Agricultural machinery

Abstract

This technology facilitates the confirmation of the posture of agricultural machinery in relation to the field. [Solution] An agricultural implement 1 used in a field, attached to a vehicle, is characterized by comprising a tilling unit 4 and a marker member 6 capable of measuring the depth of penetration of the tilling unit 4 into the field surface in stages.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an agricultural working machine attached to a traveling vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] As an agricultural working machine attached to a traveling vehicle such as a tractor and performing tillage work, for example, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1. Specifically, a tillage part provided with tillage claws on a tillage shaft is sunk to a predetermined depth with respect to the field surface (submerged in the soil), and the tillage shaft is rotated by the power supplied from the tractor to till the field.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003] [[ID=xx]] [[ID=xx]]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] For appropriate tillage work, it is necessary to attach the agricultural working machine to the tractor so that the agricultural working machine takes an appropriate posture with respect to the field. Specifically, the penetration amount (penetration depth) of the tillage part with respect to the field is adjusted and attached. Confirmation of how much the tillage part actually penetrates into the field surface has been performed, for example, by visually checking by digging up the side of the tillage part or by setting an appropriate part specific to the device as a depth reference and estimating from the height of the part from the field surface. Also, it is necessary to confirm whether the agricultural working machine is taking an appropriate horizontal posture with respect to the field surface.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for easily confirming the posture of an agricultural working machine with respect to a field.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The agricultural working machine of the present invention A farm implement used in a field, attached to a vehicle, The farming department, A marker member capable of measuring the penetration depth of the tilling unit into the field surface in stages, Equipped with, It is characterized by the following: [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it becomes easier to confirm the posture of the tilling unit relative to the field. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a plan view of an agricultural machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a side view (right side view) of an agricultural machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is an enlarged partial side view of the area around the reference plate. [Figure 4] This is a partial perspective view showing the configuration around the reference plate in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a side view of a modified example of the reference plate. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the configurations and combinations thereof in the embodiments are examples, and additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It is not limited by the state, but only by the claims.

[0010] <Example 1> (Agricultural machinery) The configuration of the agricultural implement 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a plan view of the agricultural implement 1 according to this embodiment. Figure 2 is a side view (right side view) of the agricultural implement 1 according to this embodiment.

[0011] The agricultural implement 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to a tractor (not shown) as a vehicle and performs tilling and leveling work while moving around the field. The agricultural implement 1 is connected to the rear of the tractor via a coupling part which is a three-point linkage mechanism. As the tractor moves in the direction of travel P, the agricultural implement 1 connected to the rear also moves in the same direction and performs tilling and leveling work.

[0012] Here, the vertical direction in Figure 1 and the horizontal direction in Figure 2 are directions along the direction of travel P of the agricultural implement 1. Also, the horizontal direction in Figure 1 is the width direction W (left-right direction) of the agricultural implement 1, and the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in Figure 1 is the height direction (up-down direction) of the agricultural implement 1. Also, the vertical direction in Figure 2 is the height direction (up-down direction) of the agricultural implement 1, and the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in Figure 2 is the width direction W (left-right direction) of the agricultural implement 1. Furthermore, the direction of travel P of the agricultural implement 1 is parallel to the field surface. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the field surface is a horizontal plane, and the direction of travel P of the agricultural implement 1 is parallel to the water The following explanation will describe the case where the direction of travel coincides with the horizontal direction, but the field surface may also be inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, and the direction of travel P of the agricultural implement 1 may not necessarily be horizontal.

[0013] The agricultural implement 1 comprises a tilling unit 4, a leveling unit 5, and a cover 8. The tilling unit 4 tills and breaks up the soil of the field by rotating a tilling shaft (rotating shaft) 40 and causing a plurality of tilling tines 41 provided on the tilling shaft 40 to rotate around the rotation axis 40X of the tilling shaft 40. The power for the tilling operation of the tilling unit 4 is supplied from the tractor. The leveling unit 5 comprises leveling plates 50 arranged in the width direction W perpendicular to the direction of travel P, and an extension leveling plate 51 that can be positioned outside the leveling plate 50 in the width direction. Figure 1 shows the extension leveling plate 51 folded inward in the width direction W. The leveling plate 50 is rotatable in the vertical direction and moves forward as the agricultural implement 1 moves in the direction of travel P, pressing down on the soil dug up by the tilling unit 4 from above, leveling the soil horizontally. The cover 8 prevents soil from being scattered upwards due to the rotation of the tilling tines 41 of the tilling unit 4.

