JP5099427B2 - Seedling transport device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a seedling transport device configured to sandwich and transport a seedling by two belt mechanisms.

  As a conventional seedling conveying device, the seedling conveying device of the transplanter described in Patent Document 1 is exemplified. As shown in FIG. 6, the seedling conveying device 50 includes two belt mechanisms 51 including a pair of upper and lower pulleys 52 and 53 and an endless belt 54 wound around the pulleys 52 and 53. And the part extended in the substantially up-down direction in the outer peripheral surface of both the endless belts 54 mutually opposes, and it arrange | positions so that the root part of the pot seedling P can be pinched | interposed between this part, and this opposing part is substantially below. By being rotationally driven so as to move at a constant speed, the pot seedling P sandwiched between the parts is transported downward. Both endless belts 54 are formed in a sponge form, are deformed according to the shape of the root of the pot seedling P, and are sandwiched so as to wrap the root.

JP 2003-102111 A

However, since the endless belt 54 is formed in a sponge, there are the following problems.
(1) The endless belt 54 lacks durability and has a short life. For this reason, it takes time and cost to replace the endless belt 54.
(2) If the product is stored for a long time after use, the endless belt 54 may be wound around the pulleys 52 and 53, and the endless belt 54 may easily slip during startup. For this reason, both endless belts 54 have to be slightly shifted from each other in the circumferential direction, which is troublesome.

In order to solve the above problems, the seedling conveying device of the present invention is
Two belt mechanisms including a pair of upper and lower pulleys and an endless belt wound around the two pulleys are provided, and portions extending substantially in the vertical direction on the outer peripheral surface of the both endless belts are opposed to each other. The root part of the pot seedling is arranged so as to be sandwiched between the two parts, and the opposing part is rotated so that it moves downward at a substantially constant speed, thereby transporting the pot seedling sandwiched in the part downward. A seedling transport device configured as follows:
The both belt mechanisms are
The both endless belts are formed non-spongey,
The upper pulleys are supported at substantially the same height,
The gap between the upper pulleys in the state where the endless belt is wound around each is set slightly narrower than the thickness of the root part ,
The lower pulleys are supported at substantially the same height,
The gap between the lower pulleys in the state where the endless belt is wound around is set narrower than the gap between the upper pulleys in the same state .

According to this configuration, since the endless belt is formed in non-sponge, it has superior durability and is less likely to be wound around the pulley even if stored for a long period of time compared to a conventional sponge-like one. . For this reason, maintainability improves. Further, since the gap between the upper pulleys in the state where the endless belt is wound around each other is set slightly narrower than the thickness of the root portion, the gap is interposed through the gap in a state where the root portion is securely clamped. Pot seedlings can be received between opposing parts.
In addition, the reason why the lower pulleys have this configuration is that the pot seedling sandwiched between the endless belts in the gap between the upper pulleys, which is the entrance of the pot seedling in the seedling transporting device, is being transported. When the gap between the lower pulleys, which is the outlet of the pot seedling in the seedling transporting device, is wider than the gap between the upper pulleys, the pot seedling cannot be held, This is because the transfer of the pot seedling to the device at the stage may fail. Here, it is preferable to adjust how much the gap between the lower pulleys is set to be narrower than the gap between the upper pulleys according to the kind of pot seedling, the diameter of the root, the soil quality, and the like.

The upper pulleys have convex portions extending in the radial direction arranged at regular intervals on the outer periphery, so that the outer periphery has irregularities including the convex portions and concave portions formed between the convex portions. The length of the convex portion in the circumferential direction of the outer circumference is set to be the same or shorter than the length of the concave portion in the circumferential direction, and the height of the convex portion in the radial direction Is set so that the inner peripheral surface of the endless belt does not contact the bottom of the recess when the endless belt is wound around,
In the gap between the upper pulleys, the upper pulleys are driven to rotate synchronously so that the concave portion of the other upper pulley faces the convex portion of one upper pulley. The aspect comprised so that is illustrated.

  According to this configuration, in the gap, the concave portion of the other upper pulley is opposed to the convex portion of the one upper pulley. A space is formed by the concave portion on the inner peripheral surface side of the pulley, whereby the endless belt can be bent toward the space side. For this reason, when the said root part is clamped in this clearance gap, it can prevent that an excessive force is added to this root part.

  According to the seedling conveying device of the present invention, there is an excellent effect that the maintainability is improved.

