Riding rice transplanter

Abstract

To provide a spare seedling-carrying platform which easily places roll-shaped seedlings in a riding rice transplanter.SOLUTION: A riding rice transplanter includes: a support frame provided at a front part of a machine body; and a spare seedling-carrying platform supported by the support frame. The spare seedling-carrying platform 11 has: a right frame 21 supported along a back and forth direction; a left frame 21 supported along the back and forth direction; and a plurality of supporting rollers 31 rotatably supported by the right frame 21 and the left frame 21 around a shaft core P1 along a left and right direction. The support rollers 31 are arranged side by side along the back and forth direction, and are supported by the right frame 21 and the left frame 21 with gaps from each other in the back and forth direction so that gaps C1 are formed between the adjacent support rollers 31.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a riding rice transplanter having a seedling stand for spare seedlings provided at the front of the machine body.

Background Art

[0002] In the riding rice transplanter disclosed in Patent Document 1, on the seedling stand for spare seedlings provided at the front of the machine body, a flat seedling placement part and a plurality of rollers are provided. A mat-shaped seedling is placed on the seedling placement part, and the forward and backward movement of the seedling on the seedling placement part is assisted by the rollers.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In Patent Document 1, it is assumed that a mat-shaped seedling is spread out flat and placed. On the other hand, there is an increasing demand to roll up the mat-shaped seedling and place a large number of rolled seedlings on the seedling stand for spare seedlings. An object of the present invention is to obtain a seedling stand for spare seedlings in a riding rice transplanter that is easy to place rolled seedlings.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The rice transplanter of the present invention is provided with a support frame provided at the front part of the machine body and a seedling stand for spare seedlings supported by the support frame. The seedling stand for spare seedlings has a right frame supported along the front-rear direction, a left frame supported along the front-rear direction, and a plurality of support rollers supported across the right frame and the left frame so as to be rotatable around an axis along the left-right direction. The support rollers are arranged side by side along the front-rear direction and are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction so that a gap is formed between adjacent support rollers, and are supported by the right frame and the left frame. Among the plurality of the gaps, the length of the gap located at the forefront in the front-rear direction is set to be longer than the length of the gap located behind the gap located at the forefront in the front-rear direction.

[0006] According to the present invention, if a roll-shaped seedling is placed so as to fall, for example, between adjacent support rollers, the roll-shaped seedling is positioned by the right and left frames and adjacent support rollers and is stably supported on the seedling stand for spare seedlings without rolling. Since there are many support rollers on the seedling stand for spare seedlings, a large number of roll-shaped seedlings can be placed on the seedling stand for spare seedlings.

[0007] According to the present invention, when moving roll-shaped or mat-shaped seedlings in the front-rear direction on the seedling stand for spare seedlings, since the support rollers rotate around an axis along the left-right direction, the movement of the seedlings in the front-rear direction can be easily performed. According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a seedling stand for spare seedlings on which a large number of roll-shaped seedlings can be stably placed and the movement of the seedlings in the front-rear direction can also be easily performed, thereby improving the workability of the rice transplanter.

[0008] In the present invention, it is preferable that the length of the gap in the front-rear direction is set to be larger than the outer diameter of the support roller.

[0009] According to the present invention, the length of the gap in the front-rear direction becomes relatively long, and a roll-shaped seedling can, for example, sufficiently enter between adjacent support rollers, so that the roll-shaped seedling can be stably supported.

[0010] In the present invention, it is preferable that the upper end portion of the support roller is positioned below the upper end portions of the right frame and the left frame.

[0011] According to the present invention, when a roll-shaped seedling is placed so as to be dropped, for example, between adjacent support rollers, the right and left frames are likely to come into contact with the roll-shaped seedling, and it becomes easier to position the roll-shaped seedling by the right and left frames, so that the roll-shaped seedling can be stably supported.

[0012] In the present invention, it is preferable that the right frame and the left frame are supported by the support frame.

[0013] As described above, when a large number of roll-shaped seedlings are placed on the preliminary seedling stand, the weight of the seedlings applied to the preliminary seedling stand becomes large. According to the present invention, in the preliminary seedling stand, since the right frame and the left frame are supported by the support frame, the weight of the seedlings can be supported without difficulty.

[0014] In the present invention, it is preferable that another second preliminary seedling stand is supported on at least one of the front portion and the rear portion of the first preliminary seedling stand supported by the support frame so as to be extendable in a continuous manner with the first preliminary seedling stand and so as to be capable of changing its posture between a working posture and a storage posture folded upward from the first preliminary seedling stand.

[0015] According to the present invention, by operating the second preliminary seedling stand to the working posture, the first and second preliminary seedling stands are in a continuous state, so that a large number of roll-shaped seedlings can be placed on the first and second preliminary seedling stands. When seedlings are not placed on the second preliminary seedling stand, by operating the second preliminary seedling stand to the storage posture, it becomes less likely that the second preliminary seedling stand will interfere with the work. This is advantageous in terms of improving the workability of the riding rice transplanter.

[0016] In this case, the storage posture in which the second seedling stand for spare seedlings is folded upward means that the angle between the first and second seedling stands for spare seedlings is a predetermined angle (for example, an angle of around 90 degrees), and the whole of the second seedling stand for spare seedlings is not stacked on the first seedling stand for spare seedlings, and includes a posture in which the second seedling stand for spare seedlings faces upward from the first seedling stand for spare seedlings, and also includes a posture in which the whole of the second seedling stand for spare seedlings is stacked above the first seedling stand for spare seedlings.

[0017] In the present invention, it is preferable that the first seedling stand for spare seedlings is set in a forward-rising posture in which the front part of the first seedling stand for spare seedlings is higher than the rear part thereof with respect to the machine body, and the second seedling stand for spare seedlings is set in a forward-rising posture in which the front part of the second seedling stand for spare seedlings is higher than the rear part thereof with respect to the machine body in a state where it is operated in the working posture.

[0018] According to the present invention, when seedlings are placed on the first seedling stand for spare seedlings and the second seedling stand for spare seedlings operated in the working posture, it becomes difficult for the seedlings to move forward, and it is less likely that the seedlings will fall from the front part of the seedling stand for spare seedlings to the field, which is advantageous in terms of improving the workability of the riding rice transplanter.

[0019] In the present invention, a first contact portion provided at the front and rear ends in the front-rear direction of the right frame and the left frame of the first seedling stand for spare seedlings, and a second contact portion provided at the front and rear ends in the front-rear direction of the right frame and the left frame of the second seedling stand for spare seedlings are provided. The front and rear ends in the front-rear direction of the right frame and the left frame of the first seedling stand for spare seedlings and the front and rear ends in the front-rear direction of the right frame and the left frame of the second seedling stand for spare seedlings are swingably connected around a support axis along the left-right direction, whereby the second seedling stand for spare seedlings can be changed in posture between the working posture and the storage posture, and it is preferable that the second seedling stand for spare seedlings is set in the working posture when the first contact portion and the second contact portion come into contact with each other.

[0020] According to the present invention, the front and rear ends of the right and left frames on the first pre-seedling stand and the front and rear ends of the right and left frames on the second pre-seedling stand are swingably connected around a support axis along the left-right direction. In a state where the second pre-seedling stand is operated to the working posture, the first contact portion provided on the first pre-seedling stand and the second contact portion provided on the second pre-seedling stand abut against each other, whereby the second pre-seedling stand is maintained in the working posture.

