Seedling transplanter

Abstract

To prevent right and left guide rollers and a suppression device from becoming a hindrance to a turning operation of a traveling vehicle body, in a walking-type seedling transplanter that is provided with the right and left guide rollers for guiding a traveling direction in the state of contact with a side surface of a ridge, and the suppression device for suppressing a ridge surface around planted seedlings.SOLUTION: A seedling transplanter comprises a feed mechanism 30 for feeding seedlings to a traveling vehicle body 1 traveling by front and rear wheels 11 and 12, a planting mechanism 40 for planting the seedlings in a ridge surface, and right and left guide rollers 310R and 310L for guiding a traveling direction along a ridge. During a turning operation of the traveling vehicle body 1, the seedling transplanter makes the right and left guide rollers 310R and 310L recede above the right and left sides of the traveling vehicle body 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a seedling transplanter for transplanting vegetable seedlings such as sweet potato seedlings into fields.

Background Art

[0002] There is known, in Patent Document 1, a sweet potato seedling transplanter that plants sweet potato seedlings on a field surface while traveling in a furrow with front wheels and rear wheels, and is provided with a vehicle height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the vehicle height from the field surface and a field guide device including left and right field guide rollers that guide the traveling direction along the field by contacting the side surface of the field.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The seedling transplanter shown in Patent Document 1 catches sweet potato seedlings conveyed to the lower side of the machine body by a seedling supply device with seedling planting claws that move in a circular motion, inserts them into the soil, and plants them in the field. On the front side of the machine body, there are provided left and right guide rollers that guide the traveling direction of the traveling vehicle body along the field while rotating in contact with the side surface of the field, and on the rear side of the machine body, there is provided a pressing device that presses and levels the seedling planting trace with a roller.

[0005] When turning the above-mentioned seedling transplanter, first raise the vehicle height to the maximum or as close to the maximum as possible. The operator presses down on the steering handle at the rear of the traveling vehicle body to lift the front wheels into a forward-rising inclined posture, and swings the traveling vehicle body left and right with the rear wheels as the fulcrum. At this time, if the left and right guide rollers and the pressing device are in the same position as during operation, they will contact the ridge and prevent the traveling vehicle body from swinging left and right. Therefore, a retracting wire for rotating the support arms of the left and right guide rollers forward and upward of the machine body is connected to the rod side of the lifting cylinder that moves the traveling vehicle body up and down, and a fixed hook for restricting descent is provided on the pressing device.

[0006] However, if the left and right guide rollers protrude forward of the machine body, there is a risk of contacting the ridges or walls in front and being damaged. In addition, since the pressing device at the rear of the machine body is near the operator's feet, there is a problem that it becomes difficult to perform the turning operation because the operator's standing position is away from the traveling vehicle body.

[0007] The present invention is a walking-type seedling transplanter provided with left and right guide rollers that contact the side surface of the ridge to guide the traveling direction and a pressing device that suppresses the ridge surface around the planted seedlings, and aims to prevent the left and right guide rollers and the pressing device from getting in the way during the turning operation of the traveling vehicle body.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The problems of the present invention described above are solved by the following technical means.

[0009] In a transplanter comprising a traveling vehicle body (1) that travels on front wheels (11) and rear wheels (12), a supply mechanism (30) that supplies seedlings, a planting mechanism (40) that plants the seedlings on a ridge surface, and left and right guide rollers (310L, 310R) that guide the traveling direction along the ridge, when the traveling vehicle body (1) is turned, the left and right guide rollers (310L, 310R) are retracted above the left and right sides of the traveling vehicle body (1), a second mounting arm (22) that pivotally supports the left and right guide rollers (310L, 310R) is provided at the tip of a first mounting arm (21) that is pivotally supported by the traveling vehicle body (1) so as to be bendable and elastically biased to extend. When the first mounting arm (21) is rotated upward during a turning operation, the second mounting arm (22) is bent toward the first mounting arm (21) side, left and right pressing wheels (410L, 410R) are provided suspended by buffer springs (48) at the lower part of the steering handle frame (10), and a pressing retraction wire (49) is provided to pull up the left and right pressing wheels (410L, 410R) together with the left and right guide rollers (310L, 310R) during a turning operation, a pressing frame (45) extending rearward from the traveling vehicle body (1) is suspended from the steering handle frame (10) by a buffer spring (48) so that the pressing force of the left and right pressing wheels (410L, 410R) can be adjusted. The buffer spring (48) is pulled by the pressing retraction wire (49) to pull up the left and right pressing wheels (410L, 410R) from the ridge surface during a turning operation. A transplanter characterized by having such a configuration. The first invention related to the present invention In a transplanter that includes a supply mechanism (30) for supplying seedlings to a traveling vehicle body (1) that travels on front wheels (11) and rear wheels (12), a planting mechanism (40) for planting the seedlings on a ridge surface, and left and right guide rollers (310L, 310R) for guiding the traveling direction along the ridge, the transplanter is characterized in that the left and right guide rollers (310L, 310R) are retracted above the left and right sides of the traveling vehicle body (1) during a turning operation of the traveling vehicle body (1).