  FIGS. 1-5 has shown the transplanting machine 10 provided with the seedling conveyance apparatus 1 of one Embodiment which actualized this invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the transplanter 10 of this example includes a machine body 11 that is supported so as to be able to run in a farm field, and a vegetable / plant that is taken out from a pot seedling box (not shown) by a seedling extraction device (not shown) one by one. A seedling transport device 1 that transports pot seedlings P such as flowers one by one, a groove excavator 12 that forms a planting groove in the field, and a pot seedling P that has been transported by the seedling transport device 1 to receive a trench seedling device 12 is provided with a planting device 13 for planting in the planting groove behind 12 and a pair of left and right earthen wheels 14 for backfilling the planting groove behind the planting device 13. In each figure, the arrow F indicates the front side of the aircraft.

  The seedling conveying device 1 includes a pair of upper and lower pulleys 4 and 5 and a flexible endless belt 6 wound around the pulleys 4 and 5 (made of rubber in this example) as shown in FIGS. Belt mechanisms 2 and 3 are included. The parts extending substantially in the vertical direction on the outer peripheral surfaces of the endless belts 6 and 6 face each other and are arranged so that the root part Pa of the pot seedling P can be sandwiched between the parts. By being rotationally driven so as to move at a substantially constant speed, the pot seedling P sandwiched between the parts is transported downward. In the belt mechanism 2 outside the machine body, a pair of upper and lower tension pulleys 7 and 8 for urging the endless belt 6 toward the inside of the machine body are rotatably disposed on the inner peripheral side of the endless belt 6. A constant tension is applied to the opposing parts so that the pot seedlings P are securely held at the opposing parts.

  Both belt mechanisms 2, 3 are such that both endless belts 6, 6 are formed in a non-spongeous manner, the upper pulleys 4, 4 are supported at substantially the same height, and the endless belt 6 is wound around each other. A gap S (see FIGS. 2 and 3A) between the upper pulleys 4 and 4 is set to be slightly narrower than the thickness of the root portion Pa of the pot seedling P (in this example, the diameter of the root portion Pa).

  Further, the lower pulleys 5 and 5 are supported at substantially the same height, and a gap So (see FIG. 2) between the lower pulleys 5 and 5 in a state where the endless belt 6 is wound around, respectively. The width is set to be smaller than the gap S. The reason for this configuration is that the pot seedling P sandwiched between the endless belts 6 and 6 at the gap S between the upper pulleys 4 and 4 that are the entrances of the pot seedling P in the seedling transporting apparatus 1 The lower pulleys 5, 5, which are the outlets of the pot seedlings P in the seedling transport device 1, may be gradually flattened due to compression by the endless belts 6, 6 or compression at the tension pulleys 7, 8. This is because if the gap So is larger than the gap S, the pot seedling P cannot be held, and delivery of the pot seedling P to the planting device 13 may fail. The gap So is preferably set narrower than the gap S. Here, how narrow the gap So is set than the gap S is preferably adjusted as appropriate according to the type of the pot seedling P, the diameter of the root Pa, the soil quality, and the like.

  The pulleys 4 on both upper sides are formed by arranging convex portions 4a extending in the radial direction at regular intervals on the outer periphery, so that the convex portions 4a and the concave portions 4b formed between the convex portions 4a are formed on the outer periphery. As shown in FIG. 2, the length La of the convex portion 4a in the circumferential direction of the outer periphery is set to be the same as the length Lb of the concave portion 4b in the circumferential direction. The height H of the convex portion 4a in the radial direction (corresponding to the depth of the concave portion 4b) is such that the inner peripheral surface of the endless belt 6 does not contact the bottom of the concave portion 4b when the endless belt 6 is wound around. Is set to Then, as shown in FIG. 2, in the gap S between the upper pulleys 4, 4, the concave portion 4 b of the other upper pulley 4 faces the convex portion 4 a of the other upper pulley 4. In addition, the pulleys 4 and 4 on both upper sides are configured to be driven to rotate synchronously.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, both endless belts 6, 6 are provided with protrusion rows 20 arranged in the circumferential direction on the respective outer peripheral surfaces, The protrusion rows 20 are arranged so that the positions in the circumferential width direction on the outer circumferential surface are shifted from each other so as not to face each other when the outer circumferential surfaces face each other (see FIG. 3). This prevents the protrusion rows 20 of the endless belts 6 and 6 from interfering with each other at the facing portions. In this example, each protrusion 21 which is a component of the protrusion row 20 is formed in a conical shape.

