Discharge device

Abstract

To provide a discharger capable of preventing an object from leaking from a discharge part without intention of a user.SOLUTION: A discharger is a device which is used together with a drone and transports and discharges an object. The discharger includes: a discharge part 26 to which the object is discharged; a shutter part 27 capable of preventing discharge of the object from the discharge part 26; and a control part 28 capable of controlling the operation of the shutter part 27. The control part 28 performs control to open the shutter part 27 after receiving an instruction of shutter opening from a user so that the object is discharged from the discharge part 26.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a discharge device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a discharge device that is used with a drone to transport and discharge, for example, rice seeds, agricultural chemicals such as granules, and other general objects (objects) that can be transported by a drone. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, as a discharge device of this kind, for example, a rice seed direct sowing machine disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the like is known. The rice seed direct sowing machine disclosed in Patent Document 1 comprises a transport vehicle that moves over the paddy field, a seed rice storage container that is mounted on the transport vehicle and stores a plurality of rice seeds, and a seed rice dropping unit that drops the plurality of rice seeds stored in the seed rice storage container and sows them into the paddy field every time the transport vehicle moves a predetermined distance over the paddy field.

[0003] However, with this type of discharge device, there is a concern that the seed rice (target object) may leak from the discharge section without the user's intention, which is particularly problematic when discharging from the air using a drone. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-340712 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, Patent Document 1 and the like do not disclose any technology for preventing the rice seeds (target object) from leaking out of the discharge section unintentionally by the user, and the development of such technology has been desired.

[0006] Therefore, the inventors of the present invention have conducted extensive research and have come up with a configuration that can prevent the object from leaking out of the discharge section in places where the user does not intend, thereby completing the present invention.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and aims to provide an ejection device that can prevent objects from leaking from the ejection section unintentionally by the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the discharge device according to the present invention has the following configuration: (1) An ejection device for use with a drone to transport and eject an object, a discharge section to which the object is discharged; of the object to the discharge section supply a shutter portion capable of preventing the above; a control unit capable of controlling the operation of the shutter unit, The discharge section has a first discharge section and a second discharge section, The first discharge unit is provided with a propeller member, thereby accelerating the discharge speed of the object, The second discharge unit does not include a propeller member, so that the discharge speed of the object is the speed of free fall, The shutter unit is The object is disposed at a position where a path for supplying the object to either the first discharge unit or the second discharge unit can be switched, It can be tilted back and forth around the main part, The control unit is characterized in that, after receiving a shutter-opening instruction from a user, the control unit controls the shutter unit to tilt, thereby discharging the object from the discharge unit.

[0009] The above-mentioned configuration (1) of the discharge device of the present invention has the following effects. That is, according to the above configuration (1), unless there is a shutter opening instruction from the user, the shutter section will not be opened, and the object will be prevented from being discharged from the discharge section. Therefore, according to the configuration (1) above, it is possible to provide a discharge device that can prevent the object from leaking out of the discharge portion in a place unintended by the user.

[0010] In the above-mentioned configuration (1) of the discharge device of the present invention, it is preferable to have the following configurations (2) to (4).

[0012] According to the preferable configuration of (2) above, the discharge speed of the object (for example, seed rice) can be changed as desired, making it possible to flexibly respond to the conditions of the discharge destination (paddy field, etc.).

[0013] (3) In the configuration of (2) above, the shutter unit, upon a shutter closing instruction from the user, is positioned in a state in which the object is not supplied to either the first discharge unit or the second discharge unit, thereby preventing the object from being discharged from the discharge unit.

[0014] According to the preferred configuration of (3) above, a shutter closing instruction from the user prevents the object from being supplied to either the first or second discharge section, so that even after the control section receives a shutter closing instruction from the user, it is possible to prevent the object from leaking out of the discharge section without the user's intention.

