JP7520763B2 - Transplanter - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a transplanter.

A transplanter disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known.
The transplanter disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a number of seedling supply cups that supply seedlings to a planting tool that plants the seedlings in a field. Each seedling supply cup has a storage section into which the seedlings are inserted and a bottom lid that opens and closes the bottom opening of the storage section.
A large number of seedling supply cups are arranged in a loop and transported along a placement path with their bottom lids closed, and the bottom lids open at a predetermined position in the transport direction to drop the seedlings into the planting tool, and then close at a position a predetermined distance in the transport direction from the position where the bottom lids were opened.

JP 2013-215177 A

In order to allow the seedlings to fall smoothly from the storage section, it is preferable to open the bottom lid at a speed faster than the speed at which the seedlings fall. For this reason, the seedling supply cup may be provided with a biasing spring that biases the bottom lid in the direction of opening. However, if the biasing force of the biasing spring is large, the bottom lid may open excessively, which may cause problems.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT In view of the problems, the present invention aims to prevent problems caused by the bottom lid of the seedling supplying cup opening excessively.

A transplanter according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a seedling supplying cup including a storage section into which seedlings are inserted, a bottom lid that opens and closes a lower opening of the storage section, and a biasing spring that biases the bottom lid in an opening direction; a cup transport mechanism that transports a number of the seedling supplying cups arranged in a loop along an arrangement path; an open holder that holds the bottom lid in a closed state that closes the lower opening of the storage section, the open holder including a release section that releases the hold to open the bottom lid by the biasing force of the biasing spring at a predetermined position in the transport direction of the seedling supplying cup, and a closing section that returns the bottom lid to the closed state at a position a predetermined distance away from the release section in the transport direction; and a cup transport mechanism that transports the seedling supplying cup along an arrangement path. and a bottom lid regulating section which regulates the bottom lid from opening excessively and opens the bottom lid at a slower operating speed than the operating speed for opening the bottom lid from the closed state , wherein the downstream side of the bottom lid in the transport direction is rotatably supported by the storage section via a pivot and opens in the transport direction, and the bottom lid regulating section has an abutment section which is formed separately from the closing section and arranged with a gap on the upstream side of the closing section in the transport direction, the abutment section abutting the bottom lid at a position rotated in the opening direction from a position where the bottom lid extends vertically downward from the pivot, thereby restricting the bottom lid from opening excessively, and does not include a member which prevents the bottom lid from moving in the opening direction due to the biasing force of the biasing spring until the bottom lid abuts on the abutment section from the closed state.

In addition , the release portion is capable of adjusting its position in the transport direction so as to change the position at which the bottom cover is opened, and the abutment portion is capable of adjusting its position in the transport direction in response to the adjustment of the position of the release portion .
A transplanter according to another aspect of the present invention includes a seedling supplying cup including a storage section into which seedlings are inserted, a bottom lid that opens and closes a lower opening of the storage section, and a biasing spring that biases the bottom lid in an opening direction; a cup transport mechanism that transports a number of the seedling supplying cups arranged in a loop along an arrangement path; an open holder that holds the bottom lid in a closed state that closes the lower opening of the storage section, the open holder including a release section that releases the hold to open the bottom lid by the biasing force of the biasing spring at a predetermined position in the transport direction of the seedling supplying cup, and a closing section that returns the bottom lid to the closed state at a position a predetermined distance away from the release section in the transport direction, and the open holder is disposed between the release section and the closing section. and a bottom lid regulating portion that prevents the bottom lid from opening excessively due to the spring force and opens the bottom lid at an operating speed slower than the operating speed at which the bottom lid opens from the closed state, wherein the downstream side of the bottom lid in the transport direction is rotatably supported on the storage portion via a pivot and opens in the transport direction, and the bottom lid regulating portion has an abutment portion that abuts against the bottom lid at a position rotated in the opening direction from the position where the bottom lid extends vertically downward from the pivot, thereby preventing the bottom lid from opening excessively, and the bottom lid regulating portion has a guide portion extending from the abutment portion toward the transport direction and slidingly contacts the bottom lid in an inclined position that transitions to the opposite side to the transport direction as the bottom lid moves downward.

The guide portion is formed in an inclined shape that transitions downward from the contact portion toward the transport direction.
The guide portion is formed in an inclined shape that transitions upward from the contact portion toward the transport direction.
A further aspect of the present invention provides a transplanter comprising a seedling supply cup including a container into which seedlings are inserted, a bottom cover for opening and closing a bottom opening of the container, and a biasing spring for biasing the bottom cover in an opening direction.
a cup transport mechanism for transporting a number of the seedling supply cups arranged in a loop along an arrangement path; an open holder for holding the bottom lid in a closed state to close the lower end opening of the storage section, the open holder including a release section for releasing the holding to open and operate the bottom lid by the biasing force of the biasing spring at a predetermined position in the transport direction of the seedling supply cups, and a closing section for returning the bottom lid to the closed state at a position a predetermined distance away from the release section in the transport direction; The apparatus comprises a bottom lid regulating section which regulates the bottom lid from opening excessively and opens the bottom lid at a slower operating speed than the operating speed at which the bottom lid opens from the closed state, and a plurality of planting tools which plant seedlings supplied from the seedling supply cup in a field and have adjustable spacing in the width direction of the machine body , wherein the open holder is a release position adjustment member which includes the release section and has a release position adjustment member which is capable of changing the position at which the bottom lid is opened in accordance with adjustment of the spacing of the plurality of planting tools, and the bottom lid regulating section is provided on the release position adjustment member.

