JP6979924B2 - Field work machine - Google Patents

Description

In the present invention, a supply device for supplying agricultural materials to a field includes a discharge section for supplying agricultural materials to the field, a transport pipeline for guiding agricultural materials to the discharge section, and a blower for supplying transport wind to the transport pipeline. With respect to field work machines equipped with.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a rice transplanter equipped with a fertilizer application device, and guides an agricultural material (fertilizer in the document) to a discharge section (where the groove making device 29 in the document is located). The hose 30) is provided with a shutter (shutter mechanisms D and E in the literature). An impeller (reference numeral 58 in the document) is provided on this shutter, and fertilizer is sequentially supplied to the field by rotating the impeller. Depending on the configuration in which the shutter is provided, even if the transport pipeline is long, there is a risk that a supply shortage of agricultural materials will occur at the timing of supply start, or an oversupply of agricultural materials will occur at the timing of supply stop. It will be resolved.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-146109

In order for agricultural materials to be suitably supplied to the field, it is desirable that the transport wind in the transport pipeline flows stably without being disturbed. However, in the shutter of Patent Document 1, since the impeller is always located in the cross section in the middle of the transport pipeline, the transport wind in the transport pipeline is blocked by the impeller. For this reason, the transport wind in the transport pipeline becomes turbulent, and the agricultural material may not be supplied to the field as intended by the worker, resulting in uneven discharge of the agricultural material in the discharge section.

In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a field work machine in which agricultural materials are suitably supplied to a field without causing unevenness in the supply of agricultural materials.

The field work machine of the present invention
A supply device that supplies agricultural materials to the field includes a discharge unit that supplies the agricultural materials to the field, a transport pipeline that guides the agricultural materials to the discharge unit, and a blower that supplies transport air to the transport pipeline. , Is provided,
An open state in which the cross section of the transport pipeline is opened to allow the passage of the agricultural material to the transport pipeline, and a blockage in which the cross section of the transport pipeline is closed to store the agricultural material in the transport pipeline. A shutter with a closed surface that can be switched between states is provided ,
Of the transport pipeline, a throttle portion for narrowing the cross-sectional area of the cross section of the transport pipeline is formed on the inner wall adjacent to the shutter on the upstream side in the transport direction.
A swing fulcrum that has an axis at one end of the outer circumference of the transport pipeline where the shutter is located, in a direction perpendicular to or substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the transport pipeline, and swings the shutter. Is provided,
The inner wall adjacent to the downstream side in the transport direction is provided with a retracting portion that bulges outward from the inner wall of the portion narrowed by the throttle portion, and the swing fulcrum is located at the retracting portion .

According to the present invention, the shutter is configured to be switchable between an open state and a closed state, and the cross section of the transport line is opened when the shutter is in the open state. In this state, the transport wind in the transport pipeline flows stably without being disturbed, and the discharge of agricultural materials in the discharge section becomes uniform. Further, when the shutter is closed, agricultural materials are stored in the transport pipeline. Therefore, the agricultural material in the transport pipeline is supplied to the field without delay at the timing when the supply of the agricultural material is started, and the agricultural material in the pipeline is blocked by the shutter at the timing when the supply of the agricultural material is stopped. As a result, it is possible to realize a field work machine in which agricultural materials are suitably supplied to the field without causing unevenness in the supply of agricultural materials.

In the present invention
It is preferable that the closed surface is formed so that the transport air can pass through.

If the shutter is blocked and the flow of the transport air in the transport line is obstructed, surging may occur in the transport line and the agricultural materials stored in the transfer line may leak to other places. There is. In addition, the flow of the transport air in the transport pipeline is obstructed, so that the transport air in the transport pipeline becomes turbulent, and in particular, the supply of agricultural materials when the shutter is switched from the closed state to the open state. May cause unevenness. In this configuration, the closed shutter allows the passage of the transport air while storing the agricultural materials in the transport pipeline, so that the transport air in the transport pipeline flows stably without being disturbed and is used for agriculture. The material is suitably supplied to the field.

In the present invention
It is preferable that the closed surface is formed in a mesh shape.

With this configuration, it is possible to form a closed surface through which the conveyed air can pass.

In the present invention
An air escape pipeline that branches from the middle of the transport pipeline and is capable of splitting the transport air is provided.
It is preferable that the shutter is provided on the side of the transport line where the discharge portion is located, with respect to the branch point of the air escape line.

With this configuration, even when the shutter is closed, the transport air is diverted to the air escape pipeline, so the amount of transport air passing through the shutter does not become excessive, and the transport air in the transport pipeline does not become excessive. The flow becomes stable.

In the present invention
When the shutter is in the closed state, it is preferable that a gap is formed between the inner wall of the transport pipeline and the side portion of the outer periphery of the closed surface facing the inner wall.

