weeding device

Abstract

To provide a weeding device that is energy-efficient, can operate continuously, has a wide weeding range, and allows for easy replacement of the linear elements as needed. [Solution] The weeding device R comprises a vehicle body 1 equipped with a driven wheel 11, a rotating brush 2 having a shaft portion 21 detachably mounted on the outside of the vehicle body 1 and a bristle member 22 whose length is greater than the height from the horizontal plane G on which the driven wheel 11 makes contact with the ground to the shaft portion 21, and a drive motor 3 mounted on the vehicle body 1 for rotating the rotating brush 2. The drive motor 3 rotates the rotating brush 2, sequentially bringing the tip of the bristle member 22 to the ground, thereby generating propulsion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a weeding device that travels on the ground for weeding.

Background Art

[0002] When weeds grow in paddy fields, they deprive crops of water and nutrients, causing adverse effects such as quality degradation. Therefore, weeding machines for removing weeds have been developed. There are various types of weeding machines, such as walk-behind type, ride-on type, and attachment type for transplanting machines. However, large machines are difficult to handle, and manned operations require a lot of labor, so there is a problem that the work cannot be easily carried out.

[0003] Also, conventionally, a small weeding robot that can perform weeding by a rake-type attachment has been known (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2). However, conventional weeding robots have a weak ability to remove weeds in the soil and it has been difficult to obtain a sufficient weeding effect. In addition, the rake becomes a resistance, increasing the energy consumption required for traveling and making it difficult to continuously operate for a long time.

[0004] On the other hand, conventionally, a weeding robot has also been known that can perform weeding by radially attaching several linear bodies (wires) to the outside of a tire and causing each linear body to sequentially contact the ground when the tire rotates (see Patent Document 3). However, regarding this conventional technology, not only is the weeding range narrow, but it has also been difficult to replace the linear bodies according to the weeding area, weeding target, and wear of the wires.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

[0006] The present invention aims to solve the problems of the above-mentioned prior art, and in summary, it aims to provide a weeding device that can operate continuously with low energy consumption, has a wide weeding range, and allows for easy replacement of the linear elements as needed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the inventor has configured a weeding device R comprising a vehicle body 1 equipped with a driven wheel 11, a rotating brush 2 having a shaft portion 21 detachably mounted on the outside of the vehicle body 1 and a bristle member 22 whose length is greater than the height from the horizontal plane G on which the driven wheel 11 makes contact with the ground to the shaft portion 21, and a drive motor 3 mounted on the vehicle body 1 for rotating the rotating brush 2, and has adopted a configuration in which the drive motor 3 rotates the rotating brush 2 while sequentially bringing the tip side of the bristle member 22 to the ground, thereby generating propulsion (the effects will be described later).

[0008] In this invention, by constructing the bristle member 22 from a linear body made of hard plastic or metal, the wear resistance of the bristle member 22 can be increased, and the propulsion force of the weeding device R due to contact with the ground can be increased.

[0009] In the present invention, the bristle member 22 can be made of a linear body curved in the circumferential direction of the shaft 21 or in the axial direction of the shaft 21, thereby reducing the torque required for the rotation of the rotating brush 2 and suppressing problems such as soil splashing up.

[0010] In the present invention, the vehicle body 1 is composed of a trolley section 1A equipped with the driven wheels 11 and a vehicle body main section 1B in which the drive motor 3 is built-in. By detachably mounting the vehicle body main section 1B onto the trolley section 1A, the weeding device R can be disassembled and assembled, making transportation, storage, and maintenance easier.

[0011] In this invention, the vehicle body 1B is constructed from a hull that can float in water, and a propulsion force is generated by rotating the rotating brush 2 with the drive motor 3 while the vehicle body 1B is floating in water. This configuration allows the vehicle body 1B alone to be used as the hull of a weeding device for rice paddies. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] The weeding device of the present invention employs a structure in which a rotating brush is detachably positioned on the outside of the vehicle body, and the rotation of the rotating brush generates propulsion, thus enabling the weeding device to achieve both weeding effectiveness and propulsion. Furthermore, since each wheel is a driven wheel that is not connected to a drive motor, energy consumption is low and it can operate continuously for long periods of time.

