JPH07147856A - Panel type conveying cultivator and method for operation - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a panel type conveying cultivator capable of avoiding a change into a longer and larger size while ensuring the length of conveying passages and a method for operation. CONSTITUTION:This panel type conveying cultivator is provided by installing feeding lines (16A) and return lines (16B) in mutual parallel reverse directions and lane shifters 17 for feeding each panel from each feeding line (16A) to each return line (16B) and constituting the first to the third stages. Each stock 24 is transplanted with a spacing machine 19 while exchanging the panels between the respective stages with panel servers 18. Thereby, compaction can be carried out while ensuring long conveying passages.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a panel type conveying and cultivating apparatus and an operating method, which can be used in a plant factory or the like for automating cultivation of agricultural products.

[0002]

BACKGROUND ART In the agricultural field, mechanization has been conventionally achieved by introducing various agricultural machines, but further labor saving and improvement of working environment have been demanded against the background of labor shortage in recent years. On the other hand, there is an increasing demand for high-quality crops with low pesticides from the viewpoint of environmental hygiene. As a response to such a demand, a plant factory that hydroponically cultivates crops in a building shielded from the outside world has been attempted. In such a plant factory, the influence of pests can be eliminated by shutting off from the outside, and the influence of pests in soil can be eliminated by hydroponics, and therefore the amount of pesticide used can be greatly reduced. Also,
Since it is cultivated in a building, it is possible to freely set environmental conditions such as internal temperature, humidity, light intensity, and ventilation, and it is also possible to freely set the culture solution for hydroponic cultivation. It enables efficient cultivation and harvesting.

Incidentally, as the hydroponic culture mentioned above, a method of placing a plant strain to be cultivated on a panel or the like and immersing the root extending from the lower surface side in a culture solution stretched in an aquarium has been conventionally used (special feature). See Kaihei 1-137926, etc.). However, the aquarium immersion method requires a large amount of culture solution and is economically problematic. Therefore, in recent years, a method of spraying and supplying the culture solution to the back side of a panel or the like has been used. See Kaihei No. 2-31332, etc.). In addition, in order to make it possible to transport the route from the device that puts the strains on the panel to the device that harvests while cultivating the plant, a transport cultivation device that performs spray cultivation while moving the panel is developed. ing.

[0004] Here, the strain grows and grows while being transported and cultivated, but for that purpose, a predetermined time is required. Can be secured. However, if the transport speed is slowed down, the passing amount per hour, that is, the final harvest amount per hour is reduced. Therefore, in order to secure the growth time while securing the passage amount per hour, the transport route is extended.

[0005]

However, in the case of extending the transportation route as described above, if it is extended linearly, the transportation route becomes elongated and a large site is required. There was a problem that it was difficult. In addition, planting of stocks at the entrance of the transportation route and harvesting at the exit become far apart, which leads to lengthening of pipes and the like, and there is also a problem that the movement of workers becomes complicated. Further, since the building surrounding the transportation route is also elongated, there is a problem that the internal temperature is likely to be biased, which is not preferable in terms of environmental control. An object of the present invention is to provide a panel-type transport and cultivation apparatus and an operating method that can avoid lengthening while ensuring the length of a transport path.

[0006]

The device of the present invention is a panel type transport and cultivating device for transporting and cultivating a plurality of strains in a cultivating panel, and a feed line for feeding the cultivating panel in a predetermined direction. A return line for sending the cultivation panel in a direction substantially parallel to the feed line and a reverse direction, and a lane shifter for receiving the cultivation panel sent from the sending line and sending it to the return line are provided.
With such a configuration, the transport path can be folded back, and the size can be reduced while ensuring the length. Further, it is characterized in that it has a plurality of stages according to the growth of the strain, and each stage includes the feed line, the return line, and the lane shifter. As a result, the transfer paths of the respective stages are arranged in a zigzag manner, so that further downsizing can be achieved.

Further, the lane shifter is arranged on the same side of each stage, and on the opposite side of each stage, a cultivation panel is collected from the return line outlet of the preceding stage and a new cultivation panel is introduced at the feeding line inlet of the succeeding stage. It is characterized by comprising a panel server for supplying and a transplanting device for taking out the stocks housed in the cultivation panel at the exit of the preceding stage return line and transplanting them into a new cultivation panel at the entrance of the succeeding stage feeding line. As a result, it is possible to switch the panels for each stage arranged in a zigzag manner, and it is possible to use different cultivation panels according to the growth stage of each stage. Further, the plant interval of the cultivation panel is set wider in the rear stage than in the front stage. By doing so, it is possible to expand the distance between the strains at each stage according to the degree of growth, and in particular, it is possible to easily perform bidirectional expansion for replacing the panel.

Further, rails that extend in the vicinity of the ends of the feed line and the return line in the direction intersecting with each stage and can guide the lane shifter, the panel server, and the transplantation device, and the rails arranged along the rails are provided in the respective lines. A stop position marker indicating a corresponding position, the lane shifter,
It has a panel server, a transplantation device, and positioning means formed between the floor surface on which the rail is installed and engageable at a position corresponding to each line. As a result, the lane shifter, panel server, and transplantation device can be reliably moved along the rails, each line can be identified by the stop position marker, and the line can be stopped at the position corresponding to the desired line and positioned at that position. The positioning is surely stopped by the means, and the panel loading / unloading operation with respect to each line can be performed reliably and smoothly.

According to the method of the present invention, the panel server pushes the cultivation panel into the feeding line to sequentially feed the cultivation panels on the feeding line, and the cultivation panel pushed out from the opposite side is received by the lane shifter, and the lane shifter receives the cultivation panel. The cultivation panel on the return line is sequentially sent by pushing the received cultivation panel into the return line, and the cultivation server pushed out from the opposite side is received by the panel server. This eliminates the need for a separate drive source for driving the cultivation panel on the cultivation line and simplifies the structure. At this time, since the length of each line is shortened by folding back the cultivation line described above, the panel on the line can be sufficiently moved by pushing the panel from the entrance side.

Further, a new panel is supplied to the entrance of the rear stage feed line, and the plant of the cultivation panel at the exit of the front stage return line is transplanted to the new panel of the entrance of the rear stage feed line by the transplanting device. The cultivation panel at the exit of the preceding stage return line is taken out.
As a result, the transplantation of the strain will be carried out on the cultivation line, the strain can be protected, and since only the panel needs to be taken in and out, the work and mechanism can be simplified. Furthermore, when pushing the panel of the panel server and / or the lane shifter, the end position of the panel fed to the exit end of the feed line and / or the return line is monitored, and the pushing pushes the end position of the panel of each line. It is characterized in that it stops when it reaches a predetermined position. As a result, even if the length of each line expands or contracts due to temperature changes, for example, the position of the panel sent to the line outlet side can be made accurate, and the next panel take-out operation can be reliably performed.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a plant factory 10 to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 shows a work process in the plant factory 10. In FIG. 2, the plant factory 10 of the present example is for manufacturing leafy vegetables such as spinach and salad vegetables, and mainly focuses on a cultivation process in which a culture solution or the like is spray-supplied and grown while the strain is housed in a panel and conveyed. First, each step of sowing, raising seedlings, and fixed planting is performed, and then the harvesting step is performed.

(Seeding step) The seeds 20 of leaf vegetables to be produced are settled on a seedling raising mat 21 which serves as a seedbed. The seedling-growing mat 21 is a sponge-like material having a water-absorbing property, and is preliminarily provided with a cut 21A.
Are formed and partitioned in a grid shape, and can be separated by pulling them away from each other. An adhesive for fixing the seed 20 is applied to the surface of each section. (Seedling raising step) The seeded raising seedling mats 21 are accommodated in a tray or the like and hydroponically cultivated, and seeds 20 are germinated to be raised as seedlings 22. (Planting process) The seedlings 22 raised by the seedling mat 21 are cut 21
By separating from A, each seedling block 23 is divided into strains 24. Then, the individual strains 24 are housed in the cultivation cup 25, and the cultivation cup 25 is placed on the cultivation panel 26.

(Cultivation Step) The cultivation step is divided into first to third stages, in each of which the strain 24 is transported and cultivated using three kinds of cultivation panels 26 to 28 of small, medium and large. Between each stage, the strain 24 on the cultivation panels 26, 27 of the previous stage is sequentially transferred to the cultivation panels 27, 28 of the next stage together with the cultivation cup 25 by the first and second transplantation. In each cultivation panel 26-28 to which the strain 24 is transferred, the mutual spacing of the holes 26A to 28A for accommodating the strain 14 is made larger as the later one, and the strain 24 sent to each stage is suitable for the growth degree. Cultivated at intervals of plants. (Harvesting Step) Subsequently, the cultivation panel 28 is received from the cultivation step, the roots 29 of the strain 24 are cut off, and the cultivation cup 25 is taken out, and the strain 24 with the seedling block 23 is taken out from the cultivation cup 25 to obtain a product. The product is appropriately packaged and shipped.

Next, the cultivation cup 25 and cultivation panels 26 to 28 used in the above-mentioned steps will be described. (Cultivation Cup) FIGS. 3 and 4 show a cultivation cup 25 used in this embodiment. The cultivating cup 25 has a tubular main body 250, and the main body 250 is composed of a tapered upper part 251 and a lower part 252, each of which has an expanded upper side.
1 has a larger diameter than the lower part 252. The upper part 251 and the lower part 252 are connected by a substantially horizontal step 253, and the upper opening 254
A substantially horizontal flange 255 is formed on the outer periphery of the.

A lower surface opening 256 is formed on the bottom surface of the lower portion 252, the inner peripheral edge of which is curved downward, and three ribs 257 are evenly formed on the inner surface of the upper portion 251 in the circumferential direction.
And is connected to the step portion 253. here,
The inner edge of the rib 257 is gradually widened downward, and the envelope circle connecting the same height of each inner edge is reduced in diameter as it goes downward. The lower end of each inner edge is continuous with the inner surface of the lower portion 252. These parts 250 to 257 are integrally formed by injection molding a semitransparent synthetic resin material.

(Effect of Cultivation Cup) In the cultivation cup 25 of this embodiment, the seedling block 23 is inserted from the upper surface opening 254, the seedling 22 extends from the upper surface opening 254, and the root 29 extends from the lower surface opening 256. To be done. At this time, the seedling block 23 is tightened by the rib 257 as it is inserted,
Although it is easy to introduce, it does not easily fall off the cultivation cup 25. Furthermore, since the rib 257 is continuous with the inner surface of the lower portion 252, a part of the seedling block 23 can be guided to the inside of the lower portion 252, and more reliable fall prevention can be achieved.