When a large amount of agricultural material passes through the transport pipeline, if the closed surface is switched from the open state to the closed state, the free end of the closed surface may bite the agricultural material, and then the closed surface may not be able to swing. There is. With this configuration, even while the closed surface is being switched from the open state to the closed state, the agricultural material can pass through the gap between the closed surface and the inner wall, so that the closed surface may bite the agricultural material. Be avoided.

In the present invention
In the case before Symbol shutter is closed, the diaphragm portion so as to overlap the outer peripheral side of the closing surface in the conveying direction when viewed, it is preferable that is narrowed as the downstream side in the conveying direction.

In this configuration, when the shutter is closed, the agricultural material is stored near the center of the cross section in the transport pipeline, so that the agricultural material is stored unevenly toward the outer periphery of the cross section in the transport pipeline. In comparison with, the above-mentioned biting of agricultural materials is preferably avoided.

In the present invention
Before Symbol closed surface, it is preferable that the swing fulcrum is swingably configured axis.

In this configuration, since the swing fulcrum of the closed surface is provided on the outer periphery of the transport pipeline, the flow of the transport air is not obstructed as compared with the configuration in which the swing fulcrum is provided on the cross section of the transport pipeline. .. Therefore, the flow of the conveyed air becomes more stable when the shutter is in the open state.

In the present invention
In the transport pipeline, the portion where the shutter is located is inclined with respect to the vertical direction.
It is preferable that the swing fulcrum is provided on the upper side of the cross section of the transport pipeline.

Since the agricultural material tends to be biased toward the lower side of the cross section of the transport pipeline due to gravity, this configuration reduces the possibility that the agricultural material will be caught on the closed surface or the swing fulcrum.

In the present invention
It is preferable that the supply device is provided with a motor drive mechanism capable of switching the state of the shutter.

With this configuration, the shutter switching operation can be automated, and the opening / closing speed and swing angle of the opening / closing surface can be controlled with high accuracy.

In the present invention
It is preferable that the supply device is provided with an electromagnetic drive mechanism capable of switching the state of the shutter.

With this configuration, the shutter switching operation can be automated.

It is an overall side view of a rice transplanter. It is an overall plan view of a rice transplanter. It is a side view of the transport pipeline which extends over a fertilizer application device and a seedling planting device. It is a top view of the transport pipeline which extends over a fertilizer application device and a seedling planting device. It is a side view of a transport line and a shutter in a seedling planting apparatus. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5 showing a front sectional view of the shutter. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 5 showing a vertical sectional view of a transport line and a shutter. It is a block diagram about the control part of a shutter opening and closing. It is a flowchart about the closing operation of a shutter. It is a flowchart about opening operation of a shutter.

[Basic configuration of field work machine]
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Here, a passenger-type rice transplanter will be described as an example of the field work machine of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the present embodiment, the arrow "F" is the front direction of the traveling machine 1, the arrow "B" is the rear direction of the traveling machine 1, and the arrow "L". Is to the left of the traveling machine 1, and the arrow "R" is to the right of the traveling machine 1.

The passenger-type rice transplanter includes a traveling machine 1 having a pair of left and right steering wheels 2 and a pair of left and right rear wheels 3, and an eight-row planting type seedling planting device W as a work device capable of planting seedlings in a field. And are provided. The pair of left and right steering wheels 2 are provided on the front side of the traveling machine 1 so that the direction of the traveling machine 1 can be changed and operated, and the pair of left and right rear wheels 3 are provided on the rear side of the running machine 1. Has been done. The seedling planting device W is movably connected to the rear end of the traveling machine body 1 via a link mechanism 5 that moves up and down by the expansion and contraction operation of the lifting hydraulic cylinder 4.

An openable / closable bonnet 6 is provided at the front portion of the traveling machine body 1. At the tip position of the bonnet 6, a rod-shaped center mascot 7 is provided as a guide for traveling along an index line (not shown) drawn on the field by a marker (not shown). The traveling machine body 1 is provided with a machine body frame 1F extending in the front-rear direction, and a support support column frame 8 is erected at the front portion of the machine body frame 1F.

The engine E is provided in the bonnet 6. Although not described in detail, the power of the engine E is transmitted to the steering wheels 2 and the rear wheels 3 via the transmission provided in the machine body, and the power after the shifting is an electric motor-driven planted clutch (not shown). It is transmitted to the seedling planting device W via.