[0021] According to the present invention, with the right and left frames of the first and second pre-seedling stands, the first contact portion and the second contact portion, a configuration can be obtained in which the second pre-seedling stand is supported so that its posture can be changed between the working posture and the storage posture, which is advantageous in terms of simplification of the structure. According to the present invention, in the first and second pre-seedling stands, since the first contact portion and the second contact portion are provided on the right and left frames, the first contact portion and the second contact portion do not interfere with moving the seedlings across the first and second pre-seedling stands.

[0022] In the present invention, a first horizontal frame connected along the left-right direction across the front and rear ends of the right and left frames on the first pre-seedling stand, and a second horizontal frame connected along the left-right direction across the front and rear ends of the right and left frames on the second pre-seedling stand are provided. When the second pre-seedling stand is about to be displaced downward from the working posture in a state where the second pre-seedling stand is set to the working posture by the abutment of the first contact portion and the second contact portion, it is preferable that the downward displacement of the second pre-seedling stand is stopped by the abutment of the first horizontal frame and the second horizontal frame.

[0023] As described above, when the second spare seedling stand is supported so as to be posture-changeable between the working posture and the storage posture, the second spare seedling stand is supported by the first spare seedling stand in a cantilever manner, and the second spare seedling stand is set to the working posture by the contact between the first contact portion and the second contact portion. Thus, when a large number of roll-shaped seedlings are placed on the second spare seedling stand in the working posture, the second spare seedling stand may be displaced downward from the working posture due to the weight of the seedlings.

[0024] According to the present invention, in the first spare seedling stand, the first horizontal frame is connected across the right and left frames, and in the second spare seedling stand, the second horizontal frame is connected across the right and left frames. As described above, when the second spare seedling stand tends to be displaced downward from the working posture due to the weight of the seedlings, in addition to the contact between the first contact portion and the second contact portion, the downward displacement of the second spare seedling stand is stopped by the contact between the first horizontal frame and the second horizontal frame.

[0025] According to the present invention, the first contact portion and the second contact portion, the first horizontal frame and the second horizontal frame can sufficiently support the weight of the seedlings applied to the second spare seedling stand, and the support strength of the second spare seedling stand can be improved. By connecting the first horizontal frame across the right and left frames, the strength of the first spare seedling stand can be improved, and by connecting the second horizontal frame across the right and left frames, the strength of the second spare seedling stand can be improved.

[0026] In the present invention, when the second spare seedling stand tends to be displaced downward from the working posture, it is preferable that the first horizontal frame and the second horizontal frame contact each other along the left-right direction of the first horizontal frame and the second horizontal frame.

[0027] According to the present invention, the first horizontal frame and the second horizontal frame are connected along the left - right direction across the right and left frames. As a result, the first horizontal frame and the second horizontal frame abut along the left - right direction which is their longitudinal direction, and they abut over a relatively long range. Since the first horizontal frame and the second horizontal frame abut over a relatively long range along their longitudinal direction, the weight of the seedlings placed on the second seedling stand can be sufficiently supported, which is advantageous in terms of improving the support strength of the second seedling stand.

[0028] In the present invention, it is preferable that the working posture is set to an upward posture with respect to an imaginary line extending in the front - rear direction along the first seedling stand in a side view when no seedlings are placed on the second seedling stand.

[0029] As described above, when the second seedling stand is supported so as to be capable of changing its posture between the working posture and the storage posture, the second seedling stand is supported by the first seedling stand in a cantilever - like manner. By the abutment between the first contact portion and the second contact portion, the second seedling stand is set to the working posture. Thus, when a large number of roll - shaped seedlings are placed on the second seedling stand in the working posture, due to the weight of the seedlings, the second seedling stand may tend to be displaced downward from the working posture.

[0030] According to the present invention, when no seedlings are placed on the second seedling stand, the working posture of the second seedling stand is set to an upward posture with respect to an imaginary line extending in the front - rear direction along the first seedling stand. Thereby, as described above, even if the second seedling stand is displaced downward from the working posture due to the weight of the seedlings, the posture of the second seedling stand can be kept to a level near the aforementioned imaginary line.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0031]

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Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0032] In FIGS. 1 to 24, a riding rice transplanter equipped with stands for preliminary seedlings is shown. In FIGS. 1 to 24, F indicates the forward direction, B indicates the rearward direction, U indicates the upward direction, D indicates the downward direction, R indicates the rightward direction, and L indicates the leftward direction.

[0033] (Overall Configuration of the Riding Rice Transplanter) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the machine body 3 is supported by the right and left front wheels 1 and the right and left rear wheels 2, and a seedling planting device 4 for planting seedlings on the paddy field is supported at the rear part of the machine body 3 so as to be capable of lifting and lowering operations.

[0034] A floor 5 is provided on the machine body 3, a step 6 is provided at the rear part of the machine body 3 so as to be arranged at a position higher than the floor 5, and a driver's seat 7 is provided at the front part of the step 6. A fertilizer application device 8 for supplying fertilizer to the paddy field is provided at the rear part of the step 6 so as to be arranged at a position higher than the step 6.

[0035] A bonnet 9 that houses an engine (not shown) is provided at a position in front of the driver's seat 7 and at the left and right center of the front part of the floor 5, and a steering wheel 10 for steering the front wheels 1 is provided at the rear part of the bonnet 9. Right and left frames 14 for handrails are connected to the airframe 3 and extend upward through the right and left lateral outer sides of the step 6. A frame 15 is connected along the left-right direction across the right and left frames 14.

[0036] (Configuration of the support frame for supporting the spare seedling stand) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, right and left support frames 17 are connected to the right and left parts of the front lower part of the airframe 3 and extend upward from the right lateral outer side and the left lateral outer side of the right front part and the left front part of the floor 5. A support frame 20 is connected along the left-right direction across the upper parts of the right and left support frames 17.

[0037] Right and left support frames 16 are connected to the right and left parts of the front lower part of the airframe 3 and extend upward from the right lateral outer side and the left lateral outer side of the right front part and the left front part of the floor 5, and the upper part of the support frame 16 is connected to the upper part of the support frame 17. Right and left support frames 18 and 19 are connected to the right and left parts of the front lower part of the airframe 3 and extend upward from the right lateral outer side and the left lateral outer side of the right front part and the left front part of the floor 5.

[0038] Right and left lights 27 for illuminating the front are attached to the support frame 16. Right and left spare seedling stands 24 on which one mat-shaped seedling can be placed are attached to the upper parts of the support frames 16 and 17. As described above, the support frames 16 to 20 are provided at the front part of the airframe 3.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a spare seedling stand 11 which is a right and left first spare seedling stand, a spare seedling stand 12 which is a right and left second spare seedling stand, and a spare seedling stand 13 which is a right and left third spare seedling stand are provided.

[0040] As described in (Overall Structure of the First Seedling Stand for Preliminary Seedlings) described below, the seedling stand 11 for preliminary seedlings is supported by the support frames 16 to 20. As described in (Structure Related to Support of the Second Seedling Stand for Preliminary Seedlings) and (Structure Related to Support of the Third Seedling Stand for Preliminary Seedlings) described below, the seedling stand 12 for preliminary seedlings is supported by the support frames 16 to 20 via the seedling stand 11 for preliminary seedlings, and the seedling stand 13 for preliminary seedlings is supported by the support frames 16 to 20 via the seedling stand 11 for preliminary seedlings.

