Fertilizer application device

Abstract

We provide a seedling transplanter equipped with a fertilizer applicator that can handle the application of organic fertilizers. [Solution] A seedling transplanter 1 is provided with a fertilizer applicator 100 having a fertilizer hopper 60 for storing fertilizer and a dispensing device 61 for dispensing fertilizer supplied from the fertilizer hopper 60 by the rotation of a fertilizer applicator roll 73 around a roll shaft 75, wherein the fertilizer applicator roll 73 and the roll shaft 75 are integrally provided, and when viewed from the axial direction of the roll shaft 75, the groove bottom surface 74a of the fertilizer applicator roll 73 is provided inside the shaft diameter of the roll shaft 75.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a seedling transplanter that continuously performs seedling planting work, such as a riding type rice transplanter, and more particularly to the structure of a fertilizer application device that sprays fertilizers and the like.

Background Art

[0002] Among seedling transplanters such as riding type rice transplanters, there are some equipped with a fertilizer application device that sprays fertilizers and the like in parallel with the seedling planting work (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). Conventional fertilizer application devices are configured on the premise of using fertilizers made by chemically synthesizing or chemically processing natural raw materials. However, many chemical fertilizers are coated with plastic, and recently, environmental problems and plastic waste problems have been a concern. Therefore, organic fertilizers have been attracting attention recently.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Since organic fertilizers are decomposed by the action of microorganisms in the soil and turn into nutrients that plants can absorb, they generally do not have immediate effects, but their effects last for a long time. However, unlike chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers have a low specific gravity, so there is a problem that they cannot be completely sprayed with the current fertilizer application devices in order to spray a specified amount. In addition, since the nitrogen concentration of organic fertilizers is approximately half that of chemical fertilizers, in order to obtain the same effect as chemical fertilizers, it is necessary to simply spray approximately twice the amount of organic fertilizers.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] This invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and provides a fertilizer application device that can handle the application of organic fertilizers. proposal Providing this service is a technical challenge.

[0006] The present invention relates to a fertilizer application device having a fertilizer hopper for containing fertilizer and a dispensing device for dispensing fertilizer supplied from the fertilizer hopper by the rotation of a fertilizer application roll around a roll shaft, wherein the fertilizer application roll and the roll shaft are integrally provided, and the groove bottom surface of the fertilizer application roll is located inside the shaft diameter of the roll shaft when viewed from the axial direction of the roll shaft.

[0007] This invention fertilization equipment In the roll shaft 、 The aforementioned roll axis is As a separate part Roll drive gear It can be attached and detached. The aforementioned roll shaft In the axial direction, a bearing mounting portion is provided between the fertilizer roll and the roll drive gear, to which a bearing can be assembled. It's okay to leave them there.

[0008] Furthermore, the present invention fertilization equipment In this, the dispensing device includes, as the fertilizer roll, an increasing roll in which the groove bottom surface is located inside the diameter of the roll shaft when viewed from the axial direction of the roll shaft, and a roll in which the groove bottom surface is located outside the diameter of the roll shaft. Standard roll and It is a replaceable configuration. the law of nature, The aforementioned volume-increasing roll and the aforementioned standard roll This means that the appearance of the colors and other characteristics are made different from each other so that they can be easily distinguished. You may do so.

[0009] Furthermore, the present invention fertilization equipment In this case, the fertilizer application device adjusts the rotation speed of the fertilizer roll by 、 The aforementioned The amount of fertilizer dispensed from the fertilizer dispenser is called the dispensed amount. With an adjustable configuration the law of nature, To supply to the field Execution An input device for inputting the amount of fertilizer, and the input to the input device Execution The fertilizer application device according to the amount of fertilizer The aforementioned It is equipped with a control device that controls the amount of material dispensed, groove Size Or groove depth Different Multiple Types Execution The fertilizer rolls are designed to be replaceable, ExecutionThe control device is equipped with a detection mechanism for determining the type of fertilizer roll, and the control device determines the type determined by the detection mechanism. Execution The type of fertilizer roll and the input to the input device Execution The amount of fertilizer dispensed by the fertilizer application device may be controlled according to the amount of fertilizer.

[0010] (delete)

[0011] (delete) [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, since the groove bottom surface of the fertilizer roll is located inside the diameter of the roll shaft when viewed from the axial direction of the roll shaft, the amount of fertilizer filled into the groove of the fertilizer roll can be increased, thereby increasing the amount of fertilizer dispensed, and thus it can handle the application of organic fertilizer.

[0013] Furthermore, if a roll drive gear, which is a separate component from the roll shaft, is assembled to the roll shaft, and a bearing is configured to be assembled between the fertilizer roll and the roll drive gear on the roll shaft, the bearing can be assembled without removing the fertilizer roll from the roll shaft, thus simplifying the assembly of the roll unit with bearings and the like assembled to the fertilizer roll and roll shaft.

[0014] Furthermore, if the extra-capacity rolls and standard rolls, which are interchangeable and assembled into the dispensing mechanism of the fertilizer applicator, are color-coded differently, users can easily recognize and identify the type of fertilizer roll installed in the applicator at a glance, making it user-friendly.

[0015] In addition, if the control device for controlling the feeding amount of the fertilizer applicator controls the feeding amount of the fertilizer applicator according to the type of the fertilizer roll determined by the detection mechanism provided in the fertilizer applicator and the fertilizer amount input to the input device, for example, when it is replaced with a special roll (an increasing roll or a decreasing roll) in order to set an increase or a decrease outside the fertilizer amount adjustment range when a standard roll is installed, the user can directly input the desired fertilizer amount value into the input device without replacing the desired fertilizer amount when using the special roll with the value calculated by replacing it with a standard roll. Therefore, it is user-friendly. Also, even if by chance the wrong roll of a different type is assembled, the control device displays an input screen corresponding to the type of the installed roll and controls the feeding amount of the fertilizer applicator according to the type of the roll and the input fertilizer amount. Therefore, incorrect settings (assembly mistakes) and fertilizer amount mistakes can be prevented and the handling property is improved.

