Agricultural material supply device for agricultural machine

Abstract

To provide an agricultural material supply device for an agricultural machine that can reduce the labor involved in supplying agricultural materials to a working unit of the agricultural machine.SOLUTION: An agricultural material supply device in an agricultural machine is the agricultural material supply device in the agricultural machine that is supplied with agricultural materials and that includes a working unit that has a plurality of material supply sections which are arranged side by side in the machine body width direction of the agricultural machine, and comprises: at least one material supply platform on which the agricultural materials transported and supplied by a flying body are placed, and which delivers the placed agricultural materials to the working unit; and a support body which is attached to the working unit. The material supply platform is movably supported on the support body in the machine body width direction so as to be aligned with the material supply section that should supply the agricultural materials among the plurality of material supply sections.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an agricultural material supplying device in an agricultural machine, for example, to a seedling supplying device in a rice transplanter. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an agricultural machine disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known.

[0003] The agricultural machine disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a rice transplanter, and a seedling planting device, which is the working part of the agricultural machine, is provided at the rear of the machine body. The seedling planting device takes a predetermined amount of seedlings from a mat of seedlings, which is agricultural material, supplied to the seedling planting device, and plants them in a field. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-158130 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Incidentally, in the case of agricultural machinery, there is a demand for reducing the labor involved in supplying agricultural materials to the working section of the agricultural machinery.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an agricultural material supplying device for an agricultural machine that can reduce the labor required to supply agricultural materials to a working section of the agricultural machine. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One embodiment of the present invention provides an agricultural material supplying device for an agricultural machine having a working section to which agricultural materials are supplied and which has a plurality of material supplying sections arranged in the width direction of the body of the agricultural machine, and includes at least one material supplying table on which the agricultural materials transported and supplied by an aircraft are placed and which sends the placed agricultural materials to the working section, and a support body attached to the working section, and the material supplying table is supported on the support body so as to be freely movable in the width direction of the body so as to align the material supplying table with the material supplying section among the plurality of material supplying sections to which the agricultural materials should be supplied.

[0008] The material supply table may have an adjustment body that adjusts the position of the agricultural material on the material supply table in the width direction of the machine body, and may have an adjustment body that adjusts the position of the agricultural material to a position from which it is sent out relative to the material supply section to which the agricultural material is to be supplied, and a sending body that sends out the agricultural material after the position adjustment to the material supply section.

[0009] The material supply table may have a chute section that guides the agricultural material sent out from the material supply table to the material supply section.

[0010] The width of the material supply table in the width direction of the machine body may be larger than the width of one of the material supply sections in the width direction of the machine body, and the width of the chute section in the width direction of the machine body may be a width corresponding to one or two of the seedling loading sections.

[0011] The agricultural material supplying device in the agricultural machine may include a detection unit that detects whether the chute unit is aligned with the material supply unit to which the agricultural material is to be supplied.

[0012] The agricultural material supplying device in the agricultural machinery has a chute section that guides the agricultural material sent out from the material supply table to the material supply section, and is provided with a plurality of chute sections provided corresponding to the plurality of material supply sections, and the plurality of chute sections may be provided in the working section. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the agricultural material supplying device in the above-mentioned agricultural machinery, a material supply table is provided on which agricultural materials transported and supplied by an aircraft are placed and which sends the placed agricultural materials to the working section, thereby reducing the labor required to supply agricultural materials to the working section. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a rice transplanter according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the seedling carrying tray and the seedling supplying device. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the seedling supplying device and the seedling tray. [Figure 6] 1 is a front view of the flying object and seedling supply table. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the seedling supply table. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the seedling supplying device as seen from below. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the installation of the seedling supply table body. [Figure 10] FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is an enlarged oblique view of the left side of the seedling supply table. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is an enlarged oblique view of the right side of the seedling supply table. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the seedling supply table in an inclined position. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a plan view showing an example in which the movement of the first adjustment body and the movement of the sending body are performed by an actuator. [Figure 15] 13 is a plan view showing an example in which the movement of the second adjustment body is performed by an actuator. FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 13 is a side view showing an example in which the seedling supply table is raised and lowered by an actuator. [Figure 17]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a seedling supplying device according to a modified example of the seedling supplying device in the first embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 11 is a side view of a rice transplanter according to a second embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the seedling carrying tray and the seedling supplying device. [Figure 20] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the seedling carrying tray and the seedling supply tray. [Figure 21] 1 is a front view of the flying object and seedling supply table. [Figure 22] FIG. [Diagram 23] FIG. [Figure 24] FIG. [Diagram 25] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing attachment of the support to the seedling tray. [Figure 26] FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the attachment of the support to the seedling tray. [Figure 27] FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the attachment of the support to the seedling tray. [Figure 28] FIG. [Figure 29] FIG. [Diagram 30] FIG. [Diagram 31] 2 is a perspective view of a seedling supplying table main body, a first rail member, a second rail member and a chute portion. FIG. [Diagram 32] FIG. [Diagram 33] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the seedling supplying device as seen from below. [Diagram 34] FIG. [Diagram 35] FIG. 13 is a front view showing an example in which the seedling supply table is moved by an actuator. [Diagram 36] FIG. 13 is a plan view showing an example in which the adjustment body is moved by an actuator. [Figure 37] FIG. 13 is a plan view showing an example in which the movement of the sending body is performed by an actuator. [Figure 38]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a seedling supplying device according to a modified example of the seedling supplying device in the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0016] 1 and 18 are side views showing the overall configuration of an agricultural machine (farm machine) 1. In this embodiment, a rice transplanter is exemplified as the agricultural machine 1. The agricultural machine 1 in this embodiment is not limited to a rice transplanter. For example, the agricultural machine 1 can be a vegetable transplanter, a fertilizer applicator, a seed sower, a chemical applicator, a sprayer, etc.

[0017] 1 to 17 show a first mode of the agricultural machine 1.

[0018] 18 to 38 show a second embodiment of the agricultural machine 1. The second embodiment essentially shows an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] To make the present invention easier to understand, in the following description, the agricultural machine 1 will be described as a rice transplanter. The agricultural material supplying device will be described as a seedling supplying device 2. The working section of the agricultural machine 1 will be described as a seedling planting device 18. The agricultural material will be described as a mat seedling 3. The material supplying table will be described as a seedling supplying table 117. The material supplying section will be described as a seedling placing section 24.

[0020] 1 is a side view of a rice transplanter 1 equipped with a seedling supplying device 2 that supplies mat seedlings 3 to a seedling planting device 18 (seedling loading table (material loading table) 4). The rice transplanter 1 is a transplanting machine that cuts a predetermined amount of seedlings from the mat seedlings 3 placed on the seedling loading table 4 and plants the cut seedlings in a farm field (paddy field).

[0021] The mat seedlings 3 are mat-shaped seedlings that are grown by sowing rice seeds on a seedbed (such as culture soil or a seedling mat) laid on the bottom of a seedling box, covering the seedlings with soil, and irrigating the seedlings. The mat seedlings 3 are formed in a rectangular shape in a plan view.

[0022] In this embodiment, the direction of the arrow A1 in FIG. 1 is described as the front (front of the machine body), the direction of the arrow A2 in FIG. 1 is described as the rear (rear of the machine body), and the direction of the arrow A3 in FIG. 1 is described as the front-rear direction (front-rear direction of the machine body). The front side of FIG. 1 is described as the left side, and the back side of FIG. 1 is described as the right side. The horizontal direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction A3 is described as the machine body width direction (see arrow K1 in FIG. 3). The direction from the center of the width direction of the rice transplanter 1 to the right or left side is described as the machine body width direction outer side. In other words, the machine body outer side is the direction away from the center of the width direction of the machine body in the machine body width direction K1. The direction opposite to the machine body outer side is described as the machine body inner side. In other words, the machine body width direction inner side is the direction approaching the center of the width direction of the machine body in the machine body width direction K1.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, the rice transplanter 1 has a machine body 5. As shown in FIG. 2, the machine body 5 has a front prime mover (engine or electric motor, etc.) 6, a transmission case 7 arranged behind the prime mover 6 to which the power of the prime mover 6 is transmitted, a front frame 8 extending forward from the transmission case 7 to support the prime mover 6, a front wheel drive case 9 provided on both the left and right sides of the transmission case 7, a machine body frame 10 arranged behind the transmission case 7, and a rear wheel drive case 12 arranged below the rear of the machine body frame 10 and connected to the machine body frame 10 via a connecting mechanism 11. Front wheels 13 are supported at the left and right ends of the front wheel drive case 9 so as to be steerable and rotatable. Rear wheels 14 are supported at the left and right ends of the rear wheel drive case 12 so as to be rotatable. Thus, the machine body 5 is supported so as to be able to run by the left and right front wheels 13 and the left and right rear wheels 14.

[0024] The rice transplanter 1 may be a type that performs manual running, may perform automatic running (automatic driving), or may perform autonomous running. In the case of manual running, an operator sits in the driver's seat 15 and steers with a steering wheel 16. In the case of automatic running, the rice transplanter 1 is provided with a positioning unit, receives radio waves from a satellite of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS: Global Navigation Satellite System) and calculates the vehicle position. Then, the rice transplanter 1 performs automatic running based on the vehicle position after a running route is set. In addition, automatic running is also possible by detecting a straight direction by a direction sensor (an inertial measurement unit (IMU), a geomagnetic sensor, etc.) and detecting an end point by a ridge detection sensor (Lidar: Light Detection And Ranging, etc.). In the case of autonomous running, for example, the rice transplanter 1 is provided with an imaging device (a camera, etc.) that acquires information about the surroundings of the machine body 5, and a control device that causes the machine body 5 to run autonomously based on the information acquired by the imaging device. The rice transplanter 1 may be unmanned without an operator on board. In this case, the driver's seat 15 and the steering wheel 16 can be omitted.

