Medium supply mechanism, medium supply unit and medium supply system
The medium supply mechanism addresses the challenge of localized seeding by using a rotating body and pipe system to deliver media like seeds or fertilizers in a controlled and organized manner, ensuring wide-area coverage and efficient application.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024007853
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-01-23
- Publication Date
- 2025-08-04
AI Technical Summary
Existing seed sowing technologies, such as those using seed balls dropped from drones, result in localized seeding and cannot cover wide areas effectively.
A medium supply mechanism comprising a rotating body with a recess and a pipe portion, driven by a motor, which allows for the controlled and organized delivery of media like seeds or fertilizers in a single layer and row, using a flying object.
Enables effective and wide-area distribution of media like seeds or fertilizers by minimizing impact and ensuring organized conveyance, allowing for precise and efficient application over large areas.
Smart Images
Figure 2025113607000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a medium supply mechanism, a medium supply unit, and a medium supply system.
Background Art
[0002] Conventionally, techniques for sowing seeds and applying fertilizers to land, fields, etc. using flying objects have been known. For example, in the technique of Non-Patent Document 1, balls containing seeds (seed balls) are dropped from a drone for sowing.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Non-Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] In the sowing of seeds in Non-Patent Document 1, a large number of seed balls are dropped at once. Therefore, taking seeds as an example, it only sows seeds locally and cannot sow seeds over a wide area.
[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of such points, and an object thereof is to provide a new medium supply mechanism, a medium supply unit, and a medium supply system that can effectively supply a medium to the land.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] The medium supply mechanism of the present disclosure is a rotating body, a recess formed by a wall surface and a bottom surface formed from the circumferential surface of the rotating body toward the rotation axis of the rotating body and capable of accommodating a medium, a pipe portion having an inner diameter capable of accommodating one of the media and disposed with one end facing the circumferential surface; a driving unit that drives the rotating shaft to be rotatable;
[0007] In the medium supply mechanism of the present disclosure, When the medium is spherical, the length of the straight line from the rotation axis of the rotating body to the circumferential surface may be equal to or less than the sum of the shortest length from the rotation axis to the bottom surface and the diameter of the medium.
[0008] In the medium supply mechanism of the present disclosure, a rotating body; a recess formed by a wall surface and a bottom surface formed from the circumferential surface of the rotating body toward the rotation axis of the rotating body and capable of accommodating a medium; a pipe portion having an inner diameter capable of accommodating one of the media, disposed with one end facing the circumferential surface, and through which the media are conveyed in a single layer and in a single row; a driving unit that drives the rotating shaft to be rotatable;
[0009] In the medium supply unit of the present disclosure, the medium supply mechanism; a tank portion that houses the medium supply mechanism; When the medium supply mechanism is housed in the tank portion, the medium is structured to be sent from the other end of the pipe portion toward the one end.
[0010] In the medium supply system of the present disclosure, the medium supply unit; an aircraft to which the medium supply unit is connected;
Advantages of the Invention
[0011] According to the medium supply mechanism, medium supply unit, and medium supply system of the present disclosure, the supply of the medium to the ground can be effectively performed.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0012]
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention
[0013] Hereinafter, the medium supply mechanism 4, the medium supply unit 2, and the medium supply system 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings as examples. FIGS. 1 to 4 are diagrams showing the medium supply mechanism, the medium supply unit, and the medium supply system according to this embodiment. Among them, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the outline of the medium supply system according to this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the medium supply unit according to this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram shown with partial transparency in the side view of the medium supply unit according to this embodiment. Also, FIGS. 4(A) to (E) are schematic diagrams showing the operation of the medium supply mechanism according to this embodiment.
[0014] First, the overall configuration of the medium supply system 1 according to this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the medium supply system 1 according to this embodiment includes a medium supply unit 2 and a flying object 3 to which the medium supply unit 2 is connected.
[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, the medium supply unit 2 is formed by a medium supply mechanism 4 and a tank unit 5 in which the medium supply mechanism 4 is housed. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the medium supply mechanism 4 is housed in the tank unit 5 of the medium supply unit 2, the pipe portion 6 of the medium supply mechanism 4 has an inclination that descends from the other end to one end.
