Rice transplanter

Abstract

To provide a rice transplanter which can mitigate restriction in traveling speed and improve work efficiency by achieving the desired planting work while suppressing an abnormal vibration of a planting mechanism.SOLUTION: A rice transplanter 1 includes: a machine body 2; a planting mechanism 32 for planting seedlings by rotation; an engine 11 transmitting motive force toward the planting mechanism 32; and a transmission mechanism 20 which converts the motive force from the engine 11 into irregular speed force and transmits the force into the planting mechanism 32 in cooperation with the traveling speed of the machine body 2. The transmission mechanism 20 includes: a first bevel gear 39 and a second bevel gear 40 as an irregular speed member for converting the motive force from the engine 11 into the irregular force; and a clutch 50 which blocks and connects the transmission of the motive force by the transmission mechanism 20. The clutch 50 is provided on an upstream side of the irregular speed member in a motive force transmission direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a rice transplanter equipped with a planting mechanism that plants seedlings by rotating. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a rice transplanter includes a planting mechanism that plants seedlings, a drive source that transmits power to the planting mechanism, and a transmission mechanism that converts the power from the drive source into non-uniform power and transmits it to the planting mechanism. The transmission mechanism includes a non-uniform speed member such as a non-uniform speed bevel gear that converts the power from the drive source into non-uniform speed power, and the non-uniform speed power accelerates and decelerates the rotation of the planting mechanism. The transmission mechanism also includes a clutch that connects and disconnects the transmission of power to the planting mechanism.

[0003] For example, the rice transplanter disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a transmission case that changes the speed of the power from the engine mounted on the traveling body, a seedling planting device having a transplanting mechanism with planting claws that draws a non-circular movement trajectory, and a space-spacing speed change device that changes the movement speed of the transplanting mechanism relative to the traveling speed of the traveling body to change the space between the plants. In this rice transplanter, a variable speed member that transmits variable speed rotational power to the transplanting mechanism is provided separately as an upstream variable speed member on the space-spacing speed change device side and a downstream variable speed member on the seedling planting device side. The downstream variable speed member, a downstream variable speed driven bevel gear, is fitted to the planting central shaft so as to be relatively rotatable and has a row stop clutch. The row stop clutch is usually pressed to a state in which it meshes with the downstream variable speed driven bevel gear, and when it is operated, it moves away from the downstream variable speed driven bevel gear, cutting off the power to the planting central shaft. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-192458 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In a rice transplanter, the transmission structure that transmits power to the planting mechanism is composed of each part connected together, and when the transmission structure is assembled, there is a backlash between the parts, which may cause vibration when the planting mechanism is operated at a predetermined speed or higher. In particular, in a rice transplanter, the power from the drive source rotates the planting mechanism at a non-uniform speed, so if the clutch backlash in the planting mechanism is provided downstream of the non-uniform speed member in the power transmission direction, the non-uniform speed phase cannot be accurately transmitted to the planting mechanism due to the backlash. In addition, when the planting rotation speed becomes high, the backlash causes abnormal vibration of the planting mechanism, and the desired planting trajectory cannot be obtained, making it impossible to perform the desired planting work. Therefore, in the work setting of the non-uniform rotation of the planting mechanism, it is necessary to limit the non-uniform rotation speed and the running speed to a level that does not cause abnormal vibration of the planting mechanism.

