JP4100559B2

JP4100559B2 - Seedling insertion machine

Info

Publication number: JP4100559B2
Application number: JP2003051156A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 木下　　栄一郎; 賢治吉成; 喜八郎長谷; 康弘宮内; 山本　　和彦; 茂彦林; 智彦太田; 司長木; 惠治安食; 弘美大森
Original assignee: Iseki and Co Ltd; National Agriculture and Food Research Organization
Current assignee: Iseki and Co Ltd; National Agriculture and Food Research Organization
Priority date: 2003-02-27
Filing date: 2003-02-27
Publication date: 2008-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 2023-02-27
Also published as: JP2004254641A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
この発明は、キク等の苗作りにおいて行なう苗挿しを機械的に行なう苗挿し機の技術分野に属する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
苗挿し作業を機械的に行うものとしては、下記特許文献１に記載のものが知られている。この文献に記載の苗挿し機は、作業者から苗を受け取って移送する苗供給装置と、該苗供給装置から苗を取出して育苗器の苗床に苗挿しする苗挿し装置を設けた構成としたものである。
【０００３】
【特許文献１】
特開平１１−２２５５８５号公報
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
キク等の苗作りでは、親株から取った苗（挿し穂）を苗床に挿すとき、育苗中に病気が発生しないよう下葉を除去してから苗挿しする。上記特許文献１記載の苗挿し機では、予め下葉を除去した苗を苗供給装置に供給する必要があり、従って、下葉除去を人手で行う作業が事前に必要であり、この点が作業能率の向上を妨げるところとなっていた。
【０００５】
本発明は、苗挿し機において、下葉除去と苗挿しを機械的に行えるものとし、しかも、下葉除去の作業工程を有するものでありながら苗挿しが能率良く行えるようにし、また、下葉除去をする装置を付加したものでありながらコンパクトな機体構成とすることを課題とする。
【０００６】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明の上記課題は次の解決手段で解決される。
請求項１記載の発明は、作業者から苗を受け取って移送する苗供給装置１と、苗の下葉を除去する下葉除去装置２と、前記苗供給装置１から苗を取出して前記下葉除去装置２に移送し、前記下葉除去装置２から苗を取出して上方の設定個所に移送する苗移送装置７と、前記苗移送装置７が上方設定個所に移送した下葉除去後の苗を取って育苗器Ｔの苗床に苗挿しする苗挿し装置３と、苗挿し装置３により苗挿しされる育苗器Ｔを載置する育苗器載置部４とを設け、前記苗供給装置１は、苗を収容する多数の苗収容部１０ａ…を互いに連結して機体平面視で左右横方向に長い長円状軌跡で周回移動させる構成とし、前記苗移送装置７は、苗を保持及び解放可能に開閉する苗挟持具５ａ…を複数左右横並び状態で備えて、前記苗収容部１０ａ…の左右横方向直線状に移動する横移動部に前後に対向して配置するとともに、横移動部に位置する複数の苗収容部１０ａ…内から複数の苗を横並び状態で取り出し可能に構成し、前記下葉除去装置２は、複数の下葉処理部を左右方向に横並び状態で設けて前記苗収容部１０ａ…の前記横移動部の下方に配置し、前記育苗器載置部４は、前記苗供給装置１の横一側方に配置して育苗器Ｔを前後方向に移送可能に構成し、前記苗挿し装置３は、前記苗収容部１０ａ…の前記横移動部の上方位置と前記育苗器載置部４の上方位置とに左右方向に横移動可能に設けた苗挿し機である。
【０００７】
請求項２記載の発明は、作業者から苗を受け取って移送する苗供給装置１と、苗の下葉を除去する下葉除去装置２と、前記苗供給装置１から苗を取出して前記下葉除去装置２に移送する苗移送装置７と、前記下葉除去装置２からの下葉除去後の苗を取って育苗器Ｔの苗床に苗挿しする苗挿し装置３と、苗挿し装置３により苗挿しされる育苗器Ｔを載置する育苗器載置部４とを設け、前記苗供給装置１は、苗を収容する多数の苗収容部１０ａ…を互いに連結して機体平面視で左右横方向に長い長円状軌跡で周回移動させる構成とし、前記苗移送装置７は、苗を保持及び解放可能に開閉する苗挟持具５ａ…を複数左右横並び状態で備えて、前記苗収容部１０ａ…の左右横方向直線状に移動する横移動部に前後に対向して配置するとともに、横移動部に位置する複数の苗収容部１０ａ…内から複数の苗を横並び状態で取り出し可能に構成し、前記下葉除去装置２は、複数の下葉処理部を左右方向に横並び状態で設けて前記苗収容部１０ａ…の前記横移動部の下方に配置し、前記育苗器載置部４は、前記苗供給装置１の横一側方に配置して育苗器Ｔを前後方向に移送可能に構成し、前記苗挿し装置３は、前記苗収容部１０ａ…の前記横移動部の上方位置と前記育苗器載置部４の上方位置とに左右方向に横移動可能に設けた苗挿し機である。
【０００８】
【作用】
請求項１記載の発明は、苗移送装置７が苗供給装置１から苗を取出して下葉除去装置２に移送し、下葉除去装置２が苗の下葉を除去した後、再び苗移送装置７が苗を受け取り、苗挿し装置３に苗を受け渡すために搬送する構成であるのに対して、請求項２記載の発明では、苗移送装置７が苗供給装置１から苗を取出して下葉除去装置２に移送し、下葉除去装置２が苗の下葉を除去した後に、その苗を苗移送装置７でなく、下葉除去装置２から苗挿し装置３が直接苗を受け取る構成である。
【０００９】
すなわち、請求項１記載の発明では、苗供給装置１が作業者から受け取った苗を移送し、苗移送装置７が、その第一苗保持手段５と第一移動手段６とによって苗供給装置１から苗を取出して下葉除去装置２に移送し、下葉除去装置２が苗の下葉を除去する。そして、下葉除去装置２が下葉除去した苗を苗移送装置７が取出して設定個所に移送する。
【００１０】
次に、苗挿し装置３は、その第二苗保持手段８と第二移動手段９によって苗移送装置７から苗を引継いで移送し、別の苗保持手段に引継ぐことなく育苗器載置部４に載置された育苗器Ｔの苗床に苗挿しする。苗移送装置７の苗移送動作は、苗挿し装置３の苗移送動作中にも動作する。従って、苗挿し装置３が苗移送装置７から苗を引継いで育苗器Ｔの苗床に移送する間に、苗移送装置７が苗供給装置１から次の苗を取出して下葉除去装置２に移送できる。
【００１１】
また、請求項２記載の発明では、苗供給装置１が作業者から受け取った苗を移送し、苗移送装置７が、その第一苗保持手段５と第一移動手段６とによって苗供給装置１から苗を取出して下葉除去装置２に移送し、下葉除去装置２が苗の下葉を除去する。そして、苗挿し装置３は、その第二苗保持手段８と第二移動手段９によって下葉除去装置２から苗を取出して移送し、別の苗保持手段に引継ぐことなく育苗器載置部４に載置された育苗器Ｔの苗床に苗挿しする。苗移送装置７の苗移送動作は、苗挿し装置３の苗移送動作中にも動作する。従って、苗挿し装置３が下葉除去装置２から苗を取出して育苗器Ｔの苗床に移送する間に、苗移送装置７が苗供給装置１から次の苗を取出して下葉除去装置２に移送できる。
【００１２】
【発明の効果】
請求項１及び請求項２に記載の発明は、上記構成からなるので、従来、人手により行なわれてきた下葉の除去作業を機械的に行え、しかも、下葉除去装置２に苗を移送する苗移送手段（苗移送装置７の第一移動手段６）と、下葉を除去した苗を育苗器の苗床まで移送する苗移送手段（苗挿し装置３の第二移動手段９）とを別々に設け、両苗移送手段が同時に苗移送動作可能に設けているので、下葉除去の作業工程を有するものでありながら能率良く苗挿しが行え、更に、苗挿し装置３は苗移送途中で別の苗保持手段に引継ぐことなく育苗器Ｔの苗床に苗挿しするように設けているので、苗挿し機全体の作業工程中における苗引継ぎ部を少なくできて苗引継ぎ時の苗保持姿勢の乱れが生じにくくなり、苗挿し姿勢が良好になる。
【００１３】
請求項１記載の発明では、従来、人手により行なわれてきた下葉の除去作業を機械的に行える。しかも、苗供給装置１は、多数の苗収容部１０ａ…を互いに連結して機体平面視で左右横方向に長い長円状軌跡で周回移動する構成とし、この苗収容部１０ａ…の左右横方向直線状に移動する横移動部から苗移送装置７が複数の苗を横並び状態で取り出し、それらの苗は下葉除去装置２に移送されて一度に下葉除去処理され、再び苗移送装置７が苗を受け取り、その後、苗挿し装置３に渡されて育苗器Ｔの苗床に横並び状態で苗挿しされるものであるので、下葉除去と苗挿しを能率良く行える。更に、前記苗移送装置７は苗収容部１０ａ…の横移動部に前後に対向して配置し、下葉除去装置２は苗収容部１０ａ…の横移動部の下方に配置し、育苗器載置部４は苗供給装置１の横一側方に配置し、苗挿し装置３は苗収容部１０ａ…の横移動部の上方位置と育苗器載置部４の上方位置とに左右方向に横移動可能に設けたものであるので、下葉除去装置を備える苗挿し機でありながら機体をコンパクトに構成できる。
【００１４】
請求項２記載の発明では、苗移送装置７が苗供給装置１から苗を取出して下葉除去装置２に移送し、下葉除去装置２が苗の下葉を除去した後に、その苗を苗移送装置７でなく、下葉除去装置２から苗挿し装置３が直接苗を受け取る構成で請求項１記載の発明と異なるのみで、請求項１記載の発明と同様に下葉除去と苗挿しを能率良く行え、さらに前記苗移送装置７は苗収容部１０ａ…の横移動部に前後に対向して配置し、下葉除去装置２は苗収容部１０ａ…の横移動部の下方に配置し、育苗器載置部４は苗供給装置１の横一側方に配置し、苗挿し装置３は苗収容部１０ａ…の横移動部の上方位置と育苗器載置部４の上方位置とに左右方向に横移動可能に設けたものなので、下葉除去装置を備える苗挿し機でありながら機体をコンパクトに構成できる。
【００１５】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の実施の一形態として菊の苗を苗挿しする苗挿し機について図面と共に説明する。