The eight-row planting type seedling planting device W is provided with four transmission cases 10, eight rotating cases 11, a ground leveling float 12, a seedling loading platform 13, and a ground leveling rotor 14. The rotary case 11 is rotatably supported on the left side portion and the right side portion of the rear portion of each transmission case 10. A pair of rotary planting arms 15 are provided at both ends of each of the rotating cases 11. The ground leveling float 12 prepares the ground surface by following the ground surface of the field on the ground, and is provided in a plurality of seedling planting devices W. A mat-shaped seedling for planting is placed on the seedling stand 13.

The seedling planting device W drives each rotary case 11 to rotate by the power transmitted from the transmission case 10 while driving the seedling stand 13 back and forth laterally, and planting each from the lower part of the seedling stand 13. Seedlings are alternately taken out by the arm 15 and planted on the surface of the field. The seedling planting device W is configured to plant seedlings by a planting arm 15 provided in a plurality of rotating cases 11. When there are four rotating cases 11, it is a four-row planting type, when there are six rotating cases 11, it is a six-row planting type, when there are eight rotating cases 11, it is an eight-row planting type, and there are ten rotating cases 11. In the case of individual, it is a ten-row planting type.

Two spare seedling stands 16 are provided on the left and right sides of the bonnet 6 in the traveling machine 1. The spare seedling stand 16 is configured as a rail type on which spare seedlings for replenishing the seedling planting device W can be placed. A pair of left and right spare seedling frames 17 as tall frame members supporting the spare seedling stand 16 are provided on the left and right side portions of the bonnet 6 in the traveling machine body 1, and the upper portions of the left and right spare seedling frames 17 are connected to each other. It is connected at 18.

The traveling machine 1 is provided with a satellite positioning unit 19. The satellite positioning unit 19 uses GPS (Global Positioning System), which is a well-known technology, as an example of a satellite positioning system (GNSS: Global Navigation Satellite System) that receives radio waves from a navigation satellite and detects the position of an aircraft. Then, find the position of the aircraft. The satellite positioning unit 19 is attached to the connecting frame 18 in a state of being located at the front portion of the traveling machine body 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the satellite positioning unit 19 is supported at a high position by the connecting frame 18 and the preliminary seedling frame 17. As a result, there is little possibility that reception failure will occur in the satellite positioning unit 19, and the reception sensitivity of radio waves in the satellite positioning unit 19 can be increased.

A boarding unit 20 for performing various driving operations is provided in the central portion of the traveling machine body 1. The boarding section 20 is provided with a driver's seat 21, a steering handle 22, a main speed change lever 23, and an operation lever 24. The driver's seat 21 is provided in the central portion of the traveling machine body 1 and is configured so that passengers can take a seat. The steering handle 22 is configured so that the steering wheel 2 can be steered by an artificial operation. The main shift lever 23 is configured to be capable of switching forward / backward and changing the traveling speed. The operation lever 24 switches the raising and lowering operation of the seedling planting device W and the switching between the left and right leveling rotors 14. The steering handle 22, the main shift lever 23, the operation lever 24, and the like are provided on the upper part of the control tower 25 located on the front side of the driver's seat 21. Steps 26 for getting on and off the passengers from the side of the aircraft are provided on both the left and right sides of the foot portion of the boarding section 20.

When the operation lever 24 is operated to the ascending position, the planting clutch (not shown) is disengaged to cut off the transmission to the seedling planting device W, and the lifting hydraulic cylinder 4 is operated to raise the seedling planting device W. .. When the operation lever 24 is operated to the descending position, the seedling planting device W descends and touches the surface of the field to stop.

When starting the rice planting work, the passenger operates the operation lever 24 to lower the seedling planting device W and starts the transmission to the seedling planting device W to start the rice planting work. Then, when the rice planting work is stopped, the operation lever 24 is operated to raise the seedling planting device W and cut off the transmission to the seedling planting device W.

[Fertilizer application device]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a fertilizer application device 30 as a supply device of the present invention is provided behind the boarding section 20, and the fertilizer application device 30 is used for seedlings planted in a field, for example, fertilizer or chemicals. Supply powders and granules that are agricultural materials such as. The fertilizer application device 30 is provided with a hopper 31, a feeding unit 32, a transport pipe line 50, a fertilizer application discharge unit 34 (discharge unit), a groove making device 35, a blower 36, and an electric drive motor 37. Has been done.

In the present embodiment, eight grooving devices 35 are provided in the vicinity of the rotating cases 11 respectively, corresponding to the eight-row planting type seedling planting device W. Grooves 35 form grooves in the vicinity of each planting strip on the field surface of the field. Eight fertilizer application / discharge units 34 are provided integrally with each groove-growing device 35, and eight transport pipelines 50 are communicated with each fertilizer application / discharge unit 34. The groove making device 35 and the fertilizer application / discharging unit 34 may be provided integrally, or the groove making device 35 and the fertilizer application / discharging unit 34 may be provided separately.