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a rice transplanter that can suppress the occurrence of abnormal vibrations in the planting mechanism and relax restrictions on traveling speed, thereby achieving desired planting work and improving work efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the rice transplanter of the present invention comprises a running part, a planting mechanism that plants seedlings by rotating, a drive source that transmits power to the planting mechanism, and a transmission mechanism that converts the power from the drive source into non-uniform speed power and transmits it to the planting mechanism in conjunction with the running speed of the running part, the transmission mechanism having a non-uniform speed member that converts the power from the drive source into non-uniform speed power, and a clutch that connects and disconnects the transmission of power by the transmission mechanism, and the clutch is positioned upstream of the non-uniform speed member in the power transmission direction. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, a rice transplanter is provided that can suppress the occurrence of abnormal vibrations in the planting mechanism and relax restrictions on the traveling speed, thereby achieving desired planting work and improving work efficiency. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a left side view showing a rice transplanter according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a top view showing a part of a planting implement in the rice transplanter according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a planting unit in the rice transplanter according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a vertical case in a rice transplanter according to an embodiment of the present invention from above. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a vertical case in a rice transplanter according to an embodiment of the present invention from the side. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lid of the vertical case in the rice transplanter according to the embodiment of the present invention is open. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a clutch operating mechanism in the rice transplanter according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] A rice transplanter 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Fig. 1, the rice transplanter 1 includes a traveling body 2 (traveling section) and a planting machine 3 attached to the rear of the traveling body 2, and is configured to perform planting work of seedlings using the planting machine 3 while traveling using the traveling body 2.

[0011] The running body 2 comprises a body frame 10, an engine 11 and a transmission 12 which are power sources attached to the front of the body frame 10 near the center in the left-right direction, a pair of front wheels 13 which are rotatably attached to the front of the body frame 10 at both left-right ends, and a pair of rear wheels 14 which are rotatably attached to the rear of the body frame 10 at both left-right ends.

[0012] The traveling machine body 2 is provided with a driver's seat 15 near the center on the machine frame 10, and driving operation tools such as a steering handle 16 and a main shift lever are provided around the driver's seat 15. The traveling machine body 2 is provided with a step 17 and a spare seedling tray 18 on the machine frame 10.

[0013] The engine 11 is a drive source that generates rotational power to drive each part, and is covered from above by a bonnet 21 that is attached to the upper part of the vehicle frame 10 while covering the engine 11.

[0014] The transmission 12 is connected to the engine 11, and transmits the power of the engine 11 at a variable speed to a pair of front wheels 13 and a pair of rear wheels 14. The pair of front wheels 13 and the pair of rear wheels 14 are driven to rotate in response to the power transmitted from the engine 11 and the transmission 12, causing the traveling machine body 2 to travel forward or backward. In addition, the pair of front wheels 13 are steered in response to the operation of a steering handle 16 to steer the traveling machine body 2.

[0015] The steering handle 16 is disposed behind the bonnet 21 in front of the driver's seat 15, and configured to transmit the rotation of the steering handle 16 by the operator to the pair of front wheels 13. The main speed change lever is disposed to the left of the steering handle 16, and transmits the speed change operation by the operator to the transmission 12 to change the set travel speed of the rice transplanter 1.

[0016] A link device 22 is rotatably attached to the rear of the traveling body 2, and the planting work machine 3 is attached to the rear end of the link device 22. The planting work machine 3 can be raised and lowered by rotating the link device 22 with a hydraulic cylinder.

[0017] The steps 17 are formed in a flat shape to serve as footholds for an operator, and are provided on the machine frame 10 from between the bonnet 21 and the driver's seat 15 to both the left and right sides of the bonnet 21 and the driver's seat 15. That is, the left step 17 and the right step 17 are provided integrally.

[0018] The spare seedling trays 18 are provided adjacent to the step 17, and a plurality of spare seedling trays 18 are attached at intervals in the vertical direction to spare seedling tray frames 19 erected on the machine frame 10 or the step 17 on both the left and right sides of the bonnet 21. Seedling mats to be replenished to the seedling carrier 30 of the planting machine 3 are placed on the spare seedling trays 18.

[0019] The planting work machine 3 includes a seedling carrier 30 for placing a seedling mat thereon, and a main frame 31 for mounting a plurality of (e.g., eight) planting mechanisms 32 at intervals in the left-right direction, which rotate to pick up and plant seedlings. As shown in Fig. 2, the main frame 31 has a shape that is long in the left-right direction, and a center case 33 is attached to the left-right center of the main frame 31.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, the planting work machine 3 includes a plurality of planting units 34 (half of the planting mechanisms 32), and the plurality of planting units 34 are attached to the main frame 31, with two planting mechanisms 32 provided for each planting unit 34. Each planting unit 34 has a vertical case 35, and the plurality of vertical cases 35 (half of the planting mechanisms 32) are attached to the rear of the main frame 31 at intervals in the left-right direction. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, each vertical case 35 has an elongated shape extending in a predetermined extension direction, for example, in the front-rear direction, and extends rearward from the main frame 31. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the planting mechanisms 32 are rotatably attached to the left and right sides of the rear of each vertical case 35.