[0025] In the rice transplanter 1 of this embodiment, a spare seedling placement table 17 for placing spare mat seedlings 3 is provided, but this is not necessary.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 1, a seedling planting device 18 is provided at the rear of the machine body 5. The seedling planting device 18 is connected to the machine body 5 via a link mechanism 19 and a connector 20 so as to be able to rise and fall. The seedling planting device 18 is driven by a hydraulic cylinder 21 so as to be able to rise and fall freely.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 1, the seedling planting device 18 has a seedling carrying table 4 on which mat seedlings 3 are placed, a planting mechanism 22 that cuts a predetermined amount of seedlings from the mat seedlings 3 placed on the seedling carrying table 4 and plants them in a farm field (paddy field), and a float 23 that performs land leveling of the farm field, etc. As shown in Fig. 1, the seedling carrying table 4 is provided in an inclined shape that transitions forward as it goes upward (inclined at the front).

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, the seedling placement table 4 has a plurality of seedling placement sections 24 on which the mat seedlings 3 are placed. The plurality of seedling placement sections 24 are arranged in a line in the machine width direction K1. The number of seedling placement sections 24 is set according to the number of planting rows. The rice transplanter 1 of this embodiment is an 8-row planting rice transplanter 1 having eight seedling placement sections 24. Partition guides 25 are provided on both sides of the seedling placement section 24 in the machine width direction K1. On each seedling placement section 24, the mat seedlings 3 are placed with the long side 3a of the mat seedlings 3 aligned with the inclination direction of the seedling placement table 4 and the short side 3b of the mat seedlings 3 aligned with the machine width direction K1. On each seedling placement section 24, two mat seedlings 3 can be placed side by side in the inclination direction of the seedling placement table 4. A vertical feed mechanism 26 having a vertical feed belt is provided at the bottom of each seedling placement section 24. The mat seedlings 3 on the seedling placement section 24 can be fed vertically downward along the seedling placement section 24 by a vertical feed mechanism 26.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 1, the seedling placement table 4 is supported on the connecting body 20 so as to be freely movable in the width direction K1 of the machine body by an upper guide portion 27A and a lower guide portion 27B provided on the connecting body 20. The seedling placement table 4 is driven by a lateral feed mechanism 84 (see Fig. 3) provided on the connecting body 20 so as to be reciprocally movable in the width direction K1 of the machine body.

[0030] In addition, the support structure for supporting the seedling carrying platform 4 so that it can move in the width direction K1 of the machine body relative to the connecting body 20 is not limited to the structure including the upper guide portion 27A and the lower guide portion 28B described above, and may be any structure that can support the seedling carrying platform 4 so that it can move in the width direction K1 of the machine body.

[0031] The planting mechanisms 22 are arranged at intervals in the width direction K1 of the machine body in the number corresponding to the number of planting rows. In this embodiment, since the rice transplanter 1 is for planting eight rows, eight planting mechanisms 22 are provided corresponding to the number of seedling placement units 24. The planting mechanisms 22 are supported by the connecting body 20. Therefore, the planting mechanisms 22 move relative to the seedling placement table 4. In other words, the seedling placement table 4 moves in the width direction K1 of the machine body relative to the planting mechanisms 22. The planting mechanism 22 takes out a predetermined amount of seedlings from the lower end of the mat seedlings 3 placed on the seedling placement table 4 (seedling placement unit 24) that moves back and forth in the width direction K1 of the machine body and plants them. In detail, the planting mechanism 22 rotates around an axis extending in the width direction K1 of the machine body, takes out one stalk (a predetermined amount) of seedlings from the lower end of the mat seedlings 3 placed on the seedling placement unit 24, and plants them in the field. Then, while the seedling carrying table 4 is moving in one direction in the machine body width direction K1, the planting mechanism 22 cuts off a horizontal row of seedlings at the lower end of the mat seedlings 3. When the horizontal row of seedlings at the lower end of the mat seedlings 3 has been cut off, the mat seedlings 3 are fed vertically by the vertical feed mechanism 26 by an amount equivalent to the cut horizontal row, and the seedling carrying table 4 moves to the other direction in the machine body width direction K1 (the opposite direction to the one direction), and the same planting operation as described above is performed. In other words, the seedling carrying table 4 is driven to reciprocate in the machine body width direction K1 by the horizontal width of the mat seedlings 3, and the mat seedlings 3 are fed vertically every time the seedling carrying table 4 reaches the end of its reciprocating movement.

[0032] The vertical feed mechanism 26, the horizontal feed mechanism 84 and the planting mechanism 22 are driven by power from the prime mover 6.

[0033] As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the seedling supplying device 2, which supplies mat seedlings 3 to a seedling carrying table 4, has a support bracket 91 attached to the top of the seedling carrying table 4 and a seedling supply table 92 supported by the support bracket 91.

[0034] In the first form, the seedling supply table 92 is attached to the seedling carrying table 4 via a support bracket 91, and by attaching the seedling supply table 92 to the seedling carrying table 4, the seedling supply table 92 (seedling supply device 2) moves back and forth together with the seedling carrying table 4 in the body width direction K1.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 8, a pair of support brackets 91 are arranged on the left and right sides at the rear of the lower surface of the seedling supply table 92. There may be one support bracket 91, or three or more support brackets 91. In addition, the support bracket 91 is not limited to the shape (structure) of the example shown in the figure.

[0036] As shown in Figures 4 and 8, the support bracket 91 has an attachment portion 91a, a pivot portion 91b, and an abutment portion 91c. As shown in Figure 9, the attachment portion 91a is fixed to a fixing member 93 attached to the upper portion of the seedling placement table 4 via a bolt or the like.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 4, the pivot part 91b is provided at the rear of the upper part of the support bracket 91. The rear part of the seedling supply table 92 is pivotally supported on the pivot part 91b. In detail, a pair of left and right mounting stays 94 (see FIG. 8) are fixed to the underside of the seedling supply table 92, and the left mounting stay 94 is connected to the pivot part 91b of the left support bracket 91 via a pivot 95 so as to be freely rotatable about an axis extending in the machine width direction K1, and the right mounting stay 94 is connected to the pivot part 91b of the right support bracket 91 via a pivot 95 so as to be freely rotatable about an axis extending in the machine width direction K1. As shown in FIG. 4, the abutment part 91c can abut against the underside of the seedling supply table 92.

[0038] The seedling supply tray 92 can be freely changed in position between a horizontal position P1 shown in Fig. 4 and an inclined position P2 shown in Fig. 13 by rotating around the pivot 95. The horizontal position P1 is a position in which the seedling supply tray 92 (bottom wall 96a of the seedling supply tray main body 96 described below) is approximately horizontal. In this horizontal position P1, the seedling supply tray 92 (seedling supply tray main body 96) abuts against the abutment portion 91c, thereby restricting downward rotation around the pivot 95. In the horizontal position P1, the rear part of the seedling supply tray 92 (seedling supply tray main body 96) is located above the upper part of the seedling placement tray 4.

[0039] The inclined position P2 is a position in which the seedling supply table 92 (seedling supply table main body 96) is rotated upward (rearward) from the horizontal position P1 around the pivot 95, and is an inclined position (front-upward inclined position) that transitions forward as it moves upward. The inclination angle of the seedling supply table 92 (seedling supply table main body 96) in the inclined position P2 corresponds to (is approximately the same as) the inclination angle of the seedling carrying table 4. In addition, the lower part of the seedling supply table 92 (seedling supply table main body 96) in the inclined position P2 in the inclined direction (the rear part in the horizontal position P1) is located above the upper part of the seedling carrying table 4.

[0040] As shown in Figures 4 and 13, the support bracket 91 has a regulating portion 91d, and by abutting the mounting stay 94 against the regulating portion 91d, the seedling supply table 92 (seedling supply table main body 96) can be prevented from rotating backward from the inclined position P2.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 6, the seedling supply table 92 is a portion on which the mat seedlings 3 transported and supplied by the flying object 31 are placed. In detail, the mat seedlings 3 transported and supplied by the flying object 31 are placed on the seedling supply table 92, and the seedling supply table 92 sends the placed mat seedlings 3 to the seedling placement table 4. In other words, the seedling supply table 92 receives the mat seedlings 3 transported by the flying object 31 and sends the received mat seedlings 3 to the seedling placement table 4. The flying object 31 is, for example, an flying object called a drone or a multicopter. The flying object 31 may be an unmanned flying object or a manned flying object. When the mat seedlings 3 are supplied from the flying object 31 to the seedling supply table 92, for example, the mat seedlings 3 may be dropped from the flying object 31 and placed on the seedling supply table 92. However, this is not limited to this, and the mat seedlings 3 may be placed on the seedling supply table 92 after the flying object 31 lands on the seedling supply table 92. When dropping the mat seedlings 3 from the flying object 31 onto the seedling supply table 92, or when landing the flying object 31 on the seedling supply table 92, the seedling supply table 92 (seedling supply table main body 96) is held in a horizontal position P1.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 5, the mat seedlings 3 are placed on the seedling supply table 92 with the long sides 3a of the mat seedlings 3 aligned with the front-rear direction A3 and the short sides 3b of the mat seedlings 3 aligned with the machine body width direction K1.

[0043] When the mat seedlings 3 are placed on the placement section 29 by the flying object 31, the rice transplanter 1 and the flying object 31 may each be equipped with a communication unit, and the flying object 31 may grasp the position of the seedling supply table 92 through communication. In addition, when an operator boards the rice transplanter 1, the flying object 31 holding the mat seedlings 3 may fly around the rice transplanter 1, and the operator may press a switch or the like to place the mat seedlings 3 on the placement section 29 via the flying object 31.

