Riding-type seedling transplanter

Abstract

To solve a problem that workability and working efficiency are still bad in work for taking out an empty seedling box from a loading base of a preliminary seedling loading part.SOLUTION: In the riding type seedling planter provided with a preliminary seedling placing part equipped with a loading table for placing seedling boxes on a front part of a traveling vehicle body, the preliminary seedling placing part is provided with a plurality of upper and lower placing parts, and in a developed state where the placing parts are developed linearly in a longitudinal direction, the plurality of placing parts are communicated in the longitudinal direction to be in a series state, and an empty seedling placing part positioned below the preliminary seedling placing part is provided, and the empty seedling placing part can support a plurality of empty seedling boxes in an overlapping manner. The riding type seedling transplanter is characterized in that a guide body for guiding the empty seedling box from the preliminary seedling placing part to the empty box placing part is provided, the guide body is not formed integrally with the preliminary seedling placing part but constituted of an independent member, the guide body can be switched from a posture substantially parallel to the preliminary seedling placing part to an inclined posture, and the empty seedling box is guided from the preliminary seedling placing part to the empty box placing part in the inclined posture.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a riding seedling planter equipped with a spare seedling carrier. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, some riding seedling planters, which plant seedlings while traveling through a field, are equipped with a spare seedling loading section with a loading platform on the traveling body, and the loading platform can be switched between a state in which it is connected in the same plane in the fore-and-aft direction of the machine body and a folded state (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-000045 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] If the front of the riding seedling planter is placed on a ridge or road and the loading platform of the spare seedling carrier is aligned on the same plane in the fore-and-aft direction of the machine body, it is easy to supply trays of raised seedlings from the ridge or road to the riding seedling planter, but the task of removing empty seedling trays from the loading platform of the spare seedling carrier is still difficult to work with and inefficient.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a ride-on seedling planting machine that can improve the workability and efficiency of the task of removing empty seedling trays from the loading platform of the spare seedling loading section. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The invention described in claim 1 is a riding seedling planting machine having a seedling planting unit attached to the rear of the traveling body and a spare seedling loading unit equipped with a loading platform for placing seedling boxes on the front of the traveling body, The spare seedling loading section has a plurality of upper and lower loading sections, and is configured so that when the loading sections are deployed linearly in the front-to-rear direction, the plurality of loading sections are connected in the front-to-rear direction and in a linear state, An empty box placing section is provided below the spare seedling placing section, and the empty box placing section can support a plurality of empty seedling boxes stacked on top of each other; This ride-on seedling planting machine is characterized in that it has a guide body that guides empty seedling boxes from the spare seedling loading section to the empty box loading section, the guide body is not formed integrally with the spare seedling loading section but is composed of an independent member, the guide body is switchable from a position approximately parallel to the spare seedling loading section to an inclined position, and in the inclined position it guides empty seedling boxes from the spare seedling loading section to the empty box loading section.

[0007] According to the invention of claim 1, by placing the front of the riding seedling planter on a ridge or road, it is easy to supply raised seedling trays from the ridge or road to the loading platform of the spare seedling carrier. Furthermore, the work of transferring empty seedling trays to the empty tray carrier can be done with good workability and efficiency. Furthermore, the work of removing empty seedling trays can be done with good workability and efficiency.

[0008] The invention of claim 2 is the riding seedling planter of claim 1, characterized in that the guide body can be maintained in a position approximately parallel to the spare seedling carrying section. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a riding rice transplanter according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a front view of a main part showing another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a front view of a main part showing another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a front view of a main part showing another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a main part showing another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a side view of the seedling tray according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a side view for explaining the operation of the seedling tray and seedling removal tool. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a side view for explaining the operation of the seedling tray and seedling removal tool. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the riding seedling planter disclosed in the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown below.

[0011] <Overall structure> The overall configuration of a riding rice transplanter 1 as a riding seedling transplanter according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0012] The riding rice transplanter 1 is equipped with a traveling body 2 that can travel in a field. The traveling body 2 is equipped with a pair of left and right front wheels 3 and a pair of left and right rear wheels 4. The traveling body 2 is, for example, a four-wheel drive in which the front wheels 3 and rear wheels 4 are driven. A seedling planting unit 30 that can be raised and lowered by a lifting device 20 is provided at the rear of the traveling body 2.

[0013] A spare seedling carrying section 50 is provided on both the left and right sides of the front of the traveling body 2.

[0014] <Running vehicle 2> The traveling vehicle body 2 comprises a body frame 5, an engine E mounted on the body frame 5, and a power transmission device 6 that transmits power generated by the engine E to the drive wheels and the seedling planting unit 30. In other words, the power generated by the engine E, which is the power source, is used not only to move the traveling vehicle body 2 forward or backward, but also to drive the seedling planting unit 30.