[0015] (4) In any one of the above (1) to (3), the object is a powder or granular material. Examples of powders and granules include rice seeds and agricultural chemicals such as granules. Among various objects, powdery materials are particularly prone to leaking from the discharge portion, but by using the discharge device of the present invention, it is possible to completely prevent unintended leakage by the user. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a discharge device that can prevent an object from leaking out of a discharge portion in a place unintended by a user. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view showing the overall configuration of a discharge device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2]FIG. 1 is a front vertical cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a seed rice delivery mechanism, which is a component of the discharge device in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a front vertical cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the seed rice delivery mechanism and the lower seed rice delivery mechanism, which are components of the discharge device in one embodiment of the present invention, as well as their internal structure (however, the main body of the driving-in and discharge mechanism is omitted). [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a front view showing the path of the transported seed rice (object) of the discharge device in one embodiment of the present invention (only the right half of the front view is shown in vertical cross section, but hatching is omitted to make the drawing easier to see). [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view seen from the right side of FIG. 1, showing the internal structure of the main body of the driving-in and discharge mechanism on the right side of the lower seed rice delivery mechanism in FIG. 1, which is a component of the discharge device in one embodiment of the present invention (the shutter part is closed on both the driving-in side and the free-fall side). [Figure 6] 1 , which is a component of the discharge device according to one embodiment of the present invention, is a vertical cross-sectional view seen from the right side of FIG. 1 showing the internal structure of the main body of the driving-in and discharge mechanism on the right side of the lower seed delivery mechanism in FIG. 1 ((a) shows a state in which the shutter part opens the driving-in side, and (b) shows a state in which the shutter part opens the free-fall side). [Figure 7] 6 is a perspective view of a main body of a driving-discharge mechanism, which is a component of the discharge device according to an embodiment of the present invention, seen from the right rear in FIG. [Figure 8] Exploded perspective view of Figure 7 [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a method for controlling the shutter portion and the propeller member in the driving mode of the discharge device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a method for controlling the shutter portion and the propeller member in the discharge device in the free fall mode according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The present invention will be described in more detail below using preferred embodiments, but the following embodiments are merely examples of realizing the present invention and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0019] (Basic configuration of the discharge device) First, the basic configuration of a discharge device in one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4, taking as an example a case where the discharge device is a "seeder." Therefore, the object to be transported and discharged by the discharge device of this embodiment is "seed rice."

[0020] Figure 1 is a front view showing the overall configuration of the discharge device in this embodiment, Figure 2 is a front vertical cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the seed rice delivery mechanism, which is a component of the discharge device, Figure 3 is a front vertical cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship of the seed rice delivery mechanism and the lower seed rice delivery mechanism, which are components of the discharge device, and their internal structures (however, the main body of the driving-in / discharge mechanism is omitted), and Figure 4 is a front view showing the path of the seed rice (object) being transported in the discharge device (only the right half as viewed from the front is shown in vertical cross-section, but hatching has been omitted to make the drawing easier to see). 2 shows only the seed rice feeding mechanism on the right side as viewed from the front, and FIG. 3 shows only the seed rice feeding mechanism on the right side as viewed from the front and the lower seed rice feeding mechanism.

[0021] The discharge device 1 of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a device (seeder) used together with a drone 2 for transporting and discharging seed rice, which is an object. As shown in Figure 1, the discharge device 1 includes a hopper 3 as a seed rice injection mechanism attached to the drone 2, two seed rice delivery mechanisms 4a, 4b, and lower seed rice delivery mechanisms 15a, 15b located below the seed rice delivery mechanisms 4a, 4b, respectively. The hopper 3 stores the seed rice and feeds the seed rice into the various rice delivery mechanisms 4a, 4b. The various rice delivery mechanisms 4a, 4b each deliver the input seed rice to a first seed rice outlet 8a (see Figures 2 and 3), which will be described later, and push the seed rice out to the lower seed rice delivery mechanisms 15a, 15b, respectively. Each lower seed rice delivery mechanism 15a, 15b is intended to deliver the extruded seed rice to the second seed rice outlets 17a, 18a (see Figure 3) described below, and then discharge the seed rice via the driving-in / discharge mechanism 23.

