Riding-type rice transplanter

Abstract

This riding-type rice transplanter comprises: a traveling vehicle body 3; a driving unit 13 that is provided in the traveling vehicle body 3 and has a floor 12 on which one can walk; spare seedling placement tables (20A, 20B, 20C) that are positioned on a lateral side part of the traveling vehicle body 3 and can be switched between a use state of being unfolded in the front-rear direction and a folded state of being shorter in the front-rear direction than the use state; a first step 33b, for a passenger to get on and off the floor 12, that is provided in front of the rear end portion of the spare seedling placing tables (20A, 20B, 20C) in the use state; and a second step 50, for a passenger to get on and off the floor 12, that is provided behind the first step 33b.

Description

Riding rice transplanter

[0001] The present invention relates to a riding rice transplanter equipped with a spare seedling tray.

[0002] Conventional riding rice transplanters include, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, a type that can be switched between a usage state in which the spare seedling tray is extended in the forward and backward directions so that seedlings can be placed on it (referred to as the "first working position" and "second working position" in Patent Document 1), and a folded state in which it cannot be folded so that seedlings can be placed on it (referred to as the "first storage position" and "second storage position" in Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-092312

[0004] However, in conventional riding rice transplanters, when the spare seedling tray is in use, the step that the rider uses to board the floor overlaps with the spare seedling tray in a plan view (see Figure 2 of Patent Document 1), making it difficult to board the floor using the step.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a riding rice transplanter that makes it easy to board the floor when the spare seedling tray is in use.

[0006] The riding rice transplanter of the present invention comprises a running body, a driving section provided on the running body and having a walkable floor, a spare seedling tray located on the side of the running body and switchable between a usage state in which it is extended in the fore-and-aft direction and a folded state in which it is shorter in the fore-and-aft direction than the usage state, a first step provided forward of the rear end of the spare seedling tray in the usage state for passengers to get on and off the floor, and a second step provided rearward of the first step for passengers to get on and off the floor.

[0007] According to this invention, not only is there a first step located forward of the rear end of the spare seedling tray when in use, but there is also a second step located rearward of the first step. With this configuration, even when the spare seedling tray is in use, passengers can easily avoid the spare seedling tray by using the second step when getting on and off the floor. As a result, passengers can easily get on and off the floor.

[0008] In the present invention, a side guard is provided which extends upward from the lower part of the running body and whose upper part is located behind the spare seedling tray, and it is preferable that the side guard is provided with the second step.

[0009] According to this configuration, a second step for passengers to get on and off the floor is provided on the side guard, the upper part of which is located behind the spare seedling tray, in addition to the first step. With this configuration, the second step is located at a position corresponding to the rear part of the spare seedling tray, and passengers can use the second step to get on and off the floor while avoiding the spare seedling tray.

[0010] In the present invention, it is preferable that the second step is located below the front-to-rear end portion of the spare seedling tray in the used state.

[0011] This configuration allows passengers to more easily avoid the spare seedling trays and more easily get on and off the floor.

[0012] In the present invention, it is preferable that the outer left and right ends of the second step are positioned laterally outward of the left and right ends of the spare seedling tray.

[0013] With this configuration, a portion of the second step is positioned laterally outward from the spare seedling tray, allowing passengers to more easily get on and off the floor using the portion of the second step that is positioned laterally outward from the spare seedling tray.

[0014] In the present invention, the floors include a first floor and a second floor located behind the first floor and above the height position of the first floor, and it is preferable that the second step be located at a height position between the height position of the first floor and the height position of the second floor.

[0015] With this configuration, the step is positioned at a height between the height of the first floor and the height of the second floor, so that passengers who place their feet on the second step can easily board and disembark from either the first floor or the second floor.

[0016] In the present invention, the floor has a first floor and a second floor located behind the first floor and above the height position of the first floor, and the first step is provided below the first floor, and an extension floor separate from the second floor is provided to the side of the second floor, and it is preferable that the second step is located between the first step and the extension floor in the fore-and-aft direction.

[0017] With this configuration, the second step is located between the first step and the extended floor, allowing passengers to easily use the second step to place their feet on the extended floor, making it easy to get on and off the floor.

[0018] In the present invention, it is preferable that the second step is configured to extend inward in the left-right direction from the side guard.

[0019] With this configuration, the second step is positioned laterally inward of the side guard, which makes it possible to avoid the step damaging crops in the field while the vehicle is moving.

[0020] In the present invention, it is preferable that a reinforcing member is provided across the inner end of the second step in the left-right direction and the side guard.

[0021] This configuration allows the second step to be more firmly fixed to the side guard.