[0015] The engine E is disposed in the center of the traveling body 2 in the left-right direction, at a position that protrudes above the floor step 7 on which an operator riding on the traveling body 2 places his or her feet. A heat engine such as a diesel engine or a gasoline engine is used as the engine E. The floor step 7 is provided at the front of the traveling body 2 in the front-to-rear direction. The floor step 7 is provided from the front of the traveling body 2 to the rear of the engine E.

[0016] The floor step 7 is attached to the machine frame 5. Of the floor step 7, for example, a part near the cockpit 9 described below is formed in a grid pattern in a plan view so that mud adhering to the worker's shoes can be washed off into the field.

[0017] A front step 7F is provided at the front of the floor step 7, and left and right extension side steps 7S are provided on the left and right outer sides of the floor step 7. A rear step 7R that also serves as a fender for the rear wheel 4 is provided at the rear of the floor step 7, and boarding and alighting steps 7J for workers to get on and off the vehicle are provided on the outer sides of the left and right extension side steps 7S.

[0018] The engine E is covered by an engine cover 8. A pilot's seat 9 is provided above the engine cover 8. The pilot's seat 9 is a seat where an operator sits when operating the aircraft.

[0019] The power transmission device 6 includes a belt-type power transmission section 6a to which power is transmitted from the engine E, a hydraulic continuously variable transmission which is a transmission device that changes the speed of the power transmitted from the engine E via the belt-type power transmission section, and a transmission case 6b.

[0020] The hydraulic continuously variable transmission is, for example, a hydrostatic continuously variable transmission known as an HST. The hydraulic continuously variable transmission can change the output (rotation speed) and output direction (rotation direction) by operating the main speed change lever. In other words, the hydraulic continuously variable transmission can change the forward / reverse movement and traveling speed of the traveling vehicle body 2 by changing the rotation speed and rotation direction.

[0021] The transmission case 6b is provided with a transmission device that transmits power from the engine E, which is speed-shifted by the hydraulic continuously variable transmission, to various components. The transmission case 6b is equipped with an auxiliary transmission mechanism that switches the traveling speed during travel and work. When the auxiliary transmission lever of the transmission case 6b is operated, the traveling speed of the traveling vehicle body 2 can be switched, for example, to a traveling speed faster than the traveling speed during planting work, or to a seedling planting speed during planting work.

[0022] The traveling vehicle body 2 is equipped with a steering handle 10, a planting lever, and the like, in front of the driver's seat 9. The steering handle 10 is provided on the hood 11 of the traveling vehicle body 2, and is operated by the operator to steer the traveling vehicle body 2. The planting lever is a clutch lever, and is provided on the hood 11, and is operated to raise and lower the seedling planting unit 30 and to start and stop the seedling planting by the seedling planting unit 30.

[0023] The traveling vehicle body 2 also includes a main speed change lever and an auxiliary speed change lever. The main speed change lever (also called an HST lever) is a lever that is operated to change the forward / reverse movement and traveling speed of the traveling vehicle body 2. The auxiliary speed change lever is a lever that is operated to change the traveling speed of the traveling vehicle body 2 to a speed appropriate for the traveling location (field or road).

[0024] The hood 11 protrudes upward from the floor step 7 and is covered with a front cover 11a. A display unit (meter panel), for example, is provided on the hood 11. The display unit has a display surface that is tilted downward and rearward so as to face an operator seated in the operator's seat 9 and facing forward.

[0025] The display unit displays information from various sensors, such as a marker sensor that detects whether line-drawing markers that form a travel reference line on the field scene that serves as a guide for straight-line driving are displayed on the left and right sides of the vehicle body, a planting lever position sensor that detects the operating position of the planting lever, a fertilizer shortage sensor that detects when the amount of fertilizer stored in the storage hopper 41 of the fertilizer application device 40 falls below a specified amount, and a fertilizer clogging sensor that detects when the fertilizer sent from the storage hopper 41 has clogged the supply path.

[0026] The riding rice transplanter 1 is equipped with a lifting device 20 and a seedling planting unit 30. The lifting device 20 is equipped with a lifting link 21. The lifting link 21 is a parallel link that connects the rear of the traveling body 2 and the seedling planting unit 30, and is connected to the link frame at the rear of the traveling body 2 and the seedling planting unit 30 so that it can rotate freely in the vertical direction, thereby connecting the seedling planting unit 30 to the traveling body 2 so that it can be raised and lowered.

