JP7482822B2 - Rice transplanter - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a rice transplanter equipped with a spare seedling transport device that transports a seedling mat, which is a mat made by gathering multiple seedlings, to the seedling loading platform of the seedling planting device.

For example, the rice transplanter disclosed in Patent Document 1 is equipped with a spare seedling transport device (referred to as a "spare seedling supply device" in the document) that has a loading surface (referred to as a "belt conveyor" in the document), and the spare seedling transport device transports the seedling mat placed on the loading surface to the seedling loading platform of the seedling planting device.

JP 2020-5546 A

However, because the roots of the seedling mat are wet, the spare seedling transport device needs to transport the seedling mat without slipping. In the rice transplanter disclosed in Patent Document 1, the transport path of the spare seedling transport device is inclined upward at the rear, and in order to transport the seedling mat backward along such a transport path that is inclined upward at the rear, it is desirable to provide an anti-slip surface on the loading surface.

The object of the present invention is to provide a rice transplanter equipped with a spare seedling transport device that can transport seedling mats without slipping.

The rice transplanter of the present invention is provided with a traveling body that travels through a field, a seedling planting device that is connected to the rear of the traveling body and has a seedling loading platform on which a seedling mat made by collecting a number of seedlings into a mat shape is placed, and that plants seedlings in the field, and a spare seedling transporting device that is connected to the traveling body while being located in front of the seedling planting device and has a transport mechanism that transports the seedling mat to the seedling loading platform, the transport mechanism being provided with a loading surface portion that loads and supports the seedling mat while transporting it, the loading surface portion being provided with a number of engaging portions that protrude upward and engage and transport the seedling mat, the spare seedling transporting device being provided with a rod portion that extends along the transport direction in an area where the transport starting end of the transport mechanism is located, and the rod portion is configured to be able to be changed between a first state in which it is located below the loading surface portion in a side view, and a second state in which it is pushed up above the loading surface portion in a side view and guides the seedling mat to the loading surface portion .

According to the present invention, the mounting surface is provided with multiple locking parts, which lock with the seedling mat placed on the mounting surface. In other words, the multiple locking parts act as an anti-slip agent on the seedling mat, making the seedling mat less likely to slip on the mounting surface compared to a configuration in which the mounting surface does not have multiple locking parts. This makes it possible for the spare seedling transport device to transport the seedling mat without slipping, even if the transport path of the spare seedling transport device is inclined. This realizes a rice transplanter equipped with a spare seedling transport device that can lock and transport the seedling mat without slipping.

In the present invention , it is preferable that, when in the second state, the rod portion is located above upper ends of the plurality of locking portions in a side view .

Since the mounting surface is provided with multiple locking parts, when the seedling mat is guided to the mounting surface at the transport start end, if the seedling mat slides on the mounting surface, the roots of the seedling mat may be damaged by the locking parts. With this configuration, the rod part is configured to be able to change between a first state and a second state, and in the second state, the rod part is located above the upper ends of the multiple locking parts. This allows the seedling mat to be guided to the mounting surface while avoiding sliding contact with the multiple locking parts, making it less likely that the seedling mat will be damaged. Also, when the seedling mat is positioned on the rod part, the rod part is changed from the second state to the first state, so that the seedlings are placed on the mounting surface from above. This provides both a non-slip surface for the seedling mat and easy supply of the seedling mat to the spare seedling transport device.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the width of the placement surface portion is narrower than the width of the seedling mat when viewed in the transport direction, and that the multiple rod portions are distributed to the left and right of the placement surface portion while being positioned within the range of the width of the seedling mat when viewed in the transport direction.

With this configuration, the rod sections are positioned within the width of the seedling mat and are distributed to the left and right of the placement surface, so the rod sections can guide the seedling mat to the placement surface while supporting it on both the left and right sides without disturbing the roots of the seedling mat with the locking sections.

The rice transplanter of the invention is provided with a traveling body that travels in a field, a seedling planting device that is connected to the rear of the traveling body and has a seedling loading platform on which a seedling mat formed by collecting a plurality of seedlings into a mat shape is placed, and that plants the seedlings in the field, and a spare seedling transport device that is connected to the traveling body while being located in front of the seedling planting device and has a transport mechanism that transports the seedling mat to the seedling loading platform, the transport mechanism being provided with a loading surface section that supports and transports the seedling mat, the loading surface section being provided with a plurality of engaging sections that protrude upward to engage and transport the seedling mat, The engaging portion is provided with a plurality of first engaging portions protruding from the left and right side portions of the placement surface portion when viewed in the conveying direction, and a plurality of second engaging portions protruding from a left-right central portion of the placement surface portion when viewed in the conveying direction and configured to be larger than the plurality of first engaging portions, and each of the plurality of second engaging portions has an inclined surface portion that inclines upward relative to the placement surface portion toward the downstream side in the conveying direction when viewed from the side, and a rising surface portion that rises in a direction perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to the conveying direction across the placement surface portion and the rear end of the inclined surface portion in the conveying direction.

With this configuration, the seedling mat is firmly locked to the placement surface across the left and right sides by the first locking portions on the left and right sides and the second locking portion in the left and right center. The second locking portions in the left and right center are also larger than the first locking portions on the left and right sides, and the second locking portions have an inclined surface portion and a rising surface portion. As a result, when the seedling mat slides on the placement surface as it is guided to the placement surface at the transport start end, the degree of sliding contact between the seedling mat and the first locking portions is reduced, and the inclined surface portion of the second locking portion allows the seedling mat to slide smoothly downstream in the transport direction.

For example, if the above-mentioned rod portions are arranged on either side of the mounting surface, the seedling mat is supported by the left and right rod portions, and even if the left and right central portion is bent, the left and right central portion of the seedling mat is supported by the inclined surface portion of the second locking portion. In addition, since the seedling mat is supported by the left and right rod portions and the second locking portion, which is configured to be larger than the first locking portion, the seedling mat is guided to the mounting surface while avoiding sliding contact with the first locking portion.

In the present invention, it is preferable that each of the second locking portions is formed in a triangular shape in a side view by the inclined surface portion and the raised surface portion.

With this configuration, the inclined surface portion and the raised surface portion of the second locking portion can be easily realized.