[0022] (3) In the configuration of (2) above, the shutter unit is positioned in a state where the object is not supplied to either the first discharge unit or the second discharge unit in response to a shutter closing instruction from the user, thereby fart and prevent the discharge of the object.

[0023] The joint 6 has a tapered cross section that is narrower on the seed inlet 6a side. The one-way screw 7 includes a variable outer diameter / variable pitch section 10 whose outer diameter and pitch interval decrease toward the seed inlet 6a side, an extrusion screw section 14 that constitutes the extrusion section 8, and a fixed pitch section 11 that is located intermediate between the variable outer diameter / variable pitch section 10 and the extrusion screw section 14 and has a constant outer diameter and pitch interval. Here, the variable outer diameter / variable pitch section 10 is detachable from the fixed pitch section 11. The extrusion screw section 14 is formed in a shape that flares out at the tip.

[0024] The one-way screw 7 is detachably supported on the joint 6 side and the extrusion portion 8 side, and is driven to rotate by a screw motor 13 provided on the outer end face of the joint 6.

[0025] The seed rice feeding mechanism 4a on the left side as viewed from the front has the same structure as the seed rice feeding mechanism 4b on the right side as viewed from the front, and is disposed symmetrically with the seed rice feeding mechanism 4b.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 1, a pair of left and right seed rice drop openings 3a, 3b are provided at the bottom of the hopper 3. The two seed rice delivery mechanisms 4a, 4b are arranged horizontally and symmetrically, and the pair of left and right seed rice drop openings 3a, 3b of the hopper 3 are connected to the various rice input openings 6a of the left and right seed rice delivery mechanisms 4a, 4b, respectively (see Fig. 2). Here, the left and right seed rice delivery mechanisms 4a, 4b are fixed to the hopper 3 via a pair of left and right connecting members 12a, 12b, respectively.

[0027] As described above, the joint 6 having the seed inlet 6a of the seed delivery mechanisms 4a, 4b has a tapered cross section that is narrow on the seed inlet 6a side, and the one-way screw 7 of the seed delivery mechanisms 4a, 4b includes a variable outer diameter / variable pitch section 10 whose outer diameter and pitch interval become smaller toward the seed inlet 6a side, so that a large amount of seed does not accumulate in the seed inlet 6a and the seed is transferred smoothly and stably regardless of the rotation speed of the one-way screw 7. In addition, because the one-way screw 7 includes a fixed pitch section 11 whose outer diameter and pitch interval are constant, it is possible to transport a constant amount (appropriate amount) of seed at a constant speed. Furthermore, because the variable outer diameter / variable pitch unit 10 is detachable from the fixed pitch unit 11, the variable outer diameter / variable pitch unit 10 can be replaced with units having various outer diameters and pitch intervals. As a result, it is possible to accommodate not only seed rice but also powder and granular materials of various shapes and characteristics, and it is also possible to control the amount of powder and granular material such as seed rice taken out into the joint 6 according to the amount of rotation of the one-way screw 7. Furthermore, the extrusion screw section 14 is formed with a widened tip, which allows the seeds conveyed to the extrusion section 8 by the fixed pitch section 11 to slide down more easily. This makes it possible to prevent the seeds from clogging the extrusion section 8.

[0028] 1 and 3, the lower seed delivery mechanism 15b on the right side as viewed from the front includes a central seed inlet 16, left and right seed outlets 17 and 18, a bidirectional screw 19 with the winding direction of the screw blades reversed on the left and right sides, and left and right cylindrical casings 20 and 21 surrounding the outer periphery of the bidirectional screw 19. Here, both end edges of the left cylindrical casing 20 are fitted and fixed into the left seed outlet 17 and the central seed inlet 16, respectively. Also, both end edges of the right cylindrical casing 21 are fitted and fixed into the central seed inlet 16 and the right seed outlet 18, respectively. In this way, the lower seed rice sending mechanism 15b is configured as a screw feeder. Furthermore, since the lower seed rice delivery mechanism 15b includes the bidirectional screw 19 as described above, it is possible to distribute the seeds rice accurately to the left and right.

