part of the inclined conveyor mechanism 4 can be held at a required height. Although the winch is a manual type, it may be an electric type.
[0036]
In the inclined conveyor mechanism 4, the front connecting means 25F is positioned at a substantially center of gravity in the front-rear direction of the inclined conveyor mechanism 4, and is supported by the moving vehicle body 2 by the front connecting means 25F, and the rear connecting means 25R is disconnected. In the state, the ground sled body 50 is grounded, and in this state, the ground work is performed to deliver the ground and the seedling box N.
When the elevating means 24 is actuated to lift the front part of the inclined conveyor mechanism 4 from the ground, the pin 76 is fitted and received in the recess 78a, and the rear connecting means 25R is connected, the solid line in FIG. As shown, the front portion of the inclined conveyor mechanism 4 can move without hitting the ground. Such a posture is adopted for the movement in the nursery.
[0037]
When the inclined conveyor mechanism 4 disengages the front connecting means 25F from the front lifted position and further operates the elevating means 24 to rotate the inclined conveyor mechanism 4 around the rear connecting point, 2 in FIG. As shown by the dotted line, the front part can be raised greatly, and such a posture is such that the tip part of the seedling box ground treatment device 1 is stepped when loaded on a platform such as a truck using a step board. This is effective in avoiding interference with the plate.
As described above, the inclined conveyor mechanism 4 is provided with a connecting pivot point at the time of ground work in the middle part in the front-rear direction, particularly in the center of gravity, so that the front-rear balance is improved and the inclined conveyor mechanism 4 is moved rearward and upward. The inclined conveyor mechanism 4 can be easily and easily changed / maintained by the lifting / lowering means 24.
[0038]
In addition, even if only the front connecting means 25F or only the rear connecting means 25R can be released and the other is used as a fixed connecting point, the front of the inclined conveyor mechanism 4 can be raised and lowered.
In the above-described embodiment, the inclined conveyor mechanism 4 is in a posture capable of delivering the seedling box N with the rear connecting means 25R disconnected. In this state, the ground sled body 50 is grounded. However, as shown in FIG. 10, the support frame 41 and the rear pin 76 may be configured to hold the posture by the auxiliary support means 13.
[0039]
The auxiliary support means 13 is formed of a connecting body 81 such as a turnbuckle, and has one end pivotally connected to the upper portion of the support frame 41 and the other end fitted and connected to the pin 76. The other end is formed with a long hole 81 a that fits into the pin 76, and allows a slight elevation of the front portion of the inclined conveyor mechanism 4.
That is, the connecting body 81 holds the inclined conveyor mechanism 4 in a posture that allows the seedling box to be delivered while allowing the vertical movement following the unevenness of the ground. It is possible to change to the front floating posture (upward standby posture).
[0040]
1, 2, and 12-15, the cart 26 which delivers the inclined conveyor mechanism 4 and the seedling box N is arrange | positioned at the back of the moving vehicle body 2. In FIG. The carriage 26 is a roller conveyor carriage that can place and convey the seedling box N. The carriage 26 has a front wheel 27F and a rear wheel 27R, and can be moved by pushing it artificially. Connecting means 28 for connecting is provided.
The connecting means 28 has a recess 28a provided at the rear end of the machine body 53 and a connected smoked connected portion 31 provided at the front of the carriage 26. The distance from the ground to the recessed portion 28a is as follows. It is set to be slightly longer than the distance to 31, and the carriage 26 is connected to the moving vehicle body 2 by inserting the connected part 31 into the recess 28 a while lifting the front part of the carriage 26, and the front wheel 27 F is When the mobile vehicle body 2 is steered (the state of being lifted by the dimension T shown in FIG. 1) and the mobile vehicle body 2 is steered, the carriage 26 easily follows the steering. The wheel 27 is preferably a free caster type.
[0041]
FIG. 22 shows a first modification of the connecting means 28. The connecting means 28 lifts the connected portion 31 by rotating from the state where it is connected to the connected portion 31 of the carriage 26 in the grounded state of the front wheel 27F. A connecting member 32 is provided.
A plurality of connecting members 32 are provided on a shaft 84 pivotally supported by the machine body 53, each of which has a recess 32 a for receiving the connected portion 31, and by rotating a lever 85 connected to the shaft 84, The to-be-connected part 31 received in the recessed part 32a in the horizontal state is lifted by turning upward, and the front part of the carriage 26 is lifted.
[0042]
The lever 85 can be fixed at the rotated position. Moreover, the to-be-connected part 31 may be provided in the airframe 53, the connection member 32 may be provided in the cart 26 side so that rotation is possible downward, and the connection member 32 may be driven with an actuator.
