JP6038535B2 - Mobile cultivation equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile cultivation apparatus capable of cultivating fruit vegetables such as vegetables and flower buds in a densely planted state.

  Conventionally, a technique for cultivating fruit vegetables and the like using a plurality of horizontally long cultivation benches is known. For example, in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, each cultivation bench is moved only in either the row direction (horizontal direction) parallel to the longitudinal direction or the column direction (vertical direction) orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. A mobile cultivation apparatus having a configuration to be made is disclosed.

  Patent Document 3 discloses a mobile cultivation apparatus having a configuration that allows each cultivation bench to be moved in both the row direction and the column direction. In this case, the roller group is provided on the frame extending in the row direction and the frame extending in the column direction. For each frame in the row direction, power is transmitted to a group of rollers arranged in the row direction via one spline power shaft extending in the row direction and an individual belt transmission system, while extending in the column direction for each frame in the row direction. Each cultivating bench can be moved in both the row direction and the column direction by transmitting power to a group of rollers arranged in the column direction via a single spline power shaft and an individual belt transmission system.

JP-A-9-56259 JP 2001-78577 A JP-A-11-298771

  However, in the mobile cultivation apparatus of patent document 1 and patent document 2, each cultivation bench can only be moved to either one of a row direction or a column direction. For this reason, when moving a cultivation bench to the other side, an operator had to carry a cultivation bench without hand, and there existed a problem that the burden of an operator was heavy.

  Moreover, in the mobile cultivation apparatus of patent document 3, as a drive mechanism that allows each cultivation bench to move in both the row direction and the column direction, spline power shafts and individual belt transmission systems for the number of frames in the row direction, Spline power shafts and individual belt transmission systems corresponding to the number of frames in the row direction must be provided. For this reason, it is understood that not only the structure of the mechanism becomes large and complicated, but also the cost increases due to the number of parts and the like, and there is room for improvement from the viewpoint of cost control.

  This invention is made | formed as a technical subject to provide the mobile cultivation apparatus which examined the present conditions as mentioned above and aimed at the improvement.

The present invention is a pair of transport conveyors arranged in parallel with the transport directions opposite to each other, and a pair of guiding a plurality of cultivation benches from the transport downstream side of the one transport conveyor to the transport upstream side of the other transport conveyor. a plurality of the guiding device is arranged in a closed loop, wherein the driving of the pair to move toward the cultivation bench to the guide device of the transport downstream side lead-in devices on each conveyor, which lies on the respective guide device It is a mobile cultivation device that conveys the cultivation bench in a ball shape and circulates the plurality of cultivation benches, and each cultivation bench is attached to any one of the cultivation benches before and after the conveyance direction on each guide device. A plurality of cultivation benches on each of the guide devices carried in a ball shape by abutting between the abutting frame and the one cultivation bench; Capable constructed, each contact frame, the has set the arrangement interval of the cultivation bench group arranged in the longitudinal direction of the guide device, the longitudinal one side of the one conveyor, the cultivation A stopper member capable of abutting against the abutting frame of the bench is attached in a plan view so as to protrude to the opposite side of the pair of guide devices across the one conveyor, and the other longitudinal side of the other conveyor A stopper member that can come into contact with the cultivation bench is attached to the section so as to overlap the conveyance conveyor in a plan view, and the movement of the cultivation bench along the longitudinal direction of each conveyance conveyor is guided by the stopper member. It is that.

In the mobile cultivation device, the abutting frame and the stopper member can be replaced or adjusted in length so that the arrangement interval of the cultivation bench group on each guide device can be changed. It is.

  According to the present invention, a pair of transport conveyors arranged in parallel with the transport directions being opposite to each other, and a plurality of cultivation benches from the transport downstream side of the one transport conveyor to the transport upstream side of the other transport conveyor A plurality of guide devices arranged on the respective guide devices by driving a pair of drawing devices that are arranged in a closed loop and move the cultivation bench on each of the transport conveyors toward the guide device on the downstream side of the transport. It is a mobile cultivation device that conveys the cultivation bench in a ball shape and circulates the plurality of cultivation benches, and each cultivation bench is attached to any one of the cultivation benches before and after the conveyance direction on each guide device. A plurality of cultivation benches on each of the guide devices by abutment between the abutting frame and the one cultivation bench. Because they carry can be configured, the time of circulation transportation of the cultivation bench, there is no possibility of sandwiching the peduncles and fruit, such as fruit vegetables in the culture bench adjacent. Therefore, each cultivation bench can be safely conveyed and circulated without damaging the flower bells and fruits grown on each cultivation bench.

According to this invention, since each said contact frame has set the arrangement | positioning space | interval of the said cultivation bench group arranged in the longitudinal direction of each said guidance apparatus, the arrangement | positioning space | interval of the said cultivation bench group according to the fruit vegetables etc. to grow is set. It becomes possible to adjust with each said contact frame. Therefore, the range of application of the mobile cultivation device can be expanded, and the versatility of the mobile cultivation device can be improved.

According to the present invention, on the upstream side of the transport conveyors, a stopper member for restricting the ball transfer of the cultivation bench delivered from the most downstream side of the one guide device is disposed, and Since the movement is configured to be guided by the stopper member, the transferred cultivation bench can be moved until it hits the stopper member and transferred reliably to a fixed position on each of the conveyors. Thereafter, the cultivation bench is moved along the stopper member by the conveyance conveyor, and the cultivation bench can be smoothly conveyed in a suitable posture even on the conveyance conveyor.

