Attraction Device

Abstract

To provide an attracting device capable of more reliably stopping an attracting tool at a stop position. [Solution] This is an attracting device having a track 101 installed above the soil surface and an attracting tool 10 that can travel on the track 101 to attract plant stems in the extension direction of the track 101. The track 101 has a plurality of engaging parts 102 spaced apart in the extension direction, and the attracting tool 10 can travel along the track 101 and includes a running roller 60 with locking parts that can be locked onto the engaging parts 102 of the track 101, a attracting string that is attached to the plant stem and can attract the plant, a bobbin 80 around which the attracting string is wound, a linking mechanism that links the rotation of the running roller 60 with the rotation of the bobbin 80, and a suppressing means that suppresses the rotation of the running roller 60 when the locking parts are locked onto the engaging parts 102.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an attracting device that attracts plants such as tomatoes by pulling their stems. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, the stems of plants such as tomatoes are attracted by a attracting device equipped with an attracting string. One such attracting device is described in Patent Document 1. In the attracting device of Patent Document 1, a hanging string is attached to the stem of the plant, and a wheel and a bobbin rotate in conjunction with each other, and when the attracting device runs on the wire, the hanging string is unwound from the bobbin. Then, after the position of the attracting device is moved, the rotation of the wheel is stopped by a wheel stopper, thereby suppressing the movement of the attracting device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-282558 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Although the attraction device described in Patent Document 1 is capable of stopping the rotation of the wheels, no consideration is given to the possibility that the stopped wheels may slip.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its main object is to provide an attracting device that can more reliably stop an attracting device at a stopping position. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The first configuration is an attraction device having a track installed above the soil surface and a first attraction device capable of running on the track to attract plant stems in the extension direction of the track, wherein the track has a plurality of engaging portions, and the first attraction device comprises a running roller capable of running along the track, a engaging portion capable of engaging with the engaging portion of the track, an attraction string attached to the stem of the plant and capable of attracting the plant, a bobbin around which the attraction string is wound, and a linkage mechanism which links the rotation of the running roller with the rotation of the bobbin.

[0007] In the first configuration, when the first attracting tool is stopped on the track, the engaging part of the attracting tool is engaged with the engaged part of the track, so that even if a force in the attracting direction is applied to the traveling roller due to a load on the attracting string, the movement of the traveling roller in the attracting direction is suppressed. Therefore, unnecessary movement of the attracting tool in the attracting direction can be suppressed.

[0008] The second configuration, in addition to the first configuration, further includes a suppression means that suppresses rotation of the running roller when the locking portion is locked to the locked portion, and the locking portion is provided on the circumference of the running roller.

[0009] In the second configuration, when the attracting device runs, the engaging portion of the running roller and the engaged portion of the track run while meshing with each other, so that it is possible to suppress free rotation of the running roller during running.

[0010] A third configuration, in addition to the second configuration, further includes a second attracting device capable of running along the track to attract the stem of a plant in the direction of extension of the track, and a first connecting member connecting the first attracting device and the second attracting device along the track at a distance, and the second attracting device comprises a running roller capable of running along the track, an attracting string attached to the stem of the plant and capable of attracting the plant, a bobbin around which the attracting string is wound, and a linking mechanism linking the rotation of the running roller and the rotation of the bobbin, and when the rotation of the running roller of the first attracting device is inhibited by the inhibiting means, the second attracting device can be inhibited from running on the track in the direction of attracting the plant.

[0011] When cultivating plants, it is common to cultivate multiple plants with a gap between them, so multiple attractants are also required. In other words, a means for suppressing the movement of each of the multiple attractants is required, and the operation of operating the means for suppressing the movement of each of the multiple attractants is required. In the third configuration, the second attractant is suppressed from moving while the first attractant is suppressed from moving by the suppression means, so that the configuration of the second attractant can be simplified compared to the configuration of the first attractant, and the operation of suppressing the movement of the second attractant can be omitted.

[0012] A fourth configuration, in addition to the third configuration, includes a third attracting device capable of running on the track to attract the stem of a plant in the extension direction of the track, a fourth wheel connecting the second attracting device and the third attracting device along the track at a distance, an attracting string attached to the stem of the plant and capable of attracting the plant, a bobbin around which the attracting string is wound, and a linking mechanism linking the rotation of the running roller with the rotation of the bobbin, wherein the first connecting member and the second connecting member are flexible, and the second attracting device is connected by the first connecting member so that the second attracting device is located on the attracting direction side of the first attracting device, and the third attracting device is connected by the second connecting member so that it is located on the attracting direction side of the second attracting device.

[0013] In the fourth configuration, as in the third configuration, the travel of the second and third attracting devices can be suppressed while the travel of the first attracting device is suppressed by the suppression means, so that the configuration of the second and third attracting devices can be simplified more than the configuration of the first attracting device, and the operation of suppressing the travel of the second and third attracting devices can be omitted.

[0014] A fifth configuration is an attraction device having a track installed above the soil surface, an attraction tool capable of running on the track to attract the stems of plants in the extension direction of the track, and a braking means capable of suppressing the movement of the attraction tool along the track, wherein the track has a plurality of engaging portions, and the attraction tool comprises a running roller capable of running along the track, an attraction string attached to the stem of the plant and capable of attracting the plant, a bobbin around which the attraction string is wound, and a linking mechanism that links the rotation of the running roller and the rotation of the bobbin, and the braking means comprises a connection portion that can be connected to the attraction tool, the running roller that can run along the track, a locking portion that can be locked to the locked portion of the track, and a control mechanism that can be operated to change the engagement state between the locking portion and the locked portion.

[0015] In the fifth configuration, when it is desired to stop the attracting tool on the track, the locking portion of the braking means connected to the attracting tool is locked with the locked means of the track to suppress the travel of the attracting tool, so that even if a force in the attracting direction is applied to the traveling roller due to a load on the attracting string, etc., the movement of the traveling roller in the attracting direction is suppressed. Therefore, unnecessary movement of the attracting tool in the attracting direction can be suppressed.

