Apple snail extermination device

Abstract

There are rice transplanters equipped with a device to remove apple snails (Pomacea canaliculata) from the muddy soil in the field. However, this does not prevent apple snails, which lay eggs and reproduce in waterways, from entering the field. Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above, and provides an apple snail extermination device that kills and eradicates apple snails before they can enter the field. [Solution] An apple snail extermination device equipped with traveling devices 3,3 that travel along a concrete levee A, and left and right crushing tools 4,4 that contact the left and right sides of the concrete levee A and rotate to crush apple snail eggs laid on the concrete levee A, with the distance and height of the left and right crushing tools 4,4 being adjustable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a slug control device for controlling slugs (jumbo moss snails) in a field.

Background Art

[0002] There is a rice transplanter equipped with a device for removing slugs (jumbo moss snails) in the mud in a field (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, it does not prevent the invasion of slugs that lay eggs and reproduce in waterways into the field.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide a slug control device that kills and controls slugs before they invade the field.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The invention according to claim 1 is a slug control device equipped with traveling devices 3, 3 that travel on a concrete ridge A and left and right crushers 4, 4 that rotate while contacting the left and right side surfaces of the concrete ridge A to crush the eggs of slugs laid on the concrete ridge A, and the intervals and heights of the left and right crushers 4, 4 are adjustable.

[0007] According to the invention described in claim 1, when the apple snail extermination device moves along the concrete levee A on the traveling devices 3,3, the left and right crushing tools 4,4 come into contact with the left and right sides of the concrete levee A and rotate to crush the apple snail eggs laid on the sides of the concrete levee A, thereby killing and exterminating the apple snails before they can enter the field.

[0008] Furthermore, by adjusting the spacing and height of the left and right crushing tools 4,4, it can be adapted to concrete ridges A with different left and right widths and heights.

[0009] The invention described in claim 2 is an apple snail extermination device according to claim 1, which is equipped with an obstacle detection sensor 10 that monitors the direction of travel and stops moving when it detects an obstacle in the direction of travel.

[0010] The invention described in claim 3 is an apple snail extermination device according to claim 2, in which the obstacle detection sensor 10 detects an obstacle in the direction of travel and stops moving, and if the obstacle does not disappear after a predetermined time has elapsed, the device moves in the reverse direction.

[0011] The invention described in claim 4 is the apple snail extermination device described in claim 3, which automatically lowers the left and right crushing tools 4, 4 downwards and moves in reverse. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of an apple snail extermination device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] The following describes an apple snail extermination device, which is one embodiment of the present invention. While directions are conveniently indicated as front, back, left, and right based on the forward direction of the device, the configuration is not limited by these directions.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the apple snail extermination device 1 has front and rear running rollers 3, 3 that can be driven and rotated at the front and rear of the main body 2, and left and right crushing rollers 4, 4 that can be freely rotated and extend downward to the left and right.

[0015] The main body 2 houses a battery 5, front and rear electric motors 6, 6, and a control device 7. The top surface of the main body 2 is equipped with a power switch 8, a start switch 9, an ultrasonic sensor 10 as an obstacle detection sensor, a spacing change switch 11 to change the left-right spacing between the left and right crushing rollers 4, 4, and a vertical change switch 12 to change the vertical position of the left and right crushing rollers 4, 4.

[0016] The front and rear rollers 3,3 are mounted on left and right drive shafts that are driven and rotated by front and rear electric motors 6,6, each powered by battery 5. When the power switch 8 is turned on and the start switch 9 is pressed, the front and rear electric motors 6,6 are activated and the front and rear rollers 3,3 are driven and rotated.

[0017] The left and right crushing rollers 4,4 are hard rubber rollers that are freely rotatable on left and right pivot shafts that extend downward from the left and right sides of the main body 2. The left and right spacing between the left and right crushing rollers 4,4 can be changed by moving the base of the left and right pivot shafts in the left and right direction using a screw (screw shaft, or a rack and pinion mechanism or electric cylinder) that operates in the left and right direction by operating the spacing change switch 11, thereby accommodating various left and right widths of the concrete ridge A.