図１は本発明の実施の形態の苗挿し機の左側面図、図２は図１の苗挿し機の平面図を示す。図３は図１の苗挿し機の主要な構成を示す斜視図、図４は苗供給装置の構成を示す斜視図、図５は苗供給装置の苗収容体の作動説明図、図６は苗収容体の断面図、図７は苗移送装置の構成を示す斜視図、図８は下葉除去装置の構成を示す斜視図、図９は第二苗保持装置の構成を示す正面図である。
【００１６】
この苗挿し機は、作業者から供給された苗を下葉除去し、その後、多数のセルCが前後左右に整列配置された育苗器（セルトレイ）ＴのセルＣ内の苗床に苗挿しするものである。
【００１７】
苗挿し機には、以下の装置を設けている。即ち、作業者から苗を受け取って移送する苗供給装置１と、苗の下葉を除去する下葉除去装置２と、育苗器Ｔの苗床に苗挿しする苗挿し装置３と、苗挿しされる育苗器Ｔを載置する育苗器載置部４を設ける。また、苗を挟持及び解放可能に開閉する苗挟持具５ａ…を備えた第一苗保持手段５と、該第一苗保持手段５を移動させる駆動装置６ａ、６ｂを有する第一移動手段６を備えて、前記苗供給装置１から苗を取出して前記下葉除去装置２に移送する苗移送装置７を設ける。
【００１８】
更に、前記苗挿し装置３は、苗を保持及び解放可能に開閉する苗挟持具８ａ…を備えた第二苗保持手段８と、該第二苗保持手段８を移動させる駆動装置９ａ、９ｂ、９ｃを有する第二移動手段９を備えて、前記下葉除去装置２により下葉除去された苗を移送し，別の苗保持手段に引継ぐことなく育苗器Ｔの苗床に苗挿しする構成としている。そして、前記苗移送装置７の苗移送動作を前記苗挿し装置３の苗移送動作中にも動作可能に設けた構成としている。
【００１９】
また、前記下葉除去装置２により下葉除去された苗は、苗移送装置７が下葉除去装置２から苗を取出して設定個所に移送し、それから苗挿し装置３が苗移送装置７から苗を引継いで移送する構成とするか、または、苗挿し装置３が、下葉除去装置２から直接苗を取出して移送する構成とする。
【００２０】
さらに本実施の形態の苗挿し機は、各装置の作動を制御する制御装置を備えており、この制御装置の中枢部と各装置の駆動部（モーター、エアーシリンダ等）とを接続し、また、各装置が設定位置まで動作したか否かについて判断するためのセンサを各装置に設け、これらのセンサも制御装置に接続し、更に、起動スイッチや各装置の作動スピードを変更する速度変更ダイヤルなども制御装置に接続する。
【００２１】
以下、各装置について説明する。
苗供給装置１は、作業者から苗を受け入れる苗受入位置Ｅ側から下葉除去装置２側に移送するものであり、苗を収容する苗収容体１０…を複数個設けて下葉除去装置２側に向けて移動する構成としている。苗収容体１０は、上下に開口するカップ状の苗収容部（セル）１０ａ…の複数個を無端チェーン１５に直列状につなげた回転方式の構成であり、前記苗収容体１０を苗供給装置１とする。苗収容体１０には、各苗収容部１０ａ…の下側の口の下方に位置する状態と下側の口の下方から退避する位置する状態とに移動可能なシャッター１０ｂを設けている。
【００２２】
全ての苗収容部１０ａのカップ状の上面は常に同じ高さで苗供給を行う作業者の方へ一つづつ移動してくるので、苗の供給する箇所を所定の位置に定めることができ、作業者は腕を上下及び左右に大きく動かさなくてよいので、苗の苗収容体１０への供給作業性が容易になる。
【００２３】
苗収容体１０は、その移動機構である苗収容部（セル）１０ａ…の側部に係合させたスプロケット１１で駆動されるが、一方のスプロケット１１はブレーキ、クラッチ付のモータ（図示せず）によって苗収容体１０の間欠送りがなされ、チェーン状に連結された苗収容体１０の送りスピードを図示しない操作パネルに設けた供給スピード可変用つまみを回すことにより、移動速度を調整できる構成にしているので、苗を下葉除去装置２へ供給するスピードを簡単に調節でき、作業者の疲労が少なくなる。
【００２４】
各苗収容部１０ａ…は、苗受入位置Ｅ側から下葉除去装置２側に向けて水平状に無端チェーン１５により搬送されるが、下葉除去装置２は一度に１０個の苗の下葉を処理できる構成になっているので、下葉除去装置２側に１０個分の苗収容部１０ａ…が供給され、下葉除去処理装置２の側の設定位置Ｇまで移送されると、一旦、苗収容体１０の周回移動が停止する。そして、１０個分の苗収容部１０ａ…から苗が取り出されて下葉除去装置２側に供給されると、苗収容体１０…の周回移動が再開し、次の１０個分の苗収容部１０ａ…が下葉除去処理装置２側の設定位置Ｇに移送される。
【００２５】
図４の斜視図に各苗収容部１０ａと無端チェーン１５の係合の様子を示し、また図５（図５（ａ）は斜視図、図５（ｂ）は図５（ａ）のＳ１−Ｓ１線断面図、図５（ｃ）は図５（ｂ）のＳ２−Ｓ２線断面図）に苗収容体１０の苗の下葉除去装置２への移送の様子を示す。
【００２６】
図４に示すように各苗収容体１０ａと無端チェーン１５の各チェーン１５ａは一体構造であり、各チェーン１５ａを連結することで複数の苗収容体１０ａが無端チェーン１５により駆動される。また、各苗収容部１０ａの下側は、両端が切欠状になっており、該切欠部の下方には苗収容部１０ａの一方の下端部を中心に開閉自在のシャッター１０ｂが設けられている。該シャッター１０ｂの一端には突起部１０ｂ１が設けられ、該突起部１０ｂ１を下方から支持する位置と支持しない位置とに移動してシャッター１０ｂを開閉するシャッター開閉部材１３が設けられている。また、前記苗収容部１０ａの切欠きに対応する水平位置の一方には苗移送装置７の第一苗保持手段５の苗を挟持及び解放可能に開閉する苗挟持具５ａが挿入可能になっている。
【００２７】
また苗収容部１０ａを挟んで苗挟持具５ａの配置位置の反対側には機枠に取付けられた支持板１２が配置されており、支持板１２も苗収容部１０ａの切欠きに挿入可能に前後移動する構成となっている。
【００２８】
１０個分の苗収容部１０ａ…が下葉除去装置２側の設定位置Ｇまで移送されると、図５に示すように、まず支持板１２が矢印▲１▼方向に移動して苗の茎が苗移送装置７の第一苗保持手段５が入って来たときに押し出されないように支持する。次いで、苗移送装置７の第一苗保持手段５の一対の苗挟持具５ａが矢印▲２▼方向に移動した後、矢印▲３▼方向に移動して前記設定位置にある苗を保持する。次いで支持板１２が矢印▲４▼方向に戻り、かつシャッター開閉部材１３が矢印▲５▼方向に降下する。するとシャッター１０ｂが開き、その後、第一苗保持手段５が下降動作して、一対の苗挟持具５ａに保持された苗が下葉除去装置２方向に下降する。
【００２９】
また図６に示す苗収容部１０ａとそのシャッター１０ｂの断面図（図５（ａ）のＳ３−Ｓ３線断面図）のように、シャッター１０ｂの端部に仕切り１０ｃを設け、供給した苗が抜け落ちたり、ひどく傾くのを防止する構成にしても良い。
【００３０】
苗移送装置７による苗の取出しが行われる間、苗収容体１０の苗受入位置Ｅ側から下葉除去装置２側への移動動作は停止する。したがって、苗供給装置１は苗移送装置７による苗の取出し毎に停止する間欠駆動状態となる。
【００３１】
本実施例では苗供給装置１は、下葉除去装置２には一度に１０個の苗の下葉を供給できるような構成になっているので、下葉除去装置２側に１０個分の苗収容部１０ａ…が供給されるが、一度の下葉除去された苗の数は、育苗器Ｔの横方向のセルＣ…の数の半数に設定している。各苗収容部１０ａ…から取出した複数の苗は、下葉除去装置２による処理を経た後、苗挿し装置３によって、苗挿し位置Ｐに位置する育苗器載置部４上に載置される横一列の育苗器ＴのセルＣに対してセルＣの２個分の間隔で１個づつあけて苗挿しされる。そして、次の１０個分の苗収容部１０ａ…の苗を苗挿しするときに、前に苗挿ししたときよりセルＣの１個分の間隔で横方向に位置をずらして前の苗挿し時において苗挿しされなかった個所に苗挿しを行う。よって、育苗器Ｔの横一列全てのセルＣ…に対し２回の苗挿しを行う構成としている。
【００３２】
図７に示すように、苗移送装置７は、苗を挟持及び解放可能に開閉する苗挟持具５ａ…を備えた第一苗保持手段５と、該第一苗保持手段５を移動させる駆動装置６ａ（図１）、６ｂを有する第一移動手段６を備える。
【００３３】
第一苗保持手段５は、苗収容体１０の各苗収容部１０ａに収容された苗の下側茎部を挟持及び解放可能に左右に開閉する一対の苗挟持具５ａ、５ａ…を備えている。この苗挟持具５ａ、５ａ…は、左右横方向にスライド自在に支持した左右スライド部材５ｂ、５ｂを上下に設け、上側のスライド部材５ｂに苗挟持具５ａ…の左右一方側を取付け、下側のスライド部材５ｂに苗挟持具５ａ…の左右他方側を取付け、これら上下の左右スライド部材５ｂ、５ｂを、それぞれの側端部に設けたエアーシリンダ等で構成したスライド駆動手段５ｃ、５ｃによって、互いに左右外方側に移動させると左右の苗挟持具５ａ、５ａ…は開き状態となり、互いに左右内方側に移動させると左右の苗挟持具５ａ、５ａ…を閉じ状態になる。
【００３４】
第一移動手段６は、機枠に固定された上下にのびるスライドガイド６ｃに沿って上下にスライド自在に取付けた上下スライド部材６ｄを、モータで構成した上下駆動装置６ａで駆動されるスライドガイド６ｃ内のボールねじと連結し、そして、その上下スライド部材６ｄにエアーシリンダで構成した前後駆動装置６ｂを取り付け、この前後駆動装置６ｂの前後動部材（ピストン）に第一苗保持手段５を取付けている。従って、第一移動手段６の上下駆動装置６ａと前後駆動装置６ｂが動作することによって、第一苗保持手段５が上下方向及び前後方向に移動する。
【００３５】
以上のように構成した苗移送装置７は、下葉除去装置２側の設定位置Ｇまで苗収容体１０が移送されると、前後駆動装置６ｂが動作して第一苗保持手段５が前方に移動して、開き状態にした各苗挟持具５ａ、５ａ…の先端部が各苗収容部１０ａ…の下側の切欠部からシャッター１０ｂの上に入り込む（図５参照）。この状態で各苗収容部１０ａ…に収容されたそれぞれの苗の茎部基部側の左右に各苗挟持具５ａ、５ａ…の左右の先端部が位置するようになり、この状態からスライド駆動手段５ｃ、５ｃが動作して各苗挟持具５ａ、５ａ…が閉じ状態になって苗の茎部基部側を挟持する。
【００３６】
次に、シャッター開閉部材１３が動作して、シャッター１０ｂが各苗収容部１０ａ…の下側の口の下方から退避する位置に移動し、この後、上下駆動装置６ａが動作して第一苗保持手段５が下方に移動して各苗収容部１０ａ…に収容されたそれぞれの苗を第一苗保持手段５の各苗挟持具５ａ、５ａ…が挟持した状態で下方に取出す。そして、第一苗保持手段５の下方への移動により、第一苗保持手段５が保持した苗を、下側に配置した下葉除去装置２に引渡し、その装置２によって、下葉除去処理する。下葉除去処理が完了すると、苗移送装置７が下葉除去装置２から苗を取出して設定個所まで移送し、それから苗挿し装置３が苗移送装置７から苗を引継いで移送する構成とするか、または、苗挿し装置３が、下葉除去装置２から直接苗を取出して移送する構成とする。なお、図示例は、前者の構成を示し、後者の構成は図示省略している。
