Seedling replenishment device

Abstract

To provide a seedling replenishment device having a simple structure capable of solving a problem that a conventional seedling replenishment device traveling on a farm road and replenishing seedlings to a rice transplanter has a complicated configuration because of a form where the conventional seedling replenishment device is configured to take out seedlings from a seedling storage part and convey the seedlings by a conveyor, then transfer the seedlings to a stretchable conveyor for replenishment and replenish the seedlings to a rice transplanter.SOLUTION: A seedling replenishment device is configured to replenish a seedling box to a preliminary seedling mounting table 5 of a seedling transplanter 2 from a dolly 3 which travels on a farm road R and transports the seedling box, and to freely move on the farm road R or on a canal WR.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a seedling supplying device that supplies seedlings to a seedling transplanter such as a rice transplanter from a farm road or the like. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a seedling supplying device that travels on farm roads and the like and supplies seedlings to a rice transplanter (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-205624 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional seedling supply devices remove seedlings from a seedling storage section, transport them on a conveyor, and then transfer them to an extendable supply conveyor for supplying them to a rice transplanter, and have a complex configuration.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and has an object to provide a seedling supplying device with a simple configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The invention described in claim 1 is a seedling supply device that supplies seedling boxes N from a transport vehicle 3 that travels along a farm road R and transports seedling boxes N to a spare seedling loading platform 5 of a seedling transplanter 2, and is freely movable along the farm road R or waterway WR.

[0007] The invention described in claim 2 is the seedling supplying device described in claim 1, which is provided with a moving body 24 that moves by utilizing the wall surface WRa of the water channel WR.

[0008] The invention described in claim 3 is the seedling supplying device described in claim 2, in which the movable body 24 can move on the farm road R by changing its posture.

[0009] The invention as set forth in claim 4 is the seedling supplying device as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a take-out device 31 for taking out the seedling boxes N from the transport vehicle 3. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a rear view for explaining the operation of the seedling supply device of the riding rice transplanter according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a perspective view of a seedling supply device of a riding rice transplanter according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a rear view for explaining the operation of the seedling supply device of the riding rice transplanter according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a seedling supply device of a riding rice transplanter according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a rear view for explaining the operation of the main parts of the seedling supply device of the riding rice transplanter according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a seedling supply device of a riding rice transplanter according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a rear view for explaining the operation of the main parts of the seedling supply device of the riding rice transplanter according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a rear view for explaining the operation of the seedling supply device of the riding rice transplanter according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a rear view for explaining the operation of a seedling supply device of a riding rice transplanter according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a plan view for explaining the operation of a seedling supply device of a riding rice transplanter according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a rear view for explaining the operation of a seedling supply device of a riding rice transplanter according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a plan view for explaining the operation of a seedling supply device of a riding rice transplanter according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a rear view for explaining the operation of a seedling supply device of a riding rice transplanter according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a rear view for explaining the operation of the spare seedling carrier of a riding rice transplanter according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a plan view for explaining the operation of a spare seedling carrier of a riding rice transplanter according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 11 is a side view for explaining the operation of the spare seedling carrier of another embodiment of the riding rice transplanter of the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is an oblique view for explaining the operation of a spare seedling carrier of a riding rice transplanter according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 11 is a plan view of a riding rice transplanter according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 11 is a side view of a riding rice transplanter according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] FIG. 4 is a front cross-sectional view of a main part of a riding rice transplanter according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21] FIG. 11 is a perspective view for explaining the operation of a main part of a riding rice transplanter according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] FIG. 11 is a perspective view for explaining the operation of a main part of a riding rice transplanter according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 23] FIG. 11 is a side view for explaining the operation of a main part of a riding rice transplanter according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] <Overall composition> FIG. 1 is a rear view for explaining the operation of a seedling supplying device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention and a riding type rice transplanter 2 serving as a seedling transplanter.

[0013] The seedling supply device 1 moves along the waterway WR, removes seedling boxes N placed on an auxiliary seedling rack 4 placed on the loading platform of a truck 3 serving as a transport vehicle, and supplies the seedlings to the spare seedling loading platform 5 of the riding rice transplanter 2.

[0014] The auxiliary seedling rack 4 placed on the loading platform of the truck 3 is equipped with multiple upper and lower seedling placement rails 4a, and four seedling boxes N are placed vertically on each seedling placement rail 4a with the front and back being the long side (see Figure 8).

[0015] The riding rice transplanter 2 has a seedling planting unit 14 mounted on the rear of the traveling body 10 via a lifting link device so that it can be raised and lowered, and a spare seedling carrier 5 that is long in the left-right direction of the vehicle body is provided at the rear of the traveling body 10. The left and right directions of the seedling supply device 1, the riding rice transplanter 2, and the truck 3 in the forward direction are referred to as left and right, respectively, and the forward and reverse directions are referred to as front and rear, respectively.

