JPH10218373A - Seedling cultivating tray separating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reliably separate a seedling cultivating tray from a seedling cultivating tray group one by one trying to simplify the constitution, and to smoothly transfer the separated seedling cultivating tray to a carriage conveyor for a seedling cultivating case and a seedling plant. SOLUTION: A seedling cultivating tray separating device comprises a support tool Aa movable between a support position to support a seedling cultivating tray group Z by receiving a seedling cultivating tray 1 at a lower stage of the seedling cultivating tray group Z formed such that seedling cultivating trays 1 on which a plurality of seedling pots 1a are longitudinal and laterally aligned are stacked in a plurality of stages, and a non-support position separated away from the seedling cultivating tray 1 at a lowermost stage; and a separating tool Ab movable between an operation position, where the separating tool is engaged between the seedling cultivating tray 1 at a lowermost stage of a seedling cultivating tray group Z and a seedling cultivating tray 1 right thereabove, and a non-operation position separated away from a space between the trays. In linkage with movement of the support tool Aa to a non-support position, the separating tool Ab separates the seedling cultivating tray 1 at a lowermost stage from the seedling cultivating tray group Z.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a seedling raising tray separating apparatus for separating seedling trays one by one from a seedling tray group formed by stacking a plurality of seedling trays in which a plurality of seedling pots are arranged vertically and horizontally.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the above-described seedling raising tray separation apparatus, an adsorption part is adsorbed to the uppermost seedling raising tray from above a seedling raising group, and then the adsorption part is moved upward to move the seedling raising tray. It is considered to separate the top seedling trays one by one from the group.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, since the uppermost seedling raising tray is separated from the seedling raising tray group, it is necessary to use the seedling raising tray mounted on the seedling raising box. Inconveniences such as labor required to transfer the separated seedling tray from the upper part of the seedling tray group to the seedling box and a mechanism to automate the transfer occur, and the use of the seedling tray alone In such a case, inconveniences such as labor for transferring the separated seedling trays from above the seedling tray group to a conveyor such as a seeding plant and a mechanism for automating the transfer are required. Therefore, there was room for improvement in reducing labor and simplifying the configuration. In addition, since the seedling tray has a plurality of seedling pots arranged vertically and horizontally, the upper and lower adhesiveness when stacked in a plurality of stages is relatively high. In this way, simply moving the adsorption part adsorbed on the top seedling raising tray
With the rise of the top seedling tray, the lower seedling tray that is in close contact with it also rises, making it difficult to reliably separate only the top seedling tray. Therefore, it is conceivable to provide an engaging tool that engages with the seedling raising tray immediately below the uppermost seedling raising tray to prevent the seedling raising tray lower than the uppermost seedling raising tray from rising. Therefore, take measures such as lowering the nursery tray and moving the engaging device downward, and conversely raising the nursery tray group as the nursery tray decreases, or increasing the amount of vertical movement of the adsorption unit. The necessity necessitates an inconvenience that the nursery tray separation device becomes complicated and large in size, so that there is room for improvement in simplifying the configuration and miniaturizing the device.

An object of the present invention is to make it possible to reliably separate seedling trays one by one from a seedling tray group while simplifying the structure, and to transport a seedling box of the separated seedling trays and a seeding plant. An object is to facilitate transfer to a conveyor or the like.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a seedling raising method comprises stacking a plurality of seedling trays in which a plurality of seedling pots are formed in rows and columns. A support member that receives a seedling tray at the bottom of the tray group and supports the seedling tray group, and a support tool that can be moved to a non-support position separated from the seedling tray at the bottom stage; Equipped with a separating device movable between an operating position engaged between the seedling raising tray at the lower stage and the seedling raising tray immediately above the non-operating position, and a non-operating position separated from between the trays. In conjunction with the movement, the separating device is configured to separate the lowermost seedling tray from the seedling tray group.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the supporting tool is moved to the non-supporting position while the separating tool is located at the operating position, the separating tool is moved in conjunction with the movement to move the separating tool of the nursery tray group. The engagement between the lowermost seedling raising tray and the seedling raising tray immediately above it allows only the lowermost seedling raising tray to be separated while receiving and supporting the seedling raising trays other than the lowermost one. After the separation, if the separating tool is moved to the non-operating position after the supporting tool is moved to the supporting position, the seedling raising tray located at the lowest stage at that time can be received by the supporting tool, and the seedling raising tray group is moved. It will be supported by the support. In other words, even if the seedling tray has a relatively high vertical adhesion when stacked in a plurality of stages due to the formation of a plurality of seedling pots arranged vertically and horizontally, even the seedling raising tray at the bottom of the seedling tray group By the action of the separating tool interposed between the tray and the seedling raising tray immediately above the tray, the lowermost seedling raising tray can be reliably separated one by one from the seedling raising group.