【００３７】
下葉除去装置２は、例えば図８に示すように、開口部２ａ…を絞り機構により広狭可能に設けた下葉除去部材２ｂ、２ｂを設け、広げた状態の開口部２ａ…に、除去すべき下葉が付いている苗の下部側を上方から挿入し、そして、開口部２ａ…を狭めて苗を引き上げることで、下葉が開口部２ａ…の縁で削ぎ落とされて除去される構成とする。また、近接配置した左右一対の回転体２ｃ、２ｃ…を、その近接部において左右の回転体２ｃ、２ｃ…が共に下方に回転するように駆動可能に設け、左右一対の回転体２ｃ、２ｃ…近接部に、除去すべき下葉が付いている苗の下部側を上方から挿入し、そして、引き上げることで、左右一対の回転体２ｃ、２ｃ…の外周部の作用を受けて下葉が下方に引きずり落とされて除去される構成とする。
【００３８】
下葉除去処理は、上記の前者の構成または後者の構成を備えることで行えるが、本例では、図例のように、前者の構成の下方に後者の構成を備え、更に工夫したものとなっている。
【００３９】
本例の下葉除去装置２は、前後に並べて且つ隣接側部分を上下に重ねて共に前後にスライドする下葉除去部材２ｂ、２ｂを設け、この前後の下葉除去部材２ｂ、２ｂの重なり部に互いにＶ字状に開いた切り欠き部２ｄ、２ｄ…をそれぞれ設け、これら前後の切り欠き部２ｄ、２ｄ…によって菱形状の開口部２ａ…を形成する。前側の下葉除去部材２ｂが後方に移動し、後側の下葉除去部材２ｂが前方に移動すると、開口部２ａ…が狭くなり、その反対方向に移動すると開口部２ａ…が広くなる。また、下葉除去部材２ｂ、２ｂの下方に、前後方向に向く回転軸２ｅ・２ｅ…回りに駆動回転するナイロン製などのロール状ブラシ体の回転体２ｃ・２ｃ…を複数左右に並べて配備する。下葉除去部材２ｂ、２ｂの開口部２ａ…の下方に左右に近接配置した左右一対の回転体２ｃ・２ｃ…の近接部が位置するように設け、また、その近接部において左右の回転体２ｃ、２ｃ…が共に下方に回転するように駆動可能に設ける。
【００４０】
更に、左右一対の回転体２ｃ・２ｃ…の近接部の下方に、苗の下側茎部を挟持及び解放可能とする一対の挟持部材２ｆ・２ｆ…を設け、そして、この一対の挟持部材２ｆ・２ｆ…を挟持個所を中心に上下軸心回りで回動する回動手段（ロータリアクチュエータ）２ｇ…を設ける。上記の開口部２ａ…と左右一対の回転体２ｃ・２ｃ…と一対の挟持部材２ｆ・２ｆ…と回動手段２ｇ…は、苗移送装置７が移送してくる複数の苗に対応して左右方向に複数配備する。
【００４１】
従って、上記構成の下葉除去装置２は、苗移送装置７の第一苗保持手段５が下降してきて、第一苗保持手段５が直立姿勢で保持する複数の苗の各下側茎部が上記の各開口部２ａ…内に挿入され、更に、左右一対づつ設けた回転体２ｃ・２ｃ…の各近接部に挿入される。回転体２ｃ・２ｃ…の各近接部に挿入されると、第一苗保持手段５は苗を解放する。
【００４２】
すると、苗の下側茎部は、回転体２ｃ・２ｃ…の駆動回転により下方に引きずり出されるとともに、苗の下側茎部に付いている下葉も引きずり出される。下方に引きずり出された苗の下側茎部は更に一対の挟持部材２ｆ・２ｆ…によって挟持され、そして回動手段２ｇ…によって９０〜１８０度の回転角で回動される。これにより、回動手段２ｇ…による回動前にロール状の回転体２ｃ・２ｃ…の近接部に沿って下葉が延びていて、回転体２ｃ・２ｃ…による下方への引きずり出し作用を受けにくい状態であっても、回動手段２ｇ…による茎部の回動によって下葉が回転体２ｃ・２ｃ…の作用を適確に受けて下方へ引きずり出されるようになる。この回転体２ｃ・２ｃ…による下方への引きずり出しによって下葉がある程度取り除かれる。その後、一対の挟持部材２ｆ・２ｆ…が苗を解放すると共に、各開口部２ａ…の上側に出ている苗の上側茎葉部を、苗移送装置７の第一苗保持手段５が保持して上方に移動する。
【００４３】
なお、ここで、別構成としては、苗挿し装置３の第二苗保持手段８が苗を保持して上方に移動する（図示省略）。これにより苗が引き上げられるが、このとき、前後の下葉除去部材２ｂ、２ｂがスライド動作して各開口部２ａ…はその縁が苗の茎部に近接する程度に狭くなる。この状態で、苗が引き上げられるので、残っている下葉が開口部２ａ…の縁で削ぎ落とされる。
【００４４】
また、ノズル２１により除去した下葉を吹き飛ばし、下葉が堆積して本装置の的確な動作が妨げられるのを防止する。
【００４５】
ところで、苗移送装置７が下葉除去装置２に苗を各開口部２ａ…に差し込むときに、茎部が曲った苗の場合、茎部の下端部が回転体２ｃ・２ｃ…の近接部からずれて回転体２ｃ・２ｃ…による下方への引きずり出し作用を受けにくい状態となることがある。このような状態に対処するため、以下のように構成すると良い。即ち、まず苗移送装置７が下葉除去装置２の各開口部２ａ…に苗を差し込み、その後、各開口部２ａ…を閉じ動作させる。すると、閉じた開口部２ａ…によって、茎部が曲った苗でも茎部の下端部が回転体２ｃ・２ｃ…の近接部に位置合わせされる。この状態で、苗移送装置７が一旦苗を開放した後上昇し、それまで保持していた個所より上側個所を再度保持する。それから、再び下降することで、茎部が曲った苗でも適確に回転体２ｃ・２ｃ…の作用を受けて下方へに引きずり出されるようになる。
【００４６】
苗挿し装置３は、苗を保持及び解放可能に開閉する苗挟持具８ａ…を備えた第二苗保持手段８と、該第二苗保持手段８を移動させる駆動装置９ａ、９ｂ、９ｃを有する第二移動手段９を備えて、前記下葉除去装置２により下葉除去された苗を移送し別の苗保持手段に引継ぐことなく育苗器Ｔの苗床に苗挿しする構成としている。
【００４７】
第二苗保持手段８は、下葉除去装置２により下葉除去された苗の上下を挟持及び解放可能に左右に開閉する一対の苗挟持具８ａ、８ａ…を備えている。この苗挟持具８ａ、８ａ…は、第一苗保持手段５と同様な開閉機構に基づき開閉シリンダ８ｂにより開閉動作する。
【００４８】
一対の苗挟持具８ａ、８ａを苗の上下を挟持及び解放可能な構成にすることで、苗の長さ（茎長）に関係なく、他の苗挟持装置との苗の受け渡し時に脱落等の把持ミスを起こすことなく正確に移送できる。
【００４９】
なお、一対の苗挟持具８ａ、８ａの内側には厚めのスポンジ状の弾性体を設けておくことで、育苗器Ｔ内の培土に木や石が入って場合に挿し木時に苗の先端が木や石に当たって苗の茎が上に逃げて苗が折れないだけでなく、苗を傷つけることがなくなる。
【００５０】
第二移動手段９は、機枠に固定された左右に伸びるスライドガイド９ｄに沿って左右にスライド自在に取付けた左右スライド部材９ｅを、モータで構成した左右駆動装置９ａで駆動されるスライドガイド９ｄ内のボールねじと連結し、そして、その左右スライド部材９ｅにエアーシリンダで構成した上下駆動装置９ｂを取り付け、この上下駆動装置９ｂの上下動部材（ピストン）にエアーシリンダで構成した前後駆動装置９ｃを取り付け、この前後駆動装置９ｃの前後動部材（ピストン）に第二苗保持手段８を取付けている。従って、第二移動手段９の左右駆動装置９ａと上下駆動装置９ｂと前後駆動装置９ｃが動作することによって、第二苗保持手段８が左右方向及び上下方向そして前後方向に移動する。
【００５１】
以上のように構成した苗挿し装置３は、下葉除去処理された苗を取り上げて上昇した苗移送装置7の第一苗保持手段５に対して前後に対向する位置から第二苗保持手段８が前後方向の移動により接近し、第一苗保持手段５が挟持する箇所の上側部分と下側部分の苗を挟持して保持する。第二苗保持手段８が苗を保持した後、苗移送装置7の第一苗保持手段５は苗を開放する。
【００５２】
なお、別構成として、第二苗保持手段８が下葉除去装置２から直接苗を取出して上昇する構成とすることもできる（図示省略）。
【００５３】
第二苗保持手段８が苗を保持した後、左右横方向に移動して苗供給装置１の側方に配備した育苗器載置部４の上方に移動し、次いで、下降し、更に、前後方向の移動により苗挿し箇所Ｐ（図２）の上方位置に移動する。ここから、下降することで、苗挿し箇所Ｐに位置する育苗器ＴのセルＣ…内の苗床に第二苗保持手段８が苗の下側茎部を挿し込んで苗挿しする。苗挿しが終了すると、第二苗保持手段８は前後方向の移動により苗挿し箇所Ｐから離れるように移動し、更に上昇移動と左右方向の移動によって下葉除去処理された苗を保持する箇所まで戻る。
【００５４】
上記のように苗挿し装置３が下葉除去処理された苗を引き継いで保持して苗挿し箇所Ｐに移動する間、苗移送装置７の苗移送動作と苗供給装置１の動作と下葉除去装置２の動作が行われるように苗挿し機の各装置の動作を制御する制御装置を設けている。従って、苗挿し装置３が苗挿しのために動作している間に、苗供給作業及び下葉除去処理が行なえて作業能率が向上する。
【００５５】
第二苗保持手段８は下葉処理した苗を把持し、育苗器Ｔへ苗挿しする１０個からなる一対の苗挟持具８ａ、８ａ…を１０組備えているが、該一対の苗挟持具８ａ、８ａ…のそれぞれの間隔は育苗器ＴのセルＣ…の間隔に対応した間隔に設定する。ところで、育苗器ＴのセルＣ…の間隔は、育苗器の種類によって異なるので、各苗挟持具８ａ、８ａ…のそれぞれの間隔を変更できる機構を設けると各種の育苗器Ｔに対応できる。
【００５６】
そのための第二苗保持手段８の構成を図９に示す。
第二苗保持手段８の各苗挟持具８ａ、８ａ…の間隔を調節する機構は、まず、複数のアームを互いに連結して横方向に伸縮可能に構成したパンタグラフ機構を設け、そのパンタグラフ機構のアームの連結軸に各一対の苗挟持具８ａ、８ａを連結し、そして、左右一端側の苗挟持具８ａ、８ａを横方向移動不能に固定するとともに、それ以外の苗挟持具８ａ、８ａを横方向に移動自在に支持し、前記パンタグラフ機構を横方向に伸縮動作させるシリンダ８ｂを設け、該シリンダ８ｂの動作によってパンタグラフ機構を横方向に伸縮させて、各苗挟持具８ａ、８ａの間隔を、互いに等間隔を維持しながら異なる大きさの間隔に変更される構成としている。図例の詳細構成を説明すると、各苗挟持具８ａ、８ａは、その下部に設けたレール係合部２２を横方向に摺動可能にレール２４に係合して左右動可能に取付けられ、一端側の苗挟持具８ａ、８ａにはシリンダ８ｂのピストンロッド８ｃが連結されている。なお、ピストンロッド８ｃの適所にはストッパ２３が移動調節可能に設けられ、該ストッパ２３がピストンロッド８ｃのストローク中に固定側の規制部材に係合してピストンロッド８ｃのストロークを規制する構成である。育苗器Ｔのサイズに合わせてピストンロッド８ｃのストッパ２３の位置を決めてシリンダ８ｂの作動範囲を調整するとパンタグラフの横方向の伸縮範囲も規制され、ストッパ２３の調整のみで１０組の苗挟持具８ａ、８ａの変更できる間隔を調整できる。
