Rice transplanter

Abstract

To provide a rice transplanter comprising a seedling supporting device, capable of supplying seedlings mounted on a seedling supporting device reasonably, to a seedling mounting table of the seedling planting device which is supported so as to roll.SOLUTION: A rice transplanter comprises: a seedling supporting device 50 being supported to a machine body 11 so as to be positioned above the machine body 11, and capable of mounting seedlings thereon; and a seedling supplying device 60 being supported to the machine body 11 so as to extend from a rear part of the seedling supporting device 50 to an obliquely rearward / downward, and supplying seedlings mounted on the seedling supporting device 50 to the seedling mounting table 10. The rice transplanter has a suppression mechanism 98 capable of suppressing rolling of the seedling planting device 5. When the seedling planting device 5 is lifted by a link mechanism 3 to a supply height where an upper end of the seedling mounting table 10 and a lower end of the seedling supply device 60 approach, by the suppression mechanism 98, rolling of the seedling planting device 5 is suppressed to be able to supply seedlings on the seedling mounting table 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a configuration for supplying seedlings to a seedling tray of a seedling planting device supported at the rear of the body of a riding rice transplanter or an unmanned, automatically-piloted rice transplanter. [Background technology]

[0002] In a riding rice transplanter, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, with regard to the supply of seedlings to the seedling tray of a seedling planting device supported at the rear of the machine body, a seedling support device on which the seedlings can be placed is supported on the machine body so as to be positioned above the machine body, and the seedlings can be supplied from the rear of the seedling support device to the seedling tray.

[0003] In Patent Document 1, a seedling planting device is supported at the rear of a link mechanism that extends rearward from the rear of the body, and when the seedling planting device is raised by the link mechanism, the upper end of the seedling tray and the rear end (lower end) of the seedling support device come close to each other, making it possible for the seedlings placed on the seedling support device to be supplied to the seedling tray. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-5546 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In rice transplanters, in order to ensure the planting performance of the seedling planting device, the seedling planting device is often supported at the rear of a link mechanism so as to be rollable around an axis extending in the front-rear direction. The present invention aims to configure a rice transplanter equipped with a seedling support device so that seedlings placed on the seedling support device can be smoothly supplied to the seedling tray of the seedling planting device, which is supported in a rolling manner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The rice transplanter of the present invention comprises a travelling body, a link mechanism that extends rearward from the rear of the body and is supported on the body so as to be able to be raised and lowered, a seedling planting device that is provided with a seedling tray and is supported on the rear of the link mechanism so as to be able to roll around an axis along the front-to-rear direction, a seedling support device that is supported on the body so as to be located above the body and on which seedlings can be placed, a seedling supply device that is supported on the body so as to extend diagonally downward and rearward from the rear of the seedling support device and is able to supply seedlings placed on the seedling support device to the seedling tray, and a suppression mechanism that can suppress rolling of the seedling planting device, and when the seedling planting device is raised by the link mechanism to a supply height where the upper end of the seedling tray and the lower end of the seedling supply device are close to each other, the suppression mechanism suppresses rolling of the seedling planting device, and seedlings can be supplied to the seedling tray. When the seedling planting device is lowered onto the rice field surface by the link mechanism, the restraint mechanism against rolling of the seedling planting device is released, allowing the seedling planting device to roll. The restraint mechanism is provided with a right restraint mechanism connected between the right part of the seedling planting device and the right part of the body, and a left restraint mechanism connected between the left part of the seedling planting device and the left part of the body. The restraint mechanism is provided with a flexible wire connected between the seedling planting device and the body, and a wire operating unit that pushes upward a middle part of the wire as the seedling planting device is raised by the link mechanism, generating tension in the wire to suppress the rolling of the seedling planting device, and that slackens the wire to allow the seedling planting device to roll as the seedling planting device is lowered by the link mechanism.

[0007] According to the present invention, when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism, the upper end of the seedling tray and the lower end of the seedling supplying device come close to each other, so that the seedlings can be supplied to the seedling tray. In this case, even if the seedling planting device is supported by the link mechanism so as to be able to roll, when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism, the rolling of the seedling planting device is suppressed by the suppression mechanism, so that the seedlings are supplied to the seedling tray without spilling off the seedling tray.

[0008] When the seedling support device is supported on the machine body so as to be positioned above the machine body, a relatively large difference in height occurs between the seedling support device and the seedling tray. According to the present invention, a seedling supplying device is supported on the body so as to extend diagonally downward toward the rear from the rear of the seedling support device, so that seedlings placed on the seedling placement section of the seedling support device at a high position can be smoothly supplied to a seedling placement table at a low position via the seedling supplying device.

[0009] As described above, when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism, the rolling of the seedling planting device is suppressed by the suppression mechanism, and by providing a seedling supply device that relays between the seedling support device and the seedling tray, the performance of supplying seedlings to the seedling tray can be improved in a rice transplanter equipped with a seedling support device.

[0010]

[0011] According to the present invention, right and left restraining mechanisms are provided and are spaced apart from the link mechanism in the left-right direction, so that the rolling of the seedling planting device can be sufficiently restrained by the right and left restraining mechanisms.

[0012]

[0013] According to the present invention, the restraining mechanism is provided with a wire and a wire operating unit, and the rolling of the seedling planting device is suppressed by the wire operating tool pushing the wire upward, and the wire operating unit operates the wire to slacken, allowing the seedling planting device to roll, thereby simplifying the structure of the restraining mechanism. can. The rice transplanter of the present invention isThe present invention relates to a seedling planting device, the seedling planting device comprising: a travelling machine body; a link mechanism extending rearward from the rear of the machine body and supported on the machine body so as to be capable of being raised and lowered; a seedling planting device provided with a seedling tray and supported on the rear of the link mechanism so as to be capable of rolling around an axis along the front-to-rear direction; a seedling support device supported on the machine body so as to be located above the machine body and capable of placing seedlings thereon; a seedling supply device supported on the machine body so as to extend diagonally downward and rearward from the rear of the seedling support device and capable of supplying seedlings placed on the seedling support device to the seedling tray; and a suppression mechanism capable of suppressing the rolling of the seedling planting device, the seedling planting device being positioned at a supply height where an upper end of the seedling tray and a lower end of the seedling supply device are close to each other. When the seedling planting device is raised by the link mechanism, the suppression mechanism suppresses the rolling of the seedling planting device, allowing seedlings to be supplied to the seedling tray, and when the seedling planting device is lowered to the rice field surface by the link mechanism, the suppression of the rolling of the seedling planting device by the suppression mechanism is released, allowing the seedling planting device to roll. The suppression mechanism is provided with right and left suppression sections which are provided on the seedling planting device and which abut against the link mechanism to suppress the rolling of the seedling planting device when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height, and which move away from the link mechanism to allow the seedling planting device to roll when the seedling planting device is lowered to the rice field surface. According to the present invention, when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism, the upper end of the seedling tray and the lower end of the seedling supplying device come close to each other, so that the seedlings can be supplied to the seedling tray. In this case, even if the seedling planting device is supported by the link mechanism so as to be able to roll, when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism, the rolling of the seedling planting device is suppressed by the suppression mechanism, so that the seedlings are supplied to the seedling tray without spilling off the seedling tray. When the seedling support device is supported on the machine body so as to be positioned above the machine body, a relatively large difference in height occurs between the seedling support device and the seedling tray. According to the present invention, a seedling supplying device is supported on the body so as to extend diagonally downward toward the rear from the rear of the seedling support device, so that seedlings placed on the seedling placement section of the seedling support device at a high position can be smoothly supplied to a seedling placement table at a low position via the seedling supplying device. As described above, when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism, the rolling of the seedling planting device is suppressed by the suppression mechanism, and by providing a seedling supply device that relays between the seedling support device and the seedling tray, the performance of supplying seedlings to the seedling tray can be improved in a rice transplanter equipped with a seedling support device. The rice transplanter of the present invention comprises a travelling body, a link mechanism that extends rearward from the rear of the body and is supported on the body so as to be able to be raised and lowered, a seedling planting device on which a seedling tray is provided and is supported on the rear of the link mechanism so as to be able to roll around an axis along the front-to-rear direction, a seedling support device that is supported on the body so as to be located above the body and on which seedlings can be placed, a seedling supply device that is supported on the body so as to extend diagonally downward and rearward from the rear of the seedling support device and is able to supply seedlings placed on the seedling support device to the seedling tray, and a suppression mechanism that can suppress the rolling of the seedling planting device, and the seedling planting device is raised by the link mechanism to a supply height at which the upper end of the seedling tray and the lower end of the seedling supply device are close to each other. When the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height, the suppression mechanism suppresses the rolling of the seedling planting device, allowing seedlings to be supplied to the seedling tray, and when the seedling planting device is lowered to the rice field surface by the link mechanism, the suppression of the rolling of the seedling planting device by the suppression mechanism is released, allowing the seedling planting device to roll. The suppression mechanism includes right and left arm sections extending outward to the right and left from the link mechanism, and right and left suppression sections are provided on the seedling planting device and abut against the arm sections to suppress the rolling of the seedling planting device when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height, and when the seedling planting device is lowered to the rice field surface, they move away from the arm sections to allow the seedling planting device to roll. According to the present invention, when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism, the upper end of the seedling tray and the lower end of the seedling supplying device come close to each other, so that the seedlings can be supplied to the seedling tray. In this case, even if the seedling planting device is supported by the link mechanism so as to be able to roll, when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism, the rolling of the seedling planting device is suppressed by the suppression mechanism, so that the seedlings are supplied to the seedling tray without spilling off the seedling tray. When the seedling support device is supported on the machine body so as to be positioned above the machine body, a relatively large difference in height occurs between the seedling support device and the seedling tray. According to the present invention, a seedling supplying device is supported on the body so as to extend diagonally downward toward the rear from the rear of the seedling support device, so that seedlings placed on the seedling placement section of the seedling support device at a high position can be smoothly supplied to a seedling placement table at a low position via the seedling supplying device. As described above, when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism, the rolling of the seedling planting device is suppressed by the suppression mechanism, and by providing a seedling supply device that relays between the seedling support device and the seedling tray, the performance of supplying seedlings to the seedling tray can be improved in a rice transplanter equipped with a seedling support device. can.

[0014] In the present invention, it is preferable that the supply height is set so that when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism, a gap is created between the upper end of the seedling stand and the lower end of the seedling supply device.

[0015] According to the present invention, when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism, the upper end of the seedling tray and the lower end of the seedling supply device come close to each other, with a gap being created between the upper end of the seedling tray and the lower end of the seedling supply device.

[0016] As a result, even if the seedling planting device rolls slightly when it is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism, the upper end of the seedling stand can be prevented from colliding with the lower end of the seedling supply device. Even if the upper end of the seedling stand and the lower end of the seedling supply device collide, the collision can be kept small.

[0017] In the present invention, it is preferable that the supply height is set so that when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism, the upper end of the seedling stand comes into contact with the lower end of the seedling supply device.

[0018] According to the present invention, when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism, the upper end of the seedling tray and the lower end of the seedling supply device come into close proximity with each other while the upper end of the seedling tray and the lower end of the seedling supply device are in contact with each other.

[0019] As a result, when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism, rolling of the seedling planting device is further suppressed by contact between the upper end of the seedling stand and the lower end of the seedling supply device, in addition to the restraint mechanism. When the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism and the upper end of the seedling stand is in contact with the lower end of the seedling supply device, frictional resistance caused by the contact, etc., suppresses vertical misalignment between the upper end of the seedling stand and the lower end of the seedling supply device, so that the seedlings placed on the seedling support device are smoothly supplied to the seedling stand via the seedling supply device.

[0020] In the present invention, it is preferable that an elastic material is attached to at least one of the upper end of the seedling stand and the lower end of the seedling supply device, and that the upper end of the seedling stand and the lower end of the seedling supply device come into contact via the elastic material.