[0041] (Overall Structure of the First Seedling Stand for Preliminary Seedlings) As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the seedling stand 11 for preliminary seedlings includes a right frame 21 which is one of the frames, a left frame 21 which is the other frame, a plurality of support rollers 31 which are the seedling placement parts, right and left first fulcrum parts 41, right and left fulcrum parts 43, right and left first contact parts 51, a first horizontal frame 61 and a horizontal frame 63.

[0042] The right and left first fulcrum parts 41 are connected to the front end parts which are the end parts in the front-rear direction of the frame 21, the right and left first contact parts 51 are connected to the first fulcrum parts 41, and the first contact parts 51 are connected to the front end parts of the frame 21 via the first fulcrum parts 41. The first horizontal frame 61 is connected across the right and left first fulcrum parts 41, and the first horizontal frame 61 is connected along the left-right direction to the front end parts of the right and left frames 21 via the first fulcrum parts 41.

[0043] The right and left fulcrum parts 43 are connected to the rear end parts which are the end parts in the front-rear direction of the frame 21, the horizontal frame 63 is connected across the right and left fulcrum parts 43, and the horizontal frame 63 is connected along the left-right direction to the rear end parts of the right and left frames 21 via the fulcrum parts 43. The overall rigidity of the seedling stand 11 for preliminary seedlings is ensured by the right and left frames 21, the first horizontal frame 61, and the horizontal frame 63.

[0044] The plurality of support rollers 31 are supported across the right frame 21 and the left frame 21 so as to be rotatable around an axis P1 along the left-right direction which is a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the frame 21.

[0045] The support rollers 31 are arranged side by side along the front-rear direction, and are supported by the right frame 21 and the left frame 21 with a gap C1 formed between adjacent support rollers 31 in the front-rear direction. The length (interval) L1 of the gap C1, which is the interval between adjacent support rollers 31, in the front-rear direction is set to be larger than the outer diameter D1 of the support roller 31.

[0046] In the right and left spare seedling stands 11 configured as described above, in the right spare seedling stand 11, the right frame 21 is supported on the upper parts of the support frames 18 and 19, and the left frame 21 is supported by the support frames 16 and 17. In the left spare seedling stand 11, the right frame 21 is supported by the support frames 16 and 17, and the left frame 21 is supported on the upper parts of the support frames 18 and 19. Thereby, the spare seedling stand 11 is supported by the support frames 16 to 20.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 4, a mat-shaped seedling E that is rolled into a roll shape and fastened with a string, band, or the like can be placed so as to drop into the gaps C1, C2, and C3 between adjacent support rollers 31, 32, and 33. Between the roll-shaped seedlings E placed on the support rollers 31, 32, and 33, roll-shaped seedlings E can be placed so as to be stacked. Thereby, the roll-shaped seedlings E are positioned by the right and left frames 21, 22, 23 and the support rollers 31, 32, 33 adjacent in the front-rear direction, and are stably placed on the spare seedling stands 11, 12, and 13 without rolling.

[0048] (Configuration of the Frame in the First Spare Seedling Stand) As shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, the frame 21 is formed of an aluminum material and is provided with a flat plate portion 28 and a hollow portion 29.

[0049] The flat plate portion 28 is in a flat plate shape along the vertical direction in a cross-sectional view, and extends along the front-rear direction which is the longitudinal direction of the frame 21 (seedling placement portion) in a side view. An opening 28a for attaching the support roller 31 and a long hole 28b along the front-rear direction which is a position adjustment portion are opened in the flat plate portion 28.

[0050] As described in the above (overall configuration of the first preliminary seedling stand), when the frame 21 is attached to the support frames 16 - 19, the bolt 30 (see FIGS. 3 and 8) is passed through the long hole 28b of the flat plate portion 28, and the flat plate portion 28 is attached to the support frames 16 - 19. Thereby, the attachment position of the preliminary seedling stand 11 in the support frames 16 - 19 can be adjusted in the front-rear direction by the long hole 28b of the flat plate portion 28.

[0051] The hollow portion 29 is in a hollow shape having a width larger than that of the flat plate portion 28 in a cross-sectional view, and is connected to the upper and lower portions of the flat plate portion 28, and extends along the front-rear direction which is the longitudinal direction of the frame 21 (seedling placement portion) in a side view.

[0052] A portion 29a of the hollow portion 29 facing the central portion of the support roller 31 (seedling placement portion) is formed in a straight line shape along the vertical direction in a cross-sectional view. A portion 29b of the hollow portion 29 on the side opposite to the central portion of the support roller 31 (seedling placement portion) is formed in an arc shape protruding toward the side opposite to the central portion of the support roller 31 (seedling placement portion), and the hollow portion 29 is formed in a quarter-circle shape in a cross-sectional view.

[0053] With the above configuration, the frame 21 has an upper and lower symmetric shape, and the right and left frames 21 are the same. The right and left frames 21 are arranged such that the portions 29a of the hollow portions 29 of the right and left frames 21 face each other (face the central portion of the support roller 31).

[0054] (Configuration of the support roller in the first preliminary seedling stand) As shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, the support roller 31 is formed in a cylindrical shape from an aluminum material, with one and the other ends being open. A support shaft 34 for supporting the support roller 31, right and left bearings 35, and right and left bearing holders 36 are provided.

[0055] The support shaft 34 is composed of a round pipe. A flat plate-like portion 34a is formed at one end of the support shaft 34, and the other end 34b of the support shaft 34 is cylindrical. The bearing 35 is attached to the outer surface of the support shaft 34 from the end 34b of the support shaft 34.

[0056] The bearing holder 36 is formed in a semi-ring shape and divided into two parts by synthetic resin, and has a semi-cylindrical holder portion 36a, a plurality of convex portions 36b provided on the outer surface of the holder portion 36a, and a flange portion 36c provided at the end of the holder portion 36a.

[0057] In the bearing holder 36, the ends of the convex portions 36b are located at a portion that is separated by a predetermined length from the flange portion 36c, which is the end on the side opposite to the insertion side of the bearing holder 36 into the support roller 31, toward the side opposite to the flange portion 36c on the insertion side into the support roller 31.

[0058] In the bearing holder 36, the convex portions 36b are formed from the aforementioned portion toward the end on the insertion side of the bearing holder 36 into the support roller 31. As a result, on the outer surface of the holder portion 36a of the bearing holder 36, there is a portion 36d where no convex portion 36b is provided between the convex portion 36b and the flange portion 36c.

[0059] With the above configuration, the holder portion 36a of the two-part bearing holder 36 is attached to the outer surface of the bearing 35, and the bearing holder 36 is press-fitted into the end of the support roller 31. As the bearing holder 36 is press-fitted into the end of the support roller 31, the convex portions 36b of the bearing holder are strongly pressed against the inner surface of the support roller 31 while being scraped by the end of the support roller 31.

[0060] Before the flange portion 36c of the bearing holder 36 reaches the end of the support roller 31 (shortly before the press-fitting of the bearing holder 36 onto the end of the support roller 31 is completed), the portion 36d of the bearing holder 36 where the convex portion 36b is not provided reaches the end of the support roller 31, making it difficult for chips to be generated.

[0061] When the flange portion 36c of the bearing holder 36 reaches the end of the support roller 31, the press-fitting of the bearing holder 36 onto the end of the support roller 31 is completed. As a result, the support roller 31 is rotatably supported by the support shaft 34 via the bearing 35 and the bearing holder 36.