[0022] Fig. 1 is a side view of the rice transplanter Fig. 2 is a plan view of the rice transplanter Fig. 3 is a front view showing the configuration of an auxiliary boarding step Fig. 4 is a front view showing the configuration of an auxiliary boarding step and a reinforcing member

[0023] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the direction of arrow F in the drawings will be referred to as "front," the direction of arrow B as "rear," the direction of arrow L as "left," and the direction of arrow R as "right." Furthermore, the direction of arrow U in the drawings will be referred to as "up," and the direction of arrow D as "down."

[0024] [Overall Configuration of the Ride-on Rice Transplanter] The following describes the ride-on rice transplanter of this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the ride-on rice transplanter has a link mechanism 4 supported at the rear of a traveling body 3 that has right and left front wheels 1 and right and left rear wheels 2. The link mechanism 4 extends rearward and is configured to be rotatable up and down. The link mechanism 4 is provided with a hydraulic cylinder 5 that operates to raise and lower the link mechanism 4.

[0025] The upper part of the fertilizer applicator 7 is provided with a hopper 8 for storing fertilizer.

[0026] As shown in Figure 1, a transmission case 9 is disposed at the front of the vehicle body 3. A support frame 10 extending forward is connected to the transmission case 9. An engine (not shown) is supported on the support frame 10. A hood 11 covering the engine is provided at the front of the vehicle body 3.

[0027] 1 and 2, a driver's section 13 having a floor 12 on which passengers can walk is provided from the right and left sides of the hood 11 to the rear side of the hood 11. A driver's seat 14 on which passengers can sit is disposed above the rear part of the floor 12.

[0028] The floor 12 includes a first floor 12A that constitutes the front portion of the floor 12, and a second floor 12B that is located behind the first floor 12A and constitutes the rear portion of the floor 12. The first floor 12A constitutes the front side of the floor 12 relative to a position corresponding to the front end portion of the driver's seat 14. The second floor 12B is located above the height position of the first floor 12A and below the height position of the seat surface of the driver's seat 14.

[0029] The floor 12 further includes an extension floor 12C separate from the second floor 12B, located to the side of the second floor 12B.

[0030] A front support section 31 made up of a plurality of frames is provided below the first floor 12A. The first floor 12A is supported from below by the front support section 31. In addition, a rear support section 32 made up of a plurality of frames is provided below the second floor 12B.

[0031] Below the lateral side of the first floor 12A, there is provided a boarding / alighting step 33 for passengers to get on and off the floor 12. The boarding / alighting step 33 includes a support portion 33a that is U-shaped in side view, and a step body 33b (corresponding to the "first step" of the present invention) provided at the bottom of the U-shape of the support portion 33a. The upper portion of the support portion 33a is fixed to the front support portion 31, and the lower portion is provided in an attitude that slopes outward laterally. The step body 33b is made of a plate-like member and is configured so that passengers can place their feet on it when getting on and off the vehicle.

[0032] [Configuration of the side guards and rear guards] Side guards 40 are provided on both the left and right sides of the driver's section 13, extending upward from the lower part of the running vehicle body 3. The left and right side guards 40 are formed by bending a round pipe material into an inverted U-shape in side view. The lower end of a front vertical extension portion 41 of the side guards 40, which is located on the front side, is fixed to the front support portion 31. The lower end of a rear vertical extension portion 42 of the side guards 40, which is located on the rear side, is fixed to the rear support portion 32.

[0033] The front vertical extension portion 41 is formed in an inclined shape that is positioned more forward as it goes downward. The upper front vertical extension portion 41a that constitutes the upper part of the front vertical extension portion 41 is formed in a steeper inclination than the lower front vertical extension portion 41b that constitutes the lower part of the front vertical extension portion 41.

[0034] A front horizontal extension 43 extending inward in the left-right direction is formed at the lower end of the front vertical extension 41 (lower front vertical extension 41b). An inner end of the front horizontal extension 43 in the left-right direction is fixed to the front support part 31.

[0035] A rear horizontal extension 44 extends inward in the left-right direction from the lower end of the rear vertical extension 42. The inner end of the rear horizontal extension 44 in the left-right direction is fixed to the rear support part 32.

[0036] A rear guard 45 is connected to the rear vertical extension 42, extending across the left and right horizontal guards 40 and protecting the fertilizer application device 7 from behind. The rear guard 45 is composed of two horizontal frames 45A formed in a U-shape in a plan view and four vertical frames 45B extending across the two horizontal frames 45A.

[0037] An extension support member 46 that supports the extension floor 12C from below is fixed to the inside of the lateral guard 40 in the left-right direction.

[0038] 1 and 2, a plurality of spare seedling trays 20 capable of holding seedlings rolled up in mat form and secured with strings, bands, etc. are arranged at the top of the right and left sides of the traveling body 3. The plurality of spare seedling trays 20 are fixed to the traveling body 3 and supported by a pair of front and rear supports 15 extending in the vertical direction, and are located on the lateral sides of the traveling body 3.