  In particular, in the present example, both endless belts 6 and 6 are made of a common belt having the same specifications, and the axial directions of the common belt are reversed with respect to each other. The protrusion row 20 is not provided at a line-symmetrical position with a center line C in the width direction (see FIG. 3) as a symmetry line. Thereby, costs, such as manufacture and management of endless belt 6, can be reduced.

  According to the seedling conveying apparatus 1 of the present example configured as described above, since the endless belt 6 is formed in a non-sponge quality, it is superior in durability and stored for a long period of time as compared with a conventional sponge-type one. However, it is difficult for the pulleys 4, 5, 7, and 8 to be wound around the pulleys. For this reason, maintainability improves. Further, the gap S between the upper pulleys 4 and 4 in the state where the endless belt 6 is wound around is set slightly narrower than the thickness of the root Pa, so that the gap S is securely clamped in the state where the root Pa is securely clamped. The pot seedling P can be received between the opposing parts via the.

  Further, in the gap S, the concave portion 4b of the other upper pulley 4 faces the convex portion 4a of the one upper pulley 4, so that the inner circumference of one of the upper pulleys 4 is A space is formed by the concave portion 4b on the surface side, whereby the endless belt 6 can be bent toward the space side. For this reason, it is possible to prevent an excessive force from being applied to the root portion Pa when the root portion Pa is sandwiched in the gap S.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, For example, it can also be suitably changed and embodied as follows, for example in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of invention.
(1) Change the material of the endless belt 6 as appropriate.
(2) The shape, size, arrangement interval, and the like of the protrusions 21 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the endless belt 6, the number of the protrusion rows 20, the arrangement interval, and the like are appropriately changed.

It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the transplanting machine provided with the seedling conveying apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment which actualized this invention. It is a rear view of the seedling conveying apparatus. It is sectional drawing of the endless belt of the seedling conveyance apparatus, (a) is the IIIa-IIIa sectional view taken on the line of FIG. 2, (b) is the IIIb-IIIb sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is the IV-IV sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows a part of the endless belt. It is a rear view of the conventional seedling conveying apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Seedling device 2 Belt mechanism outside the machine body 3 Belt mechanism inside the machine body 4 Upper pulley 4a Convex part 4b Concave part 5 Lower pulley 6 Endless belt 10 Transplanter La Length of the convex part 4a in the circumferential direction of the upper pulley 4 Lb Length of the concave portion 4b in the same circumferential direction H Height of the convex portion 4a in the radial direction of the upper pulley 4 P Pot seedling Pa Root S Clearance at the entrance of the seedling transport device So Clearance at the exit of the seedling transport device

Claims (2)

Two belt mechanisms including a pair of upper and lower pulleys and an endless belt wound around the two pulleys are provided, and portions extending substantially in the vertical direction on the outer peripheral surface of the both endless belts are opposed to each other. The root part of the pot seedling is arranged so as to be sandwiched between the two parts, and the opposing part is rotated so that it moves downward at a substantially constant speed, thereby transporting the pot seedling sandwiched in the part downward. A seedling transport device configured as follows:
The both belt mechanisms are
The both endless belts are formed non-spongey,
The upper pulleys are supported at substantially the same height,
The gap between the upper pulleys in the state where the endless belt is wound around each is set slightly narrower than the thickness of the root part ,
The lower pulleys are supported at substantially the same height,
The seedling conveying apparatus in which a gap between the lower pulleys in a state where the endless belt is wound around is set narrower than a gap between the upper pulleys in the same state . The upper pulleys have convex portions extending in the radial direction arranged at regular intervals on the outer periphery, so that the outer periphery has irregularities including the convex portions and concave portions formed between the convex portions. The length of the convex portion in the circumferential direction of the outer circumference is set to be the same or shorter than the length of the concave portion in the circumferential direction, and the height of the convex portion in the radial direction Is set so that the inner peripheral surface of the endless belt does not contact the bottom of the recess when the endless belt is wound around,
In the gap between the upper pulleys, the upper pulleys are driven to rotate synchronously so that the concave portion of the other upper pulley faces the convex portion of one upper pulley. The seedling transport device according to claim 1, which is configured to perform.

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