[0029] The central seed inlet 16 has a seed inlet 16a, and the left and right seed outlets 17, 18 have second seed outlets 17a, 18a, respectively. A bidirectional screw 19 is journaled on the left and right seed outlets 17, 18 and is driven to rotate by a screw motor 22 provided on the outer end face of the left seed outlet 17. The seed inlet 16a of the lower seed delivery mechanism 15b on the right side as viewed from the front is connected to the first seed outlet 8a of the seed delivery mechanism 4b on the right side as viewed from the front.

[0030] The bidirectional screw 19 is formed with a widened tip at the left and right seed rice outlet sections 17, 18. This makes it easier for the seeds transported from the central seed rice inlet section 16 to the left and right seed rice outlet sections 17, 18 to slide down, making it possible to prevent the seed rice outlet sections 17, 18 from becoming clogged with seeds.

[0031] The lower seed rice feeding mechanism 15a on the left side as viewed from the front has the same structure as the lower seed rice feeding mechanism 15b on the right side as viewed from the front, and is disposed bilaterally symmetrically with the lower seed rice feeding mechanism 15b. The seed rice inlet 16a of the lower seed rice feeding mechanism 15a on the left side as viewed from the front is connected to the first seed rice outlet 8a of the seed rice feeding mechanism 4a on the left side as viewed from the front.

[0032] In the discharge device 1 configured as described above, the seed rice stored in the hopper 3 is discharged (sown) from the second seed rice outlets 17a, 18a (driving-in / discharge mechanisms 23) of the left and right lower seed rice discharge mechanisms 15a, 15b by following the path described below.

[0033] That is, as shown in Fig. 4, the seeds stored in the hopper 3 are dropped into the joint 6 from the seed drop port 3b on the right side of the hopper 3 through the seed inlet 6a of the seed delivery mechanism 4b (see arrow A in Figs. 2, 3, and 4). As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the seeds dropped into the joint 6 are first sent out to the fixed pitch section 11 of the one-way screw 7 by the variable outer diameter / variable pitch section 10 of the one-way screw 7, and then sent out to the extrusion screw section 14 of the extrusion section 8 by the fixed pitch section 11 (see arrow B in Fig. 4). As shown in Figs. 2 to 4, the seeds sent out to the extrusion screw section 14 of the extrusion section 8 are pushed out by the extrusion screw section 14 through the first seed outlet 8a and the seed inlet 16a into the seed inlet 16 of the lower seed delivery mechanism 15b (see arrow C in Fig. 4). As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the seeds pushed into the seed inlet 16 of the lower seed discharge mechanism 15b are branched off and discharged to the left and right seed outlets 17, 18 by a bidirectional screw 19 (see arrows D, E in Figure 4), and are discharged (sown) from the second seed outlets 17a, 18a (driving-in and discharge mechanism 23) of the left and right seed outlets 17, 18 (see arrows F, G in Figure 4).

[0034] The seeds that are fed into the joint 6 from the seed drop port 3a on the left side of the hopper 3 through the seed inlet 6a of the seed discharge mechanism 4a also follow a similar path and are discharged (sown) from the second seed outlets 17a, 18a (driving-in / discharge mechanism 23) of the left and right seed outlet sections 17, 18 of the lower seed discharge mechanism 15a.

[0035] The left and right lower rice seed sending mechanisms 15a and 15b are detachably attached to the left and right rice seed sending mechanisms 4a and 4b, respectively. According to this configuration, the lower seed rice sending mechanisms 15a, 15b can be replaced with mechanisms having a different spacing between the second seed rice outlets 17a, 18a, making it possible to adjust the spacing between the seed rice.

