Weed control device and mobile weed control unit for fields

Abstract

To provide a weeder for a farm field and a moving weeder unit which enables any one or more of efficient weeding, sterilization, or insecticide with heat and humidity in a narrow long furrow in a farm field.SOLUTION: There are provided a frame which includes a pair of leg frames arranged in parallel with a moving direction, and a top frame, and is shaped like a portal in a back view, travel devices provided in the respective leg frames, and a heat and humidity blowing body which blows out heat and humidity toward soil in front or the back of each of the travel devices.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a weeding device for gardens and a mobile weeding unit that perform any one or more of weeding, sterilization, and insecticidal in gardens such as tea gardens.

Background Art

[0002] In horticultural gardens (hereinafter collectively referred to as gardens, including tea gardens, fields such as mulberry fields, and vegetable gardens), the work of removing weeds that are factors hindering the growth of crops is constantly carried out. In many cases, considering the labor of the work, etc., a method of spraying a herbicide to wither the weeds is adopted. Naturally, such herbicides have been improved with stricter legal regulations compared to the past, and those with a large dilution ratio and effective drug expression with a small amount of spraying are used. However, even so, the influence on the environment due to the residue of the herbicide in the ground cannot be said to be zero.

[0003] Naturally, the preparation of such herbicides raises the farming cost, and sufficient attention must be paid during storage, which is a heavy burden for farmers. For these reasons, a method of spraying moist heat such as steam or hot water on weeds and withering the weeds by the heat has been proposed and is already known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] However, in order to improve the weeding efficiency, this method sprays moist heat relatively widely. In fields where crops have not yet been planted, the effect can be obtained. On the other hand, in tea gardens where the crops to be harvested are planted throughout the year, for example, it cannot be used. In addition, when the moist heat injection device described in Patent Document 1 is applied to weeding in gardens, etc., since the passage between the ridges is narrow, the main body of the moist heat generating device may contact the tea leaves and damage the tea leaves, or the high-temperature steam discharged from the moist heat generating device may also contact the tea leaves, which are the products, and there is a risk that the tea leaves will wither due to the heat of the steam, etc.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-335344 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] This invention was made with this background in mind, and its technical objective was to develop a field weeding device and a mobile weeding unit that can effectively perform one or more of the following in the narrow and long furrows of a field: weeding by moist heat, sterilization, or insect control. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The weed control device for fields according to the present invention comprises a rear-view gate-shaped frame including a pair of leg frames and an upper frame arranged parallel to the direction of movement, and a traveling device provided on each of the leg frames, A humid heat generator mounted on the upper frame, and a humid heat shield made of a sheet material, In front of or behind each of the aforementioned traveling devices, there is a moist heat outlet that blows moist heat toward the soil, A moist heat supply pipe connecting each of the moist heat outlets to the moist heat generator, It is characterized by having the following features.

[0008] The mobile weeding unit of the present invention is a driven vehicle that travels through fields. A running device provided on each of the pair of leg frames. A mobile weeding unit that is attached to the wall, A moist heat shield composed of sheet members, The aforementioned drive travel body The aforementioned The vehicle is characterized by comprising a moist heat outlet located in front of or behind the traveling device, which blows moist heat toward the soil, and a lifting device that raises the moist heat outlet toward the driving traveling device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to effectively control weeds, sterilize, or kill insects by moist heat, or one or more of these methods, in the narrow and long furrows of a field. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a rear perspective view showing the usage state of the weed control device for fields according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a rear view of the same object. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing a mobile weeding unit. [Figure 4] These are cross-sectional views (a) and longitudinal views (b) of a mobile weeding unit. [Figure 5] This is a side view showing another embodiment 1 of the weed control device for fields according to the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view (a) showing another embodiment 2 of the weed control device for fields according to the present invention, and a longitudinal cross-sectional view (b) showing another embodiment 3 of the weed control device for fields according to the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment 4 of the weed control device for fields according to the present invention. [Figure 8] These are cross-sectional views (a) and plan views (b) showing another embodiment 5 of the weed control device for fields according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The best mode of the weed control device for fields and the field management method using the same according to the present invention is as shown in the following embodiment, but it is possible to make appropriate modifications to this embodiment within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention. [Examples]

[0012] The present invention will now be described in detail based on the illustrated embodiments. The weeding device 1 for fields of the present invention comprises, as basic components, a mobile weeding unit 2 that can move along the furrows E in a tea plantation F, which is an example of a field, and a moist heat outlet 3 that blows moist heat S toward the furrows E. The mobile weeding unit 2 is equipped with a moist heat shield 4 that covers the moist heat outlet 3, and this moist heat shield 4 allows the range of action of the moist heat S supplied by the moist heat supply device 5 to be set. Specifically, in a plan view, the dimension L in the direction of movement along the furrows E is made longer than the dimension D in the width direction.

