Paddy field work machine

Abstract

To improve visibility in a paddy field work machine including a display device.SOLUTION: A rice transplanter 1 (paddy field work machine) includes: a bonnet 16 provided with a steering handle 13 and a dashboard 15; preliminary seedling placement tables 17 arranged opposite to each other in a right and left direction of the bonnet 16; and a tablet 40 (display device) installed in a space between the bonnet 16 and the preliminary seedling placement table 17 via a support structure 50. The tablet 40 (display device) is supported by the support structure 50 so as to be inclinable around a horizontal direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a new technique for arranging a display device near a steering handle of a paddy field working machine. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration for supporting a smartphone used for exchanging data with an external computer system, etc. The support arm for supporting the smartphone here has a base portion extending diagonally forward to the right from the handle post, an intermediate portion bending from the base portion and extending outward to the side, and an end portion bending further upward and extending, thereby disclosing technology for positioning the smartphone near the operator's steering handle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-65889 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The technology described in Patent Document 1 uses a fixed stand for display devices such as smartphones. Therefore, when using larger display devices, such as large tablet devices, the space to the side of the steering wheel becomes narrower, making it difficult to access the spare seedling carrier. At the same time, there are various requirements that must be met when installing a display device separate from the instruments near the steering wheel and away from the dashboard, such as ensuring the visibility of the display device and forward visibility while driving, and not compromising the operability of the steering wheel. The present invention has been proposed to solve these issues. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The vehicle comprises a bonnet on which a steering handle and a dashboard are mounted, a spare seedling carrier arranged opposite the left and right sides of the bonnet, and a display device installed in the space between the bonnet and the spare seedling carrier via a support structure, and the support structure is configured so that the display device can be retracted to either side of the bonnet or the spare seedling carrier to create space between the bonnet and the spare seedling carrier.

[0006] The support structure is rotatable in the front-rear direction around at least the vertical direction, and by rotating the display device in the front-rear direction, the display device can be retracted to either the bonnet or the spare seedling tray.

[0007] The support structure is configured to allow the installation height of the display device to be adjusted. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, a display device can be positioned while ensuring sufficient forward visibility while driving, without impairing access to the spare seedling tray, and without reducing workability. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] Side view of rice transplanter [Figure 2] Plan view of rice transplanter [Figure 3] Top perspective view of the driver's seat area from the rear [Figure 4] A diagram showing an example of a support structure for a tablet device [Figure 5] A diagram showing another example of a support structure for a tablet terminal [Figure 6] A diagram showing another example of a support structure for a tablet terminal DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The overall configuration of a rice transplanter 1, which is an example of a paddy field working machine, will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The rice transplanter 1 comprises a traveling body 2 and a planting implement 3 attached to the rear thereof, and performs planting work using the planting implement 3 while traveling on the traveling body 2. As with the rice transplanter 1, any paddy field working machine may be used as long as it comprises a traveling body and an implement that performs a specific work, and examples of such machines include a seed sower, a transplanter, and a paddy field management machine.

[0011] The traveling machine body 2 includes an engine 4, a transmission 5 that changes the speed of the power from the engine 4, a machine body frame 6 that supports the engine 4 and the transmission 5, and front wheels 7 and rear wheels 8 that are driven by the power transmitted from the engine 4 and the transmission 5.

[0012] Power from the engine 4 and the transmission 5 is transmitted to a front axle case 9 and a rear axle case 10, respectively. The front axle case 10 is supported at the front of the machine frame 6, and front wheels 7 are supported at both left and right ends thereof. Similarly, the rear axle case 10 is supported at the rear of the machine frame 6, and rear wheels 8 are supported at both left and right ends thereof. The upper part of the machine frame 6 is covered by a step 11, and the operator can move on the step 11.

[0013] A driver's seat 12 is located midway between the front and rear of the traveling body 2, and in front of it are provided a steering wheel 13, operating pedals 14, and a dashboard 15. The steering wheel 13 and dashboard 15 are mounted on a hood 16 that covers the engine 4. In addition to the steering wheel 13, the dashboard 15 is also equipped with various operating tools such as a main shift lever and a row stop switch, as well as a monitor panel that displays work information. Spare seedling carriers 17 are provided on both sides in front of the step 11. The spare seedling carriers 17 are positioned on opposite sides of the hood 16. The spare seedling carriers 17 are supported by front and rear frames 18 that extend upward from the side ends of the step 11.