[0036] (Configuration of the injection and ejection mechanism) Next, the configuration of a driving / discharging mechanism embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0037] Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view seen from the right side of Figure 1 (when the shutter part is blocking both the driving-in side and the free-fall side), showing the internal structure of the main body part of the driving-in / discharge mechanism on the right side of the lower seed rice delivery mechanism of Figure 1, which is a component of the discharge device in this embodiment; Figure 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view seen from the right side of Figure 1 (when (a) the shutter part is opening the driving-in side, and (b) the shutter part is opening the free-fall side), showing the internal structure of the main body part of the driving-in / discharge mechanism; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the main body part of the driving-in / discharge mechanism seen from diagonally rear right of Figure 5; and Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of Figure 7.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, a driving-in / discharging mechanism 23 is provided at each of the left and right ends of the lower seed rice sending mechanisms 15a and 15b. The driving-in / discharge mechanism 23 on the far right side of FIG. 1 comprises a seed rice outlet portion 18 and a main body portion 24 connected to the lower end of the seed rice outlet portion 18 .

[0039] 5 to 8, an opening 25 is formed at the upper end of the main body portion 24, and when the main body portion 24 is connected to the lower end of the seed rice outlet portion 18, the second seed rice outlet 18a and the opening 25 are in communication with each other. Also, the main body portion 24 is formed with a discharge portion 26 located below the opening 25 and in communication with the opening 25. The discharge portion 26 is for discharging the seed rice, which is the object. In addition, a shutter portion 27 capable of preventing the discharge of seeds from the discharge portion 26 is provided between the opening 25 and the discharge portion 26. 1 and 5, the discharge device 1 is provided with a control unit 28 that can control the operation of the shutter unit 27. After receiving a shutter opening instruction from a user, the control unit 28 controls the shutter unit 27 to open, thereby discharging the seed rice from the discharge unit 26.

[0040] The configuration of the discharge device 1 of this embodiment described above provides the following effects. That is, according to this configuration, the shutter section 27 will not be opened unless there is a shutter opening instruction from the user, and discharge of the seed rice (target object) from the discharge section 26 is prevented. Therefore, with this configuration, it is possible to provide the discharge device 1 (seeder) that can prevent the rice seeds (target object) from leaking out of the discharge part 26 in a place unintended by the user.

[0041] This will be explained in more detail below. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the main body 24 includes a central housing 30, a first cover 31 on the left side, and a second cover 32 on the right side. As shown in Figures 5 to 8, the discharge section 26 formed in the central housing 30 has a front first discharge section 26a and a rear second discharge section 26b that extend parallel to each other vertically. A propeller member 29 is provided in the central housing 30, positioned in front of and overlapping the front first discharge section 26a. The propeller member 29 is rotatable clockwise by a second motor 35 housed in the left first cover 31 and controlled by the control section 28 (see arrow H in Figures 5 and 6(a)). The propeller member 29 is primarily used to accelerate the rice seeds discharged from the front first discharge section 26a (see arrow I in Figure 6(a)) and drive the rice seeds into a rice paddy or the like. On the other hand, the seeds discharged from the rear second discharge section 26b fall freely (see arrow J in Figure 6(b)). That is, the discharge speed of the seeds is controlled in the front first discharge section 26a (thrusting mode), while the discharge speed of the seeds is not controlled in the rear second discharge section 26b (free fall mode). In this case, the discharge speed of the seeds discharged from the first discharge section 26a can be changed as desired by adjusting the rotation speed of the propeller member 29.