[0044] The timing for supplying the mat seedlings 3 by the flying object 31 can be, for example, when a seedling cut sensor mounted on the rice transplanter 1 detects that the mat seedlings 3 should be supplied to the seedling placement table 4. The seedling cut sensor is provided on each seedling placement section 24 of the seedling placement table 4, and is a sensor that detects that the remaining amount of the mat seedlings 3 placed on the seedling placement section 24 and cut by the planting mechanism 22 has fallen below a predetermined amount. The seedling cut sensor is not limited to a contact sensor and can be of any configuration as long as it can detect the remaining amount of the mat seedlings 3 placed on the seedling placement section 24. In addition, a detection device composed of a camera and an image diagnostic device may be used to detect that the remaining amount of the mat seedlings 3 has fallen below a predetermined amount. In this case, the camera photographs the mat seedlings 3 placed on the seedling placement section 24, and the image of the mat seedlings 3 photographed by the camera is analyzed by the image diagnostic device, so that the remaining amount of the mat seedlings 3 placed (planted) on the seedling placement section 24 can be detected.

[0045] As an easier method for detecting that the remaining amount of seedlings in the mat seedlings 3 has fallen below a predetermined amount, it is possible to simply detect whether or not the seedlings in the mat seedlings 3 are present within a specific area of ​​the seedling placement unit 24. By performing image analysis to determine that there are no seedlings within the specific area, it may be possible to determine that the remaining amount of seedlings is below a certain amount and requires replenishment.

[0046] The remaining amount of seedlings of the mat seedlings 3 on the seedling placing section 24 varies depending on the conditions of the field for each seedling placing section 24. Therefore, the timing for supplying (replenishing) the mat seedlings 3 differs for each seedling placing section 24.

[0047] Next, the structure of the seedling supply tray 92 will be described with the seedling supply tray 92 in the horizontal position P1.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the seedling supplying tray 92 has a seedling supplying tray main body 96, a rail member 97, a slider 98, an adjustment body 99, and a sending body 100.

[0049] As shown in Figures 5, 7, and 10, the seedling supply table body 96 is formed of a plate material. The seedling supply table body 96 is a portion where the mat seedlings 3 are supplied and placed via the flying body 31. The seedling supply table body 96 has a bottom wall 96a whose plate surface faces the up-down direction, a pair of left and right side walls 96b, 96c extending upward from the left and right ends of the bottom wall 96a, and a front wall 96d extending upward from the front end of the bottom wall 96a. The seedling supply table body 96 is formed in an open shape at the rear. This allows the mat seedlings 3 on the seedling supply table body 96 to be sent out rearward from the seedling supply table body 96. A handle 101 that an operator holds is fixed to the front part of the left side wall 96b and the front part of the right side wall 96c.

[0050] As shown in Fig. 5, the width W1 of the seedling supply table main body 96 (seedling supply table 92) in the machine body width direction K1 is formed to a width corresponding to the width from one seedling placing section 24 on one side to the other seedling placing section 24 on the other side of the multiple seedling placing sections 24 in the machine body width direction K1. In this first embodiment, one side (left part) of the seedling supply table main body 96 (seedling supply table 92) in the machine body width direction K1 protrudes leftward from the seedling placing table 4, and the other side (right part) of the seedling supply table main body 96 (seedling supply table 92) in the machine body width direction K1 protrudes rightward from the seedling placing table 4.

[0051] As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the rail member 97 is disposed behind the front wall 96d of the seedling supply table main body 96. More specifically, the rail member 97 abuts against the rear surface of the front wall 96d. The rail member 97 is formed of an elongated member that is long in the machine body width direction K1, and is provided from the left side wall 96b to the right side wall 96c. The rail member 97 is fixed to the front wall 96d by a bolt or the like.

[0052] As shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 10, a pair of sliders 98 are provided on the left and right sides. The left slider 98 is also referred to as a first slider 98A, and the right slider 98 is also referred to as a second slider 98B. The first slider 98A and the second slider 98B are supported by a rail member 97 so as to be slidable in the width direction K1 of the machine body. In detail, each slider 98 is formed in a rectangular block shape, and has a groove portion 98a extending in the width direction K1 of the machine body at the front portion. The groove portion 98a is a concave shape that is open toward the front (see Fig. 4), and the groove portion 98a is fitted into the rail member 97 from the rear, so that each slider 98 is supported by the rail member 97 so as to be slidable.

[0053] As shown in Fig. 5, the adjustment bodies 99 are arranged on one side (left side) and the other side (right side) of the seedling supply table 92 (seedling supply table main body 96) in the machine width direction K1. That is, a pair of adjustment bodies 99 are provided on the left and right. The left adjustment body 99 is also referred to as the first adjustment body 99A, and the right adjustment body 99 is also referred to as the second adjustment body 99B.

[0054] The first adjustment body 99A and the second adjustment body 99B are provided so as to be movable in the machine width direction K1, and adjust the position of the mat seedling 3 on the seedling supply table body 96 in the machine width direction K1 by moving on the seedling supply table body 96 (seedling supply table 92) in the machine width direction K1. In detail, the first adjustment body 99A adjusts the position of the mat seedling 3 in the machine width direction K1 by moving in a direction from one side to the other side of the machine width direction K1, and the second adjustment body 99B adjusts the position of the mat seedling 3 in the machine width direction K1 by moving in a direction from the other side to one side of the machine width direction K1. The position adjustment of the mat seedling 3 in the machine width direction K1 by the adjustment body 99 is a position adjustment for aligning it with any one of the multiple seedling placement parts 24. In other words, the position adjustment of the mat seedling 3 by the adjustment body 99 is a position adjustment for aligning the mat seedling 3 on the seedling placement table 4 with the seedling placement part 24 to which the mat seedling 3 should be supplied (supplied).

[0055] The left and right adjustment bodies 99 are formed of plate material. As shown in Figs. 5, 7, 10 and 11, the first adjustment body 99A has a side wall portion 99Aa and a front wall portion 99Ab. The side wall portion 99Aa is a strip-shaped plate that is long in the front-rear direction A3 with the plate surface facing the machine width direction K1. The side wall portion 99Aa is provided from the front to the rear end of the seedling supply table main body 96. As shown in Fig. 11, the side wall portion 99Aa has a guide groove 102 formed from the vicinity of the front end to the vicinity of the rear end of the side wall portion 99Aa. A handle 103 that an operator holds is fixed to the front of the side wall portion 99Aa.

[0056] The front wall portion 99Ab extends from the front end of the side wall portion 99a to the left in the width direction of the machine body. The front wall portion 99Ab is superimposed on the rear surface of the first slider 98A and is fixed to the first slider 98A by a bolt or the like. Therefore, the first adjustment body 99A can move freely in the width direction K1 of the machine body together with the first slider 98A. As shown in FIG. 5, when the first adjustment body 99A is moved to the left end side of its moving range, it is located slightly left of the left end of the seedling placement unit 24 at the left end of the multiple seedling placement units 24.

[0057] As shown in Figures 5, 7, 10 and 12, the second adjustment body 99B has a side wall portion 99Ba and a front wall portion 99Bb. The side wall portion 99Ba is a strip-like plate that is long in the front-rear direction A3 with its plate surface facing the machine width direction K1. The side wall portion 99Ba is provided from the front to the rear end of the seedling supply table main body 96. The side wall portion 99Ba is a portion that pushes the mat seedlings 3 on the seedling supply table 92. A handle 104 that an operator can hold is fixed to the front of the side wall portion 99Ba.

[0058] The front wall 99Bb extends from the front end of the side wall 99Ba to the right in the width direction of the machine body. The front wall 99Bb is superimposed on the rear surface of the second slider 98B and is fixed to the second slider 98B by a bolt or the like. Therefore, the second adjustment body 99B can move freely in the width direction K1 of the machine body together with the second slider 98B. As shown in FIG. 5, when the second adjustment body 99B is moved to the right end side of its moving range, it is located slightly to the right of the right end of the seedling placement unit 24 at the right end of the multiple seedling placement units 24.

[0059] As shown in Figures 5, 7, 10 and 11, the sending body 100 has a front wall 100a and a side wall 100b. The front wall 100a is arranged so that the plate surface faces the front-rear direction A3. The front wall 100a is a part that pushes the mat seedlings 3 on the seedling supply table 92. The width of the front wall 100a in the machine body width direction K1 is formed to a width corresponding to the length of the short side 3b of the mat seedling 3. The front wall 100a is provided with a handle 105 that an operator can hold.

[0060] The side wall 100b extends forward from the left end of the front wall 100a. The plate surface of the side wall 100b faces the machine body width direction K1. The sending body 100 is disposed to the right of the first adjustment body 99A. The side wall 100b of the sending body 100 is overlapped with the right side surface of the side wall portion 99Aa of the first adjustment body 99A.

[0061] As shown in Fig. 11, the side wall 100b of the sending body 100 is attached to the side wall portion 99Aa of the first adjustment body 99A by a pair of front and rear pins 106. The front and rear pins 106 pass through guide grooves 102. The front and rear pins 106 are movable in the front and rear direction A3 along the guide grooves 102. Therefore, the sending body 100 is movable in the front and rear direction A3 in a range from the front to the rear of the first adjustment body 99A. The sending body 100 can move the mat seedlings 3 that have been adjusted in the machine body width direction K1 backward, and send the mat seedlings 3 to the seedling placement section 24.

[0062] In the above-mentioned seedling supply device 2, when it is detected that the remaining amount of seedlings of the mat seedlings 3 on the seedling placement section 24 is below a predetermined amount, the mat seedlings 3 are transported by the flying body 31, and the mat seedlings 3 are placed on the seedling supply table 92 (seedling supply table main body 96) via the flying body 31. At this time, the seedling supply table 92 is in a horizontal position P1. When the mat seedlings 3 are placed on the seedling supply table main body 96, the adjustment body 99 adjusts (corrects) the positional deviation of the mat seedlings 3 in the machine width direction K1, and aligns the mat seedlings 3 to a position corresponding to the seedling placement section 24 to which the mat seedlings 3 should be supplied. Specifically, when the mat seedlings 3 are moved to the right, the first adjustment body 99A is used, and when the mat seedlings 3 are moved to the left, the second adjustment body 99B is used. When the mat seedlings 3 are moved by the second adjustment body 99B, the first adjustment body 99A is moved closer to the mat seedlings 3, and the sending body 100 is positioned in front of the mat seedlings 3.