【００５７】
育苗器載置部４は、苗挿し装置３により苗挿しされる育苗器Ｔを上面側に載置して前後方向に育苗器Ｔを間欠的に移動する移送手段４ａを装備する。移送手段４ａによる育苗器Ｔの間欠移送は、載置された育苗器Ｔを、育苗器ＴのセルＣ…が横一列分苗挿しされるごとに、搬送方向下手側の次の横一列のセルＣ…が苗挿し装置３の苗挿し位置Ｐに位置するように間欠的に搬送する。図例では、移送手段４ａは、モータ１６で駆動回転されるベルトコンベア１７で構成し、育苗器ＴのセルＣ…の横一列分づつの間欠移送は、ベルトコンベア１７の苗挿し位置Ｐに設けた左右一対のフォトセンサ１９ａ、１９ｂによって横一列のセルＣ…の位置を検出し、該検出結果に基づいて移送手段４ａを駆動するモータ１６の起動及び停止を制御する構成とする。また、移送手段４ａの搬送上手側には、次に苗挿しする育苗器Ｔを載置して移送手段４ａの搬送方向に向けて移動可能とするローラコンベア式の育苗器供給部４ｂを設け、搬送下手側には苗挿しされた育苗器Ｔを移送手段４ａから受継いで移送手段４ａの搬送方向に移動可能とするローラコンベア式の育苗器搬出部４ｃを設けている。なお、薄い合成樹脂により成形され撓み易い育苗器Ｔを用いる場合は、その育苗器Ｔを撓み難いアンダートレイに収容して用いる。
【００５８】
ところで、一枚の育苗器Ｔへの苗挿しが終了し、次に供給された育苗器Ｔへの苗挿しに移行するとき、前の育苗器Ｔと次の育苗器Ｔとの間に隙間がある状態で供給されると、以下のような問題が生じることがある。
【００５９】
即ち、前の育苗器Ｔの最後の列のセルＣ…への苗挿しが終了すると、次の育苗器Ｔの横一列のセルＣ…を検出するまで育苗器Ｔ…を移送する。ここで、前の育苗器Ｔと次の育苗器Ｔとの間に隙間があると、前の育苗器Ｔの最後の横列に挿した苗の葉がその隙間に垂れ下がってくることがある。一方、前記一対のフォトセンサ１９ａ、１９ｂは、下方に向って先細り状に形成されるセルＣの側部を確実に検出するために、また、育苗器Ｔをアンダートレイに収容して供給した場合に、アンダートレイの上端面から上方に突出した個所のセルＣの側部を検出するために、育苗器Ｔに対し上側位置を検出するように配置される。このため、前記フォトセンサ１９ａ、１９ｂが、前の育苗器Ｔと次の育苗器Ｔとの間に生じた隙間に垂れ下がった前記の苗の葉を次のセルＣ…の列であると誤って検出することがある。この誤検出により育苗器Ｔの移送が停止して次の苗挿しが行われると、セルＣ…から外れた位置に苗挿しが行われてしまうのである。そこで、本例では、セルＣ…の列を検出する前記一対のフォトセンサ１９ａ、１９ｂより低い位置に、育苗器Ｔの底部側個所の存否を検出する（育苗器Ｔをアンダートレイに収容した状態で育苗器Ｔを育苗器載置部４に供給した場合は、アンダートレイの側壁を検出する）一対のフォトセンサ２０、２０を配置する。こうすると、たとえ前の育苗器Ｔと次の育苗器Ｔとの間に隙間があってその隙間に前の育苗器Ｔの最後の横列に挿した苗の葉が垂れ下がってきても、育苗器Ｔの底部側個所の存否を検出する前記フォトセンサ２０、２０の検出個所まで垂れ下がってくる場合はほとんどなく、よって、上側位置に配置した前記フォトセンサ１９ａ、１９ｂと下側位置に配置した前記フォトセンサ２０、２０との両者がそれぞれの検出対象を検出する状態となったとき育苗器Ｔの移送を停止するようにすることで、前の育苗器Ｔと次の育苗器Ｔとの間に隙間があっても、誤検出をほとんど生じることなく次の育苗器ＴのセルＣ…の列が苗挿し位置Ｐに位置するように適確に育苗器Ｔを移送できるものとなる。
【００６０】
また、育苗器供給部４ｂと育苗器搬出部４ｃを機体フレームに対して外側に突出する状態と機体フレーム内側に移動可能に設けることで、苗挿し作業時には育苗器供給部４ｂと育苗器搬出部４ｃとが機体フレームに対して外側に突出して育苗器Ｔの供給搬出の移送可能な状態とし、非作業時には機体フレーム内側に移動して、機体をコンパクトにでき、効率良く機体を格納できる。
【００６１】
育苗器供給部４ｂと育苗器搬出部４ｃの設置高さは、作業者が腰をかがめず育苗器Ｔの供給や搬出を楽に行える高さに設定して、作業者の負担を軽減するようにする。
【００６２】
また、苗供給装置１と育苗器載置部４とを左右に並列配置し、苗供給装置１の苗移送方向と育苗器載置部４の育苗器移送方向が並行するように構成し、更に、育苗器載置部４（移送手段４ａ）での育苗器Ｔの載置高さを、苗供給装置１の苗の供給位置Ｅにおける苗収容体１０の上端高さ近傍となるように設定する。これにより、苗供給装置１の苗の供給位置Ｅの手前側に苗の供給を行う作業者が座ったとき、育苗器載置部４（移送手段４ａ）での育苗器Ｔの搬送状態や、苗挿し装置３による苗挿し状態を監視でき、作業性が良い。
【００６３】
本実施の形態の苗挿し機は、苗供給装置１、下葉除去装置２、苗移送装置７、苗挿し装置３及び育苗器Ｔの移送手段４ａをそれぞれ一単位としてブロック構成とし各ブロック毎にメインフレームに脱着自在に構成することができる。
【００６４】
なお、上記各装置及び各手段の上記のような一連の動作は、制御装置に予め設定したプログラムに基づいて各装置及び各手段の動作を制御する。なお、各装置及び各手段の動作部の位置を検出するセンサを設けておき、そのセンサの検出結果に基づいて各装置及び各手段の動作の起動及び停止を制御する構成とする。また、エアーシリンダのように設定したストロークでピストンが突出及び引込み動作するものは、その動作の起動及び停止をセンサによらず設定時間駆動するのみで動作が終了するようにして次の制御ステップに移行するように構成することもできる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の実施の形態の苗挿し機の左側面図。
【図２】本発明の実施の形態の苗挿し機の平面図。
【図３】本発明の実施の形態の苗挿し機の主要な構成を示す斜視図。
【図４】本発明の実施の形態の苗供給装置の構成を示す斜視図。
【図５】本発明の実施の形態の苗供給装置の苗収容体から下葉除去装置への苗受け渡し機構の説明図（図５（ａ）は斜視図、図５（ｂ）は図５（ａ）のＳ１−Ｓ１線断面図、図５（ｃ）は図５（ｂ）のＳ２−Ｓ２線断面図））。
【図６】本発明の実施の形態の苗供給装置の苗収容体の断面図。
【図７】本発明の実施の形態の苗移送装置の構成を示す斜視図。
【図８】本発明の実施の形態の下葉除去装置の構成を示す斜視図。
【図９】本発明の他の実施の形態の苗挿し機の第二苗保持装置の一部構成を示す正面図。
【符号の説明】
１苗供給装置２下葉除去装置
２ａ開口部２ｂ下葉除去部材
２ｃ回転体２ｄ切り欠き部
２ｅ回転軸２ｆ挟持部材
２ｇ回動手段３苗挿し装置
４育苗器載置部４ａ移送手段
４ｂ育苗器供給部４ｃ育苗器搬出部
５第一苗保持手段５ａ苗挟持具
５ｂ左右スライド部材５ｃスライド駆動手段
６第一移動手段６ａ上下駆動装置
６ｂ前後駆動装置６ｃスライドガイド
６ｄ上下スライド部材７苗移送装置
８第二苗保持手段８ａ苗挟持具
８ｃピストンロッド９第二移動手段
９ａ、９ｂ、９ｃ駆動装置
９ｄスライドガイド９ｅ左右スライド部材
１０苗収容体１０ａ苗収容部
１０ｂシャッター１０ｂ１突起部
１０ｃ仕切り１１スプロケット
１２支持板１３シャッター開閉部材
１５無端チェーン１５ａチェーン
１６モータ１７ベルトコンベア
１９ａ、１９ｂ、２０フォトセンサ
２１ノズル２２レール係合部
２３ストッパ２４レール[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention belongs to the technical field of a seedling insertion machine for mechanically performing seedling insertion performed in the production of seedlings such as chrysanthemum.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The thing of the following patent document 1 is known as what performs a seedling insertion operation | work mechanically. The seedling insertion machine described in this document is configured to include a seedling supply device that receives and transfers seedlings from an operator, and a seedling insertion device that takes out the seedlings from the seedling supply device and inserts the seedlings into a nursery bed. Is.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-225585
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In making seedlings such as chrysanthemum, when the seedlings (cutting heads) taken from the parent strain are inserted into the nursery, the lower leaves are removed so as not to cause illness during seedling raising. In the seedling insertion machine described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to supply the seedling from which the lower leaves have been removed in advance to the seedling supply device. Therefore, it is necessary to manually perform the lower leaf removal in advance. It was a place that hindered efficiency improvement.