[0042] Furthermore, a shutter section 27 having a generally fan-shaped vertical cross section is disposed within the central housing 30, at a location where the front first discharge section 26a and the rear second discharge section 26b branch off (between the opening 25 and the discharge section 26). The shutter section 27 can be tilted back and forth around a pivot point by a first motor 33 housed within the left first cover 31 and controlled by a control section 28. Furthermore, within the central housing 30, a pair of spring plates 34a, 34b for preventing leakage are fixed in an inverted V-shape, positioned in front of and behind the shutter section 27. By tilting the shutter section 27 rearward (see arrow K in Fig. 5), the seeds from the seed outlet section 18 (see arrow L in Figs. 5 and 6(a)) can be supplied to the front first discharge section 26a (see arrow M in Fig. 6(a)), and by tilting the shutter section 27 frontward (see arrow N in Fig. 5), the seeds from the seed outlet section 18 (see arrow L in Figs. 5 and 6(b)) can be supplied to the rear second discharge section 26b (see arrow O in Fig. 6(b)). In this way, the shutter section 27 is disposed in a position that allows switching of the path for supplying the seeds from the seed outlet section 18 to either the front first discharge section 26a or the rear second discharge section 26b.

[0043] According to the above configuration, the discharge speed of the seed rice (object) can be changed as desired, making it possible to flexibly respond to the conditions of the paddy field or the like (discharge destination).

[0044] Even when the rice seeds are allowed to fall freely from the rear second discharge section 26b as shown in Figure 6(b), it is preferable to rotate the propeller member 29 for a certain period of time (see arrow P in Figure 6(b)) so that the rice seeds adhering to the propeller member 29 and spring plate 34a are discharged from the front first discharge section 26a.

[0045] In addition, when the user issues a shutter closing command, the shutter section 27 is positioned in a state where the seed rice is not supplied to either the front first discharge section 26a or the rear second discharge section 26b (state shown in Figure 5), thereby preventing the seed rice from being discharged from the discharge section 26.

[0046] According to this configuration, when the user issues a shutter closing instruction, the target object is no longer supplied to either the first or second discharge section 26a, 26b, so even after the control section 28 receives a shutter closing instruction from the user, it is possible to prevent seed rice from leaking out of the discharge section 26 without the user's intention.

[0047] The second driving-in / discharge mechanism 23 from the right in Fig. 1 is made up of a seed outlet 17 and a main body 24 connected to the lower end of the seed outlet 17. The structure of this driving-in / discharge mechanism 23 is the same as that of the driving-in / discharge mechanism 23 on the rightmost side in Fig. 1 described above, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0048] (Control of exhaust devices) Next, the control of the operation of the discharge device in one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0049] Figure 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the control method of the shutter section and propeller member of the discharge device in this embodiment in the driving mode ((a) is the basic state before receiving the shutter open instruction, (b) is the state after receiving the shutter open instruction, (c) is the state when receiving the shutter close instruction, and (d) is the basic state after receiving the shutter close instruction), and Figure 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the control method of the shutter section and propeller member of the discharge device in the free fall mode ((a) is the basic state before receiving the shutter open instruction, (b) is the state after receiving the shutter open instruction, (c) is the state when receiving the shutter close instruction, and (d) is the basic state after receiving the shutter close instruction). 9 and 10 are longitudinal cross-sectional views, but hatching has been omitted to make the drawings easier to see.

[0050] [In typing mode] As shown in Figures 5 and 9(a), before the control unit 28 receives a shutter open instruction from the user, the shutter unit 27 is positioned in a state where seed rice (see arrow L in Figures 5 and 9(a)) from the seed rice outlet unit 18 is not supplied to either the front first discharge unit 26a or the rear second discharge unit 26b (blocked position). That is, the state is such that the discharge of the seeds from the discharge portion 26 is prevented. Also, the second motor 35 (see FIG. 8) is in the OFF state, and the propeller member 29 is in the stopped state. Therefore, before the control unit 28 receives a shutter opening instruction from the user, it is possible to prevent the seeds from leaking out of the discharge unit 26 in a place unintended by the user.

[0051] As shown in Figures 5 and 9(b), after receiving a shutter-opening instruction (OPEN 1 (DRIVE)) from the user, the control unit 28 controls the first motor 33 (see Figure 8) to tilt the shutter unit 27 rearward (see arrow K in Figures 5 and 9(b)). The control unit 28 also controls the second motor 35 (see Figure 8) to be in the ON state. As a result, the rice seeds from the rice seed outlet portion 18 (see arrow L in Fig. 5 and Fig. 9(b)) are supplied to the front first discharge portion 26a (see arrow M in Fig. 9(b)). In addition, the propeller member 29 is rotated clockwise by the second motor 35 (see arrow H in Fig. 5 and Fig. 9(b)), and the rice seeds discharged from the front first discharge portion 26a are accelerated (see arrow I in Fig. 9(b)), and the rice seeds are driven into the paddy field or the like.