[0021] According to the present invention, when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism, the upper end of the seedling stand and the lower end of the seedling supply device come into contact with each other via the elastic material. This prevents damage to the upper end of the seedling stand and the lower end of the seedling supply device when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism and the upper end of the seedling stand and the lower end of the seedling supply device come into contact with each other.

[0022] In the present invention, a first state is set in which the supply height is set so that a gap is created between the upper end of the seedling stand and the lower end of the seedling supply device when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism, and a second state is set in which the supply height is set so that the upper end of the seedling stand and the lower end of the seedling supply device come into contact when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism, and it is preferable that the first state or the second state can be selected.

[0023] According to the present invention, when the first state is selected and the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism, the upper end of the seedling tray of the seedling planting device and the lower end of the seedling supply device come close to each other, with a gap occurring between the upper end of the seedling tray of the seedling planting device and the lower end of the seedling supply device.

[0024] As a result, even if the seedling planting device rolls slightly when it is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism, the upper end of the seedling stand can be prevented from colliding with the lower end of the seedling supply device. Even if the upper end of the seedling stand and the lower end of the seedling supply device collide, the collision can be kept small.

[0025] According to the present invention, when the second state is selected and the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism, the upper end of the seedling tray and the lower end of the seedling supply device come into close proximity with each other while being in contact with each other.

[0026] As a result, when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism, rolling of the seedling planting device is further suppressed by contact between the upper end of the seedling stand and the lower end of the seedling supply device, in addition to the restraint mechanism. When the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism and the upper end of the seedling stand is in contact with the lower end of the seedling supply device, frictional resistance caused by the contact, etc., suppresses vertical misalignment between the upper end of the seedling stand and the lower end of the seedling supply device, so that the seedlings placed on the seedling support device are smoothly supplied to the seedling stand via the seedling supply device.

[0027] According to the present invention, the first or second state can be selected depending on the working condition of the rice transplanter, the condition of the seedlings, the condition of the field, etc., which is advantageous in terms of improving the performance of supplying seedlings from the seedling support device to the seedling tray.

[0028] In the present invention, it is preferable that an elastic material is attached to at least one of the upper end of the seedling stand and the lower end of the seedling supplying device, and that in the second state, the upper end of the seedling stand and the lower end of the seedling supplying device come into contact via the elastic material.

[0029] According to the present invention, when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism in the second state, the upper end of the seedling stand and the lower end of the seedling supply device come into contact with each other via the elastic material. This prevents damage to the upper end of the seedling stand and the lower end of the seedling supply device when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism and the upper end of the seedling stand and the lower end of the seedling supply device come into contact with each other.

[0030] In the present invention, it is preferable to provide a guide rotor that is supported between the rear of the seedling support device and the upper part of the seedling supply device so as to be freely rotatable around an axis along the left-right direction, and that supports seedlings from the rear of the seedling support device from below while guiding them to the seedling supply device.

[0031] According to the present invention, when seedlings are supplied from the rear of the seedling supporting device to the seedling supplying device, the seedlings are supported from below by the guide rotor and guided to the seedling supplying device, thereby reducing the situation where the bottom of the seedling gets caught on the upper end of the seedling supplying device and the situation where the seedling is not properly supplied to the seedling transporting device.

[0032] In the present invention, it is preferable that a guide plate be provided which extends from the rear of the seedling support device toward the upper end of the seedling supply device and supports the seedlings from the rear of the seedling support device from below while guiding them to the seedling supply device.

[0033] According to the present invention, when seedlings are supplied from the rear of the seedling supporting device to the seedling supplying device, the seedlings are supported from below by a guide plate and guided to the seedling supplying device, thereby reducing the occurrence of the bottom of the seedling getting caught on the upper end of the seedling supplying device and reducing the occurrence of the seedlings not being properly supplied to the seedling transporting device.

[0034] In this case, for example, if the guide plate is made wide so as to cover the gap between the rear of the seedling support device and the upper end of the seedling supply device, it is possible to reduce the situation in which bed soil, etc. separated from the seedlings accumulates between the rear of the seedling support device and the upper end of the seedling supply device, thereby reducing the situation in which accumulated bed soil, etc., hinders the supply of seedlings from the rear of the seedling support device to the seedling supply device.

[0035] In the present invention, it is preferable that the seedling supporting device supplies seedlings to the seedling placing surface in the center of the left or right side of the seedling placing table, and then supplies seedlings to the seedling placing surface on the right or left side of the seedling placing table.

[0036] According to the present invention, when seedlings are supplied from the seedling support device to the seedling tray, the seedlings are first supplied to the seedling tray's central seedling surface. The seedling tray's central seedling surface is located near the portion of the seedling planting device that is supported by the link mechanism, so that when the seedlings are supplied to the central seedling surface of the seedling tray, the seedling planting device does not swing left and right.

[0037] Next, the seedlings are supplied to the seedling-bearing surface on the right or left side of the seedling-bearing table. In this case, the seedlings are supplied to the seedling-bearing surface on the left or right center side of the seedling-bearing table, and the weight on the seedling-bearing surface on the left or right center side of the seedling-bearing table is heavy, so even if the seedlings are supplied to the seedling-bearing surface on the right or left side of the seedling-bearing table, the left and right swing of the seedling-planting device does not become large.

[0038] As described above, by suppressing the left-right swinging of the seedling planting device when the seedlings are supplied from the seedling support device to the seedling tray, interference between the seedling planting device and other parts can be reduced, thereby preventing damage to the seedling planting device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0039] [Figure 1] This is a left side view of a riding rice transplanter. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a riding rice transplanter. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] A front view of the seedling tray and its surroundings. [Diagram 5] A plan view showing a support frame structure for supporting the seedling support device on the body frame structure. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the first seedling placing section of the seedling support device. [Figure 7] 1 is a bottom view of the rear portion of the first seedling placing section of the seedling support device. FIG. [Figure 8] 1 is a vertical sectional left side view of the rear part of the first seedling placing section of the seedling support device and the vicinity of the first seedling supply section of the seedling supply device. FIG. [Figure 9] 1 is a vertical sectional left side view of the rear part of the first seedling placing section of the seedling support device and the vicinity of the first seedling supply section of the seedling supply device. FIG. [Figure 10] 1 is a left side vertical cross-sectional view of the seedling support device, showing the vicinity of the driven shaft and driven wheel operated to a tensioned position. FIG. [Figure 11] This is a left side vertical cross-sectional view of the seedling support device, showing the driven shaft and driven wheel operated to a tensioned position, and the vicinity of the stopper portion. [Figure 12]1 is a left side vertical cross-sectional view of the seedling support device, showing the vicinity of the driven shaft and driven wheel operated to a relaxed position. FIG. [Figure 13] 1 is a left side vertical cross-sectional view of the seedling support device, showing the driven shaft and driven wheel operated to a relaxed position, and the vicinity of the stopper portion. FIG. [Figure 14] 13 is a bottom view of the second seedling placing section of the seedling support device. FIG. [Figure 15] 1 is a longitudinal sectional left side view of the rear part of the second seedling placing section of the seedling support device and the vicinity of the second seedling supply section of the seedling supply device. FIG. [Figure 16] A rear view of the rear part of the second seedling placing section of the seedling support device. [Figure 17] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the third seedling placing section of the seedling support device. [Figure 18] FIG. [Figure 19] 10 is a longitudinal left side view showing a state in which the second seedling placing section of the seedling support device is operated to a second placing operation position and the second seedling supplying section of the seedling supplying device is operated to a second supply operation position. FIG. [Figure 20] 10 is a longitudinal sectional left side view showing a state in which the second seedling placing section of the seedling support device is operated to the second placing storage position and the second seedling supplying section of the seedling supplying device is operated to the second supplying storage position. FIG. [Figure 21] 4 is a vertical sectional front view of the vicinity of the first seedling placing section and the placing and moving mechanism of the seedling support device. FIG. [Figure 22] 10 is a plan view showing the left-right movement structure of a first seedling placing section of the seedling supporting device and a first seedling supplying section of the seedling supplying device. FIG. [Diagram 23] 1 is a left side view in vertical section showing the left-right movement structure of a first seedling placing section of a seedling supporting device and a first seedling supplying section of a seedling supplying device. FIG. [Figure 24] This is a left side view of a riding rice transplanter showing the seedling support device in a lowered position, the first seedling placing section of the seedling support device in a first placing storage position, the second seedling placing section of the seedling support device in a second placing storage position, the first seedling supply section of the seedling supply device in a first supply storage position, the second seedling supply section of the seedling supply device in a second supply storage position, the seedling placing surface of the seedling tray in a stored position, and the right and left portions of the support rails in a stored position. [Diagram 25] This is a plan view of a riding rice transplanter showing the seedling support device in a lowered position, the first seedling placing section of the seedling support device in a first placing and storage position, the second seedling placing section of the seedling support device in a second placing and storage position, the first seedling supply section of the seedling supply device in a first supply and storage position, the second seedling supply section of the seedling supply device in a second supply and storage position, the seedling placing surface of the seedling tray in a stored position, and the right and left portions of the support rails in a stored position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0040] A riding type rice transplanter is shown in Figures 1 to 25. In Figures 1 to 25, F indicates the forward direction, B indicates the backward direction, U indicates the upward direction, D indicates the downward direction, R indicates the rightward direction, and L indicates the leftward direction.

[0041] (Overall configuration of riding rice transplanter) 1 and 2, a machine body 11 is supported by left and right front wheels 1 and left and right rear wheels 2, and is configured to be capable of traveling. A link mechanism 3 is supported at the rear of the machine body 11 so as to be capable of being raised and lowered, extends rearward from the rear of the machine body 11, and is provided with a hydraulic cylinder 4 for raising and lowering the link mechanism 3.

[0042] The seedling planting device 5 is supported at the rear of the link mechanism 3, and the ground leveling device 18 is supported at the front of the seedling planting device 5. The seedling supporting device 50 and the seedling supplying device 60 are supported on the machine body 11.

[0043] An engine (not shown) and a bonnet 19 covering the engine are provided at the front of the aircraft body 11, and a driver's section 20 is provided on the aircraft body 11 so as to be located behind the bonnet 19. The driver's section 20 is provided with a driver's seat 21 and a steering wheel 22 for steering the front wheels 1.

[0044] (Configuration of seedling planting device) As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the seedling planting device 5 is provided with a support frame 43, a planting transmission case 6, a rotating case 7, a planting arm 8, a float 9, a seedling stand 10, and the like.

[0045] The support frame 43 is disposed along the left-right direction and is supported at the rear of the link mechanism 3 so as to be rollable around the axis P1 along the front-rear direction. Four planting transmission cases 6 are connected to the support frame 43 at predetermined intervals in the left-right direction and extend rearward. A rotating case 7 is rotatably supported on the right and left rear parts of the planting transmission cases 6, and a pair of planting arms 8 are rotatably supported on both ends of the rotating case 7.

[0046] As the seedling tray 10 is driven to move laterally left and right at a predetermined stroke, the rotating case 7 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in Figure 1, and two sets of planting arms 8 alternately take out seedlings from the bottom of the seedling tray 10 and plant them on the rice field surface.

[0047] As described above, the seedling planting device 5 is configured as an 8-row planting type. The support frame 43 is supported at the rear of the link mechanism 3 so as to be capable of rolling, and the seedling planting device 5 is supported at the rear of the link mechanism 3 so as to be capable of rolling around the axis P1 along the front-rear direction.

[0048] (Configuration of ground leveling device) As shown in FIG. 1, a ground leveling device 18 for leveling the surface of a rice field is supported at the lower front portion of the seedling planting device 5.

[0049] The ground leveling device 18 is provided with a drive shaft (not shown) that is supported rotatably around an axis along the left-right direction, and a number of ground leveling bodies (not shown) attached to the drive shaft. The drive shaft of the ground leveling device 18 is rotated counterclockwise in Fig. 1, and the ground leveling bodies of the ground leveling device 18 level the rice field surface.