[0013] Furthermore, since the rotating brush in this invention has a detachable structure, even if the rotating brush is damaged due to prolonged or repeated use, it can be easily replaced with a new rotating brush. In addition, multiple types of rotating brushes with different bristle lengths, shapes, and density can be used depending on the weeding situation. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is an overall perspective view showing a weed control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] (a) is a front view and (b) is a side view showing a weed control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a plan view showing the vehicle body of the weed control device in the first embodiment of the present invention with the top cover removed. [Figure 4] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the state in which the upper cover of the vehicle body of the weeding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention has been removed. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view showing the trolley portion of the weeding device in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] Embodiments of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 5. In the figures, what is indicated by the reference sign R is a weeding device, and what is indicated by the reference sign 1 is a vehicle body. Also, what is indicated by the reference sign 2 is a rotating brush, and what is indicated by the reference sign 3 is a drive motor. What is indicated by the reference sign 4 is a solar panel, and what is indicated by the reference sign 5 is a GPS device.

[0016] "Configuration of the Weeding Device" [1] Regarding the basic configuration The basic configuration of the weeding device R in the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 2, the weeding device A of the present embodiment is configured by detachably attaching a rotating brush 2, which consists of a shaft portion 21 and a hair member 22 erected around it, to the outside of a vehicle body 1 equipped with four driven wheels 11. Also, inside the vehicle body 1, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a drive motor 3 for rotating the rotating brush 2 is mounted.

[0017] Regarding the hair member 22 of the rotating brush 2, as shown in FIGS. 2(a) and (b), a linear body having a length greater than the height from the horizontal plane G where the driven wheel 11 touches the ground to the shaft portion 21 is used. Thus, when the rotating brush 2 is rotated by the drive motor 3, the hair member 22 sequentially touches the ground to remove the grass on the ground, and at the same time, a propulsive force for moving the vehicle body 1 can be generated by transmitting a force in the rotational direction from the tip of the hair member 22 to the ground.

[0018] Also, by adopting the configuration of the weeding device R, it is possible to efficiently and labor-savingly remove weeds in paddy fields, fields, school grounds, etc. before watering. Furthermore, since the rotating brush 2 arranged outside the vehicle body 1 can be easily replaced, not only can a damaged or worn rotating brush 2 be replaced with a new one, but also a plurality of types of rotating brushes 2 with different lengths, shapes, and coarseness of the hair member 22 can be selectively used according to the weeding area and the situation of the weeding target.

[0019] [2] Regarding the vehicle body [2-1] Disassembly and assembly of the vehicle body Next, each component of the weeding device R will be described. First, regarding the vehicle body 1, in this embodiment, it is composed of a carriage part 1A provided with driven wheels 11 shown in FIG. 5, and a vehicle body main body part 1B with a built-in drive motor 3 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 2, the vehicle body main body part 1B is detachably mounted on the carriage part 1A, enabling the disassembly and assembly of the weeding device R, thereby facilitating transportation, storage, and maintenance. Note that the vehicle body 1 can also have an integrated structure of the carriage part 1A and the vehicle body main body part 1B. In that case, the structure of the vehicle body 1 can be simplified.

[0020] [2-2] Structure of the carriage part In this embodiment, the carriage part 1A of the vehicle body 1 is provided with bumper parts 12 each having a driven wheel 11 at the lower left and right as shown in FIG. 5, and a main body mounting part 13 that connects the front and rear bumper parts 12 in a concave and stepped shape is provided at the front and rear center. By placing and mounting the vehicle body main body part 1B on the main body mounting part 13, it can be used as the weeding device R, and the impact on the vehicle body main body 1B during a collision can also be reduced by the front and rear bumper parts 12. In this embodiment, cushioning materials 13a are attached to the upper left and right of the front and rear bumper parts 12 respectively to further suppress the impact.

[0021] [2-3] Materials and shapes of the carriage part Regarding the material of the carriage part 1A, in this embodiment, it is composed of wooden boards, but any material with a predetermined strength and durability can be used, such as synthetic resin materials, metal materials, composite materials such as CFRP, etc. Regarding the shape of the carriage part 1, as long as it has a main body mounting part 13 on which the vehicle body main body part 1B can be placed and a structure on which the rotary brush 2 can be mounted on the outside, it is not limited to the shape of this embodiment. For example, a box-shaped shape with driven wheels at the lower part can also be adopted.