This is a side view of a rice transplanter having a spare seedling transport device, with the front transport part of the spare seedling transport device in a lowered position. This is a side view of a rice transplanter having a spare seedling transport device, in which the front transport section of the spare seedling transport device is in an elevated position. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a rice transplanter having a spare seedling transport device. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the main parts showing the front transport section of the spare seedling transport device. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 4) showing the front transport section and scoop section of the spare seedling transport device. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 4) showing the front transport section and scoop section of the spare seedling transport device. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 4) showing the front transport section and scoop section of the spare seedling transport device. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control unit that drives a belt conveying motor. FIG. 4 is a flowchart relating to drive control of a belt conveying motor.

[Basic configuration of riding rice transplanter]
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In Fig. 1 to Fig. 3, the arrow "F" indicates the front of the aircraft, the arrow "B" indicates the rear of the aircraft, the arrow "U" indicates the upper side of the aircraft, the arrow "D" indicates the lower side of the aircraft, the arrow "L" indicates the left side of the aircraft, and the arrow "R" indicates the right side of the aircraft.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the riding rice transplanter is equipped with a traveling body C capable of traveling in a field. The traveling body C has a pair of left and right steering wheels 10, 10 and a pair of left and right rear wheels 11, 11. The pair of left and right steering wheels 10 are provided at the front of the traveling body C and are configured to freely change the direction of the traveling body C, and the pair of left and right rear wheels 11 are provided at the rear of the traveling body C. A boarding section 23 where various driving operations are performed is provided in the center of the traveling body C. The boarding section 23 is provided on the traveling body C across the width of the traveling body C and has a boarding seat 23A on which a passenger can sit. In addition, a seedling planting device W is supported and connected to the rear of the traveling body C so that it can rise and fall, and the seedling planting device W is configured to be able to plant seedlings in the field. The seedling planting device W can plant eight rows of seedlings at a time. The seedling planting device W is connected to the rear of the traveling body C via a link mechanism 17 so that it can be raised and lowered. The link mechanism 17 is raised and lowered by the extension and contraction of the lifting hydraulic cylinder 16.

At the front of the traveling body C, an engine 13 capable of driving the steering wheels 10 and rear wheels 11 for traveling, and an openable bonnet 12 are provided. The bonnet 12 has an inclined surface that slopes upward toward the rear and houses the engine 13. Although not described in detail, at least one of the steering wheels 10 and the rear wheels 11 is provided with a known HST (hydrostatic stepless transmission, not shown) as a transmission mechanism for transmitting the power of the engine 13. The power of the engine 13 is transmitted to the steering wheels 10 and rear wheels 11 via the transmission mechanism, and the power after the transmission is transmitted to the seedling planting device W via an electric motor-driven planting clutch (not shown).

The seedling planting device W is equipped with four transmission cases 18, eight rotating cases 19, a ground leveling float 21, and a seedling carrying platform 22. The rotating cases 19 are supported rotatably on the left and right sides of the rear of each transmission case 18. A pair of rotary planting arms 20 is provided at both ends of each rotating case 19. The ground leveling float 21 is used to level the rice field surface, and multiple floats 21 are provided in the seedling planting device W. Mat-shaped seedlings for planting are placed on the seedling carrying platform 22.

The seedling planting device W drives the seedling carrier 22 back and forth sideways while rotating each rotating case 19 with the power transmitted from the transmission case 18, and alternately takes out seedlings from the bottom of the seedling carrier 22 with each planting arm 20 and plants them on the rice field surface of the farm field. Although not described in detail, the seedling planting device W plants seedlings using the planting arms 20 provided on multiple rotating cases 19.

[About the spare seedling transport device]
A spare seedling transport device 30 is provided above the boarding section 23. The spare seedling transport device 30 is connected to the traveling body C while being located in front (above the front) of the seedling planting device W. The spare seedling transport device 30 has a left-right width spanning the planting rows of the seedling planting device W, and overlaps with the boarding seat 23A of the boarding section 23 in a plan view. The spare seedling transport device 30 is provided with a front transport section 31 and a rear transport section 32, and the front transport section 31 is configured to be able to swing up and down around a swing fulcrum X1 at the rear end of the machine body facing sideways.

The rear conveying section 32 is inclined so that it is positioned lower toward the rear. The front conveying section 31 is equipped with a conveying mechanism 40, which conveys a seedling mat, which is a mat formed by gathering multiple seedlings, to the rear and transfers it to the rear conveying section 32. In this embodiment, the seedling planting device W can plant eight rows of seedlings at a time, so eight conveying mechanisms 40 are arranged in parallel on the left and right corresponding to the number of rows planted by the seedling planting device W. The seedling mat transferred from the front conveying section 31 to the rear conveying section 32 is guided to the seedling placement table 22 below while sliding on the rear conveying section 32. In other words, the conveying mechanism 40 conveys it to the seedling placement table 22 via above the boarding section 23. The front conveying section 31 and the rear conveying section 32 are configured to be able to perform reciprocating lateral feed drive to the left and right in conjunction with the reciprocating lateral feed drive of the seedling placement table 22.

The traveling vehicle body C is provided with left and right side frames 24, 24, which are erected upward on both the left and right sides of the passenger seat 23A. A rear support frame section 25 is connected to the side frames 24, 24. The upper end of the rear support frame section 25 extends laterally along the swing fulcrum X1. At both left and right ends of the upper end of the rear support frame section 25, the rear support frame section 25 is bent downward, and the lower ends at both left and right ends of the rear support frame section 25 are connected to the side frames 24, 24. The rear end of the front conveying section 31 is swingably connected to the upper end of the rear support frame section 25. The front end of the rear conveying section 32 is supported by the rear support frame section 25.

Front support frame sections 26, 27 are provided on both the left and right sides of the bonnet 12. An electric hydraulic cylinder 28 and a link mechanism 33 are supported on each of the front support frame sections 26, 27. The link mechanism 33 is pivotally supported on each of the front support frame section 26 and the support receiving section 34 at the front of the front conveying section 31.