When a mechanical drawing means is introduced from the lower surface opening 256 for inserting the seedling block 23, the inner circumference of the lower surface opening 256 is curved downward, so that the seedling block 23 is sandwiched and the diameter is expanded. Even if it is done, it is easy to pull out. Furthermore, since the step portion 253 and the flange 255 are provided,
The cultivation cups 25 can be supported by each, and they can be easily handed over or handed over by alternately supporting them.

Since the upper part 251 and the lower part 252 are tapered so that the upper side is widened, the seedling block 23 can be easily pulled in and taken out in this respect as well, and the panels 26 to 28 can be taken out.
It is easy to insert it when storing it in the
Upper 251 and lower 252 depending on inner diameter setting from A to 28A
It can also be supported in the middle part of. In addition, the upper 251
Further, since the lower portion 252, the rib 257, and the like are tapered, it is easy to take them out from the mold during integral molding.

(Cultivation Panel) FIGS. 5 and 6 show cultivation panels 26 to 28 used in this embodiment. In addition,
FIG. 5 shows a quarter of each of the cultivation panels 26 to 28. FIG. 5 (A) shows the cultivation panel 26 for the first stage, and FIG. 5 (B) shows the cultivation panel 27 for the second stage. 5 (C) shows the cultivation panel 28 for the third stage. Each of the cultivation panels 26 to 28 has a plate-shaped base material 260 made of a styrene resin foam and a large number of holes 26A to 28A penetrating through the front and back sides thereof so that the cultivation cup 25 can be held. At the edges of each cultivation panel 26-28, a reinforcing material 26 having a U-shaped cross section covering from the upper surface to the lower surface.
1 is covered all around. A plurality of ridges 262 are formed in the longitudinal direction on the lower surface and side surfaces of the reinforcing material 261.

In the cultivation panels 26 and 27, the inner diameters of the holes 26A and 26B are larger than the lower portion 252 of the cultivation cup 25 and smaller than the step portion 253, and the cultivation cup 25 is locked by the step portion 253. On the other hand, in the cultivation panel 28, the inner diameter of the hole 28A is the same as the outer diameter of the middle position of the upper portion 251 of the cultivation cup 25, and the cultivation cup 25 is locked in a state where the upper portion 251 is partially retracted. The holes 26A-28A of each cultivation panel 26-28 are
It is arranged in seven long rows 26B to 28B arranged in rows of eight and six short rows 26C to 28C arranged in rows of seven, forming a total of 98 pieces. The holes in the long rows 26B to 28B and the holes in the short rows 26C to 28C are staggered and staggered as a whole.

In each cultivating panel 26-28, the inter-row spacing d261-d281 between the holes in each row and the inter-row spacing d2 between each row.
62-d282, the spacing d261, d262 of the cultivation panel 26 is smaller than the spacing d271, d272 of the cultivation panel 27, and between the cultivation panel 28 and the cultivation panel 27, the row spacing d282 and the row spacing d2.
Same as 72, but in-row spacing d281 is larger than in-row spacing d271. And, assuming that the plant spacing d263 to d283 to the nearest hole of each hole in each cultivation panel 26-28, in the cultivation panel 26, 27 the intra-row spacing d261, d271 is the stock spacing d263, d273.
Therefore, the cultivation panel 27 has a wider spacing than the cultivation panel 26. On the other hand, the plant spacing d283 of the cultivation panel 28 is generated between the holes of the adjacent rows and is smaller than the intra-row spacing d281, but is wider than the plant spacing d273 of the cultivation panel 27.

(Effect of Cultivation Panel) In the cultivation panels 26 to 28 of this embodiment, the strain 24 is added to each cultivation panel 26 in the cultivation process.
Sequential transplantation to ~ 28 allows the plant interval to be gradually expanded as the plant grows, and an appropriate cultivation environment can be obtained while improving space efficiency. In particular, the cultivation panel 26,
Between 27, the use of panels of different vertical and horizontal dimensions allows for greater intra-row and inter-row spacing and two-dimensional extension of the stock spacing. In addition, since the staggered arrangement is used between the cultivation panels 27 and 28, it is possible to two-dimensionally expand the stock spacing only by expanding the intra-row spacing. Therefore, cultivation panels 27,28
Can have the same width but different depth,
It is also possible to share the transportation mechanism and the like in the cultivation process.

Further, since the reinforcing material 261 is provided all around,
It is possible to prevent damage caused by handling the cultivation panels 26 to 28, and to secure the load strength when the plant 24 is placed. Further, since the ridges 262 are provided on the reinforcing material 261, it is possible to reduce the frictional resistance when the both sides are slidably guided by the guide rails and conveyed in the cultivation process. Further, since the reinforcing material 261 and the base material 260 are separated from each other, a strip-shaped metal reinforcing plate can be sandwiched along the end surface of the base material 260 inside the widthwise reinforcing material 261 as necessary. It is possible to further increase the load strength when supporting both sides during transportation in the cultivation process.

Next, the structure of the equipment provided in the plant factory 10 for performing the above-mentioned steps will be described. (Overall Configuration of Factory) Returning to FIG. 1, the plant factory 10 has a seeding device 11, a nursery bed 12, and a planting device in order to automate the operations of the above-described steps of sowing, seedling raising, planting, cultivation, and harvesting.
It is equipped with 13, a cultivation device 14, and a harvesting device 15. Then, the cultivating device 14, the cultivation line 16, the lane shifter 17, the panel server 1 in order to automate the transport cultivation of the first to third stages and the first to second transplantation in the above-described cultivation process.
8, equipped with spacing machine 19. These are collectively installed in a greenhouse-like building (not shown) whose environment is regulated so that temperature, light intensity, ventilation, etc. suitable for cultivation can be obtained.

FIG. 7 shows the arrangement of each device in the cultivation device 14 and the flow of the stock 24 and cultivation panels 26 to 28 by these devices. (Arrangement of cultivating device) It is the cultivating process that occupies the longest time in each of the above-mentioned processes. Therefore, in the plant factory 10, the cultivating device 14 among the cultivation panels 26 to 28
The cultivation line 16 for carrying and cultivating occupies most of the area. The cultivation line 16 has the planting device 13 and the panel server 18
A large number are arranged in parallel so as to extend from the (in / out side) to the side where the lane shifter 17 is (folding side) .These are the first, second, and third in order from the planting device 13 side to the harvesting device 15 side. It is said to be the stage.

Each of the first to third stages comprises a feed line 16A extending from the loading / unloading side to the folding side and a return line 16B extending in the opposite direction. These are cultivation lines 16 having the same structure, but installed in the opposite direction.
The first stage has one feed line 16A but two return lines 16B. The second stage has one feed line 16A but eight return lines 16B. The third stage has six feed lines 16A but one return line 16B.

The lane shifter 17 sends back the cultivation panels 26 to 28 sent from the feed line outlet of each stage to the return line inlet of the same stage, and three units (17A, 17B, 17C) are provided for each stage on the folding side. ) Is placed.
The lane shifter 17 collects each line for feeding and returning as one stage, and a series of transport cultivation is performed. The panel server 18 supplies new cultivation panels 27, 28 to the feed line inlet of the rear stage, and collects the used cultivation panels 26, 27 from the return line outlet of the preceding stage. Two units for the second stage and the second and third stage (18A, 18B)
Are arranged. The spacing machine 19 takes out the stock 24 from the cultivation panels 26, 27 at the exit of the return line of the previous stage, and a new cultivation panel at the entrance of the feed line of the latter stage.
It is to be replaced with 27 and 28, and one unit shared for each stage is placed on the loading and unloading side. These panel servers
18 and the spacing machine 19 are adapted to carry out transplantation between stages.

In this embodiment, the cultivating line 16 does not have a carrying mechanism and is simply provided with a guide rail or the like for guiding the cultivating panels 26 to 28. Meanwhile, the lane shifter 17,
The panel server 18 can be extruded and driven by a predetermined driving force when feeding the cultivation panels 26 to 28 to the cultivation line 16, and the panels of all the lines are sequentially sent by this driving force, and one panel is pushed out from the outlet side. It is supposed to be.

(Flow of Cultivation Panel of First Stage) The cultivation panel 26 for the first stage is taken into a planting device 13 from a predetermined stocker or the like, and a stock 24 is placed thereon, and then a feed line of the first stage. Supplied to 16A entrance. The supplied cultivation panel 26 is conveyed to the exit through the feed line 16A for a predetermined time, and when it reaches the exit, it is taken out by the first stage lane shifter 17A. The lane shifter 17A alternately selects one of the two return lines 16B of the first stage, moves to the entrance, and feeds the cultivation panel 26. The fed cultivation panel 26 is conveyed through the return line 16B for a predetermined time, and when it reaches the exit, the spacing machine 19 that has moved to the exit removes the stock 24 and then moves to the exit. Panel server for stage 18
Recovered by A.

(Flow of cultivation panel for second stage) The cultivation panel 27 for the second stage is supplied from the panel server 18A for the first and second stages to the entrance of the feed line 16A of the second stage in an empty state. It This includes the stocking machine from the first stage by the spacing machine 19 that has moved to the entrance.
24 are placed. The supplied cultivation panel 27 is conveyed to the exit through the feeding line 16A for a predetermined time, and when it reaches the exit, it is taken out to the second stage lane shifter 17B.
Lane shifter 17B has 8 return lines 16 in the second stage
Select any one of B in order, move to the entrance, and feed the cultivation panel 27. The sent cultivation panel 27 is conveyed through the return line 16B for a predetermined time, and when it reaches the exit, the spacing machine 19 that has moved to the exit takes out the stock 24 and then moves to the exit. Collected in the panel server 18B for the stage.

(Flow of Third Stage Cultivation Panel) The third stage cultivation panel 28 is an empty state from the second and third stage panel server 18B, and is an inlet of the six feeding lines 16A of the third stage. Are supplied in order. The stock 24 from the second stage is placed on this by the spacing machine 19 that has moved to the entrance. Cultivated panels supplied 28
Is conveyed to the exit through the feed line 16A for a predetermined time, and when it reaches the exit, it is taken out by the third stage lane shifter 17C that has moved to the exit. Lane shifter 17C
Moves to the entrance of the return line 16B of the third stage and feeds the cultivation panel 28. The cultivation panel 28 sent in,
It is transported through the return line 16B for a predetermined time, and when it reaches the exit, it is picked up by the harvesting device 15. From the harvested cultivation panel 28, the stock 24 is taken out by the harvesting device 15 and then discharged to a predetermined stocker or the like.