[0022] [2-4] Driven wheels of the carriage part In this embodiment, four driven wheels 13 are provided on the front, rear, left, and right sides of the bogie section 1A. However, the number of driven wheels 13 can be four or fewer (for example, a tricycle type), or more than four (for example, a trailer type with multiple bogie sections 1A connected together). Furthermore, the type of driven wheel 13 can be not limited to elastic rubber (elastomer), but can also be made of nylon, which has excellent strength and durability, or phenol, which has high surface hardness. In addition, crawlers can be used instead of wheels for the driven wheels 13.

[0023] [2-5] Components and materials of the main body of the vehicle Regarding the vehicle body 1B described above, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, in this embodiment, the vehicle body 1B is constructed by processing a lightweight polystyrene foam box. However, the main material of the vehicle body 1B is not particularly limited as long as it floats on water. For example, foamed resins other than polystyrene foam, non-foamed plastic materials, wood, metal materials, etc., can also be used. Furthermore, multiple materials can be used in combination, and different materials can be used for parts of the vehicle body.

[0024] [2-6] Shape of the main body of the vehicle Regarding the shape of the vehicle body 1B described above, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, it has a housing 14 with an internal housing (hollow section). However, the shape of the housing 14 is not limited to that of this embodiment, and other shapes can be adopted as long as they can house the drive motor 3 etc. inside. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a lid 14a is provided on the upper side of the housing 14, and the drive motor 3 etc. can be installed in the housing of the main body 11 in the state shown in Figures 3 and 4 with the lid 14a removed. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, within the housing of the housing 14, the motor control unit C and battery B are installed in stepped sections that are one step higher than the bottom at the front and rear of the bottom, and the drive motors 3 for the left and right rotating brushes 2 are installed at the bottom.

[0025] The main body 1B of the vehicle is provided with a front section 15 that protrudes forward from the housing section 14 and a rear section 16 that protrudes backward. These front section 15 and rear section 16 not only make it easier to fit the main body 1A into the main body mounting section 13 of the bogie section 1A, but also serve as a cushioning material in the event of a collision.

[0026] [2-7] Use of the vehicle body as a ship's hull In this embodiment, the vehicle body 1B can be used as a boat hull on its own. Specifically, the vehicle body 1B is composed of a hull that can float in water, and propulsion can be generated by rotating the rotating brush 2 with the drive motor 3 while the vehicle body 1B is floating in water. This allows the vehicle body 1B to be used as a boat hull for a paddy field weeding device. Furthermore, when using the vehicle body 1B as a boat hull, it is preferable to shape the front section 15 and the rear section 16 into the shape of a bow and stern, respectively.

[0027] [2-8] Solar panels and GPS devices In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a solar panel S is installed on the upper surface of the lid 14a of the housing 14. This allows the battery B to be charged by the solar panel S, enabling the weed control device R to operate continuously outdoors. In this embodiment, a top plate 17 extending to the left and right is attached to the top of the housing 14, and the solar panel S is attached to the top of the housing 14 via this top plate 17. This top plate 17 extending to the left and right acts as a mudguard when used as a boat hull, preventing a decrease in the power generation performance of the solar panel S.

[0028] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a GPS device A is attached to the vehicle body 1B. This GPS device A makes it possible to acquire map information of the area to be weeded and the location information of the weeding device R. This makes it possible to determine the location of obstacles from the path of the weeding device R, and also to make the weeding device R automatically travel along a predetermined path. This GPS device A is configured to communicate wirelessly with the management terminal of the weeding device R and other weeding devices R.

[0029] [2-9] Examples of vehicle body modifications In this embodiment, a configuration is adopted in which rotating brushes 2 are arranged on both sides of a single vehicle body 1. However, a gantry-type configuration can also be adopted in which multiple vehicle bodies 1 are arranged in parallel and the rotating brushes 2 are placed inside them. Alternatively, a configuration can be adopted in which multiple vehicle bodies 1, each having rotating brushes 2 on both sides, are connected horizontally or vertically.