[0013] A more specific configuration will be described below. Prior to that, the shape of a tea garden F, which is an example of a garden, will be briefly described. Briefly stating the form of the tea garden F, a large number of tea fields T are formed substantially in parallel in the tea garden F, and an inter-field area E for work management is formed between them. Weeds G, which are the work targets of the present invention, tend to proliferate in this inter-field area E.

[0014] In the tea garden F described above, the device of the present invention is used to perform any one or more of weed weeding, sterilization of the soil surface or in the soil, or insecticidal treatment. First, the mobile weeding unit 2 mentioned as a basic component can be integrally incorporated into a movable cart or the like. However, considering the actual situation of garden management, as an example, it is a preferable form to move by a driving and traveling machine body 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. <0000

[0015] First, the driving and traveling machine body 10 will be described. This machine travels across the tea fields T and has a configuration similar to that of a popular ride-on tea garden management device. In fact, these can actually attach the mobile weeding unit 2 as an attachment to an existing device. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the driving and traveling machine body 10 has a traveling device 12, for example, a crawler, below the leg frame 11A of the rear-view gate-shaped frame 11, and travels across the tea fields T by this. And the upper frame 11B of the frame 11 is configured like a deck, on which a prime mover 13 serving as a driving source is mounted, and a driver's seat 14, an operation handle 15, etc. are provided, and further, a wet heat supply device 5 is mounted. The wet heat supply device 5 will be described later.

[0016] The mobile weeding unit 2 is attached to the rear leg frame 11A so as to be towed by such a driving and traveling machine body 10. That is, using a sub-frame 16 provided along the leg frame 11A as a support member, the mobile weeding unit 2 is supported so as to be lifted upward and rotatable. In this embodiment, the moving weeding unit 2 is attached to the rear leg frame 11A, but it may be attached to the front leg frame 11A or to both the rear leg frame 11A and the front leg frame 11A.

[0017] The following describes the moving weeding unit 2 and the wet heat blower 3 and the wet heat shield 4 attached thereto. First, the moving weeding unit 2 has a hood body 21 that can be expressed as a lid shape rectangular in plan view as an example, and a wet heat blower 3 having a rectangular frame shape in plan view is formed around the lower surface of the upper surface plate 21a thereof. The lower surface of the hood body 21 is formed in an open state, and a shift receiving bracket 22 is formed to protrude on the upper surface of the upper surface plate 21a. The shift receiving bracket 22 is rotatably supported with respect to the sub-frame 16 at the rotation shaft 22a at the front end thereof, and the moving weeding unit 2 is pulled up backward by a shift cylinder 23. That is, the upper end portion of the shift cylinder 23 is pin-connected to an upper portion of the sub-frame 16, and the lower end of the slider of the shift cylinder 23 is pin-connected to the shift receiving bracket 22. Note that the sub-frame 16 that supports these members may be fixedly attached to the frame 11, that is, the leg frame 11A, or may be configured to be able to change the vertical position.

[0018] Furthermore, the hood body 21 is provided with a connecting pipe 24 for connecting the wet heat supply pipe 57 near the shift receiving bracket 22. The lower end side of the connecting pipe 24 opens inside the hood body 21, and a wet heat receiving chamber 31 communicating with the wet heat blower 3 is provided here. Wet heat S is introduced into the wet heat receiving chamber 31 from the lower end opening of the connecting pipe 24, and wet heat S is introduced into the rectangular frame-shaped wet heat blower 3 from a wet heat receiving port 30 opened on the inner surface of the wet heat blower 3. A large number of nozzle holes 32 are opened inside the side surface 21b of the wet heat blower 3.

[0019] Furthermore, the mobile weeding unit 2 is equipped with a moist heat shield 4 for applying moist heat S from the moist heat outlet 3 to a certain area. Since the moist heat shield 4 performs the function described above, the hood body 21 of the mobile weeding unit 2, as already mentioned, also substantially constitutes a part of the moist heat shield 4. Considering that this moist heat shield 4 is in contact with the furrows E, at least the lower portion is made of a flexible cover sheet 41. Furthermore, its shape in plan view can be described as a rectangular or oval shape with the longitudinal direction along the furrows E being longer. In other words, the moist heat shield 4 has a movement dimension L that is longer than the width dimension D, and the range of moist heat S that is substantially restricted by it is also the same range. This configuration allows for weed control within a suitable range of action for the furrows E, thereby suppressing weed regrowth. Furthermore, it enables insecticidal and fungicidal action against insects or insect eggs living on the soil surface or in the soil within the aforementioned range of action.

