Fruit shelf device

Abstract

To provide a fruit shelf device capable of achieving a high work efficiency with a simple structure.SOLUTION: Provided is a fruit shelf device comprising at least two support posts erected with a gap between mounting surfaces, and a wire stretched between the support posts, and supporting climbing plants with the wire. The fruit shelf device comprises: a second support post joined to the support posts so as to be vertically extendable; and a telescopic part having a pantograph structure, that connects an intermediate fulcrum provided on the support posts with a free fulcrum at an upper end of the second support post, and which can vertically extend. The telescopic part comprises two lower arms that intersect each other and are rotatably supported at the intermediate fulcrum, enabling symmetrically raising and lowering; and two upper arms that intersect each other and are rotatably supported at the free fulcrum, enabling symmetrically raising and lowering. The upper arms and the lower arms are rotatably connected respectively at an intermediate position in a height direction of the second support post, and the wire is stretched between the lower arms that the different support posts have.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a fruit rack device. [Background technology]

[0002] Fruit trellis devices are often used for cultivating vines such as grapes. Patent Document 1 describes a fruit trellis device characterized by "a plurality of supports erected on the ground at intervals in a straight line, the bases of branches pivotally supported at the middle portions of each support, the ends of wire ropes attached to the tips of the branches, the wire ropes stretched and retracted over the tops of the supports, and a plurality of tension wires stretched between the branches to form a trellis around which the vines can wrap." [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-153876 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The fruit rack device described in Patent Document 1 uses wire ropes to allow the angle of the branches to be freely adjusted, making it possible to change the angle of the rack depending on the purpose and season. However, wire rope structures tend to require a large number of parts and a large number of different types, including a winch, drum (pulley), wire rope, and frame material. This results in high costs, which hinders the introduction of large numbers of these systems on large farms. There are also maintenance issues. There were also issues with robustness, such as deterioration of the wire rope, misalignment of the angle due to stretching, and damage to the fruit trellis device due to breakage.

[0005] The present disclosure solves one of the problems of the above-mentioned conventional techniques. One of the specific problems to be solved is to provide a fruit rack device that can achieve high work efficiency and has a simple structure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One embodiment of the fruit shelf device disclosed herein is a fruit shelf device comprising at least two support posts installed upright with a gap between them on an installation surface, and a wire stretched between the support posts, with vines supported by the wire. The fruit shelf device further comprises a second support post joined to the support post so that it can expand and contract in the vertical direction, and an extension section with a pantograph structure that is connected between an intermediate fulcrum on the support post and a free fulcrum at the upper end of the second support post and expands and contracts up and down. The extension section comprises two lower arms that intersect at the intermediate fulcrum, are rotatably supported, and move up and down symmetrically, and two upper arms that intersect at the free fulcrum, are rotatably supported, and move up and down symmetrically. The upper arms and the lower arms are each rotatably connected at a position midway along the height of the second support post, and the wire is stretched between the lower arms of different support posts. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The present disclosure solves any one of the problems of the prior art. One of the specific effects is to provide a fruit rack device that can achieve high work efficiency and has a simple structure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of a fruit rack device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of a fruit rack device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the fruit rack device of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 2 is an enlarged view of the fruit rack device of the first embodiment taken along line AA'. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the portion of the arch-shaped member that is fixed to the bar material. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the fruit rack device, showing a state in which a sheet is attached along the arch-shaped member. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a right side view of the fruit rack device, showing the sheet attached along the arch-shaped member. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a front view of the extension / contraction section, showing the state in which it is moved downward. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a right side view of the fruit rack device of the second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a right side view of the fruit rack device of the third embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of another embodiment of the portion of the arch-shaped member that is fixed to the bar material. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of another embodiment of the portion of the arch-shaped member that is fixed to the bar material. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A first embodiment of a fruit shelf device disclosed herein is a fruit shelf device comprising at least two support posts installed upright with a gap between them on an installation surface, and a wire stretched between the support posts, with vines supported by the wire. The fruit shelf device further comprises a second support post joined to the support post so that it can be extended and retracted in the vertical direction, and an extension section with a pantograph structure connected between an intermediate fulcrum on the support post and a free fulcrum at the upper end of the second support post, and extending and retracting up and down. The extension section comprises two lower arms that intersect at the intermediate fulcrum, are rotatably supported, and move up and down symmetrically, and two upper arms that intersect at the free fulcrum, are rotatably supported, and move up and down symmetrically. The upper arms and the lower arms are each rotatably connected at a midpoint in the height direction of the second support post, and the wire is stretched between the lower arms of different support posts.