FIGS. 23 and 24 show a second modification of the connecting means 28. The connecting means 28 is connected to a floating connecting portion 29 for connecting the carriage 26 in a state where the front wheel is lifted up, and the front wheel 27F is grounded so as to be relatively vertically movable. It has the free connection part 30 to connect.
A connecting component 86 formed of a plate material is fixed to the left and right of the rear end of the machine body 53, and a floating connecting portion 29 is formed by laying a bar on the left and right connecting component 86. The free connecting portion 30 is formed by inserting a rod into the long hole 86a.
[0043]
On the other hand, the connected portion 31 of the carriage 26 is provided with a connecting arm 87 having a downward recessed portion 87a, and the downward recessed portion 87a of the connecting arm 87 is fitted to the floating connecting portion 29 while lifting the front portion of the carriage 26. Thus, the front wheel 27F can be connected in a lifted state, and the free connection portion 30 can be fitted into the downward recess 87a of the connecting arm 87 while the front wheel 27F is grounded, and the free connection can be prevented by the screw 88. The portion 30 can be connected in a state where it can move up and down relatively within the range of the long hole 86a, and the carriage 26 is pulled by the moving vehicle body 2 while the front wheel 27F is grounded.
[0044]
A subsequent carriage 33 is connected to the carriage 26 at a rear portion thereof by a subsequent connecting means 34. As shown in FIGS. 12 to 15, the subsequent connecting means 34 is a roller conveyor cart capable of placing and transporting the seedling box N. The connecting pin 90 provided at the rear lower portion of the cart 26 and the front lower portion of the subsequent cart 33. And an operating means 35 for rotating the hook 91 from the rear side of the subsequent carriage 33.
The hook 91 has a guide surface 91a on the outer surface of the tip, and when the succeeding carriage 33 is brought close to the carriage 26, the hook 91 hits the connecting pin 90 and pivots so as to escape, It is designed to engage.
[0045]
Further, the operating means 35 is formed of a string or a wire, and one end thereof is connected to the hook 9 and the other end is connected to the rear portion of the succeeding carriage 33, and the hook 91 is connected to the connecting pin by pulling operation. When the succeeding carriage 33 is moved backward in a state in which the hook 91 is detached, the connection with the carriage 26 is released.
12 to 15, reference numeral 36 denotes a stopper member that also serves as a scraper provided at the rear end of the carriage 26, and an upper portion of the stopper member projects upward from the seedling box placement surface 39 of the carriage 26. It can be retracted so as to be lower than the placement surface 39.
[0046]
The stopper member 36 is formed of a metal, rubber material or plastic, which is formed into a band plate shape, an upper portion of the band plate having a wave shape or an uneven shape, or a bar material bent into a U shape. The middle part in the vertical direction is supported by the fulcrum shaft 92 at the rear upper part of the carriage 26 so as to be swingable around the horizontal axis, and the upper end thereof protrudes from the seedling box mounting surface (conveyor surface) 39 by a coil spring or the like. It is energized to do.
The retracting means 37 is a protruding member provided at the front portion of the succeeding carriage 33. When the succeeding carriage 33 is brought closer to the carriage 26 from the state of FIG. 15, the retracting means 37 comes into contact with the lower side of the stopper member 36. Then, it is rocked against the coil spring, and the upper part of the stopper member 36 is moved below the seedling box mounting surface 39 (state shown in FIG. 14).
[0047]
The stopper member 36 prevents the seedling box N from falling from the seedling box mounting surface 39 when the subsequent carriage 33 is not connected to the carriage 26, and when the subsequent carriage 33 is connected to the carriage 26, Retreat so that the seedling box N can be delivered to and from the subsequent carriage 33.
By forming the upper edge of the stopper member 36 in a wave shape or an uneven shape, the stopper member 36 can be made to function as a scraper that scratches the bottom of the seedling box N and drops the attached soil.
[0048]
The stopper member 36 is provided at the rear end of the inclined conveyor mechanism 4 and the retracting means 37 is provided at the front end of the carriage 26. Conversely, the stopper member 36 is provided at the front end of the carriage 26 and the retracting means 37 is provided at the inclined conveyor. When the rear carriage 33 is provided at the rear end of the mechanism 4 or when the rear carriage 33 is further connected to the rear portion of the rear carriage 33, the stopper member 36 is provided at the rear end of the front rear carriage 33, and the retracting means 37 is provided at the front end of the rear subsequent carriage 33. It may be provided.
In any case, since there are seedling boxes N laid on the left and right sides of the seedling box ground processing apparatus 1 in the nursery, the retracting means 37 is moved by moving the carriage 26 or the succeeding carriage 33 behind the stopper member 36. It is preferable to operate the stopper member 36 so that the stopper member 36 can be automatically retracted or protruded.