The above transplanter can prevent problems caused by the bottom lid of the seedling supply cup opening too far.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the transplanter. FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view of an implant frame. FIG. 2 is a front view of the implant frame. FIG. FIG. 2 is a partially cross-sectional front view of the mounting base side of the planting device. FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the power input section of the planting device. FIG. FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the seedling supply cup and the transport mechanism. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the bottom cover and the open holder. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional front view of a seedling supplying cup. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the left seedling dropping position of the seedling supplying cup. FIG. 2 is a front view of the left seedling dropping position of the seedling supplying cup. FIG. 13 is a side view of the left seedling dropping position of the seedling supplying cup. 13 is a perspective view of a first release position adjustment member and a first bottom cover guide. FIG. FIG. 13 is a plan view of the seedling dropping position on the right side of the seedling supplying cup. FIG. 13 is a front view of the seedling dropping position on the right side of the seedling supplying cup. FIG. 13 is a side view of the seedling dropping position on the right side of the seedling supplying cup. 13 is a perspective view of a second release position adjustment member and a second bottom cover guide. FIG. 13 is a front view showing the operation of the bottom cover relative to the first bottom cover regulating portion. FIG. 13 is a front view showing the operation of the bottom cover relative to the first bottom cover regulating portion. FIG. 13 is a front view showing another embodiment of the first bottom cover regulating portion. FIG. 13 is a front view showing another embodiment of the second bottom cover regulating portion. FIG.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 shows a transplanter 1 that, for example, transplants vegetable seedlings into a ridge (into a field) while traveling along the ridge. In this embodiment, the transplanter 1 is a walk-behind type transplanter 1 that is operated by an operator while walking. Note that the transplanter 1 may also be a ride-on type transplanter 1 that transplants seedlings into a field by mounting a transplanting device on the rear of a traveling body that is driven by the operator.

In this embodiment, the direction of arrow A1 in FIG. 1 (the forward direction of the transplanter 1) is described as the forward direction, the direction of arrow A2 in FIG. 1 (the backward direction of the transplanter 1) is described as the rear direction, and the direction of K1 in FIG. 1 is described as the front-rear direction. The front side of FIG. 1 is described as the left side, and the back side of FIG. 1 is described as the right side. The horizontal direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction K1 is described as the width direction of the machine body. The direction from the center of the width direction (machine width direction) of the transplanter 1 to the right or left side is described as the outward direction of the machine body width. In other words, the outward direction of the machine body width is the direction away from the center of the width direction of the transplanter 1 in the machine body width direction. The opposite direction to the outward direction of the machine body width is described as the inward direction of the machine body width. In other words, the inward direction of the machine body width is the direction approaching the center of the width direction of the transplanter 1 in the machine body width direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the transplanter 1 has a body 2 supported for travel by a running device 3. The running device 3 is a wheel-type running device, and has front wheels 3A located on the left and right of the front of the body 2, and rear wheels 3B located on the left and right of the rear of the body 2. When planting seedlings in furrows, the front wheels 3A and rear wheels 3B roll in the inter-furrow grooves (between adjacent furrows).

The transplanter 1 also includes a prime mover 5 (power source), a spare seedling stand 6, and a steering handle 7 at the rear of the machine body 2, a transmission case 8 and a seat 9 at the midpoint of the machine body 2 in the fore-and-aft direction K1, and a transplanting device 10 at the front of the machine body 2. The prime mover 5 is, for example, an engine. The spare seedling stand 6 is a stand on which spare seedling trays are placed. The steering handle 7 is a handle used by an operator walking behind the transplanter 1 to operate the transplanter 1. The transmission case 8 is a case that houses a transmission mechanism that transmits the power of the prime mover 5 to the drive part of the transplanter 1. The seat 9 is for an operator who supplies seedlings to the transplanting device 10 to sit on. A pair of seats 9 are provided. The pair of seats 9 are arranged in a distributed manner on the left and right from the center of the machine width direction of the transplanter 1. The transplanting device 10 is a device that plants seedlings in a field.

The fuselage 2 is formed by assembling frame materials such as pipes, angle members, channel steel, and plate materials.
As shown in Figure 2, the machine body 2 has a main frame 11 and a transplanting frame 12 connected to the front part of the main frame 11. The front wheels 3A, rear wheels 3B, motor 5, spare seedling stand 6, steering handle 7, transmission case 8 and seat 9 are attached to the main frame 11, and the transplanting device 10 is attached to the transplanting frame 12.

1, the front wheel 3A is supported so as to be rotatable about an axis extending in the width direction of the vehicle body on the lower end side of a front wheel support arm 13 that is disposed at a front downward incline on the front part of the vehicle body 2. The upper side of the front wheel support arm 13 is supported by the main frame 11.
The rear wheel 3B is supported rotatably about an axis extending in the width direction of the vehicle body at the lower end of a transmission case 14 that is disposed in a rearwardly downwardly inclined manner in the middle of the vehicle body 2 in the front-rear direction K1. The upper end side of the transmission case 14 is supported by the transmission case 8. The rear wheel 3B is a drive wheel that is rotated by power transmitted from the prime mover 5 via a power transmission mechanism in the transmission case 8 and a power transmission mechanism in the transmission case 14.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the transplant frame 12 has front and rear lower horizontal frame members 16, 17 arranged in the width direction of the aircraft, a lower connecting frame member 18 that connects the lower surfaces of the front and rear lower horizontal frame members 16, 17 at the center (center side) in the width direction of the aircraft, vertical frame members 19 erected on both sides of the rear lower horizontal frame member 17 in the width direction of the aircraft, left and right central upper frame members 20 arranged in the vertical direction at the center (center side) between the upper parts of the left and right vertical frame members 19, an upper horizontal frame member 21 that connects the upper parts of the left and right central upper frame members 20, an upper connecting frame member 22 that connects the upper horizontal frame member 21 to the front lower horizontal frame member 16, and a central lower frame member 23 that connects the lower parts of the left and right central upper frame members 20 to the rear lower horizontal frame member 17.