[0016] (delete)

[0017] (delete)

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] It is a left side view of a riding type rice transplanter in an embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a plan view of the same riding type rice transplanter. [Figure 3] It is a longitudinal sectional view along the front-rear direction of the fertilizer applicator. [Figure 4] (A) is a perspective view of a fertilizer roll and a roll shaft, (B) is a longitudinal sectional view along a plane orthogonal to the roll shaft direction, (C) is a perspective view showing a roll unit, and (D) is a separated perspective view of the roll unit. [Figure 5] It is a perspective view showing an example in which a plurality of rows of fertilizer rolls and a roll shaft are integrally formed. [Figure 6] It is a schematic plan view showing an example of a feeding device and a detection mechanism in a partial cross section. [Figure 7] It is a block diagram centered on a control device. [Figure 8]A schematic diagram showing an example of an input device configuration, along with an example of a settings screen. [Figure 9] This is a schematic plan view showing another example of the detection mechanism configuration along with the feeding device. [Figure 10] This is a schematic plan view showing yet another example of the detection mechanism configuration along with the feeding device. [Figure 11] This is a schematic diagram showing another example of the settings screen along with the input device configuration. [Figure 12] These are schematic diagrams and graphs illustrating examples of how the maximum speed can be changed by the control system. [Figure 13] This graph illustrates an example of how the maximum speed can be changed by the control system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0019] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. While preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings, the invention can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0020] In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to an 8-row riding-type rice transplanter 1 (hereinafter referred to as "rice transplanter 1"). In the following description, terms indicating specific directions or positions (e.g., "front and back," "left and right") may be used, but unless otherwise specified, these refer to the direction of travel of the rice transplanter. These terms are used for convenience of explanation and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0021] First, the overview of the rice transplanter 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The vehicle body 2 of the rice transplanter 1 is supported by a pair of front wheels 21 and rear wheels 22. An engine 5 is mounted in the center of the vehicle body 2. A transmission case 6 is mounted at the front of the vehicle body 2. The vehicle body 2 is configured to move forward and backward by transmitting power from the engine 5 to the transmission case 6 and driving the front wheels 21 and rear wheels 22.

[0022] The transmission case 6 has front wheel final drive cases 7 protruding outward to the left and right. Front wheels 21 are mounted on front axles 8 that protrude outward to the left and right from the front wheel final drive cases 7, and are steerable. A pair of rear wheel gear cases 9 are provided at the rear of the vehicle body 2. The rear of the transmission case 6 is connected to the pair of rear wheel gear cases 9 via a pair of rear transmission shafts 10, and is capable of transmitting power. Rear wheels 22 are mounted on rear axles 11 that protrude outward to the left and right from each rear wheel gear case 9.

[0023] The engine 5 is mounted on the main frame 15, and the rotational power of the engine 5 is transmitted to the transmission case 6 via a belt drive (not shown) and an HST (hydrostatic continuously variable transmission) 23.

[0024] The rotational power transmitted to the transmission case 6 is shifted by the transmission inside the transmission case 6, and then separated into driving power and externally extracted power. Part of the driving power is transmitted to the front wheel final case 7 to drive the pair of front wheels 21, 21, and the remainder is transmitted to the rear wheel gear case 9 to drive the pair of rear wheels 22, 22.

[0025] Furthermore, the external power is transmitted to a planting clutch case (not shown) located at the rear of the vehicle body 2, and then transmitted to the planting device 4 via a planting transmission shaft (not shown), as well as to the fertilizer application device 100. The fertilizer application device 100 will be described in more detail later.

[0026] A floor step 12 (body cover) for the operator is provided on the upper surface of the vehicle body 2. A bonnet 32 ​​housing various operating mechanisms is provided on the upper front side of the floor step 12. Although not shown in the illustration, a parking brake pedal for braking the four front and rear wheels 21 and 22, a pair of brake pedals for braking the corresponding left and right rear wheels 22, and an accelerator pedal for increasing or decreasing engine speed are provided on the lower rear side of the bonnet 32.

[0027] The driver control section 13, located on the upper rear side of the bonnet 32, is equipped with a steering wheel 14, an HST lever 24 (main drive transmission lever), and a sub-transmission lever 25. The driver's seat 18, where the operator sits, is located on the upper surface of the floor step 12, behind the bonnet 32.

[0028] Furthermore, inside the bonnet 32, there is an input device 200 (see also Figure 8) for the operator to input various settings such as the amount of fertilizer to be spread on the field by the fertilizer spreading device 100, and a control device 210 that controls the operation of the fertilizer spreading device 100.

[0029] In this embodiment, the input device 200 consists of a monitor device 201 that displays various setting screens, etc., and a setting dial device 202 that performs operations such as numerical input on the setting screens, etc., displayed on the monitor device 201. Input signals from the setting dial device 202 are sent to the control device 210 (see Figure 7). The input device 200 may also be composed of an information processing terminal such as a tablet terminal with a touch panel display.

[0030] The control device 210 is equipped with a processing unit having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a storage unit such as ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory), and an input / output unit, all of which are connected to each other and can exchange signals. The storage unit stores computer programs for controlling the rice transplanter 1. The control device 210 performs its various functions by reading the computer programs stored in the storage unit.

[0031] The lower left and right sides of the engine cover 30 and bonnet 32 ​​are horizontal floor steps 12. Part of the floor steps 12 are lattice-shaped (see Figure 2), and are designed so that mud from the shoes of workers walking on the floor steps 12 falls onto the field.

[0032] The lifting link device 3 has a parallel link configuration and includes one upper link 40 and a pair of lower links 41 on the left and right. The upper link 40 and lower links 41 are rotatably attached at their base ends to a gate-shaped link base frame 42, which is erected at the rear end of the main frame 15 when viewed from the rear, and vertical links 43 are connected to their tip ends. A connecting shaft 44, which is rotatably supported by the planting device 4, is inserted and connected to the lower end of the vertical link 43, and the planting device 4 is connected so as to be able to roll around the connecting shaft 44.

[0033] A lifting hydraulic cylinder 46 is provided between a support member fixed to the main frame 15 and the tip of a swing arm (not shown) integrally formed with the upper link 40. By hydraulically extending and retracting the lifting hydraulic cylinder 46, the upper link 40 rotates up and down, causing the planting device 4 to move up and down while maintaining a nearly constant posture.

[0034] The planting device 4 has an 8-row configuration and includes a planting transmission case 50 that also serves as a frame, a seedling tray 51 that carries mat seedlings (not shown) and moves back and forth to supply one seedling at a time to the seedling outlet 51a (see Figure 2) of each row, and a seedling tray 51 that transports the seedlings downward by a seedling feed belt 51b once all the seedlings for one row have been supplied to the seedling outlet 51a, and a seedling planting unit 52 that plants the seedlings supplied to the seedling outlet 51a into the field using a seedling planting tool 52a.