[0049]
Further, the carriage 26 and the succeeding carriage 33 may be provided with stopper members 36 higher than the seedling box mounting surface 39 on the left and right sides so as to be fixed or retractable to a position lower than the seedling box mounting surface 39.
Next, the processing operation of the seedling box N in the seedling box ground processing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment described above will be described.
When collecting the seedling boxes N in which a large number of sheets are laid in rows or horizontally in the nursery, the inclined conveyor mechanism 4 is raised to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. The ground treatment apparatus 1 is moved to the nursery, and arranged parallel to the front-rear direction of the seedling box N.
[0050]
At this time, the carriage 26 may be connected to the machine body 53 in advance or may be connected at the nursery, and the carriage 26 is attached to the moving vehicle body 2 with the front wheel 27F lifted during the movement and the seedling box collection operation. Since they are connected, they follow the steering of the moving vehicle body 2 well.
The inclined conveyor mechanism 4 is lowered by the lifting means 24 to ground the ground sled body 50, the tip 17a of the claw member 17 is substantially grounded, the rotating body 9 of the lifting means 5 is brought close to the ground, and the moving vehicle body 2 is moved in this state. Move forward.
As the moving vehicle body 2 moves forward, the tips 17a of the many claw members 17 are simultaneously hooked on the edge Na of the plurality of seedling boxes N. When the moving vehicle body 2 further moves forward, each pick-up member 15 swings backward in a substantially linear posture, lifts the end of each seedling box N, and the claw member 17 comes into contact with the horizontal bar 68 of the actuating means 20, thereby The stability switching means 19 is activated and the pick-up member 15 is folded in two, the claw member 17 jumps up and disengages from the seedling box N with respect to the arm member 18, and drops the seedling box N onto the conveyor means 3.
[0051]
The pick-up member 15 in the folded position is returned to a substantially linear posture by the operation of the swinging means 21, and the pick-up member 15 returns to the next seedling when the horizontal bar 72 of the swinging means 21 returns to the original position. It is returned to the hanging posture that can be engaged with the box N.
When the pick-up member 15 fails to pick up the seedling box N, or when the pick-up mechanism 7 is not provided, the rotating body 9 of the lifting means 5 contacts the seedling box N on the ground while rotating, and the protrusion 8 has an edge. The seedling box N is strongly lifted by engaging with the part Na, and the seedling box N is placed on the conveyor means 3 with vertical vibration by intermittent engagement by the protrusion 8.
[0052]
When the protrusion 8 of the rotating body 9 protrudes from the conveyor surface 38 of the conveyor means 3, the seedling box N placed on the conveyor means 3 is lifted by the lifting means 5 even if it is picked up by the pick-up member 15. Since the object is intermittently engaged with the protrusion 8 and is vibrated, the soil adhering to the bottom is removed.
The seedling box N placed on the conveyor means 3 is sent to the rear upper part of the conveyor means 3 by the forward rotation operation of the conveyor means 3 and transferred to the carriage 26 until it is stopped by the stopper member 36 at the rear end of the carriage 26. The seedling box mounting surface (conveyor surface) 39 is stored. The seedling box N on the carriage 26 is artificially taken out. At the time of taking out, the upper edge of the stopper member 36 is used as a scraper, and the adhered soil on the lower surface of the seedling box N is removed.
[0053]
When the succeeding carriage 33 is connected to the carriage 26, the succeeding carriage 33 is brought close to the rear of the carriage 26, connected by the subsequent connecting means 34, and the stopper member 36 is retracted below the seedling box mounting surface 39 by the retracting means 37. Let
When the succeeding carriage 33 on which the collected seedling box N is placed is separated from the carriage 26 and taken out from the nursery, the operating means 35 is operated from directly behind the succeeding carriage 33 to disconnect the subsequent connecting means 34.
When the seedling box N is deployed in the nursery, the pick-up mechanism 7 is not used. Therefore, the swinging means 21 is operated to lift the hanging-up pick-up member 15 upward and the lifting means 5 is not used. The protrusion 8 of the body 9 is stopped without protruding from the conveyor surface 38 of the conveyor means 3.
[0054]
Then, in a state where the inclined conveyor mechanism 4 is raised to the solid line position in FIG. 11 by the lifting means 24, the seedling box ground treatment apparatus 1 is moved to the laying end of the nursery, and the inclined conveyor mechanism 4 is lowered by the lifting means 24. The ground sled body 50 is grounded, and the rotating body 9 of the lifting means 5 is brought close to the ground.
The seedling box N may be placed on the carriage 26 and the subsequent carriage 33 in advance, or may be placed later, while the seedling box N is fed from the carriage 26 on the conveyor means 3 while being reversed. In this state, the moving vehicle body 2 is moved backward, and the seedling boxes N are sequentially deployed from the conveyor means 3 to the ground.