[0052] As shown in Figures 5 and 9(c), after receiving a shutter closing instruction (close) from the user, the control unit 28 controls the first motor 33 (see Figure 8) to tilt the shutter unit 27 to the closed position (see arrow Q in Figure 9(c)). That is, the shutter unit 27 is positioned so that the seeds (see arrow L in Figures 5 and 9(c)) from the seed rice outlet unit 18 are not supplied to either the front first discharge unit 26a or the rear second discharge unit 26b. This prevents the seeds from being discharged from the discharge unit 26 (basic state in Figure 9(d)). Furthermore, the control unit 28 controls the second motor 35 (see FIG. 8) to be in the OFF state, thereby stopping the propeller member 29. Therefore, even after the control unit 28 receives a shutter closing instruction from the user, it is possible to prevent the seeds from leaking out of the discharge unit 26 in a place unintended by the user.

[0053] [Free fall mode] As shown in Figures 5 and 10(a), before the control unit 28 receives a shutter open instruction from the user, the shutter unit 27 is positioned in a state where seed rice (see arrow L in Figures 5 and 10(a)) from the seed rice outlet unit 18 is not supplied to either the front first discharge unit 26a or the rear second discharge unit 26b (blocked position). That is, the state is such that the discharge of the seeds from the discharge portion 26 is prevented. Also, the second motor 35 (see FIG. 8) is in the OFF state, and the propeller member 29 is in the stopped state. Therefore, before the control unit 28 receives a shutter opening instruction from the user, it is possible to prevent the seeds from leaking out of the discharge unit 26 in a place unintended by the user.

[0054] As shown in Figures 5 and 10(b), after receiving a shutter open command (Open 2 (free fall)) from the user, the control unit 28 controls the first motor 33 (see Figure 8) to tilt the shutter unit 27 forward (see arrow N in Figures 5 and 10(b)). The control unit 28 also controls the second motor 35 (see Figure 8) to be in an ON state for a certain period of time. As a result, the seeds from the seed outlet 18 (see arrow L in Fig. 5 and Fig. 10(b)) are supplied to the rear second discharge section 26b (see arrow O in Fig. 9(b)), where they fall freely (see arrow J in Fig. 10(b)). Also, the propeller member 29 is rotated clockwise by the second motor 35 for a certain period of time (see arrow P in Fig. 10(b)), causing the seeds adhering to the propeller member 29 and spring plate 34a to be discharged from the front first discharge section 26a.

[0055] As shown in Figures 5 and 10(c), after receiving a shutter closing instruction (close) from the user, the control unit 28 controls the first motor 33 (see Figure 8) to tilt the shutter unit 27 to the closed position (see arrow R in Figure 10(c)). That is, the shutter unit 27 is positioned so that the seeds from the seed rice outlet unit 18 (see arrow L in Figures 5 and 10(c)) are not supplied to either the front first discharge unit 26a or the rear second discharge unit 26b. This prevents the seeds from being discharged from the discharge unit 26 (basic state in Figure 10(d)). Furthermore, the control unit 28 controls the second motor 35 (see FIG. 8) to be in the OFF state, thereby stopping the propeller member 29. Therefore, even after the control unit 28 receives a shutter closing instruction from the user, it is possible to prevent the seeds from leaking out of the discharge unit 26 in a place unintended by the user.

[0056] In this embodiment, the case where the object to be transported and discharged is seed rice (granular material) has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this configuration. The object to be transported and discharged may be other granular material, such as pesticides such as granules. Furthermore, the object to be transported and discharged is not limited to granular material, but includes all objects that can be transported by drone.