Each of the transport pipes 50 includes a first pipe 51 having rigidity, a second pipe 52 supported by the seedling planting device W and having rigidity, and a third pipe 53 having flexibility. It is composed of combinations. As shown in FIG. 4, the first pipeline 51 is connected to the lower end of the feeding portion 32, and is fed from the air introduction port 51a for receiving the conveyed air of the blower 36 and the feeding portion 32 provided in the middle of the pipeline. A fertilizer application inlet 51b for receiving the powder or granular material is formed. The second pipeline 52 is supported by a support frame (not shown) of the seedling planting device W, and sends out the powder or granular material and the transport air to the fertilizer application discharge unit 34. The third pipe line 53 is a flexible hose that connects the first pipe line 51 and the second pipe line 52 in communication with each other, and the seedling planting device W has a degree of curvature that can be freely deformed in response to an up-and-down movement. It has a simple structure. The first pipeline 51 is in a state along the horizontal direction when viewed from the side of the aircraft, and the second pipeline 52 is inclined backward and downward when viewed from the side of the aircraft.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, four hoppers 31, 31, 31, and 31 are distributed to the left and right along the lateral direction of the machine body, and a feeding portion 32 is provided below each hopper 31. Has been done. The two hoppers 31 and 31 on the right side are connected in pairs, and the two hoppers 31 and 31 on the left side are connected in pairs. Further, two feeding rolls 38, 38 can be attached to the feeding portion 32 of a single unit. That is, since the feeding roll 38 is configured to correspond to each of the eight transport pipes 50, a plurality of feeding portions 32 arranged below the hopper 31 apply fertilizer for each different planting row. It is a possible configuration. The space below each of the feeding rolls 38 communicates with the fertilizer application inlet 51b of the different transport pipelines 50.

Further, a tubular air duct 39 is provided in front of the machine body of the feeding portion 32 along the lateral direction of the machine body. The air duct 39 is connected to the discharge port of the blower 36, and the air conveyed from the blower 36 is sent to the air duct 39. Eight through holes 39a are formed in the rear side of the air duct 39 for the air introduction port 51a of the first pipeline 51 to penetrate, and the air introduction port 51a of each first pipeline 51 is the air duct 39. It is inserted in the cylinder of. The through hole 39a and the air introduction port 51a are in close contact with each other over the entire circumference, and the first pipe line 51 and the air duct 39 are configured so that the conveyed air does not leak from the through hole 39a.

Each of the feeding rolls 38 is driven by a drive motor 37, and the powder or granular material stored in the hopper 31 is fed out by the rotation of each feeding roll 38, and the powder or granular material is fed to the fertilizer application inlet 51b of each first pipe line 51. Will be guided. In the pipeline of the transport pipeline 50, the transport air flows from the air introduction port 51a to the fertilizer application discharge section 34, and the transport direction is the direction from the air introduction port 51a to the fertilizer application discharge section 34. The powder or granular material guided to the fertilizer application inlet 51b is sent to the fertilizer application discharge unit 34 by the transport air of the blower 36. In other words, even if a part of the flexible third pipeline 53 is inclined backward, the powder or granular material is not retained in the portion where the powder or granular material is inclined backward due to the transport air of the blower 36, and the second is not retained. You will be guided to the pipeline 52. Then, the powder or granular material freely falls in the pipeline of the second pipeline 52 that inclines downward. A groove is formed in the vicinity of each planting strip on the rice field surface of the field by the groove making device 35, and the powder or granular material sent to the fertilizer application discharge unit 34 is supplied to the rice field surface groove.

The configuration in which the feeding roll 38 is driven not by the belt drive of the engine E but by the electric drive motor 37 makes it easy to control the rotation speed of the drive motor 37 according to, for example, the type of fertilizer and the vehicle speed. The amount of powder or granular material supplied to the groove can be easily adjusted. Further, based on the position information acquired by the satellite positioning unit 19 and the past fertilization record, the rotation speed of the electric drive motor 37 is controlled to increase or decrease in cooperation with the position information, so that each position information can be controlled. It may be configured to adjust the amount of fertilizer applied.

The drive motor 37 is provided on the right side of the machine body of the fertilizer application device 30, and the driving force of the drive motor 37 is transmitted to the intermediate transmission shaft 41 extending to the left and right of the machine body via the gearbox 40, and the intermediate transmission shaft 41 rotates. Four hoppers 31, 31, 31, 31 are arranged in a row along the longitudinal direction of the intermediate transmission shaft 41, and four feeding portions 32, below the four hoppers 31, 31, 31, 31. 32, 32, 32 are arranged in a row. Four output gears 42, 42, 42, 42 are provided on the intermediate transmission shaft 41 corresponding to the four feeding portions 32, 32, 32, 32, and the feeding portions 32 are engaged with the respective output gears 42. A compatible input gear (not shown) is provided. The power of the intermediate transmission shaft 41 is transmitted to the respective feeding rolls 38 via the output gear 42 and the input gear, and the respective feeding rolls 38 rotate.