[0050] (Configuration of seedling tray) As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, in the seedling planting device 5, the seedling tray 10 has eight seedling loading surfaces 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f, 10g, and 10h, and a vertical wall-shaped partition portion 10j is provided between each of the seedling loading surfaces 10a to 10h.

[0051] A vertical feed mechanism 44 made of a rubber belt and a contact-type seedling sensor 45 are provided below the seedling placement surfaces 10a-10h of the seedling placement table 10. A seedling stay 46 is arranged above the seedling placement surfaces 10a-10h of the seedling placement table 10 at a predetermined interval and aligned in the vertical direction, so that the seedlings placed on the seedling placement surfaces 10a-10h of the seedling placement table 10 are prevented from floating up by the seedling stay 46.

[0052] A support rail 47 is supported on the planting transmission case 6 along the left-right direction, and the lower part of the seedling tray 10 is supported on the support rail 47 so as to be movable along the left-right direction. Left and right support frames 48 are connected to the right and left parts of the support frame 43 and extend upward, and a support frame 49 is connected across the upper parts of the left and right support frames 48.

[0053] A guide rail 71 is connected to the front part of the upper part of the seedling tray 10 along the left-right direction, and the guide rail 71 (the upper part of the seedling tray 10) is supported so that it can move along the left-right direction by guide rollers 49b provided on the support frame 49.

[0054] (Configuration of changing the position of the seedling tray on the seedling tray surface) As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in the seedling tray 10, the seedling-receiving surfaces 10b to 10h are connected to one another, and the seedling-receiving surface 10a is separated from the seedling-receiving surfaces 10b to 10h.

[0055] A link 72 is provided, and the right part of the link 72 is supported by the left part of the guide rail 71 so as to be slidable in the left-right direction and swingable about an axis along the seedling placing surface 10b. The left part of the link 72 is connected to the seedling placing surface 10a so as to be swingable about an axis along the seedling placing surface 10a. A support stand 73 is provided at the lower rear part of the seedling placing surface 10b, and an operating handle 74 is provided at the lower rear part of the seedling placing surface 10a.

[0056] The state shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4 is a state in which the seedling tray 10 is stopped at the supply position, which is the left end of the lateral feed drive, and the seedling tray 10's seedling tray surface 10a on the supply position side is located at a working position A11 connected and linked to the side portion of the other seedling tray surface 10b.

[0057] When the seedling tray 10 is stopped in the supply position, the operator releases the connection between the seedling tray surfaces 10a and 10b, and while holding the operating handle 74 and sliding and swinging the connecting link 72 upward, moves the seedling tray surface 10a away from the side of the seedling tray surface 10b and above the seedling tray surface 10b, as shown in Figures 24 and 25, and places it on the support base 73 and connects it.

[0058] The state in which the seedling placing surface 10a is placed on the support stand 73 is the state in which the seedling placing surface 10a on the supply position side of the seedling placing stand 10 is separated from the other seedling placing surfaces 10b and repositioned to a storage position A12 in which the width of the seedling placing stand 10 is narrowed.

[0059] (Configuration for changing the position of the support rail) 3 and 4, the support rail 47 is composed of three parts: a central part 47a, a right part 47b, and a left part 47c. The central part 47a has the same length as the width of the six seedling placing surfaces 10b-10g, the right part 47b has the same length as the width of one seedling placing surface 10h, and the left part 47c has the same length as the width of one seedling placing surface 10a.

[0060] In a normal operating state, a right portion 47b and a left portion 47c of the support rail 47 are connected to the right and left portions of the central portion 47a of the support rail 47, so that the entire support rail 47 is linear.

[0061] 24 and 25, when the seedling placement surface 10a of the seedling placement table 10 is moved to the storage position A12, the right portion 47b and the left portion 47c of the support rail 47 are separated from the central portion 47a of the support rail 47 and moved to a position facing diagonally downward and rearward. This allows the width of the support rail 47 to be set to approximately the same width as the width of the seedling placement table 10.

[0062] (Configuration of rolling control of seedling planting device) As shown in Fig. 4, a rolling mechanism 75 is attached to the upper rear part of the link mechanism 3. Left and right wires 76 extend to the right and left from the rolling mechanism 75, and are connected to left and right brackets 49a connected to the support frame 49 via left and right springs 77 of a coil type.

[0063] In the rolling mechanism 75, the right wire 76 is wound onto the rolling mechanism 75 and the left wire 76 is unwound from the rolling mechanism 75, and the left wire 76 is wound onto the rolling mechanism 75 and the right wire 76 is unwound from the rolling mechanism 75, and the seedling planting device 5 is rolled by the rolling mechanism 75.

[0064] A bracket 78 is connected to the rear of the link mechanism 3, and left and right coil-type springs 79 are connected across the bracket 78 and the left and right brackets 71a connected to the guide rail 71.

[0065] When the seedling tray 10 is driven laterally in the left-right direction, the seedling planting device 5 tends to tilt to the side to which the seedling tray 10 is driven laterally. In this case, the spring 79 on the side to which the seedling tray 10 is driven laterally is extended, so that the biasing force of the spring 79 prevents the seedling planting device 5 from tilting.

[0066] An inclination sensor (not shown) is provided to detect the inclination angle in the left-right direction of the seedling planting device 5 relative to the horizontal plane. When the seedling planting device 5 inclines relative to the horizontal plane, the rolling mechanism 75 winds and unwinds the left and right wires 76 based on the detection value of the inclination sensor, thereby maintaining the seedling planting device 5 horizontal.

[0067] As shown in Fig. 4, left and right suppressing parts 97 made of hard rubber are provided on the support frame 43 so as to be located close to the left and right of the rear part of the link mechanism 3. When the seedling planting device 5 is lifted upward by the link mechanism 3 and away from the paddy field surface, the seedling planting device 5 is lifted with the rolling mechanism 75 stopped, so that the spring 79 returns the seedling planting device 5 to a position parallel to the machine body 11 in the left-right direction, and the left and right suppressing parts 97 hit the rear part of the link mechanism 3 from below, suppressing the rolling of the seedling planting device 5 and maintaining the seedling planting device 5 in a position parallel to the machine body 11 in the left-right direction.

[0068] (Configuration of the rolling suppression mechanism for the seedling planting device) In addition to the function of the suppression section 97 described above (Configuration of rolling control of seedling planting device), right and left suppression mechanisms 98 for suppressing rolling of the seedling planting device 5 are provided as described below.

[0069] As shown in Figures 1 and 4, a right wire 99 which is a flexible wire is provided, the rear end of the right wire 99 is connected to the right end of the support frame 43, and the front end of the right wire 99 is connected to the right lower part of the frame 24 described below (Body frame structure for supporting the seedling support device and the seedling supply device).

[0070] A left wire 99, which is a left flexible wire, is provided, with the rear end of the left wire 99 connected to the left end of the support frame 43 and the front end of the left wire 99 connected to the left lower part of the frame 24.

[0071] In the seedling planting device 5, left and right brackets 100 are connected to the upper parts of the left and right support frames 48, and left and right support arms 101 are connected to the upper parts of the brackets 100. Left and right operation rollers 102, which are wire operation parts, are supported on the upper ends of the support arms 101 so as to be freely rotatable around axes along the left-right direction, and the middle parts of the left and right wires 99 are hung on the operation rollers 102.

[0072] The restraining mechanism 98 is provided with a wire 99 and an operating roller 102. The right restraining mechanism 98 is provided across the right part of the seedling planting device 5 and the right part of the machine body 11, and the left restraining mechanism 98 is provided across the left part of the seedling planting device 5 and the left part of the machine body 11.

[0073] The state shown in Figures 1 and 4 is the state in which the seedling planting device 5 is lowered to the rice field surface. In this state, the suppression unit 97 (see the above (Configuration of rolling control of seedling planting device)) is separated from the rear part of the link mechanism 3. In the left and right suppression mechanisms 98, the operation rollers 102 are lowered together with the seedling planting device 5, and the wire 99 is slack. In this state, the rolling of the seedling planting device 5 described above (Configuration of rolling control of seedling planting device) is permitted.

[0074] As described above in (Configuration of rolling control of seedling planting device), when the seedling planting device 5 is lifted by the link mechanism 3, the operation roller 102 is lifted together with the seedling planting device 5.

[0075] 24, the operating roller 102 pushes the middle part of the wire 99 upward, generating tension in the wire 99, and the left and right suppression mechanisms 98 suppress rolling of the seedling planting device 5. In addition, the function of the suppression unit 97 described above in (Configuration of rolling control of seedling planting device) suppresses rolling of the seedling planting device 5.

[0076] (Frame structure for supporting seedling support device and seedling supply device) The seedling support device 50 and the seedling supply device 60, described below in (Configuration of the seedling support device) and (Configuration of the seedling supply device), are supported on the machine body 11, and a machine body frame structure for supporting the seedling support device 50 and the seedling supply device 60 is provided on the machine body 11 as described below.

[0077] 1, left and right frames 23 are connected to the right and left parts of the fuselage 11 and extend upward so as to be located on the left and right lateral sides of the driver's seat 21. An arch-shaped frame 24 is provided, and the right and left parts of the frame 24 are connected to the rear parts of the left and right frames 23.

[0078] An arch-shaped frame 25 is provided, and the right and left parts of the frame 25 are connected to the front parts of the left and right frames 23, and the frame 25 is disposed in the left-right direction above the driver's seat 21. A frame 30 is connected between the left-right center part of the frame 24 and the left-right center part of the frame 25.

[0079] The left and right frames 26 are connected to the front right and left parts of the fuselage 11 and extend upward so as to be located on the left and right lateral sides of the bonnet 19. The left and right frames 27 are connected to the front right and left parts of the fuselage 11, extend upward, and are connected to the upper parts of the left and right frames 26 so as to be located on the left and right lateral sides of the bonnet 19. The left and right frames 28 are connected across the lower parts of the frames 26, 27.

[0080] There are provided left and right frames 29, and the right frame 29 is connected across an upper part of the right part of the frame 25 and an upper part of the right frame 26. The left frame 29 is connected across an upper part of the left part of the frame 25 and an upper part of the left frame 26.

[0081] (Support frame structure for supporting the seedling support device on the machine frame structure) The support frame structure supporting the seedling support device 50 is constructed as described below and is supported on the machine frame structure described above (Machine frame structure for supporting the seedling support device and seedling supply device) as described below.

[0082] As shown in Figures 1 and 5, a support frame 31 is provided that is U-shaped when viewed in a plane, and a support frame 32 is connected to the right and left parts of the front of the support frame 31, and a support frame 33 is connected to the right and left parts of the rear of the support frame 31.

[0083] A support frame 34 is connected between the left and right central portion of the support frame 32 and the left and right central portion of the support frame 33. A support frame 35 is connected between the left and right central portion of the support frame 32 and the support frame 34. The right support frame 35 is connected between the right portion of the front part of the support frame 31 and the right portion of the support frame 32, and the left support frame 35 is connected between the left portion of the front part of the support frame 31 and the left portion of the support frame 32.

[0084] The left and right boss portions 36 are connected to the left and right rear portions of the support frame 31, and the boss portions 36 are rotatably attached to the upper portion of the frame 25. As a result, the support frames 31 to 35 are supported on the upper portion of the frame 25 so as to be swingable up and down around an axis P2 that extends in the left-right direction.

[0085] As shown in FIG. 1, the left and right lifting arms 37 are supported on the upper parts of the left and right frames 26 so as to be swingable up and down around an axis P3 along the left-right direction, and the left and right electric cylinders 38 are connected between the frames 28 and the lifting arms 37.

[0086] Left and right linking frames 39 are provided, and a linking frame 40 is connected across the left and right linking frames 39. The lower part of the linking frame 39 is connected to the front ends of the left and right lifting arms 37 so as to be able to swing back and forth, and the upper part of the linking frame 39 is connected to the support frame 32 so as to be able to swing back and forth, as described above (Support frame structure for supporting the seedling support device on the machine body frame structure) and as shown in FIG.