[0063] Next, the seedling supply table 92 is changed from the horizontal position P1 to the inclined position P2 and the sender body 100 is moved toward the seedling placing section 24 to move the mat seedling 3 toward the seedling placing section 24 and supply the mat seedling 3 to the seedling placing section 24.

[0064] In addition, when moving the mat seedlings 3 from the seedling supply table 92 to the seedling placement section 24, the seedling supply table 92 may be inclined in position P2 so that the mat seedlings 3 slide down due to the inclination of the seedling supply table 92. In this case, the sending body 100 can be omitted.

[0065] In the above embodiment, since the seedling supply table 92 is provided on the seedling placement table 4, the seedling supply table 92 moves in the vehicle width direction K1 together with the seedling placement table 4. Since the seedling supply table 92 moves in the vehicle width direction K1 together with the seedling placement table 4, the mat seedlings 3 can be easily positioned relative to the seedling placement section 24. In addition, the structure can be simplified. Furthermore, since the seedling supply table 92 is in an inclined position P2 and the mat seedlings 3 are sent to the seedling placement section 24, the mat seedlings 3 can be sent to the seedling placement section 24 smoothly. Furthermore, when the seedling supply table 92 receives the mat seedlings 3 from the flying object 31, the seedling supply table 92 is in a horizontal position P1, so the mat seedlings 3 can be stably received.

[0066] In the above embodiment, the movement of the first adjustment body 99A in the machine body width direction K1, the movement of the second adjustment body 99B in the machine body width direction K1, the movement of the sending body 100 in the front-rear direction A3, and the movement of the seedling supplying table 92 between the horizontal position P1 and the inclined position P2 are performed manually, but this is not limited to this. For example, the movement of the first adjustment body 99A in the machine body width direction K1, the movement of the second adjustment body 99B in the machine body width direction K1, the movement of the sending body 100 in the front-rear direction A3, and the movement of the seedling supplying table 92 between the horizontal position P1 and the inclined position P2 may be configured to be performed by an actuator.

[0067] 14 to 16 show an example in which the movement of the first adjustment body 99A, the second adjustment body 99B and the sending body 100 and the change in the attitude of the seedling supply table 92 can be performed by an actuator 107. Note that Figs. 14 to 16 show only one example, and the present invention is not limited to the structures shown in Figs. 14 to 16.

[0068] FIG. 14 shows a transport device 108A in which the first adjustment body 99A can be moved by an actuator 107, and a transport device 108B in which the sending body 100 can be moved by an actuator 107.

[0069] The transfer device 108A has a motor 107A that can be rotated forward and backward as an actuator 107, a screw shaft 109A, and a nut body 110A. The motor 107A is fixedly attached to the seedling supply table main body 96, and the screw shaft 109A has an axis extending in the machine body width direction K1 and is driven to rotate around the axis by the power of the motor 107A. The nut body 110A is attached to the first slider 98A and screwed into the screw shaft 109A. In this transfer device 108A, the nut body 110A moves in the machine body width direction K1 by rotating the motor 107A forward and backward to rotate the screw shaft 109A around the axis. As the nut body 110A moves in the machine body width direction K1, the first slider 98A moves in the machine body width direction K1 together with the nut body 110A. As a result, the first adjustment body 99A moves in the machine body width direction K1. Furthermore, the sending body 100 moves together with the first adjustment body 99A.

[0070] The transfer device 108B has a motor 107B that can rotate forward and backward as an actuator 107, a screw shaft 109B, and a nut body 110B. The motor 107B is fixedly attached to the first slider 98A, and the screw shaft 109B has an axis extending in the front-rear direction A3 and is driven to rotate around the axis by the power of the motor 107B. The nut body 110B is attached to the sending body 100 and screwed into the screw shaft 109B. In this transfer device 108B, the nut body 110B moves in the front-rear direction A3 by rotating the motor 107B forward and backward to rotate the screw shaft 109B around the axis. As the nut body 110B moves in the front-rear direction A3, the sending body 100 moves in the front-rear direction A3 together with the nut body 110B relative to the first adjustment body 99A.

[0071] FIG. 15 shows a transfer device 108C that allows the second adjustment body 99B to be moved by an actuator 107. The transfer device 108C has a motor 107C that can be rotated forward and backward as the actuator 107, a screw shaft 109C, and a nut body 110C. The motor 107C is fixedly attached to the seedling supply table main body 96, and the screw shaft 109C has an axis extending in the machine body width direction K1 and is driven to rotate around the axis by the power of the motor 107C. The nut body 110C is attached to the second slider 98B and is screwed into the screw shaft 109C. In this transfer device, the nut body 110C moves in the machine body width direction K1 by rotating the motor 107C forward and backward to rotate the screw shaft 109C around the axis. As the nut body 110C moves in the machine body width direction K1, the second slider 98B moves in the machine body width direction K1 together with the nut body 110C, which causes the second adjustment body 99B to move in the machine body width direction K1.

[0072] The screw shaft 109A of the transfer device 108A and the screw shaft 109C of the transfer device 108C are arranged with a positional deviation in the front-rear and up-down directions so as not to interfere with each other. In the transfer device 108A, the transfer device 108B, and the transfer device 108C, the screw shafts 109A, 109B, and 109C and the nut bodies 110A, 110B, and 110C may constitute a ball screw. A ball screw is a mechanical component having a structure in which a screw shaft is threaded on the outer periphery of a rod member, a nut body screwed onto the screw shaft, and balls are inserted between the screw shaft and the nut body.

[0073] Each of the above-mentioned transfer devices may be an electrically driven transfer device in which an actuator (electric actuator) is electrically controlled by a control device, or a hydraulically driven transfer device in which a hydraulic valve is controlled by a control device to hydraulically control an actuator (hydraulic actuator).In addition, each of the transfer devices may be a pneumatically driven transfer device in which a pneumatic actuator is controlled as the actuator.

[0074] FIG. 16 shows a driving device 111 that allows the seedling supply table 92 to move between the horizontal position P1 and the inclined position P2 by the actuator 107. The driving device 111 shown in FIG. 16 adopts a freely expandable driving cylinder 107D such as an electric cylinder or an air cylinder as the actuator 107. The bottom 107Da side of the driving cylinder 107D is pivoted to the support bracket 91, and the tip of the piston rod 107Db of the driving cylinder 107D is pivoted to the seedling supply table main body 96. In this driving device 111, the seedling supply table main body 96 rotates around the pivot 95 by extending and retracting the driving cylinder 107D, and rises and falls. However, this structure is not limited to this. For example, the driving device 111 may be hydraulically driven.

[0075] In the first embodiment, there is one seedling supply table 92, but this is not limited thereto, and multiple seedling supply tables 92 may be provided in the width direction K1 of the vehicle body. In other words, at least one seedling supply table 92 is required. Multiple seedling supply tables 92 are arranged in the width direction K1 of the vehicle body. In this case, the width of one seedling supply table 92 in the width direction K1 of the vehicle body is preferably set to a width corresponding to at least two seedling placement sections 24, taking into consideration that the mat seedlings 3 are supplied by the flying body 31. In addition, when multiple seedling supply tables 92 are provided, each of the multiple seedling supply tables 92 may be changed in position between the horizontal position P1 and the inclined position P2, or the multiple seedling supply tables 92 may be changed in position between the horizontal position P1 and the inclined position P2 as a unit.

[0076] Also, the sending body 100 may be formed by a vertical feed mechanism constituted by a belt conveyor or the like, and the mat seedlings 3 may be sent from the seedling supply table 92 to the seedling placement section 24 by the vertical feed mechanism. When the sending body 100 is constituted by a belt conveyor, the projection shape of the belt of the belt conveyor is not stud-shaped but horizontal linear projections extending in the machine width direction K1 so that the mat seedlings 3 can be moved in the machine width direction K1 on the seedling supply table 92 by the adjustment body 99.

[0077] By using the actuator 107 to move the adjustment body 99 (first adjustment body 99A, second adjustment body 99B), the movement of the delivery body 100, and the movement of the seedling supply table main body 96 between the horizontal position P1 and the inclined position P2, the movement of the mat seedling 3 can be automatically performed from the time the mat seedling 3 is supplied to the seedling supply table 92 by the flying body 31 to the time the mat seedling 3 is supplied to the seedling loading section 24.

[0078] FIG. 17 shows a modified example of the seedling supplying device 2 in the first embodiment.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 17, the seedling supplying device 2 has a plurality of seedling supply tables 92 arranged in the machine body width direction K1.

[0080] In the modified example shown in Fig. 17, the seedling supplying tray 92 is provided on the seedling carrying tray 4 by being formed integrally with the seedling carrying tray 4. However, this is not limited to this. Even in the seedling supplying device 2 according to this modified example, the seedling supplying tray 92 may be formed separately from the seedling carrying tray 4 and attached to the seedling carrying tray 4 via a bracket or the like, so that it is provided on the seedling carrying tray 4.

[0081] The width of the seedling supply tray 92 (seedling supply tray main body 96) in the machine width direction K1 corresponds to two seedling placement units 24. That is, in this modified example, one seedling supply tray 92 is provided for two seedling placement units 24.

[0082] Each seedling supplying tray 92 (seedling supplying tray body 96) is fixedly mounted on the seedling placing tray 4 in a sloping manner that transitions forward as it goes upward.

[0083] Each seedling supply table 92 has an adjustment body 99 that is movable from one end side to the other end side of the seedling supply table main body 96 in the machine body width direction K1.

[0084] In this modified example, each seedling supply table 92 has a regulating gate 112 that regulates the movement of the mat seedlings 3 on the seedling supply table 92 to the seedling carrying table 4. The regulating gate 112 is vertically movable relative to the seedling supply table 92 and the seedling carrying table 4, and can be switched from a closed state that regulates the movement of the mat seedlings 3 to the seedling planting device 18 (seedling carrying table 4) to an open state that releases the regulation of the movement of the mat seedlings 3 to the seedling planting device 18 (allows the mat seedlings 3 to move to the seedling planting device 18) by lowering the regulating gate 112. In other words, by lowering the regulating gate 112, the regulation of the movement of the mat seedlings 3 on the seedling supply table 92 to the seedling carrying table 4 is released.