[0055]
FIG. 16 shows a second embodiment of the seedling box ground processing apparatus 1, and only differences from the first embodiment will be described next.
The inclined conveyor mechanism 4 has a conveyor surface 38 of the conveyor means 3 having a medium-high shape to form a front steep conveyor surface 38F and a rear gently inclined conveyor surface 38R, and the inclination of the seedling box N that is inclined when picked up. The angle is gradually reduced so that it can be smoothly transferred to the carriage 26 having a substantially horizontal or rearward-facing placement surface.
The conveyor frame 55 of the inclined conveyor mechanism 4 is pivotally supported by the rear connecting means 25R with respect to the machine body 53, and the front connecting means 25F can be moved relative to the vertical direction. It swings around the connecting means 25F.
[0056]
The support frame 6 is divided into two front and rear parts, and the front support frame 6F that supports the pickup mechanism 7 is attached to the rear support frame 6R so that the front and rear positions can be adjusted, and the front and rear positions of the pickup mechanism 7 with respect to the inclined conveyor mechanism 4 are appropriately set. It can be adjusted.
A guide member 94 that guides the left and right positions of the carriage 26 when the carriage 26 is connected is provided at the rear part of the moving vehicle body 2, and a guide member 95 that guides the left and right when connecting the subsequent carriage to the rear part of the carriage 26. Is provided.
The connecting means 96 for connecting the carriage 26 to the moving vehicle body 2 has the same structure as the subsequent connecting means 34 in the above-described embodiment, and is a hook 98 pivotally supported by the carriage 26 on a connected rod 97 provided on the moving vehicle body 2. The hook 98 can be released from the rear portion of the carriage 26 by operating means 99 such as a string, a wire, or a rod.
[0057]
In the carriage 26, four lower struts 101 are provided upright on a base portion 100 having front and rear wheels 27 </ b> F and 27 </ b> R, and the upper portions of the four connecting struts 103 are pivotally supported on the roller conveyor portion 102. 103 is inserted into the lower support column 101 and fixed with bolts or the like. The connection support column 103 is connected to the lower support column 101 so that the height position can be freely adjusted, and the seedling box mounting surface 39 of the roller conveyor unit 102 is placed horizontally. The posture can be changed to a backward downward inclined posture.
A succeeding carriage having a seedling box mounting surface that is inclined backward and downward can also be connected to the carriage 26.
[0058]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation can be carried out. For example, the configuration and modification of the first and second embodiments may be rearranged, or the seedling box N may be deployed and collected only by the inclined conveyor mechanism 4 without connecting the carriage 26 and the subsequent carriage 33. Also good.
When the lifting means 5 is provided together with the pick-up mechanism 7, it serves as an auxiliary means for picking up the seedling box N. However, the pick-up mechanism 5 alone may be used to collect the seedling box N without providing the pick-up mechanism 7. In the case of the lifting means 5 alone, it becomes a vibration means, and even when it is used together with the pick-up mechanism 7, if the protrusion 8 protrudes from the conveyor surface 38, it becomes a vibration means, but the belt 56 is locally attached to the conveyor means 3. A vibration means for moving up and down can also be provided separately.
[0059]
The grounding body 50 preferably has a sled shape that does not sink the airframe in soft ground, but other grounding bodies such as a grounding wheel may be used.
The driving device 42 includes an engine and a generator, and the inclined conveyor mechanism 4, the pick-up mechanism 7, the crawler traveling device 54, and the like use electric motors, but may be configured to be driven by a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor. Good.
The carriage 26 and the succeeding carriage 33 use roller conveyor carriages, but may be a carriage having a belt conveyor or other conveyor surface.
[0060]
When the seedling box N is developed by reversing the conveyor means 3, the lifting means 5 may be removed, and the conveying speed of the conveyor means 3 may be the same as the moving speed of the moving vehicle body 2.
The horizontal distance between the protrusions 8 of the rotating body 9 in the lifting means 5 and the horizontal distance between the pick-up members 15 in the pick-up mechanism 7 are determined whether the seedling box N is placed vertically or horizontally. Even if there is, it is set as a dual-use specification so that two or more are hooked to one seedling box N, but it can be made a special specification for vertical installation and horizontal installation, or it can be changed or adjusted It can also be configured to switch between the vertical support state and the horizontal support state.
[0061]