[0087] As the electric cylinder 38 is extended or retracted, the lifting arm 37 is swung up and down, and the support frames 31-35 are swung up and down around the axis P2 of the frame 25 via the linking frames 39, 40. The state shown in FIG. 1 is a state in which the electric cylinder 38 is extended and the support frames 31-35 are raised, and the support frames 31-35 are supported by the machine body 11 via the frame 25 and the electric cylinder 38.

[0088] Left and right support frames 41 are connected to the upper part of frame 27 and extend obliquely upward toward the front. Left and right support frames 42 are connected to the front part of the aircraft body 11 and extend upward in front of the bonnet 19.

[0089] When the electric cylinder 38 is contracted from the state shown in Figure 1 and the support frames 31-35 are lowered, the support frame 32 is supported on the upper parts of the support frames 41, 42, as shown in Figure 24, and the support frames 31-35 are supported on the body 11 via the frame 25 and the support frames 41, 42.

[0090] (Configuration of seedling support device) As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the seedling support device 50 is supported by the support frames 31 to 35 described above (support frame structure for supporting the seedling support device on the machine body frame structure), and is supported on the machine body 11 so as to be positioned above the machine body 11.

[0091] The seedling support device 50 has a first seedling placing section 51, a second seedling placing section 52, and a third seedling placing section 53. Three placing belts 85 are provided in the first seedling placing section 51 along the front-rear direction, two placing belts 85 are provided in the second seedling placing section 52 along the front-rear direction, and three placing belts 85 are provided in the third seedling placing section 53 along the front-rear direction.

[0092] In the seedling support device 50, the first seedling placing section 51 is located on the left side, the third seedling placing section 53 is located on the right side, and the second seedling placing section 52 is located between the first seedling placing section 51 and the third seedling placing section 53. A seedling can be placed on each of the eight placing belts 85, and each of the eight placing belts 85 corresponds to a seedling placing section of the seedling support device 50. As a result, the seedling support device 50 is provided with the same number (eight) of placing belts 85 as the seedling placing surfaces 10a-10h of the seedling tray 10.

[0093] The left, center, and right loading belts 85 of the first seedling placing section 51 correspond to the seedling placing surfaces 10a, 10b, and 10c of the seedling placing table 10. The left and right loading belts 85 of the second seedling placing section 52 correspond to the seedling placing surfaces 10d and 10e of the seedling placing table 10. The left, center, and right loading belts 85 of the third seedling placing section 53 correspond to the seedling placing surfaces 10f, 10g, and 10h of the seedling placing table 10.

[0094] As described above (Support frame structure for supporting the seedling support device on the body frame structure), the support frames 31-35 are operated to swing up and down around the axis P2 of the frame 25 by the electric cylinder 38, so that the seedling support device 50 is operated to swing between an elevated position A31 (see Figure 1) along the horizontal direction and a lowered position A32 (see Figure 24) facing diagonally downward and forward, with the rear of the seedling support device 50 as a fulcrum.

[0095] (Configuration of the frame of the first seedling placement part of the seedling support device) 6 and 7, a plurality of vertical frames 54 are provided arranged along the front-to-rear direction, and a plurality of horizontal frames 55, 56 are connected across the vertical frames 54. A front frame 57 and a guide frame 58 are connected across the front of the vertical frames 54, and a rear frame 59 is connected across the rear of the vertical frames 54.

[0096] 1, 6 and 7, four brackets 69 are connected downward to the front and rear of the right and left vertical frames 54. Two vertical frames 70 are connected across the front and rear brackets 69, and two horizontal frames 80, 81 are connected across the left and right brackets 69.

[0097] As shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9, six brackets 64 are connected to the rear frame 59 and extend rearward. Three drive shafts 65 are supported by the right two brackets 64, the center two brackets 64 and the left two brackets 64 so as to be rotatable about axes extending in the left-right direction, and three drive rotors 66 are attached to each of the drive shafts 65. The drive shafts 65 and the drive rotors 66 are supported at the rear of the seedling support device 50 (first seedling placing section 51).

[0098] Three gear cases 67 and three electric motors 68 serving as driving units are connected to the three brackets 64, respectively, and the three drive shafts 65 and drive rotors 66 are each independently rotated by the three electric motors 68. Of the three electric motors 68, the central and left electric motors 68 are disposed facing forward so as to be raised upward.

[0099] Three fulcrum shafts 82 are connected in the left-right direction to each of the right two brackets 64, the center two brackets 64, and the left two brackets 64. A large number of guide rotors 83 are supported on the fulcrum shafts 82 so as to be freely rotatable. The guide rotors 83 are supported in a position rearward of the drive rotor 66 supported on the rear part of the seedling support device 50 (first seedling placing section 51), and are supported so as to be freely rotatable about axes extending in the left-right direction, between the rear part of the seedling support device 50 and the upper part of the seedling supply device 60 (see (Configuration of the seedling supply device) described below).

[0100] Three flat guide plates 84 are supported on a fulcrum shaft 82 so as to be able to swing freely up and down, and extend from the rear of the seedling support device 50 (first seedling placement section 51) toward the upper end of the seedling supply device 60 (see (Configuration of the seedling supply device) described below).

[0101] As shown in Fig. 6, one driven shaft 86 is supported on the front part of the vertical frame 54 and arranged along the front frame 57, and the driven shaft 86 is supported on the front part of the seedling support device 50 (first seedling placing section 51) along the left-right direction. Three driven rotors 87 are attached to the driven shaft 86 so as to be rotatable independently, and the driven rotors 87 are supported so as to be rotatable around an axis passing through the driven shaft 86 in the left-right direction.

[0102] (Configuration of the loading belt of the first seedling loading part of the seedling support device) 6 to 9, three wide rubber mounting belts 85 are provided, and the mounting belts 85 are attached across the driving rotor 66 and the driven rotor 87. The mounting belt 85 is configured as one mounting belt 85 by connecting a plurality of short wide belts.

[0103] The vertical frame 54 protrudes above the loading belts 85 to form a partition wall, and the three loading belts 85 are separated from each other by the vertical frame 54, with each of the three loading belts 85 serving as an independent seedling loading section.

[0104] A plurality of fulcrum shafts 88 are connected to the vertical frame 54 so as to pass along the winding path of the loading belt 85 in the left-right direction, and a cylindrical upper guide body 89 which is the upper guide portion is supported on the fulcrum shafts 88 so as to be freely rotatable.

[0105] An upper guide body 89 is disposed in a region between the driving rotor 66 and the driven rotor 87 in a region inside the winding path of the loading belt 85. The upper guide body 89 supports the upper portion of the loading belt 85 by contacting the upper portion of the loading belt 85 on which the seedlings are placed from below.

[0106] A plurality of fulcrum shafts 90 are connected to the vertical frame 54 so as to pass below the winding path of the loading belt 85 in the left-right direction, and a lower guide body 91, which is the lower guide portion, is supported by the fulcrum shafts 88 and the horizontal frame 81 so as to be freely rotatable.

[0107] A lower guide body 91 is disposed in a region between the driving rotor 66 and the driven rotor 87 in a region below the winding path of the loading belt 85. The lower guide body 91 supports the lower portion of the loading belt 85 by contacting from below the lower portion of the loading belt 85 that is located below the upper portion on which the seedlings are placed.

[0108] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the drive shaft 65 is rotated by the electric motor 68, and the drive rotor 66 and the loading belt 85 are rotated clockwise in Figures 8 and 9, and the seedlings placed on the loading belt 85 are transported rearward.

[0109] (Configuration for changing the position of the driven rotor of the first seedling placement part of the seedling support device) As shown in Figs. 10 to 13, a position changing mechanism 96 capable of changing the position of the driven shaft 86 between a tensioned position A21 and a relaxed position A22 is provided in the front part of the seedling supporting device 50 (first seedling placing part 51).

[0110] In the first seedling placing portion 51, the left and right support brackets 92 are connected to the right and left portions of the front frame 57, and the stopper portion 94 is connected to the left and right intermediate portions of the front frame 57. A position changing arm 93 having an L-shape in a side view is supported by a support bracket 92 so as to be swingable up and down about an axis P4 that is a support axis along the left-right direction. An operating part 93a extends from the position changing arm 93, and an end of the operating part 93a is bent to form a handle part 93b.

[0111] An arc-shaped guide hole 92a, which is a guide region, is opened in the support bracket 92 so as to be centered on the axis P4. A position changing arm 93 extends from the axis P4 toward the front side, which is outside the winding path of the mounting belt 85. The driven shaft 86 is supported by the position changing arm 93 and passes through the guide hole 92a in the support bracket 92. As described above, the position changing mechanism 96 is provided with the position changing arm 93, the stopper portion 94, the support bracket 92 (guide hole 92a), and the like.

[0112] (Operation to change the position of the driven rotor of the first seedling placement part of the seedling support device) As shown in Figs. 10 and 12, an imaginary line L1 is assumed to pass through the axis P4 in a side view and to extend in the front-rear direction along the winding path of the mounting belt 85.

[0113] The state shown in Figures 10 and 11 is a state in which the position-changing arm 93 has swung and stopped so that the driven shaft 86 and the position-changing arm 93 are positioned above the imaginary line L1 in a side view, the driven shaft 86 is positioned in a tensioned position A21, and tension is generated in the mounting belt 85, allowing the driving rotor 66 to rotate the mounting belt 85.

[0114] Even if the tension of the mounting belt 85 causes the position-changing arm 93 to swing beyond the stopped position toward the center of the winding path of the mounting belt 85 (even if it tries to swing backward), the driven shaft 86 hits the upper part 94a of the stopper portion 94 and the upper end of the guide hole 92a of the support bracket 92, thereby stopping the swing of the position-changing arm 93.

[0115] By attaching the knobbed bolt 95, which serves as the fixing part, between the operating part 93a of the position-changing arm 93 and the support bracket 92, the swinging of the position-changing arm 93 can be fixed with the driven shaft 86 positioned in the tensioned position A21.

[0116] When the driven shaft 86 is operated from the state shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 to the relaxed position A22, the knobbed bolt 95 is removed and the handle portion 93b of the position changing arm 93 is pushed backward. As a result, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, the driven shaft 86 and the position-changing arm 93 swing downward, across the imaginary line L1, toward the opposite side of the tensioned position A21, along the guide hole 92a of the support bracket 92 (the swing is permitted by the guide hole 92a of the support bracket 92), and the swing of the position-changing arm 93 is stopped when the driven shaft 86 hits the lower part 94b of the stopper portion 94 and the lower end of the guide hole 92a of the support bracket 92.

[0117] The state shown in Figures 12 and 13 is a state in which the driven shaft 86 is located at a position closer to the center of the winding path of the mounting belt 85 than the tension position A21 when viewed from the side, and is a state in which the driven shaft 86 is located at a relaxed position A22 in which the mounting belt 85 is slackened and the tension of the mounting belt 85 is reduced. When the driven shaft 86 and the position changing arm 93 are to be moved from the relaxed position A22 to the tensioned position A21, the above-described operations are carried out in reverse.

[0118] (Configuration of the second seedling placement section and the third seedling placement section of the seedling support device) As shown in Figures 14 and 17, in the seedling support device 50, the second seedling placing section 52 and the third seedling placing section 53 have the same configuration as the configurations described above (Configuration relating to the frame of the first seedling placing section of the seedling support device), (Configuration relating to the placing belt of the first seedling placing section of the seedling support device), (Configuration relating to changing the position of the driven rotor of the first seedling placing section of the seedling support device), and (Operation of changing the position of the driven rotor of the first seedling placing section of the seedling support device).

[0119] As described above (Configuration of the seedling support device), three loading belts 85 are provided in the first seedling placing section 51 and the third seedling placing section 53, and two loading belts 85 are provided in the second seedling placing section 52, and the width of the second seedling placing section 52 is narrower than the width of the first seedling placing section 51 and the width of the third seedling placing section 53.