Further, the second pipe line 52 is provided with an air escape pipe line 60 that branches from the transport pipe line 50 and is capable of diversion of the transport air, and the second pipe line 52 is provided with a branch port 52b of the air escape pipe line 60. There is. By allowing a part of the transport air to flow into the air escape pipe 60, the pressure of the transport air in the fertilizer application discharge unit 34 is adjusted so as not to become too high. As a result, the powder or granular material is suitably supplied to the groove on the rice field surface, and the possibility that the powder or granular material is scattered outside the groove on the rice field surface due to excessive pressure is reduced. The branch port 52b branches from the transport line 50 in the direction opposite to the transport direction. Since the second pipeline 52 is inclined backward and downward in the side view, the respective branch openings 52b and the air escape pipeline 60 are inclined forward and upward in the side view. For this reason, the branch port 52b and the air escape pipeline 60 are configured so that the powder or granular material conveyed to the fertilizer application / discharge unit 34 in the transport pipeline 50 does not easily flow from the transport pipeline 50 into the air escape pipeline 60. Has been done.

[Shutter of transport line]
As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, a shutter 70 is provided in the middle of the second pipeline 52. The shutter 70 is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the branch port 52b. In other words, the shutter 70 is provided on the side of the transport pipe line 50 where the fertilizer application discharge portion 34 is located, with respect to the branch port 52b which is the branch point of the air escape pipe line 60. The shutter 70 has a closing surface 71 that closes the cross section of the transport pipeline 50, and a swing base end portion 72 that is integrally formed with the upper portion of the closing surface 71.

A swing fulcrum 54 that swingably supports the swing base end portion 72 is provided at one end of the outer periphery of the upper side of the cross section of the second pipeline 52, and the swing fulcrum 54 is provided with respect to the transport direction of the second pipeline 52. It has a vertical or substantially vertical axis X. As a result, the closed surface 71 is configured to be able to swing back and forth around the axis X. That is, the closed surface 71 is switched between an open state in which the cross section of the second pipeline 52 is opened to allow the passage of powder and granules and a closed state in which the cross section of the second pipeline 52 is closed. It is possible.

The closed surface 71 in the closed state closes the cross section of the second pipeline 52 along a direction perpendicular to or substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the second pipeline 52. In the present embodiment, since the second pipeline 52 inclines backward downward in the side view of the machine body, the closed surface 71 descends forward over the swing base end portion 72 and the free end portion of the closed surface 71 in the side view. Tilt to. In other words, in the second pipeline 52, the portion where the shutter 70 is located is inclined with respect to the vertical direction, and the swing fulcrum 54 is provided on the upper side of the cross section of the second pipeline 52. As a result, the powder or granular material cannot pass through the shutter 70, and the powder or granular material is stored in the pipeline of the second pipeline 52 in front of the shutter 70.

When the closed surface 71 is switched from the closed state to the open state, the free end portion of the closed surface 71 swings toward the side where the fertilizer application discharge portion 34 is located, and is inclined along the transport direction of the transport pipeline 50. That is, the closed surface 71 in the open state is inclined backward and downward over the swing base end portion 72 and the free end portion of the closed surface 71 in a side view. As a result, the closed surface 71 in the open state is in a state along the transport direction of the second pipeline 52, and the powder or granular material can pass through the position where the shutter 70 is located.

The closed surface 71 has a mesh-like porosity. That is, the closed surface 71 in the closed state allows the passage of the transport air through the mesh-like pores while receiving the powder particles inside the transport pipeline 50. Each hole is formed in the shape of a long hole, but it may be formed in the shape of a round hole. As a result, surging of the transport air due to the blocked state of the closed surface 71 is prevented, and for example, the possibility that a large amount of powder or granular material stored in front of the shutter 70 is sent to the air escape pipe 60 is prevented. .. Further, since the transport air in the transport pipeline 50 is unlikely to be turbulent, the possibility of uneven supply of powder or granular material when the shutter 70 is switched from the closed state to the open state is reduced.

A throttle portion 55 is formed on the inner wall of the second pipeline 52 adjacent to the shutter 70 on the upstream side in the transport direction. The cross-sectional area of the throttle portion 55 is narrowed so as to be smaller toward the downstream side in the transport direction, and the end portion on the downstream side of the throttle portion 55 (the portion indicated by the dimension β) is the outer peripheral side of the closed surface 71 in the transport direction view. Duplicate. That is, when the cross section of the second pipeline 52 is closed by the closing surface 71, the downstream end of the throttle portion 55 is closed by the closing surface 71 having a vertical dimension larger than the dimension β.