Although the driving device 42 is mounted on the moving vehicle body 2, the engine and the generator may be provided as separate devices, and the seedling box ground processing device 1 may be supplied with a power cable or supplied from a power line. Good.
[0062]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention described in detail above, first, since the lifting means 5 is provided at the front end of the inclined conveyor mechanism 4, even if the seedling roots of the seedling box N are tangled with the ground, the lifting means 5 is reliably and continuously provided. Can be lifted and processed.
Secondly, since the lifting means 5 is rotatably provided at the front end of the inclined conveyor mechanism 4, even if the seedling root of the seedling box N is entangled with the ground, the lifting means 5 is surely lifted and transported. It can be treated and the attached soil can be removed by applying vibration.
[0063]
Thirdly, since the pick-up mechanism 7 is provided prior to the lifting means 5, the seedling box N can be collected in two stages, and it is possible to eliminate a collection error.
Fourthly, since the lifting means 5 is formed by the rotating body 9 having the protrusions 8 on the outer peripheral surface with an axial interval, a mechanism for lifting the seedling box N can be easily configured and driven easily.
Fifth, since the rotary member 9 is provided with the cross-section deformed members 10 having circumferential irregularities on the outer peripheral surface at intervals in the axial direction, the rotary body 9 can be configured easily.
[0064]
Sixth, since the rotator 9 is configured by providing a protrusion 8 on a bar-shaped member having an elliptical cross section, the rotator 9 can be easily formed by reliably engaging and lifting the edge Na of the seedling box N.
Seventh, since the power is transmitted from the conveyor means 3 to the lifting means 5 by the transmission means 11, the lifting means 5 can be driven by the conveyor means 3, and the seedling box N is lifted at the conveying speed by the lifting means 5, or quickly lifted. Can be.
Eighth, since the conveying speed of the conveyor means 3 is synchronized or asynchronous with the moving speed of the moving vehicle body 2 by the control means 12, the conveyor means 3 can be set to an optimum conveying speed for seedling box processing.
[0065]
Ninth, since the conveyor means 3 can be rotated forward and backward, the conveyor means 3 can be rotated forward to recover the seedling box N, and the seedling box N can be unfolded from the conveyor means 3 to the ground.
Ninth, when the conveyor means 3 is reversed and the seedling box N is deployed on the ground, the lifting means 5 can be stopped so as not to obstruct the development of the seedling box N.
Eleventh, since the inclined conveyor mechanism 4 is provided with the vibration means 5, the seedling box N picked up by the pick-up mechanism 7 and placed on the inclined conveyor mechanism 4 is vibrated by the vibration means 5 to remove the adhered soil. Can be collected and transported while paying off.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall side view showing an embodiment of the present invention in which a cart is connected.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same.
FIG. 3 is an overall side view showing an embodiment of the present invention with a carriage removed.
FIG. 4 is an overall plan view of the same.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the front part of the apparatus at the start of picking up the seedling box.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the front portion of the apparatus when picking up the seedling box is completed.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pick-up mechanism.
FIG. 8 is a side view of the lifting means.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a rotating body.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view provided with auxiliary support means.
FIG. 11 is a side view showing a lifting posture of the inclined conveyor mechanism.
FIG. 12 is a side view showing a carriage and a subsequent carriage.
FIG. 13 is a plan view of the same.
FIG. 14 is a side view showing a state when the stopper and carriage connection structure is connected.
FIG. 15 is a side view showing the unconnected state.
FIG. 16 is a side view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a first modification of the rotating body.
FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a second modification of the rotating body.
FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a third modification of the rotating body.
FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing a fourth modification of the rotating body.
FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing a fifth modification of the rotating body.
FIG. 22 is a side view showing a first modification of the connecting means.
FIG. 23 is a side view showing a second modification of the connecting means.
FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view of the same.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Seedling box ground processing equipment
2 Moving body
3 Conveyor means
4 Inclined conveyor mechanism
5 Lifting means
6 Support frame
7 Picking up mechanism
8 Projections
9 Rotating body
11 Transmission means
12 Control means
15 Picking up parts
16 Switching mechanism
17 Claw member
18 Arm member
19 Unstable switching means
20 Actuating means
21 Swing means
24 Lifting means
25 Connecting means
26 trolley
N seedling box
Na edge