[0021] Power generated by the engine 11 is transmitted to the center case 33 via the transmission 12. A planting drive shaft 36 for transmitting the transmitted power to each vertical case 35 is rotatably supported by the center case 33. The planting drive shaft 36 has a shape that is long in the left-right direction across the mounting width of each vertical case 35, and is disposed rotatably around a rotation axis that is long in the left-right direction. The center case 33 is configured to rotate the planting drive shaft 36 in response to the power transmitted from the engine 11.

[0022] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, a planting transmission shaft 37 and a planting central shaft 38 for transmitting rotational power from the planting drive shaft 36 to the planting mechanism 32 are rotatably supported in each vertical case 35. The planting transmission shaft 37 has a long shape extending in the front-to-rear direction of each vertical case 35, and is arranged rotatably around a rotation axis that is long in the front-to-rear direction. The planting central shaft 38 has a long shape that protrudes on both the left and right sides of the rear of each vertical case 35, and is arranged rotatably around a rotation axis that is long in the left-to-right direction.

[0023] The planting drive shaft 36 is connected to the planting transmission shaft 37 via gears or the like provided in each vertical case 35, and each vertical case 35 is configured to rotate the planting transmission shaft 37, which has a different rotation direction, according to the rotational power transmitted from the planting drive shaft 36. The planting transmission shaft 37 is connected to the planting central shaft 38 via gears or the like provided in each vertical case 35, and each vertical case 35 is configured to rotate the planting central shaft 38, which has a different rotation direction, according to the rotational power transmitted from the planting transmission shaft 37.

[0024] Each planting unit 34 is equipped with a variable speed member for converting the power from the engine 11 into a variable speed power and transmitting it to the planting mechanism 32. For example, a first bevel gear 39, which is a first variable speed member, is attached to the rear end of the planting transmission shaft 37, and a second bevel gear 40, which is a second variable speed member meshing with the first bevel gear 39, is attached near the center of the planting central shaft 38, as a variable speed member, in the vertical case 35 of each planting unit 34. As a result, the planting central shaft 38 rotates via the variable speed member consisting of the first bevel gear 39 and the second bevel gear 40 according to the rotational power of the planting transmission shaft 37.

[0025] A planting mechanism 32 is attached to both the left and right ends of the planting central shaft 38 protruding from both the left and right sides of each vertical case 35, and the planting mechanism 32 rotates integrally with the planting central shaft 38 in response to the rotational power that rotates the planting central shaft 38.

[0026] As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the planting mechanism 32 includes a hollow rotor case 42 and two planting claws 43. The rotor case 42 is attached to the planting central shaft 38 of the vertical case 35 at approximately its center, and rotates together with the planting central shaft 38. For example, the planting central shaft 38 penetrates the side surface (inner side surface) of the rotor case 42 on the vertical case 35 side and is connected to the rotor case 42. The two planting claws 43 are rotatably attached to both ends of the rotor case 42 spaced apart from the planting central shaft 38 on the side surface (outer side surface) of the rotor case 42 opposite the vertical case 35.

[0027] When the planting central shaft 38 rotates, the rotor case 42 rotates integrally with the planting central shaft 38, i.e., the planting mechanism 32 rotates. As the planting mechanism 32 rotates, the two planting claws 43 rotate around the planting central shaft 38 while alternately passing between a scraping position where the seedlings are scraped off the seedling mat of the seedling carrier 30 and a planting position where the seedlings are planted in the field.

[0028] Incidentally, the above-mentioned transmission 12, center case 33, planting drive shaft 36, planting unit 34, planting transmission shaft 37 and planting central shaft 38 constitute the transmission mechanism 20 that transmits rotational power to the planting mechanism 32. When the transmission 12 increases the running speed of the traveling body 2, the rotational speed of the rotational power transmitted by the transmission mechanism 20 to the planting mechanism 32 also increases.