[0016] As shown in FIG. 3, the medium supply mechanism 4 includes a rotating body 41, a recess 44 formed by a wall surface 42 and a bottom surface 43 that are formed from the circumferential surface of the rotating body 41 toward the rotation axis of the rotating body 41 and can accommodate the medium W, a pipe portion 6 having an inner diameter capable of accommodating one medium W and disposed with one end facing the circumferential surface of the rotating body 41, and a drive portion (not shown) that rotatably drives the rotation axis.
[0017] The rotating body 41 is a member formed by a circumferential surface and smooth surfaces formed at both ends of the circumferential surface. There is a rotation axis at the center of both smooth surfaces of the rotating body 41, and the rotating body 41 is a member that can rotate via the rotation axis. A joint is connected to the rotation axis of the rotating body 41 to connect the rotating body 41 and the pipe portion 6 and fix both members.
[0018] A recess 44 is formed on the circumferential surface of the rotating body 41. The recess 44 is formed by a wall surface 42 that rises from the circumferential surface of the rotating body 41 toward the rotation axis, and a bottom surface 43 that includes the deepest part of the wall surface 42 and the vicinity of the deepest part. Here, the length (L1) of the shortest straight line from the deepest part of the bottom surface 43 of the rotating body 41 to the rotation axis of the rotating body 41 is smaller than the radius (L2) of the rotating body 41. Further, the recess 44 has a size capable of accommodating the medium W. Here, when the medium W is brittle, the number of media W that can be accommodated in the recess 44 at one time is preferably one. Further, when the medium W is brittle, the wall surface 42 preferably does not have an excessive curved surface from the viewpoint of reducing the impact applied to the medium W during conveyance, for example. Further, when the medium W accommodated in the recess 44 is spherical, the bottom surface 43 preferably has a concave curved surface instead of a smooth surface from the viewpoint of reducing the impact applied to the medium W. In the medium supply mechanism 4 according to the present embodiment, the wall surface 42 includes both smooth surfaces and the wall surface 42.
[0019] Medium W is a solid that may contain substances such as plant seeds and fertilizers. For example, Medium W is formed by mixing substances such as plant seeds and fertilizers with soil containing mud and shaping them into various shapes. Note that Medium W applied to the medium supply mechanism 4 according to this embodiment will be described by taking the one formed into a spherical shape as an example. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the total length of the shortest straight line from the deepest part of the bottom surface 43 of the rotating body 41 to the rotation axis of the rotating body 41 and the diameter (L3) of Medium W has a length greater than the radius (L2) of the rotating body 41 (L1 + L3 > L2). The length of the straight line from the rotation axis of the rotating body 41 to the circumferential surface (the radius of the rotating body 41) is equal to or less than the total length of the shortest length from the rotation axis to the bottom surface 43 and the diameter of Medium W.
[0020] The pipe portion 6 is a member having an inner diameter capable of accommodating one Medium W. In other words, since the pipe portion 6 has an inner diameter capable of accommodating one Medium W, Medium W is conveyed inside the pipe portion 6 in a more orderly single row. Further, the pipe portion 6 has one end and the other end, and one end is disposed facing the circumferential surface of the rotating body 41. A material having plasticity is used for the pipe portion 6, and it can be appropriately processed and deformed. The pipe portion 6 according to this embodiment is processed so as to be accommodatable in the tank portion 5 by bending one pipe portion 6 by 180 degrees or an angle in the vicinity thereof at a time. Further, when the pipe portion 6 is accommodated in the tank portion 5, by processing the pipe portion 6 into a shape that descends from the other end to the one end, a switchback-like conveyance path for Medium W is formed. Further, when the pipe portion 6 is accommodated in the tank portion 5, the other end of the pipe portion 6 is disposed with an opening facing the installation direction of the main body of the flying object 3. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when a virtual plane orthogonal to the central axis of the pipe portion 6 is defined at one end of the pipe portion 6, from the point of the second Medium W2 that is farthest from the virtual plane toward the rotating body 41 to the circumferential surface of the rotating body 41 (including the virtual circumferential surface defined by the locus accompanying the rotation of the rotating body 41), the length (L4) of the straight line orthogonal to the virtual plane is a value smaller than the diameter (L3) of Medium W.