Claims

An inclined conveyor mechanism having an inclined conveyor means that rises rearward on the moving vehicle body is provided, and is engaged with an edge of a seedling box that is deployed on the ground at the front end of the inclined conveyor mechanism and on the front side of the conveyor means. And has lifting means for lifting ,
The support frame protruding forward from the conveyor frame of the inclined conveyor mechanism is provided with a pick-up mechanism that engages and lifts the edge of the seedling box prior to the lifting means and places the seedling box on the lifting means and the conveyor means. The seedling box ground processing apparatus characterized by having.

An inclined conveyor mechanism having an inclined conveyor means that rises backward on the moving vehicle body is provided, and is rotated at the front end of the inclined conveyor mechanism at the edge of the seedling box that is deployed on the ground at the front side of the conveyor means. While having a lifting means to intermittently engage and lift ,
The support frame protruding forward from the conveyor frame of the inclined conveyor mechanism is provided with a pick-up mechanism that engages and lifts the edge of the seedling box prior to the lifting means and places the seedling box on the lifting means and the conveyor means. The seedling box ground processing apparatus characterized by having.

The support frame protrudes forward and upward from the conveyor frame, and the pick-up mechanism has a pick-up member whose upper part is pivotally supported by the support frame and whose lower end can be engaged with the edge of the seedling box, and this pick-up member is supported It swings backward from the acting posture that substantially hangs down from the frame and engages with the edge of the seedling box, and is swingable until it is detached from the edge and the seedling box is placed on the lifting means and the conveyor means. The seedling box ground processing apparatus of Claim 1 or 2.

The seedling box ground treatment apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lifting means is formed of a rotating body having protrusions on the outer peripheral surface with an axial interval.

5. The seedling box ground treatment apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the rotating body is provided with cross-sectionally deformed members having circumferential irregularities on the outer circumferential surface at intervals in the axial direction.

The rotating body is formed of a rod-shaped member having an elliptical cross section, and is provided with a protrusion that fits within the outer peripheral rotation area of the largest diameter portion of the bulging part, with an axial interval on the outer surface of the bulging part. The seedling box ground processing apparatus of Claim 4 characterized by the above-mentioned.

The seedling box ground processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising transmission means for transmitting power from the conveyor means to the lifting means synchronously or asynchronously.

The seedling box ground processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising control means for synchronizing or asynchronously conveying the conveying speed of the conveyor means with the moving speed of the moving vehicle body.

The seedling box ground treatment apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the conveyor means is capable of forward and reverse rotation.

10. The seedling box ground treatment apparatus according to claim 9, wherein when the conveyor means is reversed, the lifting means can be stopped.