It is a schematic plan view of the mobile cultivation apparatus in 1st Embodiment. It is a top view of a conveyance conveyor. It is a top view of a drawing-in apparatus. It is a perspective view of a drawing-in apparatus. It is a partially cutaway perspective view of an engaging claw body and an engagement / disengagement actuator. It is a perspective view of a cultivation bench. It is a side view which shows the state before the engagement by a drawing-in apparatus. It is a side view which shows the engagement state of a drawing-in apparatus. It is a side view which shows the drawing completion state of a drawing-in apparatus. It is a side view which shows the engagement cancellation | release state of a drawing-in apparatus. It is a functional block diagram of a pneumatic circuit and a controller. It is a side view which shows the cultivation bench in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the detailed structure of a contact frame, (a) is a top view, (b) is an expanded plane sectional view explaining a locking member. It is a functional block diagram of a pneumatic circuit and a controller.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the schematic structure of the mobile cultivation apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In the following description, when using a term indicating a specific direction or position as necessary (for example, “left / right”, “up / down”, etc.), the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. Alternatively, the vertical direction (may be referred to as the column direction), and the left-right direction on the paper is the left-right direction or the horizontal direction (may be referred to as the row direction). These terms are used for convenience of explanation, and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

  In the embodiment, the vertical direction and the horizontal direction are both parallel to the horizontal plane (ground) (perpendicular to the gravitational direction), but the present invention is not limited to this, such as strawberry and spinach. The vertical direction and the horizontal direction may be slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal plane so long as they do not hinder the cultivation of fruit vegetables and the like.

  As shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2, the mobile cultivation apparatus 1 of embodiment is a closed loop-shaped thing which circulates and conveys the several cultivation bench 10 which grows fruit vegetables, such as a strawberry and spinach. In this case, the mobile cultivation apparatus 1 has a pair of transport conveyors 40A and 40B arranged in parallel with the transport directions opposite to each other, and the other transport conveyor 40B (40A) from the transport downstream side of one transport conveyor 40A (40B). ) And a pair of guide devices 20A (20B) for guiding each cultivation bench 10 to the transport upstream side, and a pair of moving the cultivation bench 10 on the transport conveyors 40A and 40B toward the guide devices 20A and 20B on the transport downstream side. Retracting devices 21A and 21B are provided. A pair of conveyance conveyors 40A and 40B and a pair of guide devices 20A and 20B are configured in a closed loop shape for circulating and conveying the plurality of cultivation benches 10.

  The pair of transport conveyors 40A and 40B are arranged in parallel with a space in the front-rear direction (vertical direction). Each of the cultivation benches 10 is configured to be conveyed in opposite conveyance directions (lateral directions). The pair of guide devices 20A and 20B are arranged in parallel with a space in the left-right direction (lateral direction), and are configured to guide the cultivation bench 10 in directions opposite to each other (vertical direction). Has been.

  The left half of the front conveyor 40A is positioned on the front side of the first guide device 20A, and the right half of the front conveyor 40A is positioned on the front side of the second guide device 20B. The left half of the back side conveyor 40B is located on the back side of the first guide device 20A, and the right half of the back side conveyor 40B is located on the back side of the second guide device 20B. Each of the conveyors 40A and 40B is configured to be able to deliver the cultivation bench 10 to and from the guide devices 20A and 20B. Each cultivation bench 10 is circulated and conveyed clockwise in a plan view of FIG. 1 in the order of the front-side transport conveyor 40A → the first guide device 20A → the back-side transport conveyor 40B → the second guide device 20B → the front-side transport conveyor 40A. . Needless to say, the circulating conveyance direction may be counterclockwise in a plan view of FIG.

  The detailed structure of the cultivation bench 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The cultivation bench 10 includes a planter 2 that is an upward-opening horizontally-long box-like container, and a horizontally-long box-frame-like frame frame 11 in which the planter 2 is accommodated. The planter 2 accommodates soil for cultivation, and a drain hole (not shown) for discharging excess water and chemicals to the outside is formed on the bottom surface thereof. At the front and rear edges of the upper surface of the planter 2, there are formed locking pieces 2 a that engage with the horizontally long upper frame 12 that constitutes the upper surface of the frame 11. The planter 2 is supported by the cultivation bench 10 by hooking and engaging the locking piece 2a with the upper frame 12.

  On the left and right horizontally long lower frame 18 constituting the lower surface side of the frame 11, a total of four sets of wheels 13 as a sliding body for sliding the cultivation bench 10 on the respective guide devices 20 </ b> A and 20 </ b> B are attached. ing. A total of four sets of wheels 13 are arranged side by side in the lateral direction of the cultivation bench 10 at intervals according to the arrangement width of the guide rails 35 (details will be described later) of each guide device 20A (20B). In addition, you may provide a sliding body in each guide apparatus 20A (20B) side. Further, the sliding body is not limited to the wheel 13 but may be another structure such as a roller, a slider, or a roller. On the upper surface side of the lower frame 18, a receiving rod 14 for collecting excess water and chemicals discharged from the discharge holes on the lower surface of the planter 2 is attached. The water and the chemicals collected in the receiving basket 14 of each cultivation bench 10 are collected and collected in the collection baskets 30A and 30B (see FIG. 1) extending along the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) of the guide devices 20A and 20B. The