[0010] In the above-mentioned fruit rack device, the shelf is formed by a wire stretched across a lower arm with a pantograph structure. Therefore, the angle of the lower arm, i.e., the angle of the shelf, can be easily changed simply by changing the height of the free fulcrum. Changing the height requires, for example, simply changing the fixed position of the second support pole relative to the support pole, so no special mechanism or components are required. As a result, the number and types of parts required (especially the types) are reduced. Furthermore, because the lower arm is supported by the upper arm and the support pole, it is more robust than when it is suspended and fixed by a wire rope.

[0011] Conventional fruit rack devices had the problem that the shape and dimensions of the racks would change depending on the person assembling the device and the location where the device was installed, resulting in different (optimal) cultivation conditions depending on the farmer or farm. Different cultivation conditions require corresponding variations in the tools and machinery required for cultivation. In other words, since specifications that can be adapted to various cultivation conditions are required, there is also the problem that the development costs for the equipment increase, resulting in high equipment prices.

[0012] The above-mentioned fruit trellis device has a simpler structure and can be used under uniform conditions at various farms for cultivating vines such as grapes. Therefore, the fruit trellis device contributes to standardizing the cultivation conditions that previously varied from farm to farm. By simplifying and standardizing the cultivation conditions, it is possible to reduce the development costs and specifications of the required equipment, making it possible to keep the equipment costs low not only for the fruit trellis device (which is low-cost) but also for related tools and machinery.

[0013] A second embodiment of the fruit rack device of the present disclosure is the fruit rack device of the first embodiment, in which the lower arms of the different support posts are arranged to be approximately parallel to each other.

[0014] In the fruit rack device, a pair of lower arms on each of the two support posts are arranged approximately parallel to each other between the two posts spaced apart. This makes it easy to maintain tension in the wires stretched across the lower arms. As a result, the device can stably support the vines even when they are heavy (e.g., when they are bearing fruit).

[0015] The third embodiment of the fruit shelf device disclosed herein is a fruit shelf device in which the second embodiment is further equipped with a trolley, the loading platform of the trolley being the installation surface, and the vine plants are placed on the installation surface between the two supports, making them movable.

[0016] In the above-described fruit trolley device, supports and other components, including the vines, can be mounted on a cart. This allows the fruit trolley device to be moved along with the vines. This configuration allows, for example, for the fruit to be grown outdoors, but temporarily moved indoors in the event of a typhoon or other disaster. Furthermore, just before the fruit is harvested, the fruit can be moved indoors (e.g., in a greenhouse) to prevent theft. In other words, the cultivation location can be changed as needed depending on the purpose, season, etc.

[0017] A fourth embodiment of the fruit shelf device of the present disclosure is a fruit shelf device in the third embodiment, which further comprises two rods that are respectively spanned between the lower arms provided on different supports or the upper arms.

[0018] By bridging the rod between the lower arms or the upper arms, the overall structure tends to be more robust.

[0019] The fifth embodiment of the fruit shelf device disclosed herein is a fruit shelf device in the fourth embodiment, which is equipped with at least two arch-shaped members that are spanned between the two rods and are convex upward, and which is fixed to the arch-shaped members and stretched above the upper arm.

[0020] By stretching a sheet over the upper arm, it is possible to prevent rain from reaching the vines (stems and shoots) supported by the trellis (hanging wires), resulting in the production of higher quality fruit. The material of the arch-shaped member is not particularly limited, but resin is preferable because it can be deformed more flexibly.

[0021] A sixth embodiment of the fruit rack device of the present disclosure is the fruit rack device of the fifth embodiment, which is configured so that the position of the intermediate support point in the height direction of the support pole can be changed.

