Fertilization implement

Abstract

To provide a fertilization implement excellent in workability that allows the lid of a fertilization hopper to be opened even in the state where a fertilizer bag is being held, solving the problem with a conventional fertilization implement equipped with a fertilization device for delivering fertilizers in the fertilization hopper from a plurality of delivery parts that when supplying fertilizers to the fertilization hopper, it is not possible to open the lid of the fertilization hopper if the fertilizer bag is kept being held, which makes workability of the fertilization implement low.SOLUTION: In a fertilization implement for dispersing fertilizers in a fertilizer hopper 41 provided with an openable / closable lid body 47, a pivot shaft 47a that serves as a rotation fulcrum of the lid body 47 is provided in the machine body outside of the fertilizer hopper 41, and a lid opening / closing pedal 48 is provided for opening the lid body 47 by rotating the pivot shaft 47a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fertilizing machine for fertilizing a field.

Background Art

[0002] There is a fertilizing machine equipped with a fertilizing device that feeds out the fertilizer in the fertilizer hopper from a plurality of feeding parts (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When supplying fertilizer to the fertilizer hopper, it was impossible to open the lid of the fertilizer hopper while holding the fertilizer bag, resulting in poor workability.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide a fertilizing machine with good workability that can open the lid of the fertilizer hopper even when holding a fertilizer bag.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The invention according to claim 1 is a fertilizing machine that sprays the fertilizer in a fertilizer hopper 41 equipped with a lid 47 that can be opened and closed. A pivot shaft 47a that serves as a pivot point for the rotation of the lid 47 is provided on the outer side of the machine body of the fertilizer hopper 41, and a lid opening and closing pedal 48 for rotating the pivot shaft 47a to open the lid 47 is provided.

[0007] According to the invention described in claim 1, even when holding the fertilizer bag, the lid 47 can be opened by stepping on the lid opening / closing pedal 48, freeing the heavy labor of opening the lid 47 after putting down the fertilizer bag once, lifting the fertilizer bag again and then inputting the fertilizer, and improving workability.

[0008] The invention described in claim 2 is a fertilizer application machine according to claim 1, wherein the lid 47 opens when the lid opening / closing pedal 48 is depressed, automatically closes when the foot is lifted from the lid opening / closing pedal 48, and the lid opening / closing pedal 48 can be fixed in the depressed position.

[0009] The invention described in claim 3 is a fertilizer application machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a fixture 90c for locking the lid 47 is rotatably provided by a rotation support shaft 90b, and a lock piece 90e provided on the fixture 90c is pressed against a receiving surface 90f in a state where it exceeds the position directly below the rotation support shaft 90b to fix the fixture 90c in a locked state.

[0010] The invention described in claim 4 is a fertilizer application machine according to claim 1, wherein the lid 47 opens and closes by the operation of an actuator 93, a remaining amount sensor 44 of the fertilizer hopper 41 detects a decrease in fertilizer, and when it is detected that the vehicle body has approached the edge of the ridge, the lid 47 opens by the operation of the actuator 93, and the lid 47 closes by the operation of the actuator 93 when the fertilizer supply is completed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a riding rice transplanter 1 with a fertilizer applicator, which is an embodiment of the fertilizer working machine disclosed in the present application, will be described in detail. Note that the present invention is not limited by the embodiments shown below.

[0013] <Overall Configuration> The riding rice transplanter 1 with a fertilizer applicator is provided with a seedling planting device 30 that is lifted and lowered by a lifting device 20 at the rear part of a traveling vehicle body 2 having a pair of left and right front wheels 3 and a pair of left and right rear wheels 4.

[0014] At the rear part of the traveling vehicle body 2, a main body part of the fertilizer applicator 40 (left fertilizer applicator 40L and right fertilizer applicator 40R) is provided.

[0015] Note that the traveling vehicle body 2 is, for example, a four-wheel drive in which the front wheels 3 and the rear wheels 4 are driven.

[0016] <Traveling Vehicle Body 2> The traveling vehicle body 2 includes a machine body frame 5, an engine E provided on the machine body frame 5, and a power transmission device (such as a transmission case) 6 that transmits the power generated by the engine E to the front wheels 3, the rear wheels 4, the seedling planting device 30, and the fertilizer applicator 40.