The throttle portion 55 has a lower bulging portion 55a in which the lower portion of the inner wall of the second pipeline 52 bulges inward, and an upper bulging portion 55b in which the upper portion of the inner wall of the second pipeline 52 bulges inward. Each of the lower bulging portion 55a and the upper bulging portion 55b bulges inward toward the downstream side.

The vertical dimension of the second pipeline 52 on the downstream side in the transport direction from the downstream end portion of the throttle portion 55 is discontinuously expanded with the portion indicated by the dimension β of the throttle portion 55. Further, the inner diameter of the second pipeline 52 on the downstream side in the transport direction from the downstream end of the throttle portion 55 is formed to be equal to or larger than the inner diameter α on the upstream side in the transport direction than the throttle portion 55. Has been done.

The swing fulcrum 54 is adjacent to the throttle portion 55 on the downstream side in the transport direction, and a retracting portion 56 is formed on the upper inner wall of the second pipeline 52 adjacent to the swing fulcrum 54 and the downstream side in the transport direction. ing. The retracting portion 56 bulges upward from the upper part of the second pipeline 52 by a vertical height γ in a state of being integrally formed with the second pipeline 52. That is, the height of the upper end of the retracted portion 56 is formed to be higher than the height of the upper end of the second pipeline 52 on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the throttle portion 55 by the vertical height γ in the transport direction view. Further, the retracting portion 56 is formed in a flat shape corresponding to the shape of the closed surface 71.

The swing base end 72 of the shutter 70 is hidden behind the downstream end of the throttle 55 in the transport direction, and the powder or granular material that has passed through the throttle 55 is the swing fulcrum 54 or the swing base. There is very little risk of getting caught in the end 72. Further, since the second pipe line 52 is inclined forward and downward, most of the powder or granular material passing through the pipe line of the second pipe line 52 tends to be biased to the lower side of the cross section of the second pipe line 52 due to gravity. Will be. In this state, the closing surface 71 is housed in the retracting portion 56 located on the upper side of the cross section of the second pipeline 52, so that the transport wind and the powder or granular material are not disturbed by the closing surface 71, and the throttle portion 55 is used. It is possible to pass to the downstream side in the transport direction.

When a large amount of powder or granular material passes through the pipeline of the second pipeline 52, when the closed surface 71 is switched from the open state to the closed state, the free end portion of the closed surface 71 bites the powder or granular material, and then , There is a risk that the closed surface 71 cannot swing. In order to prevent this inconvenience, a gap δ is formed between the side portion 71a of the outer periphery of the closed surface 71 in the closed state facing the inner wall of the second pipeline 52 and the inner wall of the second pipeline 52. There is. The gap δ is formed to be smaller than the bulge height dimension at the downstream end of the lower bulge portion 55a.

As described above, the above-mentioned gap δ is formed, and the lower bulging portion 55a bulges inward in the cross section from the dimension of the gap δ. As a result, when the shutter 70 is in the closed state, the powder or granular material is stored near the upper and lower centers inside the second pipeline 52, so that the powder or granular material is avoided from being caught.

A fertilizer application drive motor 73 is provided as a motor drive mechanism capable of switching the closed surface 71 of the shutter 70 between the closed state and the open state, and the fertilizer application drive motor 73 rotates the swing base end portion 72 via the shutter linkage mechanism 77. Move. The fertilizer application drive motor 73 is supported by the frame of the seedling planting device W, and the portion of the seedling planting device W on which the fertilizer application drive motor 73 is supported can be appropriately changed. The fertilizer application drive motor 73 and the shutter linkage mechanism 77 may be integrally configured as the motor drive mechanism.

A position sensor 74 (see FIG. 8) composed of, for example, a rotary encoder is provided on the rotation shaft of the fertilizer application drive motor 73 or the swing base end portion 72 of the shutter 70, and fertilizer application drive is performed based on the feedback of the position sensor 74. By adjusting the amount of rotation of the motor 73, the opening degree of the closed surface 71 can be adjusted.

[Shutter control]
As shown in FIG. 8, a control unit 75 for driving and controlling the fertilizer application drive motor 73 is provided in the traveling machine body 1 as a microcomputer system. Input values of the operation trigger 76 and the position sensor 74 are input to the control unit 75, and a drive signal is output from the control unit 75 to the fertilizer application drive motor 73 based on these input values. As the input value of the operation trigger 76, for example, when the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor (not shown) exceeds or falls below the threshold value, and when the planting clutch (not shown) is switched on / off. Is exemplified. As an input value of the position sensor 74, for example, a pulse value of an encoder is exemplified. As the output signal of the fertilizer application drive motor 73, for example, the rotation direction and the current value are exemplified. Further, in conjunction with the drive of the fertilizer application drive motor 73, the operation of the blower 36 is also switched between the operating state and the non-operating state.