[0014] The agricultural implement 1 includes a top pin 33 and a pair of left and right lower pins 34 as a connection point to the tractor. The top pin 33 and the pair of left and right lower pins 34 are located on the front side in the direction of travel P at the center of the width direction W of the agricultural implement 1, and constitute a three-point connection point that is detachably connected to the three-point linkage of the tractor.

[0015] The agricultural implement 1 is equipped with an input shaft 31 to which power supplied from the tractor is input. The input shaft 31 is located in the center of the width direction W of the agricultural implement 1 and is positioned to protrude forward in the direction of travel P. It is configured to be detachably attached to the tractor's PTO (Power Take Off) shaft via a joint. The input shaft 31 is rotatably mounted in the transmission case 35. Frame pipes 42 (42L, 42R) are connected to the left and right sides of the transmission case 35 in the width direction W, extending along the width direction W. A left plate 43L is fixed to the outer end (left end) of the left frame pipe 42L in the width direction W. A right plate 43R is fixed to the outer end (right end) of the right frame pipe 42R in the width direction W. The tilling unit 4 is positioned below the transmission case 35 and the frame pipes 42, sandwiched between the left plate 43L and the right plate 43R in the width direction W. Furthermore, the front frame 46 is provided below the front side of the transmission case 35 and frame pipe 42, connecting the left side plate 43L and the right side plate 43R.

[0016] On the outside in the width direction W of the left side plate 43L, a chain case 44 is provided. Inside the chain case 44, a sprocket, a chain, etc. are provided. The PTO power from the tractor is transmitted to the input shaft 31, and from the input shaft 31, it is transmitted to the tilling part 4 through transmission mechanisms such as gears and shafts provided in the transmission case 35 and the frame pipe 42, and the transmission mechanism in the chain case 44, rotating the tilling shaft 40. The tilling claws 41 are arranged longitudinally in plurality on the outer periphery of the tilling shaft 40, and rotate (swing) around the rotation axis 40X of the tilling shaft 40 by the rotation of the tilling shaft 40, cultivating and crushing the soil in the field. The tilling claws 41 include a tilling claw 41L whose tip side is curved leftward in the width direction W and a tilling claw 41R curved rightward (see Fig. 4).

[0017] The cover 8 is provided below the transmission case 35 and the frame pipe 42 so as to cover the upper part of the tilling part 4 across between the left side plate 43L and the right side plate 43R in the width direction W. The cover 8 is provided to prevent the scattering of soil due to the operation of the tilling part 4 and to generate an action of carrying the soil around.

[0018] The leveling part 5 is continuously provided behind the cover 8 so as to cover the rear of the tilling part 4 in the traveling direction P. The leveling plate 50 of the leveling part 5 receives the soil crushed by the tilling part 4 behind the tilling part 4, and is attached to the rear end of the cover 8 so as to be rotatable vertically around the rotation axis 40X along the width direction W in order to level the field. At both ends of the leveling plate 50 in the width direction W, extension leveling plates 51 for expanding the leveling range in the width direction W are provided.

[0019] The left plate 43L and the right plate 43R each have portions that extend downward from the cover 8, and these portions overlap with the tilling section 4 (part of the rotational movement trajectory of the tilling shaft 40 and tilling claws 41) when viewed in the width direction W (direction of the rotation axis 40X of the tilling shaft 40). The left plate 43L has a chain case 44 positioned corresponding to the longitudinal outer side of the left end of the tilling shaft 40. The right plate 43R has an end cover 45 attached to it corresponding to the longitudinal outer side of the right end of the tilling shaft 40 (boss 401 (see Figure 4)). In the direction of travel P, a front plate 48 is attached to the front of the right plate 43R, and a rear plate 49 is attached to the rear of the right plate 43R. Similarly, although not shown in the illustration, the left plate 43L also has a front plate 48 and a rear plate 49 attached to it. Each of these components is positioned to cover both longitudinal sides of the tilling unit 4 and functions to return soil that would otherwise flow outward in the width direction W due to the operation of the tilling unit 4 back inward.