[0017] That is, the power generated by the engine E, which is the power source, is used not only to rotationally drive the left and right front wheels 3 and the left and right rear wheels 4 to move the traveling vehicle body 2 forward or backward, but also to drive the seedling planting device 30 and the fertilizer feeding device 42 of the fertilizer application device 40.

[0018] The engine E is disposed at the central portion of the traveling vehicle body 2 in the left - right direction, at a position protruding upward from the floor step 7 on which the operator boarding the traveling vehicle body 2 places his / her feet. As the engine E, a heat engine such as a diesel engine or a gasoline engine is used.

[0019] The floor step 7 is provided at the front portion of the traveling vehicle body 2 in the front - rear direction. The floor step 7 is provided from the front portion of the traveling vehicle body 2 to the rear portion of the engine E.

[0020] The floor step 7 is attached to the body frame 5. A part of the floor step 7 near the driver's seat 10 to be described later, for example, is formed in a lattice shape in plan view so that mud or the like adhering to the operator's shoes can be dropped onto the field.

[0021] In addition, a front step 7F is provided at the front portion of the floor step 7, and left and right extended side steps 7S are provided on the left and right outer sides of the floor step 7.

[0022] Note that a rear step 7R that also serves as a fender for the rear wheel 4 is provided at the rear portion of the floor step 7, and boarding and alighting steps 7J for the operator to board and alight from the vehicle body are provided on the outer sides of the left and right extended side steps 7S.

[0023] The engine E is covered by an engine cover 8. A driver's seat 10 is provided above the engine cover 8. The power transmission device 6 includes a belt - type power transmission portion to which power is transmitted from the engine E, a hydraulic continuously variable transmission which is a transmission device that changes the power transmitted from the engine E via the belt - type power transmission portion, and a transmission case.

[0024] The hydraulic continuously variable transmission is, for example, a hydrostatic continuously variable transmission called HST. By operating the main transmission lever, the hydraulic continuously variable transmission can change the output (rotation speed) and the output direction (rotation direction). That is, the hydraulic continuously variable transmission can change the forward and backward movement and the traveling speed of the traveling vehicle body 2 by changing the rotation speed and the rotation direction.

[0025] A transmission device for transmitting the power from the engine E, which has been shifted by the hydraulic continuously variable transmission, to each part is provided in the transmission case. The transmission case is provided with a sub-transmission mechanism for switching the traveling speed during traveling or working. When the sub-transmission lever is operated, the transmission case can switch the traveling speed of the traveling vehicle body 2 to, for example, a traveling speed higher than the traveling speed during planting work, the seedling planting speed during planting work, and the like.

[0026] The driver's seat 10 of the traveling vehicle body 2 is a seat on which the operator sits during operation.

[0027] The traveling vehicle body 2 is provided with a steering wheel 9, a planting lever, and the like in front of the driver's seat 10.

[0028] The steering wheel 9 is provided on the upper part of the bonnet 11 of the traveling vehicle body 2 and is operated by the operator to steer the traveling vehicle body 2.

[0029] In addition, the planting lever is provided on the upper part of the bonnet 11 and is a clutch lever for engaging and disengaging the planting / fertilizing clutch to put the seedling planting device 30 and the fertilizer feeding device 42 of the fertilizer application device 40 into a driving state and a non-driving state. It is also a lifting lever for switching a hydraulic valve to expand and contract a hydraulic lifting cylinder to drive a lifting link 21 to lift the seedling planting device 30.

[0030] In addition, the bonnet 11 is provided so as to protrude upward from the floor step 7. The bonnet 11 is provided with, for example, a display unit (meter panel).

[0031] In addition, the bonnet 11 is provided with a control controller C that controls each display member of the above display unit, a warning buzzer which is a warning device, and each part such as the engine E.

[0032] The elevating device 20 includes an elevating link 21. The elevating link 21 is composed of upper and lower links that connect the rear part of the traveling vehicle body 2 and the seedling planting device 30, and is rotatably connected in the vertical direction to each of the link frame 22 at the rear part of the traveling vehicle body 2 and the seedling planting device 30, thereby connecting the seedling planting device 30 to the traveling vehicle body 2 in a vertically movable manner.