[0027] The lifting device 20 also includes a hydraulic lifting cylinder 22. The lifting cylinder 22 extends and retracts when the planting lever is operated and the hydraulic valve is switched. The lifting cylinder 22 extends and retracts to drive the lifting link 21, raising and lowering the seedling planting unit 30. That is, when the planting lever is operated, the lifting cylinder 22 switches between a non-working position where the seedling planting unit 30 is raised and a ground work position (planting position) where the seedling planting unit 30 is lowered.

[0028] <Seedling planting section 30> As described above, the seedling planting unit 30 is attached to the rear of the traveling vehicle body 2 via the lifting link 21. The seedling planting unit 30 is capable of planting seedlings in multiple rows (rows), for example. The seedling planting unit 30 includes a seedling placement table 31, a float 32, and a planting device 33.

[0029] The seedling placing table 31 has seedling placing surfaces in the left-right direction of the machine body, the number of which corresponds to the number of planting rows. Each seedling placing surface is a downward-sloping inclined surface that can vertically place multiple mat seedlings (mat seedlings with soil).

[0030] The floats 32 level the ground while gliding over the farmland (paddy field) as the traveling body 2 moves. The floats 32 are equipped with a center float located in the center of the machine body in the left-right direction, and side floats located on the outside in the left-right direction, sandwiching the center float. In the illustrated example, the riding rice transplanter 1 further includes a soil leveling rotor 13, which is a soil leveling device.

[0031] Each float (center float and side float) of the float 32 is rotatably attached to the traveling vehicle body 2 so that the front portion moves up and down in response to the unevenness of the field surface.

[0032] During planting work, the up and down movement of the front part of the center float is detected by a rotation sensor, and depending on the detection result of the rotation sensor, the control unit switches the hydraulic valve that controls the extension and contraction movement of the lifting cylinder 22 to raise and lower the seedling planting section 30, thereby adjusting the seedling planting depth.

[0033] The planting device 33 is supported by the planting support frame of the seedling placing table 31 and is positioned below the seedling placing table 31. The planting device 33 plants the seedlings placed on the seedling placing table 31 in the field. The planting device 33 comprises a planting rod 331, a rotary case 332, and a planting case 333. The planting rod 331 picks the seedlings from the mat seedlings placed on the seedling placing table 31 and plants them in the field.

[0034] The rotary case 332 rotatably supports the planting case 333. The rotary case 332 is provided with a variable speed transmission mechanism that can rotate the planting rod 331 while changing the rotation speed of the planting rod 331. The planting rod 331 rotates while changing its rotation speed depending on the rotation angle relative to the rotary case 332.

[0035] <Fertilizer 40> The riding rice transplanter 1 is equipped with a fertilizer applicator 40. The fertilizer applicator 40 is an apparatus for spreading fertilizer over a field. In the riding rice transplanter 1, the seedling planting unit 30 plants seedlings in the field, while the fertilizer applicator 40 spreads fertilizer over the field.

[0036] The fertilizer application device 40 comprises a storage hopper 41 for storing fertilizer, which is located above the rear of the running body 2 and behind the driver's seat 9, a delivery section 42 that delivers fertilizer from the storage hopper 41, a fertilizer pipe 44 that transports the fertilizer delivered from the delivery section 42 using the wind power of an electric blower 43, and a furrow former 45 that creates a furrow to the side of the seedling planting position and spreads the fertilizer transported by the fertilizer pipe 44 into the furrow.

[0037] <50 spare seedling carriers> The riding rice transplanter 1 is provided with spare seedling carrying sections 50 on the left and right sides at the front of the traveling body 2. The spare seedling carrying sections 50 are provided with two loading platforms 51.

[0038] Here, the detailed configuration of the spare seedling carrying section 50 will be described with reference to Figs.

[0039] The riding rice transplanter 1 is provided with a spare seedling carrier 50 on both the left and right sides of the front of the traveling body 2, which comprises a right spare seedling carrier 50R and a left spare seedling carrier 50L.

[0040] The left spare seedling loading section 50L has two loading tables, an upper loading table 51U and a lower loading table 51D. The upper loading table 51U and the lower loading table 51D are pallet-shaped and have side walls 51a, a bottom surface 51b, and a rear wall 51c.

[0041] The left spare seedling loading section 50L is configured to be switchable between a stacked state in which the upper loading platform 51U and the lower loading platform 51D are arranged in two layers, one above the other, and overlapping in a planar view, and an expanded state in which the upper loading platform 51U and the lower loading platform 51D are expanded linearly in the front-to-back direction.

[0042] That is, a lower platform frame 53D is fixed to the upper end of the left seedling platform frame 52L, the base of which is fixed to the machine frame 5 of the traveling body 2, and a lower loading platform 51D is fixed to the lower platform frame 53D.