[0016] A sixth configuration is an attraction device having a track installed above the soil surface, an attracting device capable of running on the track to attract the stems of plants in the extension direction of the track, and a braking means capable of suppressing the movement of the attracting device along the track, wherein the attracting device comprises a running roller capable of running along the track, an attracting string that is attached to the stem of the plant and can attract the plant, a bobbin around which the attracting string is wound, and a linking mechanism that links the rotation of the running roller with the rotation of the bobbin, and the braking means comprises a long braking member having one end connected to the attracting device, and a reeling mechanism capable of reeling out the braking member in the attraction direction of the plant, and when the reeling mechanism reels out the braking member, the attracting device is allowed to run in the attraction direction, and when the reeling mechanism suppresses the reeling out of the braking member, the attracting device is suppressed from running in the attraction direction.

[0017] In the sixth configuration, when the attracting tool is stopped on the track, the payout mechanism suppresses the travel of the attracting tool, so that even if a force in the attracting direction is applied to the traveling roller due to a load on the attracting string, the movement of the traveling roller in the attracting direction is suppressed. Therefore, unnecessary movement of the attracting tool in the attracting direction can be suppressed.

[0018] In the seventh configuration, in addition to the fifth or sixth configuration, the braking means uses past weather information and the plant growth information associated with the weather information as teacher data to determine the operating state of the control mechanism associated with the weather information using artificial intelligence, and obtains at least one of current weather information and a weather forecast to operate the control mechanism.

[0019] The growth state of plants changes depending on the hours of sunlight and temperature, and it is necessary to extend the braking member according to the growth state. In the seventh configuration, artificial intelligence is used to operate the control mechanism according to plant growth information, allowing for more accurate extension.

[0020] In an eighth configuration, in addition to the fifth or sixth configuration, the braking means uses the load applied to the attraction cord and plant growth information associated with the load as training data to determine the operating state of the control mechanism associated with the load using artificial intelligence, obtains the load currently applied to the attraction cord, and retracts the braking member, as described in claim 4.

[0021] The amount of extension required for the attracting string changes depending on the growth state of the plant, and the growth state can also be determined by the load applied to the attracting string, i.e., the weight of the plant. Therefore, with the eighth configuration, the control mechanism can be operated according to the growth state of the plant.

[0022] In a ninth configuration, in addition to the seventh or eighth configuration, the growth information includes at least one of the operating state of the control mechanism when operated manually and the travel distance of the attractant when operated manually.

[0023] When a person operates the control mechanism artificially, the person operates the control mechanism while checking plant growth information, so by linking meteorological information with the operating status of the artificial control mechanism, the attractant can be placed in a more suitable position.

[0024] In a tenth configuration, in addition to any one of the fifth to ninth configurations, the braking means activates the control mechanism based on at least one of the time and the elapsed time since the advance amount was changed the previous time.

[0025] When the control mechanism is operated every time it is required, it needs to be operated frequently, which requires more precise control and complicates the configuration. In the tenth configuration, the control mechanism is operated based on at least one of the time and the elapsed time since the advance amount was last changed, so that the control mechanism can be operated based on a time or duration that does not require more precise control or frequent control.

[0026] In an eleventh configuration, in addition to the fifth or sixth configuration, the braking means obtains a load applied to the attraction cord, and activates the control mechanism based on the obtained load.

[0027] With this configuration, it is possible to obtain effects similar to those of the eighth configuration. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the attraction device. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] Cross-sectional view taken along line AA. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a front view of the attracting device attached to the track. [Figure 14] This is a rear view of the attracting device when attached to the track. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of an attraction device according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or equivalent parts, and the description of the same reference numerals is incorporated herein by reference.

[0030] First Embodiment The attractant 10 according to the present embodiment is used in a cultivated field in which plants 100 are planted, as shown in FIG. 1. In the present embodiment, tomatoes are assumed as the plants. In the cultivated field, the plants 100 are planted in a line in one direction, and a track 101 is provided above the plants so as to be parallel to the direction in which the plants 100 are planted. More specifically, the track 101 is substantially elliptical in shape, having a pair of straight line parts parallel to the direction in which the plants 100 are planted, and a pair of arc-shaped parts connecting both ends of the straight line parts. The attractant 10 according to the present embodiment is attached to the track 101 and travels along the track 101. Then, the attractant string 11 provided in the attractant 10 is tied to the stem of the plant, and the stem of the plant 100 is attracted obliquely upward. In the following description, the direction in which the plant 100 is planted is defined as the left-right direction, the direction from top to bottom is defined as the up-down direction, and the direction perpendicular to both the left-right direction and the up-down direction is referred to as the front-back direction.

[0031] First, the structure of the attracting device 10 will be described with reference to Figs. 2 to 8. The attracting device 10 includes a main body case 20 that houses a drive mechanism and the like, which will be described later. The main body case 20 includes a rear part 21 that is substantially bicircular in shape, with two circles of substantially uniform thickness in the front-rear direction overlapping each other. The right side of the rear part 21 includes a right wall part 22 that extends vertically forward, has a substantially uniform height in the front-rear direction, and has a constant thickness. On the other hand, the left side of the rear part 21 includes a left wall part 23 that extends vertically forward, has a substantially uniform height in the front-rear direction, and has a constant thickness. The positions of the upper ends and the lower ends of the right wall part 22 and the left wall part 23 are the same. The upper ends of the right wall part 22 and the left wall part 23 are connected to each other by an upper wall part 24 that extends vertically forward from the rear part 21, has a substantially uniform height in the front-rear direction, and has a constant thickness. On the other hand, the lower ends of the right wall portion 22 and the left wall portion 23 extend vertically forward from the rear portion 21, are approximately uniform in height in the front-to-rear direction, and are connected by a lower wall portion 25 having a constant thickness.

[0032] A plate-shaped first cover 26 can be attached to the front of the main body case 20 having the outer shape configured as described above, and the first cover 26 covers a part of the main body case 20 in a front view. A cylindrical upper protrusion 27 protruding toward the rear side is provided near the upper end of this first cover 26, and a cylindrical lower protrusion 28 protruding toward the front side is provided near the lower end. Holes (not shown) are also provided near the left and right ends, and screws 29 are inserted into the upper protrusion 27, the lower protrusion 28, and the holes provided near the left and right ends to attach the first cover to the main body case 20.