[0035] The planting device 4 has a center float 55 in the middle at its lower part, and side floats 56 on both the left and right sides. When the machine is moved with these floats 55 and 56 in contact with the mud surface of the field, the floats 55 and 56 glide along while leveling the mud surface, and seedlings are planted in the leveled areas by the seedling planting unit 52.

[0036] Each float 55, 56 is rotatably mounted so that its front end moves up and down in response to the unevenness of the topsoil surface of the field. During planting, the vertical movement of the front of the center float 55 is detected by the angle of attack control sensor 235 (see Figure 7). In response to this detection, a hydraulic valve (not shown) that controls the lifting hydraulic cylinder 46 is switched to raise and lower the planting device 4, thereby maintaining a constant planting depth for the seedlings.

[0037] The fertilizer application device 100 dispenses a fixed amount of granular fertilizer stored in the fertilizer hopper 60 using a dispensing device 61 provided for each seedling planting row. This fertilizer is then guided by a fertilizer application hose 62 to fertilizer application guides 63 attached to the left and right sides of the center float 55 and side floats 56. A furrowing body 64 provided in front of the fertilizer application guides 63 then drops the fertilizer into fertilizer furrows formed near the sides of the seedling planting rows.

[0038] The system is configured such that air generated by a blower 67, driven by an electric motor 66 for the blower, is blown into the fertilizer hose 62 via an air chamber 68 that is long in the left-right direction, and the fertilizer inside the fertilizer hose 62 is forcibly transported by air pressure.

[0039] As shown in Figure 2, the two fertilizer hoppers 60 are separated and arranged with a certain gap between them in the left-right direction, and a high-speed dispensing adjustment mechanism 400 is located in this gap. This high-speed dispensing adjustment mechanism 400 is a mechanism for adjusting the amount of fertilizer dispensed from the dispensing device 61, which dispenses fertilizer in set amounts using the driving force transmitted via the fertilizer transmission mechanism 300. The high-speed dispensing adjustment mechanism 400 is provided so that the dispensing amount of the fertilizer applicator 100 can be adjusted by the drive of the fertilizer amount adjustment motor 410 (see also Figure 7). For details on the configuration of the fertilizer transmission mechanism 300 and the high-speed dispensing adjustment mechanism 400, please refer to, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-99418. Note that the configuration including the left and right fertilizer hoppers 60 is an example of the fertilizer hopper of the present invention.

[0040] The planting device 4 is equipped with a leveling rotor 27 (the combination of the first leveling rotor 27a and the second leveling rotor 27b is sometimes simply referred to as the leveling rotor 27).

[0041] Next, the configuration of the fertilizer application device 100 will be explained with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the fertilizer application device 100 along the front-to-back direction. Figure 4 is (A) a perspective view of the fertilizer roll and roll axis, (B) a longitudinal cross-sectional view along a plane perpendicular to the direction of the roll axis, (C) a perspective view showing the roll unit, and (D) a separated perspective view of the roll unit.

[0042] The left and right fertilizer hoppers 60 share four rows on either the right or left side, and are fitted with openable and closable lids at the top. The lower part 60a of the fertilizer hopper 60 branches into four sections, forming a funnel shape, and the lower part of each section is connected to the upper end of each dispensing device 61.

[0043] The dispensing device 61 incorporates a fertilizer roll 73 that dispenses fertilizer from the fertilizer hopper 60 downwards. The fertilizer supplied from the fertilizer hopper 60 is dispensed by the rotation of the fertilizer roll 73 on a roll shaft 75. As shown in Figure 4, the fertilizer roll 73 is a rotating body with groove-shaped recesses 74 formed on its outer circumference, and roll shafts 75 are integrally molded on the left and right sides of the fertilizer roll 73, protruding outwards in the left and right directions. The fertilizer roll 73 and roll shafts 75 are made of, for example, an integrally molded resin product. In this embodiment, six recesses 74 are provided on the fertilizer roll 73.

[0044] As the fertilizer roll 73 rotates around the roll shaft 75 in the direction of the arrow in Figure 3, the fertilizer supplied from the fertilizer hopper 60 is collected in the recess 74 and discharged downwards. The fertilizer discharged by the fertilizer roll 73 is discharged from the discharge port 61a at the lower end.

[0045] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the groove bottom surface 74a of each recess 74 is located inside the diameter of the roll shaft 75 when viewed from the axial direction of the roll shaft 75. This allows for a larger amount of fertilizer to be filled into the recesses 74 (grooves) of the fertilizer roll 73, thereby increasing the amount of fertilizer dispensed, and enabling the fertilizer applicator 100 to handle the application of organic fertilizer.

[0046] A connecting pipe (not shown) is connected to the discharge port 61a of the dispensing device 61. The front end of the connecting pipe is inserted and connected in the front-rear direction to the rear part of the air chamber 68 (see Figures 1 and 2), and the rear end of the connecting pipe communicates with the discharge port 61a of the dispensing device 61.

[0047] On the other hand, the left end of the air chamber 68 is connected to the blower 67 (see Figures 1 and 2) via an air switching pipe (not shown), and the air from the blower 67 passes through the air chamber 68 and then through the discharge port 61a of the dispensing device 61 from the connecting pipe, drawing in fertilizer as it is blown into the fertilizer application hose 62.

[0048] Furthermore, a brush 76 is detachably provided inside the dispensing device 61, which slides against the outer surface of the fertilizer roll 73 on the side (front side) where the recess 74 moves downward. This brush 76 ensures that the fertilizer is filled to the brim in the recess 74 of the fertilizer roll 73, thus maintaining a constant amount of fertilizer dispensed by the fertilizer roll 73.

[0049] Next, the drive source for the roll shaft 75 will be described. The roll shaft 75 protrudes outward through the outer wall of the feed device 61, and a resin roll drive gear 81 (see Figure 4(C)) is fixed to its protruding tip. The roll drive gear 81 is rotatably meshed with a feed transmission gear (not shown) that transmits rotational driving force from the planting clutch case side. Each of these feed transmission gears is fixed to a feed rotation shaft (not shown) that extends in the left-right direction and is rotatably positioned at the lower end of each feed device 61. As the feed rotation shaft rotates intermittently, the roll shaft 75 and the fertilizer roll 73 rotate intermittently in the direction of the arrow in Figure 3 via the feed transmission gear and the roll drive gear 81. For details on the drive source for the roll shaft 75, please refer to, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-99418.