[0033] Note that the elevating link 21 has a link configuration in which the seedling planting device 30 approaches the traveling vehicle body 2 as the seedling planting device 30 is raised with respect to the traveling vehicle body 2, and when the seedling planting device 30 is raised to the highest position, an operator can easily supply seedlings to the seedling placement table 31 of the seedling planting device 30 from the traveling vehicle body 2.

[0034] In addition, the elevating device 20 includes a hydraulic elevating cylinder. The elevating cylinder expands and contracts when the planting lever is operated and the hydraulic valve is switched. The elevating cylinder drives the elevating link 21 by expanding and contracting to raise and lower the seedling planting device 30. That is, the elevating cylinder switches between a non-working position where the seedling planting device 30 is raised and a ground working position (planting position) where the seedling planting device 30 is lowered when the planting lever is operated.

[0035] On both the left and right side portions on the front side of the traveling vehicle body 2, left and right spare seedling placement portions 50 are provided.

[0036] The spare seedling placement portion 50 includes four loading platforms 52 on a spare seedling frame 51 whose base is fixed to the machine body frame 5 at the left and right side positions of the machine body.

[0037] The loading platform 52 has a pallet shape and includes a pair of side walls and a bottom surface, and places spare seedlings grown in a seedling raising box.

[0038] <Seedling planting device 30> The seedling planting device 30 is attached to the rear part of the traveling vehicle body 2 via the elevating link 21. The seedling planting device 30 can plant seedlings in a plurality of rows (ridges). The seedling planting device 30 includes a seedling placing table 31, a float 32, and a planting device 33.

[0039] The seedling placing table 31 has a seedling placing surface for the number of planting rows in the left - right direction of the machine body. Each seedling placing surface is a rear - downward inclined surface on which a plurality of mat seedlings (mat seedlings with soil) can be placed in the vertical direction. The float 32 levels the field surface while sliding on the field surface (paddy field) as the traveling vehicle body 2 moves. The float 32 includes a center float 32C arranged at the center of the machine body in the left - right direction of the machine body, and left and right side floats 32L and 32R arranged outside in the left - right direction with the center float 32C in between.

[0040] The float 32 (center float 32C and left and right side floats 32L, 32R) is rotatably attached to the planting frame 30F of the seedling planting device 30 so that the front part moves up and down according to the unevenness of the field surface.

[0041] During the planting operation, the up - and - down movement of the front part of the center float 32C is detected by a rotation sensor, and a hydraulic valve that controls the telescopic movement of the lifting cylinder by the control unit according to the detection result of the rotation sensor is switched to lift and lower the seedling planting device 30, and the planting depth of the seedlings can be adjusted.

[0042] The planting device 33 is disposed below the seedling placing table 31 by being supported by the planting frame 30F.

[0043] The planting device 33 includes a planting case and a rotary case. The planting case takes seedlings from the mat seedlings placed on the seedling placing table 31 and plants them on the field surface. The rotary case rotatably supports the planting case. An unequal - velocity transmission mechanism capable of rotating the planting case while changing the rotation speed of the planting case is provided in the rotary case. The planting case rotates while changing the rotation speed according to the rotation angle with respect to the rotary case.

[0044] <Fertilizer applicator 40> The fertilizer applicator 40 is composed of a left fertilizer applicator 40L and a right fertilizer applicator 40R arranged on the left and right outer sides of the rear step 7R, and is a device for spraying granular fertilizer on the field. In the riding type rice transplanter 1, while seedlings are being planted in the field by the seedling planting device 30, granular fertilizer is sprayed on the field by the fertilizer applicator 40.

[0045] A U-shaped frame body 12 is provided in a plan view so as to surround the left and right sides and the rear of the rear step 7R, and the base portion of the frame body 12 is fixed to the machine body frame 5. And the fertilizer hopper 41 of the fertilizer applicator 40 is supported by the frame body 12.

[0046] The left fertilizer applicator 40L and the right fertilizer applicator 40R of the fertilizer applicator 40 each include a fertilizer hopper 41 for storing granular fertilizer above the rear part of the traveling vehicle body 2. Granular fertilizer is fed out by a fertilizer feeding device 42 that is rotationally driven by the driving force from the engine E. The fed-out granular fertilizer is conveyed through the fertilizer pipe by the wind force of the blower 43, and the granular fertilizer is sprayed into the fertilizer groove formed in the field by the furrow opener provided on the float 32.