[0033] The rear part 21 of the main body case 20 is provided with a first opening 31, which is a hole penetrating in the front-rear direction and has a cylindrical part protruding to the rear side. In the first opening 31, an inner flange with a reduced diameter is formed at the rear end of the cylindrical part. A second opening 32, which is a hole penetrating in the front-rear direction and has a cylindrical part protruding to the rear side, is provided diagonally below the first opening 31 to the right. A third opening 33, which is a hole penetrating in the front-rear direction and has a cylindrical part protruding to the rear side, is provided directly below the first opening 31 and diagonally below the second opening 32 to the left. The inner diameters of these first to third openings 31 to 33 are equal. Furthermore, a fourth opening 34, which is a hole penetrating in the front-rear direction and has a cylindrical part protruding to the rear side, is provided directly above the first opening 26. The inner diameter of this fourth opening 34 is larger than the inner diameters of the first to third openings 31 to 33. In addition, an inner flange 34a with a reduced diameter is formed at the rear end of the cylindrical part of the fourth opening 34.

[0034] An auxiliary case 40 is provided on the upper part of the main body case 20. This auxiliary case 40 is composed of an outer peripheral wall 41 having a substantially uniform thickness and an arc-shaped upper end, and a partition wall 42 having a substantially uniform thickness that divides the inside of the outer peripheral wall 41 into a front side and a rear side. A fifth opening 43 penetrating in the front-rear direction is provided in the approximate center of this partition wall 42. An auxiliary roller 44 is attached to this fifth opening 43 so as to be rotatable around an axis extending in the front-rear direction.

[0035] Connecting parts 45, 46 that protrude in the left-right direction are provided near the connection between main case 20 and auxiliary case 40. Connecting parts 45, 46 are plate-shaped with a predetermined thickness in the front-rear direction, and are provided with connecting holes 47, 48 that are circular holes that penetrate in the front-rear direction, respectively. A plate-shaped second cover 49 can be attached to the front of auxiliary case 40 whose outer shape is configured as described above, and second cover 49 covers part of auxiliary case 40 in a front view.

[0036] A cylindrical first rotating shaft 51 is inserted and attached to the first opening 31 of the main body case 20. A circular running roller 60 is attached to the front side of this first rotating shaft 51 so as to be rotatable around the first rotating shaft 51. This running roller 60 has a running gear 61 having a plurality of teeth evenly spaced around the entire circumference, and a pair of guide parts 62 provided in front of and behind the running gear 61, which are disk-shaped, share a center with the running gear 61, and have a diameter substantially equal to that of the running gear 61.

[0037] A disk-shaped first gear 71 is attached to the back side of the traveling roller 60. The disk-shaped first gear 71 rotates around the first rotation shaft 51 as the traveling roller 60 rotates, similar to the traveling roller 60. The first gear 71 is formed with a locking hole 71a, which is a circular hole penetrating in the front-rear direction (thickness direction). Four locking holes 71a are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the first gear 71, and the outer periphery of an imaginary circle passing through the center of the locking hole 71a passes through the center of the fourth opening 34 provided in the main body case 20. The diameter of the locking hole 71a is smaller than the diameter of the fourth opening 34 provided in the main body case 20, and is approximately the same diameter as the inner diameter of the inner flange 34a of the fourth opening 34.

[0038] A cylindrical second rotating shaft 52 is inserted and attached to the second opening 32 of the main body case 20. A disk-shaped second gear 72 is attached to this second rotating shaft 52 so as to be rotatable around the second rotating shaft 52 with the second gear 72 as the center. The diameter of this second gear 72 is a diameter that allows it to engage with the first gear 71, and the shape of the teeth of the second gear 72 is approximately the same as the shape of the teeth of the first gear 71.

[0039] A cylindrical third rotating shaft 53 is inserted and attached to the third opening 33 of the main body case 20. A disk-shaped third gear 73 is attached to this third rotating shaft 53 so as to be rotatable around the third rotating shaft 53. The diameter of this third gear 73 is a diameter that allows engagement with the second gear 72, and the shape of the teeth of the third gear 73 is approximately the same as the shape of the teeth of the second gear 72.

[0040] A disk-shaped rotating plate 74 is provided on the front side of the third gear 73, the rotating plate 74 being centered on the third rotating shaft 53. This rotating plate 74 rotates around the third rotating shaft 53 as the third gear 73 rotates. A recess 75 recessed from the front side to the rear side is provided on the front side of this rotating plate 74. The depth of this recess 75 in the front-to-rear direction is approximately uniform, and its shape in front view is a shape in which a plurality of sawtooth teeth of the same shape are provided around a circle and inclined in the same direction.

[0041] A bobbin 80 is attached to the front side of the rotating plate 74 so as to be rotatable around the third rotating shaft 53. The bobbin 80 includes a cylindrical shaft 81 having a central axis that is an extension of the third rotating shaft 53, a plate-shaped first flange 82 provided at the end of the shaft 81 on the rear side, a plate-shaped second flange 83 provided at the end of the shaft 81 on the front side, and a cylindrical protrusion 84 protruding from the center of the second flange 83 toward the front side. The first flange 82 is substantially disc-shaped, and a protrusion having substantially the same shape as the sawtooth of the recess 75 of the rotating plate 74 is formed on the outer periphery. The second flange 83 is disc-shaped and shares a center with the shaft 81.

[0042] One end of the attracting string 11 is fixed to the bobbin 80. The attracting string 11 is wound around the shaft 81 of the bobbin 80 so that it is unwound when the bobbin 80 rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the front and wound up when the bobbin 80 rotates clockwise. Examples of materials for the attracting string 11 include metals such as stainless steel, synthetic resins, wild silk thread, artificial wild silk thread, cotton, and other fibers.