[0050] As shown in Figure 4, in the roll unit 70, the roll drive gear 81 is a separate component from the roll shaft 75 and is provided so as to be assembled to one end of one of the roll shafts 75. The roll unit 70 is equipped with a flat washer member 77, a bearing 78, an oil seal 79, a roll drive gear 81, and a snap ring 80, which are assembled in order from the fertilizer roll 73 side to one of the roll shafts 75. The roll unit 70 is also equipped with a flat washer member 77, a bearing 78, an oil seal 79, and a snap ring (not shown), which are assembled in order from the fertilizer roll 73 side to the other of the roll shafts 75.

[0051] When assembling the roll unit 70, the flat washer member 77, bearing 78, and oil seal 79 are attached to one roll shaft 75 in order from the fertilizer roll 73 side. Then, the square fitting hole 81a (square fitting hole in the illustrated example) provided on the roll drive gear 81 is fitted onto the square shaft portion 75a (square shaft portion in the illustrated example) provided on one end of the roll shaft 75. Finally, by attaching the snap ring 80 to the tip of the roll shaft 75, the roll drive gear 81 is mounted on the roll shaft 75 in a way that prevents relative rotation.

[0052] Incidentally, in conventional roll units, the roll drive gear is integrally molded at one end of the roll shaft, and it was necessary to remove the fertilizer roll from the roll shaft when assembling bearings, oil seals, and flat washers to the roll shaft. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the roll drive gear 81 is detachably mounted on the roll shaft 75.

[0053] In other words, the fertilizer applicator 100 of this embodiment is configured such that the bearing 78 can be assembled between the fertilizer roll 73 and the roll drive gear 81 on the roll shaft 75. This allows the bearing 78 to be assembled without removing the fertilizer roll 73 from the roll shaft 75, thus simplifying the assembly of the roll unit 70. In other words, although the fertilizer roll 73 and the roll shaft 75 are formed as a single molded product, the roll drive gear 81 and the bearing 78 can be easily assembled to the roll shaft 75.

[0054] Furthermore, by providing the groove bottom surface 74a of the fertilizer roll 73 inside the shaft diameter of the roll shaft 75, for example, as shown in Figure 5(A), two rows of fertilizer rolls 73 and the inter-row roll shaft 75A connecting them may be formed integrally, or as shown in Figure 5(B), four rows of fertilizer rolls 73 and the inter-row roll shaft 75A connecting them may be formed integrally. With such a configuration, multiple rows of fertilizer rolls 73 can be assembled to the dispensing device 61 simultaneously, thereby reducing the assembly work time. Such a configuration can be formed, for example, by a resin molded product.

[0055] As shown in Figure 6, the dispensing device 61 is configured to allow the exchange of multiple types of fertilizer rolls, each having at least one difference in groove size and depth. Figure 6 is a schematic plan view showing a partial cross-section of the dispensing device 61, where (A) shows the standard roll unit installed, (B) shows the increased-volume roll unit installed, and (C) shows the reduced-volume roll unit installed.

[0056] For example, the dispensing device 61 is configured to be interchangeable between a standard roll unit 70A (see Figure 6(A)), an increased-volume roll unit 70 (see Figure 6(B)), and a reduced-volume roll unit 70B (see Figure 6(C)).

[0057] As shown in Figure 6(A), the standard roll unit 70A has a standard roll 73A mounted on the roll shaft 75B, in which the groove bottom surface of the recess 74 is located outside the shaft diameter of the roll shaft 75 and the groove depth is shallower than that of the increased-volume roll 73. The increased-volume roll unit 70 shown in Figure 6(B) is the same as the roll unit 70 with a fertilizer roll 73 shown in Figure 4, etc. As shown in Figure 6(C), the reduced-volume roll unit 70B has one standard roll 73A and one grooveless roll 73B mounted on the roll shaft 75B.

[0058] If the colors of rolls 73, 73A, and 73B were the same, it would be difficult to determine the type of roll currently in use (type of roll unit) without carefully observing the shape of rolls 73, 73A, and 73B, potentially leading to misidentification. Therefore, in this embodiment, the increased-capacity roll 73, the standard roll 73A, and the grooveless roll 73B are color-coded. This allows the user to easily recognize and identify the type of fertilizer roll attached to the dispensing device 61 of the fertilizer applicator 100 at a glance, making it user-friendly.

[0059] By the way, when the fertilizer hopper 60 is attached to the dispensing device 61 in the fertilizer applicator 100, the rolls 73, 73A, and 73B of the roll units 70, 70A, and 70B cannot be directly seen. Therefore, for example, in order to distinguish between the increased-capacity roll unit 70 and the standard roll unit 70A, the roll shaft 75 of the increased-capacity roll unit 70 and the roll shaft 75B of the standard roll unit 70A may be colored differently. Alternatively, the roll drive gear 81 and the roll drive gear 81A may be colored differently.

[0060] As a result, even when the fertilizer hopper 60 is attached to the dispensing device 61 in the fertilizer applicator 100 and the roll units 70 and 70A cannot be directly seen, the type of roll unit attached to the dispensing device 61 can be determined by visually observing the color of the roll shafts 75 and 75B or roll drive gears 81 and 81A that protrude outward through the outer wall of the dispensing device 61.

[0061] Furthermore, by making the color of the roll shaft 75B of the weight-reducing roll unit 70B different from the color of the roll shaft 75 of the weight-increasing roll unit 70 and the color of the roll shaft 75B of the standard roll unit 70A, the type of roll unit installed in the feeder 61 can be easily identified for the weight-reducing roll unit 70B as well. Similarly, by making the color of the roll drive gear 81A of the weight-reducing roll unit 70B different from the colors of the roll drive gears 81 and 81A of the weight-increasing roll unit 70 and the standard roll unit 70A, the type of roll unit installed in the feeder 61 can be easily identified.

[0062] In this embodiment, the standard roll 73A and the grooveless roll 73B are fitted onto the square shaft portion (for example, the square shaft portion) of the roll shaft 75B, which has the roll drive gear 81A integrally mounted on it, to form the standard roll unit 70A or the reduced-weight roll unit 70B. However, similar to the increased-weight roll unit 70, the standard roll 73A and the grooveless roll 73B may be formed integrally with the roll shaft 75B, and the roll drive gear 81A, a separate component, may be detachably mounted on the roll shaft 75B.