[0062] (Configuration of the support of the support roller on the first preliminary seedling placing table) In the support roller 31 and the support shaft 34 configured as described above (configuration of the support roller on the first preliminary seedling placing table), as shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, bearing portions 37 for supporting one part and the other part of the support shaft 34 are provided.

[0063] The bearing portion 37 is integrally formed of synthetic resin and has a main body portion 37a, a mounting portion 37b, an engaging portion 37c, a shaft insertion portion 37d, a groove portion 37e which is an anti-rotation portion, a positioning portion 37f, and the like.

[0064] In the bearing portion 37, the main body portion 37a is formed in a square shape (quadrilateral shape) in a side view. The mounting portion 37b is formed in an octagonal shape (polygonal shape) in a side view and is attached to the main body portion 37a. A pair of claw-shaped engaging portions 37c are attached to the main body portion 37a so as to be located on both sides of the mounting portion 37b. A hole-shaped shaft insertion portion 37d is formed from the main body portion 37a to the mounting portion 37b, and a groove portion 37e and a positioning portion 37f are provided in the inner back portion of the shaft insertion portion 37d.

[0065] In the frame 21 (flat plate portion 28 and hollow portion 29) and the bearing portion 37, the mounting portion 37b and the engaging portion 37c of the bearing portion 37 are inserted into the opening 28a of the flat plate portion 28. Until the main body portion 37a of the bearing portion 37 contacts the flat plate portion 28, when the mounting portion 37b and the engaging portion 37c of the bearing portion 37 are inserted into the opening 28a of the flat plate portion 28, the engaging portion 37c of the bearing portion 37 engages with the edge of the opening 28a of the flat plate portion 28, and the mounting portion 37b of the bearing portion 37 is prevented from falling off from the opening 28a of the flat plate portion 28.

[0066] At the same time, the main body portion 37a of the bearing portion 37 enters between the upper and lower hollow portions 29, the upper side portion of the main body portion 37a of the bearing portion 37 contacts the lower side portion of the upper hollow portion 29, and the lower side portion of the main body portion 37a of the bearing portion 37 contacts the upper side portion of the lower hollow portion 29, and anti-rotation around the axis P1 of the bearing portion 37 is performed to stop the rotation. Thereby, the bearing portion 37 is attached to the flat plate portion 28 of the frame 21.

[0067] Insert the flat plate-like portion 34a of the support shaft 34 into the shaft insertion portion 37d of the bearing portion 37 attached to one of the right and left frames 21, insert it into the groove portion 37e of the bearing portion 37, and apply it to the inner back portion of the groove portion 37e of the bearing portion 37. Insert the end portion 34b of the support shaft 34 into the shaft insertion portion 37d of the bearing portion 37 attached to the other of the right and left frames 21, and apply it to the positioning portion 37f of the bearing portion 37.

[0068] Thereby, one portion and the other portion of the support shaft 34 are supported by the bearing portion 37, and the support roller 31 is rotatably attached across the flat plate portions 28 of the right and left frames 21 around the axis P1 orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the frame 21. The upper end portion of the support roller 31 is located below the upper end portions of the right frame 21 and the left frame 21.

[0069] The groove portion 37e of the bearing portion 37 performs anti-rotation to stop the rotation of the support shaft 34 around the axis P1. The position of the axis P1 in the direction of the support shaft 34 is determined by the groove portion 37e of one bearing portion 37 and the positioning portion 37f of the other bearing portion 37.

[0070] (Overall Structure of the Second Seedling Stand) As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the seedling stand 12 includes a right frame 22 which is one of the frames, a left frame 22 which is the other frame, a plurality of support rollers 32 which are seedling placement portions, right and left second fulcrum portions 42, right and left second contact portions 52, a front guide roller 38 which is a front guide member, a locking portion 39, and second horizontal frames 62 and horizontal frames 64.

[0071] The right and left second fulcrum portions 42 are connected to the rear end portions which are the end portions of the frame 22 in the front - rear direction, the right and left second contact portions 52 are connected to the second fulcrum portions 42, and the second contact portions 52 are connected to the rear end portion of the frame 22 via the second fulcrum portions 42. The second horizontal frame 62 is connected across the right and left second fulcrum portions 42, and the second horizontal frame 62 is connected along the left - right direction to the rear end portions of the right and left frames 22 via the second fulcrum portions 42.

[0072] The right and left support portions 44 are connected to the front end portions which are the end portions of the frame 22 in the front - rear direction, the horizontal frame 64 is connected across the right and left support portions 44, and the horizontal frame 64 is connected along the left - right direction to the front end portions of the right and left frames 22 via the support portions 44. The locking portion 39 formed in a channel shape in plan view is connected to the front portion of one of the frames 22. The overall rigidity of the seedling stand 12 is ensured by the right and left frames 22, the second horizontal frames 62, and the horizontal frames 64.

[0073] In the seedling stand 12, the frame 22 includes a flat plate portion 28 and upper and lower hollow portions 29, similar to the frame 21 of the seedling stand 11 (refer to (Structure of the Frame in the First Seedling Stand) and FIGS. 7 - 12 mentioned above). In this case, in the frame 22, the long hole 28b in the flat plate portion 28 is not provided.

[0074] The standby seedling stage 12 is provided with the same support rollers 32 as the support rollers 31 of the standby seedling stage 11, and includes the support shaft 34, bearing 35, bearing holder 36, and bearing portion 37 described in the above (Configuration of the support rollers in the first standby seedling stage) (Configuration of the support of the support rollers in the first standby seedling stage). Similar to the standby seedling stage 11, the support rollers 32 are rotatably attached around the axis P2 along the left-right direction, which is the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the frame 22, across the flat plate portions 28 of the right and left frames 22.

[0075] (Configuration of the front guide roller in the second standby seedling stage) As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the front guide roller 38 having a length across the right and left frames 22 is supported across the upper portions of the right and left support portions 44 rotatably around the axis P4, which is the axis along the left-right direction, which is the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the frame 22, and is the front axis.

[0076] The front guide roller 38 is disposed at a position higher than the support roller 32 (seedling placement portion) and is provided at the front end portion of the standby seedling stage 12 so as to be disposed at a position higher than the frame 22 (upper hollow portion 29).

[0077] (Positional relationship between the front guide roller and the support roller in the second standby seedling stage) As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the support rollers 32 are arranged side by side along the front-rear direction, and are supported by the right frame 22 and the left frame 22 with a space therebetween in the front-rear direction so that a gap C2 is formed between the front guide roller 38 and the support roller 32 and between adjacent support rollers 32.

[0078] Among the plurality of support rollers 32, in the first support roller 32(1) closest to the front guide roller 38 and the second support roller 32(2) adjacent to the rear side of the first support roller 32(1), the length (interval) L21 of the gap C2, which is the interval in the front-rear direction between the front guide roller 38 and the first support roller 32(1), is set to be sufficiently large.

[0079] The length (spacing) L22 of the gap, which is the front-back direction spacing between the first support roller 32(1) and the second support roller 32(2), is set to be sufficiently small. As a result, the length (spacing) L22 is set to be smaller than the length (spacing) L21.

[0080] When assuming a virtual line K1 that connects the upper end of the front guide roller 38 and the upper end of the first support roller 32(1) in a side view, the virtual line K1 overlaps with the second support roller 32(2) in the side view and is located above the axis P2 of the second support roller 32(2) in the side view.