As shown in FIG. 4, the center CL of the transplantation frame 12 in the width direction of the machine body coincides with the center of the transplanter 1 (machine body 2) in the width direction of the machine body.
As shown in FIG. 1, the transplanting device 10 has a seedling carrying table 26 on which seedling trays in which seedlings are grown are placed, a planting device 30 having a planting tool 27 for planting the seedlings in a field, a seedling supplying device 28 for supplying seedlings to the planting tool 27, and a soil covering wheel 31 for compacting the soil on the left and right sides of the planted seedlings and covering the seedlings with soil.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the transplanting frame 12 includes a seedling supply frame 32 that supports the seedling supply device 28 , a shaft support frame 35 that supports a drive shaft 34 that drives the transplanting device 10 , and a planting support member 36 that supports the planting device 30 .
3 and 4, the shaft support frame 35 is made of a plate material whose plate surface faces the width direction of the machine body, and is disposed at the lower part of the center side of the transplant frame 12 in the width direction of the machine body, with its rear end fixed to the rear lower horizontal frame material 17. The shaft support frame 35 is formed with insertion holes 41 for inserting the drive shaft 34 and the bearing 40 (see FIG. 6) that supports the drive shaft 34.

3 and 4, the planting support members 36 are made of plate members whose plate surfaces face the front-rear direction K1, and are arranged on the left and right sides of the shaft support frame 35, respectively. The left and right planting support members 36 are arranged on the front side of the rear lower horizontal frame member 17, the vertical frame member 19, and the central upper frame member 20. The lower end side of the left and right planting support members 36 is fixed to the front side of the rear lower horizontal frame member 17, the outer end side in the width direction of the machine body is fixed to the front side of the vertical frame member 19, and the inner end side in the width direction of the upper part of the machine body is fixed to the lower front side of the central upper frame member 20. A plurality of mounting holes (upper mounting holes) 42 are formed in the upper part of each planting support member 36 in the width direction of the machine body. In this embodiment, the upper mounting holes 42 are formed as circular holes and nine are formed. The lower part of each planting support member 36 is formed with a mounting hole (lower mounting hole) 43 consisting of a long hole in the width direction of the machine body.

As shown in FIG. 1, the seedling carrying tray 26 is disposed in front of the seat 9 and is attached and fixed to a seedling supplying frame 32 via a bracket or the like.
As shown in Figures 5 and 6, a drive shaft 34 having an axis extending in the width direction of the machine body is disposed on the front side of each planting support member 36. The drive shaft 34 is a shaft that drives the planting device 30, and is driven to rotate around its axis by power transmitted from an intermediate shaft 96 disposed on the rear side of the transplantation frame 12. In this embodiment, the drive shaft 34 is formed into a hexagonal prism in cross section, passes through a bearing 40 attached to a shaft support frame 35, and is supported by the bearing 40 so as to be rotatable around its axis. The drive shaft 34 extends in the width direction of the machine body so that its left end is located near the left end of the left planting support member 36 and its right end is located near the right end of the right planting support member 36.

5, a transmission cylinder 97 is fitted onto the outside of the drive shaft 34 at the center in the width direction of the machine body so as to rotate integrally therewith. The transmission cylinder 97 is rotatably supported by a bearing 40 attached to the shaft support frame 35. An input sprocket 98 is provided on the transmission cylinder 97 so as to rotate integrally therewith.
As shown in Figure 5, the intermediate shaft 96 has an axis extending in the width direction of the body, is positioned at the lower parts of the left and right central lower frame members 23 of the transplant frame 12, and is provided across the left and right central lower frame members 23. The intermediate shaft 96 is supported by bearings 99 attached to the left and right central lower frame members 23 so as to be freely rotatable around the axis.

The intermediate shaft 96 is provided with an output sprocket 100 located behind the input sprocket 98, an intermediate sprocket 101 located to the right of the output sprocket 100, and a transmission sprocket 102 located to the left of the output sprocket 100, which are rotatable together. A transmission chain 103 is wound around the output sprocket 100 and the input sprocket 98. Power from the prime mover 5 is transmitted to the intermediate sprocket 101 via the power transmission mechanism in the transmission case 8 and other power transmission mechanisms. As a result, the intermediate shaft 96 is driven to rotate, and power is transmitted from the intermediate shaft 96 to the drive shaft 34 via the output sprocket 100, the transmission chain 103, and the input sprocket 98, so that the drive shaft 34 is driven to rotate.

In addition, power is transmitted from the transmission sprocket 102 to a wrapping transmission mechanism 59 which transmits power to the cup transport mechanism 47 shown in FIG. 11, so that the seedling supply cups 46A, 46B are transported.
5, a pair of planting devices 30 are provided. The pair of planting devices 30 are arranged in a distributed manner on the left and right sides of the center CL of the transplanter 1.

As shown in Figures 5 and 7, each planting device 30 has a planting tool 27 that plants seedlings in the field, an intermediate guide 24 that guides the seedlings to the planting tool 27, a seedling guide 29 (see Figures 6 and 10) that guides the seedlings that fall from the seedling supply cups 46A and 46B of the seedling supply device 28 to the intermediate guide 24, a support 104 that is detachably attached to the transplanting frame 12 (machine body 2), a lifting device 105 that is attached (supported) to the support 104 and lifts and lowers the planting tool 27, and a transmission mechanism 106 that transmits power from the drive shaft 34 to the lifting device 105.