[0063] As shown in Figure 7, the rice transplanter 1 is configured to allow adjustment of the amount of fertilizer dispensed from the dispenser 61 by adjusting the rotational speed of the fertilizer rolls 73, 73A, and 73B of the fertilizer dispenser 100. Specifically, the high-speed dispenser adjustment mechanism 400 (see Figure 1) is configured to allow adjustment of the dispenser amount of the fertilizer dispenser 100 by driving the fertilizer dispenser adjustment motor 410 under the control of the control device 210. For details on adjusting the dispenser amount of the fertilizer dispenser 100, please refer to Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-99418.

[0064] As shown in Figure 6, the fertilizer applicator 100 is equipped with a detection mechanism 90 that determines the type of roll unit 70, 70A, or 70B attached to the dispensing device 61. The detection mechanism 90 comprises a detection unit 91 provided on the roll shaft 75 or 75B, and a roll type detection unit 92 that detects the detection unit 91.

[0065] As shown in Figure 7, the detection signal from the roll type detection unit 92 is transmitted to the control device 210. The control device 210 controls the fertilizer application amount setting screen 221 (see Figure 8) displayed on the monitor device 201 according to the detection signal from the roll type detection unit 92. The user can input the fertilizer application amount value on the fertilizer application amount setting screen 221 by rotating and pushing the input device 200. The monitor device 201 may also display the type of roll unit attached to the fertilizer application device 100 (for example, an increased-volume roll unit 70, a standard roll unit 70A, or a reduced-volume roll unit 70B) in a way that is recognizable to the user.

[0066] The detection unit 92 of the detection mechanism 90 shown in Figure 6 includes two limit switches 92a and 92b, which are located outside the roll drive gears 81 and 81A and below the extension of the roll shafts 75 and 75B. The detected unit 91 of the detection mechanism 90 is provided protruding outward in the direction of the roll axis from the outer side surface of the roll drive gears 81 and 81A, and the length of the outward protrusion in the direction of the roll axis differs depending on the type of roll unit 70, 70A, and 70B.

[0067] For example, as shown in Figure 6(A), the detected portion 91 of the standard roll unit 70A is provided so as not to overlap with both limit switches 92a and 92b of the detected portion 91 in a plan view, and in this embodiment, it does not protrude in the roll axis direction relative to the roll drive gear 81A. Also, as shown in Figure 6(B), the detected portion 91 of the increased-volume roll unit 70 is provided with a protrusion length that overlaps with only one limit switch 92a of the detected portion 91 in a plan view, and is activated by pressing down the limit switch 92a. Also, as shown in Figure 6(C), the detected portion 91 of the reduced-volume roll unit 70B is provided with a protrusion length that overlaps with both limit switches 92a and 92b of the detected portion 91 in a plan view, and is activated by pressing down both limit switches 92a and 92b.

[0068] In this way, the detection mechanism 90 can determine the type of roll unit 70, 70A, or 70B based on the on / off state of the limit switches 92a and 92b. The control device 210 drives the fertilizer application rate adjustment motor 410 according to the type of roll unit 70, 70A, or 70B determined by the detection mechanism 90 and the fertilizer application rate input by the input device 200, thereby controlling the adjustment of the fertilizer application rate by the high-speed application rate adjustment mechanism 400.

[0069] In this embodiment, the control device 210 controls the drive of the fertilizer application rate adjustment motor 410 according to the type of standard roll unit 70A, increased-volume roll unit 70, or decreased-volume roll unit 70B detected by the detection mechanism 90, and also changes the input range of the fertilizer application rate adjustment on the fertilizer application rate setting screen 221. Therefore, when the user switches to an increased-volume roll unit 70 or a decreased-volume roll unit 70B to set an increased or decreased fertilizer application rate outside the adjustment range when the standard roll unit 70A is installed, the user can directly input the desired fertilizer application rate value into the input device without having to input a value calculated by replacing the desired fertilizer application rate when using the special roll with a standard roll, making it user-friendly.

[0070] Furthermore, even if the wrong type of roll is assembled, the control device 210 displays an input screen (fertilizer application amount setting screen 221) corresponding to the type of roll unit installed, and controls the dispensing amount of the fertilizer applicator 100 according to the type of roll unit and the input fertilizer application amount value. This prevents incorrect settings (incorrect assembly) and incorrect fertilizer application amounts, improving ease of use.

[0071] Figure 9 is a schematic plan view showing a partial cross-section of another embodiment of the detection mechanism 90, where (A) shows the standard roll unit mounted, (B) shows the increased-capacity roll unit mounted, and (C) shows the reduced-capacity roll unit mounted. The detected part 91 of the detection mechanism 90 in this embodiment is protruding from the outer side surface of the roll drive gears 81 and 81A and is composed of cylindrical parts with different outer diameters depending on the type of roll unit. The roll type detection unit 92 that detects the detected part 91 is composed of a potentiometer with a detection lever positioned below the detected part 91.

[0072] For example, as shown in Figure 9(A), the detected portion 91 of the standard roll unit 70A is composed of a cylindrical portion with an outer diameter larger than the shaft diameter of the roll shaft 75B. As shown in Figure 9(B), the detected portion 91 of the increased-volume roll unit 70 is composed of a cylindrical portion with the same outer diameter as the shaft diameter of the roll shaft 75. As shown in Figure 9(C), the detected portion 91 of the reduced-volume roll unit 70B is composed of a cylindrical portion with an outer diameter smaller than the shaft diameter of the roll shaft 75B. Note that the shaft diameters of the roll shafts 75 and 75A are the same.

[0073] Depending on the type of roll unit 70, 70A, or 70B installed in the dispensing device 61, the amount the detection lever of the roll type detection unit 92, which consists of a potentiometer, is pressed down differs. This allows the roll type detection unit 92 to determine the type of roll unit 70, 70A, or 70B installed in the dispensing device 61.

[0074] Since the detection mechanisms 90 shown in Figures 6 and 9 are located outside the fertilizer passages (such as the fertilizer hopper 60 and fertilizer roll 73) in the fertilizer application device 100, rust caused by fertilizer can be prevented, improving reliability.

[0075] Furthermore, the detection mechanism 90 may be provided in at least one of the multiple (eight in this embodiment) dispensing devices 61 installed in the fertilizer applicator 100. This reduces manufacturing costs and assembly man-hours compared to the case where a detection mechanism 90 is provided in each of the dispensing devices 61.