[0043] A cylindrical locking pin 91 is inserted from the front side into the fourth opening 34 of the main body case 20. The diameter of this locking pin 91 is approximately equal to the diameter of the locking hole 71a provided in the first gear 71. The locking pin 91 is provided with a large diameter portion 91a that is increased in diameter slightly forward from the center in the longitudinal direction. The diameter of this large diameter portion 91a is approximately equal to the diameter of the fourth opening 34 of the main body case 20, and the outer circumferential surface of the large diameter portion 91a abuts against the inner circumferential surface of the fourth opening 34. A spring 92 is provided between the inner flange 34a of the fourth opening 34 and the large diameter portion 91a of the locking pin 91, and the spring 92 biases the locking pin 91 forward. In other words, the locking pin 91 is maintained in a state of being fitted into the locking hole 71a by the spring 92, thereby suppressing the rotation of the first gear 71 and the running roller 60 that rotates in synchronization with the first gear 71. A disk 93 having a diameter larger than the outer periphery of the cylinder of the fourth opening 34 is screwed to the end of the locking pin 91 on the rear side.

[0044] The first cover 26 described above is attached to the front of the main body case 20. At this time, a cylindrical pressing portion 94 is attached to the protrusion 84 of the bobbin 80 from the front side. The pressing portion 94 is inserted into the lower protrusion 28 via a spring 95, and the pressing portion 94 is biased by the spring 95 so as to press the bobbin 80 toward the rear side. In addition, a disk 96 having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the lower protrusion 28 is screwed to the pressing portion 94 on the front side of the lower protrusion 28.

[0045] The attracting device 10 configured as above is attached to a track 101 as shown in FIG. 13 and travels along the track 101. The track 101 is a long plate extending in the left-right direction and having a constant thickness in the front-rear direction. The upper end of the track 101 is a straight line horizontal to the ground surface. On the other hand, at the lower end of the track 101, teeth 102 having approximately the same shape as the teeth provided on the running gear 61 of the running roller 60 of the attracting device 10 are provided over the entire longitudinal area. When the attracting device 10 is attached to the track 101, the auxiliary roller 44 abuts against the upper end of the track 101, and the running gear 61 of the running roller 60 engages with the teeth 102 of the track 101.

[0046] When the attracting tool 10 travels along the track 101, the teeth 102 of the track 101 function as a rack, and the running gear 61 of the attracting tool 10 functions as a pinion. That is, the running gear 61 rotates with the left-right movement of the attracting tool 10. At this time, the disk 93 screwed to the rear end of the locking pin 91 is pulled to the rear side, and is released from the locking hole 71a of the locking pin 91, allowing the running roller 60 to rotate. When the attracting tool 10 travels from left to right along the track, the running gear 61 rotates counterclockwise as viewed from the front. The first gear 71 also rotates counterclockwise together with the running gear 61, and the second gear 72 engaged with the first gear 71 rotates clockwise. As the second gear 72 rotates clockwise, the third gear 73 engaged with the second gear 72 rotates counterclockwise as viewed from the front, and the bobbin 80 also rotates counterclockwise in synchronization with the rotation. That is, the bobbin 80 rotates in the direction in which the attraction string 83 is paid out.

[0047] To briefly summarize the above movement, when the attracting device 10 runs from left to right on the track 101, the rotation of the running roller 60 is converted by the first gear 71, the second gear 72, and the third gear 73 into power for unwinding the attracting string 11 by the bobbin 80. Note that the first gear 71, the second gear 72, and the third gear 73 link the rotation of the running roller 60 and the rotation of the bobbin 80, and therefore can be collectively referred to as a linking mechanism.

[0048] When the attracting device 10 is stopped on the track 101, the disk 93 attached to the locking pin 91 is released from the state of being pulled toward the rear side, and the locking pin 91 is fitted into the locking hole 71 by the biasing force of the spring 92. This suppresses the rotation of the first gear 71 and the running roller 60 which rotates in synchronization with the first gear 71. The locking pin 91 and the locking hole 71 can be collectively referred to as a suppressing means, since they suppress the rotation of the running roller 60 in this way. Note that the locking pin 91 may have a structure capable of maintaining a state in which it is disengaged from the locking hole 71.

[0049] In addition, the bobbin 80 can be rotated out of sync with the rotation of the running roller 60. Specifically, the disk 96 is pulled toward the front side, and the pressing portion 94, which presses the bobbin 80 toward the back side, is moved away from the bobbin 80. In this way, the bobbin 80 can be moved toward the front side, and the protrusion of the first flange 82 of the bobbin 80 is released from the recess 75 of the rotating plate 74, and the link between the rotation of the bobbin 80 and the rotation of the rotating plate 74 is interrupted. In this situation, if the amount of the attracting string 11 that has been unwound is excessive, the bobbin 80 can be rotated clockwise to wind up the attracting string 11, and if the amount of the attracting string 11 that has been unwound is insufficient, the bobbin 80 can be rotated counterclockwise to unwind the attracting string 11. In this way, the bobbin 80 can be rotated without rotating the running roller 60, so that the amount of the attracting string 11 that is paid out can be changed without changing the position of the attracting device 10 on the track 101.

[0050] When the attracting device 10 is caused to move in the reverse direction from right to left along the track 101, the bobbin 80 rotates clockwise as viewed from the front, and winds up the attracting string 83.

[0051] Next, a method of using the attraction device having a plurality of the attraction devices 10 described above will be described with reference to Fig. 13 and Fig. 14. First, the attraction devices 10 are attached in series on a track 101, and adjacent attraction devices 10 in the left-right direction are connected by a flexible rope 103. The rope 103 is attached by being inserted into the connection holes 46, 47 provided on the attraction devices 10.

[0052] Returning to FIG. 1, the attracting devices 10 connected as described above are referred to as the first attracting device 10, the second attracting device 10a, and the third attracting device 10b from the left side, and run from left to right along the track when viewed from the front. In this case, the second attracting device 10a and the third attracting device 10b are not provided with a member such as a locking pin 91 that suppresses the rotation of the running roller 60. In addition, the rope 103 connecting the first attracting device 10 and the second attracting device 10a can be referred to as the first connecting member, and the rope 103 connecting the second attracting device 10a and the third attracting device 10b can be referred to as the second connecting member.