  A pair of wire rod fixing arms 15 is detachably attached to both longitudinal ends of one upper frame 12 in each cultivation bench 10. In 1st Embodiment, the cultivation bench 10 is mounted on the mobile cultivation apparatus 1 so that both the wire fixed arms 15 may protrude toward 40 A of front side conveyors. A plurality of support arms 16 projecting in the same direction as the two wire rod fixing arms 15 are provided between the two wire rod fixing arms 15 in the one upper frame 12. Although not shown in detail, the wire rod is tied to the fixing hole formed in the both wire rod fixing arms 15, and the middle portion of the wire rod is hooked from above onto the guide groove formed on the upper surface of each support arm 16. For example, cover the net. The portion of the net is supported from below by the two wire rod fixing arms 15, the plurality of support arms 16, and the wire rod, and protects the portion that extends to the outside of the planter 2 in the fruit vegetables or the like during cultivation.

  An IC tag (not shown) that stores various information such as fruit vegetables grown on the cultivation bench 10 is provided on the lower center side of the frame 11. The use of IC tags can improve the traceability of fruits and vegetables.

  In each cultivation bench 10, an abutting frame 19 formed in a U-shape in plan view is provided in the longitudinal middle portion of the lower frame 18 on the same side as the wire fixing arm 15 and the support arm 16. The left and right vertical pipe portions 19b of the contact frame 19 are fixed to the lower frame 18 by welding. The horizontal pipe portion 19a of the contact frame 19 can be brought into contact with the lower frame 18 of the cultivation bench 10 on either one of the front and rear sides in the transport direction on each guide device 20A, 20B. In a state where the horizontal pipe portion 19a of the contact frame 19 is in contact with the adjacent cultivation bench 10, an appropriate interval (in the longitudinal direction) between the adjacent cultivation benches 10 along the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) of each guide device 20A, 20B ( In the embodiment, about 500 mm) is opened.

  In addition, if the contact frame 19 is configured to be detachable (changeable) or adjustable in length, the arrangement interval between the adjacent cultivation benches 10 may be changed to increase or reduce the cultivation benches 10. It is convenient to increase or decrease the cultivation bench 10 depending on the type and variety of fruits and vegetables. The contact frame 19 is not limited to the illustrated structure. It protrudes from each cultivation bench 10 so that it can open a space | interval suitably along the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) of each guide apparatus 20A, 20B between the adjacent cultivation bench 10 in the state contact | abutted to the adjacent cultivation bench 10. FIG. Any structure can be used.

  Next, the detailed structures of the conveyors 40A and 40B and the guide devices 20A and 20B will be described with reference to FIGS. As described above, the pair of transport conveyors 40A and 40B and the pair of guide devices 20A and 20B are configured in a closed loop to circulate and transport the plurality of cultivation benches 10.

  The basic structure of both conveyors 40A and 40B is the same. Each conveyor 40A (40B) is provided with two horizontally long conveyor frames 47 supported by a plurality of legs. A pair of drive sprockets 42 and a pair of driven sprockets 43 are rotatably supported between the left and right ends of both conveyor frames 47. Between the two conveyor frames 47, two substantially parallel conveyor chains 41 are arranged via drive and driven sprockets 42 and 43. The conveyor chain 41 is wound around driving and driven sprockets 42 and 43. A conveyor motor 45A (45B) is connected to the drive shaft of the drive sprocket 42 via a chain and a sprocket transmission system so that power can be transmitted, and the two substantially parallel conveyor chains 41 are synchronized by the conveyor motor 45A (45B). Are configured to rotate in the same direction.

  On both conveyor chains 41, mounting plates 46 on which the wheels 13 of the cultivation bench 10 delivered from each guide device 20A (20B) are placed are attached at appropriate intervals. In a state where each wheel 13 of the cultivation bench 10 is placed on the corresponding placement plate 46, the conveyance motor 45 rotates the pair of conveyor chains 41 so that each conveyance conveyor 40A (40B) moves the cultivation bench 10 sideways. Transport in the direction.

  In the first embodiment, a near-side space (in particular, a near-side space near the second guide device 20B) of the near-side transport conveyor 40A is set as a worker's work space. The worker can perform various operations (for example, harvesting operation, weeding operation, pruning operation, planter 2 replacement operation, etc.) in the operation space. Moreover, the irrigation apparatus 31 which spreads water toward the cultivation bench 10 conveyed by the horizontal direction by each conveyance conveyor 40A (40B) is arrange | positioned in the longitudinal middle part of both conveyance conveyors 40A and 40B.

  Furthermore, the control apparatus 32 (chemical solution spraying apparatus) is arrange | positioned in the position which is the furthest away from the work space in the mobile cultivation apparatus 1, ie, the back side conveyor 40B side. The control device 32 is for spraying a control agent or a chemical solution toward the cultivation bench 10 that is transported in the lateral direction by the back-side transport conveyor 40B. The control apparatus 32 of 1st Embodiment is arrange | positioned in the longitudinal middle part of the back | side conveyance conveyor 40B. Therefore, it is excellent at the point which can prevent reliably that a control agent and a chemical | medical solution adhere to the worker in a work space.