[0081] In the second support roller 32(2), for the third support roller 32(3), the fourth support roller 32(4), and the fifth support roller 32(5) that are adjacent to the rear side, there is a length (spacing) L23 in the gap C2, which is the front-back direction spacing between the second support roller 32(2) and the third support roller 32(3). There is a length (spacing) L24 in the gap C2, which is the front-back direction spacing between the third support roller 32(3) and the fourth support roller 32(4). There is a length (spacing) L25 in the gap C2, which is the front-back direction spacing between the fourth support roller 32(4) and the fifth support roller 32(5).

[0082] The length (spacing) L23 is set to be larger than the length (spacing) L22, the length (spacing) L24 is set to be larger than the length (spacing) L23, and the length (spacing) L25 is set to be larger than the length (spacing) L24, and the lengths (spacings) L22, L23, L24, L25 are increasing in order.

[0083] The length (spacing) L21 is set to be larger than the lengths (spacings) L22, L23, L24, L25, and the lengths (spacings) L21, L23, L24, L25 are set to be larger than the outer diameter D2 of the support roller 32. The length (spacing) L22 is set to be approximately the same as the outer diameter D2 of the support roller 32 or slightly smaller than the outer diameter D2 of the support roller 32.

[0084] As a result, among the plurality of support rollers 32, the lengths (intervals) L23, L24, and L25 of the gaps C2 of the support rollers 32(3)(4)(5) other than the first support roller 32(1) and the second support roller 32(2) are set to be larger than the length (interval) L22 of the gap C2 between the first support roller 32(1) and the second support roller 32(2).

[0085] As described above (the overall configuration of the first spare seedling stage) and as shown in FIG. 4, similar to the spare seedling stage 11, the roll-shaped seedling E can be placed so as to drop between the front guide roller 38 and the support roller 32 (gap C2) and between adjacent support rollers 32 (gap C2).

[0086] (Configuration regarding support of the second spare seedling stage) As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first fulcrum portion 41 of the spare seedling stage 11 and the second fulcrum portion 42 of the spare seedling stage 12 are swingably connected, and the spare seedling stage 12 is swingably supported around the first support axis P11 which is the support axis along the left - right direction at the front part of the spare seedling stage 11.

[0087] As a result, the front - rear ends of the right frame 21 and the left frame 21 in the first spare seedling stage 11 and the front - rear ends of the right frame 22 and the left frame 22 in the second spare seedling stage 12 are swingably supported around the first support axis P11 which is the support axis along the left - right direction.

[0088] Since the spare seedling stage 12 is swingably supported around the first support axis P11 at the front part of the spare seedling stage 11, the spare seedling stage 12 can be changed between a working posture A11 which is a first working posture extending forward from the front part of the spare seedling stage 11 so as to be continuous with the spare seedling stage 11, and a storage posture A21 which is a first storage posture folded upward from the front part of the spare seedling stage 11.

[0089] In a state where the spare seedling stage 12 is operated to the working position A11, the first contact portion 51 of the spare seedling stage 11 and the second contact portion 52 of the spare seedling stage 12 come into contact with each other, whereby the spare seedling stage 12 is set (maintained) to the working position A11.

[0090] If the seedling E is not placed on the spare seedling stage 12 operated to the working position A11, the spare seedling stage 12 is set (maintained) to the working position A11 by the contact between the first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52. The first horizontal frame 61 (see FIG. 5) of the spare seedling stage 11 and the second horizontal frame 62 (see FIG. 13) of the spare seedling stage 12 are close to each other, but there is a slight gap between the first horizontal frame 61 and the second horizontal frame 62.

[0091] When the seedling E is placed on the spare seedling stage 12 operated to the working position A11 and the spare seedling stage 12 tries to displace downward, the first horizontal frame 61 and the second horizontal frame 62 come into contact with each other along the left - right direction over substantially the entire length. Thereby, due to the contact between the first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52, and the contact between the first horizontal frame 61 and the second horizontal frame 62, the downward displacement of the spare seedling stage 12 is stopped, and the spare seedling stage 12 is set (maintained) to the working position A11.

[0092] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the front holding portion 25 is provided at a portion of the support frame 16 that protrudes upward from the spare seedling stage 11 and at a lower portion from the spare seedling stage 24. By operating the spare seedling stage 12 to the storage position A21 and holding the locking portion 39 of the spare seedling stage 12 by the front holding portion 25, the spare seedling stage 12 can be held in the storage position A21. By releasing the holding of the front holding portion 25, the spare seedling stage 12 can be operated to the working position A11.

[0093] (Overall configuration of the third spare seedling stage) As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the spare seedling stand 13 includes a right frame 23 which is one of the frames, a left frame 23 which is the other frame, a plurality of support rollers 33 which are the seedling placement parts, right and left fulcrum parts 45, right and left engaging parts 46, a locking part 40, and horizontal frames 65 and 66.

[0094] The right and left fulcrum parts 45 are connected to the front end parts which are the end parts of the frame 23 in the front-rear direction, the horizontal frame 65 is connected across the right and left fulcrum parts 45, and the horizontal frame 65 is connected along the left-right direction to the front end parts of the right and left frames 23 via the fulcrum parts 45.

[0095] The right and left engaging parts 46 are connected to the rear end parts which are the end parts of the frame 23 in the front-rear direction, the horizontal frame 66 is connected across the right and left engaging parts 46, and the horizontal frame 66 is connected along the left-right direction to the rear end parts of the right and left frames 23 via the engaging parts 46. The locking part 40 formed in a channel shape in plan view is connected to the rear part of one of the frames 23. The overall rigidity of the spare seedling stand 13 is ensured by the right and left frames 23, the horizontal frame 65, and the horizontal frame 66.

[0096] In the spare seedling stand 13, the frame 23 includes a flat plate part 28 and upper and lower hollow parts 29, similar to the frame 21 of the spare seedling stand 11 (refer to (the frame configuration in the first spare seedling stand) and FIGS. 7 to 12 described above). In this case, in the frame 23, the long hole 28b of the flat plate part 28 is not provided.

[0097] The spare seedling stand 13 is provided with the same support rollers 33 as the support rollers 31 of the spare seedling stand 11, and includes the support shaft 34, bearing 35, bearing holder 36, and bearing part 37 described in (the support roller configuration in the first spare seedling stand) (the support configuration of the support rollers in the first spare seedling stand) above. Similar to the spare seedling stand 11, the support rollers 33 are rotatably attached across the flat plate parts 28 of the right and left frames 23 around the axis P3 along the left-right direction which is the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the frame 23.

[0098] The support rollers 33 are arranged side by side along the front-rear direction, and are supported by the right frame 23 and the left frame 23 with a gap C3 formed between adjacent support rollers 33 by spacing them apart from each other in the front-rear direction. The length (spacing) L3 of the gap C3, which is the spacing between adjacent support rollers 33, is set to be larger than the outer diameter D3 of the support rollers 33.

[0099] As described above (the overall configuration of the first spare seedling stand) and as shown in FIG. 4, a roll-shaped seedling E can be placed so as to be dropped between adjacent support rollers 33 (gap C3) in the same manner as the spare seedling stand 11.