In addition, since the lowermost seedling tray is separated from the seedling tray group, it is necessary to reduce the number of seedling trays required when the uppermost seedling tray is separated from the seedling tray group. The height relationship between the lowermost seedling tray separated from the seedling tray group and the separation tool without providing a mechanism for lowering the separating tool with it or raising the seedling tray group as the seedling tray decreases. Can be kept constant regardless of the decrease in seedling trays, and by placing seedling boxes and conveyors for seeding plants below the seedling tray group,
Smooth transfer of the separated seedling trays to the seedling boxes and the transfer conveyor of the seeding plant without the need to transfer the separated seedling trays to the seedling box or the transfer conveyor of the seeding plant, and without the need for a mechanism to automate the transfer. Can reduce the labor, simplify the configuration, reduce the size of the device,
In addition, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Accordingly, while reducing labor, simplifying the configuration, reducing the size of the apparatus, and reducing the manufacturing cost, the nursery trays can be reliably and individually separated from the nursery tray group. The transfer to the seedling raising box of the seedling raising tray and the transport conveyor of the seeding plant can be performed smoothly.

According to the second aspect of the present invention,
The invention according to claim 1, wherein the separating tool is configured to receive and support a seedling tray other than a lowermost seedling tray in the seedling tray group in accordance with the movement to the action position. And a separation claw that can swing up and down around a horizontal fulcrum. The separation claw is engaged with an engagement portion provided on the support when the support moves to a non-support position. An engaged portion is provided for swinging down the separating claw away from the fixed claw to separate the lowermost seedling tray from the seedling tray group.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the supporter has the engaging portion, the separating claw of the separating device has the engaged portion,
A dedicated actuator for separating and operating the separation claw, and a sensor for detecting the movement of the support to the unsupported position, with a configuration that only equips them by moving the support to the unsupported position. , And, even if control means for operating the actuator based on the detection from the sensor is not provided, after the support tool is moved to the non-support position, the lowermost seedling tray is separated from the seedling tray group by the separation tool. Will be able to do that.

Accordingly, the structure of the seedling raising tray separation device can be simplified and the production cost can be further reduced.

According to the third aspect of the present invention,
The invention according to claim 1, wherein the separating tool is configured to receive and support a seedling tray other than a lowermost seedling tray in the seedling tray group in accordance with the movement to the action position. And from the seedling tray group by moving downward from the separation claw which is freely movable in the vertical direction to the state where the separation claw is separated from the fixed claw in conjunction with the movement of the support to the non-support position. The lower-most seedling raising tray was configured to be separated.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when separating the lowermost seedling tray from the seedling tray group, the separating claw moves downward in the separation direction of the lowermost seedling tray. Since the lower seedling tray can be easily and smoothly separated from the seedling tray group, the actuator for separating and operating the separation claw can be reduced in size, and the support structure for the separation claw can be simplified.

Accordingly, the structure of the seedling raising tray separation device can be simplified and the manufacturing cost can be further reduced while smoothing the separation operation by the seedling raising tray separation device.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention,
The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fixed claw is engaged between the seedling pots of the seedling raising tray as the separating tool is moved to the operating position.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the fixed claws can be made longer than in the case where the fixed claws are not engaged between the seedling pots of the seedling raising tray. When separating seedling trays from
The seedling tray group can be more stably supported by the long fixed claws of the separator moved to the action position.

Therefore, it is possible to improve the stability of the seedling tray group when separating the bottom seedling tray from the seedling tray group.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention,
The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of the separating tools are provided, and each of the separating tools has a time difference in conjunction with the movement of the support tool to a non-support position. It was configured to operate separately.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the separation operation with a time difference between the plurality of separation tools makes the separation stroke length of the separation tools relatively short, but also allows the lowermost seedling raising tray to be moved. A gap for separating the seedling tray directly above the seedling raising tray can be reliably formed over the entire area between the bonding surface between the seedling raising tray at the bottom and the seedling raising tray immediately above the tray. Can be separated from the nursery tray group.