[0053] As shown in Fig. 1, the first attractant 10, the second attractant 10a, and the third attractant 10b are placed on the seedling of the plant 100, and the attractant string 11 is tied to the seedling of the plant 100. When the plant 100 grows and the stem extends, the rotation of the roller 60 by the locking pin 91 in the first attractant 10a is temporarily released, and the first attractant 10a is moved to the right as far as necessary. As the plant 100 moves, the attractant string 11 is unwound, attracting the stem of the plant 100 in the direction of travel of the attractants 10, 10a, and 10b.

[0054] After the first attracting tool 10 has been moved as far as necessary, the locking pin 91 is inserted into the locking hole 71a to restrict the rotation of the running roller 60. At this time, the engagement state between the running gear 61 of the running roller 60 and the teeth 102 of the track 101 is maintained, so that the rotation of the running roller 60 is restricted, and thus the movement of the first attracting tool 10 in the left-right direction is also restricted.

[0055] Next, the second attracting device 10a and the third attracting device 10b are moved to the right. In this case, if the third attracting device 10b is moved to the right, the second attracting device 10a is also pulled and moves to the right. Then, when the second attracting device 10a and the third attracting device 10b move to the right by the same amount as the first attracting device 10, the rope 103 is fully stretched, and further movement of the second attracting device 10a and the third attracting device 10b to the right is suppressed.

[0056] In addition, since the plant 100 applies a load to the attracting string 11 in the direction in which it is let out, the second attracting tool 10a and the third attracting tool 10b may move to the right when the attracting string 11 is let out. In this case, it is not necessary to move the second attracting tool 10a and the third attracting tool 10b to the right.

[0057] In addition, if the second attracting device 10a and the third attracting device 10b are equipped with a bobbin 80 or the like having the same configuration as the first attracting device 10, the payout amount of the attracting string 11 can be changed for the second attracting device 10a and the third attracting device 10b without changing the position on the track 101. In other words, the payout amount of the attracting string 11 can be changed individually without changing the relative positions of the attracting devices 10, 10a, and 10b.

[0058] In the above description, the second attractant 10a and the third attractant 10b are given different names, but as described above, the second attractant 10a and the third attractant 10b are the same in structure, except that they are arranged in different orders. Therefore, instead of saying that the second attractant 10a and the third attractant 10b are provided, it can also be said that the second attractant 10a is provided in a plurality (two) of second attractants 10a. In this embodiment, the second attractant 10a is connected to each other by the rope 103, which is a flexible second connecting member, to form a row, and the second attractant 10a located closest to the first attractant 10 among the plurality of second attractants 10a is connected to the first attractant 10 by the flexible rope 103, which is a flexible first connecting member.

[0059] With the above-mentioned configuration, the attractant 10 according to the present embodiment and the attractant device including a plurality of the attractants 10, 10a, and 10b have the following advantages.

[0060] When the attracting device 10 is stopped on the track 101, the running gear 61 of the traveling roller 60 of the attracting device 10 is engaged with the teeth 102 of the track 101, so that even if a force in the attraction direction is applied to the traveling roller 60 due to a load on the attracting cord 11, etc., the movement of the traveling roller 60 in the attraction direction is suppressed. Therefore, unnecessary movement of the attracting device 10 in the attraction direction can be suppressed.

[0061] When the attracting device 10 runs, the running gear 61 of the running roller 60 and the teeth 102 of the track 101 mesh with each other, so that the running roller 60 is prevented from spinning freely during the run.

[0062] When cultivating plants, it is common to cultivate multiple plants with a gap between them, so multiple attractants 10 are also required. That is, each of the multiple attractants 10 requires a means for suppressing the movement, such as the locking pin 91, and the operation of operating each locking pin 91 may be required. In this regard, in this embodiment, the first attractant 10 suppresses the movement of the second attractant 10a and the third attractant 10b by a suppression means consisting of the locking hole 71a and the locking pin 91, so that the configuration of the second attractant 10a and the third attractant 10b can be simplified compared to the configuration of the first attractant 10, and the operation of suppressing the movement of the second attractant 10a and the third attractant 10b can be omitted.

[0063] <Second embodiment> The attraction device according to this embodiment has a part of the configuration different from that of the first embodiment. The attraction device according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 15. The attraction device includes an attraction tool 110 and a track 101, and the shape of the track 101 is the same as that of the first embodiment. Meanwhile, unlike the attraction tool 10 according to the first embodiment, the attraction tool 110 does not include a member such as a locking pin 91 for suppressing the rotation of the traveling roller 60. Note that FIG. 15 illustrates the back of the attraction tool 110, which travels from right to left, and an attraction tool (not shown) of the same shape is connected to the left side (traveling direction side) of the attraction tool 110 by a rope 103.

[0064] The attracting device further includes a control device 120, a payout device 130, and a wire 140. The payout device 130 includes a bobbin 131, a motor (not shown) for rotating the bobbin, a power source (not shown) for supplying driving power to the motor, and the like. When a control signal is sent from the control device 130 to the power source, the motor is driven to rotate the bobbin 131. The wire 140 is flexible, and one end side is wound around the bobbin of the payout device 130, and the other end is inserted and attached to the connection hole 46 on the opposite side to the traveling direction of the attracting tool 110. Then, the wire 140 is paid out / wound up by the rotation of the bobbin 131 of the payout device 130. When the motor is not driven, the rotation of the bobbin 131 is suppressed. Since the wire 140 suppresses the traveling of the attracting tool 110, it can be called a braking member. The bobbin 131 can be referred to as a payout mechanism that pays out the wire 140 , and the payout device 130 can be referred to as a control mechanism that operates the bobbin 131 .