In this embodiment, the transplanter 1 is illustrated as having a pair of planting tools 27, but three or more planting tools 27 may be provided in the width direction of the machine body. When three or more planting tools 27 are provided, the supports 104 are also provided in a number corresponding to the number of planting tools 27.
The planting tool 27 is beak-shaped with its tip facing downward, and has front and rear components 27F, 27R, which can be opened and closed by moving the front and rear components 27F, 27R away from each other in the front-rear direction K1. When the planting tool 27 is closed, seedlings can be supplied from above and seedlings can be stored inside, and when it is open, seedlings can be dropped and released downward.

The relay guide 24 is disposed above the planting tool 27 and is attached to a planting tool support 128 described later, so as to rise and fall together with the planting tool 27 .
The seedling guide 29 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is disposed above the relay guide 24 (see FIG. 10). As shown in FIG. 6, the seedling guide 29 is attached to a support bracket 29A fixed to the support 104. The upper portion of the seedling guide 29 is formed so that the upper end is wide in the machine body width direction (transport direction X1 described later) and gradually narrows downward.

As shown in Figure 8, the support body 104 is formed from a plate material and is composed of a mounting member 107 (called the mounting base) that is overlapped and fixed to the front surface of the planting support member 36, and a transmission frame 108 that extends forward (diagonally downward toward the front) from this mounting base 107.
The mounting bases 107 of the supports 104 are attached to the planting support members 36 on the same side in the width direction of the machine body, as shown in Fig. 6. In other words, the support 104 of the left planting device 30 is attached to the left planting support member 36, and the support 104 of the right planting device 30 is attached to the right planting support member 36.

As shown in FIG. 6, each mounting base 107 has a pair of circular mounting holes (upper mounting holes) 109 formed in the upper part in the width direction of the machine body, and one circular mounting hole (lower mounting hole) 110 formed on the lower part on the outer side in the width direction of the machine body. The upper part of the mounting base 107 is attached to the planting support member 36 by a bolt 111 or the like (see FIG. 8) inserted through the upper mounting hole 109 and the upper mounting hole 42 formed in the upper part of the planting support member 36. The lower part of the mounting base 107 is attached to the planting support member 36 by a bolt 112 or the like (see FIG. 8) inserted through the lower mounting hole 110 and the lower mounting hole 43 formed in the lower part of the planting support member 36.

The left and right supports 104 (mounting bases 107) are attached to the planting support member 36 so that the left and right planting tools 27 are positioned at the same distance from the center CL of the transplanter 1 in the machine width direction.
Since the planting support member 36 has a plurality of upper mounting holes 42 (nine in this embodiment) and the lower mounting hole 43 of the planting support member 36 is formed as a long hole that is long in the width direction of the machine body, each mounting base 107 can be attached at a plurality of positions (multiple positions) in the width direction of the machine body. Specifically, in this embodiment, each mounting base 107 can be freely moved to seven positions in the width direction of the machine body, and the distance between the left and right planting tools 27 in the width direction of the machine body (the distance between seedling rows) can be changed (adjusted) in seven ways (for example, 30 cm, 35 cm, 40 cm, 45 cm, 50 cm, 55 cm, 60 cm).

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the drive shaft 34 is provided so as to pass through the base side (rear side) of the left and right transmission frames 108. A bearing 118 is provided on the base side of each transmission frame 108, and a transmission tube 119 is fitted onto the drive shaft 34 so as to be rotatable integrally therewith and movable in the axial direction (aircraft width direction), and is supported by the bearing 118 so as to be rotatable about an axis extending in the aircraft width direction. The drive shaft 34 is supported by the left and right supports 104 via the transmission tube 119 and the bearing 118 so as to be rotatable about the axis, and the left and right supports 104 are movable in the aircraft width direction along the drive shaft 34.

As shown in FIG. 5, the transmission mechanism 106 has a driving sprocket 120, a driven sprocket 121, a transmission chain 122 wound around these sprockets, and a tension sprocket 123 that applies tension to the transmission chain 122. The driving sprocket 120 is mounted on a transmission tube 119 mounted on the support 104 so as to be rotatable together with the transmission tube 119, and transmits power to the driven sprocket 121 via the transmission chain 122. A transmission shaft 124 that transmits power to the lifting device 105 is fixed to the driven sprocket 121.

As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the lifting device 105 has a first rotating case 126 rotatably supported via a transmission shaft 124 at the front of the support 104, a second rotating case 127 rotatably supported at the free end of the first rotating case 126, a planting tool support 128 supported by the second rotating case 127, and a spring 129 that urges the planting tool support 128 upward. The planting tool 27 is supported by the planting tool support 128.

In the lifting device 105 of this embodiment, a power transmission mechanism is provided in the first rotating case 126 and the second rotating case 127 so that when the first rotating case 126 is rotated by the transmission shaft 124, the second rotating case 127 rotates in the opposite direction to the first rotating case 126 in conjunction with the rotation of the first rotating case 126. The first rotating case 126 is rotated to move the planting tool support 128 up and down, thereby moving the planting tool 27 up and down.

When the planting tool 27 is raised to a higher position (top dead center position), the bottom lids 50 of the seedling supply cups 46A, 46B located above the planting tool 27 open, allowing the seedlings to fall and be discharged. The seedlings discharged from the seedling supply cups 46A, 46B are dropped and supplied into the planting tool 27 via the seedling guide 29 and relay guide 24. At this time, the planting tool 27 is in a closed state, and the seedlings are held inside the planting tool 27.