[0016] <Seedling supply device 1> As shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the seedling supplying device 1 is composed of a flat base 20, left and right legs 21 provided on the lower side of the base 20, and a seedling supplying part 22 provided on the upper side of the base 20.

[0017] The base 20 is a square flat plate in plan view, with the length of one side being sufficiently longer than the width of a typical water channel WR and more than twice the longitudinal length of the seedling tray N (i.e., 120 cm or more).

[0018] In other words, the base 20 is more than twice the front-to-rear width of the front-to-rear main rails 28 described below, and extends out about 30 cm in the front-to-rear direction from the front-to-rear main rails 28 in a plan view. When placed on the waterway WR, the portion extending out about 30 cm in the front-to-rear direction from the front-to-rear main rails 28 functions as a bridge for workers to cross the waterway WR, making it easier for workers to move around and improving workability.

[0019] The left and right legs 21 are rotatably and fixedly mounted on the bottom surface of the base 20 by a front-to-rear rotating shaft 23, and three idling wheels 24 are provided on the outside in the front-to-rear direction as movable bodies that rotate freely on a vertical pivot shaft 24a.

[0020] That is, as shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5, when the left and right legs 21 are fixed in a state extending vertically downward relative to the base 20, when the base 20 is placed on the water channel WR, the idler wheels 24 come into contact with the left and right wall surfaces WRa of the water channel WR.

[0021] Therefore, when the seedling supply device 1 (base 20) is moved along the water channel WR, the idler wheels 24 of the left and right legs 21 come into contact with the left and right wall surfaces WRa of the water channel WR, functioning as a guide and allowing the device to be moved with little force, improving workability.

[0022] If the left and right legs 21 are provided so as to be freely adjustable to the left and right in accordance with the width of the waterway WR, the adaptability to work will be further improved and the ease of use will be improved.

[0023] As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, when the left and right legs 21 are inclined and fixed so as to abut against the base 20, the idling wheels 24 function as running wheels.

[0024] Therefore, when moving the seedling supply device 1 (base 20) on a farm road R in a field H that does not have a waterway WR, the idler wheels 24 of the left and right legs 21 serve as moving wheels, making the device highly adaptable to work and easy to use.

[0025] That is, it can be easily moved even on farm roads R along fields H that do not have waterways WR, and the seedling supply work of removing the seedling boxes N placed on the auxiliary seedling rack 4 placed on the loading platform of the truck 3 and supplying them to the spare seedling carrier 5 of the riding rice transplanter 2 can be easily performed. In addition, it can be easily moved on the ground such as farm roads R and when loaded onto a truck.

[0026] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the seedling supply section 22 is composed of four pillars 27 whose bases are fixed to the upper surface of the base 20 and extend vertically upward, front and rear main rails 28 attached to the pillars 27 so as to be freely adjusted in the vertical position, front and rear sub-rails 30 attached to one end of the front and rear main rails 28 with pivoting hinges 29, and a pull-out arm 31 serving as an extraction device provided on the other end of the front and rear main rails 28.

[0027] The front and rear main rails 28 support both longitudinal ends of the seedling box N (supporting the seedling box N in an upright position), and the seedling box N is slidably movable in the left and right directions.

[0028] In addition, the front and rear main rails 28 are attached to the support pillars 27 so that their vertical positions can be freely adjusted using a rack and pinion operated by a manual handle or an electric motor, etc., and can be adjusted to the height position of any seedling placement rail 4a of the auxiliary seedling rack 4 placed on the loading platform of the truck 3.

[0029] The vertical position may be adjusted by fixing the front and rear main rails 28 with pins in a number of engagement holes provided at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction of the support pillars 27.

[0030] The front and rear auxiliary rails 30 are arranged at the same front-to-rear spacing as the front and rear main rails 28, and support both longitudinal ends of the seedling box N that slides from the front and rear main rails 28 (supporting the seedling box N in an upright position), allowing the seedling box N to slide freely in the left and right directions.

[0031] The base end of the front and rear auxiliary rail 30 is attached to one end of the front and rear main rail 28 by a pivot hinge 29 so as to be rotatable and fixable.

[0032] Therefore, the front and rear auxiliary rails 30 can be rotated by the rotating hinges 29 to a stored state where they are folded onto the front and rear main rails 28, and when deployed in a working state, they can be rotated by the rotating hinges 29 to be adjusted and fixed at any angle upward or downward from a horizontal state in a straight line with the front and rear main rails 28. Note that there is no problem with the seedling supply work if the downward angle is set to a downward inclination of up to 45 degrees.

[0033] Therefore, when supplying seedlings, the angle of the front and rear auxiliary rails 30 can be adjusted to match the height of the end of the spare seedling carrier 5 of the riding rice transplanter 2 in the field H, allowing smooth supply of seedlings.