The link mechanism 33 is provided with a base boom section 33A and a tip arm section 33B, which are pivotally connected to each other. One end of the base boom section 33A is pivotally supported to the front support frame section 26, and the other end of the base boom section 33A is pivotally supported to the tip arm section 33B. The longitudinal center portion of the base boom section 33A is pivotally supported to the upper end of the electric hydraulic cylinder 28. One end of the tip arm section 33B is pivotally supported to the base boom section 33A, and the other end of the tip arm section 33B is pivotally supported to the support receiving section 34.

The electric hydraulic cylinder 28 is pivotally supported on the front support frame section 27 and the base boom section 33A, and the extension and contraction of the electric hydraulic cylinder 28 causes the base boom section 33A to swing up and down, and the support receiving section 34 to move up and down. As a result, the front transport section 31 is configured to be able to swing up and down around the swing fulcrum X1. In other words, the electric hydraulic cylinder 28 drives the front transport section 31 of the spare seedling transport device 30 to swing up and down around the swing fulcrum X1, which is located above the boarding section 23 and faces the side of the machine body.

The electric hydraulic cylinder 28 is configured to change the position of the spare seedling transport device 30 between a lowered position and an elevated position. When the electric hydraulic cylinder 28 is retracted, the base end boom section 33A and the tip arm section 33B of the link mechanism 33 are folded, and the front transport section 31 is tilted downward toward the front. In this state, the support receiving section 34 at the front of the front transport section 31 is supported and placed on the mounting frame section 35 provided in front of the front support frame section 27. This state is the lowered position of the spare seedling transport device 30.

In the lowered position, the front transport section 31 of the spare seedling transport device 30 is tilted upward and rearward. As shown by line L1 in FIG. 1, in the lowered position, the front end of the spare seedling transport device 30 is located lower than the upper end of the passenger seat 23A. Also, in the lowered position, the front end of the spare seedling transport device 30 is located lower than the upper end of the bonnet 12. In the lowered position, the front end of the spare seedling transport device 30 is located forward of the front end of the traveling vehicle body C. In this state, the operator can supply seedling mats to the spare seedling transport device 30 from the front of the vehicle body. For example, if a ridge is located in front of the vehicle body, the operator can supply seedling mats from the ridge to the spare seedling transport device 30.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the electric hydraulic cylinder 28 is extended, the base end boom section 33A and the tip arm section 33B of the link mechanism 33 are extended forward and upward, and the front conveying section 31 is aligned horizontally from front to rear.

In the raised position, the front transport section 31 of the spare seedling transport device 30 swings upward more than in the lowered position, and the front end of the spare seedling transport device 30 is positioned forward and above the boarding section 23. When the spare seedling transport device 30 is in the raised position, the height of the front end of the spare seedling transport device 30 and the height of the swing fulcrum X1 are the same or approximately the same. In this state, the front of the boarding section 23 is open. Therefore, a passenger riding on the boarding section 23 can see the field in front of the vehicle without their forward view being obstructed by the front transport section 31. This state is the raised position of the spare seedling transport device 30.

[About the transport mechanism of the spare seedling transport device]
As shown in Figs. 4 to 7, the conveying mechanism 40 includes an endless rotating belt 41 and a plurality of rollers 43. Although not shown in Figs. 4 to 7, an electric belt conveying motor 42 (see Fig. 8) is provided at the end of the conveying mechanism 40 in the conveying direction, and the belt conveying motor 42 is provided in a region below the swing fulcrum X1. A plurality of rollers 43 are arranged along the conveying direction, and each of the rollers 43 can rotate around a lateral axis of the machine body. The endless rotating belt 41 is wound around the roller 43 at the front end and the roller 43 at the rear end, and the roller 43 at the rear end is driven to rotate by the belt conveying motor 42. In other words, the belt conveying motor 42 drives the endless rotating belt 41 to rotate. The endless rotating belt 41 is driven to rotate around the roller 43 at the front end and the roller 43 at the rear end so as to circulate between the upper conveying path and the lower return path.

The surface portion of the upper transport path of the endless rotating belt 41 is the seedling mat placement surface 41s. In the upper transport path, the seedling mat is placed on the endless rotating belt 41, and the seedling mat is sent and transported toward the rear of the machine body by the rotation of the endless rotating belt 41. That is, the transport mechanism 40 is provided with a placement surface 41s that supports and transports the seedling mat, and the seedling mat is sent and transported over the placement surface 41s by the transport mechanism 40.

The width of the endless rotating belt 41, i.e., the width of the placement surface 41s, is narrower than the width of the seedling mat when viewed in the conveying direction. The front conveying section 31 is provided with sliding guide sections 31G, which are arranged on either side of the placement surface 41s. The roots of the seedling mat in the areas located on the left and right sides of the placement surface 41s come into sliding contact with the sliding guide sections 31G when being conveyed backward, but since the sliding guide sections 31G are formed into a flat surface, there is almost no friction between the roots of the seedling mat and the sliding guide sections 31G. The sliding guide sections 31G are cut out in the area where the rod section 53 described below is located, and are perforated in the areas where the seedling supply switch 45, belt switch 46, and fourth sheet detection switch 47 described below are located.

The loading surface 41s of the endless rotating belt 41 has a length that allows four seedling mats to be loaded along the transport direction. In this embodiment, the four seedling mats are referred to as the first, second, third, and fourth mats from the front. In other words, the spare seedling transport device 30 is configured to be able to store multiple seedling mats along the transport direction (front-to-back direction of the machine body). In this embodiment, eight transport mechanisms 40 are arranged in parallel on the left and right. Therefore, the spare seedling transport device 30 is configured to be able to store 32 seedling mats. The loading surface 41s of the endless rotating belt 41 has a first locking portion 44A and a second locking portion 44B formed as multiple locking portions 44.