[0085] The restricting gate 112 is not limited to the above structure. The restricting gate 112 may have any structure as long as it can restrict the mat seedlings 3 on the seedling supply table 92 from moving to the seedling planting device 18 (seedling carrying table 4) and can release the restriction on the movement of the mat seedlings 3 to the seedling planting device 18 (allow the mat seedlings 3 to move to the seedling planting device 18).

[0086] For example, the regulating gate 112 may be configured to open and close in a direction along the plane of the seedling supply table 92 or the seedling planting device 18 (seedling carrying table 4) and be switchable between a closed state that regulates the movement of the mat seedlings 3 to the seedling planting device 18 and an open state that releases the regulation of the movement of the mat seedlings 3 to the seedling planting device 18.

[0087] As an example, the regulating gate 112 is configured to open and close in a direction along the plane (plane along the upper surface) of the seedling supply table 92 or the seedling planting device 18 (seedling carrying table 4) in a direction perpendicular to the inclination direction of the seedling supply table 92 and the machine width direction K1. The regulating gate 112 may be configured to open and close in the machine width direction K1, or may be configured to open and close in the inclination direction of the seedling supply table 92 or the seedling planting device 18 (seedling carrying table 4).

[0088] As a specific form of the above-mentioned regulating gate 112, for example, the regulating gate 112 has a pair of left and right door members that can move in the machine body width direction K1, and is configured to be switchable between a closed state in which the pair of door members abut in the machine body width direction K1 (left and right direction) and an open state in which the pair of door members move from the closed state in a direction away from each other in the machine body width direction K1. In addition, as another form, the regulating gate 112 has a pair of left and right door members that can be swung (rotated) to be switchable between a closed state and an open state. In detail, the regulating gate 112 is configured so that from a closed state in which the left and right door members abut against each other in the machine body width direction K1, the butted sides of the left and right door members swing (rotate) downward in the inclination direction of the seedling supply table 92, etc. to open (so that the left and right door members open like so-called "double doors").

[0089] In the modified example shown in Fig. 17, the regulating gate 112 is provided for each of the seedling placement sections 24. In other words, the regulating gate 112 can be switched between the closed state and the open state for each seedling placement section 24.

[0090] In the seedling supply device 2 according to this modified example, when the mat seedlings 3 are supplied from the flying body 31 to the seedling supply table main body 96, the adjustment body 99 is made to wait on the side of the seedling placing unit 24 different from the seedling placing unit 24 to which the mat seedlings 3 should be supplied. When the mat seedlings 3 are placed on the seedling supply table main body 96, the adjustment body 99 aligns the mat seedling 3 with the seedling placing unit 24 to which the mat seedling 3 should be supplied. Thereafter, the regulating gate 112 is lowered to slide the mat seedlings 3 from the seedling supply table main body 96 down to the seedling placing unit 24 for supply.

[0091] The mat seedlings 3 may be supplied to the seedling placement section 24 by the sending body 100, as in the first embodiment. The sending body 100 may be a sending body (see reference numeral 100A in FIG. 17) that can move in the inclination direction of the seedling supply table main body 96, or a sending body (see reference numeral 100B in FIG. 17) that is configured by a belt conveyor. Although not shown, the sending body 100 is provided for each seedling supply table 92. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 16, two adjustment bodies 99 are provided for one seedling supply table 92, and in the modified example shown in FIG. 17, one adjustment body 99 is provided for one seedling supply table 92. That is, in the first embodiment, at least one adjustment body 99 is provided for the seedling supply table 92.

[0092] Incidentally, the planting mechanism 22 is a set of two rows, and the degree of wear of the mat seedlings 3 (the degree of wear of the mat seedlings 3) varies for each set of two rows (the degree of wear of the two rows of seedlings in a set is the same). In response to this, in the above-mentioned modified example, the width in the machine width direction K1 of the seedling supply table 92 (seedling supply table main body 96) is set to a width corresponding to two seedling placement sections 24.

[0093] 18 to 38 show the rice transplanter 1 of the second embodiment.

[0094] In this second embodiment, the rice transplanter 1 represents a machine that performs automatic travel (automatic driving) or autonomous travel. As shown in FIG. 18, the rice transplanter 1 does not have a driver's seat or a steering wheel. The seedling supplying device 2 of the second embodiment may be mounted on a rice transplanter 1 that performs manual travel. In addition, the configuration of the main body part (configuration of the rice transplanter itself) other than the configuration of the seedling supplying device 2 of the rice transplanter 1 is configured substantially the same as in the first embodiment, so a description of the rice transplanter itself will be omitted.

[0095] As shown in Fig. 18, the seedling supplying device 2 is provided on a seedling platform 4. That is, even in the second mode, the seedling supplying device 2 reciprocates together with the seedling platform 4 in the machine body width direction K1.

[0096] As shown in Figures 1, 19 and 22, the seedling supplying device 2 has a support 116 attached to the seedling tray 4 and a seedling supply tray 117 supported by the support 116. In the second embodiment, the seedling supply tray 117 is provided on the seedling tray 4 via the support 116.

[0097] As shown in Fig. 21, even in the second form, the mat seedlings 3 transported and supplied by the flying object 31 are placed on the seedling supply table 117. Also, in the second form, the seedling supply table 117 is supported by the support 116 so as to be movable in the aircraft width direction K1 in order to supply the mat seedlings 3 on the seedling supply table 117 to any one of the multiple seedling placement units 24. In other words, the seedling supply table 117 is movable in the aircraft width direction K1 in order to align the seedling supply table 117 with the seedling placement unit 24 to which the mat seedlings 3 should be supplied among the multiple seedling placement units 24.

[0098] In the second mode, the seedling supplying tray 117 reciprocates together with the seedling placing tray 4 in the machine width direction K1, and is also movable relative to the seedling placing tray 4 in the machine width direction K1.

[0099] In the second form, the seedling supply table 117 is configured to be freely movable in the body width direction K1 so as to supply mat seedlings 3 to the seedling mounting section 24, thereby making it possible to make the seedling supply table 117 smaller and reducing the overall weight of the seedling supply device 2.

[0100] As shown in Figures 23 and 24, the support 116 has a main frame 118 and an attachment frame 119. As shown in Figure 19, the main frame 118 is provided from one end (left end) to the other end (right end) of the seedling placing table 4, and the other end (right end) of the main frame 118 protrudes rightward from the right end of the seedling placing table 4. The right end of the main frame 118 protrudes rightward from the right end of the seedling placing table 4 in order to align a chute section 137, which will be described later, with the seedling placing section 24 at the right end.

[0101] 24, the main frame 118 has a pair of left and right side frame members 120 and a plurality of horizontal frame members 121 provided between the left and right side frame members 120. The main frame 118 has an outer shape formed into a rectangular shape that is long in the body width direction K1 in a plan view. The left and right side frame members 120 are arranged at intervals in the body width direction K1 and extend in the front-rear direction A3.

[0102] The horizontal frame member 121 extends in the width direction K1 of the aircraft body. The multiple horizontal frame members 121 include three horizontal frame members arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction A3. In detail, the multiple horizontal frame members 121 include a first horizontal frame member 121A that connects the front portions (front ends) of the left and right side frame members 120, a second horizontal frame member 121B that connects the middle portions of the left and right side frame members 120, and a third horizontal frame member 121C that connects the rear portions (rear ends) of the left and right side frame members 120. The second horizontal frame member 121B is disposed closer to the rear (closer to the third horizontal frame member 121C) than the center between the first horizontal frame member 121A and the third horizontal frame member 121C.

[0103] 23, the mounting frame 119 includes a first frame 122 and a pair of left and right second frames 123. The first frame 122 has a pair of left and right first members 124, a second member 125, a pair of left and right third members 126, and a fourth member 127.

[0104] Each first member 124 is configured by combining multiple frame members. The left first member 124 has its upper part attached to the lower part of the left side frame member 120. The right first member 124 has its upper part attached to the lower part of the right side frame member 120.

[0105] The second member 125 connects the lower ends of the left and right first members 124 together. A right portion of the second member 125 is connected to a right portion of the second horizontal frame member 121B via a connecting member 128. The left third member 126 protrudes rearward from the left end of the second member 125. The right third member 126 protrudes rearward from a position corresponding to the connecting member 128 on the right portion of the second member 125. The fourth member 127 connects the rear portions (rear ends) of the left and right third members 126 together.

[0106] The left second frame 123A has a first portion 123a and a second portion 123b. The first portion 123a is connected to the rear surface of the left part of the main frame 118 and protrudes rearward from the main frame 118. The second portion 123b extends in an inclined direction that transitions downward from the rear end of the first portion 123a toward the rear.

[0107] The right second frame 123B has a first portion 123c and a second portion 123e. The first portion 123c is connected to the rear surface of the right part of the main frame 118 and protrudes rearward from the main frame 118. The second portion 123e extends in an inclined direction that transitions downward from the rear end of the first portion 123c toward the rear.

[0108] As shown in Fig. 25, the fourth member 127 is fixed via bolts or the like to a fixing member 129 attached to the upper front part of the seedling carrying table 4. As shown in Fig. 26, the second portion 123b of the left second frame 123A is attached to the left end side of the seedling carrying table 4. As shown in Fig. 27, the second portion 123e of the right second frame 123B is attached to the left end side of the seedling carrying table 4. In this manner, the support body 116 is attached to the seedling carrying table 4.