Therefore, it is possible to more smoothly separate the lowermost seedling tray from the seedling tray group without any difficulty.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a seedling tray separation for separating the seedling trays 1 one by one from a seedling tray group Z formed by stacking a plurality of seedling trays 1 for vegetables and flowers in which a plurality of seedling pots 1a are arranged vertically and horizontally. FIG. 2 shows the entire front of the apparatus A, and FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in each of the seedling raising trays 1, the flange portions 1 b of each of the seedling raising trays 1 are in close contact with a plurality of seedling pots 1 a located in a predetermined row in the longitudinal direction. A step portion 1c is formed to prevent the seedling raising tray 1 from being stacked in a plurality of stages.
A gap s is formed in b.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the seedling tray separating apparatus A receives a lowermost seedling tray 1 of the seedling tray group Z and supports the seedling tray group Z, and a lowermost seedling tray. The support tool Aa can be moved to a non-support position separated from the first seedling tray 1, an action position to be engaged in the gap s between the lowermost seedling tray 1 of the seedling tray group Z and the seedling tray 1 immediately above the same, and the gap s A separating tool Ab that is movable to a non-operating position separated from the shutter is provided. The support Aa includes left and right receiving plates 2 slidably supported by a supporting position and a non-supporting position, and left and right cylinders 3 that slide the left and right receiving plates 2. The separation tool Ab
In the working position, a plurality of fixed claws 4 are placed in a state of receiving and supporting the seedling raising trays 1 other than the lowermost seedling raising tray 1 in the seedling raising group Z, and a state where they are positioned at the same height as the fixed claws 4 by the support shafts 5a. A plurality of separating claws 5 integrally connected and supported so as to be able to swing up and down around the horizontal fulcrum P1 in a state located below the fixed supporting member 4, and the fixed claw 4 and the separating claw 5 are integrally operated and non-operating positions. And a cylinder 6 slidably operated between the right and left sides.

The cylinder 3 of the support Aa is moved by the operation of the cylinder 6 of the separator Ab to move the fixed claws 4 and the respective separation claws 5 of the separator Ab from the non-operation position to the operation position. The cylinder 6 of the separating device Ab is moved by the operation of the cylinder 3 of the supporting member Aa so that each receiving plate 2 of the supporting member Aa is supported from the non-supporting position. After moving to the position,
The respective operations are controlled by the control device 7 so as to move each of the fixed claws 4 and each of the separation claws 5 of FIG.

Each receiving plate 2 of the support Aa is provided with a protruding engaging portion 8 on the upper surface side. On the other hand, the separation claw 5 of the support Aa is separated from the fixed claw 4 by the engagement with the engaging portion 8 when each receiving plate 2 of the support Aa moves from the support position to the non-support position. An engaged portion 9 is provided for swinging down around the horizontal fulcrum P1 to separate the lowermost seedling raising tray 1 from the seedling raising tray group Z in a separated state. That is, in conjunction with the movement of each receiving plate 2 of the support tool Aa from the support position to the non-support position, the separation claw 5 of the separation tool Ab separates the lowermost seedling raising tray 1 from the seedling raising tray group Z. Have been.

With the above configuration, the support Aa is supported at the support position.
Seedling tray group Z received and supported by each receiving plate 2
On the other hand, when each receiving plate 2 of the support tool Aa is moved to the non-support position in a state where the fixed claw 4 and the separation claw 5 of the separation tool Ab are located at the operation position, the separation is performed in conjunction with the movement. Tool Ab
With the fixed claw 4 receiving and supporting the seedling raising tray 1 other than the lowermost one, the separating claw 5 of the separating tool Ab swings down and separates only the lowermost seedling raising tray 1. After the separation, each receiving plate 2 of the support tool Aa is moved to the support position, and then the fixed claw 4 and the separation claw 5 of the separation tool Ab are moved to the non-operating position. The tray 1 is received by each receiving plate 2 of the support tool Aa, and the seedling raising tray group Z is supported by each receiving plate 2 of the support tool Aa. In other words, since the seedling pots 1a are vertically and horizontally aligned, even if the seedling tray 1 has relatively high vertical adhesion when stacked in a plurality of stages, the seedling tray group Z has the highest Separation tool A engaged between lower seedling tray 1 and seedling tray 1 immediately above
By the effect of b, the lowermost seedling raising tray 1 can be reliably separated from the seedling raising tray group Z one by one.