[0043] An upper platform frame 53U is pivotally supported on the upper ends of front and rear parallel links 54F, 54R whose bases are pivotally supported on the lower platform frame 53D, and an upper loading platform 51U is fixed to the upper platform frame 53U.

[0044] Therefore, by grasping the gripping portion 55 fixed to the front of the upper loading platform frame 53U and rotating the front and rear parallel links 54F, 54R to move the upper loading platform 51U in parallel, it is possible to switch between a stacked state in which two layers, one above the other, overlap in a planar view, and an expanded state in which the upper loading platform 51U and the lower loading platform 51D are expanded linearly in the front-to-back direction.

[0045] A support frame 57 of the empty box platform 56 is welded and fixed to the upper platform frame 53U and the lower platform frame 53D.

[0046] The empty box carrier 56 is supported by a support frame 57 and is provided with an empty box carrier 58 for storing one empty seedling box N in a horizontally long and vertical position.

[0047] The empty box loading section 58 is composed of a front loading section 58F and a rear loading section 58R.

[0048] The front and rear loading sections 58F and 58R are each composed of a front support base 59F and a rear support base 59R made of rail-shaped resin that are long and horizontal and support the lower end of empty seedling trays N placed vertically, and a front support frame 60F and a rear support frame 60R made of rod bodies that rise diagonally upward and outward from the front support base 59F and the rear support base 59R and support the upper surface of the empty seedling tray N.

[0049] The front receiving frame 60F and the rear receiving frame 60R are set to a height that can support more than half of the seedling trays N placed thereon.

[0050] The front and rear portions 58F, 58R of the empty box loading section 58 are configured to have approximately the same length as the front-to-rear length of the upper loading platform 51U and the lower loading platform 51D.

[0051] In other words, when the upper loading platform 51U and the lower loading platform 51D are deployed in a linear fashion in the front-to-back direction, the front loading portion 58F and the rear loading portion 58R of the empty box loading portion 58 are in a linear, connected state in the front-to-back direction, and the front-to-back length of the front loading portion 58F and the rear loading portion 58R of the empty box loading portion 58 is approximately the same as the length of the upper loading platform 51U and the lower loading platform 51D in the deployed state in a linear fashion in the front-to-back direction.

[0052] Furthermore, the front receiving frame 60F of the front loading section 58F and the rear receiving frame 60R of the rear loading section 58R are arranged at an outward incline so as to rise diagonally upward from the front receiving stand 59F and the rear receiving stand 59R, and therefore, empty seedling boxes N placed on the front loading section 58F and the rear loading section 58R are supported at an outward incline, so they are placed in a stable state on the front loading section 58F and the rear loading section 58R and can also be moved forward stably.

[0053] The lower loading platform 51D is provided with a seedling box recovery arm 61 as a seedling box recovery body that lifts up empty seedling boxes N placed on the upper surface and moves them into the rear loading section 58R of the empty box loading section 58.

[0054] That is, the seedling tray collecting arm 61 is composed of a pivot shaft 61a rotatably supported on the outer end of the lower loading platform 51D, and a U-shaped arm 61b whose base is welded and fixed to the pivot shaft 61a.

[0055] By rotating the pivot shaft 61a, the U-shaped arm 61b can be freely switched between a stored state in which it is stored in a groove provided in the lower loading platform 51D and is flush with the upper surface of the lower loading platform 51D, and a state in which it stands above the lower loading platform 51D and is inclined downward toward the rear loading section 58R.

[0056] The left seedling stand frame 52L is pivotally supported at its base a recovery pedal 62 located on the inside of the machine body near the top surface of the front step 7F.

[0057] The recovery pedal 62 is biased upward by a spring, and one end of a connecting wire 63 is connected to it.

[0058] On the other hand, the other end of the connecting wire 63 is connected to the tip of a rotating arm 61c, the base of which is welded and fixed to one end of the pivot shaft 61a of the seedling tray collecting arm 61.

[0059] Therefore, when the operator depresses the recovery pedal 62, the rotating arm 61c, whose base is welded to one end of the pivot shaft 61a of the seedling tray recovery arm 61, is pulled by the connecting wire 63, causing the pivot shaft 61a to rotate, and the U-shaped arm 61b of the seedling tray recovery arm 61 is stored in a groove provided in the lower loading platform 51D, and is switched from a stored state where it is flush with the top surface of the lower loading platform 51D to a state where it rises above the lower loading platform 51D and is inclined downward toward the rear loading section 58R.

[0060] When the operator stops pressing the recovery pedal 62, the recovery pedal 62 rotates upward due to the spring force, loosening the connecting wire 63, and the C-shaped arm 61b of the seedling tray recovery arm 61 rises above the lower loading platform 51D and switches from a low inclined state with the outward side toward the rear loading section 58R to a stored state where it is stored in a groove provided in the lower loading platform 51D and is flush with the top surface of the lower loading platform 51D.