[0010] The second invention related to the present invention The second mounting arm (22) that pivotally supports the left and right guide rollers (310L, 310R) is provided at the tip of the first mounting arm (21) that is pivotally supported by the traveling vehicle body (1) so as to be bendable and elastically biased for extension. During a turning operation, the first mounting arm (21) is rotated upward and the second mounting arm (22) is bent toward the first mounting arm (21). The first invention related to the present invention It is a transplanter as described above.

[0011] The third invention related to the present invention The left and right pressing wheels (410L, 410R) are provided by suspending them with buffer springs (48) below the lower part of the steering handle frame (10), and a pressing retraction wire (49) for pulling up the left and right pressing wheels (410L, 410R) together with the left and right guide rollers (310L, 310R) during a turning operation is provided. The first invention related to the present invention It is a transplanter as described above.

[0012] The fourth invention related to the present invention The main retraction wire (15) attached to the rod tip side of the lifting cylinder (110) for raising and lowering the traveling vehicle body (1) is branched and connected to the guide retraction wire (26) and the pressing retraction wire (49). The first invention related to the present invention It is a transplanter as described above.

[0013] The fifth invention related to the present invention A watering nozzle (41a) is provided in the planting mechanism (40), water is supplied from a water supply tank provided in the traveling vehicle body (1) to the watering nozzle (41a) via a water supply pipe (42), and the inner diameter of the water supply pipe (42) is made smaller than the injection diameter of the watering nozzle (41a). Any one of the first to fourth inventions related to the present invention It is a transplanter as described above.

Advantages of the Invention

[0014] In the present invention, when the traveling vehicle body (1) is turned, the left and right guide rollers (310L, 310R) retract to the upper left and right of the traveling vehicle body (1), so that the left and right guide rollers (310L, 310R) can be largely separated from the side and surface of the ridge. Therefore, without becoming a resistance to turning and without being greatly separated from the traveling vehicle body (1), it is prevented from coming into contact with the surroundings and being damaged. And in the present invention, in addition to the above-described effects, the second mounting arm (22) that pivotally supports the left and right guide rollers (310L, 310R) is folded toward the first mounting arm (21) side, and the first mounting arm (21) rotates upward, so that the left and right guide rollers (310L, 310R) avoid upward without protruding at the left and right sides of the traveling vehicle body (1), and the left and right guide rollers (310L, 310R) do not get in the way during turning. The first invention related to the present invention When the turning operation of the traveling vehicle body (1) is performed, the left and right guide rollers (310L, 310R) retract to the upper left and right of the traveling vehicle body (1), so that the left and right guide rollers (310L, 310R) can be greatly separated from the ridge side surface and the ridge surface. Therefore, without becoming a resistance to turning and without being greatly separated from the traveling vehicle body (1), it is prevented from coming into contact with the surroundings and being damaged.

[0015] The second invention related to the present invention and The first invention related to the present invention In addition to the effect of, the second mounting arm (22) that pivotally supports the left and right guide rollers (310L, 310R) is folded toward the first mounting arm (21) side, and the first mounting arm (21) rotates upward, so that the left and right guide rollers (310L, 310R) avoid upward without protruding at the left and right sides of the traveling vehicle body (1), and the left and right guide rollers (310L, 310R) do not get in the way during turning.

[0016] Also, since the second mounting arm (22) that pivotally supports the left and right guide rollers (310L, 310R) is elastically extended at the tip of the first mounting arm (21), even if the left and right guide rollers (310L, 310R) strongly hit the ridge during transplanting travel, they can be released to the outside of the machine body, and damage is prevented.