[0020] In this embodiment, the agricultural implement 1 has a reference plate 6 attached below the right side plate 43R (end cover 45) and between the front side plate 48 and the rear side plate 49 in the direction of travel P. The reference plate 6 is a marker member that can measure the depth of penetration of the agricultural implement 1 (tilling section 4) into the field surface in stages. Details of the reference plate 6 will be described later.

[0021] The right side plate 43R, end cover 45, front side plate 48, rear side plate 49, and reference plate 6 each have overlapping regions in the width direction W at their respective ends, and are fixedly connected to each other in this region by bolts 71 and nuts 72 as fixing members. In the width direction W, the end cover 45 and rear side plate 49 are located outside the right side plate 43R, while the front side plate 48 and reference plate 6 are located inside the right side plate 43R. The reference plate 6 has mounting holes 671 through which bolts 71 are inserted when connecting to the right side plate 43R, and mounting holes 672 through which bolts 71 are inserted when connecting to the rear side plate 49. The outer circumference of the mounting holes 672 is a collar portion 68 corresponding to the thickness of the right side plate 43R, and the reference plate 6 overlaps with the rear side plate 49 in the width direction W at the collar portion 68 and is connected to the rear side plate 49 by bolts 71 and nuts 72.

[0022] In this embodiment, the agricultural implement 1 uses a standard three-point linkage (JIS B 9224, JIS D 6703) for connection to the tractor. The agricultural implement 1, connected to the tractor by the standard three-point linkage, is configured to be able to change its relative position in the vertical direction relative to the tractor while maintaining a nearly horizontal position (parallel to the field surface).

[0023] In the direction of travel P, a pair of gauge wheels 47 are provided in front of the tilling unit 4 to determine the height of the agricultural implement 1 (tilling unit 4) relative to the tractor (the depth of penetration into the field). The height of the agricultural implement 1 relative to the field is determined by the height at which the gauge wheels 47 contact the field. The height of the gauge wheels 47 is adjustable by an adjustment unit 470. The adjustment unit 470 includes a support body 471 that rotatably supports the gauge wheels 47, a biasing body 472 that biases the support body 471 in the height direction, and a fixing unit 473 that fixes the position of the support body 471. By adjusting the adjustment unit 470 to determine the height of the gauge wheels 47, the height of the agricultural implement 1 (tilling unit 4) (the depth of penetration into the field) is determined.

[0024] (Adjusting the posture of agricultural machinery) The tilt of the agricultural implement 1 relative to the tractor (angle with respect to the field) can be changed by adjusting the length of the connection between the tractor and the agricultural implement 1 at the top pin 33 in a configuration connected by a standard three-point linkage. The connection is composed of, for example, a turnbuckle. Shortening the length of the connection causes the agricultural implement 1 to tilt forward, while lengthening the connection causes the agricultural implement 1 to tilt backward. For example, if the tilt is too forward, it becomes difficult for the leveling section 5 to sufficiently press against the field, and if the tilt is too backward, the leveling section 5 is pressed excessively against the field. In either case, it becomes difficult to properly perform the leveling function. Furthermore, if the tilt is not appropriate, various parts of the agricultural implement 1 may come into unexpected contact with the field, which may lead to damage to various parts of the device.

[0025] The posture of the agricultural implement 1 is first adjusted by adjusting the length of the connection between the tractor and the top pin 33 of the agricultural implement 1 to adjust the tilt of the agricultural implement 1, and then the height of the agricultural implement 1 is adjusted by adjusting the height of the gauge wheel 47. Typically, the tilt of the agricultural implement 1 is adjusted so that the input shaft 31 is horizontal (parallel to the field surface), as shown in Figure 2. The height of the agricultural implement 1 is adjusted as appropriate according to the work to be done, taking into account the equipment configuration and field conditions.