[0005]
The present invention is a seedling insertion machine in which the lower leaf removal and the seedling insertion can be performed mechanically, and the seedling insertion can be performed efficiently while having a lower leaf removal work process. It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact body structure while adding a device for removing.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The above-mentioned problem of the present invention is solved by the following means.
The invention according to claim 1 is a seedling supply device 1 that receives and transfers seedlings from an operator, a lower leaf removal device 2 that removes the lower leaves of the seedlings, and a seedling that is taken out from the seedling supply device 1 and the lower leaves The seedling transfer device 7 which is transferred to the removal device 2 and takes out the seedling from the lower leaf removal device 2 and transfers it to the upper setting location, and the seedling after the lower leaf removal which the seedling transfer device 7 has transferred to the upper setting location. A seedling insertion device 3 for taking seedlings into a seedbed of the seedling raising device T, and a seedling raising device placing section 4 for placing the seedling raising device T to be seeded by the seedling insertion device 3 are provided. A large number of seedling storage parts 10a for storing seedlings are connected to each other and moved around in a long oval locus in the horizontal direction in the plan view of the machine body, and the seedling transfer device 7 can hold and release the seedlings. A plurality of seedling sandwiching tools 5a to be opened and closed are provided in a side-by-side state, It is arranged to be opposed to the laterally moving part moving in a straight line in the right lateral direction, and configured to be able to take out a plurality of seedlings in a side-by-side state from the plurality of seedling accommodating parts 10a located in the laterally moving part, The lower leaf removal device 2 is provided with a plurality of lower leaf processing portions arranged side by side in the left-right direction, and is arranged below the lateral movement portion of the seedling accommodating portion 10a... It arrange | positions in the horizontal one side of the supply apparatus 1, and is comprised so that transfer of the seedling raising device T can be carried out in the front-back direction, The said seedling insertion apparatus 3 is the upper position of the said horizontal movement part of the said seedling accommodating part 10a ..., and the said seedling raising device It is a seedling insertion machine provided so as to be laterally movable in the left-right direction at a position above the placement part 4.
[0007]
The invention according to claim 2 is a seedling supply device 1 that receives and transfers seedlings from an operator, a lower leaf removal device 2 that removes the lower leaves of the seedlings, and a seedling that is taken out from the seedling supply device 1 and the lower leaves The seedling transfer device 7 for transferring to the removal device 2, the seedling insertion device 3 for taking the seedling after the lower leaf removal from the lower leaf removal device 2 and inserting it into the seedbed of the nursery device T, and the seedling insertion device 3 for seedling The seedling feeder placement section 4 for placing the seedling breeder T to be inserted is provided, and the seedling supply device 1 connects a large number of seedling storage sections 10a... The seedling transfer device 7 is provided with a plurality of seedling holding tools 5a for holding and releasing the seedlings in a laterally arranged state so as to hold the seedlings in a laterally arranged manner. It is placed opposite the front and rear on the horizontal movement part that moves in the horizontal direction of the left and right and moves horizontally A plurality of seedlings can be taken out in a side-by-side state from within a plurality of seedling accommodating portions 10a..., And the lower leaf removal device 2 is provided with a plurality of lower leaf processing parts side by side in the left-right direction. It arrange | positions under the said horizontal movement part of the accommodating part 10a ..., and the said seedling raising device mounting part 4 arrange | positions in the horizontal one side of the said seedling supply apparatus 1, and is comprised so that transfer of the seedling raising device T can be carried out in the front-back direction. The seedling insertion device 3 is a seedling insertion machine that is provided so as to be laterally movable in the left-right direction at an upper position of the laterally moving part of the seedling accommodating part 10a.
[0008]
[Action]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the seedling transfer device 7 takes out the seedling from the seedling supply device 1 and transfers the seedling to the lower leaf removal device 2. After the lower leaf removal device 2 removes the lower leaf of the seedling, the seedling transfer device again. 7 is configured to receive seedlings and transport them to deliver seedlings to the seedling insertion device 3, whereas in the invention according to claim 2, the seedling transfer device 7 takes out the seedlings from the seedling supply device 1. After being transferred to the leaf removal device 2 and the lower leaf removal device 2 removing the lower leaf of the seedling, the seedling insertion device 3 directly receives the seedling from the lower leaf removal device 2 instead of the seedling transfer device 7. is there.
[0009]
That is, in the invention according to claim 1, the seedling supply device 1 transfers the seedling received from the operator, and the seedling transfer device 7 is configured by the first seedling holding means 5 and the first moving means 6 to the seedling supply device 1. The seedlings are taken out of the seedlings and transferred to the lower leaf removal device 2, and the lower leaf removal device 2 removes the lower leaves of the seedlings. Then, the seedling transfer device 7 takes out the seedling removed by the lower leaf removal device 2 and transfers it to the set location.
[0010]
Next, the seedling insertion device 3 takes over the seedling from the seedling transfer device 7 by means of the second seedling holding means 8 and the second moving means 9 and transfers the seedling without transferring it to another seedling holding means 4. The seedling is inserted into the nursery of the nursery device T placed on the plant. The seedling transfer operation of the seedling transfer device 7 also operates during the seedling transfer operation of the seedling insertion device 3. Therefore, the seedling transfer device 7 takes out the next seedling from the seedling supply device 1 and transfers it to the lower leaf removal device 2 while the seedling insertion device 3 takes over the seedling from the seedling transfer device 7 and transfers it to the seedbed of the nursery device T. it can.
[0011]
In the invention described in claim 2, the seedling supply device 1 transfers the seedling received from the operator, and the seedling transfer device 7 includes the first seedling holding means 5 and the first moving means 6 so as to transfer the seedling. The seedlings are taken out of the seedlings and transferred to the lower leaf removal device 2, and the lower leaf removal device 2 removes the lower leaves of the seedlings. Then, the seedling insertion device 3 takes out the seedling from the lower leaf removing device 2 by the second seedling holding means 8 and the second moving means 9 and transfers it, and the seedling placement unit 4 is not taken over by another seedling holding means. The seedling is inserted into the nursery of the nursery device T placed on the plant. The seedling transfer operation of the seedling transfer device 7 also operates during the seedling transfer operation of the seedling insertion device 3. Therefore, while the seedling insertion device 3 takes out the seedling from the lower leaf removal device 2 and transfers it to the seedbed of the breeder T, the seedling transfer device 7 takes out the next seedling from the seedling supply device 1 and supplies it to the lower leaf removal device 2. Can be transported.
[0012]
【The invention's effect】
Since the invention according to claim 1 and claim 2 has the above-described configuration, the lower leaf removal operation conventionally performed manually can be mechanically performed, and the seedling is transferred to the lower leaf removal device 2. A seedling transfer means (first moving means 6 of the seedling transfer apparatus 7) and a seedling transfer means (second moving means 9 of the seedling insertion apparatus 3) for transferring the seedling from which the lower leaves have been removed to the nursery bed are separately provided. Since both seedling transfer means are provided so that the seedling transfer operation is possible at the same time, it is possible to insert seedlings efficiently while having a lower leaf removal work process. Since it is provided so that seedlings can be inserted into the seed bed of the nursery device T without taking over to the seedling holding means, the seedling holding part during the work process of the entire seedling insertion machine can be reduced, and the seedling holding posture is disturbed at the time of seedling transfer. It becomes difficult and the seedling insertion posture becomes good.
[0013]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the lower leaf removal operation that has been conventionally performed manually can be mechanically performed. In addition, the seedling supply device 1 is configured to connect a large number of seedling storage portions 10a to each other and move around in a long oval locus in the horizontal direction in the plan view of the body, and the horizontal direction of the seedling storage portions 10a. The seedling transfer device 7 takes out a plurality of seedlings side by side from the laterally moving portion that moves in a straight line, and these seedlings are transferred to the lower leaf removal device 2 to be subjected to lower leaf removal processing at one time. Since the seedling is received and then passed to the seedling insertion device 3 and inserted into the seedling bed of the seedling device T in a side-by-side state, lower leaf removal and seedling insertion can be performed efficiently. Further, the seedling transfer device 7 is disposed opposite to the laterally moving portion of the seedling accommodating portion 10a... And the lower leaf removing device 2 is disposed below the laterally moving portion of the seedling accommodating portion 10a. The placement unit 4 is arranged on one lateral side of the seedling supply device 1, and the seedling insertion device 3 is laterally moved in the left-right direction at the upper position of the lateral movement unit of the seedling storage unit 10 a. Since it is provided so as to be movable, the airframe can be configured in a compact manner even though it is a seedling insertion machine equipped with a lower leaf removing device.
[0014]
In the invention described in claim 2, the seedling transfer device 7 takes out the seedling from the seedling supply device 1 and transfers it to the lower leaf removal device 2, and after the lower leaf removal device 2 removes the lower leaf of the seedling, the seedling is transferred to the seedling. It differs from the invention of claim 1 only in that the seedling insertion device 3 receives the seedling directly from the lower leaf removal device 2 instead of the transfer device 7, and the lower leaf removal and seedling insertion are performed in the same manner as in the invention of claim 1. Further, the seedling transfer device 7 is disposed opposite to the laterally moving portion of the seedling accommodating portion 10a, and the lower leaf removing device 2 is disposed below the laterally moving portion of the seedling accommodating portion 10a, The seedling raising device placing part 4 is arranged on one lateral side of the seedling feeding device 1, and the seedling inserting device 3 is left and right depending on the upper position of the lateral moving part of the seedling accommodating part 10a. Because it is provided so that it can move laterally in the direction, it is a compact seedling machine with a lower leaf removal device. Kill.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a seedling insertion machine for inserting a chrysanthemum seedling as an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a left side view of a seedling insertion machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the seedling insertion machine of FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the main configuration of the seedling insertion machine of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the seedling supply device, FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory view of the seedling container of the seedling supply device, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the seedling transfer device, FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the lower leaf removing device, and FIG. 9 is a front view showing the configuration of the second seedling holding device.
[0016]
This seedling insertion machine removes the lower leaves of the seedling supplied from the operator, and then inserts the seedling into the seedbed in the cell C of the seedling device (cell tray) T in which a large number of cells C are arranged in the front, rear, left and right directions. It is.
[0017]
The seedling insertion machine is provided with the following devices. That is, the seedling supply device 1 that receives and transfers seedlings from the worker, the lower leaf removal device 2 that removes the lower leaves of the seedlings, the seedling insertion device 3 that inserts seedlings into the seedbed of the nursery device T, and the seedlings are inserted. A seedling device placement unit 4 for placing the seedling device T is provided. Further, a first seedling holding means 5 having a seedling holding tool 5a for opening and closing a seedling and releasably opening, and a first moving means 6 having driving devices 6a and 6b for moving the first seedling holding means 5 are provided. In addition, a seedling transfer device 7 for taking out the seedling from the seedling supply device 1 and transferring it to the lower leaf removal device 2 is provided.