The flow of drive control of the fertilizer application drive motor 73 by the control unit 75 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 shows the flow of drive control of the fertilizer application drive motor 73 for switching the closed surface 71 to the closed state. First, it is determined whether or not the vehicle speed of the traveling machine 1 has fallen below the set threshold value (step # 1). When the vehicle speed of the traveling machine 1 falls below the set threshold value (step # 1: Yes), the control unit 75 outputs a signal for instructing the rotation of the fertilizer application drive motor 73 in the direction in which the closed surface 71 is closed (step # 1: Yes). 3). In step # 3, the process of switching the operation of the blower 36 to the non-operating state is also performed at the same time, and the blowing by the blower 36 is stopped. If the vehicle speed of the traveling machine 1 is not lower than the set threshold value (step # 1: No), it is determined whether or not the planting clutch has been switched to the disengaged state (step # 2). When the planting clutch is switched to the disengaged state (step # 2: Yes), the process of step # 3 is executed. If the planting clutch has not been switched to the disengaged state (step # 2: No), the process returns to step # 1. That is, the process of step # 3 is executed depending on whether the vehicle speed of the traveling machine 1 falls below the set threshold value or the planting clutch is switched to the disengaged state. The order of processing in step # 2 of step # 1 may be changed.

FIG. 10 shows the flow of drive control of the fertilizer application drive motor 73 for switching the closed surface 71 to the closed state. First, it is determined whether or not the vehicle speed of the traveling machine 1 exceeds the set threshold value (step # 11). If the vehicle speed of the traveling machine 1 does not exceed the set threshold value (step # 11: No), the process of step # 11 is repeated. When the vehicle speed of the traveling machine 1 exceeds the set threshold value (step # 11: Yes), it is next determined whether or not the planting clutch has been switched to the engaged state (step # 12). If the planting clutch has not been switched to the engaged state (step # 12: No), the process is returned to step # 11. When the planting clutch is switched to the engaged state (step # 12: Yes), a signal for instructing the rotation of the fertilizer application drive motor 73 in the direction in which the closed surface 71 is opened is output by the control unit 75 (step # 13). ). In step # 13, the process of switching the operation of the blower 36 to the operating state is also performed at the same time, and the blower 36 blows air. That is, the process of step # 13 is executed when the vehicle speed of the traveling machine body 1 exceeds the set threshold value and the planting clutch is switched to the engaged state. The order of processing in step # 12 in step # 11 may be changed.

When the planting clutch is switched to the disengaged state (step # 2: Yes), in the process of step # 3, the closed surface 71 is switched to the closed state at high speed by rotating the fertilizer application drive motor 73 at high speed. , The control unit 75 is configured. As a result, the powder or granular material left in the transport pipe 50 cannot pass through the shutter 70 immediately after the planting clutch is switched to the disengaged state, so that the blower 36 may be stopped with a time delay. However, the possibility that extra fertilizer is applied to the surface of the field is preferably prevented.

When the vehicle speed of the traveling machine 1 falls below the set threshold value (step # 1: Yes), the rotation speed of the fertilizer application drive motor 73 in the process of step # 3 is slower than that when the planting clutch is switched to the disengaged state. The control unit 75 may be configured so as to be. With this configuration, when the traveling machine 1 stops during the planting of seedlings, the opening degree of the closed surface 71 can be gradually reduced. As a result, the fertilizer application operation is interrupted at high speed during the planting of the seedlings at the place where the traveling machine 1 stops, and the possibility that the fertilizer application amount is insufficient at the place is reduced.

Immediately after the closed surface 71 is switched to the closed state, a large amount of powder or granular material may be accumulated in the pipeline of the transport pipeline 50. In this case, when the closed surface 71 is switched to the open state at high speed, a large amount of powder or granular material is concentrated and dropped at one place on the rice field surface by its own weight. Moreover, if there is a time delay in the transport wind from the blower 36, the powder or granular material is not supplied from the fertilizer application discharge unit 34 for a while immediately after a large amount of powder or granular material falls to one place on the field surface due to its own weight, and immediately after the start of planting. There is a risk of remarkable uneven fertilization. In order to avoid this inconvenience, when the vehicle speed of the traveling machine 1 exceeds the set threshold value (step # 11: Yes) and the planting clutch is switched to the engaged state (step # 12: Yes), the step # 13. In the process, the control unit 75 is configured so that the closed surface 71 is switched to the open state at a low speed by rotating the fertilizer application drive motor 73 at a low speed. With this configuration, the opening degree of the closed surface 71 is narrowed while the transport air from the blower 36 is delayed immediately after the start of planting the seedlings, and the powder or granular material left in the transport pipeline 50 is reduced. , Gradually discharged to the surface of the field. As a result, uneven fertilization immediately after the start of planting is reduced.