  On the other hand, the basic structure of both guide devices 20A and 20B is the same. Each of the guide devices 20A and 20B includes a plurality of guide rails 35 (four in the embodiment) on which the frame 13 of the cultivation bench 10 travels. The guide rail 35 group is arranged at intervals in the left-right direction (lateral direction), and is supported by a framework composed of a large number of columns and horizontal frames. Each guide rail 35 is formed in a V-shape that is bent upward in the front-rear direction (longitudinal direction) and opened upward as viewed from the longitudinal direction. Such a guide rail 35 having a V-shaped cross section can easily guide the plurality of cultivation benches 10 to the respective conveyors 40A (40B) without removing the wheels 13.

  In the lower part of the transport upstream side of each guide device 20A (20B), the cultivation bench 10 moved to the transport downstream side of each transport conveyor 40A (40B) is directed vertically toward the guide device 20A (20B) facing it. As a means for carrying, a retracting device 21A (21B) is provided. In the first embodiment, in order to circulate and convey the cultivation bench 10 in a plan view clockwise in FIG. 1, the feeding side pull-in device 21 </ b> A is provided at the lower portion on the near side of the first guide device 20 </ b> A, and the rear side of the second guide device 20 </ b> B. Return-side retracting devices 21B are arranged at the bottom. Then, the return-side retracting device 21B is sent to the lower portion on the back side of the first guiding device 20A and the lower portion on the near side of the second guiding device 20B so as to cope with the counter-clockwise circulating conveyance in FIG. A side pull-in device 21A is arranged. That is, the drawing-in devices 21A and 21B that are in a positional relationship on a diagonal line in the plan view of FIG.

  In the following, for convenience of explanation, each drawing-in device 21A (21B) corresponding to the circular conveyance in a plan view of FIG. 1 will be described as an example. The basic structure of each of these retracting devices 21A (21B) is the same. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each drawing-in device 21A (21B) includes a pair of engaging claws 51 that can be engaged and disengaged from below with the cultivation bench 10 on the corresponding transport conveyor 40A (40B), and each engagement device. As an elevating electromagnetic solenoid 52 as an engagement / disengagement actuator for engaging / disengaging the joint claw body 51 to / from the cultivation bench 10, and a reciprocating actuator for reciprocating both engagement claw bodies 51 in the vertical direction along the guide device 20A (20B). The air cylinder 53 is provided.

  In the first embodiment, a pair of front and rear beam frames 55 extending in the lateral direction are bolted to the upstream side of conveyance of the pair of horizontal frames 54 that are the framework of each guide device 20A (20B). A cylinder mount 56 is fixed to both beam frames 55 by welding or the like. On the cylinder mount 56, an air cylinder 53 is provided in a state where the piston rod 57 is positioned away from the transport downstream side of each transport conveyor 40A (40B). Each horizontal frame 54 is positioned below the inner two of the four guide rails 35.

  Round bar-like slide bars 58 extending in the vertical direction are arranged on both the left and right sides of the air cylinder 53. In this case, the base end sides of the horizontal beam brackets 59 (four in the first embodiment) projecting outward in the left-right direction are fixed to the front and rear side ends of the cylinder mount 56. A bar support plate 60 is erected on the front end side of each horizontal rail bracket 59. Front and rear end portions of one of the left and right slide bars 58 are fixed to a pair of bar support plates 60 on one side of the left and right sides of the air cylinder 53, and a pair of bar support plates 60 on the other side of the left and right sides The front and rear ends of the slide bar 58 are fixed. Both slide bars 58 are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction.

  A slider 61 (see FIGS. 7 to 10) is slidably fitted to each slide bar 58. A flat plate-shaped moving plate 62 is attached to the upper surface side of both sliders 61. A portion between the sliders 61 on the lower surface side of the moving plate 62 is connected to the distal end side of the piston rod 57 in the air cylinder 53 via a connecting rod 63. Accordingly, the moving plate 62 is configured to reciprocate in the vertical direction along the slide bars 58 by the expansion and contraction of the piston rod 57 in the air cylinder 53.

  Engaging claw bodies 51 are arranged on the left and right ends of the upper surface of the moving plate 62 so as to be vertically rotatable. A shaft support 64 is erected on the left and right corners of the upper surface of the moving plate 62 far from the downstream side of the conveyors 40A (40B). The base end side of the main body arm 65 in the engaging claw body 51 is pivotally supported by the pivotal support member 64 via the pivotal support pin shaft 66. The main body arm 65 of the engaging claw body 51 extends so as to approach the transport downstream side of each transport conveyor 40A (40B). A claw portion 67 that can be engaged with and disengaged from the lower frame 18 of the cultivation bench 10 on each conveyor 40A (40B) is provided on the front end side of the main body arm 65.

  The claw portions 67 of the both engaging claw bodies 51 are positioned above the conveyance downstream side of each conveyance conveyor 40A (40B) with the piston rod 57 of the air cylinder 53 shortened, and each conveyance conveyor 40A (40B). And the lower frame 18 of the cultivation bench 10. In a state where the piston rod 57 of the air cylinder 53 is extended, the claw portions 67 of the both engagement claw bodies 51 are moved away from the conveyance downstream side of each conveyance conveyor 40A (40B). Each retracting device 21A (21B) holds the piston rod 57 of the air cylinder 53 in an extended state in a standby state (which may be referred to as an initial state) in which the cultivation bench 10 is not conveyed in the vertical direction. This is because the claw portions 67 of both engaging claw bodies 51 do not interfere with the cultivation bench 10 that is in the middle of conveyance on each conveyance conveyor 40A (40B) (does not get caught) of each conveyance conveyor 40A (40B). This is to keep away from the downstream side of the conveyance.