[0018]
Further, the seedling insertion device 3 includes second seedling holding means 8 provided with a seedling holding tool 8a for opening and closing the seedlings so that the seedlings can be held and released, and driving devices 9a, 9b for moving the second seedling holding means 8. The second moving means 9 having 9c is provided, and the seedling removed from the lower leaves by the lower leaf removing device 2 is transferred and inserted into the seed bed of the seedling raising device T without being transferred to another seedling holding means. . The seedling transfer operation of the seedling transfer device 7 is configured to be operable even during the seedling transfer operation of the seedling insertion device 3.
[0019]
The seedlings removed by the lower leaf removal device 2 are removed from the lower leaf removal device 2 by the seedling transfer device 7 and transferred to a set location, and then the seedling insertion device 3 is transferred from the seedling transfer device 7 to the seedling. The seedling insertion device 3 takes out the seedling directly from the lower leaf removal device 2 and transfers it.
[0020]
Furthermore, the seedling insertion machine of the present embodiment includes a control device that controls the operation of each device, and connects the central portion of this control device to the drive portion (motor, air cylinder, etc.) of each device. Each device is provided with a sensor for determining whether or not each device has moved to the set position. These sensors are also connected to the control device, and further, a start switch and a speed change dial for changing the operating speed of each device. Etc. are also connected to the control device.
[0021]
Hereinafter, each device will be described.
The seedling supply device 1 transfers the seedling from the seedling receiving position E side for receiving seedlings from an operator to the lower leaf removal device 2 side. The seedling supply device 1 is provided with a plurality of seedling containers 10 for housing seedlings. It is configured to move toward the side. The seedling container 10 has a rotational structure in which a plurality of cup-shaped seedling container parts (cells) 10a... Opened up and down are connected in series to an endless chain 15, and the seedling container 10 is connected to a seedling supply device. Set to 1. The seedling container 10 is provided with a shutter 10b that can move between a state where each seedling container 10a is located below the lower mouth and a state where it is retracted from below the lower mouth.
[0022]
Since the cup-shaped upper surfaces of all the seedling containing parts 10a always move one by one toward the worker who supplies seedlings at the same height, the place to supply seedlings can be determined at a predetermined position, Since the operator does not have to move his arm up and down and right and left, the workability of supplying the seedling to the seedling container 10 becomes easy.
[0023]
The seedling container 10 is driven by a sprocket 11 engaged with a side portion of a seedling container (cell) 10a, which is a moving mechanism, and one sprocket 11 is a motor with a brake and a clutch (not shown). ), The seedling container 10 is intermittently fed, and the moving speed can be adjusted by turning the feed speed variable knob provided on the operation panel (not shown) for the feed speed of the seedling container 10 connected in a chain shape. Therefore, the speed at which the seedling is supplied to the lower leaf removing device 2 can be easily adjusted, and the operator's fatigue is reduced.
[0024]
Each seedling container 10a is transported horizontally by the endless chain 15 from the seedling receiving position E side to the lower leaf removal device 2 side, but the lower leaf removal device 2 has 10 seedling lower leaves at a time. Since the seedling container 10a for 10 pieces is supplied to the lower leaf removal device 2 side and transferred to the set position G on the lower leaf removal processing device 2 side, The circular movement of the seedling container 10 stops. And if a seedling is taken out from 10 seedling accommodating parts 10a ... and supplied to the lower leaf removing device 2 side, the orbital movement of the seedling containing bodies 10 ... resumes, and the next 10 seedling accommodating parts 10a... Are transferred to the setting position G on the lower leaf removal processing apparatus 2 side.
[0025]
The perspective view of FIG. 4 shows the state of engagement between each seedling accommodating portion 10a and the endless chain 15, and FIG. 5 (FIG. 5 (a) is a perspective view and FIG. 5 (b) is S1- of FIG. 5 (a). FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line S1, and FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line S2-S2 in FIG. 5B.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 4, each seedling container 10 a and each chain 15 a of the endless chain 15 have an integral structure, and the plurality of seedling containers 10 a are driven by the endless chain 15 by connecting each chain 15 a. Moreover, the lower side of each seedling accommodating part 10a is notched at both ends, and a shutter 10b that can be opened and closed around one lower end of the seedling accommodating part 10a is provided below the notched part. . A projection 10b1 is provided at one end of the shutter 10b, and a shutter opening / closing member 13 that opens and closes the shutter 10b by moving to a position where the projection 10b1 is supported from below and a position where the projection 10b1 is not supported is provided. A seedling holding tool 5a for opening and closing the seedling of the first seedling holding means 5 of the seedling transfer device 7 can be inserted into one of the horizontal positions corresponding to the notch of the seedling container 10a. Yes.
[0027]
A support plate 12 attached to the machine frame is arranged on the opposite side of the arrangement position of the seedling holding tool 5a across the seedling storage portion 10a, and the support plate 12 can also be inserted into the notch of the seedling storage portion 10a. It is configured to move back and forth.
[0028]
When the ten seedling accommodating portions 10a... Are transferred to the setting position G on the lower leaf removing device 2, the support plate 12 first moves in the direction of arrow (1) as shown in FIG. Is supported so that it is not pushed out when the first seedling holding means 5 of the seedling transfer device 7 enters. Next, after the pair of seedling holding tools 5a of the first seedling holding means 5 of the seedling transfer device 7 moves in the direction of the arrow (2), it moves in the direction of the arrow (3) to hold the seedling at the set position. Next, the support plate 12 returns to the direction of the arrow (4), and the shutter opening / closing member 13 descends in the direction of the arrow (5). Then, the shutter 10b is opened, and then the first seedling holding means 5 is lowered, and the seedlings held by the pair of seedling holding tools 5a are lowered in the direction of the lower leaf removing device 2.
[0029]
Further, as shown in the sectional view of the seedling accommodating part 10a and the shutter 10b shown in FIG. 6 (cross-sectional view taken along line S3-S3 in FIG. 5A), a partition 10c is provided at the end of the shutter 10b, and the supplied seedlings fall off. Or, it may be configured to prevent the tilting.
[0030]
While the seedling is taken out by the seedling transfer device 7, the moving operation of the seedling container 10 from the seedling receiving position E side to the lower leaf removing device 2 side is stopped. Therefore, the seedling supply device 1 is in an intermittent drive state that stops each time the seedling transfer device 7 extracts the seedling.
[0031]
In the present embodiment, the seedling supply device 1 is configured to supply the lower leaves of 10 seedlings at a time to the lower leaf removal device 2, so that 10 seedlings are provided on the lower leaf removal device 2 side. Although the accommodating part 10a ... is supplied, the number of seedlings from which the lower leaves have been removed once is set to half of the number of cells C ... in the lateral direction of the seedling raising device T. A plurality of seedlings taken out from each seedling storage unit 10a are subjected to processing by the lower leaf removal device 2 and then placed on the seedling placement unit 4 positioned at the seedling insertion position P by the seedling insertion device 3. The seedlings are inserted into the cells C of the nursery device T in a horizontal row, one by one at intervals of two cells C. Then, when inserting the seedlings of the next 10 seedling accommodating portions 10a ..., when the previous seedling is inserted by shifting the position in the horizontal direction at an interval of one cell C than when the seedlings are previously inserted. Insert seedlings in places where seedlings were not inserted. Therefore, it is set as the structure which inserts seedlings twice with respect to all the cells C ... of the horizontal row of the seedling raising device T.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 7, the seedling transfer device 7 includes a first seedling holding means 5 having a seedling holding tool 5a for opening and closing a seedling and releasably, and a driving device for moving the first seedling holding means 5. First moving means 6 having 6a (FIG. 1) and 6b is provided.
[0033]
The first seedling holding means 5 includes a pair of seedling holding tools 5a, 5a,... For opening and closing the lower stems of the seedlings stored in the respective seedling storage units 10a of the seedling storage body 10 so as to be opened and closed to the left and right. Yes. The seedling holders 5a, 5a ... are provided with left and right slide members 5b, 5b supported so as to be slidable in the lateral direction, and the left and right sides of the seedling holder 5a ... are attached to the upper slide member 5b. The left and right other sides of the seedling sandwiching tool 5a ... are attached to the slide member 5b, and the upper and lower left and right slide members 5b, 5b are formed by slide drive means 5c, 5c configured by air cylinders or the like provided at the respective side ends, The left and right seedling holding tools 5a, 5a,... Are opened when moved to the left and right outward sides, and the left and right seedling holding tools 5a, 5a,.
[0034]
The first moving means 6 is a slide guide 6c that is driven by an up-and-down drive device 6a composed of a motor, which is mounted on an up-and-down slide member 6d that is slidable up and down along an up-and-down slide guide 6c fixed to the machine frame. The front and rear drive device 6b composed of an air cylinder is attached to the upper and lower slide member 6d, and the first seedling holding means 5 is attached to the front and rear motion member (piston) of the front and rear drive device 6b. Yes. Accordingly, the first seedling holding means 5 moves in the vertical direction and the front-rear direction by operating the vertical drive device 6a and the front-rear drive device 6b of the first moving means 6.
[0035]
In the seedling transfer device 7 configured as described above, when the seedling container 10 is transferred to the setting position G on the lower leaf removal device 2 side, the front / rear drive device 6b operates to move the first seedling holding means 5 forward. The tip portions of the seedling sandwiching tools 5a, 5a,... That have moved and have been opened enter the shutter 10b from the lower cutouts of the seedling storage units 10a (see FIG. 5). In this state, the left and right tip portions of the respective seedling holding tools 5a, 5a,... Are positioned on the left and right sides of the stem portion base side of the respective seedlings accommodated in the respective seedling accommodating portions 10a. 5c, 5c operate | moves and each seedling clamping tool 5a, 5a ... will be in a closed state, and will pinch the stalk base part side of a seedling.
[0036]
Next, the shutter opening / closing member 13 is operated, and the shutter 10b is moved to a position where it is retracted from the lower side of the lower mouth of each seedling container 10a, and thereafter, the vertical drive device 6a is operated to operate the first seedling. The holding means 5 moves downward to take out the seedlings accommodated in the seedling accommodating portions 10a... In a state where the seedling holding tools 5a, 5a. And by the downward movement of the first seedling holding means 5, the seedling held by the first seedling holding means 5 is handed over to the lower leaf removal device 2 arranged on the lower side, and the device 2 performs the lower leaf removal processing. . When the lower leaf removal process is completed, the seedling transfer device 7 takes out the seedling from the lower leaf removal device 2 and transfers it to the set location, and then the seedling insertion device 3 takes over the seedling from the seedling transfer device 7 and transfers it. Alternatively, the seedling insertion device 3 is configured to take out the seedling directly from the lower leaf removal device 2 and transfer it. The illustrated example shows the former configuration, and the latter configuration is omitted.