[0065] The control device 120 transmits a control signal to the unwinding device 130, rotates the bobbin 131, and unwinds or rewinds the wire 140. The control device 120 includes a control unit 121, a communication unit 122, a storage unit 123, and a drive unit 124. The control unit 121 performs various processes according to a program. The communication unit 122 is connected to a communication line or the like, and communicates with an external server or the like using the communication line to obtain various information. The storage unit 123 includes a volatile storage device that functions as a work area when the control unit 121 performs various processes, and a non-volatile storage device that stores various information and programs. The drive unit 124 generates a control signal for driving the unwinding device 130 based on various processes by the control device 121, and outputs the control signal to the unwinding device 130. Note that the unwinding device 130 is referred to as a control mechanism, but the concept of the control mechanism may include the control device 120.

[0066] The control unit 121 reads and executes a program constituting artificial intelligence stored in the storage device 123. Then, information on the environment when plants were cultivated in the past (hereinafter referred to as "environmental information") and the travel distance of the attractant 10 and / or the payout amount of the attractant string 11 according to the first embodiment (hereinafter referred to as "growth information") are acquired and machine learning is performed using these as teacher data, and a correlation between the environmental information and the growth information is obtained by the machine learning. This process is performed whenever the environmental information and the growth information are acquired. When the correlation between the environmental information and the growth information is thus obtained by machine learning, the correlation is stored in the storage unit 123.

[0067] The environmental information includes past weather information such as sunshine hours, temperature, and humidity, whether the plant is grown outdoors or in a greenhouse, the type and amount of fertilizer used, and other information that affects the plant's growth conditions. The growth information is the travel distance of the attractant 10 and / or the amount of the attractant string 11 that was let out when the attractant 10 according to the first embodiment was operated by a person in the past. These pieces of environmental information are associated with the growth information. That is, the growth information on the day the attractant was run is associated with the environmental information on that day. If this association is performed every day from the start of plant cultivation, the reliability of the information increases.

[0068] When the plant is attracted by the attraction device according to the present embodiment, meteorological information such as the sunshine hours, temperature, and humidity of the plant currently being cultivated, whether it is cultivated in an open field or in a vinyl house, and the type and amount of fertilizer used are acquired. At this time, information about only the current day may be used, or information about the past few days may be used, or information about the growing situation from the start of cultivation to the present may be used. If meteorological information is used, a weather forecast may be used. Then, the travel distance of the attraction tool 110 is calculated based on the correlation between the environmental information and the growth information, and the wire 140 is paid out by driving the payout device 130. Regarding the control of paying out the wire 140, the wire 140 may be paid out by the required amount at a predetermined time once to several times a day, or the wire 140 may be paid out by the required amount each time the required amount reaches a certain amount.

[0069] With the above-described configuration, the attraction device according to this embodiment has the following advantages.

[0070] The growth state of plants changes depending on the hours of sunlight, temperature, etc., and it is necessary to let out the wire 140 according to the growth state. In this embodiment, artificial intelligence is used to find the correlation between environmental information and growth information, and the wire 140 is let out based on the current environmental information, etc., so that the attractant 110 can be placed in a more suitable position.

[0071] When a person changes the amount of extension of the attractant string 11, the person changes the position of the attractant 110 while checking the plant growth information. Therefore, by associating the environmental information with the artificial amount of extension, the attractant 110 can be placed in a more suitable position.

[0072] When performing the payout operation of the wire 140, if the payout operation is performed every time payout is required, the payout operation needs to be performed frequently, which requires more precise control and complicates the configuration. In this regard, in the present embodiment, the payout of the wire 140 is performed based on at least one of the time and the elapsed time since the payout amount was last changed, so that the wire 140 can be paid out based on the time or duration that does not require more precise control or frequent control.

[0073] <Third embodiment> The attraction device according to this embodiment has a partly added configuration to that of the second embodiment, and some of the processes executed by the control unit 121 of the control device 120 are different. The control device according to this embodiment further includes a sensor (not shown) that detects the load applied from the plant 100 to the attraction string 11. The location where this sensor is attached may be the bobbin 80 of the attraction tool 10, the bobbin 131 of the pay-out device 130, or any other location where the load applied to the attraction string 11 can be detected or estimated.

[0074] The control unit 121 reads and executes a program constituting artificial intelligence stored in the storage device 123. Then, it acquires the load applied to the attractant string when the plant was cultivated in the past (hereinafter referred to as "load information"), and the travel distance of the attractant 10 and / or the payout distance of the attractant string 11 according to the first embodiment (hereinafter referred to as "growth information"). The growth information and growth information are associated with the growth information on the day the attractant was run and the load information on that day.

[0075] The control unit 121 performs machine learning using the acquired load information and growth information as teacher data, and obtains a correlation between the load information and the growth information through the machine learning. This process is performed whenever the load information and growth information are acquired. When the correlation between the load information and the growth information is obtained through machine learning in this manner, the correlation is stored in the storage unit 123.

[0076] The control unit 121 obtains a correlation between the development information and the attraction information by machine learning. This process is performed whenever the development information and the attraction information are acquired. When the correlation between the development information and the attraction information is obtained by machine learning in this manner, the correlation is stored in the storage unit 123.

[0077] When attracting a plant with the attraction device according to this embodiment, the load on the attraction string 11 is obtained by a sensor, and the travel distance of the attraction tool 110 is calculated based on the correlation between the load information and the growth information, and the payout device 130 is driven to pay out the wire 140. The payout control of this wire 140 may be set so that the required payout amount is paid out once to several times a day at a predetermined time, or the required payout amount may be paid out each time a certain amount is reached.

[0078] With the above-described configuration, the attraction device according to the present embodiment has the following advantages.