  As shown in FIG. 5, lift electromagnetic solenoids 52 are provided at the left and right corner portions of the lower surface of the moving plate 62 that are closer to the transport downstream side of each transport conveyor 40A (40B). The lifting rod 68 of each lifting electromagnetic solenoid 52 protrudes upward and passes through the moving plate 62. The tip end side of each lifting rod 68 is connected to the midway portion of the main body arm 65 in the corresponding engaging claw body 51. Each engagement claw body 51 is configured to rotate up and down around the pivot pin shaft 66 by the up and down movement of the up and down rod 68 in the corresponding up and down electromagnetic solenoid 52. That is, by engaging the engaging claw bodies 51 up and down, the claw portion 67 is engaged with the lower frame 18 of the cultivation bench 10 on each conveyor 40A (40B), or the lower frame 18 and the claw portion 67 Release the engagement.

  When delivering the cultivation bench 10 moved to the conveyance downstream side of one conveyance conveyor 40A (40B) to the guide device 20A (20B) facing it, the piston rod of the air cylinder 53 in the one drawing-in device 21A (21B) 57 is shortened and the nail | claw part 67 of both the engagement nail | claw bodies 51 is inserted between each conveyance conveyor 40A (40B) and the lower frame 18 of the cultivation bench 10 (refer FIG. 7). Next, the lifting rods 68 of both lifting electromagnetic solenoids 52 are moved up to rotate both engaging claws 51 upward, and the claw portions 67 of both engaging claws 51 are placed on one lower frame 18 of the cultivation bench 10. Engage from below (see FIG. 8).

  Then, with the engagement between the lower frame 18 and both claws maintained, the piston rod 57 of each air cylinder 53 is extended, and the cultivation bench 10 on one transport conveyor 40A (40B) is guided to the guide device 20A ( 20B), the lower frame 18 of the cultivation bench 10 on the side of one of the conveyors 40A (40B) is brought into contact with the contact frame 19 (lateral pipe portion) of the cultivation bench 10 on the guide device 20A (20B) side. 19a) (see FIG. 9). As a result, the plurality of cultivation benches 10 on the guide device 20A (20B) collide one after another in a ball shape, and the cultivation bench 10 on the most downstream side of the guide device 20A (20B) becomes the other transport conveyor 40B (40A). ) To the upstream side of conveyance. That is, after both the engaging claw bodies 51 are engaged with the cultivation bench 10 by driving both the lifting electromagnetic solenoids 52, the both guiding claw bodies 51 are conveyed downstream by the guide device 20A (20B) by driving the air cylinder 53. The plurality of cultivation benches 10 on the guide device 20A (20B) are conveyed in a ball shape by being moved toward the direction.

  Thereafter, the lifting rods 68 of both lifting electromagnetic solenoids 52 are moved downward to rotate the both engaging claws 51 downward, so that one lower frame 18 of the cultivation bench 10 and the claws 67 of the both engaging claws 51 are connected. The engagement is released (see FIG. 10). In addition, in 1st Embodiment, when the adjacent cultivation bench 10 is conveyed in a ball shape, on the 1st guide apparatus 20A, the lower frame 18 back side surface of the cultivation bench 10 on the conveyance upstream is the cultivation bench on the conveyance downstream side. 10 abutment frames 19 (lateral pipe portions 19a). On the second guide device 20B, the contact frame 19 (lateral pipe portion 19a) of the cultivation bench 10 on the transport upstream side contacts the back side surface of the lower frame 18 of the cultivation bench 10 on the transport downstream side.

  A stopper member 23 that regulates the vertical conveyance (collision conveyance) of the cultivation bench 10 delivered from the most downstream side of each guide device 20A (20B) is detachable on the conveyance upstream side of each conveyance conveyor 40A (40B). It is attached.

  In the first embodiment, each cultivation bench 10 is placed on the mobile cultivation device 1 (each conveyance conveyor 40A (40B) and each guide device 20A (20B)) with the posture where the contact frame 19 faces the front conveyance conveyor 40A. To do. For this reason, the stopper member 23 of the front-side transport conveyor 40A is attached in a posture protruding to the front side in a plan view because of the contact with the contact frame 19. The stopper member 23 of the back-side conveyor 40B is attached in a posture that overlaps with the back-side conveyor 40B in a plan view because of contact with the lower frame 18 of the cultivation bench 10 instead of the contact frame 19.

  Further, for the purpose of corresponding to both the clockwise and counterclockwise circulatory conveyances in the plan view of FIG. 1, stopper members 23 are arranged not only on the conveyance upstream side but also on the conveyance downstream side of each conveyance conveyor 40A (40B). ing. In the first embodiment, a total of four stopper members 23 are arranged, two on the conveyance upstream side of each conveyance conveyor 40A (40B) and two on the conveyance downstream side.