[0034] The drawer arm 31 is configured in a frame shape using a rod body, and is mounted on a holder 35 provided on the bottom surface of the front and rear main rails 28 so as to be movable left and right and tiltable.

[0035] The pull-out arm 31 is provided with a locking portion 31a whose tip is bent upward to lock the seedling box N, and a gripping portion 31b whose base end is bent downward to be gripped by an operator.

[0036] Therefore, as shown in Figure 8 (A), the operator grasps the gripping portion 31b of the pull-out arm 31, inserts the pull-out arm 31 along the bottom surface of the seedling placing rail 4a, and engages the locking portion 31a with the wall surface of the innermost seedling box N placed on the seedling placing rail 4a, and then, as shown in Figure 8 (B), pulls the pull-out arm 31, whereby the seedling box N placed on the seedling placing rail 4a can be smoothly and easily slid along the front and rear main rails 28.

[0037] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9, if the left and right legs 21 are adjustable for left and right movement, the position of the left and right legs 21 can be adjusted and fixed to match the width of the channel WR, and the left and right legs 21 will properly contact the left and right wall surfaces WRa of the channel WR so that the seedling supply device 1 will not move in a direction perpendicular to the channel WR, allowing the device to maintain a stable posture above the channel WR and allowing the seedling supply work to be performed smoothly.

[0038] Next, seedling supplying work using the seedling supplying device 1 will be described.

[0039] As shown in Figure 1, when there are only a few seedlings left on a riding rice transplanter 2 that is transplanting rice in a field H, the operator aboard the riding rice transplanter 2 stops the transplanting work, drives the riding rice transplanter 2 toward a farm road R where a truck 3 with an auxiliary seedling rack 4 loaded on the loading platform is located, and stops the vehicle sideways on the farm road R so that the end of the spare seedling loading platform 5 is close to the farm road R.

[0040] Then, the worker on the farm road R drives the truck 3 along the farm road R to a position where the auxiliary seedling rack 4 faces the end of the spare seedling carrier 5 of the riding rice transplanter 2, and stops the truck.

[0041] Then, the seedling supplying device 1 is moved along the waterway WR and positioned between the auxiliary seedling rack 4 and the end of the spare seedling carrier 5 of the riding rice transplanter 2.

[0042] Then, the height of the front and rear main rails 28 is adjusted to the height of the seedling loading rails 4a on which the seedling boxes N of the auxiliary seedling rack 4 placed on the loading platform of the truck 3 are placed, and the angle of the front and rear sub-rails 30 is adjusted so that the tips of the front and rear sub-rails 30 match the height of the ends of the spare seedling loading platform 5 of the riding rice transplanter 2 in the field H.

[0043] Then, the gripping portion 31b of the pull-out arm 31 of the seedling supply device 1 is gripped, the pull-out arm 31 is inserted along the bottom surface of the seedling placement rail 4a, the locking portion 31a is engaged with the wall surface of the innermost seedling box N placed on the seedling placement rail 4a, and the pull-out arm 31 is pulled, so that the seedling box N placed on the seedling placement rail 4a is slid onto the front and rear main rails 28.

[0044] Then, the seedling box N that has been slid onto the front and rear main rails 28 is slid onto the front and rear sub-rails 30 and loaded onto the spare seedling carrier 5 of the riding rice transplanter 2 from the tip of the front and rear sub-rails 30.

[0045] If further seedling replenishment is required, the height of the front and rear main rails 28 is adjusted to the height of the seedling loading rail 4a on which the next tier of seedling boxes N is placed, and the angle of the front and rear sub-rails 30 is adjusted so that the tip of the rail 30 matches the height of the end of the spare seedling loading platform 5 of the riding rice transplanter 2 in the field H, and seedlings are replenished in the same manner.

[0046] 10 and 11 show another embodiment in which the seedling supply device 1 is configured to supply seedlings semi-automatically or fully automatically.

[0047] That is, one of the left and right idling wheels 24 of the left and right legs 21 is a driving wheel 24 that rotates on a pivot shaft 24 a driven by the electric motor 40 for traveling.

[0048] The front and rear main rails 28 are provided so that their vertical positions can be freely adjusted by a rack and pinion operated by an electric motor 41 for driving the pinion.

[0049] An electric arm motor 42 is provided for driving the left-right movement of the pull-out arm 31 so that the pull-out arm 31 moves in along the bottom surface of the seedling placement rail 4a, engages the locking portion 31a with the wall surface of the innermost seedling box N placed on the seedling placement rail 4a, and then exits to slide the seedling box N placed on the seedling placement rail 4a onto the front-rear main rails 28.

[0050] A camera 43 that rotates horizontally 360 degrees is installed on the bottom surface of the front and rear main rails 28 to recognize markers installed at the starting position of each seedling placing rail 4a of the auxiliary seedling rack 4, and also recognizes markers installed at the end of the spare seedling placing table 5 of the riding rice transplanter 2, and sends the recognition information to the control device 44.