[0021] The drive unit is a mechanism for controlling the rotation of the rotation axis of the rotating body 41, and is installed at a location that does not interfere with the drive of the medium supply unit 2. The drive unit is motor-controlled and is controlled by an electronic member used by the user for operation. Further, the user can control the drive unit via the electronic member, and can control the rotation direction and rotation speed of the rotation axis of the rotating body 41.
[0022] The tank unit 5 is a member that houses the medium supply mechanism 4. The tank unit 5 is provided with a connection location for connecting to the flying body 3. Further, when the medium supply mechanism 4 is housed in the tank unit 5, an opening is formed in the tank unit 5 for exposing at least the rotating body 41 to the outside of the tank unit 5.
[0023] The medium supply unit 2 formed in this way has a weight that does not impose an excessive burden on the flight of the flying body 3.
[0024] The flying body 3 is a flyable device such as a radio control model airplane or a drone. The flying body 3 is driven, for example, by battery power. The flying body 3 can be controlled to hover at an arbitrary location during flight. Further, the flying body 3 is provided with one or a plurality of connection locations for connecting the medium supply unit 2. In the medium supply system 1 according to the present embodiment, the flying body 3 is exemplified as a drone.
[0025] Next, the operation of the medium supply system 1 during use will be described.
[0026] First, the medium supply mechanism 4 is attached to the tank unit 5 to form the medium supply unit 2. The user carries the medium W into the opening at the other end of the pipe portion 6 of the medium supply mechanism 4. At this time, the amount of the medium W carried in from the pipe portion 6 is appropriately determined according to the planned location for supplying the medium W.
[0027] After the medium W is carried into the medium supply mechanism 4, the medium supply unit 2 is attached to the flying object 3. After the medium supply unit 2 is attached to the flying object 3, the user makes the flying object 3 fly by means of an electronic device. Note that before and after the flying of the flying object 3, since the pipe portion 6 is inclined, the medium W moves through the pipe portion 6 from the other end to one end thereof.
[0028] The user makes the flying object 3 fly to a desired point. The user who has made the flying object 3 fly to the desired point drives the rotating body 41 by operating an electric device.
[0029] As shown in FIGS. 4(A) to 4(B), first, the medium W first carried into the pipe portion 6 is delivered from one end of the pipe portion 6 to the recessed portion 44 of the rotating body 41. Note that the initial position of the recessed portion 44 is not particularly limited.
[0030] Next, when the rotating body 41 rotates via the rotation axis, the medium W is moved in the falling direction. At this time, since the medium W is spherical, although the medium (first medium W1) moved in the falling direction by the rotating body 41 and the medium (second medium W2) arranged in the pipe portion 6 to be moved in the falling direction by the next operation are in continuous contact, since the media rotate in opposite directions to each other, even if the medium W is brittle, the impact can be weakened. Also, since the total length of the shortest straight line from the deepest part of the bottom surface 43 of the rotating body 41 to the rotation axis of the rotating body 41 (L1) and the diameter (L3) of the medium W is greater than the radius (L2) of the rotating body 41 (L1 + L3 > L2), it is possible to avoid the circumferential surface and the wall surface 42 near the recessed portion 44 from contacting the second medium W2 until the end point of the contact point of the first medium W1 and the second medium W2 accompanying the rotation of the rotating body 41.
[0031] Next, as shown in FIG. 4(C), as the first medium W1 moves in the falling direction, the circumferential surface of the rotating body 41 prevents the second medium W2 from being carried out from one end of the pipe portion 6. Also at this time, since the second medium W2 is spherical, the second medium W2 rotates as the circumferential surface rotates, and excessive collapse can be avoided.