The first engaging portion 44A protrudes from both the left and right sides of the mounting surface 41s as viewed in the conveying direction and bites into the roots of the seedling mat. The second engaging portion 44B protrudes from the left-right center of the mounting surface 41s as viewed in the conveying direction and is larger than the first engaging portion 44A.
The second locking portion 44B has an inclined surface portion 44c and a rising surface portion 44d. The inclined surface portion 44c is inclined toward the side away from the placement surface portion 41s toward the downstream side in the conveying direction. The rising surface portion 44d rises in a direction perpendicular (or approximately perpendicular) to the conveying direction between the placement surface portion 41s and the rear end portion of the inclined surface portion 44c in the conveying direction. In other words, the second locking portion 44B is formed in a triangular shape by the inclined surface portion 44c and the rising surface portion 44d when viewed from the side of the machine body. As a result, even if the front conveying section 31 is inclined downward toward the front, the seedling mat placed on the placement surface portion 41s of the endless rotating belt 41 is firmly locked and conveyed by the first locking portion 44A and the second locking portion 44B without slipping on the placement surface portion 41s. In this way, the conveying mechanism 40 is configured to convey the seedling mat backward.

[About the scooping part of the spare seedling transport device]
The front end of the spare seedling transport device 30 extends forward beyond the front end of the traveling body C.
Therefore, when the rice transplanter stops at the edge of the ridge in the field with the ridge adjacent to the front of the traveling body C, and the spare seedling transport device 30 tilts downward, the operator can supply seedling mats from the ridge to the front end of the spare seedling transport device 30. When the operator supplies seedling mats to the rice transplanter, he or she generally scoops up the seedling mats from the seedling box with a scooping board and places them on the seedling placement table 22 or a spare seedling table (not shown). In this embodiment, the spare seedling transport device 30 is used as the spare seedling table. In this embodiment, the front end of the spare seedling transport device 30 is provided with a scooping unit 50, and the operator can supply the seedling mats to the spare seedling transport device 30 without using a general scooping board. That is, the spare seedling transport device 30 is provided with the scooping unit 50 at the part where the transport start end of the transport mechanism 40 is located, and the scooping unit 50 scoops up the seedling mats placed on the seedling box from the seedling box.

As shown in Figures 4 to 7, the scooping unit 50 is provided upstream of the transport start end of the transport mechanism 40 in the transport direction. The scooping unit 50 separates the seedling mat placed in the seedling box from the seedling box. The scooping unit 50 is equipped with a plate-shaped scooping plate 51, a bottom support 52, and left and right rods 53, 53. The scooping plate 51 extends forward from the transport start end of the transport mechanism 40. The bottom support 52 is provided below the scooping plate 51.

The left and right rod portions 53, 53 are arranged on either side of the loading surface portion 41s of the endless rotating belt 41 while being positioned within the range of the width of the seedling mat when viewed in the conveying direction, and extend along the conveying direction of the conveying mechanism 40. The left and right sliding contact guide portions 31G, 31G are cut out along the extending direction of the rod portion 53 in the region where the left and right rod portions 53, 53 are located.
The rear end of each of the left and right rod portions 53, 53 serves as a swing fulcrum X2, and each of the rod portions 53, 53 is configured to be able to swing up and down about the swing fulcrum X2.

The bottom receiving portion 52 is configured so that it can abut against the bottom of the seedling box from below below the scooping plate portion 51. The scooping plate portion 51 and the bottom receiving portion 52 are separated by a distance equivalent to the height of the rising parts of the four corners of the seedling box, and a gap portion S is formed between the scooping plate portion 51 and the bottom receiving portion 52. For this reason, the scooping portion 50 is configured so that the seedling box can be inserted into the gap portion S. The worker pulls up the end of the seedling mat placed in the seedling box, and pushes the seedling box into the gap portion S with the root portion of the seedling mat positioned above the scooping plate portion 51. As a result, the seedling mat and the seedling box are separated by the scooping plate portion 51, and the seedling mat is guided to the conveying start end of the conveying mechanism 40 while sliding on the scooping plate portion 51. In this way, when the seedling box is inserted into the gap S, the scooping unit 50 is configured to separate the seedling mat from the seedling box and slide it over the scooping plate unit 51, guiding it to the transport start end of the transport mechanism 40.

The loading surface 41s of the endless rotating belt 41 is present at the transport start end of the transport mechanism 40. In other words, when an operator pushes a seedling box into the gap S, the seedling mat slides up to the loading surface 41s of the endless rotating belt 41. The seedling box is pushed in downward relative to the transport direction of the transport mechanism 40. Therefore, the seedling box pushed into the gap S is tilted backward and downward relative to the transport direction of the transport mechanism 40.

As described above, the first locking portion 44A is formed on the mounting surface 41s of the endless rotating belt 41. Therefore, if the roots of the seedling mat get caught on the first locking portion 44A while the seedling mat is sliding to the mounting surface 41s of the endless rotating belt 41, the roots of the seedling mat will become rough. To avoid such inconvenience, when the seedling mat slides to the mounting surface 41s of the endless rotating belt 41, the left and right rod portions 53, 53 lift the seedling mat upward relative to the first locking portion 44A and the second locking portion 44B. At this time, the left and right rod portions 53, 53 are pushed upward by the push-up portion P. The push-up portion P is provided in the gap portion S. In this embodiment, the push-up portion P is provided with a leaf spring member 54 and a contact member 55.

In other words, the left and right rod sections 53, 53 are configured to be able to change between a state in which they are positioned below the placement surface section 41s when viewed in the transport direction, and a state in which they are pushed up above the placement surface section 41s by the push-up section P when viewed in the transport direction and guide the seedling mat to the placement surface section 41s (hereinafter referred to as the "push-up state"). This push-up state corresponds to the "second state" of the present invention. Also, the state in which the rod section 53 is positioned below the placement surface section 41s when viewed in the transport direction corresponds to the "first state" of the present invention.

The leaf spring member 54 is supported by the front end of the scooping plate 51 and extends from the scooping plate 51 to the rear side of the gap S (the side where the seedling box is pushed in). In other words, the leaf spring member 54 extends from the tip of the scooping plate 51 toward the gap S, and is inclined so that the further away from the tip of the scooping plate 51 it is from the conveying direction, the lower it is positioned. In addition, the front ends (upper end in the conveying direction) of the left and right rod portions 53, 53 extend to the gap S, and the abutment member 55 is welded and fixed to the front end of the rod portion 53. In other words, the abutment member 55 is supported by the front end of the rod portion 53.
The abutment member 55 is adjacent to the leaf spring member 54 on the rear side of the aircraft. The abutment member 55 is provided with a sliding surface portion, which is in sliding contact with the leaf spring member 54. In this embodiment, the left and right leaf spring members 54, 54 abut against the abutment members 55, 55 of the left and right rod portions 53, 53, respectively.