[0109] As shown in Figures 28, 29, and 30, the seedling supply table 117 has a seedling supply table main body 130, a first rail member 131, a first slider 132, an adjustment body 133, a second rail member 134, a second slider 135, a sending body 136, and a chute section 137. As shown in Figure 20, the width W2 of the seedling supply table 117 (seedling supply table main body 130) in the body width direction K1 is larger than the width W4 of one seedling placement section 24 in the body width direction K1. This allows for positional deviation of the mat seedling 3 from the target placement position when the mat seedling 3 is dropped from the flying body 31 and placed on the seedling supply table 117. The seedling supply table 117 (seedling supply table main body 130) may be formed to a size that allows the flying body 31 to land on the seedling supply table 117. In addition, in the illustrated example, the width W2 of the seedling supplying tray 117 (seedling supplying tray main body 130) is greater than the width of three seedling placing portions 24, but is not limited to this.

[0110] As shown in Figures 28 and 30, the seedling supply table main body 130 has a bottom wall 130a whose plate surface faces in the vertical direction, left and right side walls 130b, 130c extending upward from the left and right ends of the bottom wall 130a, a front wall 130d extending upward from the front end of the bottom wall 130a, and a rear wall 130e extending upward from the rear end of the bottom wall 130a.

[0111] As shown in FIG. 31, the bottom wall 130a has an extension 130f at its left portion, which extends rearward from the rear end (rear wall 130e) of the bottom wall 130a. The rear portion of the left side wall 130b extends to the rear end of the extension 130f. The left and right side walls 130b and 130c are provided with handles 138 that an operator can hold. The front wall 130d is provided from the front end of the left side wall 130b to the front end of the right side wall 130c. The rear wall 130e extends from the rear end of the right side wall 130c to the middle of the bottom wall 130a in the machine body width direction K1 (leftward of the center of the bottom wall 130a in the machine body width direction K1). Therefore, a gap is provided between the left end of the rear wall 130e and the side wall 130b. In addition, the seedling supply table main body 130 is open to the rear between the left end of the rear wall 130e and the side wall 130b. And, the portion between the left end of the rear wall 130e of the seedling supply table main body 130 and the extension portion 130f is a sending portion 139 (see FIG. 31) that sends out the mat seedlings 3 on the seedling supply table 117 (seedling supply table main body 130) to the rear (seedling placement portion 24).

[0112] As shown in Figures 32, 33 and 34, a plurality of guide roller units 140 are provided on the underside of the seedling supply table body 130. The plurality of guide roller units 140 are provided in pairs at the front and rear of the underside of the bottom wall 130a of the seedling supply table body 130.

[0113] As shown in FIG. 32 and FIG. 33, each guide roller unit 140A on the front side has a bracket member 141A, an upper roller 142A, and a lower roller 143A. The bracket member 141A has an upper wall 141Aa fixed to the lower surface of the bottom wall 130a, a front wall 141Ab extending downward from the front end of the upper wall 141Aa, and a rear wall 141Ac extending downward from the rear end of the upper wall 141Aa. The rear wall 141Ac protrudes downward from the front wall 141Ab. The upper roller 142A is disposed between the front wall 141Ab and the upper part of the rear wall 141Ac, and is supported by the front wall 141Ab and the rear wall 141Ac so as to be rotatable around an axis extending in the front-rear direction A3. The upper roller 142A is disposed so as to roll on the upper surface of the first horizontal frame member 121A. The lower roller 143A is cantilevered on the lower part of the rear wall 141Ac so as to be rotatable about an axis extending in the front-rear direction A3. The lower roller 143A is disposed so as to roll on the lower surface of the first horizontal frame member 121A.

[0114] Each rear guide roller unit 140 has a bracket member 141B, an upper roller 142B, and a lower roller 143B. The bracket member 141B has an upper wall 141Ba fixed to the lower surface of the bottom wall 130a, a front wall 141Bb extending downward from the front end of the upper wall 141Ba, and a rear wall 141Bc extending downward from the rear end of the upper wall 141Ba. The front wall 141Bb protrudes downward from the rear wall 141Bc. The upper roller 142B is disposed between the front wall 141Bb and the upper part of the rear wall 141Bc, and is supported by the front wall 141Bb and the rear wall 141Bc so as to be rotatable around an axis extending in the front-rear direction A3. The upper roller 142B is disposed so as to roll on the upper surface of the third horizontal frame member 121C. The lower roller 143B is cantilevered on the lower part of the front wall 141Bb so as to be rotatable about an axis extending in the front-rear direction A3. The lower roller 143B is disposed so as to roll on the lower surface of the third horizontal frame member 121C.

[0115] The seedling supply table main body 130 (seedling supply table 117) is supported by the support body 116 via a plurality of guide roller units 140 so as to be freely movable in the machine width direction K1.

[0116] As shown in Fig. 31, the first rail member 131 is formed of a long member that is long in the machine body width direction K1, and is disposed behind the front wall 130d of the seedling supply table main body 130. The first rail member 131 is provided from the left part of the front wall 130d to the vicinity of the right end of the front wall 130d. The first rail member 131 is fixed to the front wall 130d via a bolt or the like.

[0117] As shown in Figures 28 and 29, the first slider 132 is supported by the first rail member 131 so as to be slidable in the machine body width direction K1 (the longitudinal direction of the first rail member 131). In detail, the first slider 132 is formed in a rectangular block shape, and has a groove portion 132a extending in the machine body width direction K1 at the front portion, as shown in Figure 30. The groove portion 132a is concave and open toward the front, and the first slider 132 is supported by the first rail member 131 so as to be slidable by the groove portion 132a being fitted into the first rail member 131 from the rear.

[0118] As shown in Figures 29 and 30, the adjustment body 133 is formed of a plate material. The adjustment body 133 is disposed above the bottom wall 130a of the seedling supply table main body 130 and behind the first slider 132 (see Figure 29). The adjustment body 133 has a vertical wall portion 133a, a front wall portion 133b, and a reinforcing wall 133c. The vertical wall portion 133a is a strip-shaped plate that is long in the front-rear direction A3 with the plate surface facing the machine width direction K1. The vertical wall portion 133a is provided from the first slider 132 to the vicinity of the rear wall 130e of the seedling supply table main body 130. The vertical wall portion 133a is a portion that pushes the mat seedlings 3 on the seedling supply table 117.

[0119] The front wall portion 133b extends rightward from the front end of the vertical wall portion 133a. The front wall portion 133b is placed on the rear surface of the first slider 132 and fixed to the first slider 132 by bolts or the like. Therefore, the adjustment body 133 is movable together with the first slider 132 in the machine body width direction K1. The reinforcing wall 133c is disposed to the right of the vertical wall portion 133a and behind the front wall portion 133b. The reinforcing wall is fixed to the vertical midway portion of the vertical wall portion 133a and the front wall portion 133b. A handle 144 that an operator can hold is provided at the front of the adjustment body 133.

[0120] As shown in Fig. 31, the second rail member 134 is formed of a long member that is long in the front-rear direction A3, and is disposed on the left part of the bottom wall 130a of the seedling supply table main body 130. The second rail member 134 is provided between the left end of the first rail member 131 and the left side wall 130b of the seedling supply table main body 130 to the extension part 130f. The second rail member 134 is fixed to the bottom wall 130a via a bolt or the like.

[0121] As shown in Fig. 28, the second slider 135 is supported by the second rail member 134 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction A3 (the longitudinal direction of the second rail member 134). In particular, the second slider 135 is formed in a rectangular block shape, and has a groove 135a extending in the front-rear direction A3 at its lower part, as shown in Fig. 30. The groove 135a is concave and open downward, and the second slider 135 is supported by the second rail member 134 so as to be slidable by the groove 135a being fitted into the second rail member 134 from above.

[0122] As shown in Figures 28 and 29, the sending body 136 is formed of a plate material. The sending body 136 is disposed on the left side of the seedling supply table main body 130. The sending body 136 is attached to the second slider 135 and moves together with the second slider 135 in the front-rear direction A3.

[0123] 28 and 29 show the state where the sending body 136 is positioned at the front end of its moving range. As shown in FIG. 28 and FIG. 29, the sending body 136 has a first member 145, a second member 146, and a third member 147. The first member 145 has an upper wall 145a and a vertical wall 145b. The upper wall 145a is located above the first rail member 131. The vertical wall 145b extends downward from the rear end of the upper wall 145a and is located in front of the first rail member 131. The vertical wall 145b is a portion that pushes the mat seedlings 3 on the seedling supply table 117. The upper wall 145a is provided with a handle 148 that is held by the operator.

[0124] The second member 146 has an upper wall 146a and a vertical wall 146b. The upper wall 146a is disposed above the second rail member 134 and the second slider 135. The front part of the upper wall 146a is fixed to the second slider 135 via a bolt or the like. This allows the sending body 136 to move freely in the front-rear direction A3 together with the second slider 135. The vertical wall 146b extends downward from the right end of the upper wall 146a and extends forward from the left end of the vertical wall 145b of the first member 145. The third member 147 is disposed to the left of the first member 145 and in front of the second member 146, and is connected to the first member 145 and the second member 146.

[0125] In the seedling supply table 117 of the second form, the position of the mat seedling 3 on the seedling supply table 117 (seedling supply table main body 130) can be adjusted in the machine width direction K1 by the adjustment body 133. In detail, when the mat seedling 3 is placed on the seedling supply table 117, the adjustment body 133 is positioned at a standby position at the right end side of its moving range. Then, by moving the adjustment body 133 from the standby position in the machine width direction K1 (leftward), the position can be adjusted to the sending-out position X1 (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 28) where the mat seedling 3 is sent out from the seedling supply table 117. In other words, by moving the adjustment body 133 leftward, the position can be adjusted to the sending-out position X1 where the mat seedling 3 is sent out with respect to the seedling placement section 24 to which the mat seedling 3 should be supplied.

[0126] The sending-out position X1 is a position where the mat seedling 3 abuts against the vertical wall 146b of the second member 146 of the sending-out body 136. Then, by moving the sending-out body 136 backward while the mat seedling 3 is located at this sending-out position X1, the mat seedling 3 whose position has been adjusted (the mat seedling 3 at the sending-out position X1) can be sent to the seedling placement section 24.