[0030] [3] Rotating brush [3-1] Shaft In this embodiment, the shaft 21 of the rotating brush 2 is cylindrical, and a transmission shaft (or drive shaft) is inserted through the hollow part of this shaft 21, allowing the rotating brush 2 to be detachably attached to the drive motor 3 mounted on the vehicle body 1. A fastening means, locking means, fitting means, etc., can be used as a means of detachably fixing the shaft 21 to the transmission shaft (or drive shaft). Regarding the shape of the shaft 21 of the rotating brush 2, any shape other than cylindrical, such as a rectangular tube, cylinder, or prism, can be used as long as it can be detachably fixed to the transmission shaft (or drive shaft). Furthermore, while a plastic material is used for the shaft 21 in this embodiment, the material is not particularly limited and various materials can be used. Similarly, the length of the shaft 21 of the rotating brush 2 is not limited to the length of this embodiment and can be changed as appropriate.

[0031] [3-2] Hair member Regarding the bristle members 22 of the rotating brush 2 described above, the bristle members 22 are made of linear bodies made of hard plastic, which increases the wear resistance of the bristle members 22 and also increases the propulsion force of the weeding device R due to contact with the ground. In addition to hard plastic, linear bodies made of metal or other materials can also be used, provided that they have the required strength (resistance to breakage) and durability (wear resistance) and thickness. The arrangement and density of the bristle members 22 can be appropriately changed according to the place of use and the target of weeding. If the density of the bristle members 22 is too high, the required rotational torque will also increase. On the other hand, if the density of the bristle members 22 is too low, the weeding effect and propulsion force during travel will decrease. Therefore, a density of the bristle members 22 that takes balance into consideration is preferable.

[0032] Regarding the shape of the bristle member 22, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2(b), it is composed of a linear body that is curved in the direction of rotation of the shaft 21. This allows for moderate rotational resistance while achieving both weeding effect and propulsion, and also suppresses problems such as soil splashing. In this embodiment, the curved shape of the bristle member 22 is in the direction of rotation of the shaft 21, but the same effect can be obtained by curving it in the left and right outward directions of the hull 1. Furthermore, the length of the bristle member 22 can be appropriately changed depending on the place of use and the target of weeding. In this embodiment, all bristle members 22 of the same length are used in the rotating brush 2, but it is also possible to use a combination of bristle members 22 of different lengths or shapes.

[0033] By making the rotating brush 2 curved, the rotational resistance of the rotating brush 2 can be reduced, thereby reducing the output required for the drive motor 3. This allows for a smaller drive motor 3, making the weeding device R lighter and more compact. By making the weeding device R smaller and lighter, the device can be operated with less power, thus reducing battery drain and extending continuous operating time.

[0034] The bristle member 22 of this embodiment has an uneven surface with convex and concave portions. This makes it easier for grass to get entangled in the uneven surface, thereby further improving the weeding effect. The uneven surface of the bristle member 22 does not need to have any shape that has convex and concave portions on its surface. Furthermore, the unevenness on the surface of the bristle member 22 is formed at least at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the bristle member 22, has a height difference sufficient to affect grass entanglement, and is preferably 1 / 5 to 1 / 2 the diameter of the bristle member 22.

[0035] [3-3] Protective materials In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2(a) and 2(b), clamps are provided on the left and right outer sides of the rotating brush 2 in a front view, allowing the protective members F to be attached in a manner that is not linked to the rotational movement. This allows the protective members F to be positioned on the outside of the rotating brush 2 during use, thus protecting the rotating brush 2 even if the weeding device R hits an obstacle. Since the protective members 23 are rotatably attached to the rotating brush 2 in a non-linked manner, the protective members F will be in a horizontal position when the vehicle body 1 is used floating on a paddy field as a boat.

[0036] [3-4] Example of changing the rotating brush In this embodiment, one rotating brush 2 is placed on each side of the vehicle body 1, but it is also possible to arrange four or more rotating brushes 2 in a front-to-back arrangement. Furthermore, when arranging the rotating brushes 2 inside multiple vehicle bodies 1, only one rotating brush 2 may be used.

[0037] [4] About the drive motor [4-1] Drive motor Regarding the drive motors 3 described above, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, in this embodiment, two drive motors 3 corresponding to the left and right rotating brushes 2 are fixed to the bottom of the housing of the vehicle body 1B, offset from each other front to back, and the drive shafts 31 of each drive motor 3 are connected via transmission shafts 32 to which each rotating brush 2 is attached. In this embodiment, DC motors are used for the drive motors 3 and are fixed to a wooden base plate, which is then glued to the bottom surface of the vehicle body 1. However, the type of drive motor 3 can be changed as appropriate according to the required performance, and the mounting method and position can also be changed as appropriate according to the material and shape of the hull 1.