[0051] The control device 44 includes a manual switch for manually operating each of the motors 40, 41, and 42.

[0052] In addition, when the automatic switch is pressed, the control device 44 drives the traveling electric motor 40 to move the seedling supply device 1 so that the front and rear main rails 28 match the starting position of the seedling placement rail 4a recognized by the camera 43, and also drives the pinion drive electric motor 41 to move the front and rear main rails 28 up and down.

[0053] Then, when the camera 43 recognizes that the front and rear main rails 28 have matched the starting position of the seedling placing rail 4a, the electric motor 42 for the arm is driven to move the pull-out arm 31 along the bottom surface of the seedling placing rail 4a, engage the locking portion 31a with the wall surface of the innermost seedling box N placed on the seedling placing rail 4a, and then withdraw the arm, sliding the seedling box N placed on the seedling placing rail 4a onto the front and rear main rails 28.

[0054] Next, the traveling electric motor 40 is driven to move the seedling supply device 1 so that the front and rear main rails 28 match the starting position of the next seedling placing rail 4a recognized by the camera 43, and / or the pinion drive electric motor 41 is driven to move the front and rear main rails 28 up and down. When the camera 43 recognizes that the front and rear main rails 28 have matched the starting position of the next seedling placing rail 4a, the arm electric motor 42 is driven to move the pull-out arm 31 along the bottom surface of the seedling placing rail 4a, and the locking portion 31a is engaged with the wall surface of the innermost seedling box N placed on the seedling placing rail 4a, and then the pull-out arm 31 is withdrawn, and the seedling box N placed on the seedling placing rail 4a is slid onto the front and rear main rails 28. The seedling box N that was placed on the front and rear main rails 28 slides onto the front and rear sub-rails 30, and the front and rear main rails 28 and the front and rear sub-rails 30 are fully loaded with seedling boxes N.

[0055] Next, the control device 44 drives the traveling electric motor 40 to move the seedling supply device 1 so that the front and rear sub-rails 30 (the front and rear main rails 28 and the front and rear sub-rails 30 are set to be in a straight, horizontal position) align with the end of the spare seedling carrier 5 of the riding rice transplanter 2 recognized by the camera 43, and / or drives the pinion drive electric motor 41 to move the front and rear main rails 28 up and down.

[0056] Then, when the front and rear auxiliary rails 30 match the end of the spare seedling carrier 5, the operator aboard the riding rice transplanter 2 slides the seedling box N placed on the front and rear main rails 28 and the front and rear auxiliary rails 30 to the spare seedling carrier 5 to complete seedling supply.

[0057] In addition, if the front and rear main rails 28 and the front and rear sub-rails 30 are equipped with a belt conveyor driven by an electric motor that moves the seedling boxes N left and right, when the camera 43 recognizes that the front and rear sub-rails 30 have aligned with the end of the spare seedling carrier 5, the belt conveyor is activated to automatically slide the seedling boxes N placed on the front and rear main rails 28 and the front and rear sub-rails 30 onto the spare seedling carrier 5, completing the seedling supply.

[0058] Furthermore, if the seedling supply device 1, the riding rice transplanter 2 and the auxiliary seedling rack 4 are equipped with GPS and communication devices so that they can communicate with each other and share location information, fully automatic seedling supply will be possible.

[0059] 12 and 13 show another embodiment in which the seedling supplying device 1 is loaded onto a truck 3 and fixed thereto.

[0060] That is, the base 20 of the seedling supply device 1 is composed of a lower base 20a and an upper base 20b, the lower base 20a is placed on and fixed on the side gate of a truck 3 fixed in a horizontal position, and the upper base 20b is fixed to the top of the auxiliary seedling rack 4, and the seedling supply device 1 is loaded onto the truck 3 and fixed.

[0061] Further, the lower base 20a and the upper base 20b are provided with grooves 50 for guiding the support posts 27 in the front-rear direction.

[0062] Therefore, the front and rear main rails 28 and the front and rear auxiliary rails 30 can be freely moved in the front and rear direction by moving the support 27 back and forth along the groove 50, and the vertical position of the support 27 can be freely adjusted by a rack and pinion operated by a manual handle or an electric motor, etc., so that it can be aligned with the position of any seedling placing rail 4a of the auxiliary seedling rack 4 placed on the loading platform of the truck 3.

[0063] Therefore, since the seedling supply device 1 is loaded on the truck 3, seedling boxes N can be easily taken out from the auxiliary seedling rack 4 of the truck 3 traveling on the farm road R and seedling boxes N can be easily supplied to the spare seedling carrier 5 of the riding rice transplanter 2 without moving the seedling supply device 1 itself as described above.

[0064] 14 and 15 show an embodiment in which the spare seedling carrier 5 of the riding rice transplanter 2 has a function as a seedling supplying device.