[0047] A remaining amount sensor 44, which is a powder and granular material sensor composed of a pressure-sensitive sensor, is provided in the fertilizer hopper 41. When the remaining amount sensor 44 no longer senses the granular fertilizer, it can be known that the granular fertilizer has been reduced to the position of the remaining amount sensor 44.

[0048] Also, on the frame body 12 near the driver's seat 10, an alarm buzzer that issues an alarm based on the detection by the remaining amount sensor 44 that the granular fertilizer has run out and a buzzer stop switch for stopping the alarm of the alarm buzzer are provided.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 2, the fertilizer feeding device 42 has the rotational driving force of a power transmission device (such as a transmission case) 6 transmitted by a feeding driving force transmission mechanism 60.

[0050] The feeding drive power transmission mechanism 60 includes a first fertilizer transmission rod 63 having one end 63a rotatably connected to a crank arm 62 fixed to an output rotating shaft 61 of a fertilizer clutch device provided at the rear of the traveling vehicle body 2 and the other end 63b disposed upward, an input-side first swing arm 64 having the other end 63b of the first fertilizer transmission rod 63 fixed to one end and connected so as to be capable of repeatedly swinging in the vertical direction, a first relay member 66 as a drive shaft that relays the driving force transmitted by the first fertilizer transmission rod 63 from the output-side first swing arm 65 fixed to the other end to the right fertilizer device 40R side, an intermediate transmission portion 72 that transmits the driving force relayed by the first relay member 66 to a second fertilizer transmission rod 70R and a second relay member 71 via a first connecting arm 67, a drive arm 68, and a second connecting arm 69, a second fertilizer transmission rod 70R that transmits the driving force transmitted by the intermediate transmission portion 72 to the feeding device 42 of the right fertilizer device 40R via a one-way clutch right side portion 73R, a second relay member 71 as a drive shaft that relays the driving force transmitted by the intermediate transmission portion 72 to the left fertilizer device 40L side, and a third fertilizer transmission rod 70L that transmits the driving force relayed by the second relay member 71 to the feeding device 42 of the left fertilizer device 40L via a one-way clutch left side portion 73L.

[0051] Note that the above-described fertilizer clutch device is detachably attached to a rear-wheel drive case 15 incorporating a rear-wheel drive mechanism, and is configured to transmit the driving force from the engine E branched by the rear-wheel drive mechanism to the output rotating shaft 61 in a cut-in and cut-out manner.

[0052] The rear end side of the feeding amount adjustment shaft 75 is connected to the swing fulcrum 72a of the intermediate transmission portion 72. By rotating the feeding amount adjustment shaft 75 with an operation handle 75a, the swing fulcrum 72a moves in the front-rear direction, and the swing amount of the drive arm 68 in the intermediate transmission portion 72 can be changed.

[0053] As a result, the amount of vertical oscillation transmitted from the intermediate transmission part 72 to the second fertilizer transmission rod 70R, and the amount of vertical oscillation transmitted from the intermediate transmission part 72 to the third fertilizer transmission rod 70L via the second relay member 71 can be increased or decreased, and the feeding amounts of the respective feeding devices 42 arranged on the right side and the respective feeding devices 42 arranged on the left side can be increased or decreased.

[0054] Then, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a spring receiver 76 is rotatably provided on the drive arm 68 on the fertilizer applicator side (transmission downstream side) of the swing fulcrum 72a. The upper and lower ends of a pin body 77 inserted through a long hole 76a provided in the spring receiver 76 are supported by the fertilizer frame 46. The spring receiver 76 is provided so as to sandwich the upper and lower compression springs 78, 78 between the upper and lower surfaces of the spring receiver 76 and the fertilizer frame 46 with the upper and lower compression springs 78, 78 externally fitted to the pin body 77, and the upper and lower compression springs 78, 78 bias the spring receiver 76 so as to return from the swung state when the drive arm 68 swings around the swing fulcrum 72a.