[0026] After height adjustment using the gauge wheel 47, the lower part of the agricultural implement 1 (cultivating section 4) is buried in the field. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately visually confirm and recognize the overall posture and depth of the agricultural implement 1, and various confirmation methods have been tried in the past. The tilt posture of the agricultural implement 1 can be determined by, for example, checking whether the upper line of the input shaft 31 or chain case 44 is horizontal (parallel to the field surface), but this is not easy to determine due to the distance from the field surface. As for the height of the agricultural implement 1, methods such as directly visually confirming it by digging up the side of the cultivating section 4, or setting a suitable part specific to the device as a guide for depth and estimating from the height of that part from the field surface are sometimes used. For example, if the lower surface of the chain case 44 rubs against the field surface, the depth is 12 cm, which is an empirical and design-based estimation method. The former method is time-consuming to verify, and the latter method is dependent on experience and equipment specifications, making it difficult to generalize. In particular, the height of agricultural implement 1 often requires fine adjustments depending on the equipment configuration and field conditions, and may require even more reliance on experience.

[0027] (Reference plate (marker member)) The reference plate 6 will be described with reference to Figures 2, 3, and 4. Figure 3 is an enlarged partial side view of the area around the reference plate 6 in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a partial perspective view showing the configuration around the reference plate 6 in this embodiment. The agricultural implement 1 according to this embodiment is equipped with a reference plate 6 as a marker member that can measure the penetration depth of the agricultural implement 1 (cultivation unit 4) into the field surface in stages.

[0028] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the reference plate 6 is mounted below the right side plate 43R (end cover 45) and between the front side plate 48 and the rear side plate 49. Together with these, it is a substantially plate-shaped member that forms part of the side plate assembly that covers the longitudinal end of the tilling unit 4 in the width direction W. In other words, the reference plate 6, together with the right side plate 43R, the front side plate 48, and the rear side plate 49, is configured to also perform the function of returning soil that would otherwise flow outward in the width direction W due to the operation of the tilling unit 4 back inward.

[0029] Furthermore, the reference plate 6 in this embodiment is configured to measure the penetration depth of the agricultural implement 1 into the field in three stages. Specifically, markers are placed at three different heights on the reference plate 6, and the penetration depth can be confirmed and recognized by observing how the three markers are exposed from the field surface according to the penetration depth of the agricultural implement 1.

[0030] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the reference plate 6 has a plate portion 60 that is aligned with both the direction of travel P and the height direction, and a projection portion 61 that protrudes outward from the plate portion 60 in the width direction W, which is perpendicular to both the direction of travel P and the height direction. The projection portion 61 is a rib-shaped projection that has a rib shape extending in a predetermined direction on the plate portion 60. The projection portion 61 is integrally provided on the plate portion 60 so that in standard operation, it serves as a standard marker portion (first marker portion) indicating that the penetration depth of the agricultural implement 1 into the field is the standard depth (first depth). In standard operation, the plate portion 60 is configured such that its lower end 601 serves as the shallowest marker portion (second marker portion) indicating that the penetration depth of the agricultural implement 1 into the field is the shallowest depth (second depth). Furthermore, the plate portion 60 is provided with a deepest point marker portion 602x (third point marker portion) on a part of its upper end 602 to indicate the deepest point (third point) at which the agricultural implement 1 penetrates the field surface during standard operation. In the reference plate 6 of this embodiment, the deepest point marker portion 602x is the most recessed part at the upper end of the plate portion 60. The projection portion 61 may be provided as an intermediate point marker portion to indicate that the penetration depth of the agricultural implement 1 into the field surface is an intermediate depth between the shallowest and deepest points.

[0031] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the reference plate 6 is mounted in a position that overlaps with the rotational trajectory 41t of the tilling claws 41 when viewed in the direction of the rotational axis 40X of the tilling shaft 40 (width direction W). More specifically, the reference plate 6 is located below the rotational axis 40X of the tilling shaft 40 and above the lower end Ht of the rotational trajectory 41t of the tilling claws 41 when viewed in the direction of the rotational axis 40X of the tilling shaft 40 (width direction W). The penetration depth indicated by each mark on the reference plate 6 can be the height from the lower end Ht of the rotational trajectory 41t of the tilling claws 41.

[0032] As shown in Figure 3, the projection 61, which is the standard marker, is positioned so that when the penetration depth of the agricultural implement 1 into the field is, for example, 12 cm (standard depth Hm), it is at approximately the same height as the field surface. Depending on the device configuration, the standard height may also be set to 10 cm. Similarly, the lower end 601 of the plate portion 60, which is the shallowest marker, is positioned so that when the penetration depth of the agricultural implement 1 (height from the lower end Ht of the rotation trajectory 41t) is, for example, 8 cm (minimum depth Hl), it is at approximately the same height as the field surface. That is, when the penetration depth is the minimum depth Hl, the lower end 601 of the plate portion 60 is located near the boundary (interface) with the field surface. Similarly, the deepest marker portion 602x located at the upper end 602 of the plate portion 60, which is the deepest marker portion, is positioned so that when the penetration depth of the agricultural implement 1 is, for example, 15 cm, with the deepest depth Hh being the maximum depth Hh, it is at approximately the same height as the field surface.