[0065] In other words, the spare seedling carrier 5 of the riding rice transplanter 2 has a left seedling carrier 5L rotatably arranged on the left side of the central seedling carrier 5M and a right seedling carrier 5R rotatably arranged on the right side of the central seedling carrier 5M, and the left seedling carrier 5L and the right seedling carrier 5R are rotatably arranged in a seedling-carrying state in a straight line on the same plane as the central seedling carrier 5M, and in a folded-up stored state on the top surface of the central seedling carrier 5M. However, the right seedling carrier 5R can be removed and attached to the outer end of the left seedling carrier 5L so that it protrudes far to the left, or the left seedling carrier 5L can be removed and attached to the outer end of the right seedling carrier 5R so that it protrudes far to the right.

[0066] A holder 35 is provided on the bottom surface of the left seedling carrier 5L and the right seedling carrier 5R, and a pull-out arm 31 is detachably provided thereon.

[0067] Here, the operation of replenishing seedling boxes N when the right seedling carrier 5R is removed and attached to the outer end of the left seedling carrier 5L so as to protrude long to the left will be described with reference to Figs.

[0068] The operator parks the riding rice transplanter 2 with the left side of the machine sideways on the farm road R where the auxiliary seedling rack 4 is located and stops the machine.

[0069] Then, the right seedling carrier 5R is removed and attached to the outer end of the left seedling carrier 5L so that it protrudes a long way to the left, and the pull-out arm 31 is attached to the holder 35 located close to the farm road R.

[0070] Then, the handle portion 31b of the pull-out arm 31 is grasped, the pull-out arm 31 is inserted along the bottom surface of the seedling placement rail 4a, the locking portion 31a is engaged with the wall surface of the innermost seedling box N placed on the seedling placement rail 4a, and the pull-out arm 31 is pulled, so that the seedling box N placed on the seedling placement rail 4a is slid and moved to the spare seedling placement stand 5 protruding far to the left side and replenished.

[0071] To align the tip of the right seedling platform 5R, which protrudes far to the left, with the seedling mounting rail 4a of each stage of the auxiliary seedling rack 4, the connecting part 160 between the base of the right seedling platform 5R and the tip of the left seedling platform 5L can be used as a pivot point to adjust the vertical height of the tip of the right seedling platform 5R and fix it, or the connecting part 161 between the base of the left seedling platform 5L and the end of the central seedling platform 5M can be used as a pivot point to adjust the vertical height of the tip of the right seedling platform 5R and fix it.

[0072] Also, when the edge of the farm field H is far from the farm road R, it is advisable to replace the pull-out arm 31 with a longer one and perform the work of replenishing the seedling boxes N, as shown in FIG. 15(B).

[0073] In addition, when the left seedling carrier 5L is removed and attached to the outer end of the right seedling carrier 5R so that it protrudes a long way to the right, the work of replenishing seedling boxes N is carried out in the same manner by parking the riding rice transplanter 2 with its right side horizontally on the farm road R where the auxiliary seedling rack 4 is located and stopping it.

[0074] <Another embodiment>

[0075] (1) FIGS. 16 and 17 show a second embodiment of the spare seedling carrier 5. FIG.

[0076] That is, the spare seedling carrier 5 is composed of a front rail 5b made of an L-shaped steel fixed to the top of a fixed support frame 5a, the base of which is fixed to the main frame at the rear of the running body 10, a central rail 5c made of flat steel, and a rear rail 5f made of an L-shaped steel attached to a pivot shaft 5d in the left-right direction of the body via a support rod 5e so that it can freely rotate up and down on the central rail 5c.

[0077] The rear rail 5f can be freely moved and fixed in position between a loading position (a) in which seedling boxes N or seedling removal plates are placed and supported, which is aligned in a straight line with the front rail 5b and central rail 5c when viewed from the side, and a storage position (b) in which it rotates downward around the pivot axis 5d and hangs down vertically.

[0078] When the rear rail 5f is in the loading position (i) for loading and supporting seedling boxes N and seedling removal plates that are aligned with the front rail 5b and the central rail 5c in a side view, it is located above the upper end of the seedling carrying platform 19 of the seedling planting section 14 and at the rear of the machine body, and the seedling boxes N and seedling removal plates placed on the front rail 5b, central rail 5c and rear rail 5f of the spare seedling carrying platform 5 are located above the upper end of the seedling carrying platform 19 and overlap in the front-to-rear direction.This allows the seedling planting section 14 to be positioned closer to the rear of the running body 10, shortening the front-to-rear length of the riding rice transplanter 2, resulting in a riding rice transplanter that has good front-to-rear balance, good wet field driving performance, and good turning performance and good workability.

[0079] When the rear rail 5f rotates downward around the pivot axis 5d and hangs down vertically in the storage state (b), the placed seedling boxes N and seedling removal plates are positioned above the upper end of the seedling carrying platform 19 and overlap in the front-to-back direction, making it easy and efficient to supply seedlings to the seedling carrying platform 19.