[0055] Note that the upper and lower compression springs 78, 78 use the same spring and have the same biasing force (spring load).

[0056] Therefore, by suppressing the inertial force when the drive arm 68 swings around the swing fulcrum 72a, the fertilizer application amount is stabilized without being affected by fluctuations in the driving rotational speed of the engine E (fluctuations in vehicle speed).

[0057] In addition, by providing the upper and lower compression springs 78, 78 on the fertilizer applicator side (transmission downstream side) of the swing fulcrum 72a of the drive arm 68, the greater the adjustment of the fertilizer application amount to the larger side, the stronger the upper and lower compression springs 78, 78 suppress the inertial force, and the effect of stabilizing the fertilizer application amount becomes greater.

[0058] Also, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the fertilizer hoppers 41 of the left fertilizer applicator 40L and the right fertilizer applicator 40R of the fertilizer applicator 40 are each composed of a front fertilizer hopper 41F and a rear fertilizer hopper 41R.

[0059] The front fertilizer hopper 41F and the rear fertilizer hopper 41R are each provided with a lid 47 that can be opened and closed on the upper surface.

[0060] The lid 47 has the outer end of the lid 47 fixed to the upper part of an arm 47b whose base is fixed to a front-rear pivot shaft 47a provided on the upper outer side of the front fertilizer hopper 41F and the rear fertilizer hopper 41R. The inner side (opening / closing side) of the lid 47 within the machine body pivots up and down around the pivot shaft 47a to open and close. Note that the maximum opening angle of the lid 47 is 80 degrees.

[0061] On the outer side of the rear step 7R on the inner side of the machine body of the fertilizer hoppers 41 of the left fertilizer application device 40L and the right fertilizer application device 40R, lid opening / closing pedals 48 are provided corresponding to the front fertilizer hopper 41F and the rear fertilizer hopper 41R, respectively.

[0062] The lid opening / closing pedal 48 has the middle part of the arm portion 48a pivotally supported by a front-rear pivot shaft 49 on the fertilizer application frame 46, and the pedal portion 48b is arranged above the outer side of the rear step 7R.

[0063] One end of a connecting wire 80 is connected to the end of the arm portion 48a of the lid opening / closing pedal 48, and the other end of the connecting wire 80 is connected to an operating arm 47c whose base is fixed to the pivot shaft 47a. When the pedal portion 48b of the lid opening / closing pedal 48 is depressed, the connecting wire 80 is pulled and the lid 47 opens at an opening degree of 80 degrees.

[0064] Note that the connecting wire 80 uses a cable with an adjuster and its effective length can be changed, so the opening degree of the lid 47 can be adjusted from 80 degrees. For example, when it is desired to supply fertilizer without opening the lid 47 too much during rainfall or the like, by adjusting the opening degree to be narrow, it is possible to prevent the fertilizer from getting wet and prevent troubles such as fertilizer clogging.

[0065] The lid opening and closing pedal 48 is a general pedal with an automatic stepping and fixing mechanism that is fixed at the stepped position when the pedal part 48b is stepped on and the fixing is released when stepped on again. When the pedal part 48b is stepped on, it is fixed at the stepped position and the lid 47 is maintained in an open state with an opening angle of 80 degrees. When stepped on again, the stepping of the pedal part 48b is released and the lid 47 closes by its own weight.

[0066] Therefore, when an operator holds a fertilizer bag from a ridge or the like and moves to the front step 7F, the floor step 7, and the rear step 7R and comes to the front fertilizer hopper 41F or the rear fertilizer hopper 41R of the left fertilizer applicator 40L or the right fertilizer applicator 40R, if the operator steps on the pedal part 48b of the lid opening and closing pedal 48 while holding the fertilizer bag, the lid 47 is maintained in an open state with an opening angle of 80 degrees. Thus, the fertilizer in the fertilizer bag can be easily and with good workability supplied to the front fertilizer hopper 41F or the rear fertilizer hopper 41R. (Conventionally, the held fertilizer bag was put down once, the lid 47 was opened by hand, and then the fertilizer bag was lifted again to supply fertilizer into the fertilizer hopper 41, so it was heavy labor and the workability was poor.) Also, since the lid opening and closing pedal 48 is provided for each of the front fertilizer hoppers 41F and the rear fertilizer hoppers 41R of the left fertilizer applicator 40L and the right fertilizer applicator 40R and the lid 47 can be opened and closed independently, it is possible to minimize the fertilizer getting wet during rainfall or the like, and the stepping operation load of the lid opening and closing pedal 48 can be reduced.