[0014] The planting machine 3 is connected to the traveling body 2 via a lifting link mechanism 20. The lifting link mechanism 20 includes a pair of upper and lower links 21 and 22, a lifting cylinder, etc. The lower link 22 and the upper link 21 are rotated by the lifting cylinder to raise and lower the planting machine 3.

[0015] The planting implement 3 includes a planting arm 31, a planting claw 32, a seedling carrier 33, and a float 34. The planting claw 32 is attached to the planting arm 31. The planting implement 3 is driven by a PTO shaft extending rearward from the transmission 5. More specifically, power is transmitted from the PTO shaft via a planting center case 35 to a planting transmission case 36 provided on the planting implement 3, and the power is then distributed from the planting transmission case 36 to the planting arm 31 and the planting claw 32.

[0016] The planting arm 31 rotates using power transmitted from the planting transmission case 36. Seedlings are supplied to the planting claws 32 from a seedling carrier 33. As the planting arm 31 rotates, the planting claws 32 are inserted into the field, and the seedlings are planted to a predetermined planting depth. In this embodiment, rotary-type planting claws are used, but crank-type ones may also be used.

[0017] The seedling carrier 33 is made of plate-shaped members and is arranged so that it is inclined so that it is higher at the front and lower at the rear when viewed from the side of the machine. On the rear surface of the seedling carrier 33, a loading surface for placing seedling mats is formed according to the number of planting arms (number of rows of the rice transplanter). Since the rice transplanter 1 of this embodiment is a six-row planting rice transplanter, six loading surfaces are formed.

[0018] Next, an embodiment will be described in which a tablet terminal 40 is placed near the steering handle 13 of the rice transplanter 1. The tablet terminal 40 is a general tablet terminal equipped with a display device that can be operated to input data, and is used, for example, to display the driving route when the rice transplanter 1 is operated automatically, and to switch between automatic and manual driving.

[0019] The essential parts of the present invention will be described below. As shown in FIG. 3, the tablet terminal 40 is located to the side of the steering wheel 13, in an installation area A between the hood 16 and one of the left and right spare seedling carriers 17. In other words, the tablet terminal 40 is installed in the aisle between the hood 16 and the spare seedling carrier 17. Furthermore, by placing the tablet terminal 40 above the bottom of the dashboard 15, the driver's line of sight from the various operating tools and monitor panels provided on the dashboard 15 can be reduced. This allows for a layout that reduces driver fatigue, even when the tablet terminal 40 is used as a driving operation device. In other words, it is preferable to install the tablet terminal 40 above the bottom of the dashboard 15, taking into consideration visibility and the impact on driving operation.

[0020] On the other hand, if the tablet terminal 40 is placed too high, it may affect the forward field of view, so it is not preferable to place it much higher than the height of the steering wheel 13. In other words, from the viewpoint of ensuring visibility and workability, it is preferable that the installation area A for the tablet terminal 40 be an area that extends roughly to the side from the dashboard 15. Furthermore, by placing the tablet terminal 40 in an area to the side of the steering wheel 13, it is possible to prevent it from interfering with the operation of the steering wheel 13.

[0021] As described above, the installation area A for the tablet terminal 40 is the space between the hood 16 and the spare seedling carrier 17, and therefore, when adding spare seedling mats placed on the spare seedling carrier 17 or when getting on and off the front of the rice transplanter 1 by moving the front of the rice transplanter 1 close to the edge of the field, it is necessary to pass through this space. For this reason, in this embodiment, a support structure for supporting the tablet terminal 40 is devised. That is, a structure is adopted in which the tablet terminal 40 is placed in the installation area A when in use, and can be retracted from the installation area A when not in use, thereby freeing up the space.

[0022] For example, as shown in FIG. 4, by using a support frame 43 having a joint part 41 that can rotate (rotate in the front-to-rear direction of the rice transplanter 1) around an axis (rear frame 18) that extends in the vertical direction and a holding part 42 that can hold a tablet terminal 40, and attaching the support frame 43 to the frame 18 of the spare seedling carrier 17, it is possible to switch between a use position placed in the installation area A and a retracted position retracted from the installation area A. The joint part 41 is detachably attached to the frame 18. The holding part 42 extends horizontally from the joint part 41 and has a holder at its tip that holds the tablet terminal 40.