As shown in Figures 5 to 7, when the seedling box is pushed into the gap S, the leaf spring member 54 is pushed up by the insertion tip of the seedling box and comes into contact with the abutment member 55. The abutment member 55 is pressed by the leaf spring member 54 and is pushed upward while sliding against the leaf spring member 54. As a result, the rod portion 53 swings upward around the swing fulcrum X2 together with the abutment member 55. In this way, the push-up portion P is provided in the gap S and pushes the rod portion 53 upward as viewed in the transport direction as the seedling box is inserted. In other words, when the seedling box inserted into the gap S presses the leaf spring member 54, the leaf spring member 54 pushes up the abutment member 55. As a result, the push-up portion P changes the rod portion 53 from a state in which it is located below the placement surface portion 41s as viewed in the transport direction to the above-mentioned pushed-up state.

It is possible that the left and right width of the seedling box is wider than at least one of the left and right widths of the transport mechanism 40 and the scooping unit 50. In such a case, it is possible that the abutment member 55 of one of the rod units 53, 53 located on both the left and right sides of the transport mechanism 40 will not abut the left and right rising parts of the seedling box, and one of the rod units 53 may not be pushed up as intended. In order to avoid such inconvenience, as shown in FIG. 4, abutment members 55A and 55B are provided as abutment members 55. The abutment member 55A is welded and fixed to the front end of one rod unit 53. The abutment member 55B is welded and fixed to the front end of each of the two rod units 53, 53. The abutment member 55B is configured to be wider than the abutment member 55A.

The abutment member 55B is welded to the front end of the left (left or right side) rod portion 53 of the right scooping portion 50 (one of the left or right sides) and the right (left or right side) rod portion 53 of the left scooping portion 50 (the other of the left or right sides) of the left scooping portion 50 (the other of the left or right sides). Therefore, the two rod portions 53, 53 connected to the abutment member 55B swing up and down integrally around the swing fulcrum X2. In a plan view, the abutment member 55B overlaps with the leaf spring member 54 of the left scooping portion 50 (one of the left or right sides) and the leaf spring member 54 of the right scooping portion 50 (the other of the left or right sides) of the left scooping portion 50 (the other of the left or right sides) of the right scooping portion 50 (the other of the left or right sides). With this configuration, even with the wide seedling boxes described above, the rods 53, 53 located on the left and right of the transport mechanism 40 to which the seedlings are being fed are firmly pushed upward by the contact between the left and right rising parts of the wide seedling box and the contact member 55B. Note that the contact member 55 shown in Figures 5 to 7 is the contact member 55A shown in Figure 4, but even if it is the contact member 55B, the rods 53 and the contact member 55B will swing as shown in Figures 5 to 7.

When the worker pushes the seedling box further into the gap S, the insertion tip of the seedling box is inserted further back than the extended end of the leaf spring member 54. At this time, the left and right rising parts of the seedling box (the left and right parts of the rising parts at the four corners) press against the abutting member 55, so that the pushing-up part P is configured to maintain the pushed-up state of the rod part 53. Then, the seedling mat moves to the mounting surface part 41s of the endless rotating belt 41 while sliding on the scooping plate part 51 and the left and right rod parts 53, 53. At this time, since the rod part 53 is in the pushed-up state, it is located above the upper ends of the multiple first locking parts 44A when viewed in the conveying direction. Therefore, the seedling mat slides above the mounting surface part 41s of the endless rotating belt 41 with the root part of the seedling mat located above the first locking part 44A. As a result, the roots of the seedling mat do not get caught on the first locking portion 44A while the seedling mat slides to the mounting surface 41s of the endless rotating belt 41. Also, the left and right central regions of the seedling mat bend, but the left and right central regions of the seedling mat slide against the inclined surface 44c of the second locking portion 44B. Because the inclined surface 44c is inclined upward toward the rear, the seedling mat does not get caught on the inclined surface 44c, and slides smoothly above the mounting surface 41s of the endless rotating belt 41 by the left and right rod portions 53, 53 and the inclined surface portion 44c. Also, because the seedling mat is supported by the left and right rod portions 53, 53 and the second locking portion 44B, which is configured larger than the first locking portion 44A, the seedling mat is guided to the mounting surface 41s while avoiding sliding contact with the first locking portion 44A.

When the worker pulls the seedling box out of the gap S with the seedling mat separated (or nearly separated) from the seedling box, the contact member 55 is no longer subjected to a pressing force, and the left and right rods 53, 53 swing downward around the swing fulcrum X2. The left and right rods 53, 53 then move downward below the mounting surface 41s of the endless rotating belt 41 when viewed in the conveying direction, and the seedling mat is placed on the mounting surface 41s of the endless rotating belt 41. With this configuration, the seedling mat slides up to the mounting surface 41s of the endless rotating belt 41 without the roots of the seedling mat getting caught in the first locking portion 44A. At this time, the seedling mat is positioned across the placement surface 41s and the scoop plate 51 of the endless rotating belt 41 in the front-to-rear direction, but when more than 50% of the seedling mat is placed on the placement surface 41s in the front-to-rear direction, the seedling mat is sufficiently locked to the first locking portion 44A and the second locking portion 44B. Then, when the endless rotating belt 41 rotates by the belt conveying motor 42, the seedling mat is sent and conveyed backward.

5 to 7, a folded surface 54a is formed on the lower part of the leaf spring member 54 (the part on the side where the extended end is located). In addition, a folded surface 55c is formed on the lower part of the abutting member 55. The folded surface 54a is bent upward on the part on the side where the extended end of the leaf spring member 54 is located. In addition, the folded surface 55c is bent upward on the lower part of the abutting member 55. In other words, the extended tip of the leaf spring member 54 and the lower part of the abutting member 55 are each bent so as to face the conveying direction side of the conveying mechanism 40.
This reduces the risk of the seedling box getting caught on the extended tip of the leaf spring member 54 or the lower part of the abutment member 55 when the worker pulls the seedling box out of the gap S, allowing the worker to smoothly pull the seedling box out of the gap S.