[0080] Furthermore, a guide portion 5g is provided on the bottom surface of the rear rail 5f to guide the U-shaped seedling box N and seedling removal plate in a sliding movement in the left and right direction.When the rear rail 5f rotates downward around the pivot axis 5d and hangs down vertically in the storage state (b), the seedling box N and seedling removal plate that have become empty after seedling replenishment can be stored and slid in the left and right directions of the machine body.The empty seedling box N and seedling removal plate can be slid toward the farm road R side and easily lowered from the machine body to the farm road R, improving workability.

[0081] (2) FIGS. 18 to 21 show another embodiment of the riding rice transplanter 2. FIG.

[0082] In other words, the running body 10 is a four-wheel drive vehicle equipped with a pair of left and right front wheels 11, 11 and a pair of left and right rear wheels 12, 12, which are drive wheels, in which a transmission case M is arranged at the front of the vehicle body, front wheel final cases are provided on the left and right sides of the transmission case M with a caster angle, and the left and right front wheels 11, 11 are respectively attached to left and right front wheel axles that protrude outward from each front wheel support portion that can change the steering direction of the left and right front wheel final cases.

[0083] In addition, the front end of the main frame is fixed to the back part of the transmission case M, and the left and right rear wheel gear cases are supported on the rear end of the main frame via left and right suspensions so that they can move up and down independently, and the rear wheels 12, 12 are attached to the left and right rear wheel axles that protrude outward from the left and right rear wheel gear cases.

[0084] The engine 13 is mounted at the front of the vehicle body, and the rotational power of the engine 13 is transmitted to the transmission case M via the belt transmission and the HST. The rotational power transmitted to the transmission case M is changed in speed by the transmission in the transmission case M, and then separated into running power and externally taken out power. A part of the running power is transmitted to the left and right front wheel final cases to drive the left and right front wheels 11, 11, and the rest is transmitted to the left and right rear wheel gear cases via the left and right rear wheel drive shafts to drive the left and right rear wheels 12, 12. The externally taken out power is transmitted to a planting clutch case provided at the rear of the traveling body 10, and then transmitted to the seedling planting section 14 by the planting transmission shaft.

[0085] The engine 13 is covered by a bonnet 13a, which houses various operating mechanisms, and above which a handle 15 for steering the front wheels 11, 11 is provided.

[0086] A seat 16 is provided behind the handle 15. The seat 16 can be switched between a working state (e) in which an operator (operator) sits and a retracted state (f) in which the operator is rotated forward via a front pivot shaft 16a.

[0087] The left and right sides and rear of the lower end of the bonnet 13a form a horizontal floor step 17. Part of the floor step 17 is shaped like a lattice so that mud on the shoes of an operator walking on the floor step 17 falls into the field H.

[0088] The rear portion of the floor step 17 forms a rear wheel fender 17a along the outer periphery of the rear wheel 12, and left and right recesses 18 are provided on the left and right sides of the seat 16.

[0089] The seedling planting section 14 is configured for eight rows of planting and is equipped with a transmission case that also serves as a frame, a seedling carrier 19 that carries mat seedlings and moves back and forth from side to side, supplying seedlings one by one to the seedling outlet of each row, and transports the seedlings downward using a seedling feed belt that supplies all of the seedlings in a horizontal row to each seedling outlet, and a seedling planting device that plants the seedlings supplied to the seedling outlet in the field H.

[0090] Two center leveling floats 60 are provided in the center of the lower part of the seedling planting section 14, and side leveling floats 61 are provided on both the left and right sides of them. When the vehicle is advanced with these leveling floats 60, 61 in contact with the muddy surface of the field H, the leveling floats 60, 61 slide while leveling the muddy surface, and the seedlings are planted by the seedling planting device in the leveled area. Each leveling float 60, 61 is attached so as to be freely rotatable so that the front end moves up and down according to the unevenness of the topsoil surface of the field H. During planting work, the up and down movement of the front part of the center leveling float 60 is detected by the attack angle control sensor, and the seedling planting section 14 is raised and lowered by switching the hydraulic valve that controls the lifting hydraulic cylinder that operates the lifting link device up and down according to the detection result, thereby maintaining the seedling planting depth constant at all times.

[0091] A mud guard plate / step 62 is provided on the front side (traveling body 10 side) of the seedling carrier 19 so as to be rotatable and fixable about a pivot shaft 62a provided at the bottom.

[0092] When the mud guard / step 62 is in the stored state (C) stored along the front side of the seedling carrier 19, it functions as a mud guard covering the front side of the seedling carrier 19, preventing mud kicked up by the left and right rear wheels 12 and the operating part of the seedling planting unit 14 from getting on electrical equipment such as electric wires and sensors arranged on the front side of the seedling carrier 19.