(Flow of stock) The stock 24 is successively passed through each stage of the cultivation device 14 and sent from the planting device 13 to the harvesting device 15. First, the plant 24 is placed on the cultivation panel 26 by the planting process in the planting device 13, and is transported and cultivated through the first stage. Then, it is taken out from the cultivation panel 26 by the spacing machine 19 and the mutual plant spacing is set to the next cultivation panel 27.
It is expanded so as to meet the above conditions and placed on the second-stage cultivation panel 27 to be transported and cultivated. Further, it is taken out from the cultivation panel 27 by the spacing machine 19, the mutual plant spacing is expanded to fit the next cultivation panel 28, and then placed on the cultivation panel 28 of the third stage for carrying cultivation. After this, the stock 24 is taken into the harvesting device 15 together with the cultivation panel 28, and taken out as a product by the harvesting process.

(Conveying speed of each stage) In the cultivation apparatus 14 of the present embodiment, the conveying speeds of the feeding lines 16A of the first and second stages and the returning line 16B of the third stage, which are installed one by one, are as follows. It is set based on the number of cultivation panels 26 to 28 (the number of 24 strains) processed per hour. On the other hand, the transport speed of the two return lines 16B of the first stage is half that of the feed line 16A of the first stage. As a result, the number of cultivation panels 26 coming out of the feed line 16A and the number of cultivation panels 26 fed into the two return lines 16B are kept the same, and the transportation period at the time of returning is two.
It is doubled (three times as the first stage transportation period). In addition, the transport speed of the eight return lines 16B of the second stage is set to 1/8 of the feed line 16A of the second stage, which allows the number of feed and return cultivation panels 27 to match. The carrying period at the time of returning is set to 8 times (as a second stage carrying period, 9 times). Furthermore, the transport speed of the six feed lines 16A in the third stage is set to 1/6 that of the return line 16B in the second stage, which allows the number of feed and return cultivation panels 27 to remain the same. The transport period during feeding is 6 times (7 stages for the third stage transport period)
Times).

(Transplanting Order Between Each Stage) In the cultivating apparatus 14 of the present embodiment, the transplanting operation by the panel server 18 and the spacing machine 19 is performed in the rear stage (third side) before the front stage (first side). It is supposed to be processed.
In other words, first send and return the third stage,
A new cultivation panel 28 is prepared at the entrance of the third stage, and the strain 24 is transplanted from the cultivation panel 27 at the exit of the second stage. Next, the second stage is fed and returned, a new cultivation panel 27 is prepared at the entrance of the second stage, and the plant 24 is transplanted from the cultivation panel 26 at the exit of the first stage. Finally, the first stage is fed and returned, a new cultivation panel 27 is prepared at the entrance of the second stage, and the plant 24 is transplanted from the cultivation panel 26 at the exit of the first stage.

(Effects of the cultivating apparatus of the present embodiment) In the cultivating apparatus 14 of the present embodiment, since the cultivation is carried at the first stage to the third stage while the interval between the plants is expanded, the space efficiency is improved. Appropriate strains 24 can be cultivated and the harvesting efficiency can be improved. In particular, in expanding the plant interval, using the cultivation panels 26 to 28 in which the plant interval gradually expands to the first to third stages, the plant interval was expanded when transplanting between each stage, so that the bidirectional It is possible to easily and surely extend the stock interval.

Further, since the numbers of the strains 24 in one of the cultivation panels 26 to 28 are set to be the same and the strains of each panel are collectively transplanted at the time of transplantation, the work efficiency can be improved and the interval between the strains can be easily expanded. It can be carried out. Furthermore, in transplanting between each stage, by processing from the rear stage to the front stage in order, the spacing machine 19 takes out the strain 24 from the cultivation panel 26, 27 at the exit of the previous stage and the new cultivation at the entrance of the rear stage. Shares 24 to panels 27, 28
Can be continuously placed, and work efficiency can be improved. Then, by performing the transplant in the order from the later to the previous, all the transplantation can be performed on the cultivation line 16, since the strain 24 does not go out of the range of the cultivation line 16, the strain 24 is not It is possible to avoid inconvenience such as being exposed to a stable situation for a long time, and it is possible to prevent stains and the like around the surroundings due to drops from the stock 24.

In the cultivating apparatus 14 of this embodiment, the respective cultivating lines 16 are arranged in parallel and opposite directions as the feed line 16A and the return line 16B, and each stage is constituted by folding back by the lane shifter 17 on the folding side. The equipment structure can be made compact while securing the stage length. Also, since the panel server 18 and the spacing machine 19 on the loading and unloading side made the three stages continuous,
The stages are arranged in a zigzag manner, which makes it possible to make the equipment configuration more compact. Further, since the folding side and the putting-in side of each stage are matched with each other, the lane shifter 17 of each stage does not interfere with each other on the folding side, and the occupied area can be reduced, and at the putting-in side, the panel server 18 and the spacing machine. 19 can be shared by a plurality of stages, and equipment can be simplified and compacted.

Further, in the cultivating apparatus 14 of the present embodiment, since either the feed line 16A or the return line 16B of each stage is arranged in parallel, it is possible to convey and cultivate a larger number of panels on the plural line side. The transport time at each stage can be extended, and the stock 24 can be sufficiently grown. In particular, since only one of the feed and return is pluralized, the period during which the seeds are continuously conveyed and cultivated during folding or transplanting can be extended, and the strains 24 can be left standing in the same state for a long time. Can be further improved.

Further, since the conveying speed of a plurality of lines is set to be a fraction of the number of lines with reference to the feeding speed of one line,
The number of panels to be delivered between the feed and return lines can be made equal, and timing adjustment and the like are not required, so that feed control and the like can be simplified. Further, since the lane shifter 17 and the panel server 18 can be moved to perform panel distribution from one line and panel merging from a plurality of lines, it is not necessary to use a dedicated allocating means and merging means for multiple lines. The equipment configuration and control can be simplified.

Further, in this embodiment, since each stage is constructed by using a large number of cultivation lines 16, the same members can be shared and the installation cost can be reduced. Further, by adjusting the number of lines, it is possible to flexibly adjust the scale, cultivation period, and the like. Furthermore, cultivation line 16
Since no drive unit is installed in the lane shifter and the entire panel of each line is moved by extrusion drive by the lane shifter 17 and the panel server 18, the drive mechanism of the lane shifter 17 and the panel server 18 shared by multiple lines can be effectively used. At the same time, it is not necessary to provide a drive mechanism or the like in each of the cultivation lines 16, and the equipment can be simplified.

Next, the cultivation line 16, the lane shifter 17, the panel server 18, and the spacing machine 19 for realizing the above-described cultivation device 14 will be described in detail. (Cultivation Line) FIGS. 8 to 13 show the structure of the cultivation line 16. Figure 8 shows the side of the cultivation line 16,
Figure 9 shows a cross section of the cultivation line 16 for the first stage,
10 shows a cross section of the cultivation line 16 for the second and third stages. Cultivation line 16 supports a large number of cultivation panels 26 to 28 sent from the inlet side end portion over the entire length, grows each strain 24 by spraying a culture solution or the like from the lower surface side, and from the outlet side end portion. It is something to send out.

The cultivation line 16 has a frame 160 assembled from a shaft material and a wire, and this frame 160 forms a partition part 160A extending in the carrying direction and a bottom part 160B connecting these lower parts. A guide rail member 161 extending in the transport direction is supported on the upper end of the partition 160A and the bottom 160B.
A trough-shaped collection member 162 for collecting the sprayed culture solution is installed along the center line. Collection member 162
A supply pipe 16 for pumping the culture solution along the transport direction inside the
3 is supported, and a spray nozzle 164 for spraying the culture solution upward is installed at predetermined intervals. A flexible side cover 165 made of a synthetic resin sheet is stretched from both sides of the recovery member 162 to the guide rail member 161.

As shown in FIG. 11, the guide rail member 161 is a synthetic resin molded product by extrusion or the like having guide grooves 161A for receiving the ends of the cultivation panels 26 to 28 on both sides of a central box-shaped structure, The guide groove 161A is formed so as to surround the reinforcing material 261 at the end of the panel from the upper surface to the lower surface, and communication between the front and back of the panel through the relevant portion is blocked. The lower side of the guide groove 161A supporting the panel load is formed to be long, and a sliding contact material 161B having a low friction coefficient is attached to the surface thereof.
Together with the ridges 262, the slidability of the cultivation panels 26 to 28 during transportation is considered to be good. Clips 161C are formed at lower ends of the guide grooves 161A continuously or intermittently in the transport direction. A bar 161D in which the upper end of the side cover 165 is wound is fitted into the clip 161C, whereby the upper end of the side cover 165 is connected to the guide rail member 161.

As shown in FIG. 12, the recovery member 162 is a synthetic resin molded product obtained by extrusion or the like, and has leg portions 162A for fixing the frame formed on both sides of the bottom surface, and a slit having an upward slit at the center of the bottom surface. The Y-shaped supply pipe support portion 162B is formed continuously or intermittently in the transport direction. Collection member 162
Clips 162C that are continuously or intermittently wound inward in the transport direction are formed on both upper ends of the clip 162C. This clip 162C is a bar that is wrapped around the bottom edge of the side cover 165.
162D is fitted in, so that the lower end of the side cover 165 is connected to the recovery member 162.

The supply pipe 163 is a synthetic resin molded product formed by extrusion or the like having a cylindrical shape extending in the conveying direction, and has a support rib 163A on the lower surface side and a pedestal portion 163B on the upper surface side continuously or intermittently. Has been formed. The support rib 163A is inserted and engaged with the supply pipe support portion 162B of the recovery member 162, so that the supply pipe 163 is supported at a predetermined position in the recovery member 162. The spray nozzles 164 are screwed and fixed to the pedestal portion 163B at predetermined intervals in an internal communication state, and the culture solution or the like that is pressure-fed and supplied into the supply pipe 163 is sprayed upward from the spray nozzle 164. The spray nozzle 164 has a blade 164A that is rotatably held inside, and the culture solution sprayed upward.
The 164B is designed to have enough space.