[0029] According to the transmission mechanism 20, the planting mechanism 32 rotates around the planting central shaft 38 in response to the rotational power of the planting central shaft 38, causing the planting claws 43 of the planting mechanism 32 to rotate around the planting central shaft 38. At this time, in response to the rotation of the planting mechanism 32, the planting claws 43 rotate while passing through a scraping position where the seedlings are scraped off the seedling mat of the seedling carrier 30 and a planting position where the seedlings are planted in the field.

[0030] In addition, according to the transmission mechanism 20, the variable speed member consisting of the first bevel gear 39 and the second bevel gear 40 provided in the planting unit 34 functions as an acceleration / deceleration device that accelerates and decelerates the rotation speed of the planting mechanism 32. For example, in the rotation trajectory of the planting claw 43 caused by the rotation of the planting mechanism 32, the planting mechanism 32 is accelerated in the acceleration section that spans the section before and after the planting claw 43 passes through the scraping position and the section immediately before it reaches the planting position, and the planting mechanism 32 is decelerated in the other sections that are deceleration sections. In the acceleration section, the planting mechanism 32 is accelerated especially before the planting position (bottom dead center). When one planting claw 43 in one rotor case 42 reaches the bottom dead point, the other planting claw 43 reaches the scraping position, which is an acceleration section; however, by accelerating before the planting position, the rotation trajectory is set so that the planted seedlings are not caught by the planting claw 43.

[0031] 4 and 5, the vertical case 35 is provided with a clutch 50 that disconnects the transmission of power to the planting mechanism 32. The clutch 50 is disposed upstream of the non-uniform speed members (the first bevel gear 39 and the second bevel gear 40) in the direction of power transmission from the engine 11 to the planting mechanism 32 (power transmission direction). The clutch 50 is configured to be displaced to either a clutch-off state or a clutch-on state, and in the clutch-off state, it disconnects the transmission of power to the planting mechanism 32, and in the clutch-on state, it transmits power to the planting mechanism 32.

[0032] In order to provide the clutch 50, the planting transmission shaft 37 is composed of a cylindrical portion 37a connected to the planting drive shaft 36 and an axle core portion 37b inserted inside the cylindrical portion 37a. The cylindrical portion 37a is adapted to rotate in a direction different from that of the planting drive shaft 36 in response to the rotation of the planting drive shaft 36. The axle core portion 37b is supported rotatably inside the cylindrical portion 37a, and a first bevel gear 39 is attached to the rear end of the axle core portion 37b. The clutch 50 is composed of, for example, a clutch having a so-called conical cam, and the conical cam performs clutch off at a predetermined rotation phase (upper stop). The clutch 50 has a clutch body portion 51 arranged inside the vertical case 35 and a clutch operating mechanism 52 for operating the clutch body portion 51.

[0033] The clutch body 51 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the shaft core 37b by spline coupling or the like, behind the cylindrical portion 37a in the front-rear direction. The clutch body 51 is slidable along the front-rear direction together with the shaft core 37b, and switching between transmission and disconnection of power is performed by moving in either the front-rear direction. When the clutch body 51 slides forward and engages with the cylindrical portion 37a, the cylindrical portion 37a and the shaft core 37b are fixed via the clutch body 51, and the clutch is in an on state, and the rotational power transmitted to the cylindrical portion 37a is transmitted to the shaft core 37b. On the other hand, when the clutch body 51 slides backward and disengages from the cylindrical portion 37a, the fixation between the cylindrical portion 37a and the shaft core 37b is released, and the clutch is in an off state, and the transmission of the rotational power transmitted to the cylindrical portion 37a to the shaft core 37b is interrupted.

[0034] The clutch operating mechanism 52 has a clutch biasing part 53 that biases the clutch body part 51 forward, and a pin 54 that is inserted into and removed from the clutch body part 51. The clutch biasing part 53 is, for example, composed of a coil spring or the like that is provided around the outer circumferential surface of the shaft core part 37b. The pin 54 is disposed by being inserted into a through hole (not shown) that penetrates the vertical case 35 in the radial direction of the planting transmission shaft 37, for example, in the up-down direction.