[0018] Furthermore, even when the left and right crushing rollers 4,4 are spaced at their maximum distance, the gap is such that the left and right crushing rollers 4,4 do not touch the seedlings planted in the field.

[0019] Furthermore, the left and right pivot shafts that pivotally support the left and right crushing rollers 4,4 so that they can rotate freely are extendable and retractable in the vertical direction by a screw (screw shaft, or a rack and pinion mechanism or electric cylinder) that is operated by the operation of the up and down change switch 12, so that the vertical height of the left and right crushing rollers 4,4 can be changed.

[0020] Therefore, place the slug control device 1 on the concrete ridge A at the work start position such that the left and right crushing rollers 4, 4 sandwich the concrete ridge A of the field. Turn on the power switch 8 and operate the vertical change switch 12 to adjust the vertical height of the left and right crushing rollers 4, 4 to an appropriate working height. Operate the interval change switch 11 to adjust the interval such that the left and right crushing rollers 4, 4 contact the side wall surface of the concrete ridge A. When the start switch 9 is pressed, the front and rear electric motors 6, 6 operate, causing the front and rear traveling rollers 3, 3 to drive and rotate forward.

[0021] The slug lays a large number of eggs on the side wall surface of the concrete ridge A. When the slug control device 1 advances along the concrete ridge A, the left and right crushing rollers 4, 4 contact and rotate on the side wall surface of the concrete ridge A, crushing the eggs laid on the side wall surface of the concrete ridge A, and killing and controlling the slugs before they enter the field.

[0022] The ultrasonic sensor 10 monitors the forward direction of the slug control device 1. When an obstacle is detected in the forward direction, the control device 7 stops the front and rear electric motors 6, 6 to stop the slug control device 1.

[0023] If the obstacle does not disappear even after a predetermined time has elapsed while in the stopped state, the control device 7 operates the vertical screw to lower the left and right crushing rollers 4, 4 downward by the height of the crushing rollers 4, 4 (also, the downward lowering width can be freely preset in advance), reverses the front and rear electric motors 6, 6 to reverse (go backward) the slug control device 1, and returns it to the work start position of the concrete ridge A and stops it.

[0024] Note that the left and right crushing rollers 4, 4 may be configured to be rotationally driven by an electric motor or the like, or may be brush-shaped rollers, which crush the eggs by rotation and peel them off from the side wall of the concrete ridge A.

[0025] In addition, an ultrasonic sensor for monitoring the reverse direction (backward running direction) may be provided (the ultrasonic sensor 10 may be configured to monitor both the forward and reverse directions), and it may be configured to stop when there is an obstacle in the reverse direction during backward movement.

[0026] <Other Embodiments> The spread of sharing services and rental services for borrowing and lending agricultural machinery has begun to progress, but basically, the specification in units of time (borrowing for several hours to several days) is common. However, even when borrowing for one day, there is no charge variation according to the area of the field.

[0027] In addition, the sharing service and rental of agricultural machinery have the problem that the farming seasons overlap.

[0028] In addition, anti-theft measures for agricultural machinery are necessary for sharing services and rentals.

[0029] Therefore, in a map data-linked agricultural machine (for example, an agricultural machine such as a rice transplanter equipped with a control device having map data and a GNSS for calculating the vehicle position), the work (for example, planting work) can only be performed within the range determined by the map data.

[0030] Therefore, by making an agricultural machine (for example, a rice transplanter) that can only work (for example, planting work) on the field area determined by the map data, management according to the field area is possible for sharing services and rentals.

[0031] In addition, the number of units can be adjusted according to the season by management based on map data.

[0032] In addition, since work (for example, planting work) cannot be performed outside the field of the defined map data, it is also useful for preventing theft.

[0033] And when an agricultural machine is reserved through a sharing service or rental, the reserved map data is digitalized by a QR code (registered trademark), and the farming season and farming range for each district area are collected.

[0034] Therefore, because there are slight differences in farming seasons depending on the region or cultivation method, the number of agricultural machines provided through sharing services or rentals can be adjusted by analyzing the information in the collected map data.