As shown in FIG. 13, the recovery member 162 and the supply pipe 163 are formed by appropriately adding pipes of a predetermined length. The recovery member 162 is connected by a joint material 162E having an E-shaped cross section. The joint material 162E is a flexible synthetic resin material or the like. The supply pipe 163 is connected by a joint pipe 163E having an outer diameter substantially the same as its inner diameter.
The joint pipe 163E is made of the same synthetic resin material as the supply pipe 163. The ends of the recovery member 162 and the supply pipe 163 are sealed with cap members 162F and 163F, respectively. These cap materials 162F and 163F have the same end surface shape as the recovery member 162 or the supply pipe 163, and the joint material 162E or the joint pipe 162F.
Connected via 163E.

In the case of the first stage shown in FIG. 9, the side cover 165 is composed of one sheet, and its upper end is locked to the clip 161C of the guide rail member 161, as described above.
The lower end is locked to the clip 162C of the recovery member 162C. At this time, the intermediate portion is stretched through the outside of the intermediate bar 160C supported in the intermediate heights on both sides of the partition 160A of the frame 160 and extending in the carrying direction, forming a so-called home base type. On the other hand, in the case of the second and third stages shown in FIG. 10,
Similarly placed on the home base, but with side cover 165
Is composed of two sheets 165A and 165B. Lower sheet
The upper end of 165B is locked to the intermediate rod member 160C, and the lower end thereof is locked to the clip 162C of the recovery member 162C and is in a tensioned state. The upper seat 165A has a guide rail member 161 at the upper end.
Of the lower seat 16
I just put it along 5B. In addition, each clip 161C, 162C
The portion to be locked with may be simply wrapped around the rods 161D and 162D, but it is preferable to form it in a bag shape in advance. Further, it is desirable that the lower sheet 165B that is locked to the intermediate rod member 160C is also formed in a bag shape so that it can be inserted into the intermediate rod member 160C.

Returning to FIG. 8, portions of both end surfaces of the cultivation line 16 below the cultivation panels 26 to 28 are sealed with end plates 166, and the space surrounded by the cultivation panels 26 to 28 and the side cover 165 is substantially. It is designed to be hermetically sealed. Of the end plates 166, the one facing the lane shifter 17 and the harvesting device 15 is formed with a door 167, and this door 167 can be opened by moving it upward, and when it is opened, the cultivation panels 26 to 28 and their lower parts are opened. The opening area is sufficient to allow the roots of the hanging plant 24 to pass through without fail. An operation lever 167A for opening and closing is formed on the surface of the door 167 so that the lane shifter 17 and the harvesting device 15 can automatically open and close the door.

Of the other ends, the portion facing the planting device 13 does not require the door 167 because the root of the plant 24 is short, and the portion facing the panel server 18 is taken out by the spacing machine 19, etc. Since the cultivation panels 26 to 28 are taken in and out without the stock 24, the door 167 is unnecessary. Also, the supply pipe 16
3 is a part of the cultivation panel 26-28 transplanted by the spacing machine 19 is a supply pipe 163G of a different system from the other parts, and there is no stock 24 in the holes 26A-28A of the cultivation panel 26-28. While it is opened, only the supply pipe 163G can independently stop the pressure feeding of the culture solution.

(Effects of Cultivation Line) In the cultivation line 16 of this embodiment, each panel is supported by supporting the cultivation panels 26 to 28 by the guide rail member 161 and sending a new panel from the lane shifter 17 or the panel server 18. Can be sequentially transported. Also, during transportation, the spray nozzle 164
The culture broth can be spray-supplied to the lower surface side of the cultivation panels 26 to 28, whereby the transport cultivation of the strain 24 can be performed.

Further, the substantially U-shaped guide portion 161A of the guide rail member 161 accommodates the ends of the cultivation panels 26 to 28, and the lower portion of the cultivation panels 26 to 28 is covered with a side cover 165.
By surrounding the end face plate 166 with the end plate 166, it is possible to prevent the sprayed culture solution from leaking out and eliminate waste of the culture solution. Then, add excess culture solution to the side sheet
It is also possible to reuse by collecting from 165 to the recovery member 162. In addition, since the section to be transplanted by the spacing machine 19 is a separate line, the culture solution does not scatter to the outside through the holes 26A to 28A even when the cultivation panel 26 to 28 does not have the strain 24, and the culture solution is wasted. Not only can it be prevented, but surrounding dirt and the like can also be avoided.

On the other hand, the cultivation panel 16 of this embodiment has a simple frame 160 and a guide rail member 161 formed by resin molding.
, Collecting member 162, supply pipe 163, sheet-like side cover 1
Since it is composed of 65 etc., the structure is simple and the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and the cultivation lines 16 having different sizes can be configured by sharing each other. Also, since the guide rail member 161 has the guide portions 161A on both sides, one member can be shared by two adjacent lines, and the connection between the recovery member 162 and the supply pipe 163 is also a insertion type, so the structure is simple. In addition, the installation work can be done easily. In particular, since the side cover 165 for the second and third stages is composed of two sheets 165A and 165B, it is not necessary to use a special wide sheet, and since they are connected by lining each other, the connection is easy. Despite this, sufficient performance can be obtained for blocking the fog and drops of the culture solution.

Further, the side cover 165 is of a so-called home base type so that the culture solution can be smoothly returned to the collecting member 162, and the cultivation panel 26 to
A sufficient space corresponding to the planar shape of 28 can be formed, and even the plant 24 at the peripheral portion of the panel does not interfere with the roots, and good growth can be achieved. Also, the end plate 16
Since the door 167 of 6 is also opened below the cultivation panels 26 to 28, the possibility of damaging the roots of the plant 24 when the cultivation panels 26 to 28 are taken in and out can be eliminated, and good growth can be expected.

(Lane Shifter) The structure of the lane shifter 17 is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. Lane shifter 17
Includes a substantially box-shaped frame 170 whose planar shape is larger than that of the cultivation panels 26 to 28. The frame 170 is supported by rails 170B via wheels 170A provided on the lower portion, and is movable along all the feed line outlets and the return line inlets of each stage. The rail 170B is continuous from the first stage to the third stage, and is shared by the three lane shifters 17 of each stage. rail
The movement along 170B is performed by remote control by a motor or the like not shown. In addition, the lower surface of the frame 170 is provided with a positioning protrusion that can be freely retracted and
Positioning holes that can be engaged with the projections are provided along 0B, and these allow the frame 170 to be accurately arranged in front of a predetermined cultivation line 16. Frame 17
The upper surface of 0 is the cultivation panels 26 to 28 that are transported through the cultivation line 16.
Of the lead screw shaft 17
1 are arranged, and both ends of the moving member 172 are screwed to these. The feed screw shaft 171 is rotationally driven by the same motor 171B via the drive shaft 171A, whereby the moving member 172 can move in the transport direction of the cultivation line 16. Moving member 172
A pair of gripping arms 173 is installed in the middle part of the cultivating panel 26, and its tip is opened and closed by an air cylinder 173A.
Can grip ~ 28 ends.

Auxiliary support members 174 such as rollers that slide on the lower surfaces of the cultivation panels 26 to 28 to support them are provided on both sides of the cultivation line 16 side of the frame 170. A pillar portion 175A extending upward is installed at one corner of the cultivation line 16 side of the frame 170, and an opening / closing lever 17A is installed at this pillar portion 175A.
5 is supported so that it can move up and down. A drive mechanism such as a chain is housed in the pillar portion 175A.
The open / close lever 175 can be driven up and down by being driven by the 175B. The opening / closing lever 175 is located at a position corresponding to the operation lever 167A of the door 167 of the cultivation line 16, and is normally maintained sufficiently lower than the operation lever 167A of the door 167, but when it is raised, it is engaged with the operation lever 167A. It is possible to raise the door 167 and open it.

(Operation of Lane Shifter) The operation of such a lane shifter 17 is as follows. First,
Move along the rail 170B to the exit side of the cultivation line 16 to which the cultivation panels 26 to 28 are sent, and open / close the door 167 of the cultivation line 16 with the opening / closing lever 175. Then, the moving member 172 is advanced to the cultivation line 16 side, and the gripping arm 173 is opened.
In this state, when a signal of completion of preparation is sent to the planting device 13 or the panel server 18 on the loading / unloading side, each sends the cultivation panels 26 to 28 from the loading / unloading side, each panel of the cultivation line 16 is sequentially sent, and the lane shifter 17 side. The cultivation panels 26 to 28 of are extruded. The lane shifter 17 grasps the extremities of the extruded cultivation panels 26 to 28 with the grasping arm 173, and moves the moving member 17
Move back 2 and pull in cultivation panels 26-28. When the cultivation panels 26 to 28 are completely retracted, they are supported by the gripping arm 173 and the auxiliary support member 174. In this state, lower the open / close lever 175 to move the door 167 of the cultivation line 16.
Close.

Next, the received cultivation panels 26 to 28 are moved to the entrance side of the cultivation line 16 along the rail 170B, and the opening / closing lever 175 opens the door 167 of the cultivation line 16. In this state, wait for a signal of completion of preparation from the panel server 18 or the harvesting device 15 on the loading / unloading side, and when the signal is received, the moving member 172 is retracted to push out the cultivation panels 26 to 28, and each panel on this cultivation line 16 is pushed. The panels that are currently being pushed are completely pushed into the cultivation line 16 while sequentially feeding and pushing the panels on the loading / unloading side. When this panel is completely contained in the cultivation line 16, the lane shifter 17
The gripping arm 173 is opened and retracted, the opening / closing lever 175 is lowered, and the door 167 of the cultivation line 16 is closed. As a result, the cultivation panels 26 to 28 are folded back.

(Effect of Lane Shifter) According to the lane shifter 17 of the present embodiment, it is possible to deal with all the cultivation lines 16 in the corresponding stage by moving along the rail 170B, and the cultivation panels 26 to 28 other than the folding panels 26-28 can be used. Can also be transferred to the line by the transfer. For this reason, when only the panel is moved, the transport mechanism and the like are complicated and large, but the configuration can be extremely simple. Also, since it can be connected to any cultivation line 16,
Panel distribution and merging can be freely performed when there are a plurality of feed lines and return lines.