The leaf spring members 54, 54 are located on the left and right sides of the folded surface portion 55c of the abutting member 55B. In other words, the folded surface portion 55c of the abutting member 55B is located between the leaf spring member 54 on the left side (the other side) of the right scooping portion 50 (one of the left and right sides) and the leaf spring member 54 on the right side (one of the left and right sides) of the left scooping portion 50 (the other side) of the left scooping portion 50 (the other side).

[Regarding transport control of the transport device]
When the seedling mat is supplied from the scooping section 50 to the spare seedling conveying device 30, the conveying mechanism 40 conveys the seedling mat backward by rotating the endless rotating belt 41 with the belt conveying motor 42 so that the operator can continue to supply the seedling mat to the spare seedling conveying device 30.

3 and 4, the seedling supply switch 45 and the belt switch 46 are arranged side by side on the side of the endless rotating belt 41 at the conveying start end of the conveying mechanism 40. The separation distance between the seedling supply switch 45 and the belt switch 46 is shorter than the length of the seedling mat placed on the placement surface portion 41s of the endless rotating belt 41 in the front-rear direction. In other words, the seedling supply switch 45 and the belt switch 46 are arranged front and rear in the first area of the spare seedling conveying device 30. Therefore, when the seedling mat is supplied from the scooping unit 50 to the front of the spare seedling conveying device 30, both the seedling supply switch 45 and the belt switch 46 are stepped on by the side of the seedling mat. One of the left and right sliding contact guide portions 31G, 31G is perforated corresponding to the seedling supply switch 45 and the belt switch 46. The seedling supply switch 45 and the belt switch 46 are arranged side by side along the conveying direction of the conveying mechanism 40 and are spaced apart from each other by a distance shorter than the length of the seedling mat in the conveying direction. The seedling supply switch 45 is located in front of the belt switch 46. The seedling supply switch 45 and the belt switch 46 are so-called limit switches. A triangular member is provided on the upper part of each of the seedling supply switch 45 and the belt switch 46, and the triangular member is biased so as to protrude above the upper surface of the sliding guide part 31G. When the side of the seedling mat placed on the mounting surface part 41s of the endless rotating belt 41 steps on the seedling supply switch 45, the triangular member of the seedling supply switch 45 slides below the upper surface of the sliding guide part 31G, and the seedling supply switch 45 is turned on. Also, when the side of the seedling mat placed on the mounting surface part 41s of the endless rotating belt 41 steps on the belt switch 46, the triangular member of the belt switch 46 slides below the upper surface of the sliding guide part 31G, and the belt switch 46 is turned on. The seedling supply switch 45 and the belt switch 46 are turned ON when stepped on and are turned OFF when not stepped on. The seedling supply switch 45 detects that one seedling mat has been securely transferred from the seedling box to the front of the spare seedling transport device 30 via the scooping unit 50 by switching from the OFF state to the ON state. The belt switch 46 detects that one seedling mat has been transported backward from the front of the spare seedling transport device 30 by one seedling mat by switching from the ON state to the OFF state. In this way, the seedling supply switch 45 and the belt switch 46 detect the seedling mat at the front of the transport mechanism 40. The respective states of the seedling supply switch 45 and the belt switch 46 are sent to the control unit 60 (see FIG. 8).

A fourth sheet detection switch 47 is provided on the side of the endless rotating belt 41 at the conveying end of the conveying mechanism 40. One of the left and right sliding guide parts 31G, 31G is perforated corresponding to the fourth sheet detection switch 47. The fourth sheet detection switch 47 is also a limit switch, and a triangular member is provided on the upper part of the fourth sheet detection switch 47, and the triangular member is biased so as to protrude above the upper surface part of the sliding guide part 31G. When the side of the seedling mat conveyed to the conveying end of the conveying mechanism 40 by the endless rotating belt 41 steps on the fourth sheet detection switch 47, the triangular member slides below the upper surface part of the sliding guide part 31G, and the fourth sheet detection switch 47 is turned ON. In other words, when the fourth sheet detection switch 47 is stepped on, it is turned ON, and when it is not stepped on, it is turned OFF. With this configuration, the fourth sheet detection switch 47 detects the seedling mat at the rear end of the conveying mechanism 40. The state of the fourth sheet detection switch 47 is sent to the control unit 60 (see Figure 8).

As shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 60 controls the drive of the belt conveying motor 42 based on the detection results of the seedling supply switch 45, the belt switch 46, and the fourth sheet detection switch 47, and can automatically feed and convey the seedling mats supplied from the scoop unit 50 to the conveying start end of the conveying mechanism 40. In FIG. 8, one seedling supply switch 45, one belt switch 46, one fourth sheet detection switch 47, and one belt conveying motor 42 are shown, but eight sets of seedling supply switches 45, belt switches 46, four fourth sheet detection switches 47, and belt conveying motors 42 are connected to the control unit 60 according to the eight rows of conveying mechanisms 40. The control unit 60 is configured to drive and control the belt conveying motors 42 in each of the multiple conveying mechanisms 40 separately. The amount of seedling mats placed on the seedling placement table 22 often varies for each planting row, but with this configuration, the operator can, for example, supply seedlings only to the planting rows that need to be replenished on the seedling placement table 22. This avoids the risk of unnecessary seedling replenishment to planting rows on the seedling placement table 22 that do not require replenishment, and allows appropriate seedling replenishment to be performed on planting rows on the seedling placement table 22 that do require replenishment.

As described above, the seedling mat that has been transported to the end of the transport mechanism 40 is transported further backward, and is then sent from the rear end of the front transport section 31 to the seedling platform 22 below while sliding on the rear transport section 32. However, the seedling planting device W rolls left and right like a typical device. Therefore, if the seedling mat is supplied to the seedling platform 22 unevenly to one side, the seedling planting device W may tilt to one side overall, causing the rear transport section 32 and the seedling platform 22 to shift position left and right, and the seedling mat may not be guided properly to the seedling platform 22. To avoid such inconveniences, it is desirable to have a configuration in which the seedling mat is sent to the seedling platform 22 evenly from the rear end of the front transport section 31 to the left and right.