[0033] In this embodiment, the projection 61, which serves as the standard marker, has a parallel portion 611 (first portion) extending in a direction along the direction of travel P, and an inclined portion 612 (second portion) extending upward in an inclined direction from the tip of the parallel portion 611.

[0034] The parallel section 611 is provided such that the direction extending on the plate section 60 is aligned with the direction of travel P when the agricultural implement 1 is in a desired parallel position with respect to the field surface, and the projection 61 This section functions as a standard marker. The parallel section 611 is provided with a length from the vicinity of the rear plate 49 to the vicinity of the front plate 48 in the direction of travel P.

[0035] The inclined section 612 is connected to the parallel section 611 in front of the parallel section 611 in the direction of travel P, and extends in a direction inclined with respect to the direction of travel P, gradually moving upward as it approaches the direction of travel P. The inclined section 612 has the function of leveling the soil before reaching the parallel section 611 when moving in the direction of travel P accompanied by vertical vibrations. In other words, when moving in the direction of travel P accompanied by vertical vibrations, the inclined section 612 regulates the height of the soil in front of the parallel section 611, thereby preventing the parallel section 611 from digging up the soil and sinking into the field surface, making it difficult to properly confirm the penetration depth.

[0036] The inclined portion 612 is a part of the projection 61 whose direction of extension from the parallel portion 611 is changed in accordance with the planar shape of the plate portion 60. The plate portion 60 has a highly rigid structure due to the formation of the projection 61. As shown in Figure 3, etc., in the direction of travel P, the upper end 602 of the plate portion 60 is recessed downward in the center, and the lower end 601 extends diagonally upward on the front side. That is, the front side of the plate portion 60 in the direction of travel P has a planar shape that tapers diagonally upward (the width gradually narrows). Corresponding to this, the front side of the projection 61 is formed as the inclined portion 612 described above. Depending on the planar shape of the plate portion 60, the projection 61 may consist only of the parallel portion 611 without the inclined portion 612.

[0037] The projection 61 is configured such that its protrusion height from the plate portion 60 is greater than the height in the width direction W of the end of the bolt 71 that secures each of the components: the right side plate 43R, the end cover 45, the front side plate 48, the rear side plate 49, and the reference plate 6.

[0038] According to this embodiment, when the tilling unit 4 is submerged in the field, the penetration depth of the agricultural implement 1 (tilling unit 4) into the field can be measured by checking which part of the reference plate 6 is exposed above the field surface. In particular, by providing multiple markers of different heights and configuring the system to allow measurement in stages at multiple heights, including the shallowest, deepest, and intermediate depths, it becomes possible to measure the penetration depth in multiple stages to match the user's desired settings. Furthermore, the projection 61, which is the marker for the standard depth, has a parallel section 611 that extends in a direction substantially aligned with the horizontal direction (direction of travel P), which is the direction that is parallel to the field surface when the agricultural implement 1 is in the desired parallel position to the field surface. Since the projection 61 is provided at a distance close to the field surface, it becomes easy to check what angle the parallel section 611 is at with respect to the field surface, making it easy to check and set the tilting position of the agricultural implement 1.

[0039] Furthermore, the reference plate 6 is provided as part of a side plate assembly that covers the longitudinal end of the tilling unit 4, including the right side plate 43R, the front side plate 48, the rear side plate 49, etc., and can perform the function of returning soil that would otherwise flow outward in the width direction W due to the operation of the tilling unit 4 back inward. This configuration is particularly effective when the tilling tines 41 near the end of the tilling shaft 40 are oriented outward in the width direction W (for example, the tilling tines 41R shown in Figure 4 at the right end of the tilling shaft 40).