Furthermore, since the panel pushed out from the cultivation line 16 is pulled in by the gripping arm 173, the panel can be reliably pulled in, and the inconvenience such as catching when moving to another line is surely done. It can be avoided. Further, when the panel is completely taken out, it is supported by the auxiliary supporting member 174, so that the position of the panel can be reliably aligned with the cultivation line 16 when it is sent to another line, and the sending can be performed smoothly. Further, the door 167 of the cultivation line 16 can be automatically opened / closed by the opening / closing lever 175, and the panel folding operation can be completely automated.

(Panel Server) FIGS. 16 to 18 show the structure of the panel server 18. Panel server 18
Is a collecting section 18C having a planar shape which is a section larger than the cultivation panels 26 to 28 and capable of accommodating and accommodating a plurality of panels.
And a substantially box-shaped frame 180 including the supply unit 18D. The frame 180 is supported by rails 180B via wheels 180A provided at the bottom, and can be moved along the ends of the cultivation line 16 except the feed line of the first stage and the return line of the third stage. Is. The rail 180B is continuous from the first stage to the third stage, and the two panel servers 18 in each stage are connected.
It is shared by. The movement along the rail 180B is performed by remote control by a motor or the like (not shown). In addition, a positioning protrusion that can freely project and retract is provided on the lower surface of the frame 180, and a positioning hole portion that can be engaged with this protrusion is provided along the rail 180B.
0 means that the collection section 18C and the supply section 18D have a predetermined cultivation line 16
It is designed to be placed exactly in front of.

The upper surfaces of the collecting section 18C and the supplying section 18D are adjusted to the height of the cultivation panels 26 to 28 conveyed on the cultivation line 16, and a pair of feed screw shafts are provided at both side positions.
181, 182 are arranged, and both ends of the moving members 183, 184 are screwed to these. Feed screw shafts 181, 182 are drive shafts 181
It is rotatably driven by the same motor 181B, 181B via A, 182A, so that the moving members 183, 184 are respectively cultivated on the cultivation line.
It can be moved in 16 transport directions. Moving member of recovery unit 18C
A pair of gripping arms 185 is installed in the middle of 183, and the tip of the gripping arms 185 is opened and closed by an air cylinder etc.
28 edges can be gripped. Recovery part 18C and supply part 18
In D, stockers 186 and 187 are installed, each of which is capable of ascending and descending by loading a plurality of panels. Stocker 186,187
Is a vertical feed screw shaft with two on each side.
It is screwed and supported by 186A and 187A. Feed screw shaft 186A, 187
A is rotationally driven by the same motors 186C and 187C via drive shafts 186B and 187B, whereby the stockers 186 and 187 can be moved up and down to arbitrary height positions.

(Operation of Panel Server) The operation of the panel server 18 as described above is as follows. First,
The first and second stage panel server 18A collects the cultivation panel 26 sent from the first stage and supplies a new cultivation panel 27 to the second stage. For this reason, a collection unit that collects the cultivation panel 26 prior to the operation.
18C is emptied and the cultivation panel 27 is loaded on the stocker 187 of the supply section 18D. Then, the upper surface of the stocker 186 on the collection side is adjusted to the panel lower surface height of the cultivation line 16, and the upper surface of the supply side panel is adjusted to the panel holding height of the cultivation line.

Any one of the feed lines of the second lane
When the cultivation panel 27 is supplied to the 16A, the panel server 18 moves to a position where the supply unit 18D is in front of the line and waits for a reception preparation completion signal of the lane shifter 17 on the second stage folding side. After confirming the preparation, the moving member 184
Moves forward and pushes out the uppermost cultivation panel 26 and sends it to the entrance of the feed line 16A. When the cultivation panel 26 is completely supplied, the stocker 187 is moved up by one panel, and the next panel is adjusted to the panel height of the cultivation line 16.

On the other hand, one of the return lines 16 in the first lane
When collecting the cultivation panel 26 from B, the panel server 18 moves to the line where the panel is pushed out based on the acceptance request signal from the lane shifter 17 for the first stage, and the collecting unit 18C is the position in front of the line. Move to. When the cultivation panel 26 is pushed out from the return line 16B, the panel is gradually inserted into the collecting section 186, and the tip is gripped by the gripping arm 185 and retracted by the moving member 183, so that it is completely accommodated in the collecting section 18C. To be done. When the cultivation panel 26 is completely accommodated, the stocker 186 descends by one panel, and the upper surface of the accommodated panel is adjusted to the panel lower surface height of the cultivation line 16.

As a result, panel supply to the second stage and panel recovery from the first stage are sequentially performed.
The panel server 18B for the second and third stages has different types of panels (the collection section 18C has a cultivation panel 27 and a supply section).
18D becomes a cultivation panel 28), but the operation is similar to that for the first and second stages described above, whereby the panel supply to the third stage and the panel recovery from the second stage are sequentially performed.

(Effect of Panel Server) According to the panel server 18 of the present embodiment, it is possible to correspond to all the cultivation lines 16 on the feed side of the rear stage and the return side of the front stage by moving along the rail 180B. Panel supply and panel recovery for each can be performed. Since the collecting unit 18C and the supplying unit 18D for collecting the panel and supplying the panel are integrated, a moving mechanism and the like for moving each to each line are shared, and the facility structure can be simplified. Further, since the panel to be supplied is preliminarily loaded in the supply unit 18D and the collected panel is loaded and held in the recovery unit 18C, it is not necessary to move to a stocker device or the like at a different position for each supply or recovery, The operation can be performed efficiently. Furthermore, since the panel pushed out from the cultivation line 16 is pulled in by the gripping arm 185, the panel can be reliably pulled in, and inconvenience such as catching when moving to another line can be surely avoided.

(Spacing Machine) FIGS. 19 and 24 show the structure of the spacing machine 19. Figure 19
Further, as shown in FIG. 20, the spacing machine 19 is provided with a frame 190 having a gate shape and a substantially box-shaped upper portion so as to straddle the panel server 18. The frame 190 is mounted on the rail 19 via the wheels 190A provided on the legs.
It is supported by 0B and can move along the line loading / unloading side of all stages. The rail 190B is continuous from the first stage to the third stage, and is arranged in parallel to the outside of the rail 180B of the panel server 18. The movement along the rail 190B is remotely controlled by a motor or the like (not shown). Also, the frame 190
On the bottom surface of the
A positioning hole is provided along 190B to which this protrusion can be engaged, so that the frame 190 can be used for a predetermined cultivation line 16
It is designed to be placed exactly in front of.

A box-shaped base 191 is installed in the frame 190. The base 191 is screwed and supported by a feed screw shaft 191A vertically arranged at the four corners of the frame 190. Each feed screw shaft 191A is interlocked with a transmission shaft 191B, and is rotationally driven in synchronization with a drive source such as a motor (not shown).
As a result, the base 191 is driven up and down in the frame. Tip support arm on top of base 191
192 is installed, a stock support rail 193 is installed in the middle, and an auxiliary arm 194 is installed in the lower part. Each of the bases is movably supported on the base 191 in the transport direction (the transport direction of the cultivation line 16) and can advance from the frame 190 to the cultivation line 16 side.

(Front-end support arm of spacing machine)
The tip support arm 192 has a pair of arm members 192A,
Each of the base ends is screwed and supported by a feed screw shaft 192B provided on the upper surface of the base 191 in the conveying direction. Each feed screw shaft 19
2B is synchronously rotated via a transmission mechanism (not shown) by a motor 192C provided at the back of the upper surface of the base 191, whereby the arm members 192A are integrally advanced and retracted. A guide rail 192E and a feed screw shaft 192F extending in the width direction (the width direction of the cultivation line 16, that is, the direction orthogonal to FIG. 19) are supported at the tip of the arm member 192A via a suspending member 192D. The feed screw shaft 192F is a reverse screw with the center as a boundary.

As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, a large number of moving members 192G are supported by the guide rail 192E at predetermined intervals. Each moving member 192G is engaged with a guide rail 192E via a roller 192H, and is movable only in its longitudinal direction. Of the moving member 192G, the ones at both ends are the feed screw shafts.
It is screwed to 192F. The feed screw shaft 192F is rotatably driven by a motor 192J provided at one end, whereby the moving members 192G at both ends are moved by reverse screws to be spaced apart from each other.
The moving members 192G are sequentially connected via a pantograph-type connecting mechanism 192K. The connecting mechanism 192K is a movable member.
The center of the connecting arm 192L is rotatably supported by the 192G, and both ends of the connecting arm 192L are sequentially rotatably connected to each other. The mutual connecting arms 19 are arranged in accordance with the distance between the moving members 192G.
The 2L rotates by a predetermined angle, but this angle is regulated by mutual connection. Therefore, the distance between the moving members 192G is always maintained at the same distance by the connecting mechanism 192K. As a result, each moving member 192G is moved via the connecting mechanism 192K with the distance between the moving members 192G at both ends.
It is designed such that the mutual intervals are always the same and are enlarged or reduced. The lower end of each moving member 192G receives the receiving member 19 with which the tip of the stock support rail 193 is engaged.
2M is installed.

(Spacing Machine Strain Support Rails) Strain support rails 193 are strains 24 that are housed in the cultivation panels 26-28.
The rail members 193A each have 13 pairs corresponding to the number of rows (7 rows of 8 rows, 6 rows of 7 rows, 13 in total). The rail member 193A has a pair of intervals set to be larger than the outer diameter of the upper portion 251 of the cultivation cup 25 and smaller than the outer diameter of the flange 255, and is supported by each panel by advancing along the cultivation panels 26 to 28. The cultivation cups 25 of the strains 24 are sequentially sandwiched from both sides, and one row can be collectively lifted. The base end side of each rail member 193A is supported by a pair of width-direction guide rails 193E so as to be movable in the width direction, and the guide rails 193E are supported by the base end member 193D in the base 191. The base end member 193D is screwed and supported by a pair of feed screw shafts 193B supported in the base 191 in the transport direction.
Each feed screw shaft 193B is synchronously rotated by a motor 193C provided on the front side (cultivation line 16 side), whereby each rail member 193A is integrally advanced and retracted.