When the cultivation bench 10 on the most downstream side of each guide device 20A (20B) is transferred to the other conveyance conveyor 40B (40A) by ball crush conveyance, the lower frame 18 rear side surface or the contact frame of the cultivation bench 10 on the most downstream side is used. 19 (horizontal pipe portion 19a) abuts on the stopper member, and the wheel 13 of the most downstream cultivation bench 10 is placed on the mounting plate 46, and on the upstream side of conveyance of the other conveyance conveyor 40B (40A). Stop. That is, it can be surely transferred to a fixed position on each conveyor 40B (40A).
Thereafter, the cultivation bench 10 is moved to the conveyance downstream side by driving each conveyance conveyor 40B (40A). At this time, each conveyance is performed in the cultivation bench 40 due to the presence of the stopper members 23 on the conveyance upstream side and the conveyance downstream side. The cultivation bench 10 is guided to the conveyance downstream side along the stopper member 23 while preventing the positional deviation in the vertical direction orthogonal to the conveyor 40B (40A). Therefore, the cultivation bench 10 can be smoothly conveyed in the horizontal direction in a suitable posture on each conveyance conveyor 40B (40A).

  Next, the pneumatic circuit 70 structure of the mobile cultivation apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The pneumatic circuit 70 of the mobile cultivation apparatus 1 includes a compressor 71 that supplies high-pressure air to the air cylinder 53 and the air cylinders 53 of the respective retractors 21A (21B). In addition, in FIG. 11, illustration of the air cylinder 53 of each drawing-in device 21A (21B) with respect to the circulation conveyance counterclockwise in plan view of FIG. 1 is omitted.

  The compressor 71 and each air cylinder 53 are connected via a 5-port 3-position switching type direction switching electromagnetic valve 72. The direction switching electromagnetic valve 72 has a pair of electromagnetic solenoids 73 electrically connected to a controller 75 as control means. The direction switching electromagnetic valve 73 includes an extension position for extending the piston rod 57 of the air cylinder 53 by an excitation of each electromagnetic solenoid 73 based on a command from the controller 75, a stop position for stopping the operation of the piston rod 57, and a piston. The rod 57 is configured to be switched to a shortened position where the rod 57 is shortened.

  The controller 75 as a control means performs drive control of each conveyance conveyor 40A (40B) and each drawing-in apparatus 21A (21B) regarding the circulation conveyance of the cultivation bench 10 group. The controller 75 includes a pair of left and right electromagnetic solenoids 52 as engaging / disengaging actuators, a first motor driver 74A for the first transport motor 45A of the front transport conveyor 40A, and a second transport motor 45B for the rear transport conveyor 40B. The two-motor driver 74B and the pair of electromagnetic solenoids 73 of each direction switching electromagnetic valve 72 described above are connected.

  As is clear from the above description and FIGS. 4, 5, and 7 to 10, according to the first embodiment, the closed-loop mobile cultivation apparatus 1 that circulates a plurality of cultivation benches 10 that cultivate fruit vegetables and the like. A pair of transport conveyors 40A and 40B arranged in parallel with the transport directions opposite to each other, and from the transport downstream side of the one transport conveyor 40A (40B) to the transport upstream side of the other transport conveyor 40B (40A) A pair of guide devices 20A, 20B for guiding each cultivation bench 10 and a pair for moving the cultivation bench 10 on each conveyance conveyor 40A (40B) toward the guidance device 20A (20B) on the downstream side of conveyance. Retracting devices 21A and 21B, and a plurality of the guiding devices 20A (20B) on the guide devices 20A (20B) by driving the retracting devices 21A (21B). Since the culturing bench 10 is configured to be conveyed in a ball shape, and each of the retracting devices 21A (21B) is arranged at the lower part of the conveying upstream side of the corresponding guiding device 20A (20B), a plurality of cultivations are provided. Although it is the mobile cultivation apparatus 1 of the closed loop structure which circulates the bench 10, it is not necessary to employ | adopt a complicated drive mechanism like patent document 3. FIG. That is, it is not necessary to provide a spline power shaft and a separate belt transmission system for each frame in the row direction and for each frame in the column direction. Therefore, significant cost reduction is possible. Moreover, since each said pulling-in apparatus 21A (21B) for ball crush conveyance will be accommodated in the inside of the mobile cultivation apparatus 1, the said respective drawing-in apparatus 21A (21B) does not protrude from the said mobile cultivation apparatus 1. . Therefore, the said mobile cultivation apparatus 1 can be comprised compactly.

  Moreover, each said drawing-in apparatus 21A (21B) has the engaging claw body 51 and the said engaging claw body 51 which can be engaged / disengaged from the bottom to the said cultivation bench 10 on the said conveyance conveyor 40A (40B) corresponding to this. An engagement / disengagement actuator 52 that engages / disengages with the cultivation bench 10 and a reciprocation actuator 53 that reciprocates the engagement claw body 51 along the guide device 20A (20B) on the downstream side of the conveyance. After the engaging claw body 51 is engaged with the cultivation bench 10 from below by driving the actuator 52, the engaging claw body 51 is driven downstream by the guide device 20A on the downstream side by driving the reciprocating actuator 53. 20B), the cultivation bench 10 on each of the conveyors 40A (40B) is moved downstream of the guide device 2 on the downstream side. When moving to A (20B), the pulling device 21A (21B) pulls toward the guiding device 20A (20B) on the downstream side of the conveyance to a position that is the same as or lower than the center of gravity of the cultivation bench 10. Power will act. Therefore, generation | occurrence | production of the rotation moment resulting from the drawing force with respect to the said cultivation bench 10 can be prevented or suppressed, and the possibility of the fall of the said cultivation bench 10 can be suppressed reliably.