[0035] The pin 54 moves radially inward of the planting transmission shaft 37, contacting the clutch body 51 and moving the clutch body 51 backward against the biasing force of the clutch biasing unit 53, and is inserted into an insertion hole (not shown) provided in the clutch body 51 to fix the clutch body 51 in a state in which it has been moved backward, i.e., in a clutch-off state. The outer peripheral surface of the clutch body 51 may be provided with an inclined surface that guides the contacting pin 54 into the insertion hole. In addition, the phase of the insertion hole in the clutch body 51, the phases of the first bevel gear 39, the second bevel gear 40, and the planting central shaft 38 are adjusted so that the rotor case 42 is in a horizontal state when the pin 54 is inserted into the insertion hole.

[0036] On the other hand, the pin 54 inserted into the clutch body 51 moves radially outward of the planting transmission shaft 37, and is pulled out of the insertion hole, releasing the state in which it was moved to the rear of the clutch body 51. The clutch body 51 is urged by the clutch urging portion 53 to move forward, and is in the clutch-on state. In other words, the pin 54 in the clutch-on state is pulled out of the clutch body 51, while the pin 54 in the clutch-off state is inserted into the clutch body 51.

[0037] Furthermore, the clutch operating mechanism 52 has a rotatable pin arm 55 connected to the pin 54 in order to insert and remove the pin 54, a rotatable wire arm 56 that is capable of rotating to operate the rotation of the pin arm 55, and a wire 57 that operates the rotation of the wire arm 56. A storage section 58 having a space for storing the pin arm 55 is provided in the upper part of the vertical case 35, and the upper surface of the storage section 58 is open and is opened and closed by a lid section 59.

[0038] The pin arm 55 has a shape that extends in the front-rear direction, and is housed inside the housing portion 58. The front end of the pin arm 55 is connected to the upper end of the pin 54, and the rear end of the pin arm 55 is journaled inside the housing portion 58 on a first rotating shaft 60 whose axial direction is in the left-right direction, so that the pin arm 55 can rotate around the first rotating shaft 60 with respect to the vertical case 35. As a result, the pin arm 55 in the clutch-on state rotates upward, while the pin arm 55 in the clutch-off state rotates downward. The first rotating shaft 60 is provided with an arm biasing portion 61 such as a torsion coil spring that biases the pin arm 55 to rotate upward.

[0039] The wire arm 56 has a shape that extends in the up-down direction, and is provided on one side in the left-right direction, for example, the right side, outside the vertical case 35 (housing section 58). A second rotating shaft 62 with its axial direction in the left-right direction is provided inside the housing section 58 between the connection position of the pin 54 and the pin arm 55 and a first rotating shaft 60 of the pin arm 55 in order to pivotally support the wire arm 56. The second rotating shaft 62 is provided penetrating from the inside of the housing section 58 to one side in the left-right direction, for example, the right side, outside the vertical case 35 (housing section 58), and the upper end of the wire arm 56 is pivotally supported on the right end of the second rotating shaft 62.

[0040] The pin arm 55 includes a first gear portion 63 having teeth on the front side and disposed around the first rotating shaft 60, and the second rotating shaft 62 of the wire arm 56 includes a second gear portion 64 having teeth on the rear side and disposed around the second rotating shaft 62. The first gear portion 63 and the second gear portion 64 are meshed with each other, and when the second rotating shaft 62 is rotated by rotating the wire arm 56 forward, the first gear portion 63 rotates due to the rotation of the second gear portion 64, and the pin arm 55 is rotated downward. That is, the wire arm 56 in the clutch-on state is rotated backward, while the wire arm 56 in the clutch-on state is rotated forward. When the forward rotation of the wire arm 56 is released, the pin arm 55 is biased by the arm biasing portion 61 and rotated to the clutch-on state.