As shown in the flow chart of FIG. 9, the control unit 60 first judges whether the seedling supply switch 45 has been switched from an OFF state to an ON state (step #01). If the seedling supply switch 45 is in the OFF state (step #01: No), the belt conveying motor 42 is not rotated and the flow chart ends. If the seedling supply switch 45 has been switched from an OFF state to an ON state (step #01: Yes), the control unit 60 judges whether the fourth sheet detection switch 47 is in the OFF state (step #02). If the fourth sheet detection switch 47 is in the ON state (step #02: No), the belt conveying motor 42 is not rotated and the flow chart ends. If the fourth sheet detection switch 47 is in the OFF state (step #02: Yes), the control unit 60 drives the belt conveying motor 42 by a predetermined rotation amount (step #03). In this embodiment, the predetermined rotation amount is one seedling mat.
In other words, when the seedling supply switch 45 is switched from OFF to ON and the fourth sheet detection switch 47 is in the OFF state, the control unit 60 drives the belt conveying motor 42 to rotate the endless rotating belt 41 by the distance of one seedling mat.

In this embodiment, the "length of one seedling mat" is a distance that is set to be a preset length longer than the length in the transport direction of the seedling mat placed on the placement surface 41s of the endless rotating belt 41. Therefore, the multiple seedling mats placed side by side in the front-to-rear direction on the placement surface 41s of the endless rotating belt 41 are spaced apart by a predetermined distance in the front-to-rear direction without interfering with each other.
The length of one seedling mat is set to be longer than the length of the seedling mat in the front-rear direction by the dimension of the belt switch 46 in the front-rear direction, for example.

When the endless rotating belt 41 has completed rotating by one seedling mat, the control unit 60 determines whether the belt switch 46 has switched from the ON state to the OFF state (step #04). It is possible that the belt switch 46 remains ON when the endless rotating belt 41 has completed rotating by one seedling mat. In this case, it is possible that the seedling mat is unexpectedly caught during transport and is not transported as intended, remaining at the front of the spare seedling transport device 30. Even if the seedling mat is transported as intended, it is possible that a new seedling mat is placed at the front of the spare seedling transport device 30 during the transport of the seedling mat, and the belt switch 46 is stepped on by the new seedling mat. For this reason, if the belt switch 46 remains ON (step #04: No), the control unit 60 performs error processing and outputs an alarm (alarm notification). This allows the operator to notice the abnormality of the spare seedling transport device 30 and perform the work of sorting the seedling mats in the spare seedling transport device 30. When the belt switch 46 switches from the ON state to the OFF state (Step #04: Yes), the flowchart ends.

Each time a seedling mat is supplied from the scooping unit 50 to the spare seedling transport device 30, both the seedling supply switch 45 and the belt switch 46 are stepped on by the side of the seedling mat and turned ON, and the seedling mat placed on the mounting surface 41s of the endless rotating belt 41 is sent and transported backward by the length of one seedling mat. After the seedling mat has been sent and transported backward, a supply space for one seedling mat is secured at the transport start end of the transport mechanism 40. At this time, the seedling supply switch 45 is no longer stepped on by the seedling mat and returns to the OFF state, and the belt switch 46 is no longer stepped on by the seedling mat and returns to the OFF state.

9 may include a process for checking that both the seedling supply switch 45 and the belt switch 46 have returned to the OFF state. In this check process, if at least one of the seedling supply switch 45 and the belt switch 46 is in the ON state, the control unit 60 may be configured to perform error processing and output an alarm. The control unit 60 may be configured not to drive and control the belt conveying motor 42 unless the alarm is reset. In addition to the process for determining whether the seedling supply switch 45 has switched from the OFF state to the ON state in step #01, there may be a process for determining whether the belt switch 46 has switched from the OFF state to the ON state. In this case, if the belt switch 46 has not switched to the ON state, the control unit 60 may be configured to determine that the belt switch 46 is abnormal, perform error processing, and output an alarm. In this case, the control unit 60 may also be configured not to drive and control the belt conveying motor 42 unless the alarm is reset.

The seedling mat that has been sent and transported to the end of the transport mechanism 40 trips the fourth detection switch 47, which turns on. At this time, three seedling mats are placed in a row, front to back, on the loading surface 41s of one endless rotating belt 41. Even if the operator supplies the fourth seedling mat from the scooping unit 50 to the spare seedling transport device 30, the fourth detection switch 47 is in the ON state, so the result is No in step #02 of FIG. 9, and the seedling mat placed on the loading surface 41s of the endless rotating belt 41 is not sent and transported. This avoids the risk of the seedling mat being supplied to the seedling loading platform 22 in a biased left or right direction without the operator realizing it.

In addition, with the configuration of this embodiment, multiple seedling mats are spaced apart a predetermined distance in the front-to-rear direction without interfering with each other. Therefore, when the endless rotating belt 41 rotates by the amount of one seedling mat, the belt switch 46 and the fourth detection switch 47 are always switched to the OFF state. This eliminates the risk of the belt switch 46 and the fourth detection switch 47 being continuously stepped on by two seedling mats lined up one behind the other, and avoids the risk of the belt conveyor motor 42 continuing to rotate excessively due to malfunction or erroneous detection.

In this way, the control unit 60 is configured to automatically rotate the belt conveying motor 42 so that the seedling mat is conveyed backward by the distance of one seedling mat when the seedling supply switch 45 detects a seedling mat and the fourth sheet detection switch 47 does not detect a seedling mat. In addition, the control unit 60 is configured not to automatically rotate the belt conveying motor 42 when the fourth sheet detection switch 47 detects a seedling mat, regardless of the detection state of the seedling supply switch 45 and the belt switch 46.

The control unit 60 is also configured to be able to switch the belt conveying motor 42 between a forward control state and a reverse control state. In the forward control state, the control unit 60 drives and controls the belt conveying motor 42 so as to feed and convey the seedling mat to the side where the seedling placing table 22 is located. In the reverse control state, the control unit 60 drives and controls the belt conveying motor 42 so as to feed and convey the seedling mat to the side opposite the side where the seedling placing table 22 is located. With this configuration, if there are any seedlings left over after the planting work of the rice transplanter is completed, the worker can easily collect the seedling mat by switching the rotation direction of the belt conveying motor 42.