  Furthermore, each said cultivation bench 10 is equipped with the contact frame 19 contact | abutted to any one cultivation bench 10 before and behind the conveyance direction on each said guide apparatus 20A (20B), The said contact frame 19 and said one Since the plurality of cultivation benches 10 on the guide devices 20A (20B) can be conveyed in a ball shape by contact with the cultivation bench 10, the circulation of the cultivation benches 10 is determined. In addition, there is no risk of pinching a peduncle or fruit such as fruit vegetables between the adjacent cultivation benches 10. Therefore, each cultivation bench 10 can be safely conveyed and circulated without damaging the inflorescences or fruits grown on the cultivation bench 10.

  In addition, since each contact frame 19 sets an arrangement interval of the group of the cultivation benches 10 arranged in the longitudinal direction of the guide devices 20A (20B), the cultivation bench 10 according to the fruit and vegetables to be cultivated is set. It is possible to adjust the arrangement interval of the groups by the contact frames 19. Therefore, the application range of the mobile cultivation apparatus 1 is expanded, and the versatility of the mobile cultivation apparatus 1 can be improved.

  In addition, a stopper member 23 for restricting the ball-carrying conveyance of the cultivation bench 10 delivered from the most downstream side of the one guide device 20A (20B) is arranged on the conveyance upstream side of each conveyance conveyor 40A (40B), and Since it comprises so that the movement of the said cultivation bench 10 by the conveyance conveyor 40A (40B) may be guided by the said stopper member 23, at the time of ball crush conveyance, the said cultivation bench 10 to which it passes is moved until it hits the said stopper member 23, It can be reliably conveyed to a fixed position on each of the conveyors 40A (40B). Thereafter, the cultivation bench 10 is moved along the stopper member 23 by the conveyance conveyor 40A (40B), and the cultivation bench 10 is smoothly conveyed in a suitable posture on the conveyance conveyor 40A (40B). it can.

  Next, 2nd Embodiment of the mobile cultivation apparatus 1 is described, referring FIGS. 12-14. In the second embodiment, each abutment frame 19 and the stopper member 23 can be replaced or adjusted in length so that the arrangement interval of the cultivation bench 10 group on each guide device 20A (20B) can be changed. The air cylinders 53 are greatly different from those of the first embodiment in that each air cylinder 53 has a multi-stage stroke specification (specifically, a two-stage stroke specification).

  As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 (a) (b), in each cultivation bench 10, in the longitudinal middle part of the lower frame 18 on the same side as the wire fixing arm 15 and the support arm 16, the contact frame 19 is provided. A pair of hollow cylindrical holder pipes 81 into which the vertical pipe portions 19b are inserted are fixed by welding. Each vertical pipe portion 19b of the contact frame 19 is inserted into the corresponding holder pipe 81 so as to be slidable along the longitudinal direction. Each vertical pipe portion 19b of the contact frame is formed with lock holes 82 at two locations near the base end and near the distal end, while the vertical pipe portion is located at a portion near the opening in each holder pipe 81. A through hole 83 corresponding to the lock hole 82 of 19b is formed. A lock pin 84 with a head 85 is removably inserted into the through hole 83 of each holder pipe 81.

  A cylindrical bearing body 87 that supports the lock pin 84 is fixed to the outer surface of each holder pipe 81 by welding or the like. The bearing body 87 is provided with a stepped hole 88 formed in a stepped shape having a large diameter on the left and right inner sides and a small diameter on the left and right outer sides. The lock pin 84 is fitted into the stepped hole 88 of the bearing body 87 with the head 85 positioned on the left and right inner sides and the coil spring 89 fitted on the shaft portion 86. Accordingly, the lock pin 84 is always urged to slide toward the vertical pipe portion 19 b of the contact frame 19 by the elastic restoring force of the coil spring 89.

  A knob 90 having a larger diameter than that of the small diameter portion of the stepped hole 88 is screwed and attached to a thread portion protruding from the bearing body 87 in the shaft portion 86 of the lock pin 84. When the base end surface of the knob 90 abuts against the bearing body 87, the lock pin 84 is held so as not to be removed from the stepped hole 88 of the bearing body 87. The outer diameter of the head 85 in the lock pin 84 is set to a size that fits perfectly into the large diameter portion of the stepped hole 88 in the bearing body 87.

  The insertion length of each vertical pipe portion 19b of the abutting frame 19 with respect to the holder pipe 81 can be adjusted in the unlocked state in which the lock pin 84 is retracted outward in the left and right directions and the engagement with the lock hole 82 is released. In the locked state in which the lock pin 84 is inserted into any one of the lock holes 82, the contact frame 19 is held so as not to be inserted and removed. In 2nd Embodiment, the arrangement space | interval of the adjacent cultivation bench 10 is expanded to about 640 mm in the state which inserted and fixed the lock pin 84 in the lock hole 82 near the front-end | tip in each vertical pipe part 19b. In the second embodiment, the stopper member 23 is replaced with a long attachment horizontal portion 23a along with the change in the length of the contact frame 19. Of course, the contact frame 19 may be configured to be replaceable, or the stopper member 23 may be configured to be adjustable in length.