[0067] Also, since members for opening and closing the lid 47 such as the lid opening and closing pedal 48 are provided on the fertilizer frame 46, the fertilizer applicator 40 can be integrally assembled and removed including the lid opening and closing pedal 48 and the like.

[0068] Also, the lid 47 has the outer end of the lid 47 fixed to the upper part of an arm 47b whose base is fixed to a front - rear direction pivot shaft 47a provided on the upper outer side of the front fertilizer hopper 41F and the rear fertilizer hopper 41R. The inner side of the lid 47 in the machine body opens and closes by the rotation of the pivot shaft 47a. Therefore, the lid 47 can be easily opened and closed while preventing twisting.

[0069] In addition, since the stepping operation of the lid opening / closing pedal 48 is linked to the opening / closing of the lid body 47 by the connecting wire 80, the lid opening / closing pedal 48 can be arranged at a free position, improving workability, and the lid body 47 can be manually opened in the direction in which the connecting wire 80 loosens.

[0070] In addition, as shown in the enlarged views of FIGS. 5 and 6, a locking mechanism 90 is provided on the inner side (opening / closing side) of the lid body 47 of the fertilizer hopper 41 inside the machine body.

[0071] That is, the locking mechanism 90 is provided with a rotation support shaft 90b in the longitudinal direction of the machine body on a support body 90a fixed to the upper surface of the lid body 47, and a hook body 90c as a fixing tool is rotatably provided on the rotation support shaft 90b, and a locking portion 41a with which the hook 90d at the lower end of the hook body 90c engages is provided on the fertilizer hopper 41 side.

[0072] The hook body 90c is provided with a locking piece 90e extending downward toward the rotation support shaft 90b, and the lower end of the locking piece 90e is in pressure contact with a seat surface 90f of the support body 90a fixed to the upper surface of the lid body 47 as a receiving surface.

[0073] When the hook 90d of the hook body 90c engages with the locking portion 41a to lock the lid body 47 so that it cannot be opened, the locking piece 90e is inclined outward and its lower end is in pressure contact with the seat surface 90f of the support body 90a fixed to the upper surface of the lid body 47. The hook body 90c does not rotate unless the operator performs a rotation operation, and the lid body 47 is maintained in a locked state where it cannot be opened.

[0074] When the operator rotates the hook body 90c in the locked state in the direction in which the hook 90d separates from the locking portion 41a, the locking piece 90e changes from an outwardly inclined posture to an inwardly inclined posture, and the locked state is released.

[0075] Therefore, by providing the locking piece 90e on the hook body 90c and pressing it in a state where it exceeds the position directly below the rotation support shaft 90b on the seat surface 90f, the hook body 90c can be maintained in a locked state with a simple configuration.

[0076] Alternatively, a connecting wire 80 may be connected to a parking pedal (an operating tool such as a parking pedal) provided on the traveling vehicle body 2 instead of the lid opening / closing pedal 48, and the lid 47 may be configured to open when the parking pedal is depressed for vehicle body stop.

[0077] By configuring the lid 47 not to open unless the parking pedal (an operating tool such as a parking pedal) is operated to stop the vehicle during fertilizer replenishment, safety is improved.

[0078] FIG. 7 shows another embodiment in which the opening and closing of the lid 47 is performed by an actuator 93 such as an electric motor.

[0079] That is, a connecting wire 80 is connected to a sector gear 94 that rotates by an actuator 93 provided on the fertilizer supply frame 46, and a switch for operating the actuator 93 is provided on the vehicle body. When an operator operates the switch during fertilizer supply to operate the actuator 93 to open and close the lid 47.

[0080] Therefore, since the lid 47 is opened and closed by the actuator 93, workability is improved.