[0076] Furthermore, the detection mechanism 90 may be provided in each of the dispensing devices 61 of the fertilizer applicator 100. In this case, by detecting the type of roll unit in all dispensing devices 61, it is possible to detect any mismatch in the combination of roll unit types in some of the dispensing devices 61, thereby improving reliability.

[0077] Furthermore, for detecting the three types of roll units 70, 70A, and 70B, the roll type detection unit 92 of the detection mechanism 90 shown in Figure 6 is composed of two limit switches 92a and 92b, while the roll type detection unit 92 of the detection mechanism 90 shown in Figure 9 is composed of one potentiometer. In this way, since the roll type detection unit 92 is composed of the same number or less of switches or sensors as the number of types of roll units 70, 70A, and 70B that can be reassembled in the fertilizer applicator 100, an inexpensive and highly reliable detection mechanism 90 can be constructed.

[0078] Furthermore, the detected part 91 of the detection mechanism 90 shown in Figures 6 and 9 is integrally formed with the roll units 70, 70A, and 70B. This eliminates assembly errors compared to using a separate component for the detected part 91, and allows for a relatively inexpensive and highly reliable configuration.

[0079] Figure 10 is a schematic plan view showing yet another embodiment of the detection mechanism 90 in partial cross-section, where (A) shows the standard roll unit installed and (B) shows the increased-volume roll unit installed.

[0080] The part to be detected in the detection mechanism 90 of this embodiment is provided in the roll bearing section 91A that supports the roll shafts 75, 75A in the feeding device 61. The roll type detection section 92 is composed of, for example, a limit switch and is configured to detect the type of roll unit 70A or 70 by having the assembly phase of the roll bearing section 91A differ depending on the type of roll unit (standard roll unit 70A or increased-capacity roll unit 70).

[0081] Furthermore, the roll units 70 and 70A in this embodiment are two-row roll units in which two rolls 73 and 73A are integrated. The roll bearing portion 91A supports the bearing 78 and oil seal 79 that are loosely fitted to the roll shafts 75 and 75A in the central inter-row portion 70a of the roll units 70 and 70A. Although the details of the connection configuration of the integrated two-row increased-capacity roll unit 70 are omitted, for example, it can be configured by providing a square hole on the end face of the roll shaft 75 of one increased-capacity roll 73, providing a square shaft portion at the end of the roll shaft 75 of the other increased-capacity roll 73, and fitting these square shaft portions and square holes together to connect the roll shafts 75.

[0082] As shown in Figure 10, the shape of the roll bearing portion 91A is the same for the standard roll unit 70A (see (A)) and the increased-capacity roll unit 70 (see (B)), but the assembly phase (assembly orientation) is different. The roll type detection unit 92 of the detection mechanism 90 remains off when the standard roll unit 70A is installed, and turns on when the increased-capacity roll unit 70 is installed, as the detection lever is pushed down by the roll bearing portion 91A. In this way, the detection mechanism 90 is configured to distinguish between the types of roll units 70 and 70A.

[0083] In this embodiment, since the detected part of the detection mechanism 90 is composed of a non-rotating roll bearing part 91A, detection stability and durability can be improved. Furthermore, since the types of rolls for two rows can be detected simultaneously, the reliability of roll type detection can be improved.

[0084] Furthermore, the shape of the roll bearing portion 91A differs between the standard roll unit 70A and the increased-capacity roll unit 70, and the roll type detection unit 92 may be configured to detect this difference in shape. In addition, the mounting phase and shape of related parts of the roll units 70 and 70A, such as the bearing 78, which are different from the roll bearing portion 91A, may be made different between the roll units 70 and 70A, and the roll type detection unit 92 may be configured to detect this difference.

[0085] Furthermore, although Figure 10 shows the roll bearing portion 91A of the two integrated roll units 70 and 70A as the part to be detected by the detection mechanism 90, the related parts of each individual roll unit 70 and 70A, such as the part corresponding to the roll bearing portion 91A or the bearing 78, may also be used as the part to be detected by the detection mechanism 90.

[0086] As shown in Figure 8, the control device 210 of the rice transplanter 1 is configured to allow setting the specific gravity of the fertilizer in relation to the amount of fertilizer to be applied, as displayed on the fertilizer application amount setting screen 221 of the monitor device 201 of the input device 200. When controlling the amount of fertilizer dispensed by the fertilizer dispenser 100, the control device 210 takes into account not only the input fertilizer application amount value but also the input specific gravity value to control the drive of the fertilizer application amount adjustment motor 410 and control the dispense amount adjustment of the dispenser 61 by the high-speed dispense adjustment mechanism 400. The fertilizer dispenser 100 may also be equipped with an electric motor as a drive source for rotating the fertilizer roll 73 of the dispenser 61. In this case, the fertilizer dispenser 100 adjusts and controls the dispense amount of the dispenser 61 by controlling the rotation speed of the electric motor.

[0087] By the way, when changing the fertilizer applied to the field to one with a different specific gravity, in order to ensure the correct amount of fertilizer is applied, it is necessary to reset the specific gravity of the fertilizer filled in the fertilizer hopper 60 on the fertilizer application amount setting screen 221. For example, users who are contract workers may change fertilizers many times a year, and each time they have to set the fertilizer, which is a troublesome operation.

[0088] Therefore, in the rice transplanter 1 of this embodiment, the control device 210 is equipped with a fertilizer memory function that holds the specific gravity setting for the amount of fertilizer to be applied. As shown in Figure 8, in the operation unit 13, the input device 200 is equipped with a monitor device 201 and a setting dial device 202, as well as other operation switches such as a confirmation button 203.

[0089] The user operates the setting dial device 202 to select the specific gravity on the fertilizer application amount setting screen 221 and performs a short press, at which point the specific gravity screen 222 is displayed on the monitor device 201, as shown in Figure 11(A). The specific gravity screen 222 displays multiple registered specific gravity values ​​A, B, and C. The user operates the setting dial device 202 to select one of specific gravity values ​​A, B, or C and then performs a short press, at which point the selected specific gravity is reflected on the fertilizer application amount setting screen 221 (see Figure 8). This simplifies the specific gravity setting operation when changing fertilizers, making it user-friendly.

[0090] Furthermore, the NPK (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium) ratio differs for each type of fertilizer, but registering fertilizer types by entering their names would require a very complicated process. Therefore, as shown in Figure 11(A), the specific gravity screen 222 stores and displays the NPK (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium) ratio associated with each registered specific gravity A, specific gravity B, and specific gravity C.