[0035] For example, if it is known that the number of units used for sharing services and rentals in area A will be high from May 10th to 20th, and that in area B the number will be high from May 18th to 23rd, then the number of units can be adjusted by transferring agricultural machinery from area B to area A before May 10th.

[0036] Furthermore, when agricultural machinery leaves the field where it has been reserved through a sharing service or rental, a pop-up message indicating that the operation has stopped (planting unit stopped) is displayed (for example, "The operation unit (planting unit) has been stopped because it has gone outside the field"), and at the same time, a buzzer sounds or an audio alarm is emitted to inform the operator that the machinery has gone outside the field.

[0037] Furthermore, outside of the field where the agricultural machinery has been reserved, even if the work clutch (planting clutch) is engaged, the work clutch does not engage (the planting clutch does not operate to engage).

[0038] Furthermore, while map linkage is active (when the vehicle is equipped with a control device that has map data and a GNSS to calculate its own position), if the vehicle exceeds the predetermined field range, the work clutch (planting clutch) will be disengaged even if the work clutch is engaged (planting clutch is engaged).

[0039] Furthermore, if the system is not linked to the map (i.e., if it is not equipped with a control device that has map data and GNSS to calculate the vehicle's position), the work clutch will not engage even if the planting clutch is engaged.

[0040] Therefore, if you try to work in a field that hasn't been designated in advance, you won't be able to.

[0041] The fees for sharing services and rentals are determined based on the field area read from the map data.

[0042] Therefore, by using a pricing system based on the area worked rather than the time spent, it becomes easier for people who only want to do a little farm work to use the service.

[0043] Furthermore, in rental and sharing services, it is cumbersome for users to set up field information and other details each time they use the service.

[0044] Therefore, the system will be used in rental and sharing services to convert map data, which includes settings such as field shape and fertilizer application rates, into QR codes.

[0045] Therefore, by converting map data that records field shape, fertilizer application settings, etc., into QR code information, users can immediately use the service by scanning the QR code they possess for future rentals or sharing services. Agricultural machinery can also be used immediately without any setup hassle by scanning a QR code. Furthermore, the system will allow the QR code to be sent to other devices (smartphones or tablets) in rental and sharing services.

[0046] Therefore, by saving the QR code to the user's smartphone or tablet, they can use it simply by presenting it when receiving rental or sharing services in the future.

[0047] Furthermore, a drawback of rental and sharing services is that the usage periods for agricultural machinery can sometimes overlap.

[0048] For example, if "the first person rents agricultural machinery from the store, performs farm work, and returns it to the store. Then the second person rents agricultural machinery from the store, performs farm work, and returns it to the store. Furthermore, the third person rents agricultural machinery from the store, performs farm work, and returns it to the store," then the return process will take time.

[0049] Therefore, the system will allow users to make reservations for rental and sharing services by uploading a QR code image to a dedicated website.

[0050] QR code information allows for the management of reservations based on the location of agricultural machinery.

[0051] For example, if the previous user is working in a nearby location, the first person can rent agricultural machinery from the store, perform farm work, and then the second person can go to the first person's field, rent the machinery, and perform farm work, thus eliminating the need to return the machinery. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0052] 3. Traveling device (traveling rollers) 4. Crushing tool (crushing roller) 10. Obstacle detection sensor (ultrasonic sensor) A. Concrete embankment

Claims

1. An apple snail extermination device characterized by being equipped with a traveling device (3,3) that travels along a concrete levee (A), and left and right crushing tools (4,4) that come into contact with the left and right sides of the concrete levee (A) and rotate to crush apple snail eggs laid on the concrete levee (A), wherein the distance and height of the left and right crushing tools (4,4) can be freely adjusted.

2. The apple snail extermination device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is equipped with an obstacle detection sensor (10) that monitors the direction of travel, and stops moving when an obstacle is detected in the direction of travel.

3. The apple snail extermination device according to claim 2, characterized in that if the obstacle detection sensor (10) detects an obstacle in the direction of travel and stops moving, and the obstacle does not disappear even after a predetermined time has elapsed, the device moves in the reverse direction.

4. The apple snail extermination device according to claim 3, characterized in that the left and right crushing tools (4,4) are automatically lowered downward and the device moves in reverse.

Images