[0022] By making it possible to change the height of the intermediate support, it is possible to change only its height while maintaining the angle of the pantograph structure. Specifically, the position of the second support and the position of the intermediate support are moved in the same direction by the same amount. The angle of the pantograph structure is synonymous with the angle of the shelf. There is a demand for maintaining the shelf angle at a certain angle during cultivation to adjust the amount of sunlight that reaches the vines. On the other hand, there is a demand for changing the shelf height depending on the type of work, the height of the worker, etc. The above-mentioned fruit shelf device can achieve both of these goals.

[0023] A seventh embodiment of the fruit rack device of the present disclosure is the fruit rack device of the sixth embodiment, further comprising a second bar member that is bridged between the two support posts.

[0024] By bridging the rod between the two supports, the overall structure tends to be more robust. Also, even if the structure shakes when being moved by a cart, the distance between the supports tends to be kept appropriate.

[0025] The eighth embodiment of the fruit shelf device disclosed herein is a fruit shelf device in which the support pillar, the second support pillar, the upper arm, and the lower arm are made of at least one type of metal plate selected from the group consisting of flat, L-shaped cross-section, and U-shaped cross-section.

[0026] The main components of the fruit rack device are made of flat, L-shaped, or U-shaped metal plates. The L-shaped or U-shaped metal plates can be formed simply by bending flat metal plates. This configuration makes it easier to manufacture each component, further reducing overall costs. As a result, it is easier to introduce into large-scale farms. Furthermore, when disassembled, the components are made of the same type (plate-shaped materials), making them more compact and more efficient to transport. The material of the metal plate is not particularly limited, but examples include iron and aluminum. The thickness and length are not particularly limited and may be adjusted appropriately depending on the intended use, the height of the worker, the size of the installation location, etc. In one embodiment, the thickness of the metal plate is preferably about 0.5 to 5 mm.

[0027] The fruit rack device of the present disclosure will be described in further detail below based on examples. The following description is based on a typical embodiment, and it goes without saying that modifications and substitutions to known configurations are possible as long as the same effects are achieved. In this specification, a numerical range expressed using "to" means a range that includes the numerical values ​​before and after "to" as the lower and upper limits.

[0028] The following examples are merely examples that embody the technical ideas, and do not limit the materials, shapes, structures, and arrangements of the components to the following examples. The drawings are schematic. Therefore, the relationship and ratio between thickness and planar dimensions may differ from the actual ones, and the relationship and ratio between dimensions may also differ between the drawings.

[0029] FIG. 1 is a front view of a fruit rack device of Example 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fruit rack device of Example 1. FIG. 3 is a right side view of the fruit rack device of Example 1, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of line AA'. In each figure, axes common to the respective figures are indicated in the margins, and the directions represented by each axis are defined. The following description will be based on the directions defined by these axes.

[0030] The fruit trellis device is mainly composed of two supports 10 installed upright at an arbitrary distance from each other on the installation surface (in this case, the ground G). Six wires 1 are strung between the two supports 10, which support a vine 200. The vine 200 has a trunk 206 extending from a container 208, and new shoots 204 branching off from the trunk 206. The new shoots 204 are supported by the wires 1. Before harvesting, fruits 202 hang downward from the new shoots 204.

[0031] A second support column 12 is joined to the support column 10 so as to be vertically expandable and contractible. The second support column 12 can be screwed into holes 12A, 12B, and 12C provided at different positions in the height direction of the support column 10. In other words, the height of the second support column 12 can be changed by changing the positions of the holes 12A, 12B, and 12C used for the stator.

[0032] Two upper arms 14A, 14B and two lower arms 16A, 16B are joined to the support pillar 10 and the second support pillar 12 to form a pantograph structure. That is, an intermediate fulcrum 52 is provided at a midpoint in the height direction of the support pillar 10. The lower arms 16A, 16B cross each other at this intermediate fulcrum 52 and are rotatably supported. The height (up and down) position of the intermediate fulcrum 52 is variable. Holes 10A, 10B, and 10C are provided in the support pillar 10 at different positions in the height direction, and by pivotally supporting the lower arms 16A and 16B at any of these holes, this position can become the intermediate fulcrum 52.