[0091] On the specific gravity screen 222, the user operates the setting dial device 202 to select one of specific gravity A, specific gravity B, or specific gravity C, and then presses the confirm button 203 to proceed to the NPK memo screen 223 shown in Figure 11(B). The user operates the setting dial device 202 to input numerical values ​​for each of the NPK (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium) on the NPK memo screen 223, and then presses the confirm button 203 to return to the specific gravity screen 222. The entered NPK ratios are then stored in association with specific gravity A, specific gravity B, or specific gravity C and displayed on the specific gravity screen 222.

[0092] Since users can distinguish between different types of fertilizers (fertilizer names) if they know the NPK (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium) ratio, they can register fertilizer types as specific gravity A, specific gravity B, and specific gravity C with relatively simple numerical input compared to text input. This makes it user-friendly, as users can easily select specific gravity A, specific gravity B, or specific gravity C according to the type of fertilizer filled into the fertilizer hopper 60. Furthermore, for example, when using up multiple fertilizers, if those fertilizers are registered as specific gravity A, specific gravity B, or specific gravity C, setting the specific gravity (fertilizer setting) when filling each fertilizer into the fertilizer hopper 60 becomes very easy.

[0093] The number of specific gravity types that can be registered in the control device 210 may be one, two, or four or more. In this embodiment, it is also possible to input the weight of fertilizer dispensed using the trial dispensing mechanism (not shown) of the fertilizer dispenser 100 (trial dispensing amount) into the fertilizer dispensing amount setting screen 221 shown in Figure 8, and have the control device 210 automatically calculate the specific gravity and display it in the specific gravity column of the fertilizer dispensing amount setting screen 221.

[0094] In this embodiment, by attaching a volume-increasing roll unit 70 having a volume-increasing roll 73 to the dispensing device 61, the fertilizer applicator 100 is configured to dispense a large amount of fertilizer, thus accommodating the application of organic fertilizer. Here, the amount of organic fertilizer applied, which has a lower specific gravity than chemical fertilizer, can be more than twice that of current chemical fertilizers. When the amount of fertilizer applied increases and the vehicle speed increases, the amount of fertilizer applied per unit of time increases, raising concerns that fertilizer may accumulate in the fertilizer transport parts such as the fertilizer hose 62 and fertilizer guide 63.

[0095] As mentioned above, the fertilizer is transported by air using the blower 67. However, there are limitations to the airflow capacity of the blower 67 and the power generation capacity to drive the electric motor 66 for the blower. Therefore, methods other than improving the air transport capacity are desired to prevent fertilizer stagnation.

[0096] Therefore, in the rice transplanter 1 of this embodiment, the control device 210 is configured to change the maximum speed of the vehicle body 2 according to the amount of fertilizer and specific gravity entered in the fertilizer amount setting screen 221. In addition, the control device 210 is configured to change the maximum speed of the vehicle body 2 according to the height of the seedling planting unit 52 and the hydraulic sensitivity setting of the center float 55.

[0097] As shown in Figure 7, the control device 210 is electrically connected to a vehicle speed detection sensor 231 for detecting the vehicle speed of the traveling vehicle body 2, a planting unit height detection sensor 232 for detecting the height position of the seedling planting unit 52, a hydraulic pressure sensitivity setting dial 233 for setting the hydraulic pressure sensitivity of the center float 55, and an HST lever angle detection sensor 234 consisting of a potentiometer for detecting the angle of the HST lever 24. The planting unit height detection sensor 232 is made up of a potentiometer provided on the lifting link device 3, for example. The hydraulic pressure sensitivity setting dial 233 is provided on the operation unit 13 and is configured to allow the ease of vertical oscillation of the center float 55 to be set to the "hard" side or the "soft" side depending on the hardness of the field.

[0098] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of changing the maximum speed by the control device 210, where (A) shows the maximum speed limit and (B) shows the maximum speed unlimited. As shown in Figure 12(A), when the control device 210 limits the maximum speed of the vehicle body 2, when the HST lever 24 is moved forward from the neutral position on the near side, the HST 23 controls the vehicle speed to be such that it is corresponding to the HST lever angle until it reaches a certain HST lever angle (see, for example, the position of the solid line).

[0099] Then, when the angle of the HST lever 24 reaches a certain HST lever angle corresponding to the restricted maximum speed, a warning screen such as "Vehicle speed is restricted" is displayed on the monitoring device 201. Even if the HST lever 24 is moved forward beyond the aforementioned HST lever angle, the HST 23 is controlled to maintain the restricted maximum speed and keep the vehicle speed constant.

[0100] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 12(B), when the maximum speed of the vehicle body 2 is not limited, the control device 210 controls the HST 23 so that the vehicle speed corresponds to the HST lever angle when the HST lever 24 is moved forward from the neutral position towards the front. When the HST lever 24 is moved to the furthest forward position, the above warning display screen is displayed on the monitor device 201.

[0101] The maximum speed limit set by the control device 210 is changed by the values ​​of the fertilizer application amount and specific gravity entered in the fertilizer application amount setting screen 221. As shown in Figure 13(A), when the input fertilizer application amount value (fertilizer application amount) exceeds a certain amount, the control device 210 controls the maximum speed to decrease in accordance with the fertilizer application amount. Similarly, as shown in Figure 13(B), when the input specific gravity value (specific gravity) exceeds a certain amount, the control device 210 controls the maximum speed to decrease in accordance with the fertilizer application amount. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 13(C), when the cumulative value of the input fertilizer application amount value (fertilizer application amount) and the input specific gravity value (specific gravity) exceeds a certain amount, the control device controls the maximum speed to decrease in accordance with that cumulative value.

[0102] In this way, by limiting the maximum speed according to the input fertilizer application rate and specific gravity values, it is possible to prevent the amount of fertilizer applied per unit of time from becoming too high during fertilization, allowing for fertilization that is compatible with organic fertilizers (with a higher application rate) without clogging the fertilizer. This eliminates wasted time due to fertilizer clogging, thus improving work efficiency.

[0103] Furthermore, when the height of the seedling planting section 52 of the planting device 4 increases, the fertilizer hose 62 bends more, for example, into an inverted U shape, making it easier for fertilizer to clog the fertilizer transport path. Therefore, as shown in Figure 13(D), the control device 210 controls the maximum speed to decrease when the planting section height detected by the detection sensor 232 exceeds a certain height. This prevents the amount of fertilizer applied per unit time from becoming too large when the fertilizer hose 62 is bent into an inverted U shape, thus preventing fertilizer clogging in the fertilizer transport path.