[0079] The required amount of extension of the attracting string 11 changes depending on the growth state of the plant, and the growth state can also be determined by the load applied to the attracting string 11, i.e., the weight of the plant. Therefore, this embodiment makes it possible to control the braking member according to the growth state of the plant without obtaining information on the external environment in which the plant is cultivated. <Modification>

[0080] In the embodiment, the running roller 60 is provided with a running gear 61, and the running gear 60 is engaged with the teeth 102 of the track 101, thereby suppressing the rotation of the running roller 60 when not running and suppressing the idling of the running roller 60 when running. In this regard, a member that engages with the teeth 102 of the track 101 may be provided separately from the running roller 60, and when the movement of the attracting device 10 is stopped, the member may be engaged with the teeth 102 of the track 101. In this way, the movement of the attracting device 10 when not running can be suppressed. In addition, in this case, it is not essential to provide the running gear 61 on the running roller 60, but if the running roller 60 has the running gear 61, the effect of suppressing the idling of the running roller 60 when running can be maintained. In addition, in this case, when a load is applied to the attracting cord 11, the attracting device 10 receives a force that moves it toward the attracting direction, so it is sufficient that the movement of the attracting device 10 in the attracting direction can be suppressed at least.

[0081] The configuration of the drive mechanism is merely one example, and various modifications are possible as long as the configuration is capable of transmitting the rotation of the traveling roller 60 to the rotation of the bobbin 80. Also, in the embodiment, the directions of the rotation axes of the traveling roller 60 and the bobbin 80 are the same, but the rotation axes may be changed to different directions by using a worm gear or the like.

[0082] In the first embodiment, at least one of the second attracting device 10a and the third attracting device 10b may be provided with a member such as a locking pin 91 that suppresses the rotation of the running roller 60. In this case, when moving the attracting devices 10, 10a, and 10b, the one with the locking pin 91 can be released from the lock. In addition, when the second attracting device 10a and the third attracting device 10b are provided with a member such as a locking pin 91 that suppresses the rotation of the running roller 60, if a mechanism is provided to keep the locked state in a constantly released state, the running state of the second attracting device 10a and the second attracting device 10b can be controlled by operating the first attracting device 10 alone.

[0083] In the first embodiment, an example in which three attractants 10 are provided is shown, but the number of attractants is not limited to this. For example, individual unconnected attractants 10 may be attached to the plant 100, or two attractants 10 may be connected together, or four or more attractants 10 may be connected together.

[0084] In the first embodiment, the attracting devices 10 are connected to each other by the flexible rope 103, but they may be connected by a long, inflexible member. In this case, if at least one of the attracting devices 10 has a member such as a locking pin 91 that suppresses the rotation of the traveling roller 60, the attracting device 10 can be switched between a traveling enabled state and a traveling disabled state to enable or suppress the traveling of other attracting devices 10.

[0085] The member for preventing the rotation of the traveling roller 60 is merely an example, and various modifications are possible. For example, the rotation of gears other than the first gear 71 may be prevented by a member equivalent to the locking pin 91.

[0086] In the second embodiment, past environmental information and growth information are acquired as teacher data, and correlations are found by machine learning and used to control the travel of the attractant 10. In this regard, the control unit may not have artificial intelligence, and data on the correlations between environmental information and growth information may be created in advance and stored in the storage unit 123, and growth information may be found based on the acquired current environmental information and the correlations stored in the storage unit 123. The same applies to the relationship between load information and growth information in the third embodiment.

[0087] In the second and third embodiments, the travel distance of the attractant 10 and / or the let-out amount of the attractant string 11 are used as the growth information, but the weight, size, etc. of the plant may be used as the growth information. In this case, the weight, size, etc. of the plant are associated in advance with the travel distance of the attractant 10 and / or the let-out amount of the attractant string 11, and a correlation between past environmental information and growth information is obtained by artificial intelligence. Then, the travel distance of the attractant 10 and / or the let-out amount of the attractant string 11 can be obtained using the correlation. The correlation between the weight, size, etc. of the plant and the travel distance of the attractant 10 and / or the let-out amount of the attractant string 11 may also be obtained by machine learning.

[0088] In the second or third embodiment, the amount of attraction required from the start of cultivation may be calculated in advance, and the attraction device 110 may be run the required amount at a predetermined time, or the attraction device may be run the required amount when a predetermined time has passed since the last time it was run.

[0089] In the first embodiment, the travel of the attracting device 10 is suppressed by inserting the locking pin 91 provided on the attracting device 10 into the locking hole 71a, and in the second and third embodiments, the travel of the attracting device 110 is suppressed by unwinding the wire 140 from the fixed unwinding device 130 and bobbin 131. In this regard, the travel of the attracting device 10, 110 may be suppressed by a braking means connected to the attracting device 10, 110 and following or traveling ahead of the attracting device 10, 110. In this case, the braking means may include a traveling roller having a gear that can be locked to the teeth 102 of the track 101, and the rotation of the traveling roller may be suppressed by a member such as the locking pin 91 provided on the attracting device 10 according to the first embodiment. In addition, another member that can be locked to the teeth 102 of the track 101 may be provided, and the braking means may be stopped by locking the member to the teeth 102. This braking means may be operated by a person, or may be equipped with a control device equivalent to that of the second and third embodiments, and the control device may be activated to change the engagement state between a gear or the like which is the engaging part and the teeth 102 of the track 101 which is the engaged part.

[0090] In the embodiment, the attractant 10 attracts the stems of tomatoes, but the attractant can be applied to plants other than tomatoes as long as they require attracting. [Explanation of symbols]

[0091] Attractor...10, Attractor cord...11, Running roller...60, Running gear...61, First gear...71, Locking hole...71a, Second gear...72, Third gear...73, Bobbin...80, Locking pin...91, Plant...100, Track...101, Teeth...102, Control device...120, Payout device...130, Bobbin...131, Wire 140

Claims

1. a track located above the soil surface; A guide tool capable of traveling along the track to guide the stems of the plants in the extending direction of the track; A braking means capable of suppressing the traveling of the attracting tool along the track, The track includes a plurality of engaging portions, The attractant is A running roller capable of running along the track; An attractant string attached to the stem of the plant and capable of attracting the plant; A bobbin around which the attraction string is wound; a linking mechanism for linking the rotation of the running roller with the rotation of the bobbin, The braking means comprises: A connection part connectable to the attracting tool; A running roller capable of running along the track; a locking portion that can be locked to the locked portion of the track; a control mechanism that, when activated, changes the state of engagement between the engaging portion and the engaged portion; The braking means comprises: Using past weather information and the growth information of the plant associated with the weather information as training data, an operating state of the control mechanism associated with the weather information is determined by artificial intelligence; An attraction device that obtains at least one of current weather information and weather forecast information to activate the control mechanism.