[0127] In addition, the seedling supply table 117 can hold multiple mat seedlings 3 (in this embodiment, two mat seedlings 3) in the body width direction K1 between the vertical wall portion 133a of the adjustment body 133 and the vertical wall 146b of the second member 146 of the sending body 136.

[0128] 31 and 32, the chute section 137 is a section that guides the mat seedlings 3 pushed out by the sending body 136 to the seedling loading section 24. The width W3 of the chute section 137 in the machine body width direction K1 is a width that corresponds to one seedling loading section 24. In other words, the width W3 of the chute section 137 in the machine body width direction K1 is a width that allows the mat seedlings 3 pushed out by the sending body 136 to pass through.

[0129] However, this is not limited thereto, and the width W3 of the chute section 137 may be formed to a width corresponding to two seedling placement sections 24. As described above, the planting mechanism 22 is a set of two rows of seedlings, and the degree of wear of the mat seedlings 3 (the degree of wear of the mat seedlings 3) is the same for the two rows of seedlings in the set. By forming the width W3 of the chute section 137 to a width corresponding to two seedling placement sections 24, the mat seedlings 3 can be simultaneously supplied to the seedling placement sections 24 adjacent in the machine width direction K1, which correspond to the two rows of seedlings in the set. In this case, the width W2 in the machine width direction K1 of the seedling supply table 117 (seedling supply table main body 130) is formed to be two or more times the width W4 in the machine width direction K1 of the seedling placement section 24.

[0130] The chute section 137 has a bottom wall 137a and a pair of left and right guide walls 137b, 137c. The bottom wall 137a forms a guide surface 137d that guides the mat seedlings 3 pushed out by the send-out body 136 to the seedling placement section 24.

[0131] As shown in Fig. 32, the bottom wall 137a of the chute section 137 has a fixing portion 137a1 and a guide portion 137a2. The fixing portion 137a1 is overlapped and fixed to the lower surface of the rear part of the bottom wall 137a of the seedling supply table main body 130. As shown in Fig. 31, the fixing portion 137a1 protrudes rearward from the left and right guide walls 137b and 137c.

[0132] As shown in FIG. 32, the upper portion of the guide portion 137a2 is curved and inclined downward as it moves rearward from the fixed portion 137a1, and the lower portion of the guide portion 137a2 is linearly inclined and downward as it moves rearward from the lower end of the upper portion of the guide portion 137a2.

[0133] The left and right guide walls 137b, 137c are formed along the shape of the upper surface of the guide portion 137a2. The left guide wall 137b is fixed on the left end of the bottom wall 137a, and the right guide wall 137c is fixed on the right end of the bottom wall 137a. The upper part of the left guide wall 137b is located on the left side of the vertical wall 146b of the second member 146 of the sending body 136 so that the sending body 136 can move in the front-rear direction A3. The upper part of the right guide wall 137c is connected to the left end of the rear wall 130e of the seedling supply table main body 130.

[0134] 28, the upper portion of the right guide wall 137c is formed in an inclined shape that slopes rightward as it approaches the front in a plan view, so that the opening (entrance) of the chute section 137 is wide.

[0135] In the seedling supply device 2 of the second embodiment, when it is detected that the remaining amount of mat seedlings 3 on the seedling placement section 24 falls below a predetermined amount, the mat seedlings 3 are transported by the flying object 31, and the mat seedlings 3 are placed on the seedling supply table 117 (seedling supply table main body 130) via the flying object 31. As described above, the adjustment body 133 is positioned at the right end of its movement range. Also, the sending body 136 is positioned at the front end of its movement range.

[0136] When the mat seedlings 3 are placed on the seedling supply table main body 130, the adjustment body 133 moves the mat seedlings 3 to the sending-out position X1, and moves the seedling supply table 117 to the seedling placement section 24 to which the mat seedlings 3 should be supplied. When the seedling supply table 117 is moved to the seedling placement section 24 to which the mat seedlings 3 need to be supplied (replenished), the seedling supply table 117 is moved to a position where the chute section 137 corresponds to the seedling placement section 24. Either the operation of moving the mat seedlings 3 to the sending-out position X1 or the operation of moving the seedling supply table 117 to the seedling placement section 24 to which the mat seedlings 3 should be supplied may be performed first. In addition, when the operation of moving the mat seedlings 3 to the sending-out position X1 and the operation of moving the seedling supply table 117 to the seedling placement section 24 to which the mat seedlings 3 need to be replenished are performed by an actuator as described later, these operations can be performed simultaneously.

[0137] After the seedling supply table 117 is moved to the seedling placement section 24 where the mat seedlings 3 need to be replenished, the mat seedlings 3 are pushed out from the seedling supply table 117 by a sending body 136 and supplied to the seedling placement section 24 through a chute section 137.

[0138] In the second embodiment, the seedling supply device 2 has one seedling supply table 117, but a plurality of seedling supply tables 117 (for example, two) may be provided. In other words, it is sufficient that at least one seedling supply table 117 is provided. Also, in the second embodiment, the sending body 136 may be formed by a belt conveyor.

[0139] In the second embodiment, the movement of the seedling supply table 117 in the width direction K1 of the machine body, the movement of the adjustment body 133 in the width direction K1 of the machine body, and the movement of the sending body 136 in the front-rear direction A3 are performed manually, but this is not limited to this. The movement of the seedling supply table 117 in the width direction K1 of the machine body, the movement of the adjustment body 133 in the width direction K1 of the machine body, and the movement of the sending body 136 in the front-rear direction A3 may be configured to be performed by an actuator.

[0140] 35 to 37 show an example in which the seedling supply table 117, the adjustment body 133, and the sending body 136 can be moved by an actuator 149. Note that Figs. 35 to 37 show only one example, and the present invention is not limited to the structures shown in Figs. 35 to 37.

[0141] Fig. 35 shows a transfer device 150A that allows the seedling supply table 117 to be moved by an actuator 149. The transfer device 150A has a motor 149A that can rotate forward and backward as the actuator 149, a screw shaft 151A, and a nut body 152A. The motor 149A is fixedly attached to the support 116, and the screw shaft 151A has an axis extending in the machine body width direction K1 and is driven to rotate around the axis by the power of the motor 149A. The nut body 152A is attached to the seedling supply table 117 and is screwed onto the screw shaft 151A.

[0142] In this transfer device 150A, the motor 149A is rotated forward and backward to rotate the screw shaft 151A about its axis, so that the nut body 152A moves in the machine body width direction K1. As the nut body 152A moves in the machine body width direction K1, the seedling supply table 117 moves in the machine body width direction K1 together with the nut body 152A.

[0143] Figure 36 shows a transfer device 150B that allows the adjustment body 133 to be moved by an actuator 149. The transfer device 150B has a motor 149B that can rotate forward and backward as the actuator 149, a screw shaft 151B, and a nut body 152B. The motor 149B is fixedly attached to the seedling supply table main body 130, and the screw shaft 151B has an axis extending in the machine body width direction K1 and is driven to rotate around the axis by the power of the motor 149B. The nut body 152B is attached to the first slider 132 and is screwed onto the screw shaft 151B.

[0144] In this transfer device 150B, the motor 149B is rotated forward and backward to rotate the screw shaft 151B about its axis, thereby moving the nut body 152B in the machine body width direction K1. As the nut body 152B moves in the machine body width direction K1, the first slider 132 moves in the machine body width direction K1 together with the nut body 152B. As a result, the adjustment body 133 moves in the machine body width direction K1.

[0145] FIG. 37 shows a transfer device 150C that allows the movement of the sending body 136 to be performed by an actuator 149. The transfer device 150C has a motor 149C that can be rotated forward and backward as the actuator 149, a screw shaft 151C, and a nut body 152C. The motor 149C is fixedly attached to the seedling supply table main body 130, and the screw shaft 151C has an axis extending in the front-rear direction A3 and is driven to rotate around the axis by the power of the motor 149C. The nut body 152C is attached to the sending body 136 and is screwed into the screw shaft 151C. In this transfer device 150C, the nut body 152C moves in the front-rear direction A3 by rotating the motor 149C forward and backward to rotate the screw shaft 151C around the axis. As the nut body 152C moves in the front-rear direction A3, the sending body 136 moves in the front-rear direction A3 together with the nut body 152C.

[0146] In the above-mentioned transfer device 150A, transfer device 150B, and transfer device 150C, the screw shafts 151A, 151B, and 151C and the nut bodies 152A, 152B, and 152C may constitute a ball screw.

[0147] By using an actuator 149 to move the seedling supply table 117, the adjustment body 133, and the sending body 136, the movement of the mat seedlings 3 can be automatically performed from the time the mat seedlings 3 are supplied to the seedling supply table 117 by the flying body 31 until the mat seedlings 3 are supplied to the seedling loading section 24.

[0148] Each of the above-mentioned transfer devices may be an electrically driven transfer device in which an actuator (electric actuator) is electrically controlled by a control device, or a hydraulically driven transfer device in which a hydraulic valve is controlled by a control device to hydraulically control an actuator (hydraulic actuator).In addition, each of the transfer devices may be a pneumatically driven transfer device in which a pneumatic actuator is controlled as the actuator.

[0149] The seedling supplying device 2 of the second embodiment may further include a detection unit 160 that detects whether the shoot unit 137 is aligned with the seedling placing unit 24 to which the mat seedlings 3 should be supplied. The detection unit 160 may be attached to the shoot unit 137, for example, as shown in Fig. 20. Also, a detected unit 161 detected by the detection unit 160 may be provided on each of the seedling placing units 24.

[0150] As a result, when the seedling supply table 117 is moved relative to the seedling loading table 4 in the width direction K1 of the machine and the seedling supply table 117 is moved to the seedling loading section 24 to which it has been detected that the mat seedling 3 should be supplied, the detection section 160 detects the detectable section 161 provided on the seedling loading section 24 to which the mat seedling 3 should be supplied, thereby reliably aligning the chute section 137 with the seedling loading section 24 to which the mat seedling 3 should be supplied.