[0020] Next, we will describe the moist heat supply device 5 that supplies the moist heat S used for this weeding operation. In this embodiment, the field weeding device 1 is constructed by incorporating a mobile weeding unit 2 into a drive-type mobile body 10, and the moist heat supply device 5 is also mounted on the upper frame 11B of the drive-type mobile body 10. That is, its main component is a moist heat generator, which is a general term for a device that generates thermal energy (moist heat S) in a moist state such as steam or hot water, and is a concept that also includes so-called boilers that burn fuel and heat water or the like in a sealed container with that thermal energy to obtain high-temperature, high-pressure steam. Therefore, detailed explanations and illustrations will be omitted, and the moist heat generator, which is the main component, will be described in general terms.

[0021] The aforementioned moist heat generator consists of a moist heat box body 51 with a burner 52 on its side that burns fuel (such as diesel fuel) supplied from a fuel tank 56. Water from a water supply tank 55 is supplied to the moist heat box 51 via a water supply pipe, and moist heat S is generated by utilizing the combustion heat of the burner 52 from this supplied water. An exhaust pipe 54 is connected to the burner 52.

[0022] The moist heat S stored in the moist heat chamber body 51 is then guided by the moist heat supply pipe 57 to the connecting pipe 24 in the mobile weeding unit 2. Of course, an appropriate automatic or manual valve is provided along this route. Furthermore, in this invention, a vent pipe 57A is provided by partially branching off the moist heat supply pipe 57.

[0023] The present invention is based on the configuration described above, and the operation of this field weeding device 1 will be explained below, following the work procedures, along with a description of the actual method. [1. Preparation] The main part of the preparation work is the generation of moist heat S, which is carried out according to standard procedures. This involves supplying sufficient water from the water tank 55 to the moist heat tube body 51, then igniting the burner 52 to boil the water in the moist heat box body 51, and storing sufficient steam or other moist heat S in the gas-liquid separation tank 53 or an appropriate surge tank. Of course, pre-operation checks of related equipment, including the drive-type mobile unit 10, are also performed.

[0024] [2. Access to the mobile weeding unit in the furrow area] Entry into the furrow area E is similar to that of a typical ride-on tea plantation management device, with the drive vehicle 10 entering by straddling the tea furrow T. In this embodiment, since the mobile weeding unit 2 is attached in a towing state to both the left and right leg frames 11A of the drive vehicle 10, the mobile weeding unit 2 is guided to the furrow areas E on both sides of a single tea furrow T.

[0025] [3. Weeding work] In this way, as the mobile weeding unit 2 enters the furrow area E, the moist heat S from the moist heat supply device 5 is guided through the moist heat supply pipe 57 to the moist heat receiving chamber 31 of the moist heat blowing body 3, and then blown out onto the furrow area E from the nozzle hole 32. At this time, since the mobile weeding unit 2 is equipped with a moist heat shield 4, the moist heat S is prevented from radiating to the outside by this moist heat shield 4 and acts on the weeds G in the area covered by the moist heat shield 4, causing the weeds G to wither with their thermal energy. At this time, the range of action of the moist heat S is such that the dimension L in the direction of movement is larger than the dimension D in the direction of width, so the working range can be sufficiently covered, and the moist heat S does not come into contact with the tea ridges T formed on both sides, so there is no adverse effect on the tea ridges T.

[0026] [4. Swinging operation] When the weeding work along the entire length of one furrow is completed in this manner, the machine turns around at the so-called headland at the end of the tea furrow T towards the furrow to be worked on next. At this time, to prevent the moist heat S from inadvertently coming into contact with the tea furrow T, the outlet for the moist heat S is switched to a vent pipe 57A installed in the middle of the moist heat supply pipe 57.

[0027] [Other examples] While the embodiments described above are considered a basic and preferred example of the present invention, further embodiments can be cited within the technical concept of the present invention. Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment uses tea ridges T as an example of ridges, it is not limited to tea ridges T, and any ridge that the drive vehicle 10 can straddle, such as a mulberry field, is also suitable.