The planting tool 27 then descends while still holding the seedling, and the lower part of the planting tool 27 enters the field (ridge), and when the planting tool 27 enters the ridge, it opens to form a planting hole in the ridge and releases the seedling into the planting hole (plants the seedling). A pair of soil covering wheels 31 are provided for each planting tool 27 (two sets of soil covering wheels 31 are provided corresponding to a pair of planting tools 27), and roll on both the left and right sides of the planted seedling (supplied into the planting hole formed by the planting tool 27) to close the planting hole (cover the base of the seedling with soil) and compress the base of the seedling.

In the transplanter 1 of this embodiment, the left and right planting tools 27 do not rise and fall simultaneously, but rather the left and right planting tools 27 are raised and lowered so that when one planting tool 27 rises, the other planting tool 27 descends, thereby planting two rows of seedlings in a staggered pattern in the ridges.
As shown in Fig. 1, the seedling supplying device 28 is disposed above the rear of the transplanting frame 12 and attached to a seedling supplying frame 32. As shown in Fig. 2, the seedling supplying frame 32 has a support frame 33. As shown in Fig. 12, the support frame 33 has a first support portion 33a extending in the width direction of the machine body, a second support portion 33b extending rearward from the left end of the first support portion 33a, and a third support portion 33c extending rearward from the right end of the first support portion 33a.

As shown in Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12, the seedling supply device 28 has seedling supply cups 46A, 46B that can hold seedlings supplied from above by an operator seated on the seat 9 and have bottoms that can be opened and closed to allow the seedlings to be dropped and discharged downward, a cup transport mechanism 47 that transports the seedling supply cups 46A, 46B in the transport direction X1, and an open holder 48 that regulates the opening of the bottoms of the seedling supply cups 46A, 46B and opens the bottoms of the seedling supply cups 46A, 46B at a predetermined position in the transport direction X1 of the seedling supply cups 46A, 46B, and then closes the bottoms of the seedling supply cups 46A, 46B at a position a predetermined distance away in the transport direction X1.

As shown in Fig. 11, a large number of seedling supply cups 46A, 46B are provided and arranged in a loop. In this embodiment, the seedling supply cups 46A, 46B are arranged in a loop so as to have an elliptical shape that is long in the width direction of the machine body in a plan view (a shape in which the end sides of two straight parts arranged in parallel with a gap are connected by a circular arc part).
As shown in Figure 12, a number of seedling supply cups 46A, 46B arranged in a loop are positioned behind the first support portion 33a of the support frame 33 and between the second support portion 33b and the third support portion 33c.

As shown in Figure 11, a large number of seedling supply cups 46A, 46B are arranged alternately along a loop-shaped arrangement path (the arrangement path of seedling supply cups 46A, 46B) R1, with a first seedling supply cup 46A that drops and discharges seedlings on the left side of the transplanting frame 12 and a second seedling supply cup 46B that drops and discharges seedlings on the right side of the transplanting frame 12.
13, seedling supply cups 46A, 46B have a cylindrical cup body (container) 49 having an axis extending vertically and open at the top and bottom, a bottom lid 50 that can be opened and closed to cover the opening at the bottom (bottom opening) of cup body 49, and a biasing spring 51 that opens bottom lid 50 and biases it in direction Y1. Seedlings are put into cup body 49 with bottom lid 50 closed.

As shown in FIG. 13, the bottom lid 50 is pivoted on the downstream side in the transport direction X1 to a pivot support 49a provided on the cup body 49 via a pivot 49b. The pivot 49b has an axis extending in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the transport direction X1, and the bottom lid 50 is supported so as to be rotatable around the pivot 49b. Therefore, the bottom lid 50 opens by rotating in the opening direction Y1 around the pivot 49b from the closed lid state P1 (the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 13), which is a state in which the lower end opening of the cup body 49 is closed. In other words, the bottom lid 50 opens by rotating from the closed lid state P1 around the pivot 49b toward the transport direction X1.

In the seedling supply cups 46A and 46B of this embodiment, the bottom cover 50 can be rotated in the opening direction Y1 beyond the downward extending position as shown in Fig. 13. For example, the bottom cover 50 can be rotated to the horizontal state (along the horizontal direction) shown by the two-dot chain line P3 in Fig. 13 or beyond the horizontal state P3.
13, the biasing spring 51 is provided at a pivotal portion (portion pivoted by the pivot 49b) of the bottom lid 50. In this embodiment, the biasing spring 51 is formed of a torsion coil spring and fitted onto the pivot 49b, with one end hooked to the cup body 49 and the other end hooked to the bottom lid 50, and is capable of biasing the bottom lid 50 in the opening direction Y1.

In this embodiment, the biasing force (spring force) of the biasing spring 51 is zero when the bottom cover 50 is in the downward position P2 extending downward from the pivot 49b, and the biasing force increases as the bottom cover 50 rotates from the downward position P2 toward the closed position P1. The downward position P2 is a hanging state in which the bottom cover 50 extends vertically downward from the pivot 49b, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 13, or an inclined state in which the bottom cover 50 extends in an inclined direction that transitions to the transport direction X1 as it moves vertically downward from the pivot 49b.

As shown in FIG. 11, the seedling supplying cups 46A, 46B are transported (circulated) by a cup transport mechanism 47 in a transport direction X1 along a placement path R1.
As shown in Fig. 10, the bottom cover 50 of each seedling supply cup 46A, 46B is provided with an engagement portion 52. As shown in Fig. 12, the engagement portion 52 protrudes in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the transfer direction X1. In detail, the engagement portion 52 of the first seedling supply cup 46A protrudes on the outer periphery of the arrangement path (transfer path) R1, and the engagement portion 52 of the second seedling supply cup 46B protrudes on the inner periphery of the arrangement path R1.