[0017] The third invention related to the present invention and The first invention related to the present invention In addition to the effect of, when the turning operation is performed, the rear part of the steering handle frame (10) is pushed down. At this time, since the pressure relief retraction wire (49) pulls up the left and right pressure wheels (410L, 410R), the steering handle frame (10) can be easily pushed down. Since the left and right pressure wheels (410L, 410R) are floating, they do not hit the ridge during turning, and turning can be easily performed.

[0018] The fourth invention related to the present invention and The first invention related to the present invention In addition to the effects, when the rod of the lifting cylinder (110) extends and the traveling vehicle body (1) is pushed up, the main retraction wire (15) is pulled. At the same time, the guide retraction wire (26) and the suppression retraction wire (49) are pulled, causing the left and right guide rollers (310L, 310R) to move upward to the left and right, and the left and right suppression wheels (410L, 410R) to be pulled up. Thus, turning becomes easy with only the extension of the lifting cylinder (110) with a simple configuration.

[0019] The fifth invention related to the present invention and Any one of the first to fourth inventions related to the present invention In addition to the effects, by supplying water to the ridges simultaneously with the transplantation of vegetable seedlings, the survival of the seedlings is improved. However, the water sent from the water supply tank through the water supply pipe (42) to the irrigation nozzle (41a) blows out from the injection port of the irrigation nozzle (41a) that is smaller than the inner diameter of the pipe, and thus sprays out powerfully and can be surely irrigated without clogging even in the soil.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0022] The same applies hereinafter, but some components may not be shown in the drawings, or may be shown perspectively or omitted.

[0023] The transplanted seedlings of the vegetable seedling transplanter in this embodiment are sweet potato seedlings, but they may also be onion seedlings.

[0024] First, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the configuration and operation of the sweet potato seedling transplanter as a vegetable seedling transplanter will be specifically described.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a left side view of the sweet potato seedling transplanter, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sweet potato seedling transplanter.

[0026] The sweet potato seedling transplanter is a transplanter that plants sweet potato seedlings in a field while traveling with a traveling vehicle body 1 using front wheels 11 and rear wheels 12.

[0027] The sweet potato seedlings supplied from the supply mechanism 30 are successively planted in the field by the planting mechanism 40 as the vehicle travels according to the operation of the operation mechanism 20 provided at the rear of the operation handle frame 10.

[0028] The vehicle height adjustment mechanism 100 is a mechanism that adjusts the vehicle height from the field surface F by raising and lowering the traveling vehicle body 1 by the expansion and contraction of the lifting cylinder 110.

[0029] The field surface contact device 200 includes a ridge guide device 300 and a pressing device 400.

[0030] The ridge guide device 300 guides the travel along the ridge where sweet potato seedlings are planted by contacting the side surface of the ridge, and has a left guide roller (left ridge guide roller) 310L that contacts the left ridge side surface and a right guide roller (right ridge guide roller) 310R that contacts the right ridge side surface.

[0031] The compaction device 400 has a left compaction wheel 410L that presses and compacts the soil around the planted sweet potato seedlings by contacting the upper surface of the ridge, and a right compaction wheel 410R that presses the right side of the planted seedlings.

[0032] The left compaction wheel 410L and the right compaction wheel 410R are suspended by a lifting rod 46 at the rear of a compaction frame 45 that extends rearward from the traveling vehicle body and is pivotally supported at the lower part of the steering handle frame 10, and the height can be adjusted by turning the lifting rod 46 with a lifting handle 47. Further, the compaction frame 45 is suspended from the steering handle frame 10 by a buffer spring (tension spring) 48 to adjust the compaction force of the left and right compaction wheels 410L, 410R, and the tension spring 48 is pulled by a compaction retraction wire 49 to lift the left and right compaction wheels 410L, 410R from the ridge surface during the turning operation.

[0033] The guidance of the travel along the ridge by the left ridge guide roller 310L and the right ridge guide roller 310R realizes stable travel, and the soil around the transplanted plants planted by the left compaction wheel 410L and the right compaction wheel 410R is pressed to stabilize the planting.

[0034] The ridge guide roller retraction mechanism 500 is a mechanism for retracting the left ridge guide roller 310L and the right ridge guide roller 310R.

[0035] The compaction wheel retraction mechanism 600 is a mechanism for retracting the left compaction wheel 410L and the right compaction wheel 410R.