[0120] As shown in Figs. 14 and 17, in the third seedling placing section 53, the vertical frame 70 and the horizontal frames 80, 81 of the first seedling placing section 51 are not provided. In the second seedling placing section 52, the vertical frame 70 and horizontal frames 80, 81 of the first seedling placing section 51 are not provided, and the vertical frame 12 is arranged in the front-rear direction below the central vertical frame 54.

[0121] 14, 15 and 16, in the second seedling placing section 52, three flat guide plates 84 are supported on a fulcrum shaft 82 so as to be vertically swingable, and are biased upward by a spring 13 attached to the fulcrum shaft 82. The guide plates 84 extend from the rear of the seedling support device 50 (second seedling placing section 52) toward the upper end of the seedling supplying device 60 (see (Configuration of the seedling supplying device) described below).

[0122] (Support structure of the first seedling placement section, the second seedling placement section, and the third seedling placement section to the support frame in the seedling support device) In the seedling support device 50, the first seedling placing section 51, the second seedling placing section 52 and the third seedling placing section 53 are supported on the support frames 31 to 35 described above (support frame structure for supporting the seedling support device on the body frame structure) as described below.

[0123] As shown in Figures 5 to 9, in the first seedling placing section 51, two sets of guide sections 109, in which two upper and lower guide rollers 109a are supported so as to be freely rotatable, are connected to the front horizontal frame 80 and two sets of guide sections 109 are connected to the rear horizontal frame 81.

[0124] In the first seedling placing section 51, the front left part of the support frame 31 is inserted between the upper and lower guide rollers 109a of the front guide section 109, and the left part of the support frame 33 is inserted between the upper and lower guide rollers 109a of the rear guide section 109, and the first seedling placing section 51 is supported by the guide section 109 on the support frames 31 to 35 so as to be movable in the left-right direction.

[0125] As shown in Figure 5, in the third seedling placing section 53, a bracket 69 is connected to the right parts of the front and rear parts of the support frame 31 and the right part of the support frame 33, and the position of the third seedling placing section 53 does not change relative to the support frames 31 to 35.

[0126] 14, 19, and 20, in the second seedling placing section 52, a front link 110 is supported by the front part of the support frame 34 so as to be able to swing up and down about an axis P5 along the left-right direction, and extends rearward. A rear link 111 is supported by the rear part of the support frame 34 so as to be able to swing up and down about an axis P6 along the left-right direction, and extends rearward.

[0127] In the second seedling placing section 52, the upper parts of the front link 110 and the rear link 111 are connected to the front and rear parts of the vertical frame 12 so as to be swingable around an axis along the left-right direction, and the second seedling placing section 52 is supported by the front link 110 and the rear link 111 so as to be able to be raised and lowered on the support frames 31-35.

[0128] The state shown in Figures 1, 2, 5 and 19 is a state in which the first seedling placing section 51 is located on the left side of the seedling support device 50, the third seedling placing section 53 is located on the right side, and the second seedling placing section 52 is adjacent to the part of the first seedling placing section 51 opposite the right outer lateral side of the body 11, and the second seedling placing section 52 is located at the second placing work position B21 which is located at the same height as the first seedling placing section 51 and the third seedling placing section 53.

[0129] At the second loading work position B21, the bracket 69 of the second seedling loading section 52 is placed on the front part of the support frame 31 and the support frame 33, and the second seedling loading section 52 is positioned between the first seedling loading section 51 and the third seedling loading section 53 while being supported by the support frames 31 to 35.

[0130] 1, 2 and 5 shows the state in which the first seedling placing section 51 is located at the first placing work position B11 adjacent to the left side of the second seedling placing section 52 arranged at the second placing work position B21. At the first placing work position B11, the first seedling placing section 51 is located at a position moved to the left side relative to the support frames 31-35.

[0131] (Configuration of seedling supply device) As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the seedling supplying device 60 is supported by the frames 24, 25, and 30 described above in (Seedling supporting device and machine frame structure for supporting the seedling supplying device). The seedling supplying device 60 extends diagonally downward and rearward from the rear of the seedling support device 50 and is supported on the body 11 via frames 24, 25, and 30 so as to span between the rear of the seedling support device 50 and the upper end of the seedling tray 10.

[0132] 2 and 18, the seedling supply device 60 has a first seedling supply unit 61 which is a first seedling supply unit, a second seedling supply unit 62 which is a second seedling supply unit, and a third seedling supply unit 63 which is a seedling supply unit. Three seedling supply surfaces 61a are provided in the first seedling supply unit 61 along the front-rear and up-down directions, two seedling supply surfaces 62a are provided in the second seedling supply unit 62 along the front-rear and up-down directions, and three seedling supply surfaces 63a are provided in the third seedling supply unit 63 along the front-rear and up-down directions.

[0133] In the seedling supplying device 60, the first seedling supplying section 61 is located on the left, the third seedling supplying section 63 is located on the right, and the second seedling supplying section 62 is located between the first seedling supplying section 61 and the third seedling supplying section 63.

[0134] In the first seedling supply section 61, the second seedling supply section 62 and the third seedling supply section 63, each of the eight seedling supply surfaces 61a, 62a, 63a corresponds to a seedling supply section of the seedling supply device 60. As a result, the seedling supply device 60 is provided with the same number (eight) of seedling supply surfaces 61a, 62a, 63a as the seedling placing surfaces 10a to 10h of the seedling tray 10.

[0135] The left, center, and right seedling supply surfaces 61a of the first seedling supply unit 61 correspond to the seedling placing surfaces 10a, 10b, and 10c of the seedling tray 10. The left and right seedling supply surfaces 62a of the second seedling supply unit 62 correspond to the seedling placing surfaces 10d and 10e of the seedling tray 10. The left, center, and right seedling supply surfaces 63a of the third seedling supply unit 63 correspond to the seedling placing surfaces 10f, 10g, and 10h of the seedling tray 10.

[0136] (Configuration of the first seedling supply unit, the second seedling supply unit, and the third seedling supply unit of the seedling supply device) As shown in Figure 18, in the first seedling supply section 61, the second seedling supply section 62 and the third seedling supply section 63, two vertical frames 103 arranged along the vertical direction (front-to-back direction) are provided, and three horizontal frames 104 are connected across the vertical frames 103.

[0137] In the first seedling supply section 61 and the third seedling supply section 63, three seedling supply surfaces 61a, 63a are connected to the vertical frame 103 and the horizontal frame 104. In the second seedling supply section 62, two seedling supply surfaces 62a are connected to the vertical frame 103 and the horizontal frame 104.

[0138] A block-shaped elastic material 118 made of hard rubber is attached to the lower end of each of the seedling supplying surface 61a of the first seedling supplying section 61, the seedling supplying surface 62a of the second seedling supplying section 62, and the seedling supplying surface 63a of the third seedling supplying section 63.

[0139] In the first seedling supply section 61, the second seedling supply section 62 and the third seedling supply section 63, a drive shaft 106 is supported in the left-right direction along the lower part of the central horizontal frame 104 and the lower part of the lower horizontal frame 104. A large number of star-shaped supply rotors 105 are attached to the drive shaft 106 and protrude upward (rearward) from the seedling supply surfaces 61a, 62a, 63a.

[0140] An electric motor 107 that rotates the upper drive shaft 106 is supported by the central horizontal frame 104, and a transmission chain 108 is attached to the upper and lower drive shafts 106. The upper drive shaft 106 and the supply rotor 105 are rotated clockwise in Fig. 1 by the electric motor 107, and the lower drive shaft 106 and the supply rotor 105 are rotated clockwise in Fig. 1 via the transmission chain 108.

[0141] (Support structure of first seedling supply unit, second seedling supply unit, and third seedling supply unit to frame in seedling supply device) In the seedling supplying device 60, the first seedling supplying section 61, the second seedling supplying section 62 and the third seedling supplying section 63 are supported on the frames 24, 25, 30 described above (Body frame structure for supporting the seedling support device and the seedling supplying device) as described below.

[0142] 8, 9 and 18, in the first seedling supply section 61, two sets of guide sections 112, which are supply movement mechanisms in which two upper and lower guide rollers 112a are supported so as to be freely rotatable, are connected to the lower horizontal frame 104. One set of guide sections 113, which are supply movement mechanisms in which one guide roller 113a is supported so as to be freely rotatable, is connected to the upper horizontal frame 104.

[0143] In the first seedling supply section 61, the upper left part of the frame 24 is inserted between the upper and lower guide rollers 112a of the guide section 112, and the upper left part of the frame 25 contacts the guide roller 113a of the guide section 113, so that the first seedling supply section 61 is supported on the left parts of the frames 24, 25 by the guide sections 112, 113 so as to be movable in the left-right direction.

[0144] As shown in Figure 18, in the third seedling supply section 63, the bracket 114 is connected to the upper and lower horizontal frames 104, and the bracket 114 is connected to the upper right part of the frames 24, 25, and the position of the third seedling supply section 63 does not change relative to the frames 24, 25.

[0145] 18, 19, and 20, in the second seedling supply section 62, an upper link 115, which is a supply lifting mechanism, is supported by the upper part of the frame 30 so as to be able to swing up and down about a central axis P7 along the left-right direction and extends upward. A lower link 116, which is a supply lifting mechanism, is supported by the lower part of the frame 30 so as to be able to swing up and down about a central axis P8 along the left-right direction and extends upward.

[0146] In the second seedling supply section 62, a vertical frame 117 is connected across the upper horizontal frame 104 and the central horizontal frame 104. The upper parts of the upper link 115 and the lower link 116 are connected to the upper and lower parts of the vertical frame 117 so as to be swingable around an axis along the left-right direction, and the second seedling supply section 62 is supported on the frame 30 by the upper link 115 and the lower link 116 so as to be able to rise and fall.

[0147] The state shown in Figures 1, 2, 18 and 19 is a state in which the first seedling supplying section 61 is located on the left side of the seedling supplying device 60, the third seedling supplying section 63 is located on the right side, and the second seedling supplying section 62 is adjacent to the part of the first seedling supplying section 61 opposite the right outer lateral side of the body 11, and the second seedling supplying section 62 is located at the second supplying work position C21 which is located at the same height as the first seedling supplying section 61 and the third seedling supplying section 63.

[0148] At the second supply work position C21, the horizontal frame 104 of the second seedling supply section 62 is placed on the top of the frames 24, 25, and the second seedling supply section 62 is positioned between the first seedling supply section 61 and the third seedling supply section 63 while being supported by the frames 24, 25.

[0149] The first seedling supply unit 61 is located at a first supply work position C11 adjacent to the left side of the second seedling supply unit 62 located at the second supply work position C21. At the first supply work position C11, the first seedling supply unit 61 is located at a position moved to the left side relative to the upper part of the frames 24, 25.

[0150] (Layout of seedling support device and seedling supply device) As described above (Configuration for changing the position of the seedling placement surface of the seedling placement tray) and as shown in Figure 2, the seedling support device 50 and the seedling supply device 60 are positioned so that when the seedling placement tray 10 is stopped in the supply position, the seedling support device 50, the seedling supply device 60 and the seedling placement tray 10 are in the same position in the left-right direction.

[0151] As a result, the seedling support device 50 and the seedling supply device 60 are shifted to the left by 1 / 2 the width of one of the seedling placement surfaces 10a-10h of the seedling tray 10 relative to the left-right center of the body 11 (the left-right center of the seedling planting device 5).

[0152] The left-right center of the right loading belt 85 of the second seedling loading section 52 of the seedling support device 50 is located in the left-right center of the body 11 (the left-right center of the seedling planting device 5) when viewed in a planar view, and the left-right center of the right seedling supply surface 62a of the second seedling supply section 62 of the seedling supply device 60 is located in the left-right center of the body 11 (the left-right center of the seedling planting device 5) when viewed in a planar view.

[0153] In the seedling support device 50, the first seedling placing section 51 is located on the supply position side of the right and left parts of the seedling support device 50, and compared to the third seedling placing section 53, the first seedling placing section 51 is located to the left of the left-right center of the body 11 (the left-right center of the seedling planting device 5).