Of the base end side of the rail member 193A, the ones at both ends are screwed onto the reverse screw type feed screw shaft 193F, and the motor 193J
They are driven to rotate by and are separated from each other. Each rail member
The base end side of 193A is connected via a pantograph-type connecting mechanism 193K (similar to the connecting mechanism 192K of the above-mentioned tip support arm). As a result, the rail members 193A can be expanded or reduced with respect to each other in a state of being evenly spaced from each other. The tip of the rail member 193A is tapered, and can be inserted and engaged in the hole of each receiving member 192M of the tip support arm 192. In addition, the rail member 193A in the stock support rail 193
193J for separating the receiving members 192M in the width direction from each other, and a motor for separating the receiving members 192M in the tip support arm 192 from each other.
192J is controlled in synchronization with each other, and the rail member 193A and the receiving member 192M are movable in the width direction while being engaged and connected to each other. With these stock support rails 193 and tip support arms 192, it is possible to lift the stocks 24 accommodated in the cultivation panels 26 to 28 for each row, and to increase the interval for each row. Is configured.

The rail member 193A is previously formed on the panel surface so that the rail member 193A can be reliably guided when it is extended.
You may form the concave guide groove which can be inserted.
In addition, a plurality of guide members having grooves for guiding the rail members 193A are provided on the cultivation line 16 side of the base 191, and each groove interval is made to correspond to the row interval of the cultivation panels 26, 27 used in the previous stage. Therefore, the interval between the rail members 193A may be regulated before the extension.

(Auxiliary Arm of Spacing Machine) The auxiliary arm 194 includes rail members directly below the stock support rail 193.
A total of 13 rod-shaped rail members 194A corresponding to 193A are provided, and the same number of arm members 195A are provided below the rail members 194A. Each arm member 195A has a tip member 195B and a base plate 195C, and each rail member 193A has its tip and base end rotatably supported by the tip member 195B and the base plate 195C. Each base plate 195C includes a pair of widthwise guide rails 194E.
It is supported by the guide rail 19 so that it can move in the width direction.
4E is supported by base end members 194D on both sides inside the base 191. The base end member 194D is screwed and supported by the feed screw shaft 194B in the carrying direction, and is moved forward and backward by the rotational driving of the motor 194C.
As a result, the holding arm 194 is moved back and forth in the transport direction as a whole.

Of the base end plates 195C, those at both ends are screwed onto a reverse screw type feed screw shaft 194F and are driven to rotate by a motor 194J to be spaced apart from each other. The base plates 195C are connected to each other via a pantograph-type connecting mechanism 194K (similar to the connecting mechanism 192K of the tip support arm described above). As a result, the base end plates 195C or the arm members 195A and the rail members 194A can be enlarged or reduced in the mutual intervals in the state of being evenly spaced from each other.

A plurality of moving members 194G are arranged at predetermined intervals on each rail member 194A. The number of the moving members 194G corresponds to the number of the strains 24 in the corresponding rows of the cultivation panels 26 to 28, and is 8 and 7 alternately. As shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the moving member 194G is a substantially U-shaped member formed by bending a plate material, and each rod-shaped rail member 194A is inserted through circular insertion holes formed on both sides of the U-shape. And rail member 194A
It is movable and rotatable along. Each moving member 194G
A substantially U-shaped engaging member 194M is disposed on the inside of this, and this engaging member 194M is capable of inserting and engaging the cultivation cup 25 on the inside of the U-shape and at the square hole formed on the base end side. Rail member
It has been penetrated through 194A. As a result, a spline fitting is formed, the engaging member 194M is rotated according to the rotation of the rail member 194A, and is movable along the rail member 194A according to the movement of the moving member 194G. In addition, rail member
The rotation of 194A is performed by a drive source 195N such as a solenoid provided on the base plate 195C.

The lower part of each moving member 194G is connected via a pantograph type connecting mechanism 194K. Connecting mechanism 194K
Is a series of a number of so-called parallel link mechanisms, and the upper rotation connecting portion of each link member 194L is a moving member.
It is rotatably supported at the bottom of 194G. Of the moving members 194G, the most distal one is connected to the tip member 195B, and the most proximal one is connected to the transmission rod 194H. Transmission rod 19
4H is moved back and forth in the carrying direction by a motor 194J provided on the base plate 195C, so that the moving members 194G are kept close to each other and are spaced apart from each other. With such an auxiliary arm 194, the stock 24 lifted for each row by the stock support rail 193 can be moved by the engaging member 194M to increase the intra-row spacing, and as described above, the intra-row spacing adjusting mechanism is provided. Is configured.

(Operation of Spacing Machine) In such a spacing machine 19, normally, the base 191 is moved above the frame 190, and the tip support arm 19 is moved.
2. The stock support rail 193 and the auxiliary arm 194 at the bottom are housed in the frame 190. The engaging member 194M of the auxiliary arm 194 is in a state of being tilted downward. In this state, each arm 192, 194 and arm 193 has a cultivation line 16
It is possible to freely move to any cultivation line 16 without interfering with the above and without interfering with each other across the panel server 18. Here, when transplanting from the first to the second or second to the third stage, the spacing machine 19 moves to the front of the return line of the previous stage, and the cultivation panel 26,27 at the line exit. All of the 98 strains 24 accommodated in each of the cultivation cups 25 are collectively lifted.

To lift the stock 24, first, the tip support arm
192 is extended so that the receiving member 192M is located right above the boundary position between the panel at the exit position and the next panel. In this state, the base 191 is lowered so that the receiving member 192M reaches the upper surface of the panel. Next, the mutual distance between the rail members 193A is adjusted according to the distance between the rows of the front stage panel, and then the stock support rail 193 is extended. This allows
The rail members 193A of each pair sequentially pass through both sides of the cultivation cup 25 of each strain 24 along the panel surface, and the tips are receiving members.
192M is engaged and supported. When the base 191 is raised in this state, the flanges 255 of the cultivation cup 25 are locked by the rail members 193A, and the plants 24 are taken out from the panel and held above.

While lifting the stock 24, each rail member 193A
The interval between columns is expanded so as to correspond to the interval between columns of the front stage panel, and thereby the interval between columns of the stock 24 is expanded. After lifting the strain 24, perform intra-row expansion. In the in-row space expansion, first, the mutual space between the engaging members 194M along each rail member 194A is adjusted to match the in-row space of the panel of the previous stage. Then, the intervals of the rail members 194A and the like are adjusted so that they are located between the stocks 24 held by the stock support rails 193. Next, the auxiliary arm 194 is extended and each engaging member 19 is extended.
4M is placed beside the cultivation cup 25 of each strain 24 and the root hanging from it. In this state, each engaging member 194M
When raised, the engaging members 194M sandwich the corresponding cultivation cup 25 of the plant 24 from below. In this state, the respective engaging members 194M are moved and adjusted so that the mutual intervals match the in-row intervals of the panel of the rear stage. As a result, the stock 24 having the cultivation cup 25 sandwiched between the engaging members 194M becomes the rail member 19
It moves along 4A, and has an interval corresponding to the in-row interval of the rear stage panel. As a result, the in-row spacing of the stock 24 is expanded.

While performing the in-row spacing expansion, the spacing machine 19 moves to the front of the feed line of the rear stage. In the front of the feed line of the rear stage, when the in-row spacing is expanded, the auxiliary arm 194 is contracted and the base 191 is lowered. As a result, the stock holding rail 193 and the tip support arm 192 are lowered, and the stock 24 that has been supported is placed on a new panel supplied from the panel server 18 at the line entrance. By the above, the transplantation of the stock 24 for one panel and the bidirectional expansion of the stock interval are performed.

In order to expand the space between the rows and within the rows, after the rail members 193A and the engagement members 194M are once wider than the desired spacing (here, the spacing corresponding to the rear stage panel). , Operate to shorten to this desired interval. As a result, the amount of movement for adjusting the spacing becomes large, and malfunctions and the like due to sliding resistance can be eliminated and reliable operation can be obtained. In addition, when placing the plant 24 on a new panel, after the plant holding rail 193 is lowered to the vicinity of the panel surface (for example, the height at which the bottom of the cultivation cup 25 reaches the panel surface), the plant holding rail 193 is once set to a predetermined height. Raise
Try to lower it to the panel surface again. As a result, even if the stock 24 does not fit properly into the hole of the panel when it first descends to the panel surface, it is moved by performing the rise and fall again and comes to have the correct posture.

(Effect of Spacing Machine) According to the spacing machine 19 of the present embodiment, the stocks 24 on the panel of the exit line of the preceding stage return line are collectively lifted and are integrated into the panel of the entrance line of the succeeding stage feed line. Can be transplanted. Therefore, as compared with the case where the strains 24 are transplanted row by row or one by one, the transplanting work can be performed more quickly and the efficiency can be improved. Further, since all the stocks 24 on the panel are handled collectively, the stocks 24 can be transferred from the front stage to the rear stage by moving the spacing machine 19 itself. It is possible to eliminate complications and complications. Further, the stock 24 can be put in and taken out from an arbitrary line by selecting the stop position, and it is possible to easily cope with the case where a plurality of parallel return lines and feed lines are used as in the present embodiment.

Further, in the spacing machine 19 of the present embodiment, at the time of transplantation operation, the bidirectional expansion operation from the narrow stock interval corresponding to the panel of the front stage to the wide stock interval corresponding to the panel of the rear stage is simultaneously performed. It can be performed, and both space efficiency and work efficiency can be improved as compared with the case where each is performed by another device. And with rail member 193A, stock 24
And the stocks 24 in each row that have been lifted are moved along the rail member 193A by the engaging members 194M of the auxiliary arm 194, the inter-row spacing and intra-row spacing can be adjusted reliably and easily. At the same time, the mechanism can be simplified. Furthermore, the inter-row spacing adjustment operation can be performed simultaneously when the stock is lifted and raised, and the intra-row spacing adjustment operation can be performed simultaneously when moving between lines, thus further improving work efficiency.

On the other hand, in the spacing machine 19 of this embodiment, the rail member 193A for lifting the stock 24 extends along the surface of the panel, so that the leaf portion which has grown up is not damaged. Further, since the tip end of the rail member 193A is supported by the tip holding arm 192, the rail member 193A can withstand the load of a large number of stocks 24. This tip holding arm 192 also descends from the upper side to the far side end of the panel, so that the leaves of the stock 24 are not damaged. Further, the auxiliary arm 194 extends between the roots of the lifted stock 24, and each stock 24 is engaged by raising the engaging member 194M, so that the roots are not damaged.
And each arm 192, 194 and rail 193 is a frame
Since all can be stored in 190, it does not interfere with the cultivation line 16 when moving, and it can be moved across the panel server 18 by raising the base 191, so it can move independently. It is also possible to increase the degree of freedom of each operation to simplify the control procedure and improve efficiency.