[0039] The support pillar 15 stands upright upward from a portion of the traveling body 3 that is forward of the front wheel 1. The rear support pillar 15 stands upright upward from a portion of the traveling body 3 that is above the front wheel 1.

[0040] 2 and 3, on the floor 12 (first floor 12A), there are right and left aisles between the hood 11 and the right-hand side of the plurality of spare seedling trays 20, and between the hood 11 and the left-hand side of the plurality of spare seedling trays 20. Passengers can move from the traveling vehicle body 3 to the ridge or get on the traveling vehicle body 3 from the ridge by passing through the right or left aisle.

[0041] The plurality of spare seedling trays 20 include three spare seedling trays 20A, 20B and 20C located on the lower level, and a fourth spare seedling tray 20D located on the upper level.

[0042] The second spare seedling tray 20B is fixed to the support 15. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first spare seedling tray 20A is rotatably supported at the front end of the second spare seedling tray 20B via a folding mechanism 21. The third spare seedling tray 20C is rotatably supported at the rear end of the second spare seedling tray 20B via a folding mechanism 22. With this configuration, the first spare seedling tray 20A and the third spare seedling tray 20C are each switchable between a use state (shown by solid lines in FIG. 1 ) in which they are extended in the front-to-rear direction and can accommodate seedlings, and a folded state (shown by dashed double-dashed lines in FIG. 1 ) in which they are shorter in the front-to-rear direction than the use state. In other words, the first spare seedling tray 20A, the second spare seedling tray 20B, and the third spare seedling tray 20C are configured as spare seedling trays (corresponding to the "spare seedling tray" in this invention) that can be switched between a use state and a folded state.

[0043] 1 and 2, when the first spare seedling tray 20A is in use, the front end of the first spare seedling tray 20A is located forward of the front end of the hood 11 and the front end of the first floor 12A that constitutes the front portion of the floor 12. When the third spare seedling tray 20C is in use, it is located on both sides of the first floor 12A and covers from above the step bodies 33b of the boarding and alighting steps 33. Note that the step bodies 33b are located forward of the rear end of the third spare seedling tray 20C when in use.

[0044] The fourth spare seedling tray 20D is fixed to the support 15 at a position above the second spare seedling tray 20B.

[0045] A support member 16 is connected to the upper portion of the support pillar 15 across the upper parts of the right and left support pillars 15 .

[0046] [Configuration of the Auxiliary Boarding Steps] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the left and right side guards 40 are each provided with an auxiliary boarding step 50 (corresponding to the "second step" of the present invention) for passengers to board and disembark from the floor 12. As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the auxiliary boarding step 50 is made of a plate-like member, and its outer side in the left-right direction is fixed to the lower front vertical extension portion 41b of the side guard 40, and it is configured to extend from the side guard 40 (lower front vertical extension portion 41b) toward the inner side in the left-right direction. Note that while Figures 3 and 4 show the configuration of the left auxiliary boarding step 50, the right auxiliary boarding step 50 also has a similar configuration.

[0047] 1 and 2, the auxiliary boarding step 50 is located rearward of the rear end of the third spare seedling tray 20C when in use. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, a reinforcing member 51 is provided on the left-right inner side of the auxiliary boarding step 50, spanning the left-right inner end of the auxiliary boarding step 50 and the front lateral extension 43 of the lateral guard 40.

[0048] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the upper portion of the side guard 40 is located behind the third spare seedling tray 20C, and passengers can use this portion as a handrail.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 1, the auxiliary boarding step 50 is located at a height position between the height position of the first floor 12A and the height position of the second floor 12B.

[0050] As shown in Fig. 2, the auxiliary boarding step 50 and the third spare seedling tray 20C in use are arranged so as to overlap in a plan view. More specifically, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the auxiliary boarding step 50 is located below the front-to-rear end portion of the third spare seedling tray 20C in use.

[0051] 2 and 3, the outer left-right ends of the auxiliary boarding step 50 are located laterally outward of the left-right ends of the third spare seedling tray 20C in use. Also, as shown in Fig. 2, the auxiliary boarding step 50 is located between the step body 33b of the boarding / exiting step 33 and the extension floor 12C in the front-rear direction.

[0052] With these configurations, even when the third spare seedling tray 20C is in use and covers the step body 33b of the boarding / exiting step 33 from above, a portion of the auxiliary boarding step 50 does not overlap with the third spare seedling tray 20C in a plan view. Therefore, even when the third spare seedling tray 20C is in use, the passenger can easily get on and off the floor 12 by using the auxiliary boarding step 50.

[0053] Other Embodiments Hereinafter, other embodiments in which the above-described embodiment is modified will be described.