[0038] Furthermore, regarding the connection between the drive shaft 31 and the transmission shaft 32 of the drive motor 3, it is possible to connect them directly, but they can also be connected via a reduction gear to adjust the rotational speed and rotational torque. In addition, if the drive motor 3 and the transmission shaft 32 are installed at different heights within the housing of the vehicle body 1B (for example, if the position of the drive motor 3 is higher than the position of the transmission shaft 32), they can also be connected via a power transmission mechanism such as a transmission belt or a transmission chain.

[0039] As shown in Figure 3, the transmission shaft 32 is a metal rod-shaped member connected to the drive motor 3 inside the housing of the vehicle body 1B, and protruding outwards to the left and right through the side walls of the housing 14. In this embodiment, a shaft long enough to pass through the shaft 21 of the rotating brush 2 is used. In this embodiment, a bearing member for the transmission shaft 32 is provided inside the housing of the vehicle body 1B, and the transmission shaft 32 is mounted on this bearing member. In this embodiment, the tip of the transmission shaft 32 is threaded so that a nut can be attached. The shape of the transmission shaft 32 can be appropriately changed depending on the method of attaching the rotating brush 2 to the transmission shaft 32.

[0040] [4-2] Motor control unit and battery In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the motor control unit C of the drive motor 3 is installed in the stepped section at the front of the housing of the vehicle body 1B, and the battery B, which powers the drive motor 3 and the motor control unit C, is installed in the stepped section at the rear of the housing of the vehicle body 1B. These are then electrically connected. While there are no particular limitations on their arrangement, the stability of the vehicle body 1 can be enhanced by placing the heavier motor control unit C and battery B at the front or rear of the vehicle body 1, taking into consideration the center of gravity and weight balance of the vehicle body 1B.

[0041] The motor control unit C is an electronic device (microcontroller) that sends control signals to the drive motor 3 to control its start, stop, and output. When the weeding device R is to be driven automatically, it can also send control signals to the drive motor 3 based on data calculated by a predetermined program. The battery B is not particularly limited as long as it can continuously supply electricity to the drive motor 3 and the motor control unit C for a certain period of time.

[0042] [9] Regarding driving control In this embodiment, the weeding device R is configured to automatically navigate using an automatic control program of a control device located inside the vehicle body 1B and a navigation management system that can communicate remotely with the control device. However, it is also possible to configure the weeding device R to be manually operated using a remote controller that can communicate remotely with the control device. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0043] 1. Vehicle body 1A Bogie section 11 Wheel section 12 Bumper section 13 Main unit mounting section 13a Cushioning material 1B Main body of the vehicle 14. Enclosure 14a Lid 15 Front section 16 Rear section 17 Top plate 2 Rotating Brushes 21 Axis 22 Hair member 3. Drive motor 31 Drive shaft 32 Transmission shaft S Solar Panel A GPS device R weeding device C Motor Control Unit B Battery G horizontal plane F Protective material

Claims

1. It comprises a vehicle body equipped with driven wheels, a rotating brush having a shaft portion detachably mounted on the outside of the vehicle body and having bristle members whose length is greater than the height from the horizontal plane on which the driven wheels make contact with the ground to the shaft portion, and a drive motor mounted on the vehicle body for rotating the rotating brush. A weeding device that generates propulsion by using the aforementioned drive motor to rotate the rotating brush while sequentially bringing the tip of the bristle member into contact with the ground.

2. The weeding device according to claim 1, wherein the hair member is a linear body made of hard plastic or metal material.

3. The weeding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hair member consists of a linear body curved in the circumferential direction or axial direction of the shaft.

4. The weeding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vehicle body is composed of a bogie section equipped with the driven wheels and a vehicle body main section in which the drive motor is built in, and the vehicle body main section is detachably mounted on the bogie section.

5. The weeding device according to claim 4, wherein the vehicle body consists of a hull capable of floating in water, and propulsion is generated by rotating the rotating brush with the drive motor while the vehicle body is floating in water.

Images