[0154] In the seedling supplying device 60, the first seedling supplying section 61 is arranged on the supply position side of the right and left parts of the seedling supplying device 60, and compared to the third seedling supplying section 63, the first seedling supplying section 61 is located to the left of the left-right center of the body 11 (the left-right center of the seedling planting device 5). As shown in FIG. 1, when the seedling planting device 5 is lowered onto the surface of the rice field, the upper end of the seedling tray 10 is spaced downward from the lower end (elastic member 118) of the seedling supplying device 60.

[0155] (Seedlings being fed from the seedling support device to the seedling tray) (Part 1) As shown in Figure 1, when the seedling planting device 5 is lowered onto the rice field surface and planting work is being carried out, if the seedling sensor 45 (see Figure 3) detects that there are fewer seedlings on any of the seedling mounting surfaces 10a to 10h of the seedling mounting table 10, if the seedling mounting table 10 is not located in the supply position shown in Figure 2, the planting work will continue until the seedling mounting table 10 reaches the supply position.

[0156] When the seedling tray 10 reaches the supply position, the seedlings are fed vertically by the vertical feed mechanism 44 (see FIG. 3), and then the seedling planting device 5 and the machine body 11 automatically stop, and the seedling support device 50, the seedling supply device 60 and the seedling tray 10 are in the same position in the left-right direction. As the seedlings are fed vertically by the vertical feed mechanism 44, the seedlings on the seedling loading surfaces 10a-10h of the seedling tray 10 come into contact with the support rails 47.

[0157] When the seedling sensor 45 detects that the number of seedlings on any of the seedling placement surfaces 10a-10h of the seedling placement table 10 is decreasing, it is often the case that the number of seedlings on the other seedling placement surfaces 10a-10h of the seedling placement table 10 is also decreasing similarly.

[0158] The operator of the driving section 20 operates the lift lever (not shown) to raise the seedling planting device 5 to the upper limit position by the link mechanism 3 (see FIG. 24). The upper limit position is the supply height where the upper end of the seedling stand 10 and the lower end of the seedling supply device 60 are close to each other, and when the seedling planting device 5 is raised to the supply height, the upper end of the seedling stand 10 comes into contact with the elastic member 118 (see FIG. 18) of the seedling supply device 60, and the upper end of the seedling stand 10 and the lower end of the seedling supply device 60 come into contact with each other via the elastic member 118.

[0159] In this case, as the seedling planting device 5 is raised to the supply height, as described above (Configuration of the mechanism for suppressing rolling of the seedling planting device), the left and right suppression mechanisms 98 and the left and right suppression units 97 function to suppress rolling of the seedling planting device 5, so that the upper end of the seedling stand 10 and the lower end (elastic material 118) of the seedling supplying device 60 come into contact smoothly. This allows the seedlings placed on the seedling support device 50 to be supplied to the seedling stand 10 via the seedling supplying device 60.

[0160] (Seedlings being fed from the seedling support device to the seedling tray) (Part 2) When the seedling planting device 5 is raised to the supply height, the operator of the driving section 20 operates a seedling supply switch (not shown).

[0161] In the seedling support device 50, the loading belt 85 of the second seedling loading section 52 is rotated and driven, and the seedlings placed on the loading belt 85 of the second seedling loading section 52 are supplied from the second seedling loading section 52 to the seedling supply surface 62a of the second seedling supply section 62 of the seedling supply device 60, and then from the seedling supply surface 62a of the second seedling supply section 62 of the seedling supply device 60 to the seedling loading surfaces 10d, 10e of the seedling tray 10.

[0162] In this case, as described above (Configuration related to the frame of the first seedling placing section of the seedling support device), the freely rotatable guide rotor 83 is disposed at a rear position relative to the drive rotor 66 of the seedling support device 50. A flat guide plate 84 is supported by a fulcrum shaft 82 and extends from the rear of the second seedling placing section 52 (seedling support device 50) toward the upper end of the seedling supplying device 60.

[0163] As a result, when the seedlings are supplied from the second seedling placement section 52 (seedling support device 50) to the seedling supplying device 60, the weight of the seedlings causes the guide plate 84 to be moved downward against the spring 13, and the seedlings are supported from below by the guide rotor 83 and guide plate 84 and smoothly guided to the seedling supplying device 60.

[0164] As described above in (Configuration of seedling support device), when the seedling support device 50 is set to the raised position A31, the angle between the seedling support device 50 and the seedling supply device 60 becomes large in side view, and the rear part of the seedling support device 50 and the upper part of the seedling supply device 60 are loosely connected. This allows the seedlings to be smoothly guided from the seedling support device 50 to the seedling supply device 60.

[0165] When a seedling is supplied from the second seedling placing section 52 of the seedling support device 50 to the seedling supply surface 62a of the second seedling supply section 62 of the seedling supply device 60, the seedling slides down under its own weight along the seedling supply surface 62a of the second seedling supply section 62 of the seedling supply device 60 toward the seedling placing surfaces 10d, 10e of the seedling tray 10.

[0166] In this case, in the seedling supplying device 60, the drive shaft 106 and the supply rotor 105 are rotated clockwise in Figure 1 at a relatively slow speed by the electric motor 107, so that, as described above, when the seedlings slide down along the seedling supply surface 62a of the second seedling supply section 62 of the seedling supplying device 60, the seedlings are received by the supply rotor 105 and supplied to the seedling supply surfaces 10d, 10e of the seedling tray 10 at a relatively slow speed as the supply rotor 105 rotates.

[0167] As described above in (Supply state of seedlings from seedling support device to seedling tray) (part 1), the seedlings are fed vertically by the vertical feed mechanism 44 in the seedling tray 10, and the seedlings on the seedling tray surfaces 10a-10h of the seedling tray 10 are in contact with the support rails 47. As a result, even if the seedlings fed from the second seedling feed section 62 of the seedling feed device 60 collide with the upper ends of the seedlings on the seedling tray surfaces 10d, 10e of the seedling tray 10, the impact is sufficiently received by the seedlings on the seedling tray surfaces 10d, 10e of the seedling tray 10.

[0168] (Seedlings being fed from the seedling support device to the seedling tray) (Part 3) Next, in the seedling support device 50, the right loading belt 85 of the first seedling loading section 51 and the left loading belt 85 of the third seedling loading section 53 are rotated and driven, and seedlings are supplied to the right seedling supply surface 61a of the first seedling supply section 61 and the left seedling supply surface 63a of the third seedling supply section 63 of the seedling supply device 60, and are supplied to the seedling loading surfaces 10c, 10f of the seedling tray 10.

[0169] Next, in the seedling support device 50, the central loading belt 85 of the first seedling loading section 51 and the central loading belt 85 of the third seedling loading section 53 are rotated and driven, and seedlings are supplied to the central seedling supply surface 61a of the first seedling supply section 61 and the central seedling supply surface 63a of the third seedling supply section 63 of the seedling supply device 60, and are supplied to the seedling loading surfaces 10b, 10g of the seedling tray 10.

[0170] Next, in the seedling support device 50, the left loading belt 85 of the first seedling loading section 51 and the right loading belt 85 of the third seedling loading section 53 are rotated and driven, and seedlings are supplied to the left seedling supply surface 61a of the first seedling supply section 61 and the right seedling supply surface 63a of the third seedling supply section 63 of the seedling supply device 60, and are supplied to the seedling loading surfaces 10a, 10h of the seedling tray 10.

[0171] In this case, as described above in (Seedling supply state from seedling support device to seedling tray) (Part 2), when the seedlings are supplied from the first seedling placing section 51 and the third seedling placing section 53 to the seedling supplying device 60, the seedlings are supported from below by the guide rotor 83 and the guide plate 84 and smoothly guided to the seedling supplying device 60.

[0172] In the seedling tray 10, the seedlings are fed vertically by the vertical feed mechanism 44, and the seedlings on the seedling loading surfaces 10a, 10b, 10c, 10f, 10g, and 10h of the seedling tray 10 are in contact with the support rails 47. Therefore, even if the seedlings supplied from the first seedling supply section 61 and the third seedling supply section 63 of the seedling supply device 60 collide with the upper ends of the seedlings on the seedling loading surfaces 10a, 10b, 10c, 10f, 10g, and 10h of the seedling tray 10, this impact is adequately absorbed by the seedlings on the seedling loading surfaces 10a, 10b, 10c, 10f, 10g, and 10h of the seedling tray 10.

[0173] (Configuration of the loading and lifting mechanism of the seedling support device) As shown in Figures 14, 19 and 20, a loading / lifting mechanism 119 is provided on the front link 110 described above (support structure of the first seedling loading section, the second seedling loading section and the third seedling loading section to the support frame in the seedling supporting device).

[0174] A semicircular operating gear 120 is connected to the front link 110, and the gear case 121 and the electric motor 122 are connected to the central support frame 35 described above (support frame structure for supporting the seedling support device on the machine frame structure), and the pinion gear 121a of the gear case 121 is engaged with the operating gear 120. As described above, the placement lifting mechanism 119 is provided with the operation gear 120, the gear case 121, and the electric motor 122.

[0175] The state shown in Figures 1, 2 and 19 is a state in which the second seedling placing section 52 in the seedling support device 50 is positioned at the second placing work position B21, as described above (support structure of the first seedling placing section, second seedling placing section and third seedling placing section to the support frame in the seedling support device).

[0176] In the loading and lifting mechanism 119, the pinion gear 121a of the gear case 121 is rotated by the electric motor 122, and the front link 110 is raised via the operating gear 120, and accordingly the rear link 111 is raised, and the second seedling loading section 52 is raised by the front link 110 and the rear link 111.

[0177] As shown in Figures 19 and 20, a contact portion 31a is provided on the front of the support frame 31, and when the front link 110 contacts the contact portion 31a of the support frame 31, the electric motor 122 stops and the front link 110 and the rear link 111 stop.

[0178] The state shown in FIG. 20 is a state in which the second seedling placing section 52 of the seedling support device 50 is located at the second placing / storing position B22, which is located at a higher position than the first seedling placing section 51 and the third seedling placing section 53.

[0179] When the second seedling placing section 52 is positioned at the second placing storage position B22, and the pinion gear 121a of the gear case 121 is rotated in the reverse direction by the electric motor 122, the front link 110 and the rear link 111 are lowered, and the second seedling placing section 52 is lowered to the second placing work position B21, as shown in Figure 19.

[0180] (Configuration of the lift transmission mechanism and lift interchange unit) As shown in Figures 19 and 20, a flat linking member 123, which is a lifting / lowering transmission mechanism, is supported on the upper part of the frame 25 described above (Frame structure for supporting seedling support device and seedling supply device) so as to be swingable about the axis P2. An arc-shaped long hole 123a, which is a lifting / lowering interchangeable part provided in the lifting / lowering transmission mechanism, is opened in the linking member 123.

[0181] A connecting rod 124, which is a lifting and lowering transmission mechanism, is connected between the rear link 111 and the connecting member 123 described above (support structure of the first seedling placing section, second seedling placing section and third seedling placing section to the support frame in the seedling support device).

[0182] A linking rod 125, which is a lifting and lowering transmission mechanism, is connected between the long hole 123a of the linking member 123 and the arm portion 115a of the upper link 115 described above (support structure for the first seedling supply section, second seedling supply section and third seedling supply section to the frame in the seedling supply device).

[0183] As shown in Figure 19, when the second seedling placing section 52 of the seedling support device 50 is located at the second placing work position B21 and the second seedling supply section 62 of the seedling supply device 60 is located at the second supply work position C21, when the seedling support device 50 is swung to the raised position A31 (see Figure 1) and the lowered position A32 (see Figure 24), the linking rod 124 is operated in the forward / backward direction in response to the swinging operation of the seedling support device 50, and the linking member 123 is swung.