[0100] (Configuration regarding support of the third spare seedling stand) As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the fulcrum portion 43 of the spare seedling stand 11 and the fulcrum portion 45 of the spare seedling stand 13 are swingably connected, and the spare seedling stand 13 is swingably supported around a second support axis P21 along the left-right direction at the rear part of the spare seedling stand 11.

[0101] Thereby, the front-rear ends of the right frame 21 and the left frame 21 in the first spare seedling stand 11 and the front-rear ends of the right frame 23 and the left frame 23 in the third spare seedling stand 13 are swingably supported around the second support axis P21 along the left-right direction.

[0102] Since the spare seedling stand 13 is swingably supported around the second support axis P21 at the rear part of the spare seedling stand 11, the spare seedling stand 13 can be changed in posture between a working posture A12, which is a second working posture extending rearward from the rear part of the spare seedling stand 11 so as to be continuous with the spare seedling stand 11, and a storage posture A22, which is a second storage posture folded upward from the rear part of the spare seedling stand 11.

[0103] As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, a round bar-shaped support frame 47, which is a support portion, is provided along the left-right direction at the right front portion and the left front portion of step 6. When the spare seedling placing table 13 is operated to the working posture A12, the horizontal frame 66 of the spare seedling placing table 13 is placed on the support frame 47, and the rear portion of the spare seedling placing table 13 is supported by the support frame 47. Thereby, the front portion of the spare seedling placing table 13 is supported by the rear portion of the spare seedling placing table 11, and the rear portion of the spare seedling placing table 13 is supported by step 6 (support frame 47).

[0104] When the spare seedling placing table 13 is operated to the working posture A12, the support frame 47 enters between the rear end portion of the frame 23 and the engaging portion 46, and the engaging portion 46 is in a state of engaging with the support frame 47. Thereby, the front-rear position of the spare seedling placing table 13 is determined by the rear end portion of the frame 23 and the engaging portion 46.

[0105] As described above (the frame configuration of the first spare seedling placing table) and as shown in FIG. 8, the mounting positions of the spare seedling placing table 11 on the support frames 16 to 19 are adjustable in the front-rear direction. By adjusting the mounting position of the spare seedling placing table 11 in the front-rear direction, the position of the spare seedling placing table 13 in the working posture A12 can be adjusted in the front-rear direction.

[0106] Thereby, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, when the spare seedling placing table 13 is operated to the working posture A12, the support frame 47 can be set to enter between the rear end portion of the frame 23 and the engaging portion 46 without coming off, and the engaging portion 46 can be set to engage with the support frame 47 without coming off.

[0107] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the rear holding portion 26 is provided at a portion that protrudes upward from the spare seedling placing table 11 on the support frame 17 and at a lower portion from the spare seedling placing table 24. By operating the spare seedling placing table 13 to the storage posture A22 and holding the locking portion 40 of the spare seedling placing table 13 by the rear holding portion 26, the spare seedling placing table 13 can be held in the storage posture A22. By releasing the holding of the rear holding portion 26, the spare seedling placing table 13 can be operated to the working posture A12.

[0108] (Configuration regarding the third right spare seedling stand and the fuel tank) As shown in FIGS. 2 and 18, the fuel tank 48 is disposed inside the right front portion of the step 6 and provided in the airframe 3, and the fuel filler opening 48a of the fuel tank 48 protrudes upward through the opening 6a of the step 6. When the right spare seedling stand 13 is operated to the working posture A12, the fuel tank 48 (fuel filler opening 48a) is positioned below the right spare seedling stand 13.

[0109] In the right spare seedling stand 13, a flat cover 49 serving as a protection part is connected to the horizontal frame 66 and extends forward below the support roller 33. When the right spare seedling stand 13 is operated to the working posture A12, the cover 49 covers the upper part of the fuel tank 48 (fuel filler opening 48a) and the upper part of the opening 6a of the step 6.

[0110] (States of the postures of the first, second, and third spare seedling stands) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the spare seedling stand 11 is set in a forward rising posture with respect to the airframe 3 in which the front part of the spare seedling stand 11 is higher than the rear part of the spare seedling stand 11. In a state where the spare seedling stands 12 and 13 are operated to the working postures A11 and A12, the spare seedling stands 12 and 13 are set in a forward rising posture with respect to the airframe 3 in which the front part of the spare seedling stands 12 and 13 is higher than the rear part of the spare seedling stands 12 and 13.

[0111] When the spare seedling stand 12 is operated to the storage posture A21, the storage posture A21 is set so that the angle B1 in a side view between the spare seedling stand 12 in the storage posture A21 and the spare seedling stand 11 is smaller than a right angle. When the spare seedling stand 13 is operated to the storage posture A22, the storage posture A22 is set so that the angle B2 in a side view between the spare seedling stand 13 in the storage posture A22 and the spare seedling stand 11 is smaller than a right angle.

[0112] The storage postures A21 and A22 are set such that the angle B2 is slightly smaller than the angle B1. As a result, the storage posture A21 is set to a posture that stands up from the spare seedling placing table 11 more than the storage posture A22, and the storage posture A22 is set to a posture closer to the spare seedling placing table 11 than the storage posture A21.

[0113] With the above configuration, at least one of the storage posture A21 and the storage posture A22 is set to a posture closer to the working postures A11 and A12 than the posture in which the spare seedling placing table 12 and the spare seedling placing table 13 are stacked on the spare seedling placing table 11.

[0114] (First alternative form of the invention) As shown in FIG. 19, when assuming a virtual line K2 extending in the front-rear direction along the spare seedling placing table 11 in a side view, the first fulcrum portion 41, the second fulcrum portion 42, the first contact portion 51, and the second contact portion 52 may be configured such that the working posture A11 of the spare seedling placing table 12 is set to an upward posture from the virtual line K2 in a state where the seedling E is not placed on the spare seedling placing table 12 when the spare seedling placing table 12 is operated to the working posture A11.

[0115] The front-rear length of the spare seedling placing table 13 may be set to be shorter than the front-rear length of the spare seedling placing table 12. According to this configuration, when the spare seedling placing table 13 is operated to the working posture A12, the rear portion of the spare seedling placing table 13 may not be supported by the support frame 47 (see FIGS. 17 and 18).

[0116] In this case, the spare seedling placing table 13 may be configured to be set (maintained) to the working posture A12 by the contact between the fulcrum portion 43 of the spare seedling placing table 11 and the fulcrum portion 45 of the spare seedling placing table 13. The configuration regarding the first horizontal frame 61 and the second horizontal frame 62 described in the above (configuration regarding the support of the second spare seedling placing table) may also be adopted for the horizontal frame 63 (see FIG. 5) of the spare seedling placing table 11 and the horizontal frame 65 (see FIG. 15) of the spare seedling placing table 13.

[0117] In the above-described configuration, as shown in FIG. 19, the sub-seedling stage 13 may be configured with fulcrum portions 43 and 45 such that, when the sub-seedling stage 13 is operated to the working posture A12 and no seedling E is placed on the sub-seedling stage 13, the working posture A12 of the sub-seedling stage 13 is set to an upward posture with respect to the virtual line K2.

[0118] (Second alternative embodiment of the invention) The front-back length of the sub-seedling stage 12 may be set to be shorter than the front-back length of the sub-seedling stage 13. In this configuration, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the front-back direction of the machine body 3, the front end portion of the sub-seedling stage 11 may be configured to be disposed at substantially the same position as the front end portion of the bonnet 9 and the front end portion of the floor 5.