[0054] (1) The auxiliary boarding step 50 may be configured to be rotatable, for example, in the forward and backward directions. In this case, when the third spare seedling tray 20C is in use, the auxiliary boarding step 50 may be rotated forward to extend forward, and when the third spare seedling tray 20C is in a folded state, the auxiliary boarding step 50 may be rotated rearward to extend rearward, allowing a passenger to board or disembark on the floor 12.

[0055] The auxiliary boarding step 50 may be extendable and contractible, and may be configured to be switchable between an extended state in which it extends in the front-to-rear direction and a contracted state other than the extended state. In this case, when the third spare seedling tray 20C is in use, the passenger uses the extended auxiliary boarding step 50 to get on and off the floor 12, and when the third spare seedling tray 20C is in a folded state, the passenger uses the contracted auxiliary boarding step 50 to get on and off the floor 12.

[0056] (2) In the above embodiment, the left and right outer ends of the auxiliary boarding step 50 are positioned laterally outward from the left and right ends of the third spare seedling tray 20C. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the front end of the auxiliary boarding step 50 may be positioned rearward from the rear end of the spare seedling tray 20, so that the third spare seedling tray 20C and the auxiliary boarding step 50 do not overlap when viewed in a plane.

[0057] (3) In the above embodiment, the auxiliary boarding step 50 is described as being located at a height position between the height position of the first floor 12A and the height position of the second floor 12B. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the auxiliary boarding step 50 may be located below the height position of the first floor 12A, or above the height position of the second floor 12B.

[0058] (4) In the above embodiment, a configuration including an extension floor 12C was described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and a configuration not including an extension floor 12C may also be used.

[0059] (5) In the above embodiment, the auxiliary boarding step 50 is configured to extend inward in the left-right direction from the side guard 40. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the auxiliary boarding step 50 may be configured to extend forward or backward in the fore-and-aft direction from the side guard 40.

[0060] (6) In the above embodiment, an example configuration including the reinforcing member 51 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and a configuration without the reinforcing member 51 may be used. Also, instead of the reinforcing member 51, a configuration including multiple support members that support the auxiliary boarding step 50 from below may be used.

[0061] (7) In the above embodiment, an example was described in which an auxiliary boarding step 50 is provided on each of the left and right side guards 40, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the auxiliary boarding step 50 may be provided on either one of the left or right side guards 40.

[0062] (8) Either or both of the step body 33b and the auxiliary boarding step 50 may be provided with a plurality of ribs and may be configured to be reinforced by the plurality of ribs.

[0063] (9) Either or both of the step body 33b and the auxiliary boarding step 50 may be configured to have anti-slip protrusions formed on the upper surface thereof.

[0064] The configurations disclosed in the above embodiments (including other embodiments, the same applies hereinafter) can be applied in combination with the configurations disclosed in other embodiments, unless a contradiction occurs. Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the purpose of the present invention.

[0065] The present invention can be applied to a riding rice transplanter equipped with a spare seedling tray.

[0066] 3: Traveling vehicle body 12: Floor 12A: First floor 12B: Second floor 12C: Extended floor 13: Driving section 20A: First spare seedling tray (spare seedling tray) 20B: Second spare seedling tray (spare seedling tray) 20C: Third spare seedling tray (spare seedling tray) 33b: Step body (first step) 40: Side guard 50: Auxiliary boarding step (second step) 51: Reinforcement member

Claims

1. A riding rice transplanter comprising: a running body; a driver's section provided on the running body and having a walkable floor; a spare seedling stand located on the side of the running body and switchable between a usage state in which it is extended in the fore-and-aft direction and a folded state in which it is shorter in the fore-and-aft direction compared to the usage state; a first step provided forward of the rear end of the spare seedling stand in the usage state, for a passenger to get on and off the floor; and a second step provided rearward of the first step, for a passenger to get on and off the floor.

2. A riding rice transplanter as described in claim 1, further comprising a side guard extending upward from the lower part of the traveling body, the upper part of which is located behind the spare seedling platform, and the second step being provided on the side guard.

3. A riding rice transplanter as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the second step is located below the front-to-rear end portion of the spare seedling tray in the used state.

4. A riding rice transplanter as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the left and right outer ends of the second step are positioned laterally outboard of the left and right ends of the spare seedling tray.

5. A riding rice transplanter as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the floor has a first floor and a second floor located rearward of the first floor and above the height position of the first floor, and the second step is located at a height position between the height position of the first floor and the height position of the second floor.

6. A riding rice transplanter as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the floor has a first floor and a second floor located rearward of the first floor and above the height position of the first floor, the first step is provided below the first floor, an extension floor separate from the second floor is provided to the side of the second floor, and the second step is located between the first step and the extension floor in the fore-and-aft direction.

7. A riding rice transplanter as described in claim 2, wherein the second step is configured to extend inward in the left-right direction from the side guard.

8. A riding rice transplanter as described in claim 7, further comprising a reinforcing member extending from the inner left-right end of the second step to the side guard.

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