Further, since the lowermost seedling tray 1 is separated from the seedling tray group Z, the seedling raising tray 1 required for separating the uppermost seedling tray 1 from the seedling tray group Z is required. Without providing a mechanism for lowering the separating tool Ab as the tray 1 decreases or a mechanism for raising the nursery tray group Z as the nursery tray 1 decreases, the lowermost seedling separated from the nursery tray group Z is not provided. The height relationship between the tray 1 and the separating tool Ab can be kept constant regardless of the decrease in the seedling raising tray 1,
Also, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the seedling raising tray 10 is separated from the seedling raising tray 10 by disposing the seedling raising box 10 and the conveyor 11 of the seeding plant below the seedling raising tray group Z.
Without any effort to transfer the seedlings to the seedling box 10 or the transfer conveyor 11 of the seeding plant, or a mechanism for automating the transfer, and smoothly transfer the seeds to the seedling box 10 or the transfer conveyor 11 of the seeding plant. Therefore, labor can be reduced, the configuration can be simplified, the device can be downsized, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, when equipping the seeding plant with the seedling raising separation device A, the seedling raising separation device A can be installed above the transfer conveyor 11 as shown in FIGS. The floor area occupied by the seeding plant equipped with the seedling raising separation device A can be reduced as compared with the one that needs to be installed on the side.

In addition, the engaging portion 8 of each receiving plate 2 and the separation claw 5 when moving each receiving plate 2 of the support tool Aa to the non-support position.
Since the separation claw 5 is operated to be separated by the engagement with the engaged portion 9, there is no need to provide a dedicated actuator or the like for separating and operating the separation claw 5. Therefore, the seedling raising tray separation device A Can be further simplified and the manufacturing cost can be further reduced.

As a sowing plant, as shown in FIG. 4, the seedling pots 1a of the seedling raising box 10 or the seedling raising tray 1 placed on the seedling raising box 10 are placed on a conveyor 11 for transferring the seedling raising box 10. On the other hand, an adsorption type or a drop-in type in which seeds of vegetables or flowers are coated on the surface of the floor soil supplied to the seedling pots 1a of the seedling raising tray 1 for the floor soil supply device B for supplying the floor soil. Vegetable sowing apparatus C, spray-type rice paddy watering apparatus D for supplying water to the floor soil supplied to the seedling box 10, and the seedling box 10
Rice seeding apparatus E for seeding rice seeds substantially uniformly over the entire surface of the floor soil supplied to
Alternatively, a soil covering supply device F for supplying soil to each seedling pot 1a of the seedling raising tray 1 and a spray type vegetable watering device G for supplying moisture to the soil covering supplied to the seedling raising tray 1 may be provided. By arranging in order from the upper side in the transport direction, a sowing process for paddy rice and a sowing process for vegetables and flowers can be performed, and although not shown, sowing for vegetables and flowers can be performed. There is a configuration in which only the process can be performed, and in any seeding plant, the seedling raising tray separation device A is disposed on the transport conveyor 11 on the upstream side in the transport direction from the floor soil supply device C. Has become. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the seeding process for vegetables and flowers by the seeding plant has been completed when the seedling raising tray 1 is placed on the seedling raising box 10 and used.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the separating device Ab
The fixed claw 4 and the separation claw 5 are configured to engage between the seedling pots 1a of the seedling raising tray 1 in the operation position.
As a result, the fixed claws 4 and the separation claws 5 can be made longer than in the case where the fixed claws 4 and the separation claws 5 are not engaged between the seedling pots 1 a of the seedling raising tray 1. When separating the lowermost seedling raising tray 1 from the tray group Z, the long raising claws 4 of the separating tool Ab moved to the operating position can more stably support the seedling raising group Z and separate the separating nails. 5 can be extended, so that the lowermost seedling raising tray 1 from the seedling raising tray group Z can be more reliably separated.

The reference numeral 12 in FIG. 2 and FIG.
The separation claw 5 of the separation tool Ab is urged upward to move the fixed claw 4
Is a spring which returns to the height position.

[Other Embodiments] Hereinafter, other embodiments of the present invention will be listed. As shown in FIG. 6, the separating tool Ab is composed of a fixed claw 4 and a separating claw 5 that can move vertically in parallel with the fixed claw 4, and is provided on the upper surface of each receiving plate 2 of the supporting tool Aa. A slide that forms the riding cam 13 and is supported by the separating tool Ab so as to slide upward by the engagement with the riding cam 13 when each receiving plate 2 of the support tool Aa moves to the unsupported position. Equipped with a moving rod 14, a balance arm 16 for linking the sliding rod 14 and the operating rod 15 of the separation claw 5, and interlocking with the movement of each support plate Aa to the unsupported position of each receiving plate 2. ,
The separating claw 5 moves downward to be separated from the fixed claw 4,
The lowermost seedling raising tray 1 may be configured to be separated from the seedling raising tray group Z. The separation claw 5 may be separated by an operation of an actuator such as a cylinder. As shown in FIG. 7, in conjunction with the movement of each receiving plate 2 of the support tool Aa from the support position to the non-support position, the separation tool A
Prior to the separation operation of the separation claw 5 of FIG.
Move from the non-working position to the working position.
a and the separating tool Ab may be configured to be linked by a vertical balance arm 17. For example, the plurality of separation claws 5 are supported so as to swing up and down independently, and the plurality of separation claws 5 are provided on the upper surface of each receiving plate 2 of the support tool Aa and are engaged with the engaged portions 9 provided on the respective separation claws 5. By equipping the engaging portion 8 in a state of being displaced in the movement direction of the support Aa, the plurality of separation claws 5 are moved in conjunction with the movement of each support plate 2 to the non-support position of the support Aa. The separation operation may be performed with a time difference. The separation tool Ab may be configured to swing between the non-operation position and the operation position.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall front view of a seedling tray separation device.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a seedling raising tray separation device.