[0119] (Third alternative embodiment of the invention) As shown in FIG. 3, in the angles B1 in side view between the sub-seedling stage 12 in the stored posture A21 and the sub-seedling stage 11, and the angles B2 in side view between the sub-seedling stage 13 in the stored posture A22 and the sub-seedling stage 11, the angles B1 and B2 may be configured to be smaller than a right angle, and the angle B1 may be configured to be slightly smaller than the angle B2, such that the stored postures A21 and A22 are set.

[0120] When the sub-seedling stage 12 is operated to the stored posture A21, the sub-seedling stage 12 may be configured to be in a vertical posture (a posture parallel to the support frame 16). In this configuration, the angle B1 is an angle slightly larger than a right angle.

[0121] When the sub-seedling stage 13 is operated to the stored posture A22, the sub-seedling stage 13 may be configured to be in a vertical posture (a posture parallel to the support frame 17). In this configuration, the angle B2 is an angle slightly smaller than a right angle.

[0122] (Fourth alternative embodiment of the invention) In FIG. 3, when the spare seedling stage 12 is operated to the storage position A21, the spare seedling stage 12 is stacked above the spare seedling stage 11 over the entire spare seedling stage 12. When the spare seedling stage 13 is operated to the storage position A22, it may be configured to be in the position shown in FIG. 3. In this configuration, the front holding portion 25 may be abolished, and the front-rear length of the spare seedling stage 12 may be set to be the same as the front-rear length of the spare seedling stage 11 or slightly shorter than the front-rear length of the spare seedling stage 11.

[0123] When the front holding portion 25 is left without being abolished, the spare seedling stage 12 may be configured to be in the storage position A21 held by the front holding portion 25 and in the posture where the spare seedling stage 12 is stacked above the spare seedling stage 11 over the entire spare seedling stage 12. In this configuration, two types of storage positions A21 with different postures are set for the spare seedling stage 12.

[0124] (Fifth alternative embodiment of the invention) In FIG. 3, when the spare seedling stage 12 is operated to the storage position A21, the spare seedling stage 12 is in the position shown in FIG. 3. When the spare seedling stage 13 is operated to the storage position A22, it may be configured to be in the posture where the spare seedling stage 13 is stacked above the spare seedling stage 11 over the entire spare seedling stage 13.

[0125] In this configuration, the rear holding portion 26 may be abolished, and the front-rear length of the spare seedling stage 13 may be set to be the same as the front-rear length of the spare seedling stage 11 or slightly shorter than the front-rear length of the spare seedling stage 11. When the operator gets on and off from the ground to the floor 5 and from the floor 5 to the ground, the operator can hold both the frame 14 (see FIG. 1) and the support frame 17 as handrails.

[0126] If the rear holding part 26 is left without being abolished, the spare seedling placing table 13 may be configured such that it can be operated into a storage posture A22 held by the rear holding part 26 and a posture in which the spare seedling placing table 13 is stacked above the spare seedling placing table 11 over the entire spare seedling placing table 13. In this configuration, two types of storage postures A22 with different postures are set for the spare seedling placing table 13.

[0127] (Sixth alternative form of the invention implementation) In FIG. 3, when the spare seedling placing table 13 is operated into the storage posture A22, if it is configured such that the spare seedling placing table 13 is stacked above the spare seedling placing table 11 over the entire spare seedling placing table 13, the spare seedling placing table 12 may be configured as follows.

[0128] As shown in FIGS. 20, 21, and 22, a first support part 53, which is a front-rear support part, is provided at the front part of the spare seedling placing table 11 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, and a second support part 54, which is a front-rear support part, is supported at the front part of the first support part 53 so as to be swingable around an axis core P5 along the left-right direction. The spare seedling placing table 12 is supported at the front part of the second support part 54 so as to be swingable around a first support axis core P11.

[0129] The state shown in FIG. 20 is a state in which the spare seedling placing table 12 is operated into the working posture A11, and the first support part 53 and the second support part 54 are operated rearward (inward of the spare seedling placing table 11) until the rear part of the spare seedling placing table 12 contacts the front part of the spare seedling placing table 11.

[0130] As shown in FIG. 20, when the spare seedling placing table 13 is operated into the storage posture A22, as shown in FIG. 21, the spare seedling placing table 12, the first support part 53, and the second support part 54 are moved forward, and the position of the axis core P5 is moved to a position in front of the front part of the spare seedling placing table 11. Next, as shown in FIG. 22, the spare seedling placing table 11 and the second support part 54 are swung upward around the axis core P5 to change the posture upward with respect to the spare seedling placing table 11.

[0131] By the above operation, the position of the first support axis P11 becomes substantially the same position as the upper surface of the spare seedling stand 13 in the storage posture A22, or a position slightly higher than the upper surface of the spare seedling stand 13 in the storage posture A22. Therefore, the spare seedling stand 12 is swung backward around the first support axis P11 and is operated to the storage posture A21 stacked above the spare seedling stand 13 over the entire spare seedling stand 12.

[0132] (Seventh Alternative Embodiment of the Invention) In the above-mentioned (Sixth Embodiment of the Invention), the first support portion 53 may be provided at the rear portion of the spare seedling stand 11 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, and the second support portion 54 may be supported at the rear portion of the first support portion 53 so as to be swingable around the axis P5 along the left-right direction, and the spare seedling stand 13 may be configured to be supported at the rear portion of the second support portion 54 so as to be swingable around the second support axis P21.

[0133] According to this configuration, the spare seedling stand 12 is operated to the storage posture A21 stacked above the spare seedling stand 11 over the entire spare seedling stand 12, and the spare seedling stand 13 is operated to the storage posture A22 stacked above the spare seedling stand 12 in the storage posture A21 over the entire spare seedling stand 13.

[0134] (Eighth Alternative Embodiment of the Invention) As shown in FIG. 23, in the spare seedling stand 13, right and left brackets 55 are provided at right and left engaging portions 46, and a rear guide roller 50, which is a rear guide member having a length extending across the right and left frames 23, is configured to be rotatable around an axis P6, which is an axis along the left-right direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the frame 23, and is supported across the right and left brackets 55.

[0135] Thereby, the rear guide roller 50 rotatable around the axis P6 along the left-right direction is provided at the rear end portion of the spare seedling stand 13 so as to be disposed at a position higher than the support roller 33 (seedling placement portion).

[0136] (Ninth Alternative Embodiment of the Invention) As the front inner member and the rear inner member, instead of the front guide roller 38 and the rear guide roller 50, a fixed cylindrical member (not shown) that does not rotate, a flat front guide plate (not shown) set in an inclined posture facing obliquely rearward and downward, or a flat rear guide plate (not shown) set in an inclined posture facing obliquely forward and downward may be provided on the seedling placing tables 12 and 13 for preliminary seedlings.

[0137] (The 10th alternative form of the invention implementation) As shown in Fig. 24, when placing the roll-shaped seedling E on the seedling placing tables 11, 12, and 13 for preliminary seedlings, the roll-shaped seedling E may be stacked and placed in the seedling box 56, and then the seedling box 56 may be placed on the seedling placing tables 11, 12, and 13 for preliminary seedlings. In Fig. 24, the seedling boxes 56 are placed one by one on one seedling placing table 11, 12, or 13 for preliminary seedlings, but the seedling boxes 56 stacked with the roll-shaped seedlings E may be stacked vertically.