[0093] In addition, when the mud guard plate / step 62 is in the step state (d) in which the seedling planting section 14 is raised to the highest position, rotated forward around the pivot shaft 62a, and the auxiliary plate 62c is deployed and fixed around the front pivot shaft 62b, it is located above the rear of the running body 10 and functions as a wide step extending from the running body 10 to the seedling planting section 14, allowing various operations on the seedling planting section 14, such as seedling supply work, to be carried out safely and with good workability.

[0094] At this time, the fertilizer application device 105 is rotated forward and laid down from the working state (G) in which it stands at the rear of the traveling body 10 to a stored state (H) in which it is stored in the left and right recesses 18, as described later.

[0095] The fertilizer application device 105 is composed of left and right fertilizer application devices 105L, 105R arranged above the rear of the body, and each device delivers a fixed amount of granular fertilizer stored in a fertilizer hopper 70 by a delivery section 71, and guides the fertilizer by a fertilizer application hose 72 to fertilizer application guides attached to the left and right sides of the floats 60, 61, and drops the fertilizer into a fertilization area formed near the side of the seedling planting row by a furrow making body provided in front of the fertilizer application guide.

[0096] Air generated by a blower driven by an electric blower motor is blown into fertilizer application hose 72 via an air chamber 73 that is long in the left-right direction, and the fertilizer in fertilizer application hose 72 is forcibly transported by the wind pressure.

[0097] The main body of the fertilizer applicator, including the fertilizer hopper 70, payout section 71, blower and air chamber 73, which are arranged above the rear of the left and right fertilizer applicators 105L, 105R, are mounted on a rotating support frame 76 that can be freely rotated and fixed around a rotating support shaft 75 provided at the rear of the running body 10.

[0098] In other words, the fertilizer applicator main body parts, such as the fertilizer hopper 70, dispensing section 71, blower and air chamber 73 of the left and right fertilizer applicators 105L, 105R, can be freely switched between a working state (G) in which they are upright at the rear of the running body 10 and a storage state (H) in which they are rotated forward 60 degrees and stored in the left and right recesses 18 that have been rotated forward and laid down.

[0099] In addition, when switching the fertilizer device main body of the left and right fertilizer devices 105L, 105R from the working state (G) in which they are upright at the rear of the traveling vehicle body 10 to the storage state (H) in which they are rotated forward and tilted down and stored in the left and right recesses 18, the seat 16 is first switched from the working state (E) to the retracted state (F) in which it is rotated forward, and after switching the fertilizer device main body to the storage state (H) in which it is stored in the left and right recesses 18, the seat 16 is switched from the retracted state (F) in which it is rotated forward and returned to the working state (E), allowing the operator (pilot) to sit in the seat 16 and operate the vehicle.

[0100] In addition, after the fertilizer device main body of the left and right fertilizer devices 105L, 105R is switched from a working state (g) in which it is upright at the rear of the traveling body 10 to a stored state (h) in which it is rotated forward and laid down and stored in the left and right recesses 18, the mud guard plate / step 62 is rotated forward about the pivot shaft 62a and the auxiliary plate 62c is deployed around the front pivot shaft 62b to a step state (d) positioned above the rear of the traveling body 10, creating a wide step extending from the traveling body 10 to the seedling planting section 14.

[0101] Therefore, by switching the main body parts of the left and right fertilizer applicators 105L, 105R from an upright working state (T) at the rear of the traveling body 10 to a stored state (H) in which they are rotated forward and laid down and stored in the left and right recesses 18, the rear of the traveling body 10 becomes a large space, and various operations on the seedling planting section 14, such as seedling supply work, can be carried out safely and with good workability.

[0102] Also, if the rear wheels 12 get stuck in a depression in the tillage pan during rice planting work in a farm field and the machine cannot move forward, the fertilizer applicator main body of the left and right fertilizer applicators 105L, 105R can be switched from a working state (G) in which they stand at the rear of the traveling body 10 to a stored state (H) in which they are rotated forward and laid down and stored in the left and right recesses 18, thereby increasing the load shared by the front wheels 11 and making it easier to escape from the depression in the tillage pan. Similarly, when going out of the field and crossing a ridge, the load shared by the front wheels 11 can be increased to easily cross the ridge.

[0103] In addition, by switching the fertilizer device main body of the left and right fertilizer applicators 105L, 105R from a working state (G) in which they are upright at the rear of the traveling body 10 to a stored state (H) in which they are rotated forward and laid down and stored in the left and right recesses 18, the delivery section 71 is no longer positioned below the fertilizer hopper 70 when moving between fields, which prevents the fertilizer from being compressed and clogging the delivery section 71.This allows appropriate fertilization work to be carried out immediately after moving between fields, improving work efficiency.