[0184] Even if the linking member 123 is swung as described above, the long hole 123a of the linking member 123 merely swings up and down relative to the upper end of the linking rod 125, and the vertical swing of the seedling support device 50 is absorbed by the long hole 123a of the linking member 123. As a result, the vertical swing of the seedling support device 50 is not transmitted to the front link 15, and the second seedling supplying section 62 of the seedling supplying device 60 is maintained at the second supplying operation position C21.

[0185] (Lifting and lowering operation of the second seedling supply unit of the seedling supply device) As described above (Configuration of the loading and lifting mechanism of the seedling support device) and shown in Figures 19 and 20, when the second seedling loading section 52 of the seedling support device 50 is raised to the second loading and storage position B22, the raising operation of the rear link 111 by the electric motor 122 is transmitted to the linking member 123 via the linking rod 124, and the linking member 123 is swung significantly in the clockwise direction in Figures 19 and 20.

[0186] In this case, since the upward movement of the rear link 111 is large, whether the seedling support device 50 is set to the raised position A31 or the lowered position A32, the linking member 123 is swung clockwise in Figure 20 beyond the flexible range of the long hole 123a of the linking member 123, and the upper end of the linking rod 125 reaches the end of the long hole 123a of the linking member 123, and the linking rod 125 is operated upward.

[0187] The upper link 115 described above (support structure for the first seedling supply section, second seedling supply section and third seedling supply section on the frame in the seedling supply device) is raised by the connecting rod 125, and the lower link 116 is raised accordingly, and the second seedling supply section 62 is raised by the upper link 115 and the lower link 116.

[0188] As shown in Fig. 20, when the second seedling placing section 52 of the seedling support device 50 stops at the second placing storage position B22, the second seedling supply section 62 of the seedling supply device 60 also stops. This state is the state in which the second seedling supply section 62 is located at the second supply storage position C22 in the seedling supply device 60, where the second seedling supply section 62 is located at a higher position than the first seedling supply section 61.

[0189] As shown in Figure 19, in the seedling support device 50, when the second seedling placing section 52 is operated to lower from the second placing storage position B22 to the second placing work position B21, the lowering operation of the rear link 111 by the electric motor 122 is transmitted to the linking member 123 via the linking rod 124, and the linking member 123 is operated to swing significantly in the counterclockwise direction in Figure 19.

[0190] The linking member 123 is swung counterclockwise in FIG. 19 beyond the range of flexibility of the long hole 123a of the linking member 123, and the upper end of the linking rod 125 reaches the end of the long hole 123a of the linking member 123, and the linking rod 125 is operated downward.

[0191] The upper link 115 is lowered by the connecting rod 125, and the lower link 116 is lowered accordingly, and the second seedling supplying section 62 of the seedling supplying device 60 is lowered to the second supplying work position C21 by the upper link 115 and the lower link 116.

[0192] In this case, as described above (Configuration of the second seedling placing section and third seedling placing section of the seedling support device) and as shown in Figures 14, 15 and 16, in the second seedling placing section 52 of the seedling support device 50, the guide plate 84 is lifted upward by the spring 13, so that when the second seedling supply section 62 of the seedling supply device 60 is lowered to the second supply work position C21, there is no interference between the guide plate 84 and the second seedling supply section 62 of the seedling supply device 60.

[0193] (Configuration of the loading and moving mechanism of the seedling support device) As shown in Figures 6 and 21, the loading and moving mechanism 126 is provided across the left part of the support frame 31 described above (support frame structure for supporting the seedling support device on the body frame structure) and the horizontal frame 56 described above (configuration relating to the frame of the first seedling loading part of the seedling support device).

[0194] In the first seedling placing section 51 of the seedling support device 50, a flat connecting member 127 is connected to the horizontal frame 56 so as to straddle the placing belt 85 and to the left vertical frame 70, and a rack gear 128 is connected to the connecting member 127 along the left-right direction.

[0195] A flat support member 129 is connected to the left part of the support frame 31, and a guide roller 129a supported by the support member 129 so as to be freely rotatable is placed on the upper surface of the rack gear 128. A gear case 130 and an electric motor 131 are connected to the support member 129, and a pinion gear 130a of the gear case 130 meshes with the rack gear 128. As described above, the placement and movement mechanism 126 is provided with the linking member 127, the rack gear 128, the support member 129, the gear case 130, and the electric motor 131.

[0196] The state shown in Figures 2, 5 and 21 is a state in which the first seedling placing section 51 of the seedling support device 50 is positioned at the first placing work position B11, as described above (support structure of the first seedling placing section, second seedling placing section and third seedling placing section on the support frame in the seedling support device).

[0197] As described above (Configuration of the loading and lifting mechanism for the seedling support device) and as shown in Figure 20, when the second seedling loading section 52 is positioned at the second loading storage position B22, the pinion gear 130a of the gear case 130 is rotationally driven by the electric motor 131 in the loading and moving mechanism 126, whereby the first seedling loading section 51 is moved to the right via the rack gear 128 and the linking member 127, and stops at the position shown in Figure 25.

[0198] The state shown in Figures 24 and 25 is a state in which the seedling support device 50 has the first seedling placing section 51 positioned at the first placing and storage position B12, which is located below the second seedling placing section 52 positioned at the second placing and storage position B22.

[0199] When the first seedling placing section 51 is positioned at the first placing storage position B12, and the pinion gear 130a of the gear case 130 is rotated in the reverse direction by the electric motor 131, the first seedling placing section 51 is moved to the left via the rack gear 128 and the connecting member 127, and is moved to the first placing work position B11 shown in Figures 2, 5 and 21.

[0200] As described above (Configuration related to the frame of the first seedling placing part of the seedling support device) and as shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9, in the first seedling placing part 51, of the three electric motors 68, the central and left electric motors 68 are arranged facing forward so that they can be lifted upward. Therefore, even if the first seedling placing part 51 is moved left and right as described above, the central and left electric motors 68 do not interfere with the support frames 31, 33.

[0201] (Configuration of the mobility transmission mechanism and mobility accommodation unit) As shown in Figures 7, 22, and 23, two square pipe-shaped transmission arms 132, which are the movement transmission mechanism, are connected to the horizontal frame 81 described above (Configuration relating to the frame of the first seedling placing section of the seedling support device) and extend rearward.

[0202] Two flat transmission members 133, which are the movement transmission mechanism, are connected to the upper horizontal frame 104 described above (Configuration of the first seedling supply section, second seedling supply section and third seedling supply section of the seedling supply device), and a guide section 113 is positioned between the transmission members 133.

[0203] The right transmission arm 132 is in contact with the right side surface of the right transmission member 133, and the right transmission arm 132 and the right transmission member 133 are not connected to each other. The left transmission arm 132 is in contact with the left side surface of the left transmission member 133, and the left transmission arm 132 and the left transmission member 133 are not connected to each other.

[0204] As described above (Configuration of the loading and moving mechanism for the seedling support device) and as shown in Figures 20 and 24, when the second seedling loading section 52 of the seedling support device 50 is located at the second loading and storage position B22 and the second seedling supply section 62 of the seedling supply device 60 is located at the second supply and storage position C22, when the first seedling loading section 51 of the seedling support device 50 is moved to the first loading and storage position B12 (see Figure 25) by the loading and moving mechanism 126 shown in Figure 21, the left transmission arm 132 pushes the left transmission member 133 to the right.

[0205] As a result, the operation of the loading and moving mechanism 126 is transmitted to the guide sections 112, 113 via the left transmission arm 132, the left transmission member 133, the vertical frame 103 and the horizontal frame 104, and the first seedling supply section 61 of the seedling supply device 60 is moved to the first supply storage position C12 (see Figure 25).

[0206] When the first seedling placing section 51 of the seedling support device 50 is moved to the first placing operation position B11 by the placing / moving mechanism 126, the right transmission arm 132 pushes the right transmission member 133 leftward.

[0207] As a result, the operation of the loading and moving mechanism 126 is transmitted to the guide sections 112, 113 via the right transmission arm 132, the right transmission member 133, the vertical frame 103 and the horizontal frame 104, and the first seedling supply section 61 of the seedling supply device 60 is moved to the first supply work position C11 (see Figures 2 and 22).

[0208] Since the transmission arm 132 is in contact with the transmission member 133 and the transmission arm 132 and the transmission member 133 are not connected to each other, a movement accommodation portion 134 is provided between the transmission arm 132 and the transmission member 133 .

[0209] When the seedling support device 50 is swung to the raised position A31 (see FIG. 1) and the lowered position A32 (see FIG. 24), the transmission arm 132 moves up and down in accordance with the swinging operation of the seedling support device 50. In this case, the transmission arm 132 simply moves up and down while contacting the transmission member 133, and the vertical swinging of the seedling support device 50 is absorbed by the movement accommodation part 134. As a result, the vertical swinging of the seedling support device 50 is not transmitted to the guide parts 112, 113, and the first seedling supply part 61 of the seedling supply device 60 is maintained at the first supply work position C11 and the first supply storage position C12.

[0210] (Operations when transporting the rice transplanter on the truck bed or storing it in a warehouse, etc.) When the rice transplanter is transported on the truck bed or stored in a warehouse, etc., the operations described below are performed.

[0211] As shown in Figures 24 and 25, when the seedling tray 10 is not located at the supply position in the seedling planting device 5, the seedling planting device 5 is operated, and when the seedling tray 10 reaches the supply position, the seedling planting device 5 (seedling tray 10) is stopped. As described above (Configuration for changing the position of the seedling tray's seedling tray's seedling tray surface), the seedling tray surface 10a of the seedling tray 10 is changed to the storage position A12.

[0212] As described above (Configuration for changing the position of the support rail), the right portion 47b and the left portion 47c of the support rail 47 are separated from the central portion 47a of the support rail 47 and changed to a position facing diagonally downward and rearward.

[0213] Next, as described above in (Configuration of the seedling support device), the seedling support device 50 is set to the lowered position A32. As described above in (Operation for changing the position of the driven rotor of the first seedling placing section of the seedling support device), the driven shafts 86 of the first seedling placing section 51, the second seedling placing section 52 and the third seedling placing section 53 of the seedling support device 50 are changed to the relaxed position A22 (see Figures 12 and 13).

[0214] Next, as described above (Configuration of the placement and lifting mechanism of the seedling support device), the placement and lifting mechanism 119 is operated to lift the second seedling placement section 52 of the seedling support device 50 to the second placement and storage position B22. As described above (raising and lowering operation of the second seedling supplying section of the seedling supplying device), when the second seedling placing section 52 of the seedling support device 50 rises to the second placing storage position B22, the second seedling supplying section 62 of the seedling supplying device 60 rises accordingly to the second supply storage position C22.

[0215] In this case, as shown in Figures 19 and 20, the front link 110 and the rear link 111 swing forward, and the second seedling placing portion 52 of the seedling support device 50 rises to the second placing and storage position B22, so that the second seedling placing portion 52 of the seedling support device 50 moves slightly forward while rising. As the upper link 115 and the lower link 116 swing backward, the second seedling supplying section 62 of the seedling supplying device 60 rises to the second supply storage position C22, so that the second seedling supplying section 62 of the seedling supplying device 60 moves slightly backward while rising.

[0216] As a result, the second seedling placing section 52 of the seedling support device 50 and the second seedling supply section 62 of the seedling supply device 60 rise to the second placing storage position B22 and the second supply storage position C22 while moving away from each other in the front-to-back direction, so that there is no interference between the second seedling placing section 52 of the seedling support device 50 and the second seedling supply section 62 of the seedling supply device 60.

[0217] Next, as described above (Configuration of the loading and moving mechanism for the seedling support device) and as shown in Figs. 24 and 25, the loading and moving mechanism 126 is operated to move the first seedling loading section 51 of the seedling support device 50 to the first loading and storing position B12.

[0218] As described above (Configuration of the movement transmission mechanism and movement accommodation section), when the first seedling placing section 51 of the seedling support device 50 moves to the first placing storage position B12, the first seedling supply section 61 of the seedling supply device 60 moves accordingly to the first supply storage position C12.