[0057] In addition, in this embodiment, the case where the propeller member 29 is used as a member for controlling the discharge speed of the seed rice (object) has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to such a configuration. For example, the discharge speed of the object may be controlled by using wind pressure.

[0058] In addition, in this embodiment, the discharge device 1 based on a seed rice transport device including a so-called screw feeder (seed rice sending mechanism 4a, etc.) has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this configuration. As long as it is equipped with a discharge section, a shutter section, and a control section, the configuration of the other sections is arbitrary.

[0059] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the discharge device 1 used together with the drone 2 has been described as an example, but the discharge device can also be used as an attachment for agricultural machinery such as a tractor, for example. The discharge device of this usage mode has the following configuration: [1] A discharge device used as an attachment for agricultural machinery to transport and discharge objects, a discharge section to which the object is discharged; a shutter portion capable of preventing the object from being discharged from the discharge portion; a control unit capable of controlling the operation of the shutter unit, The control unit is characterized in that, after receiving a shutter-opening instruction from a user, the control unit controls the shutter unit to open, thereby discharging the object from the discharge unit. Examples of agricultural machinery include walk-behind cultivators and riding tractors.

[0060] [2] In the configuration of the above [1], the discharge section is a first discharge unit in which the discharge speed of the object is controlled; a second discharge section in which the discharge speed of the object is not controlled, The shutter section is disposed at a position where it is possible to switch the path for supplying the object to either the first discharge section or the second discharge section.

[0061] [3] In the configuration of [2] above, the shutter unit, upon a shutter closing instruction from the user, is positioned in a state in which the object is not supplied to either the first discharge unit or the second discharge unit, thereby preventing the object from being discharged from the discharge unit.

[0062] [4] In any one of the above [1] to [3], the object is a powder or granular material. Examples of powders and granules include rice seeds and agricultural chemicals such as granules.

[0063] The effects obtained by the configuration of the discharge device in the above-described mode of use are the same as those described above, and therefore will not be described here. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1 Ejection device 2. Drone 17,18 Seed exit section 23 Driving and ejection mechanism 24 Main body part 25 Aperture 26 Discharge section 26a 1st discharge section 26b 2nd discharge section 27 Shutter section 28 Control Unit 29 Propeller components 30 Central housing 31 First lid 32 Second lid 33 First motor 34a, 34b Spring plate 35 Second motor

Claims

1. 1. An ejection device for use with a drone to transport and eject an object, comprising: A discharge section through which the object is discharged; a shutter portion capable of preventing the object from being supplied to the discharge portion; A control unit capable of controlling the operation of the shutter unit, The discharge portion has a first discharge portion and a second discharge portion, The first discharge section is provided with a propeller member, thereby accelerating the discharge speed of the object, The second discharge section does not include a propeller member, so that the discharge speed of the object is a free fall speed, The shutter unit is disposed at a position where a path for supplying the object to either the first discharge unit or the second discharge unit can be switched, and is tiltable back and forth around a main part; The discharge device, wherein the control unit, after receiving a shutter-opening instruction from a user, controls the shutter unit to tilt, thereby discharging the object from the discharge unit.

2. The discharge device according to claim 1 , wherein the shutter portion has a substantially sector-shaped vertical cross section.

3. The ejection device according to claim 1 , wherein the shutter portion is located at a branch point of the first ejection portion and the second ejection portion.

4. 2. The ejection device according to claim 1, wherein after receiving a first shutter-opening instruction from the user, the control unit tilts the shutter unit rearward to switch to a path that supplies to the first ejection unit, and after receiving a second shutter-opening instruction from the user, tilts the shutter unit forward to switch to a path that supplies to the second ejection unit.

5. The ejection device according to claim 1 , wherein the shutter section is positioned in a state in which the object is not supplied to either the first ejection section or the second ejection section when the shutter is closed by the user, thereby preventing the object from being ejected to the ejection section.

6. The discharge device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the object is a powder or granular material.

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