[0037]
For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the lower leaf removing device 2 is provided with lower leaf removing members 2b, 2b in which the openings 2a are provided so as to be able to be widened and narrowed by a throttle mechanism, and are removed into the opened openings 2a. The lower leaf of the seedling with the lower leaf is inserted from above, and the lower leaf is scraped off and removed at the edge of the opening 2a by narrowing the opening 2a and pulling up the seedling. And In addition, a pair of left and right rotating bodies 2c, 2c,... Arranged in proximity is provided so that the left and right rotating bodies 2c, 2c,. The lower part of the seedling with the lower leaf to be removed is inserted into the adjacent part from above and pulled up, so that the lower leaf is lowered under the action of the outer peripheral part of the pair of left and right rotating bodies 2c, 2c. It is configured to be removed by dragging.
[0038]
The lower leaf removal process can be performed by providing the former configuration or the latter configuration, but in this example, as shown in the figure, the latter configuration is provided below the former configuration and further devised. ing.
[0039]
The lower leaf removing device 2 of this example is provided with lower leaf removing members 2b and 2b that are arranged in the front and back and slide adjacently on the adjacent side portions, and the overlapping portion of the front and rear lower leaf removing members 2b and 2b. Are provided with V-shaped cutouts 2d, 2d, etc., and the front and rear cutouts 2d, 2d,. When the front lower leaf removing member 2b moves rearward and the rear lower leaf removing member 2b moves forward, the opening 2a becomes narrower, and when moved in the opposite direction, the opening 2a becomes wider. Further, a plurality of rotating bodies 2c, 2c, etc., made of nylon or the like that are driven and rotated around the rotating shafts 2e, 2e,... Facing in the front-rear direction are arranged side by side below the lower leaf removing members 2b, 2b. . A pair of left and right rotating bodies 2c, 2c, which are disposed close to the left and right, are positioned below the openings 2a of the lower leaf removing members 2b, 2b. 2c are provided so that they can be driven so as to rotate downward.
[0040]
Further, a pair of clamping members 2f, 2f, which can clamp and release the lower stems of the seedlings are provided below the proximity of the pair of left and right rotating bodies 2c, 2c, and the pair of clamping members 2f. ... Rotating means (rotary actuator) 2g... That rotates about the vertical axis about the sandwiching point 2f. The opening 2a, the pair of left and right rotating bodies 2c, 2c, the pair of sandwiching members 2f, 2f, and the rotating means 2g correspond to a plurality of seedlings transferred by the seedling transfer device 7. Deploy multiple in the direction.
[0041]
Accordingly, in the lower leaf removing device 2 having the above-described configuration, the first seedling holding means 5 of the seedling transfer device 7 is lowered, and each lower stem portion of the plurality of seedlings that the first seedling holding means 5 holds in an upright posture. .. Are inserted into the openings 2a... And inserted into adjacent portions of the rotating bodies 2c, 2c. The first seedling holding means 5 releases the seedling when it is inserted into each adjacent portion of the rotating bodies 2c, 2c.
[0042]
Then, the lower stem part of the seedling is dragged downward by the driving rotation of the rotating bodies 2c, 2c, and the lower leaf attached to the lower stem part of the seedling is also dragged out. The lower stem portion of the seedling that has been dragged downward is further sandwiched by a pair of sandwiching members 2f, 2f, and rotated at a rotation angle of 90 to 180 degrees by the rotating means 2g. As a result, the lower leaf extends along the proximity of the roll-shaped rotating bodies 2c, 2c, and so on before rotating by the rotating means 2g, so that it is difficult to be dragged downward by the rotating bodies 2c, 2c. Even in this state, the lower leaves are appropriately dragged downward by the action of the rotating bodies 2c, 2c,... The lower leaves are removed to some extent by dragging downward by the rotating bodies 2c, 2c. Thereafter, the pair of clamping members 2f, 2f... Releases the seedlings, and the first seedling holding means 5 of the seedling transfer device 7 holds the upper foliage of the seedlings that are protruding above the respective openings 2a. Move upward.
[0043]
Here, as another configuration, the second seedling holding means 8 of the seedling insertion device 3 holds the seedling and moves upward (not shown). As a result, the seedlings are pulled up. At this time, the front and rear lower leaf removing members 2b, 2b are slid, and the openings 2a are narrowed so that the edges thereof are close to the seedling stems. In this state, since the seedling is pulled up, the remaining lower leaves are scraped off at the edge of the opening 2a.
[0044]
In addition, the lower leaf removed by the nozzle 21 is blown away to prevent the lower leaf from accumulating and preventing the accurate operation of the apparatus.
[0045]
By the way, when the seedling transfer device 7 inserts the seedling into the lower leaf removal device 2 in each opening 2a... It may be difficult to receive a downward drag action by the rotating bodies 2c, 2c. In order to deal with such a situation, the following configuration is preferable. That is, the seedling transfer device 7 first inserts a seedling into each opening 2a of the lower leaf removing device 2, and then closes each opening 2a. Then, the closed opening 2a... Aligns the lower end of the stem with the proximity of the rotating bodies 2c, 2c. In this state, the seedling transfer device 7 once rises after releasing the seedling, and holds the upper portion again from the portion held so far. Then, by descending again, even a seedling having a bent stem is appropriately dragged downward under the action of the rotating bodies 2c, 2c.
[0046]
The seedling insertion device 3 includes second seedling holding means 8 provided with a seedling holding tool 8a that opens and closes the seedling so as to hold and release the seedling, and driving devices 9a, 9b, and 9c that move the second seedling holding means 8. The second moving means 9 is provided, and the seedling removed from the lower leaves by the lower leaf removing device 2 is transferred and inserted into the seedbed of the nursery device T without being transferred to another seedling holding means.
[0047]
The second seedling holding means 8 includes a pair of seedling holding tools 8a, 8a,... That open and close the upper and lower sides of the seedling removed by the lower leaf removing device 2 so as to be sandwiched and releasable. The seedling holding tools 8a, 8a... Are opened / closed by an opening / closing cylinder 8b based on an opening / closing mechanism similar to that of the first seedling holding means 5.
[0048]
By making the pair of seedling clamping tools 8a, 8a so that the top and bottom of the seedling can be clamped and released, regardless of the length of the seedling (stem length), the seedling can be removed when the seedling is delivered to another seedling clamping device. It can be accurately transferred without causing a gripping error.
[0049]
In addition, by providing a thick sponge-like elastic body inside the pair of seedling holding tools 8a, 8a, when a tree or stone enters the cultivated soil in the nursery device T, the tip of the seedling is placed at the time of cutting. Not only does it prevent the seedling stem from escaping up and hitting the stone, it will not break, but it will not damage the seedling.
[0050]
The second moving means 9 is a slide guide 9d driven by a left and right drive device 9a composed of a motor, with a left and right slide member 9e slidably attached to the left and right along a slide guide 9d fixed to the machine frame and extending to the left and right. A vertical drive device 9b constituted by an air cylinder is attached to the left and right slide member 9e, and a longitudinal drive device 9c constituted by an air cylinder is attached to the vertical movement member (piston) of the vertical drive device 9b. The second seedling holding means 8 is attached to the longitudinally moving member (piston) of the longitudinal drive device 9c. Accordingly, the second seedling holding means 8 moves in the left-right direction, the up-down direction, and the front-back direction by operating the left-right drive device 9a, the vertical drive device 9b, and the front-rear drive device 9c of the second moving means 9.
[0051]
The seedling insertion device 3 configured as described above has the second seedling holding means 8 from a position facing the first seedling holding means 5 of the seedling transfer device 7 that has been lifted by picking up the seedling that has undergone the lower leaf removal treatment from the front and back. Is approached by movement in the front-rear direction, and holds the seedlings of the upper part and the lower part of the place where the first seedling holding means 5 is sandwiched and held. After the second seedling holding means 8 holds the seedling, the first seedling holding means 5 of the seedling transfer device 7 opens the seedling.
[0052]
As another configuration, the second seedling holding means 8 may be configured to take out the seedling directly from the lower leaf removing device 2 and rise (not shown).
[0053]
After the second seedling holding means 8 holds the seedling, it moves in the horizontal direction to the left and right, moves above the seedling placement unit 4 arranged on the side of the seedling supply device 1, then descends, and further back and forth It moves to the upper position of the seedling insertion point P (FIG. 2) by the movement of the direction. From here, by descending, the second seedling holding means 8 inserts the lower stem part of the seedling into the seedbed in the cell C of the seedling raising device T located at the seedling insertion point P and inserts the seedling. When the seedling insertion is completed, the second seedling holding means 8 moves away from the seedling insertion point P by the movement in the front-rear direction, and further to the location for holding the seedling that has undergone the lower leaf removal process by the upward movement and the horizontal movement. Return.
[0054]
While the seedling insertion device 3 takes over and holds the seedling that has undergone the lower leaf removal process as described above and moves to the seedling insertion point P, the seedling transfer operation of the seedling transfer device 7, the operation of the seedling supply device 1, and the lower leaf removal A control device is provided for controlling the operation of each device of the seed placement machine so that the operation of the device 2 is performed. Therefore, while the seedling insertion device 3 is operating for seedling insertion, the seedling supply operation and the lower leaf removal process can be performed, and the work efficiency is improved.
[0055]
The second seedling holding means 8 includes 10 pairs of 10 seedling holding tools 8a, 8a... For holding the seedlings subjected to lower leaf processing and inserting the seedlings into the seedling raising device T. The pair of seedling holding tools 8 The intervals of 8a, 8a... Are set to intervals corresponding to the intervals of the cells C. By the way, since the space | interval of cell C ... of the seedling raising device T changes with kinds of seedling raising device, if the mechanism which can change each space | interval of each seedling holding tool 8a, 8a ... is provided, it can respond to various seedling raising devices T.
[0056]
The configuration of the second seedling holding means 8 for that purpose is shown in FIG.
The mechanism for adjusting the interval between the respective seedling holding tools 8a, 8a,... Of the second seedling holding means 8 is first provided with a pantograph mechanism configured such that a plurality of arms are connected to each other and can be expanded and contracted in the lateral direction. Each pair of seedling clamping tools 8a, 8a is connected to the connecting shaft of the arm, and the seedling clamping tools 8a, 8a on the left and right ends are fixed so as not to be laterally movable, and the other seedling clamping tools 8a, 8a A cylinder 8b that supports the pantograph mechanism in a lateral direction and supports the pantograph mechanism in a lateral direction is provided. The pantograph mechanism is expanded and contracted in the horizontal direction by the operation of the cylinder 8b, so that the intervals between the seedling holding tools 8a and 8a are increased. In this configuration, the intervals are changed to different sizes while maintaining an equal interval. Explaining the detailed configuration of the illustrated example, each seedling sandwiching tool 8a, 8a is attached to the rail 24 so that the rail engaging portion 22 provided in the lower part thereof is slidable in the lateral direction so as to be laterally movable, A piston rod 8c of a cylinder 8b is connected to the seedling holding tools 8a and 8a on one end side. A stopper 23 is provided at an appropriate position of the piston rod 8c so that the movement of the piston rod 8c can be adjusted. The stopper 23 engages with a restriction member on the fixed side during the stroke of the piston rod 8c to restrict the stroke of the piston rod 8c. is there. When the operating range of the cylinder 8b is adjusted by deciding the position of the stopper 23 of the piston rod 8c in accordance with the size of the nursery device T, the lateral expansion / contraction range of the pantograph is also regulated. The changeable interval between 8a and 8a can be adjusted.