[0041] A wire 57 is connected to the lower end of the wire arm 56, and the wire arm 56 is rotated forward or backward by being operated by the wire 57. The wire 57 is connected to a clutch operating member (not shown) provided around the driver's seat 15, and the wire 57 is operated in response to operation of the clutch operating member. An electric motor that is driven in response to operation of the clutch operating member may be provided and the wire 57 may be operated by the electric motor, or the clutch operating member and the wire 57 may be mechanically connected to operate the wire 57.

[0042] Furthermore, the pin arm 55 has a recess 65 recessed on the underside between the coupling position of the pin 54 and the first rotating shaft 60, i.e., between the front end and the rear end, and the recess 65 is provided at a position corresponding to the second rotating shaft 62 of the wire arm 56 when the pin arm 55 rotates downward to insert the pin 54 into the clutch body 51. As a result, the second rotating shaft 62 enters the recess 65 of the pin arm 55 when the pin arm 55 is rotated downward.

[0043] As described above, according to this embodiment, the rice transplanter 1 includes the traveling body 2 (traveling section), the planting mechanism 32 that rotates to plant seedlings, the engine 11 (drive source) that transmits power to the planting mechanism 32, and the transmission mechanism 20 that converts the power from the engine 11 into non-uniform speed power and transmits it to the planting mechanism 32 in conjunction with the traveling speed of the traveling body 2. The transmission mechanism 20 has a first bevel gear 39 and a second bevel gear 40 as non-uniform speed members that convert the power from the engine 11 into non-uniform speed power, and a clutch 50 that connects and disconnects the transmission of power by the transmission mechanism 20. The clutch 50 is disposed upstream of the non-uniform speed member in the power transmission direction.

[0044] In the rice transplanter 1, there is backlash between the parts of the transmission mechanism 20 that transmits power to the planting mechanism 32. If the clutch in the planting mechanism 32 is provided downstream of the variable speed member in the power transmission direction, the variable speed phase cannot be accurately transmitted to the planting mechanism 32 due to the influence of the backlash of the clutch. Therefore, when the planting rotation speed is increased, the planting mechanism 32 cannot rotate normally at a variable speed, and abnormal vibration occurs in the planting mechanism 32. However, in this embodiment, the clutch 50 that disconnects the transmission of power to the planting mechanism 32 is disposed upstream of the variable speed member consisting of the first bevel gear 39 and the second bevel gear 40 in the power transmission direction. Therefore, the non-uniform speed fluctuation (acceleration / deceleration) of the power caused by such a variable speed member is transmitted to the planting mechanism 32 while suppressing the influence of the backlash of the clutch 50, so that the non-uniform speed phase can be accurately transmitted to the planting mechanism 32. Furthermore, even if the planting rotation speed is increased, the planting mechanism 32 can rotate normally at a variable speed, and abnormal vibration can be suppressed. Therefore, the restrictions on the non-uniform rotation speed and traveling speed for suppressing abnormal vibrations of the planting mechanism 32 can be relaxed, making it possible to achieve the desired planting work and improve work efficiency.

[0045] In addition, according to this embodiment, in the rice transplanter 1, the planting mechanism 32 is rotatably supported by each of the multiple planting units 34, and each of the multiple planting units 34 has a first bevel gear 39 and a second bevel gear 40, which are non-uniform speed members, and a clutch 50.

[0046] As a result, in the rice transplanter 1, by disposing the variable speed member for each planting unit 34, the variable speed rotational power can be transmitted to the planting mechanism 32 at a position closer to the planting mechanism 32. Even with this configuration, the clutch 50 is disposed upstream of the variable speed member, so the effect of the backlash of the clutch 50 can be suppressed and the non-uniform speed fluctuation of the power by the variable speed member can be transmitted to the planting mechanism 32, and the non-uniform speed phase can be accurately transmitted to the planting mechanism 32. Since the first bevel gear 39 and the second bevel gear 40 of the variable speed member are reduced by 1 / 2, the amount of backlash of the clutch 50 is reduced by 1 / 2 on the upstream side of the first bevel gear 39 and the downstream side of the second bevel gear 40, so the amount of backlash of the planting transmission by the transmission mechanism 20 as a whole can be reduced, and the vibration of the planting mechanism 32 can be further suppressed.