[0061] Further, the rear receiving stand 59R of the rear loading section 58R is provided with a belt conveyor 64 as a transfer device for transferring the seedling boxes N placed on the rear loading section 58R to the front receiving stand 59F.

[0062] The belt conveyor 64 is driven by an electric motor when a seedling box sensor 65 for detecting the seedling box N provided on the rear receiving stand 59R detects the seedling box N, and transfers the seedling box N to the front receiving stand 59F in front.

[0063] The right spare seedling loading section 50R has two loading platforms, an upper loading platform 51U and a lower loading platform 51D, mounted on the top of the right seedling tray frame 52R, the base of which is fixed to the machine frame 5 of the traveling vehicle body 2. The upper loading platform 51U and the lower loading platform 51D are pallet-shaped and have side walls 51a, a bottom surface 51b, and front and rear walls 51c, and each can hold a seedling box N containing grown seedlings.

[0064] <Seedling planting work> The left spare seedling carrier 50L is switched to the open state. That is, the gripping portion 55 fixed to the front of the upper carrier frame 53U is gripped, and the front and rear parallel links 54F, 54R are rotated to move the upper carrier 51U forward in parallel, switching to the open state in which the upper carrier 51U and the lower carrier 51D are opened linearly in the front-to-rear direction.

[0065] As a result, the rear loading portion 58R and the front loading portion 58F of the empty box loading platform 56 are aligned in series and communicate with each other in the front-rear direction.

[0066] An operator seated in the operator's seat 9 of the riding rice transplanter 1 operates the machine to place the front of the riding rice transplanter 1 on a ridge or road.

[0067] A worker on a ridge or road unfolds the seedling boxes N containing raised seedlings placed on the ridge or road, places them on the upper loading platform 51U at the front, pushes them toward the rear of the machine body, and slides them to the lower loading platform 51D at the rear.

[0068] An operator on board the machine takes out mat-like seedlings from the seedling boxes N that have been slid to the lower loading platform 51D and supplies them to the seedling placement platform 31 of the seedling planting section 30.

[0069] Then, the operator depresses the recovery pedal 62, causing the U-shaped arm 61b of the seedling tray recovery arm 61 to change from a stored state in which it is stored in a groove provided in the lower loading platform 51D and is flush with the upper surface of the lower loading platform 51D to a state in which it rises above the lower loading platform 51D and is inclined downward toward the rear loading section 58R.

[0070] Then, the empty seedling tray N on the lower loading table 51D is lifted by the U-shaped arm 61b of the seedling tray collecting arm 61, slides down on the U-shaped arm 61b and moves to the rear loading section 58R.

[0071] When an empty seedling box N moves to the rear loading section 58R, the seedling box sensor 65 installed on the rear receiving stand 59R detects the seedling box N, causing the electric motor to operate and drive the belt conveyor 64, which then transfers the seedling box N to the front receiving stand 59F of the front loading section 58F.

[0072] An operator on the ridge or road takes out the empty seedling boxes N transferred to the front loading section 58F of the empty box loading section 58 and places them on the ridge or road, unfolds the seedling boxes N filled with seedlings placed on the ridge or road and places them on the upper loading platform 51U at the front, pushes the seedling boxes N on the upper loading platform 51U toward the rear of the machine, and slides them to the lower loading platform 51D at the rear.

[0073] In this way, seedling boxes N filled with seedlings placed on the ridges or roads can be supplied efficiently, easily, and with good workability to the seedling placement table 31 of the seedling planting section 30 using the unfolded upper loading platform 51U and lower loading platform 51D, and by stepping on the recovery pedal 62, the seedling box recovery arm 61 can be operated to transfer the empty seedling boxes N on the lower loading platform 51D to the rear loading section 58R of the empty box loading section 58, allowing the work of removing empty seedling boxes N from the empty box loading section 58 to be carried out with good workability and work efficiency.

[0074] After completing the seedling supply work to the seedling placement table 31 of the seedling planting section 30, the worker on the ridge or road unfolds the seedling boxes N containing raised seedlings that have been placed on the ridge or road, places them on the upper loading table 51U at the front, pushes them toward the rear of the machine, and slides them to the lower loading table 51D at the rear, and then places the raised seedling boxes N on the upper loading table 51U. In addition, raised seedling boxes N are also placed on the upper loading table 51U and the lower loading table 51D of the right auxiliary seedling placement section 50R.

[0075] Also, the fertilizer bag placed on the ridge or road is picked up and carried to the storage hopper 41 of the fertilizer applicator 40, and the fertilizer is supplied.