[0040] Furthermore, the soil in the field may contain hard materials such as stones. By providing the projection 61 on the reference plate 6, not only is the rigidity of the reference plate 6 itself increased, but the rigidity of the side plate assembly that covers the longitudinal end of the tilling unit 4, including the right side plate 43R, front side plate 48, and rear side plate 49 connected to the reference plate 6, can also be increased. This suppresses deformation and damage to the side plate assembly due to collisions with stones and other materials contained in the soil. In addition, because the projection 61 protrudes in the width direction W beyond the ends of the bolts 71 and nuts 72 that fix each member of the side plate assembly, wear of the bolts 71 and nuts 72 can be suppressed.

[0041] <Variation> A modified example of the reference plate will be described with reference to Figures 5(a) and 5(b). In the modified example, components that are common to the reference plate of the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and their description is omitted. In the modified example, matters not specifically described here are the same as those of the reference plate of the embodiment.

[0042] Figure 5(a) is a side view of the reference plate 6a of the modified example 1 (viewed in the width direction W when attached to an agricultural machine). The reference plate 6a is configured to have multiple protrusions as markers. Specifically, the parallel part 611 (first protrusion) of the protrusion 61 is the standard marker (first marker), the lower protrusion 61a1 (second protrusion) is the shallowest marker (second marker), and the upper protrusion 61a2 (third protrusion) is the deepest marker (third marker). The protrusion 61 is positioned at a standard height between the lower and upper ends of the plate portion 60, with a first height that is higher than the second height and lower than the third height. The protrusion 61 is the same as the protrusion 61 of the reference plate 6 of Embodiment 1. The lower protrusion 61a1 is positioned at the lower end of the plate portion 60, with a second height that is lower than the first height on the reference plate 6a. The upper projection 61a2 is positioned at a third height, higher than the first height, corresponding to the upper end of the plate portion 60. This position is approximately the same height as the deepest mark 602x on the reference plate 6 of Embodiment 1.

[0043] The lower projection 61a1 and the upper projection 61a2 are rib-shaped projections that are provided so as to extend in a direction along the direction of travel P when the agricultural implement 1 is in a desired parallel position with respect to the field surface. The lower projection 61a1 is positioned so as to be at approximately the same height as the field surface when the depth of penetration of the agricultural implement 1 into the field surface (height from the lower end Ht of the rotation trajectory 41t) is at its shallowest depth Hl (e.g., 8 cm). The upper projection 61a2 is positioned so as to be at approximately the same height as the field surface when the depth of penetration of the agricultural implement 1 is at its deepest depth Hh (e.g., 15 cm).

[0044] The lower projection 61a1 and the upper projection 61a2 are arranged parallel to the parallel portion 611 of the projection 61, and their length extending along the direction of travel P is shorter than that of the parallel portion 611. The lower projection 61a1, the upper projection 61a2, and the parallel portion 611 are positioned to overlap each other when viewed in the height direction.

[0045] According to the reference plate 6a of the modified example 1, compared to the reference plate 6 of Example 1, an increase in the number of protrusions provided on the plate portion 60 can be expected to improve the rigidity of the reference plate.

[0046] Figure 5(b) is a side view of the reference plate 6b of Modified Example 2 (viewed in the width direction W when attached to an agricultural machine). The reference plate 6b has a configuration in which three stages of markings are formed by a continuous rib-like projection that changes height in a stepped manner. Specifically, the reference plate 6b is equipped with stepped projections 61b. The stepped projections 61b have a lower parallel section 611b2 (second part), a standard parallel section 611b1 (first part), and an upper parallel section 611b3 (third part), which have different heights in stages. The height of the lower parallel section 611b2 is approximately the same as the height of the lower projection 61a1 of Modified Example 1. The height of the standard parallel section 611b1 is approximately the same as the height of the parallel section 611 of Modified Example 1. The height of the upper parallel section 611b3 is approximately the same as the height of the upper projection 61a2 of Modified Example 1.

[0047] The standard parallel section 611b1, the lower parallel section 611b2, and the upper parallel section 611b3 are rib-shaped projections that extend in a direction along the direction of travel P when the agricultural implement 1 is in a desired parallel position with respect to the field surface. The standard parallel section 611b1 is positioned so as to be approximately the same height as the field surface when the penetration depth of the agricultural implement 1 is a standard depth Hm (e.g., 12 cm). The lower parallel section 611b2 is positioned so as to be approximately the same height as the field surface when the penetration depth of the agricultural implement 1 with respect to the field surface (height from the lower end Ht of the rotation trajectory 41t) is the shallowest depth Hl (e.g., 8 cm). The upper parallel section 611b3 is positioned so as to be approximately the same height as the field surface when the penetration depth of the agricultural implement 1 is the deepest depth Hh (e.g., 15 cm). .