[0219] As described above, the seedling tray 10 is stopped at the supply position, and the seedling tray surface 10a of the seedling tray 10 is shifted to the storage position A12. The right portion 47b and the left portion 47c of the support rail 47 are repositioned so that they face diagonally downward and rearward. The second seedling placing section 52 of the seedling supporting device 50 is raised to the second placing / storing position B22, and the second seedling supplying section 62 of the seedling supplying device 60 is raised to the second supply / storing position C22. The first seedling placing section 51 of the seedling support device 50 is moved to the first placing and storing position B12, and the first seedling supplying section 61 of the seedling supplying device 60 is moved to the first supply and storing position C12. In this state, the rice transplanter is loaded onto the bed of a truck for transportation or for storage in a warehouse or the like.

[0220] (First Alternative Embodiment of the Invention) When the number of seedlings on any of the seedling loading surfaces 10a to 10h of the seedling tray 10 becomes low, an operator of the operating unit 20 operates a lifting lever (not shown) to raise the seedling planting device 5 to its upper limit position via the link mechanism 3, and the seedling planting device 5 (link mechanism 3) may be configured to stop at a position where a gap is created between the upper end of the seedling tray 10 and the lower end (elastic material 118) of the seedling supplying device 60.

[0221] As mentioned above, the upper limit position of the seedling planting device 5, at which a gap occurs between the upper end of the seedling tray 10 and the lower end (elastic material 118) of the seedling supply device 60, is the supply height at which the upper end of the seedling tray 10 and the lower end (elastic material 118) of the seedling supply device 60 are close to each other. In this case, the supply height may be adjusted to a higher or lower level. The elastic member 118 at the lower end of the seedling supply device 60 may be eliminated.

[0222] (Second Alternative Embodiment of the Invention) When the number of seedlings on any of the seedling loading surfaces 10a to 10h of the seedling tray 10 becomes low, the operator of the operating unit 20 operates a lifting lever (not shown) and the seedling planting device 5 is raised by the link mechanism 3 and stopped at the upper limit position.The configuration may also be such that the operator can select in advance between the following first and second states.

[0223] The first state is a state in which the seedling planting device 5 (link mechanism 3) stops at a position where a gap is generated between the upper end of the seedling tray 10 and the lower end of the seedling supplying device 60 (elastic material 118). In this way, the upper limit position of the seedling planting device 5 where a gap occurs between the upper end of the seedling tray 10 and the lower end (elastic material 118) of the seedling supply device 60 is the supply height where the upper end of the seedling tray 10 and the lower end (elastic material 118) of the seedling supply device 60 are close to each other. In this case, the supply height may be configured to be adjustable.

[0224] The second state is a state in which the seedling planting device 5 (link mechanism 3) stops at a position where the upper end of the seedling tray 10 and the lower end of the seedling supplying device 60 (elastic material 118) come into contact with each other. In this way, the upper limit position of the seedling planting device 5, where the upper end of the seedling tray 10 and the lower end of the seedling supply device 60 (elastic material 118) come into contact, becomes the supply height, where the upper end of the seedling tray 10 and the lower end of the seedling supply device 60 (elastic material 118) are close to each other. In the above configuration, the elastic member 118 at the lower end of the seedling supplying device 60 may be eliminated.

[0225] (Third Alternative Embodiment of the Invention) The elastic member 118 may be provided at the upper end of the seedling platform 10 instead of at the lower end of the seedling supplying device 60 . The elastic material 118 may be provided at both the lower end of the seedling supplying device 60 and the upper end of the seedling platform 10 .

[0226] (Fourth Alternative Embodiment of the Invention) The rolling mechanism 75 may be eliminated and left and right springs 79 may be provided instead.

[0227] (Fifth Alternative Embodiment of the Invention) In supplying seedlings from the seedling support device 50 to the seedling tray 10, the seedlings may be supplied to seedling tray surfaces 10d, 10e of the seedling tray 10, then to seedling tray surfaces 10a, 10h of the seedling tray 10, then to seedling tray surfaces 10b, 10g of the seedling tray 10, and then to seedling tray surfaces 10c, 10f of the seedling tray 10.

[0228] The seedlings may be alternately supplied to the right seedling placing surfaces 10a, 10b, 10c and the left seedling placing surfaces 10f, 10g, 10h of the seedling tray 10 after the seedlings are supplied to the seedling placing surfaces 10d, 10e of the seedling tray 10.

[0229] (Sixth Alternative Embodiment of the Invention) In the suppression mechanism 98, instead of the metal wire 99, a flexible thin rope (not shown) made of synthetic resin may be used as the wire material. Instead of the operation roller 102, a thin and short round pipe may be used as the wire operation part, and the wire may be passed through the inside of the round pipe.

[0230] (Seventh Alternative Embodiment of the Invention) The restraining mechanism 98 may be formed by attaching a long, coiled spring member (not shown) across the right and left parts of the support frames 48, 49 of the seedling planting device 5 and the right and left parts of the frame 24 of the body 11. According to this configuration, when the seedling planting device 5 is lowered to the rice field surface, the spring-like member assumes a natural length (free length), allowing rolling of the seedling planting device 5. When the seedling planting device 5 is raised to the supply height, the spring-like member is compressed, suppressing rolling of the seedling planting device 5.

[0231] (Eighth Alternative Embodiment of the Invention) In the suppression unit 97 described above (configuration of rolling control of the seedling planting device) and shown in FIG. 4, the suppression unit 97 may be configured as a suppression mechanism 98 by improving the function of suppressing the rolling of the seedling planting device 5. According to this configuration, when the seedling planting device 5 is raised to the supply height, the left and right suppression sections 97 contact the rear of the link mechanism 3 from below, sufficiently suppressing rolling of the seedling planting device 5 and maintaining the seedling planting device 5 in a position parallel to the body 11 in the left-right direction.

[0232] In the above-described configuration, the left and right suppression parts 97 may be positioned at positions closer to both left and right ends of the support frame 43 from the positions shown in FIG. 4, and left and right arm parts (not shown) may be provided extending outward in the left-right direction from the rear of the link mechanism 3 to form a suppression mechanism 98. According to this configuration, when the seedling planting device 5 is raised to the supply height, the left and right suppression sections 97 contact the left and right arm sections of the link mechanism 3 from below, sufficiently suppressing rolling of the seedling planting device 5 and maintaining the seedling planting device 5 in a position parallel to the body 11 in the left-right direction.

[0233] (Ninth Alternative Embodiment of the Invention) The guide rotor 83 may be configured to be supported on the upper part of the seedling supplying device 60, between the rear of the seedling support device 50 and the upper part of the seedling supplying device 60, at a rear position relative to the driving rotor 66 (driven rotor 87) at the rear of the seedling support device 50. The guide rotor 83 may be configured to be supported by both the rear of the seedling support device 50 and the upper part of the seedling supply device 60, rearward of the driving rotor 66 (driven rotor 87) at the rear of the seedling support device 50, between the rear of the seedling support device 50 and the upper part of the seedling supply device 60.

[0234] (Tenth Alternative Embodiment of the Invention) In the seedling support device 50, the guide plate 84 may be configured not to be able to swing up and down, but to be connected to the rear part of the seedling support device 50 and to extend toward the upper end part of the seedling supplying device 60.

[0235] (Eleventh Alternative Embodiment of the Invention) In the seedling supplying device 60, a retractable stopper section (not shown) may be provided at the lower end of each of the first seedling supplying section 61, the second seedling supplying section 62 and the third seedling supplying section 63, and by extending and operating the stopper section, the seedlings in the first seedling supplying section 61, the second seedling supplying section 62 and the third seedling supplying section 63 are received by the stopper section, allowing the seedlings to be placed on the first seedling supplying section 61, the second seedling supplying section 62 and the third seedling supplying section 63. When supplying seedlings to the seedling tray 10, the seedlings placed on the seedling supply device 60 can be supplied to the seedling tray 10 by operating the stopper portion, and the seedlings placed on the seedling support device 50 can be supplied to the seedling tray 10 via the seedling supply device 60. [Industrial Applicability]

[0236] The present invention can be applied not only to 8-row planting ride-on rice transplanters, but also to 10-row planting ride-on rice transplanters and unmanned, automatically controlled rice transplanters. [Explanation of symbols]

[0237] 3 Link mechanism 5 Seedling planting device 10 Seedling tray 10a~10h Seedling surface 11 Aircraft 50 Seedling support device 60 Seedling feeding device 83 Guide Rotor 84 Information board 98 Inhibition mechanism 99 Wire 102 Operation roller (wire operation section) 118 Elastic material P1 axis center

Claims

1. A drivable vehicle, a link mechanism that extends rearward from the rear of the vehicle body and is supported on the vehicle body so as to be capable of being raised and lowered; A seedling planting device is provided with a seedling tray and is supported at the rear of the link mechanism so as to be capable of rolling around an axis along the front-rear direction; A seedling support device that is supported by the machine body so as to be located above the machine body and on which seedlings can be placed; A seedling supplying device is supported on the machine body so as to extend diagonally downward from the rear of the seedling support device toward the rear, and can supply the seedlings placed on the seedling support device to the seedling tray; A suppression mechanism capable of suppressing rolling of the seedling planting device is provided, When the seedling planting device is raised by the link mechanism to a supply height where the upper end of the seedling tray and the lower end of the seedling supplying device are close to each other, the suppression mechanism suppresses the rolling of the seedling planting device, allowing seedlings to be supplied to the seedling tray. When the seedling planting device is lowered to the rice paddy surface by the link mechanism, the suppression mechanism is released from the rolling of the seedling planting device, allowing the seedling planting device to roll. The suppression mechanism is provided with a right suppression mechanism connected across the right part of the seedling planting device and the right part of the body, and a left suppression mechanism connected across the left part of the seedling planting device and the left part of the body, The rice transplanter is provided with a wire operating unit that, as the seedling planting device is raised by the link mechanism, pushes upward a middle portion of the wire, generating tension in the wire to suppress rolling of the seedling planting device, and, as the seedling planting device is lowered by the link mechanism, slackens the wire to allow rolling of the seedling planting device.

2. The rice transplanter described in claim 1, wherein the supply height is set so that when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism, a gap is created between the upper end of the seedling stand and the lower end of the seedling supply device.

3. The rice transplanter described in claim 1, wherein the supply height is set so that when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism, the upper end of the seedling tray comes into contact with the lower end of the seedling supply device.

4. An elastic material is attached to at least one of the upper end of the seedling tray and the lower end of the seedling supply device, The rice transplanter according to claim 3, wherein an upper end of the seedling tray and a lower end of the seedling supplying device are in contact with each other via the elastic material.

5. a first state in which the supply height is set so that a gap is formed between an upper end of the seedling stand and a lower end of the seedling supply device when the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism; When the seedling planting device is raised to the supply height by the link mechanism, a second state is set in which the supply height is set so that the upper end of the seedling stand and the lower end of the seedling supply device come into contact with each other; The rice transplanter according to claim 1 , wherein the first state or the second state is selectable.

6. An elastic material is attached to at least one of the upper end of the seedling tray and the lower end of the seedling supply device, The rice transplanter according to claim 5, wherein in the second state, an upper end of the seedling tray and a lower end of the seedling supplying device are in contact with each other via the elastic material.

7. A rice transplanter as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, which is provided with a guide rotor that is supported between the rear of the seedling support device and the upper part of the seedling supply device so as to be freely rotatable around an axis along the left-right direction, and that supports the seedlings from the rear of the seedling support device from below while guiding them to the seedling supply device.

8. A rice transplanter as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a guide plate extending from the rear of the seedling support device toward the upper end of the seedling supply device and supporting the seedlings from the rear of the seedling support device from below while guiding them to the seedling supply device.

9. A rice transplanter as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the seedling support device supplies seedlings to the seedling loading surface on the left or right center side of the seedling loading table, and then supplies seedlings to the seedling loading surface on the right or left side of the seedling loading table.

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