[0076] An operator sitting in the operator's seat 9 of the riding rice transplanter 1 operates the machine to move along a predetermined route in the field, and drives each part to perform seedling planting and fertilizing work.

[0077] When there are only a few mat-shaped seedlings remaining on the seedling placing table 31 of the seedling planting section 30, the machine stops, picks up the seedling boxes N placed on the left spare seedling placing section 50L or the right spare seedling placing section 50R, removes the mat-shaped seedlings from the seedling boxes N and supplies them to the seedling placing table 31 of the seedling planting section 30, and places the empty seedling boxes N on the empty box placing section 58. Then, the machine starts moving again, driving each section to perform the seedling planting work and fertilizing work.

[0078] When the mat-like seedlings remaining on the seedling placing table 31 of the seedling planting section 30 become scarce and the spare seedlings on the left spare seedling placing section 50L and the right spare seedling placing section 50R are also depleted, the front of the riding rice transplanter 1 is parked on the ridge or road, and mat-like seedlings are supplied to the seedling placing table 31 of the seedling planting section 30 in the manner described above, and seedling boxes N containing raised seedlings are placed on the left spare seedling placing section 50L and the right spare seedling placing section 50R. Also, if the fertilizer in the storage hopper 41 of the fertilizer applicator 40 is running low, fertilizer is also supplied to the storage hopper 41.

[0079] When work in the field is completed and the load is to be loaded onto a truck or stored in a barn, etc., the gripping portion 55 fixed to the front of the upper loading platform frame 53U is grasped and the front and rear parallel links 54F, 54R are rotated to move the upper loading platform 51U in parallel to the rear, switching the upper loading platform 51U and the lower loading platform 51D into a stacked state in which they overlap in a plan view, forming two levels, one above the other.

[0080] In summary, the left spare seedling loading section 50L is provided with a plurality of (two) upper loading tables 51U and lower loading tables 51D, and the upper loading table 51U and the lower loading table 51D are configured to be switchable between a stacked state in which they are stacked in two levels in a plan view, and a deployed state in which the upper loading table 51U is moved forward of the lower loading table 51D and the upper loading table 51U and the lower loading table 51D are deployed linearly in the front-to-back direction. The front loading section 58F and the rear loading section 58 of the empty box loading section 58 on which empty seedling boxes N are placed at the outer positions of the upper loading table 51U and the lower loading table 51D are configured to be switchable between a stacked state in which the upper loading table 51U and the lower loading table 51D are stacked in two levels in a plan view, and a deployed state in which the upper loading table 51U is moved forward of the lower loading table 51D and the upper loading table 51U and the lower loading table 51D are deployed linearly in the front-to-back direction. Since the loading section 58R is provided, when the front of the riding rice transplanter 1 is placed on a ridge or road and the upper loading platform 51U is moved forward of the lower loading platform 51D, and the upper loading platform 51U and the lower loading platform 51D are spread out in a linear manner in the front-to-back direction, the front loading section 58F and the rear loading section 58R of the empty box loading section 58 are arranged in a straight line and connected in the front-to-back direction, allowing the supply of raised seedling boxes N from the ridge or road to the riding rice transplanter 1 and the removal of empty seedling boxes N from the riding rice transplanter 1 to be carried out efficiently and with good workability.

[0081] In addition, when the recovery pedal 62 is depressed, the U-shaped arm 61b of the seedling box recovery arm 61 is stored in a groove provided in the lower loading platform 51D and is switched from a stored state where it is flush with the upper surface of the lower loading platform 51D to a state where it rises above the lower loading platform 51D and is inclined with the outward side lower toward the rear loading section 58R, and the U-shaped arm 61b of the seedling box recovery arm 61 lifts the empty seedling box N on the lower loading platform 51D at an angle, and the empty seedling box N slides down the U-shaped arm 61b and moves to the rear loading section 58R, so that the empty seedling box N on the lower loading platform 51D can be easily moved to the rear loading section 58R with good workability.

[0082] Furthermore, when an empty seedling box N moves to the rear loading section 58R, a seedling box sensor 65 provided on the rear receiving stand 59R of the rear loading section 58R detects the seedling box N, causing the electric motor to operate and the belt conveyor 64 to drive, thereby transporting the seedling box N to the front loading section 58F in front, thereby eliminating the need to transport the empty seedling box N from the rear loading section 58R to the front loading section 58F and improving work efficiency.

[0083] Furthermore, when the front loading section 58F and rear loading section 58R of the empty box loading section 58 are in a linear state communicating in the front-to-rear direction, if the rear receiving stand 59R of the rear loading section 58R and the front receiving stand 59F of the front loading section 58F are configured to have a forward-inclined shape that is lower toward the front, even if the seedling box sensor 65 and belt conveyor 64 are omitted, the empty seedling box N can slide freely or be transferred with light force from the rear receiving stand 59R of the rear loading section 58R to the front receiving stand 59F of the front loading section 58F, making it easy to transfer the empty seedling box N from the rear loading section 58R to the front loading section 58F and improving work efficiency.