[0104] In addition, by switching the fertilizer device main body of the left and right fertilizer devices 105L, 105R from a working state (T) in which they are upright at the rear of the traveling body 10 to a storage state (H) in which they are rotated forward and laid down and stored in the left and right recesses 18, the body of the machine becomes compact, and the loading space and storage space can be reduced when loading it onto a truck or storing it in a barn, etc.

[0105] Here, the configuration of the fertilizer hopper 70 will be described in detail.

[0106] The fertilizer hopper 70 has a first lid 70a that can be opened and closed at a position that becomes the upper surface when the fertilizer applicator main body of the left and right fertilizer applicators 105L, 105R is in an upright working state (T) at the rear of the traveling body 10, and a second lid 70b that can be opened and closed at a position that becomes the upper surface when the fertilizer applicator main body is rotated forward and laid down and stored in the left and right recesses 18 (H).

[0107] Therefore, fertilizer can be supplied to the fertilizer hopper 70 by opening either the first lid 70a or the second lid 70b. In particular, when the fertilizer applicator main bodies of the left and right fertilizer applicators 105L, 105R are rotated forward and laid down in the left and right recesses 18 to store them in a stored state (h), the height of the fertilizer hopper 70 becomes lower, so that fertilizer can be supplied by opening the second lid 70b without having to lift a heavy fertilizer bag high, reducing the amount of work required and improving work efficiency.

[0108] In addition, the front surface of the fertilizer hopper 70 is shaped to widen obliquely from the center of the body toward the left and right outsides, and when it is rotated forward and laid down and stored in the left and right recesses 18 (h), the bottom surface is highest at the center of the body and gradually lowers toward the left and right outsides, with the left and right outer parts being the lowest, and a fertilizer discharge outlet 70c that can be opened and closed is provided on the bottom surface of the lowest left and right outer parts.

[0109] When the fertilizer applicator main bodies of the left and right fertilizer applicators 105L, 105R are rotated forward and laid down to be stored in the left and right recesses 18 (h), the fertilizer discharge outlet 70c is located within the left and right recesses 18. Therefore, by placing a fertilizer collection container such as a bucket below the recess 18, the remaining fertilizer in the fertilizer hopper 70 can be collected easily and with good workability.

[0110] The delivery units 71 are disposed at the outer left and right positions of the fertilizer hopper 70.

[0111] (3) Figs. 22 and 23 show an embodiment in which a movable step 80 is provided at the rear of the traveling body 10 in the riding rice transplanter 2 of the previous item (2).

[0112] That is, the step 80 is provided at the upper end of a movable frame 81 which is movable and fixed along the arc-shaped outer side of the rear wheel fender 17a, and is rotatable and fixed in a horizontal or vertical state about a rotation axis in the front-rear direction.

[0113] That is, the step 80 can be freely switched and fixed between a rear step state (i) located above the rear of the traveling vehicle body 10 and a central step state (j) covering the upper parts of the left and right recesses 18.

[0114] Therefore, when the fertilizer device main body of the left and right fertilizer devices 105L, 105R is rotated forward and tilted down to be stored in the left and right recesses 18 (H), the step 80 can be placed in the rear step position (Ri) located above the rear of the traveling body 10, allowing the worker to safely and efficiently perform various tasks on the seedling planting section 14, such as seedling supply work, on the step 80.In addition, the step 80 prevents the worker from stepping on components such as the fertilizer hoses 72 of the left and right fertilizer devices 105L, 105R.

[0115] In addition, when the fertilizer device main body of the left and right fertilizer devices 105L, 105R is placed in an upright working state (T) at the rear of the traveling vehicle body 10, the step 80 can be placed in a central step state (N) covering the upper parts of the left and right recesses 18, thereby widening the horizontal floor step 17, thereby improving safety and workability.

[0116] In addition, to prevent interference between the left and right fertilizer applicators 105L, 105R when switching between the working state (T) and the storage state (H) of the fertilizer applicator main body and when switching between the central step state (N) and the rear step state (R), the step 80 is rotated vertically around a forward / backward rotation axis at the upper end of the movable frame 81. [Explanation of symbols]

[0117] 2. Seedling transplanter (riding rice transplanter) 3. Transport vehicles (trucks) 5 Spare seedling tray 24 Moving body (idling wheel) 31 Extraction device (drawer arm) N seedling box R Farm road WR waterway WRa Wall

Claims

1. This seedling supplying device supplies seedling boxes (N) to a spare seedling carrier (5) of a seedling transplanter (2) from a transport vehicle (3) that travels on a farm road (R) and transports the seedling boxes (N), and is characterized in that it is freely movable on the farm road (R) or waterway (WR).

2. The seedling supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a moving body (24) that moves by utilizing the wall surface (WRa) of the waterway (WR).

3. 3. The seedling supplying device according to claim 2, wherein the movable body (24) is capable of moving on a farm road (R) by changing its posture.

4. The seedling supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an unloading device (31) for unloading the seedling boxes (N) from the transport vehicle (3).

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