[0048] The standard parallel section 611b1, the lower parallel section 611b2, and the upper parallel section 611b3 are arranged parallel to each other, but offset from each other in the direction of travel P, so that they do not overlap when viewed in the height direction. The lower parallel section 611b2 and the standard parallel section 611b1, and the standard parallel section 611b1 and the upper parallel section 611b3 are connected by inclined sections 612b1 and 612b2 that extend in the direction of inclination, respectively. In addition, an inclined section 612b3 is connected to the front end of the upper parallel section 611b3 in the direction of travel P. In other words, the stepped projection 61b is a single rib-like projection that increases in height in a step-like manner, with the lower parallel section 611b2, inclined section 612b1, standard parallel section 611b1, inclined section 612b2, upper parallel section 611b3, and inclined section 612b3 being sequentially connected in the direction of travel P.

[0049] According to the reference plate 6b of the modified example 2, the entire stepped projection 61b has a shape configuration that is inclined upward with respect to the direction of travel P, making it possible to measure the height while leveling the soil during movement in the direction of travel P accompanied by vertical vibrations.

[0050] <Other> In this embodiment and its modified form, the reference plate is configured to measure the penetration depth by providing markings in three stages, but it may also be provided with four or more markings.

[0051] The protrusions may not be rib-shaped as in the above embodiment, but rather configured such as having multiple boss-shaped protrusions arranged in a predetermined direction. Alternatively, instead of a single rib shape, the protrusions may be divided into multiple ribs in a predetermined direction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1...Agricultural implement, 4...Tilling section, 40...Tilling shaft, 41...Tilling claws, 5...Leveling section, 6...Reference plate (marker member), 60...Plate section, 601...Lower end (shallowest marker section), 602...Deepest marker section, 61...Protrusion (standard marker section), 71...Bolt, 72...Nut, 8...Cover

Claims

1. A farm implement used in a field, attached to a vehicle, The farming department, A marker member capable of measuring the penetration depth of the tilling unit into the field surface in stages, Equipped with, A farming machine characterized by the following features.

2. The aforementioned marker member is, A first marker indicating that the penetration depth is a first depth, A second marker indicating that the penetration depth is a second depth which is shallower than the first depth, A third marker indicating that the penetration depth is a third depth which is deeper than the first depth, Having, The agricultural implement according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned marker member is, A plate section aligned in both the direction of travel and the height direction, A projection extending from the plate portion in a width direction perpendicular to both the direction of travel and the height direction, Having, The agricultural implement according to claim 2.

4. The aforementioned projection has a rib shape that extends in a predetermined direction on the plate portion, The rib shape includes a portion whose direction of extension on the plate is aligned with the direction of travel when the agricultural machine is in a desired parallel position to the field surface. The agricultural implement according to claim 3.

5. The aforementioned protrusion is A first portion whose direction of extension on the plate is aligned with the direction of travel when the agricultural machine is in a desired parallel position to the field surface, The plate portion includes a second portion that is connected to the first portion at the front of the first portion in the direction of travel and extends in a direction inclined with respect to the direction of travel, gradually increasing upward as it moves toward the direction of travel. including, The agricultural implement according to claim 4.

6. The aforementioned marker member is attached to the side of the tilling section in the width direction, which is perpendicular to both the direction of travel and the height direction. The agricultural implement according to claim 1.

7. The tilling unit comprises a tilling shaft rotatable around a rotation axis along the width direction, and tilling tines provided on the tilling shaft. The aforementioned marker member is mounted below the axis of rotation. The agricultural implement according to claim 6.

8. A side plate positioned on the outside of the end of the tilling shaft in the width direction, An end cover attached to the outside of the side plate in the width direction, A front side plate attached to the front side of the side plate in the direction of travel, A rear side plate attached to the rear side of the side plate in the direction of travel, Furthermore, The marker member is attached below the end cover and between the front plate and the rear plate in the direction of travel. The agricultural implement according to claim 7.

Images