[0081] In addition, a human sensor (proximity sensor) 96 is provided in the fertilizer hopper 41. When an operator holds a fertilizer bag and approaches the fertilizer hopper 41 during fertilizer supply, the human sensor 96 detects the operator and automatically operates the actuator 93 to open the lid 47. After fertilizer supply, when the operator leaves the fertilizer hopper 41, the actuator 93 may be automatically operated to close the lid 47.

[0082] When the human sensor 96 automatically operates the actuator 93 to open and close the lid 47, workability is further improved.

[0083] Further, when the remaining amount sensor 44 of the fertilizer hopper 41 detects a decrease in the amount of fertilizer, the actuator 93 may be automatically operated to open the lid 47. In that case, in addition to the condition that the vehicle body is detected to be approaching the ridge (when the vehicle body is detected to be approaching the ridge and the remaining amount sensor 44 detects a decrease in the amount of fertilizer), the actuator 93 may be configured to be operated to open the lid 47.

[0084] Furthermore, the actuator 93 may be configured to be operated to close the lid 47 after a predetermined time has elapsed since the fertilizer supply and the remaining amount sensor 44 stops detecting a decrease in the amount of fertilizer.

[0085] FIG. 8 shows another embodiment in which the dust adhering to the dust-proof net on the front side of the radiator 98 is blown off by sending the air from the blower 43 of the left fertilizer applicator 40L to the front side of the radiator 98 of the engine E.

[0086] That is, a diverter valve that can be switched is provided at the air outlet of the blower 43 of the left fertilizer applicator 40L, and the air is switched between the hose 99 side that sends the air to the front side of the radiator 98 of the engine E and the fertilizer application pipe side that conveys the discharged granular fertilizer to the furrow opener of the float 32.

[0087] The control controller C automatically switches to send air from the fertilizer application pipe side to the hose 99 side every predetermined time (or when a sensor that detects clogging of the dust-proof net on the front side of the radiator 98 detects clogging).

[0088] Further, when the control controller C switches to send air to the hose 99 side, the cooling fan of the radiator 98 is stopped to prevent dust from being adsorbed to the dust-proof net.

[0089] Note that the time for which the control controller C stops the cooling fan of the radiator 98 is within 10 seconds to prevent the engine E from overheating.

[0090] In addition, the control controller C switches to send air to the hose 99 side only when the machine that is not performing the transplanting operation is stopped.

[0091] The hose 99 is arranged such that the blower 43 side of the left fertilizer applicator 40L is located above the radiator 98 side of the engine E.

[0092] Also, the switching of the diverter valve may be performed by an operating tool such as a manual lever.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0093] 41 Fertilizer hopper 44 Remaining amount sensor 47 Cover 47a Pivot shaft 90b Rotating support shaft 90c Fixture (hook body) 90e Lock piece 90f Receiving surface (seat surface) 48 Cover opening / closing pedal 93 Actuator

Claims

1. In a fertilizer applicator for spreading fertilizer in a fertilizer hopper (41) equipped with a lid (47) that can be freely opened and closed, a pivot shaft (47a) serving as a pivot point for the lid (47) is provided on the outer side of the machine body of the fertilizer hopper (41), and a lid opening and closing pedal (48) for rotating the pivot shaft (47a) to open the lid (47) is provided. The fertilizer applicator is characterized by this.

2. The fertilizer applicator according to claim 1, characterized in that when the lid opening and closing pedal (48) is depressed, the lid (47) opens, and when the foot is lifted from the lid opening and closing pedal (48), the lid (47) automatically closes, and the lid opening and closing pedal (48) can be fixed in the depressed position.

3. A fixture (90c) for locking the lid (47) is rotatably provided by a rotation support shaft (90b), and a lock piece (90e) provided on the fixture (90c) is pressed against a receiving surface (90f) in a state exceeding the position directly below the rotation support shaft (90b) to fix the fixture (90c) in a locked state. The fertilizer applicator according to claim 1 or claim 2 is characterized by this.

4. The fertilizer applicator according to claim 1, characterized in that the lid (47) opens and closes by the operation of an actuator (93), and when a remaining amount sensor (44) of the fertilizer hopper (41) detects a decrease in fertilizer and also detects that the vehicle body has approached the edge of the ridge, the lid (47) opens by the operation of the actuator (93), and when the fertilizer supply is completed, the lid (47) closes by the operation of the actuator (93).

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