[0047] Further, according to the present embodiment, in the rice transplanter 1, the planting unit 34 has the vertical case 35 extending in a predetermined extension direction, and the clutch 50 is disposed in the vertical case 35.

[0048] This allows the rice transplanter 1 to achieve a more preferable arrangement of the clutch 50 in the vertical case 35 for each planting unit 34.

[0049] According to the present embodiment, in the rice transplanter 1, the clutch 50 has a clutch body 51 arranged inside the vertical case 35 and a clutch operating mechanism 52. The clutch body 51 moves in the extension direction to switch between power transmission and disconnection. The clutch operating mechanism 52 has a pin 54 inserted into and removed from the clutch body 51, a pin arm 55 that can be rotated to operate the insertion and removal of the pin 54, a wire arm 56 that can be rotated to operate the rotation of the pin arm 55, and a wire 57 that operates the rotation of the wire arm 56. The connection position of the pin 54 and the pin arm 55, the second rotation shaft 62 of the wire arm 56, and the first rotation shaft 60 of the pin arm 55 are arranged side by side in the extension direction.

[0050] In the rice transplanter 1, the seedling carrier 30 and the rotating planting mechanism 32 are provided around the vertical case 35, so that the arrangement of the clutch operating mechanism 52 for operating the clutch 50 is limited. However, in this embodiment, the connecting position of the pin 54 and the pin arm 55, the second rotating shaft 62 of the wire arm 56, and the first rotating shaft 60 of the pin arm 55 are arranged in the extension direction, so that the space for providing the pin 54, the pin arm 55, and the wire arm 56 can be reduced. As a result, the clutch operating mechanism 52 for inserting and removing the pin 54 can be realized in a smaller space without interfering with the seedling carrier 30 and the rotating planting mechanism 32. In addition, by the configuration in which the pin 54 is inserted and removed in the vertical direction with respect to the vertical case 35 and the clutch main body 51, the pin 54 can be inserted and removed without interfering with the planting mechanism 32 that rotates around the vertical case 35.

[0051] According to the present embodiment, in the rice transplanter 1, the pin arm 55 has a recess 65 between the coupling position of the pin 54 and the first rotating shaft 60. The recess 65 is provided at a position corresponding to the second rotating shaft 62 of the wire arm 56 when the pin arm 55 inserts the pin 54 into the clutch body 51.

[0052] As a result, in the rice transplanter 1, the pin arm 55 can be operated without interfering with the wire arm 56, and the clutch operating mechanism 52 that inserts and removes the pin 54 can be realized in a smaller space.

[0053] In the above embodiment, the clutch actuation mechanism 52 for actuating the clutch body 51 of the clutch 50 in the rice transplanter 1 has the pin arm 55, the wire arm 56, and the wire 57 for inserting and removing the pin 54 into and from the clutch body 51, but the present invention is not limited to this example. In other examples, the clutch actuation mechanism 52 may be configured to insert and remove the pin 54 by another mechanism.

[0054] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, an example was described in which the clutch 50 in the rice transplanter 1 is configured as a clutch having a so-called conical cam that engages or disengages the clutch main body 51 connected to the axial core portion 37b of the planting transmission shaft 37 with the cylindrical portion 37a of the planting transmission shaft 37. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the clutch 50 may be realized in other configurations as long as it is positioned upstream of the non-uniform speed member.

[0055] In the above embodiment, an example of the rice transplanter 1 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this example, and may be configured with other seedling transplanters.

[0056] Furthermore, the present invention can be modified as appropriate within the scope that does not contradict the gist or concept of the invention that can be read from the claims and the entire specification, and rice transplanters involving such modifications are also included in the technical concept of the present invention.

[0057] [Appendix to the invention] The following will provide an overview of the invention extracted from the above-described embodiment. Note that the configurations and processing functions described in the following supplementary notes can be selected and combined as desired.