[0104] Similarly, as shown in Figure 13(E), the control device 210 controls the maximum speed to slow down according to the cumulative value of the input fertilizer application amount (fertilizer application amount), the input specific gravity value (specific gravity), and the planting unit height detection value, when the cumulative value exceeds a certain value, thereby preventing fertilizer clogging in the fertilizer transport path.

[0105] Furthermore, the control device 210 changes the maximum speed of the vehicle body 2 according to the hydraulic sensitivity setting using the hydraulic sensitivity setting dial 233. When the hydraulic sensitivity setting dial 233 is set to the "hard" side, the planting height of the seedling planting unit 52 is lowered, so the control device 210 controls the maximum speed to the lower side. On the other hand, when the hydraulic sensitivity setting dial 233 is set to the "soft" side, the planting height of the seedling planting unit 52 is raised, so the control device 210 controls the speed to the maximum side.

[0106] Furthermore, the control device 210 increases the rotational speed of the engine 5 using the auto-accelerator function to increase the power generation capacity when the cumulative value of the input fertilizer application amount (fertilizer application amount), the input specific gravity value (specific gravity), and the planting unit height detection value exceeds a certain value. This increases the rotational speed of the electric motor 66 for the blower, improving the airflow velocity of the blower 67 and preventing fertilizer clogging in the fertilizer transport path.

[0107] Furthermore, if the amount of fertilizer applied increases and the vehicle speed increases, the amount of fertilizer passing through the transport path per unit time increases, which may cause fertilizer clogging. One way to resolve fertilizer clogging is to reduce the vehicle speed, but if the amount of fertilizer applied is small, there is little risk of fertilizer clogging even if the vehicle speed is increased, so reducing the vehicle speed would decrease work efficiency. Therefore, the control device 210 controls the vehicle speed of the traveling vehicle 2 by gradually changing it according to the input fertilizer amount value entered in the fertilizer amount setting screen 221. This prevents the vehicle speed from being restricted more than necessary, and improves work efficiency.

[0108] Conventionally, a fertilizer applicator 100 is known in which a partition is provided inside the dispensing device 61 and in the funnel section below it, thereby integrating two fertilizer dispensing devices into one unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In recent years, the number of farmers using organic fertilizers has been increasing, and since organic fertilizers contain less nitrogen and other components than chemical fertilizers, it is necessary to apply nearly twice the amount of organic fertilizer. As in the above embodiment, the dispensing amount can be increased by making the recess 74 of the fertilizer roll 73 larger or increasing the rotation speed of the fertilizer roll 73, but there are mechanical limitations.

[0109] One method to solve this problem is to provide one unit per row, each containing a two-row dispensing device 61, and to integrate the fertilizer dispensed from the two-row dispensing device 61 for application. For example, a funnel section is provided at the bottom of the two-row dispensing device 61 to dispense the fertilizer dispensed from both rows together from a single discharge port 61a. This allows for the application of twice the amount of fertilizer per row while utilizing the conventional dispensing device 61 configuration, thus satisfying the required amount of fertilizer for organic fertilizer application and enabling low-cost implementation without incurring significant development costs.

[0110] Furthermore, by integrating the two fertilizer hoses 62 connected to the discharge ports 61a of the two-row dispensing device 61 and applying fertilizer together, twice the amount of fertilizer can be applied per row. For example, by connecting the two fertilizer hoses 62 with a Y-shaped integrating section, the two fertilizer hoses 62 can be integrated with a simple configuration. The integrating section for the two fertilizer hoses 62 can be provided anywhere between the air chamber 68 and the fertilizer guide 63.

[0111] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and can be embodied in various forms. For example, the present invention is not limited to application to riding-type rice transplanters, but can also be applied to various seedling transplanters such as vegetable transplanters. The configuration of each part is not limited to the illustrated embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0112] 1. Riding-type rice transplanter (an example of a seedling transplanter) 60 Fertilizer Hopper 61. Dispensing device 70 Increased Roll Unit 70a Central row area 70A Standard Roll Unit 70B Weight Reduction Roll Unit 75 Roll axis 73. Increased volume roll (an example of a fertilizer roll) 73A Standard Roll (Example of a fertilizer roll) 78 Bearings 81 Roll drive gear 90 Detection mechanism 91 Detected part 91A Roll bearing section (an example of the part to be detected) 92 Roll type detection unit (detection unit) 100 Fertilizer equipment 200 Input Devices 210 Control device

Claims

1. A fertilizer applicator comprising a fertilizer hopper for storing fertilizer and a dispensing device for dispensing fertilizer supplied from the fertilizer hopper by the rotation of a fertilizer application roll around a roll shaft, The fertilizer roll and the roll shaft are provided integrally. A fertilizer applicator in which, when viewed from the axial direction of the roll shaft, the groove bottom surface of the fertilizer roll is located inside the axial diameter of the roll shaft.

2. A roll drive gear is detachably attached to the roll shaft as a separate component from the roll shaft. The fertilizer applicator according to claim 1, wherein a bearing mounting portion is provided in the axial direction of the roll shaft, between the fertilizer roll and the roll drive gear, to which a bearing can be assembled.

3. The dispensing device is configured to allow the fertilizer roll to be interchangeable between an increased-feed roll, in which the groove bottom surface is located inside the diameter of the roll shaft when viewed from the axial direction of the roll shaft, and a standard roll, in which the groove bottom surface is located outside the diameter of the roll shaft. The fertilizer applicator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the increased volume roll and the standard roll are distinguished from each other by appearance, such as color, so that they can be easily identified.

4. The fertilizer application device adjusts the rotation speed of the fertilizer roll, The fertilizer dispensed from the fertilizer dispenser is configured to allow adjustment of the dispensed amount. An input device for inputting the amount of fertilizer to be supplied to the field, The system includes a control device that controls the amount of fertilizer dispensed by the fertilizer dispenser according to the amount of fertilizer input to the input device, The system is configured to allow the exchange of multiple types of fertilizer rolls with different groove sizes or depths, and is equipped with a detection mechanism to identify the type of fertilizer roll. The fertilizer applicator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control device controls the amount of fertilizer dispensed by the fertilizer applicator according to the type of fertilizer roll determined by the detection mechanism and the amount of fertilizer input to the input device.

Images