[0033] Meanwhile, a free fulcrum 50 is provided at the upper end of the second support column 12. The upper arms 14A, 14B cross each other at the free fulcrum 50 and are rotatably supported. In this embodiment, the position of the free fulcrum 50 in the height direction of the second support column 12 is fixed. However, holes may be provided at different positions in the height direction of the second support column 12 to make the position of the free fulcrum 50 variable.

[0034] Upper arm 14A and lower arm 16A are rotatably connected at cross fulcrum 54. Meanwhile, upper arm 14B and lower arm 16B are rotatably connected at cross fulcrum 56. With this configuration, a pantograph structure is realized in which upper arms 14A, 14B and lower arms 16A, 16B are raised and lowered symmetrically on the left and right sides while free fulcrum 50 is moved in the vertical direction with intermediate fulcrum 52 as a fixed fulcrum, thereby forming a parallelogram.

[0035] This pantograph structure allows the angle of the lower arms 16A, 16B to be changed by moving the free fulcrum 50 downward. Fixing holes 12A, 12B, 12C of the second support column 12 can be selected so that the lower arms 16A, 16B are at a predetermined angle.

[0036] The lower arms 16A, 16B (and the upper arms 14A, 14B) are provided on each of the two supports 10. The lower arms 16A, 16B provided on each of the two supports are arranged so that they are parallel to each other. By arranging them in this manner, the tension of the wire 1 is more easily maintained, and even heavy new shoots 204 can be supported more stably.

[0037] The lower arms 16A and 16B are provided with a plurality of holes 1A (three holes each in this embodiment) at mutually symmetrical positions. A wire 1 is hung between the two supports 10 via these holes 1A to form a "shelf." In this specification, the term "shelf" refers to a structure for supporting the vine plant 200. Specifically, it refers to a structure for entwining the new shoots 204 of the vine plant 200.

[0038] The support 10 is installed (standing) upright on the installation surface (ground G). The support 10 has legs 48, 49 at its lower end. The legs 48, 49 extend perpendicularly from the bottom end of the support 10 in the left-right direction. The legs 48, 49 are combined to form a T-shape in a plan view, and the support 10 is placed at the intersection of the two legs 48, 49. Furthermore, diagonal reinforcements 40, 42, 44 extend from the legs 48, 49 toward the support 10 and are fixed to the support 10. The diagonal reinforcement 44 extending from the leg 49 is screwed directly to the support 10. Meanwhile, the diagonal reinforcements 40, 42 extending from both ends of the leg 48 are fixed to a support plate 46 screwed to the support 10. The support 10 configured in this manner can stand on its own.

[0039] Two support columns 10 are erected on the installation surface (ground G) and each of them is freestanding. The upper arms 14A, 14B of the two support columns 10 have rods 18A, 18B fixed thereto, facing the upper arm 14A, 14B of the other support column 10. In other words, the rod 18B is bridged from one upper arm 14B (14A) to the other upper arm 14B (14A). The rods 18A, 18B function as so-called "beams," further improving the robustness of the frame structure of the fruit rack device.

[0040] Arch-shaped members 20 are fixed to the two rods 18A and 18B, respectively, so as to be approximately perpendicular to them. The bases of the arch-shaped members 20 are fixed to the rods 18A and 18B, respectively, so that they are convex upward. The direction of the arch (convex upward) of the arch-shaped members 20 is adjusted so that they are positioned above the upper arms 14A and 14B.

[0041] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view (perspective view) of the portion of the arch-shaped member 20 that is fixed to the bar 18B. The arch-shaped member 20 is fixed by a fixing band 60 that is wound around the bar 18B. The fixing band 60 is composed of a band main body 60A, a pair of male and female clasps 60B provided at each end of the band main body 60A, and a slit 60C provided midway along the length of the band main body 60A. The band main body 60A is fixed in a state where it is wound around the bar 18B by the clasps 60B at the ends. The arch-shaped member 20 is inserted into the slit 60C and fixed so that it passes through it. The method of fixing the arch-shaped member 20 to the bar 18A is the same as above.