[0138] (The 11th alternative form of the invention implementation) As the seedling placing part of the seedling placing table 11 for preliminary seedlings, a support roller 31 or a support member (not shown) mainly functioning to support the seedling E and a support roller 31 mainly functioning to convey the seedling E along the front-rear direction may be configured to be mixed on the seedling placing table 11 for preliminary seedlings. In this case, the support roller 31 mainly functioning to support the seedling E may be configured as a fixed one that does not rotate. The support member may be configured as a fixed bar-shaped member or an elongated flat plate-shaped member that does not rotate. The above-described configuration may be adopted for the seedling placing table 12 and the seedling placing table 13 for preliminary seedlings.

[0139] On the seedling placing table 11 for preliminary seedlings, the fixed support roller 31 that does not rotate and the rotatable support roller 31 may be configured to be alternately arranged along the front-rear direction. In this case, the fixed support roller 31 that does not rotate has the function of supporting the seedling E, but has a small or no conveying function along the front-rear direction of the seedling E. The rotatable support roller 31 has both the function of supporting the seedling E and the conveying function along the front-rear direction. The above configuration may be adopted for the spare seedling table 12 and the spare seedling table 13.

[0140] (The 12th alternative form of the invention's implementation) An entry / exit detection unit (not shown) using ultrasonic or infrared method may be provided to detect the entry / exit movement of workers from the ground to the floor 5 and from the floor 5 to the ground by the entry / exit detection unit, and an electric motor (not shown), which is a storage mechanism for swing-driving the spare seedling table 13 around the second support axis P21, may be provided.

[0141] Thus, when the entry / exit movement of workers from the ground to the floor 5 and from the floor 5 to the ground is detected by the entry / exit detection unit in a state where the spare seedling table 13 is operated to the working posture A12, the spare seedling table 13 may be configured to be automatically operated to the storage posture A22 or the posture (storage posture A22) stacked on the spare seedling table 11 by the electric motor.

[0142] (The 13th alternative form of the invention's implementation) In the spare seedling tables 11, 12, 13, the spare seedling tables 11, 12 may be provided and the spare seedling table 13 may be abolished.

[0143] In the spare seedling tables 11, 12, 13, the spare seedling tables 11, 13 may be provided and the spare seedling table 12 may be abolished. In this configuration, the spare seedling table 13 becomes the second spare seedling table, the fulcrum portion 43 of the spare seedling table 11 becomes the first fulcrum portion and the first contact portion, and the fulcrum portion 45 of the spare seedling table 13 becomes the second fulcrum portion and the second contact portion.

[0144] In the spare seedling tables 11, 12, 13, the spare seedling tables 12, 13 may be connected to the spare seedling table 11 in the working postures A11, A12 and configured to be non-foldable in the storage postures A21, A22. In this configuration, the plurality of spare seedling tables 11, 12, 13 may be configured to be supported by the support frames 16, 17 while being arranged along the vertical direction with a vertical interval between them.

Industrial applicability

[0145] The present invention can be applied to a riding rice transplanter.

Explanation of Signs

[0146] 3 Machine body 11 Stand for spare seedlings (first stand for spare seedlings) 12 Stand for spare seedlings (second stand for spare seedlings) 13 Stand for spare seedlings (second stand for spare seedlings) 16 Support frame 17 Support frame 18 Support frame 19 Support frame 20 Support frame 21 Frame 22 Frame 23 Frame A11 Working posture A12 Working posture A21 Storage posture A22 Storage posture 31 Support roller 32 Support roller 33 Support roller 51 First contact part 52 Second contact part 61 First horizontal frame 62 Second horizontal frame C1 Gap C2 Gap C3 Gap D1 Outer diameter D2 Outer diameter D2 Outer diameter K2 Virtual line L1 Length L21 Length L22 Length L23 Length L24 Length L25 Length L3 Length P1 Axis center P2 Axis center P3 Axis center P11 First support axis center (support axis center)

Claims

1. A support frame provided at the front part of the machine body, and a seedling stand for spare seedlings supported by the support frame are provided, the seedling stand for spare seedlings has a right frame supported along the front-rear direction, a left frame supported along the front-rear direction, and a plurality of support rollers supported across the right frame and the left frame so as to be rotatable around an axis along the left-right direction, the support rollers are arranged side by side along the front-rear direction and are supported by the right frame and the left frame with a space formed between adjacent support rollers in the front-rear direction so as to be spaced apart from each other, A riding rice transplanter in which the length in the front-rear direction of the foremost-positioned one of the plurality of spaces is set to be longer than the length in the front-rear direction of the space positioned rearward of the foremost-positioned space.

2. The riding rice transplanter according to claim 1, wherein the length in the front-rear direction of the space is set to be larger than the outer diameter of the support roller.

3. The riding rice transplanter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper end portions of the support rollers are positioned below the upper end portions of the right frame and the left frame.

4. The riding rice transplanter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the right frame and the left frame are supported by the support frame.

5. At least one of the front part and the rear part of the first seedling stand for spare seedlings supported by the support frame has another second seedling stand for spare seedlings supported so as to be posture-changeable between a working posture in which it extends continuously to the first seedling stand for spare seedlings and a storage posture in which it is folded upward from the first seedling stand for spare seedlings. The riding rice transplanter according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The first seedling stand for spare seedlings is set to a forwardly rising posture in which the front part of the first seedling stand for spare seedlings is higher than the rear part thereof with respect to the machine body, The second seedling stand for spare seedlings is set to a forwardly rising posture in which the front part of the second seedling stand for spare seedlings is higher than the rear part thereof with respect to the machine body in a state where it is operated to the working posture. The riding rice transplanter according to claim 5.

7. A first hitting part provided at the front-rear direction ends of the right frame and the left frame in the first seedling stand for spare seedlings, and The second seedling stage of the second preliminary seedling tray is provided with second abutting portions provided at the front and rear ends of the right frame and the left frame in the front-rear direction. The front and rear ends of the right frame and the left frame in the first preliminary seedling tray, and the front and rear ends of the right frame and the left frame in the second preliminary seedling tray are swingably connected around a support axis along the left-right direction. As a result, the second preliminary seedling tray can be changed in posture between the working posture and the storage posture. The riding rice transplanter according to claim 5 or 6, wherein when the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion come into contact with each other, the second preliminary seedling tray is set to the working posture.

8. A first horizontal frame connected along the left-right direction across the front and rear ends of the right frame and the left frame in the first preliminary seedling tray. A second horizontal frame connected along the left-right direction across the front and rear ends of the right frame and the left frame in the second preliminary seedling tray is provided. When the second preliminary seedling tray is about to be displaced downward from the working posture when the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion come into contact with each other and the second preliminary seedling tray is set to the working posture, the first horizontal frame and the second horizontal frame come into contact with each other, thereby preventing the second preliminary seedling tray from being displaced downward. The riding rice transplanter according to claim 7.

9. The riding rice transplanter according to claim 8, wherein when the second preliminary seedling tray is about to be displaced downward from the working posture, the first horizontal frame and the second horizontal frame come into contact with each other along the left-right direction of the first horizontal frame and the second horizontal frame.

10. The working posture is set to an upward posture with respect to a virtual line extending in the front-rear direction along the first preliminary seedling tray in a side view in a state where no seedlings are placed on the second preliminary seedling tray. The riding rice transplanter according to any one of claims 7 to 9.

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