Further, when expanding the space between rows and within the rows, each rail member 193A and each engagement member 194M is once expanded to a size larger than the desired space and then operated so as to be contracted to this desired space. Therefore, it is possible to increase the amount of movement for adjusting the gap, eliminate malfunctions due to sliding resistance, and obtain reliable motions. Further, when mounting the stock 24 on a new panel, the stock holding rail 193 is lowered to near the panel surface, then once raised to a predetermined height, and then lowered again to the panel surface. Even if the stock 24 does not fit properly into the hole of the panel when it descends to the surface, it can be moved by moving up and down again, and can be stored in the correct posture.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and modifications and the like within the range where the object of the present invention can be achieved are included in the present invention. Further, for the portions not described in detail in the above embodiment, for example, the structures shown below can be used. (Fixing of Stop Position to Cultivation Line) First, as the positioning protrusion and the positioning hole of the lane shifter 17, the panel server 18, and the spacing machine 19 in the above-described embodiment, for example, the structure shown in FIG. 25 can be used.

In FIG. 25, an air cylinder 303 is fixed to the lane shifter 17, the panel server 18, and the lower side surface of the frame of the spacing machine 19 via a bracket 301. A conical positioning protrusion 303 is fixed to the extendable end of the air cylinder 302, and can advance to a position indicated by a chain line. On the floor surface near the rails 170B, 180B, 190B, a receiving member 307 is installed via brackets 305, 306 connected by bolts 304, and a positioning hole 308 is formed in the receiving member 307.

When the lane shifter 17, the panel server 18, and the spacing machine 19 are in a position where the panel can be taken in and out of the cultivation line 16, the positioning hole 308 is provided.
It is set to the position directly under 3. Further, the positioning hole 308 has a conical surface with an opening on the upper surface side expanded upward, and has a lower portion in a cylindrical shape having an inner diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the positioning protrusion 303. With such a configuration, the lane shifter 17, the panel server 18, and the spacing machine 19 are moved to stop at the position corresponding to each cultivation line 16, and the positioning protrusion 303 is advanced to move the positioning protrusion 303.
Is inserted into the positioning hole 308 and is guided from the conical surface portion to the cylindrical portion, and the accurate positioning can be performed by the engagement of both.

These lane shifter 17 and panel server 1
8.The spacing machine 19 is provided with a retractable auxiliary leg, and the auxiliary leg may be taken out and supported on the floor or the like in a state of being stopped with respect to each cultivation line 16. The posture and position in the stopped state can be stabilized and the panel can be delivered and received reliably.

(Movement with respect to cultivation line) When moving the lane shifter 17, the panel server 18, and the spacing machine 19 to the corresponding positions of the cultivation line 16, the racks along the rails 170B, 180B, 190B and the moving side are moved. A combination with a pinion or the like may be used. At this time, instead of the normal rack and pinion, as shown in FIG. 26, the rail 17
Chains 311 may be installed along 0B, 180B, 190B.
Then, the sprocket 312 provided on the lane shifter 17, the panel server 18, and the spacing machine 19 is engaged with the chain 311, and driven by rotating with a motor or the like.

Further, as rails 170B, 180B, 190B, I
In addition to the method of guiding the moving direction with the side H-shaped flanged wheel using shaped steel, etc., one of the pair of rails has a triangular mountain shape and the other has a flat surface so that the moving direction is guided only by the triangular mountain shape side. May be. In Figure 27, the panel server
18, the rails of the spacing machine 19 are triangular-shaped rails 180B1 and 190B1 on the cultivation line 16 side, and the opposite rails 180B2 and 190B2 are flat. The corresponding wheels are the wheels 180B1 and 190B1 with triangular grooves on the side 18
0A1, 190A1, and rails 180B2, 190B2 are simple cylindrical wheels 180A2, 190A2.

If such rails and wheels are used,
The triangular chevron and triangular groove of rails 180B1, 190B1 and wheels 180A1, 190A1 provide more precise direction of travel guidance than I-section steel and flanged wheels. In particular, since the rails 180B1, 190B1 and the wheels 180A1, 190A1 are provided on the cultivation line 16 side, it is possible to enhance the positional accuracy in transferring the panel and enhance the certainty of the operation.

(Positioning with respect to the cultivation line) Further, the lane shifter 17, the panel server 18, the spacing machine 19
In moving the plant to the corresponding position on the cultivation line 16, it is desirable to install a marker or the like indicating the position of the cultivation line 16 along the rails 170B, 180B, 190B. 27 and 28, a stop position marker 320 is installed between the rails 180B1 and 180B2 corresponding to each cultivation line 16, and a stop position sensor 321 is installed on the lower surface of the panel server 180. Further, a stop position marker 320 is also installed on the end side surface of each cultivation line 16, and a stop position sensor 321 is installed on the leg side surface of the spacing machine 190.

Each stop position marker 320 has a plurality of protrusions, and each cultivation line 16 can be identified by a binary number based on the presence / absence pattern of the protrusions. For example, the cultivation line where the panel server 18 and spacing machine 19 should be stopped
If there are 14 16's, which is 2 to the 4th power, it is 16 so that it is possible to specify each cultivation line 16 with 4 protrusions. Figure 28
In the marker 320 at each stop position, the positions indicated by black circles have protrusions, and the positions indicated by white circles have no protrusions, and the numerical values parenthesized below are represented by binary numbers.

Each stop position sensor 321 corresponds to the panel server 1
8. When the spacing machine 19 is at a position corresponding to each cultivation line 16, four sensors (proximity sensor, magnetic sensor, optical sensor, contact sensor, etc.) set so as to be directly above the marker 320 at that position. ) And marker 32
The binary number indicated by 0 is readable. As a result, the control device for controlling the panel server 18 and the spacing machine 19 identifies the cultivation line 16 to be stopped by the signal from the stop position sensor 321, and determines the position where the signal intensity is the maximum, the cultivation line 16 concerned. Can be identified as the front position of the.

As the stop position marker 320 described above, the following structure can be used. In FIG. 29, the stop position marker 320 is provided with a long plate-shaped base member 322, and this base member 322 is placed on the floor or the like via the first rod-shaped portion 323, the connection block 324, the second rod-shaped portion 325, and the fixing member 326. It is fixed. The first and second rod-shaped portions 323, 325 are arranged in the intersecting direction and are respectively fastened and fixed to the connection block 324. By loosening these, the inclination of the base member 322 with respect to the fixed floor or the like is set to two. Adjustable in direction.
Six holes are formed in the base member 322, and a support rod 327 is nut-fastened to the outer two, and the lower end of the support rod 327 is in contact with the floor surface or the like.

Therefore, even if the base member 322 is stepped on by an operator, the load can be supported on the floor surface through the support rods 327. In addition, with the tightening of the second rod-shaped portions 323 and 325 by the connection block 324 being loose, the support rod 27
The posture of the base member 322 can be surely and easily adjusted by adjusting the downward protrusion length of the base member and tightening the connection block 324 with the lower end thereof in contact with the floor surface.

Of the holes of the base member 322, projection members 328 are appropriately attached to the four inner holes. The projecting member 328 has a bolt on the lower surface of a plate-shaped member, and is fixed to the base member 322 at an appropriate height by being inserted into the hole of the base member 322 and tightened with a nut. By selecting the installation pattern of these protruding members 328, the above-described binary representation is performed.

In FIG. 30, different stop position markers 320 are shown. This stop position marker 320 is
There are three 2 holes, and up to 2 protruding members 328 are attached, and numerical values up to 4 can be designated. In this stop position marker 320, the support rod 327 is one, and the first rod-shaped portion 323, the connection block 324, the second rod-shaped portion 325, and the fixing member.
Although the arrangement of 326 is slightly different, the first and second rod-shaped parts
323 and 325 are in the intersecting direction, and the two-way posture adjustment of the base member 322 is also possible.

(Structure of Panel Server) The panel server 18 may have a multi-layer structure as shown in FIG. 31 in order to increase the storage types. In FIG. 31, a slightly smaller sub-frame 331 is installed in the frame 180 of the panel server 18, and this sub-frame 331 has air cylinders 332 on both sides.
You can move up and down with. A first layer 333 is formed in the lower half of the sub-frame 331, and a second layer 334 is formed in the upper half. The first and second layers 333 1 and 334 2 are provided with the same configurations as the stockers 186 1 and 187 described above, respectively, and a plurality of cultivation panels 26 27 27 can be stacked and housed in each.

In such a multi-tiered panel server 18, for example, the cultivation panel 27 is accommodated in the left and right compartments of the first hierarchy 333 in the drawing, and the cultivation panel 26 is accommodated in the left compartment of the second hierarchy 334 in the drawing. The cultivation panel 28 is housed in the right side section of the second floor 334 in the drawing. And the cultivation panel on the first stage
When supplying 26, stop so that the left side section in the figure is in front of the cultivation line 16 of the first stage, and subframe 331
The panel is supplied with the second level 334 lowered to the height of the cultivation line 16. In addition, cultivation panel 28 on the third stage
When feeding, the right side section in the figure is stopped so as to come to the front of the cultivation line 16 of the third stage, the sub-frame 331 is lowered, and the panel is supplied with the second floor 334 at the height of the cultivation line 16. To do.

On the other hand, when supplying the cultivation panel 27 to the second stage, stop so that one of the left and right sections in the drawing comes to the front of the cultivation line 16 of the second stage, and the sub-frame 331
The panel is supplied with the first floor 333 raised to the height of the cultivation line 16. Therefore, according to such a multi-layer type panel server 18, the first to third stages can be processed by one panel server 18, and the equipment can be simplified.

(Sending of panel into cultivation line) In the cultivation line 16, the guide groove 16 of the guide rail member 161 is provided.
It is preferable that the inner surface of 1A and the edges of the cultivation panels 26 to 28 are dimensioned so that a certain amount of gap is formed in order to smoothly move them. This is because the panels in a row are in contact with each other at their edges, and the posture is stable in the feed direction. However, the lane shifter 17,
When the panels are fed from the panel server 18, the feeding directions by each may be slightly deviated, and if the gap with the inner surface of the guide groove 161A is large, the posture of the panel may be inclined and, conversely, it may be caught. .