As shown in FIG. 11, the cup transport mechanism 47 is arranged on the inner side of the loop-shaped arrangement path R1 of the seedling supply cups 46A, 46B, and is mainly composed of a drive sprocket 53 arranged on the right side of the arrangement path R1, a driven sprocket 54 arranged on the left side of the arrangement path R1, and an endless transport chain 55 wound around these sprockets 53, 54.

10, a connecting portion 56 is provided at the bottom of the cup body 49 of each seedling supply cup 46A, 46B, located on the inner periphery of the arrangement path R1, and this connecting portion 56 is connected via a connecting pin 57 erected on a link of the transport chain 55. A pair of connecting pins 57 is provided for each connecting portion 56 in the transport direction X1 of the seedling supply cups 46A, 46B.
As shown in FIG. 11 , a sprocket drive shaft 58 that drives the drive sprocket 53 of the cup transfer mechanism 47 is driven to rotate about an axis extending in the vertical direction by a chain winding transmission mechanism 59 that transmits power from the prime mover 5 .

The open holder 48 has the function of regulating the opening movement of the bottom lid 50 of the seedling supply cups 46A, 46B to hold the bottom lid 50 in a closed state P1, and also of releasing the holding of the closed state P1 of the bottom lid 50 at a predetermined position to open the bottom lid 50, and then closing the open bottom lid 50 to return it to the closed state P1.
12, the open holder 48 has a first restricting member 48A to a fifth restricting member 48E. In this embodiment, the first restricting member 48A to the fifth restricting member 48E are formed of rod members and supported by the support frame 33 or the like.

Next, the open holder 48 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 11 showing the arrangement path R1 of the seedling supplying cups 46A, 46B and FIG. 12 showing the arrangement of the first regulating member 48A to the fifth regulating member 48E.
The first restricting member 48A is provided from the right arc portion R1b of the arrangement path R1 through the rear straight portion R1a of the arrangement path R1 to the left arc portion R1c of the arrangement path R1. The first restricting member 48A restricts the opening movement of the bottom cover 50 by contacting the underside of the bottom cover 50 in the closed state P1, and keeps the bottom cover 50 in the closed state P1 (see FIG. 10). The seedlings are supplied to the seedling supply cups 46A, 46B by the operator while the seedling supply cups 46A, 46B are being transported along the rear straight portion R1a of the arrangement path R1.

As shown in Figures 12 and 14, the second regulating member 48B is provided on the left side of the front straight portion R1d of the placement path R1. The second regulating member 48B overlaps with the first regulating member 48A in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the transport direction X1 on the left arc portion R1c side of the placement path R1. In addition, the second regulating member 48B abuts against the underside of the engagement portion 52 of the first seedling supply cup 46A to regulate the opening movement of the bottom lid 50 in the closed state P1 (see Figure 16).

As shown in FIG. 12, when the bottom cover 50 of the first seedling supply cup 46A moves in the transport direction X1 on the rear straight section R1a of the arrangement path R1 from the left circular arc section R1c to the front straight section R1d, the engagement section 52 engages with the second regulating member 48B, thereby maintaining the closed state P1. The bottom cover 50 of the first seedling supply cup 46A then moves further in the transport direction X1 along the second regulating member 48B, and the engagement section 52 disengages from the second regulating member 48B, thereby releasing the restriction on the opening operation of the bottom cover 50 (maintenance of the closed state P1). Then, the bottom cover 50 of the first seedling supply cup 46A is released from the restriction by the second regulating member 48B and opens due to the biasing force of the biasing spring 51. This causes the seedlings to fall downward. Therefore, the downstream end of the second restricting member 48B in the transport direction X1 is configured as a release portion (first release portion) 61A that releases the closed state P1 of the bottom lid 50 so that the bottom lid 50 can be opened and operated by the biasing force of the biasing spring 51 at a predetermined position in the transport direction X1 (arrangement path R1).

As shown in Figures 14 to 17, the second restricting member 48B is fixed to an attachment member (first attachment member) 91A. The first attachment member 91A is formed of a plate material and has an attachment portion 91Aa that is attached to a support stay (first support stay) 92A, a first fixing portion 91Ab to which the second restricting member 48B is fixed, and a second fixing portion 91Ac to which a first bottom cover guide (bottom cover guide) 69A (described later) is fixed. The right portion of the second restricting member 48B is fixed to the upper surface of the first fixing portion 91Ab.

As shown in FIG. 12, the first support stay 92A is disposed on the left side of the first support portion 33a of the support frame 33 and is fixed to the first support portion 33a. In detail, as shown in FIG. 16, the first support stay 92A is formed of a plate material and has a support wall portion 92Aa with a plate surface facing the vertical direction, a plurality of fixing pieces 92Ab extending from the rear end of the support wall portion 92Aa and fixed to the front and bottom surfaces of the first support portion 33a (support frame 33), and a front wall portion 92Ac extending in an inclined direction that transitions downward as it moves forward from the front end of the support wall portion.

As shown in FIG. 14, the support wall portion 92Aa has multiple mounting holes 93A spaced apart in the width direction of the aircraft. Specifically, the mounting holes 93A are circular holes that penetrate the support wall portion 92Aa in the plate thickness direction, and three mounting holes 93A are arranged side by side in the width direction of the aircraft. Nuts 94A are fixed to the portions of the underside of the support wall portion 92Aa that correspond to the mounting holes 93A (see FIG. 16).