[Another Embodiment]
The present invention is not limited to the configuration exemplified in the above-described embodiment, and the following will exemplify another typical embodiment of the present invention.

(1) In the above-described embodiment, the shutter 70 is configured to be provided in the second pipeline 52, but is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, the shutter 70 may be provided in the third pipeline 53.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, the closed surface 71 is formed with a mesh-like porous structure, but the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, a hole may not be formed in the closed surface 71, and a plurality of uneven surfaces may be formed in the side portion 71a so that the transport air can pass therethrough.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, a motor drive mechanism capable of switching the state of the shutter 70 is provided, but instead of the motor drive mechanism, an electromagnetic drive that can be driven by, for example, a magnetic rodless cylinder or a solenoid valve. The configuration may be provided with a mechanism.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, the closed surface 71 is configured to swing around the axis X, but is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, the closed surface 71 may be configured so that the shutter 70 can be switched between the closed state and the open state by sliding in a direction perpendicular to or substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the transport line 50.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, the shutter 70 is provided on the side of the transport pipe line 50 where the fertilizer application / discharge unit 34 is located from the branch point of the air escape pipe line 60, but the air escape pipe line 60 is provided. The configuration may be provided on the side where the feeding portion 32 is located with respect to the branching portion of the above.

(6) When the shutter 70 is in the closed state, a gap δ is formed between the inner wall of the second pipeline 52 and the side portion 71a, but the gap δ may not be formed.

(7) The above-described embodiment is not limited to rice transplanters, and can be applied to direct sowing machines, vegetable transplanters, fertilizer and chemical sprayers in fields, and the like.

The present invention is applicable to field work machines.

30: Fertilizer application device (supply device)
34: Fertilization discharge part (discharge part)
36: Blower 50: Conveyance pipeline 52: Second pipeline (conveyance pipeline)
52b: Branch port (branch point)
54: Swinging fulcrum 55: Squeezing part 60: Air escape pipeline 70: Shutter 71: Closing surface 71a: Side part δ: Gap X: Shaft core

Claims (10)

A supply device that supplies agricultural materials to the field includes a discharge unit that supplies the agricultural materials to the field, a transport pipeline that guides the agricultural materials to the discharge unit, and a blower that supplies transport air to the transport pipeline. , Is provided,
An open state in which the cross section of the transport pipeline is opened to allow the passage of the agricultural material to the transport pipeline, and a blockage in which the cross section of the transport pipeline is closed to store the agricultural material in the transport pipeline. A shutter with a closed surface that can be switched between states is provided ,
Of the transport pipeline, a throttle portion for narrowing the cross-sectional area of the cross section of the transport pipeline is formed on the inner wall adjacent to the shutter on the upstream side in the transport direction.
A swing fulcrum that has an axis at one end of the outer circumference of the transport pipeline where the shutter is located, in a direction perpendicular to or substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the transport pipeline, and swings the shutter. Is provided,
A field work machine in which a retracting portion is provided on an inner wall adjacent to the downstream side in the transport direction so as to bulge outward from the inner wall of the portion squeezed by the throttle portion, and the swing fulcrum is located in the retracting portion. The field work machine according to claim 1, wherein the closed surface is formed so that the transport wind can pass therethrough. The field work machine according to claim 2, wherein the closed surface is formed in a mesh shape. An air escape pipeline that branches from the middle of the transport pipeline and is capable of splitting the transport air is provided.
The field work machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shutter is provided on the side of the transport pipe where the discharge portion is located with respect to the branch point of the air escape pipe. Any of claims 1 to 4 in which a gap is formed between the inner wall of the transport pipeline and the side portion of the outer periphery of the closed surface facing the inner wall when the shutter is closed. The field work machine according to item 1. In the case before Symbol shutter is closed, the diaphragm portion so as to overlap the outer peripheral side of the closing surface in the conveying direction when viewed, any one of claims 1, which is narrowed as the transport direction downstream side 5 The field work machine described in. Before SL occlusion plane, the field working machine according to any one of the rocking fulcrum claim 1, which is configured to be swingable axis 6. In the transport pipeline, the portion where the shutter is located is inclined with respect to the vertical direction.
The field work machine according to claim 7, wherein the rocking fulcrum is provided on the upper side of the cross section of the transport pipeline. The field work machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the supply device is provided with a motor drive mechanism capable of switching the state of the shutter. The field work machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the supply device is provided with an electromagnetic drive mechanism capable of switching the state of the shutter.

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