  In FIG. 14, the pneumatic circuit 100 structure of the mobile cultivation apparatus 1 in 2nd Embodiment is shown. In FIG. 14, the illustration of the air cylinder 53 of each drawing-in device 21A (21B) with respect to the counterclockwise circulating conveyance in the plan view of FIG.

  In the pneumatic circuit 100 of the second embodiment, the air cylinder 53 of each drawing-in device 21A (21B) is configured to have a multi-stage stroke specification (specifically, a two-stage stroke specification). In this case, the air cylinder 53 is configured as a two-stage cylinder, and the large-diameter cylinder portion 101 of the air cylinder 53 is connected to the compressor 71 via a three-port two-position switching large-diameter direction switching electromagnetic valve 103. Yes. The small-diameter cylinder portion 102 of the air cylinder 53 is connected to the compressor 71 via a four-port two-position switching small-diameter direction switching electromagnetic valve 104.

  The direction switching electromagnetic valves 103 and 104 have electromagnetic solenoids 105 and 106 that are electrically connected to a controller 75 as a control means. The large-diameter direction switching electromagnetic valve 103 has an extended position for extending the piston rod 107 of the large-diameter cylinder part 101 and an abbreviated position for shortening the piston rod 107 by excitation of the electromagnetic solenoid 105 based on a command from the controller 75. And is configured to be switched and driven. The small-diameter direction switching solenoid valve 104 is set to an extended position for extending the piston rod 108 of the small-diameter cylinder 102 and a shortened position for shortening the piston rod 108 by excitation of the electromagnetic solenoid 106 based on a command from the controller 75. It is configured to perform switching driving.

  By the switching driving of the large-diameter direction switching electromagnetic valve 103, the piston rod 108 of the small-diameter cylinder portion 102 in the air cylinder 53 is expanded and contracted in response to the case where the length of the contact frame 19 is short (for example, about 500 mm). To do. Further, by the switching drive of the small diameter direction switching electromagnetic valve 104, the piston rod 108 of the small diameter cylinder portion 102 in the air cylinder 53 expands and contracts corresponding to the case where the length of the contact frame 19 is long (for example, about 640 mm). Will move. Note that the tip end side of the piston rod 108 of the small diameter cylinder portion 102 in the air cylinder 53 is connected to a position between the sliders 61 on the lower surface side of the moving plate 62 via the connecting rod 63. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  As is clear from the above description and FIGS. 12 to 14, according to the second embodiment, each of the cultivation benches 10 groups on the respective guidance devices 20 </ b> A (20 </ b> B) can be changed in arrangement interval. Since the contact frame 19 and the stopper member 23 can be replaced or adjusted in length, and the air cylinder 53 of each drawing-in device 21A (21B) has a multi-stage stroke specification, it corresponds to the fruits and vegetables to be cultivated. It becomes possible to adjust the arrangement | positioning space | interval of the said cultivation bench 10 group with each said contact frame 19, the said stopper member 23, and each said drawing-in apparatus 21A (21B). Therefore, the application range of the mobile cultivation apparatus 1 is expanded, and the versatility of the mobile cultivation apparatus 1 can be improved.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be embodied in various forms. The configuration of each other part is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In addition, the term “fruit vegetables etc.” used in the present specification is used as a concept including fruit vegetables such as strawberries and leaf vegetables such as spinach.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile cultivation apparatus 10 Cultivation bench 19 Contact frame 20A, 20B Guide apparatus 21A, 21B Pull-in apparatus 23 Stopper member 40A, 40B Conveyor conveyor 45A, 45B Conveyor motor 51 Engaging claw body 52 Lifting electromagnetic solenoid 53 Air cylinder 70 Pneumatic circuit 71 compressor

Claims (2)

A pair of transport conveyors arranged in parallel with the transport directions opposite to each other, and a pair of guide devices for guiding a plurality of cultivation benches from the transport downstream side of the one transport conveyor to the transport upstream side of the other transport conveyor; Are arranged in a closed loop, and a plurality of cultivation benches on each of the guide devices are driven by driving a pair of drawing devices that move the cultivation bench on each of the conveyors toward the guide device on the downstream side of conveyance. A mobile cultivation apparatus that circulates the plurality of cultivation benches,
Each of the cultivation benches includes a contact frame that comes into contact with any one of the cultivation benches before and after the conveying direction on each guide device, and by contact between the contact frame and the one cultivation bench, The plurality of cultivation benches on each of the guide devices are configured to be conveyed in a ball shape, and each contact frame sets an arrangement interval of the cultivation bench groups arranged in the longitudinal direction of each of the guide devices. And
A stopper member capable of abutting on the abutting frame of the cultivation bench is disposed on one side of the longitudinal side of the one conveying conveyor on the side opposite to the pair of guide devices with the one conveying conveyor in plan view. Install in a protruding position,
A stopper member that can contact the cultivation bench is attached to the other side of the longitudinal side of the other transport conveyor in a posture that overlaps the transport conveyor in plan view,
The movement of the cultivation bench along the longitudinal direction of each conveyor is guided by the stopper member,
Mobile cultivation equipment. Each contact frame and the stopper member are configured to be replaceable or length adjustable so that the arrangement interval of the cultivation bench group on each guide device can be changed.
The mobile cultivation apparatus according to claim 1.

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