[0032] Next, as shown in FIG. 4(D), after dropping the first medium W1, the recess 44 of the rotating body 41 moves toward one end of the pipe portion 6 as the rotation axis rotates in the reverse direction.
[0033] Then, as shown in FIG. 4(E), the second medium W2 moves into the recess 44, and the same operation is repeated.
[0034] According to the medium supply mechanism 4 according to the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, the medium supply mechanism 4 includes a rotating body 41, a wall surface 42 and a bottom surface 43 formed from the circumferential surface of the rotating body 41 toward the rotation axis of the rotating body 41, a recess 44 capable of accommodating the medium W, a pipe portion 6 having an inner diameter capable of accommodating one medium W and having one end disposed on the circumferential surface, and a driving portion that rotatably drives the rotation axis. More specifically, taking the seeding of seeds in the prior art as an example, a large number of seed balls are dropped at one time. Therefore, taking seeds as an example, seeding is only performed locally, and seeds cannot be sown over a wide area. On the other hand, in the medium supply mechanism 4, the medium supply unit 2, and the medium supply system 1 of the present embodiment, by having the above-described configuration, the inner diameters of the rotating body 41 and the pipe portion 6 are defined, and the supply of the medium W to the land can be effectively performed.
[0035] Further, in the medium supply mechanism 4 of the present embodiment, as described above, when the medium W is spherical, the straight-line length from the rotation axis of the rotating body 41 to the circumferential surface may be equal to or less than the sum of the shortest length from the rotation axis to the bottom surface 43 and the diameter of the medium W. In this case, after accommodating one medium W in the rotating body 41, it is possible to avoid the recess 44 of the rotating body 41 from excessively contacting the medium W to be accommodated in the rotating body 41 next, which leads to not excessively collapsing the medium W to be accommodated next.
[0036] Also, in the medium supply mechanism 4 of the present embodiment, as described above, it is formed by the rotating body 41, the wall surface 42 and the bottom surface 43 formed from the circumferential surface of the rotating body 41 toward the rotation axis of the rotating body 41, and has a recess 44 capable of accommodating the medium W, and has an inner diameter capable of accommodating one medium W, and is arranged with one end facing the circumferential surface, and the medium W is conveyed in a more organized and single row, and a pipe portion 6, and a drive portion that rotatably drives the rotation axis may be provided. In this case, the relationship between the rotating body 41 and the pipe portion 6 is defined, and the supply of the medium W to the ground can be effectively performed.
[0037] Also, in the medium supply unit 2 of the present embodiment, as described above, it includes the medium supply mechanism 4 and the tank portion 5 in which the medium supply mechanism 4 is accommodated. When the medium supply mechanism 4 is accommodated in the tank portion 5, it has a structure in which the medium W is sent from the other end to the one end of the pipe portion 6. In this case, due to the structure in which the medium W is sent from the other end to the one end of the pipe portion 6, the medium W carried into the pipe portion 6 can be appropriately moved from the other end to the one end of the pipe portion 6.
[0038] Also, in the medium supply system 1 of the present embodiment, as described above, it includes the medium supply unit 2 and the flying object 3 to which the medium supply unit 2 is connected. In this case, the medium supply unit 2 can be transported by the flying object 3, and the supply of the medium W to the ground can be effectively performed over a wide range, and the distance and time intervals of the supply of the medium W to the ground can be adjusted.
[0039] Note that the medium supply system 1 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the above-described mode, and various modifications can be made.
[0040] For example, the flying object 3 according to the present embodiment may further include a camera. Thereby, the flying object 3 can capture images and videos during flight, and the user can recognize the surrounding environment through the camera, and it becomes easier to supply the medium W to the ground at a desired location.
[0041] Also, in this embodiment, the circumferential surface of the rotating body 41 has been exemplified and described as a member formed by the circumferential surface and smooth surfaces formed at both ends of the circumferential surface, respectively. However, this embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the rotating body 41 may have a three-dimensional shape formed by a spherical shape, an oval shape, a polygonal shape, or the like.