[0028] [Other Example 1] This device can be described as having a simple structure, and as shown in Figure 5, a relatively simple trolley 10A is used as the means of moving the mobile weeding unit 2. The width of this trolley 10A may be made sufficiently narrow so that it can move between one row of furrows E, or it may be configured to move across two rows of furrows E so that weeding work can be performed across two rows of furrows T. Furthermore, for movement, it may be pushed by the worker's manual power, or it may be powered by a small prime mover or electric motor. The necessary moist heat supply device 5 is mounted on this trolley 10A, and a mobile weeding unit 2 equipped with a moist heat shield 4 and a moist heat outlet 3 is placed below it, and weeding is performed by blowing out moist heat S from here.

[0029] [Another Example 2] This embodiment, shown in Figure 6(a), further actively avoids the adverse effects of the blowing of moist heat S on the tea ridges T. Specifically, the range of the blowing of moist heat S is restricted by the moist heat shield 4, and the system is configured so that moist heat S does not adversely affect the tea ridges T. To further ensure this, for example, a water spray nozzle 25 is provided on the outside of the hood body 21. As a result, when weeding work is being performed by blowing moist heat S from below, a cold water mist M is sprayed outwards from the mobile weeding unit 2, creating a cool atmosphere around the tea ridges T, especially around the lower stems.

[0030] [Other Example 3] Furthermore, the embodiment shown in Figure 6(b) is an improvement that allows for smoother movement of the mobile weeding unit 2. In other words, the furrowed ground E is naturally uneven, even if not extremely so. To enable smooth movement over such a ground surface, a skid-shaped skid plate 26 is provided below the hood body 21. Specifically, the skid plate 26 is rotatably supported below the hood body 21 at its longitudinal center, and balance springs 27 are provided at the front and rear, allowing the hood body 21 to smoothly follow the unevenness of the furrowed ground E.

[0031] [Other Example 4] Furthermore, the embodiment shown in Figure 7 is an improvement to enable more effective use of the thermal energy of the moist heat S blown into the hood body 21 or the moist heat shield 4. Specifically, a flow guide 28 is provided on the inside of the hood body 21 so that the moist heat S remains inside the hood body 21 and the moist heat shield 4 as much as possible, allowing the high-temperature moist heat S to act on the weeds G for a longer period of time.

[0032] [Other Example 5] This embodiment is one in which the moist heat outlet 3 and the mobile weeding unit 2 are configured as completely separate components. In other words, in the previously described embodiment, the mobile weeding unit 2 was equipped with a moist heat outlet 3. In this embodiment, instead of a moist heat outlet 3, moist heat pipes 33 are pre-installed as equipment on both sides of the furrow area E, and moist heat S is blown out from there. Specifically, the moist heat pipes 33 are provided with automatic return type cocks 34 at regular intervals, and when the mobile weeding unit 2 moves, a portion of these cocks is pushed from the closed state to the open state. As a result, moist heat S is supplied from the moist heat pipes 33 into the mobile weeding unit 2 in a blown state at the portion of the cock 34 that has been pushed out, thereby causing the nearby weeds G to wither. As can be seen from this embodiment, the claims, claim 1, do not limit the mobile weeding unit 2 and the moist heat outlet 3 to being an integrated unit.

[0033] The weed control device for fields disclosed herein comprises a mobile weed control unit that can move between rows in a field, and a moist heat outlet that blows moist heat towards the rows. The mobile weed control unit is equipped with a moist heat shield that covers the moist heat outlet, and this moist heat outlet has an upper plate. The moist heat shield is characterized in that its lower periphery is made of a flexible sheet material, and the range of action of the moist heat is extended around the moist heat outlet. As a result, since the moist heat shield covering the moist heat outlet is equipped with a flexible sheet material at its lower periphery so as to be in contact with the rows, effective weed control suitable for the field shape can be performed without the use of chemicals.

[0034] Furthermore, in addition to the above requirements, the weed control device for fields is characterized in that the flexible sheet member has a configuration in which the rear portion in the direction of movement of the mobile weed control unit is longer to the rear than the front portion. As a result, because the rear portion of the flexible sheet member is longer to the rear than the front portion in the direction of movement of the mobile weed control unit, effective weed control suitable for the field configuration can be performed.

[0035] Furthermore, in addition to the above requirements, the weed control device for fields is characterized in that the moist heat outlet has nozzle holes formed approximately parallel to the top plate for blowing out moist heat. With this configuration, the moist heat outlet blows out moist heat from the nozzle holes approximately parallel to the top plate, enabling effective weed control suitable for the field configuration.