As shown in FIG. 14, the mounting portion 91Aa of the first mounting member 91A has a single insertion hole 86A formed therethrough in the plate thickness direction. The first mounting member 91A is attached to the first support stay 92A by a bolt (not shown) that is inserted through the insertion hole 86A and the mounting hole 93A and screwed into a nut 94A. In this embodiment, the insertion hole 86A is formed as an elongated hole that is long in the aircraft width direction, and the position of the first mounting member 91A can be adjusted in the aircraft width direction relative to the mounting hole 93A.

The position of the second restricting member 48B in the width direction of the machine body can be changed by changing the mounting position where the first mounting member 91A is mounted through the mounting hole 93A. The position of the first release section 61A can be changed by changing the position of the second restricting member 48B in the width direction of the machine body. In other words, the position where the bottom cover 50 of the first seedling supply cup 46A is opened and operated can be changed according to the spacing adjustment of the planting tool 27 (planting device 30). Therefore, the first mounting member 91A and the second restricting member 48B constitute a release position adjustment member 66A including the first release section (release section) 61A, and the release position adjustment member (first release position adjustment member) 66A can change the position where the bottom cover 50 is opened and operated according to the spacing adjustment of the multiple planting tools 27.

In this embodiment, the spacing of the planting tool 27 can be adjusted to seven positions, while the position of the first release position adjustment member (release position adjustment member) 66A can be adjusted to three positions. This is because the upper end of the seedling guide 29 has a wide opening in the machine body width direction (transport direction X1), so that one seedling drop position (one mounting position of the first release position adjustment member 66A) can accommodate multiple seedling row spacings (spacing between planting tools 27). In this embodiment, when the first release position adjustment member 66A is attached to a position corresponding to the mounting hole 93A on the outer side in the width direction of the machine, it can accommodate cases where the seedling row spacing is 60 cm and 55 cm. When the first release position adjustment member 66A is attached to a position corresponding to the central mounting hole 93A, it can accommodate cases where the seedling row spacing is 50 cm, 45 cm, and 40 cm. When the first release position adjustment member 66A is attached to a position corresponding to the mounting hole 93A on the inner side in the width direction of the machine, it can accommodate cases where the seedling row spacing is 35 cm and 30 cm.

As shown in FIG. 12, the third regulating member 48C extends to the right (in the transfer direction X1) along the front straight portion R1d of the arrangement path R1 from a position a predetermined distance away from the second regulating member 48B in the transfer direction X1, and then extends along the right-side arc portion R1b to the middle of the right-side arc portion R1b. In the right-side arc portion R1b, it overlaps with the first regulating member 48A in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the transfer direction X1.

At the end side of the upstream side of the transport direction X1 of the third regulating member 48C, a closing section (first closing section) 68A is provided that returns the bottom lid 50 of the first seedling supply cup 46A to the closed lid state P1 at a position a predetermined distance away from the first release section 61A in the transport direction X1. As shown in FIG. 20, the first closing section 68A is formed to extend in an inclined direction that transitions rearward as it moves downward from the end side of the upstream side of the transport direction X1 of the third regulating member 48C. When the bottom lid 50 of the first seedling supply cup 46A with the bottom lid 50 open moves to the first closing section 68A and hits the first closing section 68A, it is returned to the closed lid state P1 by the first closing section 68A. The bottom lid 50 of the first seedling supply cup 46A that has been returned to the closed lid state P1 is held in the closed lid state P1 by the engagement section 52 being supported by the third regulating member 48C. Then, the bottom cover 50 of the first seedling supply cup 46A is handed over to the first restricting member 48A while maintaining the closed state P1 at the right arc portion R1b of the placement path R1.

As shown in Fig. 12, the fourth regulating member 48D extends in the transport direction X1 from the downstream end of the first regulating member 48A in the transport direction X1. The fourth regulating member 48D abuts against the lower surface of the engagement portion 52 of the second seedling supply cup 46B to hold the bottom lid 50 of the second seedling supply cup 46B in the closed state P1 (see Fig. 20).
The fifth regulating member 48E is disposed on the right center CL side of the front straight portion R1d of the arrangement path R1, and the upstream side in the transfer direction X1 is disposed close to the front side of the fourth regulating member 48D. As shown in Fig. 18, the upstream side of the fifth regulating member 48E in the transfer direction X1 overlaps the downstream side of the fourth regulating member 48D in the transfer direction X1 in the front-rear direction (horizontal direction perpendicular to the transfer direction X1). The fifth regulating member 48E abuts against the lower side of the engagement portion 52 of the second seedling supply cup 46B with the bottom lid 50 closed, and holds the bottom lid 50 in the closed state P1.

12, when the bottom cover 50 of the second seedling supply cup 46B moves in the transport direction X1 on the rear straight section R1a of the arrangement path R1 from the left arc section R1c to the front straight section R1d, the engagement section 52 of the second seedling supply cup 46B engages with the fourth regulating member 48D, thereby maintaining the closed state P1. After that, the engagement section 52 of the second seedling supply cup 46B transfers from the fourth regulating member 48D to the fifth regulating member 48E and further moves in the transport direction X1 to be disengaged from the fifth regulating member 48E, thereby releasing the restriction on the opening operation of the bottom cover 50 (maintenance of the closed state P1). Then, the bottom cover 50 of the second seedling supply cup 46B is released from the restriction by the fifth regulating member 48E and opens due to the biasing force of the biasing spring 51. As a result, the seedlings fall downward. Therefore, the downstream end of the fifth restricting member 48E in the transport direction X1 is configured as a release portion (second release portion) 61B that releases the closed state P1 of the bottom lid 50 so that the bottom lid 50 can be opened and operated by the biasing force of the biasing spring 51 at a predetermined position in the transport direction X1 (arrangement path R1).