[0042] 12 and 13 are enlarged views (perspective views) of another embodiment of the portion of the arch-shaped member 20 that is fixed to the bar 18B. In Figure 12, similarly to the above, the arch-shaped member 20 is fixed by a fixing band 62 wound around a rod 18B. The fixing band 62 is composed of a band main body 62A, a pair of female and male clasps 62B provided at each end of the band main body 62A, and a slit 62C provided midway along the length of the band main body 62A. The band main body 62A is fixed in a state where it is wound around the rod 18B by the clasps 62B at the ends. The arch-shaped member 20 is inserted into the slit 62C and fixed so that it passes through it. The main difference from the above (Fig. 5) is the position of the clasp 62B. Whereas in the above, it was horizontal, it is downward in Fig. 12. The material of the fixing band 62 is not particularly limited, but it may be made of metal, for example.

[0043] In Figure 13, arch-shaped member 20 is fixed to bar 18B by fastener 63 made by bending a metal bar. Fastener 63 fixes arch-shaped member 20 by bending it toward bar 18B using its own elastic force. This makes it possible to fix arch-shaped member 20 with a simpler configuration.

[0044] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the fruit trolley device 100, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the fruit trolley device 100. Both views show a state in which a sheet 62 is attached along the arch-shaped members 20. The rectangular sheet 62 is attached by fixing both ends to the arch-shaped members 20 so as to cover the multiple arch-shaped members 20. The sheet 62 is made of transparent resin. The sheet 62 functions like a roof for the wire 1 (i.e., the trolley) stretched across the lower arms 16A and 16B. The sheet 62 protects the trolley from rain, resulting in higher quality fruit.

[0045] Next, the up and down movement of the expansion and contraction part of the pantograph structure will be described. Figure 8 is a front view of the expansion and contraction part, and Figure 9 is a front view showing the state in which it is moved downward. As described above, the telescopic section includes the upper arms 14A and 14B, the lower arms 16A and 16B, the free fulcrum 50, the intermediate fulcrum 52, and the cross fulcrums 54 and 56.

[0046] To explain again, first, second support 12 is fixed to support 10 so as to be extendable and contractible in the vertical direction. Second support 12 is fixed to one of holes 12A, 12B, and 12C formed at different positions in the height direction of support 10. In Fig. 8, second support 12 is fixed to hole 12A.

[0047] The lower arms 16A and 16B are rotatably fixed to an intermediate fulcrum 52. The lower arms 16A and 16B intersect at the intermediate fulcrum 52. The intermediate fulcrum 52 is formed by using a hole 10A. The hole 10A penetrates the support 10 in the thickness direction from the front to the rear. The lower arm 16B is fixed to one side (the front side) of the hole 10A, and the lower arm 16A is fixed to the other side (the rear side) of the hole 10A. In other words, the lower arms 16A and 16B are rotatably screwed into the hole 10A of the support 10. The support 10 is formed with holes 10B and 10C of different heights, making the height of the intermediate fulcrum 52 adjustable.

[0048] The method for adjusting (changing) the height of the extension section without changing the angles of the upper arms 14A, 14B and the lower arms 16A, 16B is as shown in Figure 9. First, the fixing point of the second support 12 is moved from hole 12A to hole 12C. If this is done alone, the parallelogram of the pantograph structure will be distorted, and the upper arms 14A, 14B and the lower arms 16A, 16B will be changed. The angle of the lower arms 16A, 16B indicates the angle (openness) of the trellis. The openness of the trellis affects the amount of sunlight reaching the shoots, so it can be adjusted appropriately depending on the variety of vine plant 200, the season, etc.

[0049] When changing only the height of the telescopic section without changing the angles of upper arms 14A, 14B and lower arms 16A, 16B, the position of intermediate fulcrum 52 is changed accordingly. That is, hole 10A is changed to hole 10C. If the spacing between holes 12A, 12B, 12C and holes 10A, 10B, 10C is made approximately the same, the above operation allows only the height to be changed without changing the angle (of the parallelogram) of the telescopic section.