[0036] When the vehicle height is adjusted to the maximum vehicle height, the left ridge guide roller 310L and the right ridge guide roller 310R are rotated so as to move away from the ridge side surface in the left - right direction of the vehicle body, thereby retracting from the ridge. The left compaction wheel 410L and the right compaction wheel 410R are rotated so as to move away from each other in the left - right direction of the vehicle body and are further lifted upward, thereby retracting from the ridge surface.

[0037] When the vehicle height is adjusted to approximately the maximum vehicle height for turning travel by the operation of the vehicle height adjustment mechanism 100, the left ridge guide roller 310L and the right ridge guide roller 310R of the ridge guide device 300 on the front side of the vehicle body are pulled by the guide retraction wire 26, and the left compaction wheel 410L and the right compaction wheel 410R of the compaction device 400 on the rear side of the vehicle body are pulled by the compaction retraction wire 49, thereby retracting upward.

[0038] When the retreat of the field - surface contact members is performed in the front - rear direction of the vehicle body, the left ridge guide roller 310L and the right ridge guide roller 310R that protrude forward are likely to be damaged due to contact with walls or ridges, etc., and the left compaction wheel 410L and the right compaction wheel 410R that protrude rearward are likely to reduce the planting work efficiency due to contact with walking operators. However, since the rotation of the field - surface contact members in this embodiment is performed in the left - right direction of the vehicle body, the left ridge guide roller 310L and the right ridge guide roller 310R are less likely to be damaged, and the left compaction wheel 410L and the right compaction wheel 410R are lifted upward, so they do not hit the operator's feet and are less likely to reduce the planting work efficiency.

[0039] Next, with reference mainly to FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), the configuration and operation of the compaction device 400 will be described more specifically.

[0040] Here, FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are schematic partial rear views in the vicinity of the left compaction wheel 410L and the right compaction wheel 410R.

[0041] In Fig. 3(a), the left compaction wheel 410L and the right compaction wheel 410R are shown in a state of being retracted from the field surface F by being rotated, and in Fig. 3(b), a state where the left compaction wheel 410L and the right compaction wheel 410R are in contact with the field surface F is shown.

[0042] The field surface contact device 200 has a compaction wheel interlocking member 420 that interlocks and rotates the other when one of the left compaction wheel 410L and the right compaction wheel 410R is rotated.

[0043] The compaction wheel interlocking member 420 has a rotatable gear-shaped left compaction wheel interlocking plate 421L and a right compaction wheel interlocking plate 421R, and the pair of left compaction wheel interlocking plates 421L and right compaction wheel interlocking plates 421R are meshed and provided to the left compaction wheel 410L and the right compaction wheel 410R respectively. At least one of the left compaction wheel interlocking plate 421L and the right compaction wheel interlocking plate 421R.

[0044] The field surface contact device 200 has a compaction wheel biasing member 430 that biases the left compaction wheel 410L and the right compaction wheel 410R so that the left compaction wheel 410L and the right compaction wheel 410R approach each other in the vehicle body left-right direction.

[0045] For example, the compaction wheel biasing member 430 is a spring, and locking pins for bridging both ends of the spring are provided to the left compaction wheel interlocking plate 421L and the right compaction wheel interlocking plate 421R. The left compaction wheel 410L and the right compaction wheel 410R are always pulled back so as to contact the ridge by the spring biasing force in the direction in which the left compaction wheel interlocking plate 421L and the right compaction wheel interlocking plate 421R attract each other. Even if the left compaction wheel interlocking plate 421L and the right compaction wheel interlocking plate 421R rotate unintentionally during the planting operation due to a load or the like associated with contact with the ridge, the left compaction wheel 410L and the right compaction wheel 410R are unlikely to remain in a retracted position away from the ridge.

[0046] When the traveling body 1 is lifted by the lifting cylinder 110 to turn the traveling body 1, the pressing frame 45 provided with the pressing device 400 is pulled by the pressing retracting wire 49 and rises greatly. Therefore, even if the traveling body 1 is swung left and right with the left and right rear wheels 12, 12 as fulcrums, the pressing device 400 does not contact the ridge surface, and it can be easily turned.