[0084] <Another embodiment> (1) FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the lower loading platform 51D of the left spare seedling loading section 50L.

[0085] That is, the U-shaped arm 61b of the seedling tray collecting arm 61 is provided with a rotating roller 70 which is rotatably supported on a rod portion in the left and right direction of the machine body.

[0086] Therefore, when the U-shaped arm 61b of the seedling box recovery arm 61 is stored in a groove provided in the lower loading platform 51D, the upper end of the rotating roller 70 protrudes slightly from the upper surface of the lower loading platform 51D, allowing the seedling box N to move smoothly back and forth on the lower loading platform 51D.

[0087] In other words, when the upper loading platform 51U and the lower loading platform 51D are unfolded in a linear fashion in the fore-and-aft direction, the seedling tray N can be moved smoothly from the front of the machine body, placed on the front upper loading platform 51U, and then moved to the rear lower loading platform 51D.

[0088] Further, rotary rollers 71 are provided which are rotatably supported on the vertical rod portions of the front receiving frame 60F and the rear receiving frame 60R of the empty box loading portion 58 (front loading portion 58F and rear loading portion 58R).

[0089] Therefore, the empty seedling boxes N placed on the empty box loading sections 58 (front loading section 58F and rear loading section 58R) are smoothly moved forward. (2) FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the left spare seedling carrier 50L.

[0090] That is, the width is set to allow a plurality of empty seedling boxes N (three in FIG. 6, but two or four or more may be placed) to be placed on the empty box placement section 58 (front placement section 58F and rear placement section 58R). (3) Figures 7 and 8 show another embodiment of the left spare seedling carrier 50L.

[0091] In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which, by stepping on the recovery pedal 62, the U-shaped arm 61b of the seedling tray recovery arm 61 is stored in a groove provided in the lower loading platform 51D via the connecting wire 63, and is switched from a stored state where it is flush with the top surface of the lower loading platform 51D to a state where it rises above the lower loading platform 51D and is inclined with its outward side lower toward the rear loading section 58R.However, in the embodiment shown in Figures 7 and 8, the U-shaped arm 61b of the seedling tray recovery arm 61 is automatically switched from a stored state to a state where it rises above the lower loading platform 51D and is inclined with its outward side lower toward the rear loading section 58R.

[0092] That is, the base of a hydraulic damper (or spring damper or spring) 75 serving as a biasing device is pivoted at the rear of the lower loading platform 51D, and the tip of the hydraulic damper (or spring damper or spring) 75 is connected to the tip of a rotating arm 61c whose base is welded and fixed to one end of the pivot shaft 61a of the seedling tray recovery arm 61.

[0093] The hydraulic damper (or spring damper or spring) 75 is set to a hydraulic pressure (or spring pressure) that does not extend under the weight of the seedling box N containing mat-shaped seedlings when a seedling box N containing mat-shaped seedlings is placed on the U-shaped arm 61b, but extends when an empty seedling box N is placed on the U-shaped arm 61b.

[0094] Therefore, when an operator removes a mat-shaped seedling from a seedling box N containing mat-shaped seedlings on the lower loading platform 51D and supplies it to the seedling placement platform 31 of the seedling planting section 30, the seedling box N on the lower loading platform 51D becomes an empty seedling box N, so the hydraulic damper (or spring damper) 75 extends, and the U-shaped arm 61b of the seedling box recovery arm 61 is stored in a groove provided in the lower loading platform 51D and switches from a stored state where it is flush with the top surface of the lower loading platform 51D to a state where it rises above the lower loading platform 51D and is inclined with the outward side lower toward the rear loading section 58R, and the empty seedling box N is automatically transferred to the rear loading section 58R.

[0095] Therefore, work can be performed more easily and efficiently. (4) If the empty box loading section 58 (front loading section 58F) is configured to be freely extendable toward the front of the machine body, it becomes easier for workers on the ridge or road to remove seedling boxes N from the empty box loading section 58 (front loading section 58F), improving workability and work efficiency.

[0096] The empty box loading section 58 (front loading section 58F) can be extended toward the front of the machine body by operating an operating lever, or it can be automatically extended when the seedling box sensor 65 detects a seedling box N.