2. a track located above the soil surface; A guide tool capable of traveling along the track to guide the stems of the plants in the extending direction of the track; A braking means capable of suppressing the traveling of the attracting tool along the track, The attractant is A running roller capable of running along the track; An attractant string attached to the stem of the plant and capable of attracting the plant; A bobbin around which the attraction string is wound; a linking mechanism for linking the rotation of the running roller with the rotation of the bobbin, The braking means includes a long braking member having one end connected to the attracting tool, a retraction mechanism capable of retracting the braking member in the guide direction of the plant; A control mechanism that can control the feeding mechanism by operating the control mechanism, When the control mechanism allows the length of the brake member to be changed, the attraction tool is allowed to travel in the attraction direction, When the control mechanism suppresses the change in the length of the brake member, the travel of the attracting tool in the attracting direction is suppressed, The braking means is Using past weather information and the growth information of the plant associated with the weather information as training data, an operating state of the control mechanism associated with the weather information is determined by artificial intelligence; An attraction device that obtains at least one of current weather information and weather forecast information to activate the control mechanism.

3. a track located above the soil surface; A guide tool capable of traveling along the track to guide the stems of the plants in the extending direction of the track; A braking means capable of suppressing the traveling of the attracting tool along the track, The track includes a plurality of engaging portions, The attractant is A running roller capable of running along the track; An attractant string attached to the stem of the plant and capable of attracting the plant; A bobbin around which the attraction string is wound; a linking mechanism for linking the rotation of the running roller with the rotation of the bobbin, The braking means is A connection part connectable to the attracting tool; A running roller capable of running along the track; a locking portion that can be locked to the locked portion of the track; a control mechanism that, when activated, changes the state of engagement between the engaging portion and the engaged portion; The braking means is Using the load applied to the attracting string and the growth information of the plant associated with the load as training data, an operating state of the control mechanism associated with the load is determined by artificial intelligence; An attraction device that acquires the load currently applied to the attraction string and activates the control mechanism.

4. a track located above the soil surface; A guide tool capable of traveling along the track to guide the stems of the plants in the extending direction of the track; A braking means capable of suppressing the traveling of the attracting tool along the track, The attractant is A running roller capable of running along the track; An attractant string attached to the stem of the plant and capable of attracting the plant; A bobbin around which the attraction string is wound; a linking mechanism for linking the rotation of the running roller with the rotation of the bobbin, The braking means includes a long braking member having one end connected to the attracting tool, a retraction mechanism capable of retracting the braking member in the guide direction of the plant; A control mechanism that can control the feeding mechanism by operating the control mechanism, When the control mechanism allows the length of the brake member to be changed, the attraction tool is allowed to travel in the attraction direction, When the control mechanism suppresses the change in the length of the brake member, the travel of the attracting tool in the attracting direction is suppressed, The braking means is Using the load applied to the attracting string and the growth information of the plant associated with the load as training data, an operating state of the control mechanism associated with the load is determined by artificial intelligence; An attraction device that acquires the load currently applied to the attraction string and activates the control mechanism.

5. The growth information is The attraction device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising at least one of an operating state of the control mechanism when manually operated and a travel distance of the attraction device when manually operated.

6. a track located above the soil surface; A guide tool capable of traveling along the track to guide the stems of the plants in the extending direction of the track; A braking means capable of suppressing the traveling of the attracting tool along the track, The track includes a plurality of engaging portions, The attractant is A running roller capable of running along the track; An attractant string attached to the stem of the plant and capable of attracting the plant; A bobbin around which the attraction string is wound; a linking mechanism for linking the rotation of the running roller with the rotation of the bobbin, The braking means is A connection part connectable to the attracting tool; A running roller capable of running along the track; a locking portion that can be locked to the locked portion of the track; a control mechanism that, when activated, changes the state of engagement between the engaging portion and the engaged portion; An induction device, in which the link between the rotation of the bobbin and the linkage mechanism can be interrupted.

7. a track located above the soil surface; A guide tool capable of traveling along the track to guide the stems of the plants in the extending direction of the track; A braking means capable of suppressing the traveling of the attracting tool along the track, The attractant is A running roller capable of running along the track; An attractant string attached to the stem of the plant and capable of attracting the plant; A bobbin around which the attraction string is wound; a linking mechanism for linking the rotation of the running roller with the rotation of the bobbin, The braking means includes a long braking member having one end connected to the attracting tool, a retraction mechanism capable of retracting the braking member in the guide direction of the plant; A control mechanism that can control the feeding mechanism by operating the control mechanism, When the control mechanism allows the length of the brake member to be changed, the attraction tool is allowed to travel in the attraction direction, When the control mechanism suppresses the change in the length of the brake member, the travel of the attracting tool in the attracting direction is suppressed, An induction device, in which the link between the rotation of the bobbin and the linkage mechanism can be interrupted.

8. a track located above the soil surface; A plant attracting device having a plurality of first attracting tools capable of traveling along the track to attract stems of plants in an extension direction of the track, The track includes a plurality of engaging portions, The first attractant is A running roller capable of running along the track; a locking portion that can be locked to the locked portion of the track; An attractant string attached to the stem of the plant and capable of attracting the plant; a bobbin around which the attraction string is wound and which is rotatable by a load applied to the attraction string; a linking mechanism for linking the rotation of the running roller with the rotation of the bobbin; a suppression means capable of suppressing rotation of the running roller in a state in which the locking portion is locked to the locked portion, The plurality of first attracting devices are arranged on the same track without being connected to each other, When the rotation of the running roller is not restrained by the restraining means, the bobbin rotates due to the load applied to the attracting string, and the running roller rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the bobbin, allowing the running roller to run along the track, An induction device, wherein the link between the rotation of the bobbin and the linkage mechanism can be interrupted.

9. The induction device according to claim 8 , wherein the rotation of the traveling roller can be maintained in an unrestrained state by the restraining means.

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