[0058] <Appendix 1> A running part; A planting mechanism that rotates to plant seedlings; A drive source that transmits power to the planting mechanism; A transmission mechanism that transmits the power from the drive source to the planting mechanism as non-uniform power in response to the running speed of the running unit, the transmission mechanism includes a variable speed member that converts the power from the drive source into variable speed power, and a clutch that connects and disconnects the transmission of power by the transmission mechanism, The rice transplanter is characterized in that the clutch is arranged upstream of the variable speed member in the power transmission direction.

[0059] <Appendix 2> The planting mechanism is rotatably supported by each of the planting units, The rice transplanter described in Appendix 1, wherein each of the multiple planting units has the variable speed member and the clutch.

[0060] <Appendix 3> The planting unit has a vertical case extending in a predetermined extension direction, The rice transplanter described in Appendix 2, characterized in that the clutch is arranged in the vertical case.

[0061] <Appendix 4> The clutch has a clutch main body portion disposed inside the vertical case and a clutch actuation mechanism, The clutch body portion moves in the extending direction to switch between power transmission and disconnection, the clutch actuation mechanism includes a pin that is inserted into and removed from the clutch body, a pin arm that is rotatable to operate the insertion and removal of the pin, a wire arm that is rotatable to operate the rotation of the pin arm, and a wire that operates the rotation of the wire arm, The rice transplanter described in Appendix 3, characterized in that the connection position of the pin and the pin arm, the second rotating shaft that supports the wire arm, and the first rotating shaft that supports the pin arm are arranged side by side in the extension direction.

[0062] <Appendix 5> the pin arm has a recess between the connection position and the first rotation shaft, The rice transplanter described in Appendix 4, characterized in that the recess is provided at a position corresponding to the second rotation shaft of the wire arm when the pin arm inserts the pin into the clutch main body. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1 Rice transplanter 2 Running body (running part) 3 Planting machine 11 Engine (power source) 12. Transmission 20 Transmission Mechanism 32 Planting mechanism 34 Planting Unit 35 Vertical Case 36 Planting drive shaft 37 Planting transmission shaft 37a Cylindrical part 37b Axis core part 38 Planting center axis 39 1st bevel gear (non-uniform speed member) 40 Second bevel gear (non-uniform speed member) 42 Rotor case 43 Planting Claw 50 Clutch 51 Clutch body 52 Clutch actuation mechanism 53 Clutch energizing section 54 pin 55 Pin Arm 56 Wire Arm 57 Wire 58 Storage unit 59 Lid 60 First rotating shaft 61 Arm biasing part 62 Second rotating shaft 63 First gear section 64 Second Gear Section 65 Recess

Claims

1. A running part; A planting mechanism that rotates to plant seedlings; A drive source that transmits power to the planting mechanism; A transmission mechanism that transmits the power from the drive source to the planting mechanism as non-uniform power in response to the running speed of the running unit, the transmission mechanism includes a variable speed member that converts the power from the drive source into variable speed power, and a clutch that connects and disconnects the transmission of power by the transmission mechanism, The rice transplanter is characterized in that the clutch is arranged upstream of the variable speed member in the power transmission direction.

2. The planting mechanism is rotatably supported by each of the planting units, The rice transplanter according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of planting units has the variable speed member and the clutch.

3. The planting unit has a vertical case extending in a predetermined extension direction, The rice transplanter according to claim 2, wherein the clutch is disposed in the vertical case.

4. The clutch has a clutch main body portion disposed inside the vertical case and a clutch actuation mechanism, The clutch body portion moves in the extending direction to switch between power transmission and disconnection, the clutch actuation mechanism includes a pin that is inserted into and removed from the clutch body, a pin arm that is rotatable to operate the insertion and removal of the pin, a wire arm that is rotatable to operate the rotation of the pin arm, and a wire that operates the rotation of the wire arm, The rice transplanter according to claim 3, characterized in that the connection position of the pin and the pin arm, the second rotating shaft supporting the wire arm, and the first rotating shaft supporting the pin arm are arranged side by side in the extension direction.

5. the pin arm has a recess between the connection position and the first rotation shaft, The rice transplanter according to claim 4, characterized in that the recess is provided at a position corresponding to the second pivot shaft of the wire arm when the pin arm inserts the pin into the clutch body portion.

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