[0050] Next, another embodiment of the fruit rack device will be described. Fig. 10 is a right side view of a fruit rack device of the second embodiment. The fruit rack device 300 has the same basic configuration as the fruit rack device 100. One of the features of the fruit rack device 300 is that it is equipped with a cart 302.

[0051] The cart 302 has a plate-shaped main body 306 and wheels 304A and 304B that are attached to the main body 306 and allow the main body 306 to move. In the fruit rack device 300, the two supports 10 and the vine 200 (not shown), including the container 208, are installed on the main surface 308 of the main body 306 of the cart 302. In other words, the "installation surface" of the fruit rack device 300 is the main surface 308.

[0052] The fruit shelf device 300 configured in this manner is movable, including the vines 200. With this configuration, for example, while the fruit is normally grown outdoors, it can be temporarily moved indoors in the event of a typhoon or the like. Also, just before the fruit is harvested, it can be moved indoors (for example, in a greenhouse) to prevent theft. In other words, the cultivation location can be changed as needed depending on the purpose, season, etc.

[0053] Next, another embodiment of the fruit rack device will be described. Fig. 11 is a right side view of a fruit rack device of the third embodiment. The fruit rack device 400 has four support posts 10 (and associated components). That is, four sets 402, 404, 406, 408 including the support posts 10 are arranged at predetermined intervals. With this configuration, the size (length) of the fruit rack device 400 can be changed as desired depending on the size of the farm, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1 wire rod 10 pillars 1A, 10A, 10B, 10C, 12A, 12B, 12C holes 12 Second pillar 14A, 14B upper arms 16A, 16B lower arms 18A, 18B bar material 20 Arched Member 40, 42, 44 Reinforcement 46 board 48, 49 legs 50 Free fulcrum 52 Intermediate fulcrum 54, 56 Crossing points 60, 62 fixed band 60A, 62A band body 60B, 62B clasp 60C, 62C slit 62 seats 63 Fasteners 100, 300, 400 Fruit shelf device 200 Vines 202 Fruit 204 New tree shoots 206 Trunk 208 Container 302 Cart 304A wheels 304B Wheel 306 Main Unit 308 Main Surface

Claims

1. At least two support posts installed upright and spaced apart on the installation surface; A wire rod is hung between the supports, and the wire rod supports vines. A second support column joined to the support column so as to be expandable and contractible in the vertical direction; an expansion / contraction section having a pantograph structure that is connected between an intermediate support point provided on the support pole and a free support point at the upper end of the second support pole and expands and contracts up and down; The stretchable portion is two lower arms that intersect at the intermediate fulcrum, are rotatably supported, and move up and down symmetrically; two upper arms that intersect at the free fulcrum, are rotatably supported, and move up and down symmetrically, the upper arm and the lower arm are rotatably connected to each other at a midpoint in the height direction of the second support column, The wire is hung between the lower arms of the different supports.

2. The fruit rack device according to claim 1 , wherein the lower arms of the different support posts are arranged to be substantially parallel to each other.

3. Furthermore, it is equipped with a trolley, The platform of the carriage serves as the installation surface, 3. The fruit rack device according to claim 2, wherein the vine plants are arranged on the installation surface between the two supports and are movable.

4. The fruit rack device according to claim 3 , further comprising two rods respectively spanning between the lower arms or the upper arms of different support posts.

5. The fruit shelf device of claim 4, further comprising at least two arch-shaped members that are bridged between the two rods and convex upward, and a sheet that is fixed to the arch-shaped members and stretched above the upper arm.

6. 6. The fruit rack device according to claim 5, wherein the position of the intermediate support point in the height direction of the support pole is changeable.

7. The fruit rack apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a second bar member spanning between the two support posts.

8. The fruit shelf device described in claim 7, wherein the support pillar, the second support pillar, the upper arm, and the lower arm are made of at least one type of metal plate selected from the group consisting of flat, L-shaped cross-section, and U-shaped cross-section.

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