[0097] In addition, the upper part of the left seedling table frame 52L and the upper part of the right seedling table frame 52R can be connected above the hood 11 by a connecting frame, and a camera for monitoring the spare seedling loading section 50 can be installed in the left and right center of the connecting frame (the left and right center of the body), and the camera can detect whether a seedling box N is placed on the empty box loading section 58.When the camera detects that a seedling box N is placed on the empty box loading section 58, the empty box loading section 58 (front loading section 58F) can be extended toward the front of the body. (5) FIGS. 9 to 13 show an embodiment in which a mat-like seedling is taken out of a seedling tray N by a seedling picker 95. FIG.

[0098] That is, the seedling tray N has a general rectangular shape when viewed from above, and is composed of two opposing long side walls 80,80, two short side walls 81,82, and a bottom surface 83, and the bottom surface 83 extends outward from the long side walls 80,80 to form rib-like portions 84,84.

[0099] The short side wall 82 on one side is pivotally supported at its base by pivots 85, 85 to the two long side walls 80, 80, and can rotate between an upright position (A) and an open position (B) in which it is tilted outward.

[0100] A support member 86 is integrally formed on the rib-shaped portion 84 near one of the short side walls 82, and an operating piece 88 is provided between the support member 86 and one of the short side walls 82, with its central portion pivoted to the long side wall 80 by a pivot 87.

[0101] The lower end of the operating piece 88 and one of the short side walls 82 are connected by a link 89 .

[0102] The support body 86 and the operating piece 88 are connected by a leaf spring 90, and are supported so that one of the short side walls 82 is kept in an upright position (A).

[0103] The seedling removal tool 95 has a frame-shaped gripping portion 96 and a seedling removal plate 97 attached in a cantilevered manner below the frame-shaped gripping portion 96 .

[0104] Next, the operation of removing mat-like seedlings from the seedling tray N using the seedling removal tool 95 will be described.

[0105] As shown in Figure 12, when the seedling removal tool 95 is held by the gripping portion 96 and brought closer to one of the short side walls 82 of the seedling box N, the lower end of the gripping portion 96 comes into contact with the operating piece 88, causing the operating piece 88 to rotate against the spring force of the leaf spring 90, as shown in Figure 13, and rotating one of the short side walls 82 to an open position (b) in which it is tilted outward via the link 89.

[0106] Then, by holding the gripping portion 96 of the seedling removal tool 95 and inserting the tip of the seedling removal plate 97 along the bottom surface 83 of the seedling box N, the mat-like seedlings can be scooped onto the seedling removal plate 97 of the seedling removal tool 95.

[0107] In the above example, the support 86, operating piece 88, leaf spring 90, and link 89, which are the opening and closing mechanism for one of the short side walls 82, are provided on only one side of the seedling tray N, but they may also be provided symmetrically on both sides of the seedling tray N. If they are provided on both sides, the opening and closing operation of one of the short side walls 82 becomes more stable.

[0108] In addition, an electric motor may be provided to rotate the pivot 85 of one of the short side walls 82, and a sensor may be provided to detect when a seedling removal tool 95 is approaching near one of the short side walls 82 of the seedling box N. When the sensor detects that the seedling removal tool 95 is approaching, the electric motor may be activated to automatically rotate one of the short side walls 82 from an upright position (a) to an open position (b) in which the short side wall 82 is tilted outward. [Explanation of symbols]

[0109] 2 Running vehicle 30 Seedling planting department 50 Spare seedling storage section 51U Loading Platform (Upper Loading Platform) 51D Loading platform (lower loading platform) 58 Empty box loading section 58F Front page 58R Rear loading section 61 Seedling tray recovery body (seedling tray recovery arm) 62 Recovery pedal 64 Transport equipment (belt conveyor) 75 Actuation devices (hydraulic dampers, spring dampers, springs) N Seedling Box

Claims

1. A riding seedling planter equipped with a seedling planting unit at the rear of the traveling body and a spare seedling loading unit equipped with a loading platform for placing seedling boxes at the front of the traveling body, The spare seedling loading section has a plurality of upper and lower loading sections, and is configured so that when the loading sections are deployed linearly in the front-to-rear direction, the plurality of loading sections are connected in the front-to-rear direction and in a linear state, An empty box placing section is provided below the spare seedling placing section, and the empty box placing section can support a plurality of empty seedling boxes stacked on top of each other; A riding seedling planting machine characterized in that a guide body is provided to guide empty seedling boxes from the spare seedling loading section to the empty box loading section, the guide body is not formed integrally with the spare seedling loading section but is composed of an independent member, the guide body is switchable from a position approximately parallel to the spare seedling loading section to an inclined position, and in the inclined position, it guides empty seedling boxes from the spare seedling loading section to the empty box loading section.

2. 2. The riding seedling planter according to claim 1, wherein the guide body can be maintained in a position substantially parallel to the spare seedling carrier.

Images