[0042] Further, in this embodiment, the form in which the pipe portion 6 housed in the tank portion 5 hangs down from the other end to the one end and forms a conveyance path of the switchback-like medium W has been exemplified and described. However, it is not limited thereto. For example, as long as it can be housed in the tank portion 5, the pipe portion 6 may have a form in which a loop-line-like conveyance path is formed. Also, it is not necessary for one pipe portion 6 to be bent at once by 180 degrees or an angle in the vicinity thereof. For example, a plurality of pipe portions 6 may be connected to form the pipe portion 6. Also, as long as it can be housed in the tank portion 5, the pipe portion 6 may be bent a plurality of times to form a conveyance path of the medium W.
[0043] Also, in the medium supply mechanism 4 according to this embodiment, as long as the medium W can be conveyed, the pipe portion 6 does not have to hang down from the other end to the one end. For example, the medium W may be pushed from the other end toward the one end by an extrusion mechanism (not shown) that pushes out the medium W with a spring or the like provided in the pipe portion 6. Also, the medium W may be conveyed by a conveyor mechanism (not shown) installed inside the pipe portion 6. Also, an inclination mechanism (not shown) may be provided inside the pipe portion 6, and the medium W may be moved inside the pipe portion 6 via the inclination mechanism. By these means, even if the pipe portion 6 does not hang down from the other end to the one end, the medium W can be moved inside the pipe portion 6.
[0044] Also, in this embodiment, the form in which the rotating shaft rotates in the reverse direction has been exemplified and described. However, it is not limited thereto. For example, the rotating shaft may rotate in one direction.
[0045] In addition, the rotating body 41 and the pipe portion 6 according to the present embodiment may be appropriately replaced according to the size of the medium W. Thereby, even when the size of the medium W to be supplied is changed, by replacing the rotating body 41 and the pipe portion 6 according to the size of the medium W, the same effects as the system according to the present embodiment can be obtained.
[0046] In addition, in the present embodiment, the medium W formed in a spherical shape has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. When the medium W is not spherical, for example, the rotating body 41 may be a belt conveyor.
[0047] In addition, in the present embodiment, the form in which one medium W is accommodated in the recess 44 in the medium supply system 1 has been illustrated and described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a plurality of media W may be accommodated in the recess 44. In this case, the size of the medium W is appropriately adjusted. Also, the size of the recess and the opening in the recess 44 may be appropriately adjusted.
Explanation of Reference Numerals
[0048] 1: Medium supply system 2: Medium supply unit 3: Flying object 4: Medium supply mechanism 5: Tank portion 6: Pipe portion 41: Rotating body 42: Wall surface 43: Bottom surface 44: Recess W: Medium W1: First medium W2: Second medium
Claims
1. A rotating body, A recess formed by a wall surface and a bottom surface formed from the circumferential surface of the rotating body toward the rotation axis of the rotating body, capable of accommodating a medium, A pipe portion having an inner diameter capable of accommodating one of the media and disposed with one end facing the circumferential surface, A drive unit that rotatably drives the rotation axis, and A medium supply mechanism.
2. When the medium is spherical, the length of the straight line from the rotation axis of the rotating body to the circumferential surface is less than or equal to the sum of the shortest length from the rotation axis to the bottom surface and the diameter of the medium, The medium supply mechanism according to Claim 1.
3. A rotating body, A recess formed by a wall surface and a bottom surface formed from the circumferential surface of the rotating body toward the rotation axis of the rotating body, capable of accommodating a medium, A pipe portion having an inner diameter capable of accommodating one of the media, disposed with one end facing the circumferential surface, and through which the media are conveyed in a single layer and in a single row, A drive unit that rotatably drives the rotation axis, and A medium supply mechanism.
4. The medium supply mechanism according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, and A tank portion in which the medium supply mechanism is housed, and When the medium supply mechanism is housed in the tank portion, the structure is such that the medium is sent from the other end of the pipe portion toward the one end, A medium supply unit.
5. The medium supply unit according to Claim 4, and An aircraft to which the medium supply unit is connected, and A medium supply system.