[0047] FIG. 4 shows a turning retracting configuration of the ridge guiding device 300. A second mounting arm 22 that pivotally supports the left ridge guiding roller 310L with a pivot shaft 25 is attached to the tip of the first mounting arm 21 of the left ridge guiding roller 310L in a state of being extended and biased by a hinge 23 and a tension spring 24. When a guide retracting wire 26 attached to the second mounting arm 22 is pulled, the first mounting arm 21 rotates upward and the second mounting arm 22 bends, and the left ridge guiding roller 310L approaches and retracts upward on the left side of the traveling body 1.

[0048] The mounting configuration of the right ridge guiding roller 310R is the same as that of the left ridge guiding roller 310L.

[0049] Therefore, when transplanting seedlings with the transplanter, the left and right ridge guiding rollers 310L and 310R are in contact with the side surface of the ridge while guiding the traveling direction of the traveling body 1 along the ridge. However, since the second mounting arm 22 is biased by the tension spring 24 with respect to the first mounting arm 21, it escapes upward when trying to forcibly swing the traveling body 1, preventing damage. During turning, it is pulled by the guide retracting wire 26 and the left and right ridge guiding rollers 310L and 310R are released to the upper left and right, so they do not hit the ridge and get in the way.

[0050] FIG. 5 shows the connection of the main retracting wire 15, the guide retracting wire 26, and the pressing retracting wire 49 connected to the rod tip side of the lifting cylinder 110. The main retracting wire 15 branches and connects to the guide retracting wire 26 and the pressing retracting wire 49 via an elastic coupler 16.

[0051] Fig. 6(a) shows the irrigation structure of the planting mechanism 40. A water supply pipe 42 is connected to the transplanting claws 41 that hold the transplanted seedlings, and water is ejected from the irrigation nozzles 41a provided on the transplanting claws 41. By making the diameter of the irrigation nozzles 41a smaller than the inner diameter of the water supply pipe 42, the water jets out powerfully and does not get clogged even in the soil.

[0052] Fig. 7 shows that a check valve 43 is provided in the middle of the water supply pipe 42 to prevent water from flowing back from the transplanting claw 41 side. The check valve 43 is wrapped with a connecting pipe 44.

[0053] Fig. 8 shows that a replenishment pipe 52 from the water tank, a pressurizing pipe 53 from the pump, and a small-diameter water supply pipe 42 leading to the irrigation nozzles 41a are connected by a special-shaped three-way valve 51.

Explanation of Signs

[0054] 1 Traveling vehicle body 10 Steering handle frame 11 Front wheels 12 Rear wheels 15 Main retracting wire 21 First mounting arm 22 Second mounting arm 26 Guide retracting wire 30 Supply mechanism 40 Planting mechanism 41a Irrigation nozzle 42 Water supply pipe 48 Buffer spring 49 Compaction retracting wire 110 Lifting cylinder 310L Left guide roller 310R Right guide roller 410L Left compaction wheel 410R Right compaction wheel

Claims

【Claim 1】 In a seedling transplanter comprising a traveling vehicle body (1) that travels on front wheels (11) and rear wheels (12), a supply mechanism (30) that supplies seedlings, a planting mechanism (40) that plants the seedlings on a field surface, and left and right guide rollers (310L, 310R) that guide the traveling direction along the field, when the traveling vehicle body (1) is turned, the left and right guide rollers (310L, 310R) are retracted above the left and right of the traveling vehicle body (1), a second mounting arm (22) that pivotally supports the left and right guide rollers (310L, 310R) is provided at the tip of a first mounting arm (21) that is pivotally supported by the traveling vehicle body (1) so as to be bendable and elastically biased to extend. When the first mounting arm (21) is rotated upward during the turning operation, the second mounting arm (22) is bent toward the first mounting arm (21), left and right compressing wheels (410L, 410R) are suspended by buffer springs (48) at the lower part of the steering handle frame (10), and a compressing retraction wire (49) is provided to pull up the left and right compressing wheels (410L, 410R) together with the left and right guide rollers (310L, 310R) during the turning operation, a compressing frame (45) extending rearward from the traveling vehicle body (1) is suspended from the steering handle frame (10) by a buffer spring (48) so that the compressing force of the left and right compressing wheels (410L, 410R) can be adjusted. The buffer spring (48) is pulled by the compressing retraction wire (49) to pull up the left and right compressing wheels (410L, 410R) from the field surface during the turning operation. A seedling transplanter characterized by such a configuration.

Images