FIG. 3 (a) is a longitudinal sectional front view of a main part showing a state in which the separating tool has moved from the non-operating position to the operating position. (B) The separating claw has been separated in conjunction with the movement of the supporting tool to the non-supporting position. Longitudinal front view of the main part showing the state

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a configuration of a seeding plant.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing a state where a seeding step is completed.

FIG. 6 (a) is a vertical sectional front view of a main part showing a state where the separating tool is moved from the non-operating position to the operating position in another embodiment in which the separating claw is moved in parallel with the fixed claw in the vertical direction. A vertical sectional front view of a main part showing a state in which a separation claw is separated and operated in conjunction with movement of a support to a non-support position in another embodiment in which a claw is moved in a vertical direction with respect to a fixed claw.

FIG. 7A shows another embodiment in which the separating device is moved from the non-operation position to the operation position prior to the separation claw being operated in conjunction with the movement of the supporting device from the supporting position to the non-supporting position. A vertical front view of a main part showing a state in which the support tool is located at the support position and the separation tool is located at the non-operation position. (B) The separation claw is interlocked with the movement of the support tool from the support position to the non-support position. In another embodiment in which the separating tool is moved from the non-working position to the working position prior to the separating operation, the separating tool is moved from the non-working position to the working position in conjunction with the movement of the support tool from the supporting position to the non-supporting position. (C) As the support moves from the support position to the non-support position, the separation tool is moved from the non-operation position to the operation position before the separation claw separates. Support in another embodiment to move Longitudinal sectional front view of a main part showing a state where conjunction with the separation claw is separated activated movement from the supporting position to the non-support position

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Seedling raising tray 1a Seedling pot 4 Fixed claw 5 Separating claw 8 Engaging part 9 Engaged part Aa Supporting tool Ab Separating tool P1 Lateral fulcrum Z Seeding raising tray group

Claims (5)

[Claims] A support position for receiving the lowermost seedling tray of a seedling tray group formed by stacking a plurality of seedling trays in which a plurality of seedling pots are formed vertically and horizontally and supporting the seedling tray group; A support that can be moved to a non-supporting position separated from the lower seedling raising tray, and an operation position engaged between the lowest seedling raising tray of the seedling raising tray group and the seedling raising tray immediately above the lower raising seedling tray; Equipped with a separating device movable to a non-operating position separated from the support device, and interlocking with the movement of the support device to the non-support position, the separating device separates the lowermost seedling tray from the seedling tray group. Seedling tray separation device configured as described above. 2. A fixed claw for receiving and supporting the seedling raising tray other than the lowermost seedling raising tray in the seedling raising tray group as the separating tool is moved to the action position, and a support point lateral to the fixed claw. And a separation claw that can swing up and down. The separation claw engages with an engagement portion provided on the support when the support moves to a non-support position. 2. The seedling raising tray separation device according to claim 1, further comprising an engaged portion for lowering and swinging the seedling raising tray away from the fixed claw to separate the lowermost seedling raising tray from the seedling raising tray group. 3. 3. A fixed claw for receiving and supporting a seedling raising tray other than a lowermost seedling raising tray in the seedling raising tray group as the separating tool is moved to the action position, and a vertically extending direction relative to the fixed nail. By moving from the parallel movable separation claw to the state where the separation claw is separated from the fixed claw in conjunction with the movement of the support tool to the non-support position,
The seedling raising tray separation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lowermost seedling raising tray is separated from the seedling raising tray group. 4. The seedling raising tray separating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the fixed claw is engaged between the seedling pots of the seedling raising tray as the separating tool moves to the operation position. 5. A method in which a plurality of the separating tools are provided,
The seedling raising tray separation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each separation tool is configured to perform a separation operation with a time difference in conjunction with the movement of the support tool to the non-support position.