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 32, it is desirable to arrange a guide member 341 at the panel inlet side portion in the guide groove 161A of the guide rail member 161, to narrow the gap between the guide rail member 161 and the panel. At this time, the guide member 341 is preferably made of a low friction material such as polyamide resin (nylon or the like) or polyacetal resin. Further, it is desirable that at least the front side in the panel feeding direction has an oblique cut shape or the like so that the panel can be smoothly introduced. The lane shifter
In 17 and panel server 18, pull in the panel /
The pushing means is not limited to the feed screw type as described above, but an air cylinder, a rack and pinion or the like may be used. Alternatively, by combining a plurality of these, the device can be made compact even when a large feed stroke is required.

On the other hand, when feeding the panels from the lane shifter 17 to the cultivation line 16, the panels 26 to 28 fed from the opposite side are taken by the panel server 18, and then the next panel is fed to the outlet side end. At this time, the transplanting operation by the spacing machine 19 is performed on the panel on the outlet side. Accurate control of position is desirable. For this,
It is desirable to provide a panel position sensor on the exit side of the cultivation line 16.

In FIG. 33, the panel end position sensor 351
Is for detecting the tip (end) position of the outlet side position panel, is supported by the tip of the telescopic rod 353 of the air cylinder 352 installed on the upper surface of the panel server 18, and extends to the inside of the outlet side portion of the cultivation panel 16. It is possible to advance. As the panel end position sensor 351, a contact type such as a limit switch or a non-contact type such as an optical sensor can be used. When a lever type limit switch is used as shown in Fig. 33, a motor etc. for rotating the telescopic rod 353 of the air cylinder 352 is provided (not shown), and the lever 354 is used when the limit switch is retracted.
It is desirable to hold the plate horizontally and retract it from the passage path of the panel, and at the time of position detection, hang down the lever 354 so as to project into the passage path of the panel for contact detection.

The panel feeding operation for detecting the end position is performed in the following procedure. First, when the panel is supplied from the panel server 18 to the inlet side of the cultivation line 16, the panel is pushed out from the outlet side, and the lane shifter 17 receives the panel. The lane shifter 17 then moves to the next line and pushes the received panel into this line. By this pushing in, the panel on the exit side of the line is pushed out, and the panel server 18 grabs its tip and starts pulling in. When the panel server 18 starts to be retracted, the lane shifter 17 temporarily stops the pushing operation,
stand by.

After the panel server 18 completes the pulling in of the gripped panel, it advances the panel end position sensor 351 to the inside of the empty cultivation line 16 outlet. When the panel end position sensor 351 advances and is held at a predetermined position, the lane shifter 17 restarts the panel pushing operation. Along with this, each panel of the cultivation line 16 is sequentially sent, the leading panel enters the outlet side portion, and the panel end position sensor 35
Touch 1. At this point, the lane shifter 17 ends the pushing operation. As a result, the panel on the exit side of the cultivation line 16 is stopped at the desired position according to the panel end position sensor 351, and the plant transplantation by the spacing machine 19 is smoothly performed.

In addition to the above, the shape and arrangement of each device in the plant factory 10 and each part of the cultivation panels 26 to 28, the number of installations, and the like are not limited to those in the above-described embodiment, and may be appropriately selected for implementation. For example, the cultivation line is not limited to one in which either one of feeding and returning is plural, and both of them may be plural.
However, it is desirable that the number of the first stage feed line is one because the panel is fed from the planting device, and it is also desirable that the number of the third stage return line is one because of the takeout to the harvesting device. In addition, it is not essential that any one of the lines be plural, and one line may be used for each stage and one line may be returned. However, it is possible to extend the transportation time by using any one of them as in the above-described embodiment.

Further, the number of strains in each cultivation panel at the front and rear stages may be different, and in this case, for example, the strains may be transplanted in each row. However, the work efficiency can be improved by using the same number and batch transplanting as in the above embodiment. Furthermore, the plant layout of the cultivation panel is a grid-like arrangement,
Other arrangements are possible. However, by using the staggered arrangement as in the above-described embodiment, it is possible to perform biaxial expansion by uniaxial movement or share cultivation lines by making the width common.

On the other hand, the lane shifter is not limited to the one that receives the panel at the feed line outlet position, moves to the feed line inlet position and sends it back, and also has a conveyor or the like from the feed line outlet to the return line inlet to convey the panel. It may be. However, the structure can be simplified by adopting the movable type as in the above embodiment. Further, the same is true for the panel server, and the panel transportation between the stocker and the external stocker can be omitted by adopting the conveyor transportation type, but especially when a part is formed as a plurality of parallel lines as in the above embodiment. Since the equipment becomes complicated, it is desirable to make it mobile.
In addition, the spacing machine is configured to lift stocks in rows from the front stage and place them sequentially on the rear stage.
Alternatively, the stocks may be picked up from the front stage one by one and placed on an empty position in the rear stage. However, the work efficiency can be improved by performing the collective transplantation as in the above-mentioned embodiment.

In the above embodiment, the cultivation panels 26 to 28 are used.
However, the feeding devices may be provided at predetermined intervals in the conveying path. Further, the panel feeding operation of each stage may be performed in order from the front stage to the rear stage, or may be performed simultaneously in all stages. However, in these cases, since the stock is taken out from the panel of the previous stage taken out to the outside, it is necessary to consider the root in the panel taking-out portion, and the structure becomes complicated. As described above, it is desirable to perform the feeding operation in the order from the rear stage to the front stage. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the consistent plant factory as in the above-described examples, but may be applied to those that only grow seedlings procured from outside, and the embodiment may be appropriately selected.

[0114]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to form a return type conveyance path by the parallel and reverse lines of feed and return and the lane shifter, and it is possible to avoid lengthening while ensuring the length of the conveyance path.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing work contents in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the cultivation cup of the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the cultivation cup of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the cultivation panel of the above-mentioned embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the cultivation panel of the above embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view showing the arrangement of the cultivation device of the above-mentioned embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the cultivation line of the example.

FIG. 9 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing the cultivation line for the first stage of the example.

FIG. 10 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing the cultivation line for the second and third stages of the example.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the guide rail member of the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a recovery member of the above embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a horizontal sectional view showing the recovery member of the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing the lane shifter of the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a side view showing the lane shifter of the embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a side view showing the panel server of the embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a plan view showing the panel server of the embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a front view showing the panel server of the embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a side view showing the spacing machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a rear view showing the spacing machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view showing a tip portion of the spacing machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a front view showing a tip portion of the spacing machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view showing an engaging member of the spacing machine of the above embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing an engaging member of the spacing machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a partially cutaway side view showing positioning protrusions and holes that can be used in the embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing a rail and a drive mechanism that can be used in the embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a side view showing a structure of a rail portion of a modified example of the present invention.

28 is a plan view showing the structure of the rail portion of FIG. 27.

29 is a perspective view showing a stop position marker that can be used in the structure of FIG. 28.

30 is a perspective view showing different stop position markers that can be used in the structure of FIG. 28.

FIG. 31 is a front view showing a panel server of a modified example of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a plan view showing a cultivation line guide member that can be used in the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a side view showing a panel end position sensor that can be used in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Plant factory 11 Seeding device 12 Nursery bed 13 Planting device 14 Cultivation device 15 Harvesting device 16 Cultivation line 17 Lane shifter 18 Panel server 19 Spacing machine 24 stocks 25 Cultivation cups 26-28 Cultivation panel 320 Stop position marker 341 Panel guide member 351 Panel end position sensor

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A panel-type transport and cultivation apparatus for storing and transporting a plurality of strains in a cultivation panel, wherein a feed line for feeding the cultivation panel in a predetermined direction, and a reverse line for feeding the cultivation panel substantially parallel to the feed line. A panel-type carrier cultivation apparatus comprising: a return line that is sent in a direction; and a lane shifter that receives the cultivation panel sent from the sending line and sends it to the return line. 2. The panel-type carrier cultivation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the panel-type carrier cultivation apparatus has a plurality of stages according to the growth of a strain, and each stage includes the feed line, the return line, and a lane shifter. Panel-type transport cultivation device. 3. The panel-type transport cultivation device according to claim 2, wherein the lane shifter is arranged on the same side of each stage, and the cultivation panel is collected from the return line outlet of the preceding stage on the opposite side of each stage. And, a panel server that supplies a new cultivation panel to the feed line entrance of the rear stage and a strain stored in the cultivation panel of the exit line of the preceding stage return line are taken out and transplanted to a new cultivation panel at the entrance of the rear stage feed line. A panel-type transport and cultivation device comprising a transplanting device. 4. The panel-type transport and cultivating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the plant interval of the cultivating panel is set wider in the rear stage than in the front stage. 5. The panel-type transport and cultivation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the lane shifter, the panel server, and the transplanting device extend in the vicinity of the ends of the feed line and the return line in the direction intersecting with each stage. It is formed between a possible rail, a stop position marker arranged along the rail and showing a position corresponding to each of the lines, a lane shifter, a panel server, an implanting device and a floor on which the rail is installed. And a positioning means capable of engaging at a position corresponding to each of the lines. 6. The method for operating a panel-type transport and cultivation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the panel server sequentially pushes the cultivation panels on the feeding line by pushing the cultivation panels into the feeding line. Send,
The cultivating panel extruded from the opposite side is received by the lane shifter, the cultivating panel on the return line is sequentially sent by pushing the received cultivating panel to the return line by the lane shifter, and the cultivating panel extruded from the opposite side is the panel. A method for operating a panel-type transport cultivation device, which is characterized in that it is received by a server. 7. The method for operating a panel-type transport and cultivating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a new panel is supplied to the inlet of the rear stage feed line, and the plant of the cultivating panel at the outlet of the front stage return line is used in the transplanting apparatus. A method for operating a panel-type transport and cultivating device, which comprises transplanting to a new panel at the entrance of the rear stage feed line, and then taking out the cultivation panel at the exit of the preceding stage return line. 8. The method for operating a panel-type transport / cultivation device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein when the panel of the panel server and / or the lane shifter is pushed into the panel, the outlet end of the feed line and / or the return line. A method for operating a panel-type transport and cultivating apparatus, characterized in that the terminal position of the panel sent to is monitored, and the pushing is stopped when the terminal position of the panel reaches a predetermined position of each line.