[0057]
The seedling raising device placing part 4 is equipped with a transfer means 4a for placing the seedling raising device T inserted by the seedling insertion device 3 on the upper surface side and moving the seedling raising device T intermittently in the front-rear direction. The intermittent transfer of the seedling device T by the transfer means 4a is performed by inserting the placed seedling device T into the next horizontal row of cells on the lower side in the transport direction each time the cells C... It conveys intermittently so that C ... is located at the seedling insertion position P of the seedling insertion device 3. In the illustrated example, the transfer means 4a is constituted by a belt conveyor 17 driven and rotated by a motor 16, and intermittent transfer for each horizontal row of cells C ... of the seedling raising device T is provided at the seedling insertion position P of the belt conveyor 17. A pair of left and right photosensors 19a and 19b detects the position of the horizontal row of cells C, and controls the start and stop of the motor 16 that drives the transfer means 4a based on the detection result. In addition, on the upper transfer side of the transfer means 4a, there is provided a roller conveyor type seedling supply unit 4b that mounts the seedling device T to be seeded next and is movable in the transfer direction of the transfer means 4a, On the lower transport side, there is provided a roller conveyor type seedling device unloading section 4c that can transfer the seedling device T inserted into the seedling from the transfer means 4a and move in the transfer direction of the transfer means 4a. In addition, when using the nursery device T which is molded with a thin synthetic resin and is easy to bend, the seedling device T is accommodated in an under tray which is difficult to bend.
[0058]
By the way, when the seedling insertion into one seedling breeder T is completed and the next transition to the seedling insertion into the seedling breeder T supplied is made, there is a gap between the previous seedling breeder T and the next seedling breeder T. If supplied in a certain state, the following problems may occur.
[0059]
That is, when the seedling insertion into the last row of cells C... Of the previous seedling device T is completed, the seedling devices T... Are transferred until the next row of cells C. Here, if there is a gap between the previous nursery device T and the next nursery device T, the leaves of the seedlings inserted in the last row of the previous nursery device T may hang down in the gap. On the other hand, when the pair of photosensors 19a and 19b reliably detect the side portion of the cell C that is tapered downward, and the seedling device T is accommodated in the under tray and supplied. In addition, in order to detect the side portion of the cell C that protrudes upward from the upper end surface of the under tray, it is arranged so as to detect the upper position with respect to the seedling raising device T. For this reason, the photosensors 19a and 19b mistakenly indicate that the leaves of the seedlings hung in the gap formed between the previous nursery device T and the next nursery device T are in a row of the next cell C ... May be detected. When the transfer of the nursery device T is stopped by this erroneous detection and the next seedling insertion is performed, the seedling insertion is performed at a position deviated from the cells C. Therefore, in this example, the presence or absence of the bottom side portion of the seedling device T is detected at a position lower than the pair of photosensors 19a and 19b that detect the row of the cells C (a state where the seedling device T is accommodated in the under tray). When the seedling raising device T is supplied to the seedling raising device placing section 4, a pair of photosensors 20, 20 are arranged to detect the side wall of the under tray. This way, even if there is a gap between the previous nursery device T and the next nursery device T, and the leaves of the seedlings inserted in the last row of the previous nursery device T hang down in the gap, the nursery device T The photosensors 20 and 20 for detecting the presence or absence of the bottom side portion of the photosensor 20 and 20 hardly hang down to the detection location. Therefore, the photosensors 19a and 19b arranged at the upper position and the photosensor arranged at the lower position. When both 20 and 20 are in a state of detecting their respective detection targets, the transfer of the seedling device T is stopped, so that there is a gap between the previous seedling device T and the next seedling device T. Even if it exists, it will be possible to accurately transfer the nursery device T so that the row of cells C... Of the next nursery device T is located at the seedling insertion position P with almost no false detection.
[0060]
In addition, by providing the seedling feeder supply unit 4b and the seedling feeder unloading unit 4c so as to protrude outward from the machine frame and to the inside of the machine frame, the seedling feeder supply unit 4b and the nursery container delivery unit are inserted during seedling insertion work. 4c protrudes outward with respect to the body frame to be in a state in which the feeding and unloading of the seedling device T can be transferred and moved to the inside of the body frame when not in operation, so that the body can be made compact and the body can be stored efficiently.
[0061]
The installation height of the seedling supply unit 4b and the seedling supply unit 4c is set to a height at which the operator can easily supply and carry out the seedling supply T without bending down, so as to reduce the burden on the operator. To do.
[0062]
Further, the seedling supply device 1 and the seedling device placement unit 4 are arranged in parallel on the left and right, and the seedling transfer direction of the seedling supply device 1 and the seedling device transfer direction of the seedling device placement unit 4 are configured in parallel. The placement height of the seedling raising device T in the seedling raising device placement section 4 (transfer means 4a) is set to be close to the upper end height of the seedling container 10 at the seedling supply position E of the seedling feeding device 1. . Thereby, when the operator who supplies seedlings sits on the near side of the seedling supply position E of the seedling supply device 1, the state of transport of the seedling device T in the seedling device placement unit 4 (transfer means 4a), The state of seedling insertion by the seedling insertion device 3 can be monitored, and workability is good.
[0063]
The seedling insertion machine according to the present embodiment has a seedling supply device 1, a lower leaf removal device 2, a seedling transfer device 7, a seedling insertion device 3, and a transfer means 4a for the nursery device T as a unit, and is configured as a block for each block. It can be configured to be detachable from the main frame.
[0064]
The series of operations of the devices and means as described above controls the operations of the devices and the means based on a program preset in the control device. A sensor for detecting the position of the operation unit of each device and each means is provided, and the activation and stop of the operation of each device and each means are controlled based on the detection result of the sensor. Also, for pistons that project and retract with a set stroke, such as an air cylinder, the start and stop of that operation is driven for a set time regardless of the sensor, and the operation ends and the next control step is performed. It can also be configured to migrate.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a left side view of a seedling insertion machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the seedling insertion machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the main configuration of the seedling insertion machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a seedling supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are explanatory views of a seedling delivery mechanism from the seedling container of the seedling supply apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention to the lower leaf removing apparatus (FIG. 5A is a perspective view and FIG. 5B is FIG. a) S1-S1 cross-sectional view of FIG. 5C, FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view of S2-S2 line of FIG. 5B)).
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a seedling container of the seedling supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a configuration of the seedling transfer device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a lower leaf removal apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a front view showing a partial configuration of a second seedling holding device of the seedling insertion machine according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Seedling supply device 2 Lower leaf removal device
2a Opening 2b Lower leaf removal member
2c Rotating body 2d Notch
2e Rotating shaft 2f Holding member
2g Rotating means 3 Seedling insertion device
4 Nursery device placement part 4a Transfer means
4b Nursery equipment supply section 4c Nursery equipment delivery section
5 First seedling holding means 5a Seedling holding tool
5b Left and right slide member 5c Slide drive means
6 First moving means 6a Vertical drive device
6b Front / rear drive device 6c Slide guide
6d Vertical slide member 7 Seedling transfer device
8 Second seedling holding means 8a Seedling holding tool
8c Piston rod 9 Second moving means
9a, 9b, 9c Driving device
9d Slide guide 9e Left and right slide member
10 seedling container 10a seedling container
10b Shutter 10b1 Projection
10c Partition 11 Sprocket
12 Support plate 13 Shutter opening / closing member
15 Endless chain 15a Chain
16 Motor 17 Belt conveyor
19a, 19b, 20 Photosensor
21 Nozzle 22 Rail engaging part
23 stopper 24 rail

Claims

A seedling supply device 1 for receiving and transferring seedlings from an operator;
A lower leaf removal device 2 for removing the lower leaf of the seedling;
A seedling transfer device 7 that takes out the seedling from the seedling supply device 1 and transfers it to the lower leaf removal device 2, and takes out the seedling from the lower leaf removal device 2 and transfers it to an upper set point;
The seedling insertion device 3 that takes the seedling after the lower leaf removal transferred to the upper setting place by the seedling transfer device 7 and inserts the seedling into the seedbed of the nursery device T;
A nursery device placement section 4 for placing the seedling device T inserted by the seedling insertion device 3;
The seedling supply device 1 has a structure in which a large number of seedling storage portions 10a...
The seedling transfer device 7 is provided with a plurality of seedling sandwiching tools 5a for opening and closing the seedlings so as to hold and release the seedlings in a laterally aligned state, and is moved forward and backward to a laterally moving part that moves linearly in the lateral direction of the seedling container 10a. Are arranged opposite to each other, and a plurality of seedling storage portions 10a located in the lateral movement portion are configured so that a plurality of seedlings can be taken out in a side-by-side state,
The lower leaf removing device 2 is provided with a plurality of lower leaf processing units arranged side by side in the left-right direction and arranged below the lateral movement unit of the seedling container 10a.
The nursery device placement unit 4 is arranged on one lateral side of the seedling supply device 1 and configured to transfer the nursery device T in the front-rear direction,
The seedling insertion device 3 is provided so as to be laterally movable in the left-right direction at an upper position of the laterally moving part of the seedling accommodating part 10a... And an upper position of the seedling breeder placing part 4. Machine.

A seedling supply device 1 for receiving and transferring seedlings from an operator;
A lower leaf removal device 2 for removing the lower leaf of the seedling;
A seedling transfer device 7 for taking out the seedling from the seedling supply device 1 and transferring it to the lower leaf removal device 2;
A seedling insertion device 3 for taking seedlings after removing the lower leaves from the lower leaf removal device 2 and inserting the seedlings into the seedbed of the nursery device T;
A nursery device placement section 4 for placing the seedling device T inserted by the seedling insertion device 3;
The seedling supply device 1 has a structure in which a large number of seedling storage portions 10a...
The seedling transfer device 7 is provided with a plurality of seedling sandwiching tools 5a for opening and closing the seedlings so as to hold and release the seedlings in a laterally aligned state, and is moved forward and backward to a laterally moving part that moves linearly in the lateral direction of the seedling container 10a. Are arranged opposite to each other, and a plurality of seedling storage portions 10a located in the lateral movement portion are configured so that a plurality of seedlings can be taken out in a side-by-side state,
The lower leaf removing device 2 is provided with a plurality of lower leaf processing units arranged side by side in the left-right direction and arranged below the lateral movement unit of the seedling container 10a.
The nursery device placement unit 4 is arranged on one lateral side of the seedling supply device 1 and configured to transfer the nursery device T in the front-rear direction,
The seedling insertion device 3 is provided so as to be laterally movable in the left-right direction at an upper position of the laterally moving part of the seedling accommodating part 10a... And an upper position of the seedling breeder placing part 4. Machine.