[0023] In addition, by providing multiple fixing holes 44 in the vertical direction on the frame 18 and selecting any of the fixing holes 44 on the frame 18 of the spare seedling carrier 17 as the mounting position for the support frame 43 (i.e., the mounting position for the joint part 41), the vertical position of the tablet terminal 40 can be easily adjusted.

[0024] As described above, with the support structure of this embodiment, the tablet terminal 40 is placed between the hood 16 and the spare seedling carrier 17 in the left-right direction (installation area A), and when passing through that space, such as when transplanting seedlings into the spare seedling mat, the support frame 43 can be folded toward the spare seedling carrier 17, thereby freeing up the space between the hood 16 and the spare seedling carrier 17 as a passageway. This allows for good placement of the tablet terminal 40 as a large display device without impairing access to the spare seedling carrier 17 or reducing workability, while ensuring sufficient forward visibility when the rice transplanter 1 is traveling.

[0025] Furthermore, by attaching the support frame 43 to the frame 18 of the spare seedling carrier 17, which has a relatively high degree of design freedom, it is possible to improve the expandability of existing models. Also, since the support frame 43 can be attached to any mounting position on the frame 18, it is possible to adjust the height and position the tablet terminal 40 in an optimal position according to the operator's physique, posture, etc.

[0026] 4, an embodiment has been described in which the support frame 43 of the tablet terminal 40 is provided with a joint 41 that rotates in the front-to-rear direction, but the support structure for supporting the tablet terminal 40 is not limited to this as long as it allows the tablet terminal 40 to be moved from a position within the installation area A to a folded position. For example, a multi-joint support structure may be used, or the tablet terminal 40 may be attached to the hood 16 side instead of the spare seedling carrier 17 side.

[0027] The support structure 50 shown in Fig. 5 includes a joint 41 that rotates in the front-rear direction around the vertical direction, a holding portion 42 that holds the tablet terminal 40, and a tilt portion 51 that tilts in the front-rear direction around the horizontal direction. The support structure 50 includes the tilt portion 51, which enables the tablet terminal 40 to be tilted and supported. This allows the tablet terminal 40 to be tilted toward the driver, improving visibility. The tilt portion 51 may be incorporated into the holding portion 42.

[0028] The support structure 60 shown in FIG. 6 includes a first joint 61 and a second joint 62 that rotate in the front-rear direction around the up-down direction, and a third joint 63 that allows the tablet terminal 40 to be tilted freely in three dimensions. The third joint 63 includes a spherical joint member and holds the tablet terminal 40 so that it can be tilted three-dimensionally. As such, the support structure 60 includes two joints, the first joint 61 and the second joint 62, as joints for position adjustment, thereby expanding the range of position adjustment and enabling the tablet terminal 40 to be positioned more appropriately. In addition, the support structure 60 includes the third joint 63 as a joint for tilting the tablet terminal 40 three-dimensionally. The support structure 60 has a multi-joint structure that not only tilts the tablet terminal 40 in the front-rear direction but also allows the angle of the tablet terminal 40 to be freely adjusted, thereby improving the visibility of the tablet terminal 40 as a display device and ultimately improving the operability of the rice transplanter 1.

[0029] In the above example, the tablet terminal 40 is attached to the spare seedling carrier 17, but it can also be attached to the hood 16. In this case, the same support structure as described above can be used. Furthermore, the tablet terminal 40 may be supported from both the spare seedling carrier 17 and the hood 16. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1: Rice transplanter (paddy field work machine), 13: Steering handle, 15: Dashboard, 16: Bonnet, 17: Spare seedling carrier, 18: Frame, 40: Tablet terminal (display device), 41: Joint, 42: Holder, 43: Support frame (support structure)

Claims

1. a hood on which a steering wheel and a dashboard are provided; A spare seedling tray arranged opposite to the left and right of the bonnet; A display device is installed in the space between the bonnet and the spare seedling tray via a support structure, the display device is supported by the support structure so as to be tiltable about a horizontal direction; A paddy field working machine characterized by:

2. The support structure is attached between the spare seedling trays arranged opposite each other in the left-right direction of the bonnet.

2. The paddy field working machine according to claim 1.

3. The support structure is attached to the bonnet side or the spare seedling tray.

2. The paddy field working machine according to claim 1.

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