[Another embodiment]
The present invention is not limited to the configurations exemplified in the above-described embodiments, and other representative embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

(1) In the above embodiment, the first locking portion 44A and the second locking portion 44B are formed as the multiple locking portions 44, but this is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the multiple locking portions 44 may be composed of only one of the first locking portion 44A and the second locking portion 44B. In other words, it is sufficient that the placement surface portion 41s is provided with multiple locking portions 44 that protrude upward to lock and transport the seedling mat.

(2) In the above embodiment, the rod portions 53, 53 are arranged on the left and right sides of the mounting surface portion 41s, but this is not limited to this embodiment. For example, one conveying mechanism 40 may be provided with two endless rotating belts 41, 41 arranged side by side, and one rod portion 53 may be provided between the endless rotating belts 41, 41. Also, one conveying mechanism 40 may be provided with two endless rotating belts 41, 41 arranged side by side, and three rod portions 53, 53, 53 may be provided on both the left and right sides of the two endless rotating belts 41, 41 and between the endless rotating belts 41, 41. Also, a configuration in which multiple second engagement portions 44B are arranged along the conveying direction in the left and right central portions of each of the endless rotating belts 41, 41 may be used.

(3) The rod sections 53, 53 arranged on the left and right sides of the mounting surface section 41s may be connected via a connecting member facing the side of the machine body at the portion where the swing fulcrum X2 is located. This allows the left and right rod sections 53, 53 to swing integrally around the swing fulcrum X2.

(4) In the above embodiment, the rod portion 53 swings around the swing fulcrum X2 at the rear end, but the rod portion 53 may be configured to simply slide up and down without swinging around the swing fulcrum X2. Also, the rod portion 53 may be configured to swing around the swing fulcrum at the front end.

(5) In the above embodiment, the second engagement portion 44B has an inclined surface portion 44c and a rising surface portion 44d, and the rising surface portion 44d rises in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction, but is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the rising surface portion 44d may be configured to be inclined so as to approach the placement surface portion 41s toward the downstream side in the conveying direction in a side view.

(6) In the above embodiment, the second locking portion 44B is formed in a triangular shape in side view, but is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the second locking portion 44B may be formed in a rounded triangular shape in side view. Also, the inclined surface portion 44c may be formed in an arc shape (e.g., a quarter arc) in side view. And, the rising surface portion 44d may be connected to the downstream end of the arc-shaped inclined surface portion 44c in the conveying direction.

(7) In the above embodiment, the first locking portion 44A protrudes from both the left and right side portions of the mounting surface portion 41s when viewed in the conveying direction, but the first locking portion 44A may be configured to protrude from one of the left and right sides of the mounting surface portion 41s when viewed in the conveying direction. In other words, it is sufficient that the first locking portion 44A is configured to protrude from the left and right side portions of the mounting surface portion 41s when viewed in the conveying direction.

The configurations disclosed in the above-described embodiment (including other embodiments, the same applies below) can be applied in combination with configurations disclosed in other embodiments, unless a contradiction arises.
Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The present invention can be applied to a rice transplanter equipped with a spare seedling transport device that transports a seedling mat, which is a mat made by gathering multiple seedlings, to the seedling loading platform of the seedling planting device.

22: seedling placement table 30: spare seedling transport device 40: transport mechanism 41s: placement surface 44: locking portion 44A: first locking portion (locking portion)
44B: Second locking portion (locking portion)
44c: Inclined surface portion 44d: Rising surface portion 53: Rod portion C: Traveling body W: Seedling planting device

Claims (5)

A traveling machine that travels in a field;
A seedling planting device that is connected to the rear of the traveling body and has a seedling placement table on which a seedling mat formed by collecting a plurality of seedlings into a mat shape is placed, and that plants the seedlings in a field;
A spare seedling transport device is provided, which is connected to the traveling body while being located in front of the seedling planting device and has a transport mechanism for transporting the seedling mat to the seedling placement table,
The transport mechanism is provided with a loading surface portion on which the seedling mat is loaded and supported while being transported,
The loading surface portion is provided with a plurality of locking portions that protrude upward to lock and transport the seedling mat ,
The spare seedling transport device is provided with a rod portion extending along the transport direction in a region where the transport start end of the transport mechanism is located,
The rice transplanter is configured so that the rod portion can be changed between a first state in which it is positioned lower than the placement surface portion when viewed from the side, and a second state in which it is pushed up above the placement surface portion when viewed from the side and guides the seedling mat to the placement surface portion . The rice transplanter according to claim 1 , wherein the rod portion is positioned above upper ends of the plurality of engaging portions in a side view when in the second state. The width of the loading surface portion is narrower than the width of the seedling mat when viewed in the conveying direction,
The rice transplanter according to claim 2, wherein the rod portions are arranged on the left and right sides of the placement surface portion while being positioned within the width range of the seedling mat when viewed in the transport direction. A traveling machine that travels in a field;
A seedling planting device that is connected to the rear of the traveling body and has a seedling placement table on which a seedling mat formed by collecting a plurality of seedlings into a mat shape is placed, and that plants the seedlings in a field;
A spare seedling transport device is provided, which is connected to the traveling body while being located in front of the seedling planting device and has a transport mechanism for transporting the seedling mat to the seedling placement table,
The transport mechanism is provided with a loading surface portion on which the seedling mat is loaded and supported while being transported,
The loading surface portion is provided with a plurality of locking portions that protrude upward to lock and transport the seedling mat,
the plurality of locking portions include a plurality of first locking portions protruding from left and right side portions of the placement surface portion as viewed in the conveying direction, and a plurality of second locking portions protruding from a left-right central portion of the placement surface portion as viewed in the conveying direction and configured to be larger than the plurality of first locking portions;
Each of the multiple second engagement portions has an inclined surface portion that, when viewed from the side, inclines so that it moves away from the upper side relative to the loading surface portion toward the downstream side in the transport direction, and a rising surface portion that rises in a direction perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to the transport direction between the loading surface portion and the rear end of the inclined surface portion in the transport direction. The rice transplanter according to claim 4, wherein each of the second engagement portions is formed into a triangular shape in a side view by the inclined surface portion and the rising surface portion.

Images