[0036] Furthermore, in addition to the above requirements, the weed control device for fields is characterized in that the moist heat outlet is provided in a mobile weed control unit, and the moist heat supply device that supplies moist heat to the moist heat outlet is provided on a trolley into which the mobile weed control unit is incorporated, or on a drive vehicle for moving the mobile weed control unit. With this configuration, when blowing out moist heat, the moist heat outlet nozzle and the moist heat supply device that supplies moist heat to it are provided on a movable trolley or a drive vehicle that drives it, and since the equipment required for weed control is bundled together, it is easy to handle and work with.

[0037] Furthermore, in addition to the above requirements, the weed control device for fields is characterized in that the moist heat shield is equipped with a flow guide that generates a recirculating flow of the moist heat blown out to its interior. As a result, because the moist heat shield is equipped with a flow guide, a recirculating flow is generated in the moist heat that has been blown out, and that thermal energy can be effectively directed towards weed control work.

[0038] Furthermore, in addition to the above requirements, the weed control device for fields is characterized in that, when the weed control device for fields is swirling, moist heat is discharged from a vent pipe provided in the middle of the moist heat supply pipe connected to the moist heat outlet. As a result, when the weed control device for fields is swirling, moist heat is discharged from a vent pipe provided in the middle of the moist heat supply pipe, so that the moist heat does not come into contact with the crops in the field and does not inadvertently come into contact with tea ridges, etc.

[0039] Furthermore, the field management method disclosed in this application is characterized by moving the mobile weeding unit of the above-mentioned field weeding device within the furrows, blowing moist heat into the furrows, and performing one or more of the following: weeding of weeds growing in the furrows, or sterilization or insecticidal action on the soil surface or in the soil. This makes it possible to perform one or more of the following in the furrows: weeding, sterilization, or insecticidal action, without using chemicals or damaging the tea ridges. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0040] 1 Weeding equipment for fields 10 Driven vehicle 10A Trolley 11 frames 11A Leg frame 11B Upper Frame 12. Running gear (crawlers) 13. Engine 14. Cockpit 15 Operating handle 16 Subframes 2 Mobile weeding units 21 Food Body 21a Top plate 21b Side 22 Shift receiver bracket 22a Rotary shaft 23 Shift Cylinder 24 connecting pipes 25 (water) spray nozzles 26 Skid Plate 27 Balance Springs 28 Flow guide 3. Moist heat outlet 30 Humid heat intake 31 Moist heat reception room 32 nozzle holes 33. Moisture Heat Piping 34 Cook 4. Moist heat shield 41 Cover Sheet 5 Moist heat supply device 51 Moist heat box body 52 burners 53 Gas-liquid separation tank 54 Exhaust stack 55 Water tank 56 Fuel tank 57 Moist heat supply pipe 57A Bent pipe D: Width dimension E Uneven land F Tea garden G Weeds L Direction of movement dimension M Cold Water Mist S Moist heat T Tea ridge

Claims

1. A rear-view portal frame including a pair of leg frames and an upper frame arranged parallel to the direction of movement, A traveling device provided on each of the aforementioned leg frames, A humid heat generator mounted on the upper frame, A moist heat shield composed of sheet members, In front of or behind each of the aforementioned traveling devices, there is a moist heat outlet that blows moist heat toward the soil, A weed control device for fields, characterized by comprising a moist heat supply pipe connecting each of the moist heat outlets to the moist heat generator.

2. The moist heat generator comprises a water supply tank, a moist heat box body, and a burner, The weed control device for fields according to claim 1, characterized in that moist heat is generated from water supplied from the water supply tank to the moist heat box body using the combustion heat of the burner.

3. The weed control device for fields according to claim 2, characterized in that the aforementioned moist heat outlet is supported so as to be able to move up and down.

4. The weed control device for fields according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the leg frame includes a subframe that rotatably supports the moist heat outlet.

5. The leg frame is equipped with a shift cylinder, The weed control device for fields according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the shift cylinder pulls the moist heat outlet toward the leg frame.

6. The weed control device for fields according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the moist heat outlet is attached to the leg frame as an attachment.

7. The weed control device for fields according to claim 4, characterized in that the subframe is provided so that its vertical position can be freely changed.

8. A mobile weeding unit that is attached to a traveling device provided on each of a pair of leg frames of a drive-type mobile machine that travels through a field, A moist heat shield composed of sheet members, A moist heat outlet that blows moist heat toward the soil is located in front of or behind the traveling device of the aforementioned driven traveling body, A mobile weeding unit characterized by comprising a lifting device for raising the moist heat outlet toward the drive-traveling machine body.

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