[0151] The method of detecting whether the chute section 137 is aligned with the seedling placing section 24 to which the mat seedlings 3 should be supplied is not limited to the above example. For example, the detection section may be configured to be composed of a camera (imaging device), and to detect whether the chute section 137 is aligned with the seedling placing section 24 to which the mat seedlings 3 should be supplied based on image data of the chute section 137, the seedling placing section 24, the mat seedlings 3, etc. captured by the camera.

[0152] FIG. 38 shows a modified example of the seedling supplying device 2 in the second embodiment.

[0153] In this modified example, a plurality of chute sections 153 that guide the mat seedlings 3 sent out from the seedling supply table 117 to the seedling placing sections 24 are provided corresponding to the plurality of seedling placing sections 24. More specifically, one chute section 153 is provided corresponding to one seedling placing section 24. The plurality of chute sections 153 are also provided integrally with the seedling placing table 4. Each chute section 153 is provided with a feed device 154 consisting of a belt conveyor. Each chute section 153 may be formed separately from the seedling placing table 4 and fixedly attached to the seedling placing table 4 via a bracket or the like.

[0154] The seedling supplying tray 117 is supported by a support 155 attached to the seedling placing tray 4 so as to be movable in the width direction K1 of the machine body. In detail, the support 155 has a frame member 157 attached to the seedling placing tray 4 and a pair of front and rear rail members 156, and the seedling supplying tray 117 is supported by the front and rear rail members 156 so as to be movable in the width direction K1 of the machine body. The frame members 157 are attached to the left and right of the seedling placing tray 4. The front and rear rail members 156 are provided across the left and right frame members 157.

[0155] Even in this modified example, the seedling supply table 117 has an adjustment body 158 that adjusts the position of the mat seedling 3 by moving in the machine body width direction K1, and a sending body 159 that sends out the mat seedling 3 whose position has been adjusted to the seedling loading section 24.

[0156] As described above, the number of seedling supply tables 92, 117 in this embodiment may be one or more. In other words, it is sufficient that at least one seedling supply table 92, 117 is provided.

[0157] The agricultural material supplying device (seedling supplying device 2) in the agricultural machine (rice transplanter 1) of this embodiment is an agricultural material supplying device (seedling supplying device 2) in the agricultural machine (rice transplanter 1) equipped with a working section (seedling planting device 18) to which agricultural materials (mat seedlings 3) are supplied and which has a plurality of material supplying sections (seedling placing sections 24) arranged in a line in the machine width direction K1 of the agricultural machine (rice transplanter 1), and the agricultural materials (mat seedlings 3) transported and supplied by the flying object 31 are placed on the placed agricultural materials (mat seedlings 3). The machine comprises at least one material supply table (seedling supply table 117) that sends agricultural materials (mat seedlings 3) to a working section (seedling planting device 18), and a support 116 that is attached to the working section (seedling planting device 18).The material supply table (seedling supply table 117) is supported on the support 116 so as to be freely movable in the body width direction K1 so as to align the material supply table (seedling supply table 117) with the material supply section (seedling loading section 24) that should supply the agricultural materials (mat seedlings 3) among the multiple material supply sections (seedling loading sections 24).

[0158] According to this configuration, the overall weight of the agricultural material supplying device (seedling supplying device 2) can be reduced.

[0159] The material supply table (seedling supply table 117) has an adjustment body 133 that adjusts the position of the agricultural material (mat seedling 3) on the material supply table (seedling supply table 117) in the machine width direction K1, and has an adjustment body 133 that adjusts the position of the agricultural material (mat seedling 3) to a position from which it is sent out relative to the material supply section (seedling loading section 24) to which the agricultural material (mat seedling 3) should be supplied, and a sending body 136 that sends out the agricultural material (mat seedling 3) whose position has been adjusted to the material supply section (seedling loading section 24).

[0160] According to this configuration, the agricultural materials (mat seedlings 3) can be smoothly sent out from the material supply table (seedling supply table 117).

[0161] The material supply table (seedling supply table 117) has a chute section 137 that guides the agricultural material (mat seedlings 3) sent out from the material supply table (seedling supply table 117) to the material supply section (seedling placement section 24).

[0162] According to this configuration, the agricultural materials (mat seedlings 3) sent out from the material supply table (seedling supply table 117) can be smoothly sent to the material supply section (seedling placement section 24).

[0163] The width W2 of the material supply table (seedling supply table 117) in the machine body width direction K1 is larger than the width W4 of one material supply section (seedling loading section 24) in the machine body width direction K1, and the width W3 of the chute section 137 in the machine body width direction K1 is a width corresponding to one or two material supply sections (seedling loading sections 24). According to this configuration, when the agricultural material (mat seedlings 3) is dropped from the flying object 31 and placed on the material supply table (seedling supply table 117), positional deviation of the agricultural material (mat seedlings 3) from the target placement position can be tolerated.

[0164] The agricultural material supplying device (seedling supplying device 2) in the agricultural machine (rice transplanter 1) is equipped with a detection unit 160 that detects whether the shoot section 137 is aligned with the material supplying section (seedling placing section 24) to which the agricultural material (mat seedlings 3) should be supplied.

[0165] According to this configuration, the shoot section 137 can be aligned with the material supply section (seedling placement section 24) to which the agricultural material (mat seedlings 3) should be supplied.

[0166] The agricultural material supplying device (seedling supplying device 2) in the agricultural machine (rice transplanter 1) is a chute section 153 that guides the agricultural material (mat seedlings 3) sent out from the material supply table to the material supply section (seedling loading section 24), and is equipped with a plurality of chute sections 153 provided corresponding to the multiple material supply sections (seedling loading sections 24), and the plurality of chute sections 153 are provided in the working section (seedling planting device 18).

[0167] This configuration also enables the agricultural materials (mat seedlings 3) sent out from the material supply table (seedling supply table 117) to be smoothly sent to the material supply section (seedling placement section 24).

[0168] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the embodiment disclosed herein should be considered as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive.

[0169] For example, the agricultural material supplying device that supplies agricultural materials to the working section of the agricultural machine of the above-mentioned embodiment can be adopted in other agricultural machines (vegetable transplanters, fertilizer applicators, seed sowers, pesticide applicators, sprayers, etc.).

[0170] When this embodiment is applied to a fertilizer applicator, fertilizer, which is an agricultural material, is loaded onto the aircraft 31, and the fertilizer is supplied to a material supply table 92 via the aircraft 31. The supplied fertilizer is then supplied to the fertilizer applicator, which is the working part of the fertilizer applicator, by the material supply table 92.

[0171] In addition, in the case of a vegetable transplanter, seedling trays (agricultural materials) on which seedlings are grown are supplied to a material supply table 92 by the flying object 31, and the seedling trays are supplied to a seedling planting device (working section) of the vegetable transplanter by the material supply table 92.

[0172] In the case of a seeder, the device is configured so that seeds (agricultural materials) are supplied to a material supply table 92 by the flying object 31, and the seeds are supplied to a sowing device (working section) of the seeder by the material supply table 92.

[0173] In the case of a pesticide applicator, the pesticide (agricultural material) is supplied to the material supply table 92 by the flying object 31, and the pesticide is supplied to a pesticide applicator (working section) of the pesticide applicator by the material supply table 92.

[0174] In the case of a spreader, the material to be spread (fertilizer, pesticide, etc.) is supplied to the material supply table 92 by the flying object 31, and the material is supplied to the spreading device (working section) of the spreader by the material supply table 92.

[0175] It should be noted that other agricultural machines to which this embodiment can be applied are not limited to the above-mentioned agricultural machines. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, rather than the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0176] 1. Agricultural machinery (rice transplanter) 2. Agricultural material supply device (seedling supply device) 3. Agricultural materials (mat seedlings) 18 Working section (seedling planting device) 24 Material supply section (seedling loading section) 31 Flying Objects 116 Support 117 Material supply stand (seedling supply stand) 133 Adjustment body 136 Sending Body 137 Shooting Club 153 Shooting Club 160 Detection unit K1 Machine width direction W2 Width W3 width W4 Width

Claims

1. An agricultural material supplying device for an agricultural machine having a working section to which agricultural materials are supplied and having a plurality of material supplying sections arranged in a width direction of the machine body of the agricultural machine, at least one material supply table on which the agricultural materials to be transported and supplied by the aircraft are placed and which delivers the placed agricultural materials to the working section; A support attached to the working unit; Equipped with An agricultural material supplying device in an agricultural machinery, wherein the material supplying table is supported on the support body so as to be freely movable in the width direction of the machine body so as to align the material supplying table with the material supplying unit to which the agricultural material should be supplied, among the plurality of material supplying units.

2. The material supply table includes: An adjustment body that adjusts the position of the agricultural material on the material supply table in the machine width direction, the adjustment body adjusting the position of the agricultural material to a position for sending out the agricultural material with respect to the material supply unit to which the agricultural material should be supplied; 2. The agricultural material supplying device for an agricultural machine according to claim 1, further comprising a sending body for sending out the agricultural material after the position adjustment to the material supply section.

3. 3. An agricultural material supplying device for an agricultural machine according to claim 1, wherein the material supply table has a chute section for guiding the agricultural material sent out from the material supply table to the material supply section.

4. The width of the material supply table in the machine body width direction is larger than the width of one of the material supply units in the machine body width direction, 4. The agricultural material supplying device for an agricultural machine according to claim 3, wherein a width of the chute section in the width direction of the machine body corresponds to a width of one or two of the material supplying sections.

5. 4. The agricultural material supplying device for an agricultural machine according to claim 3, further comprising a detection section for detecting whether or not the chute section is aligned with the material supplying section to which the agricultural material is to be supplied.

6. a chute section for guiding the agricultural materials sent out from the material supply table to the material supply section, the chute section being provided corresponding to the plurality of material supply sections; 3. The agricultural material supplying device for an agricultural machine according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of chute sections are provided in the working section.

Images