As shown in Figures 18 to 21, the fifth restricting member 48E is fixed to an attachment member (second attachment member) 91B. The second attachment member 91B is formed of a plate material and has an attachment portion 91Ba that is attached to the support stay (second support stay) 92B, a first fixing portion 91Bb to which the fifth restricting member 48E is fixed, and a second fixing portion 91Bc to which the second bottom cover guide (bottom cover guide) 69B (described later) is fixed. The right portion of the fifth restricting member 48E is fixed to the upper surface of the first fixing portion 91Bb.

As shown in FIG. 12, the second support stay 92B is disposed on the right side of the first support portion 33a of the support frame 33 and is fixed to the first support portion 33a. In detail, as shown in FIG. 20, the second support stay 92B has a support wall portion 92Ba formed of a plate material with a plate surface facing the vertical direction, a plurality of fixing pieces 92Bb extending from the rear end of the support wall portion 92Ba and fixed to the front and bottom surfaces of the first support portion 33a (support frame 33), and a front wall portion 92Bc extending in an inclined direction that transitions downward as it moves forward from the front end of the support wall portion 92Ba.

As shown in FIG. 18, the support wall portion 92Ba has multiple mounting holes 93B spaced apart in the width direction of the aircraft. Specifically, the mounting holes 93B are circular holes that penetrate the support wall portion 92Ba in the plate thickness direction, and three mounting holes 93B are arranged side by side in the width direction of the aircraft. Nuts 94B are fixed to the portions of the underside of the support wall portion 92Ba that correspond to the mounting holes 93B (see FIG. 20).

As shown in FIG. 18, the mounting portion 91Ba of the second mounting member 91B has one insertion hole 86B formed through it in the plate thickness direction. The first mounting member 91A is attached to the second support stay 92B by a bolt (not shown) that is inserted through the insertion hole 86B and the mounting hole 93B and screwed into a nut 94B. In this embodiment, the insertion hole 86B is formed as an elongated hole that is long in the aircraft width direction, and the position of the second mounting member 91B can be adjusted in the aircraft width direction with respect to each mounting hole 93B.

The position of the fifth restricting member 48E in the width direction of the machine body can be changed by changing the mounting position where the second mounting member 91B is mounted through the mounting hole 93B. The position of the second release section 61B can be changed by changing the position of the fifth restricting member 48E in the width direction of the machine body. In other words, the position where the bottom cover 50 of the second seedling supply cup 46B is opened and operated can be changed according to the spacing adjustment of the planting tool 27 (planting device 30). Therefore, the second mounting member 91B and the fifth restricting member 48E constitute a release position adjustment member 66B including the second release section (release section) 61B, and constitute a release position adjustment member (second release position adjustment member) 66B that can change the position where the bottom cover 50 is opened and operated according to the spacing adjustment of the multiple planting tools 27.

The reason why the spacing of the planting tool 27 can be adjusted in seven ways, while the position of the second release position adjustment member (release position adjustment member) can be adjusted to three positions, is the same as that of the first release position adjustment member 66A described above, and therefore will not be explained here.
As shown in Fig. 12, the end side of the first regulating member 48A on the upstream side in the transport direction X1 constitutes a closing section (second closing section) 68B that returns the bottom lid 50 of the second seedling supply cup 46B to the closed lid state P1 at a position a predetermined distance away from the second release section 61B in the transport direction X1. When the bottom lid 50 of the second seedling supply cup 46B with the bottom lid 50 in the open state moves to the second closing section 68B and hits the second closing section 68B, it is returned to the closed lid state P1 by the second closing section 68B. The bottom lid 50 of the second seedling supply cup 46B that has been returned to the closed lid state P1 is supported by the first regulating member 48A and maintained in the closed lid state P1.

As shown in Figures 12, 14 to 17, the seedling supplying device 28 has a bottom cover guide (first bottom cover guide) 69A fixed to the second fixing portion 91Ac of the first mounting member 91A. The first bottom cover guide 69A has a base 70A, a support arm portion 71A, and a bottom cover regulating portion (first bottom cover regulating portion) 72A. The base 70A is fixed to the upper surface of the second fixing portion 91Ac. The support arm 71A has a first portion 71Aa extending from the base 70A in the transport direction X1, a second portion 71Ab extending in an inclined direction that transitions forward from the extending end of the first portion 71Aa toward the transport direction X1, a third portion 71Ac extending rearward from the extending end of the second portion 71Ab across above the first support portion 33a of the support frame 33, a fourth portion 71Ad extending in an inclined direction that transitions forward as it transitions downward from the extending end of the third portion 71Ac, and a fifth portion 71Ae extending rearward from the extending end of the fourth portion 71Ad.

The first bottom cover restricting portion 72A is disposed between the first release portion 61A and the first closing portion 68A. The first bottom cover restricting portion 72A restricts the bottom cover 50 from being opened excessively by the biasing force of the biasing spring 51, and opens the bottom cover 50 at a slower operating speed than the operating speed at which the bottom cover 50 is opened from the closed state P1.
The bottom cover 50 being excessively open means that the bottom cover 50 is opened to a greater extent than the downward position P2. For example, but not limited to, the bottom cover 50 is opened to the horizontal position P3 or close to the horizontal position P3, or even to a position beyond the horizontal position P3.

The first bottom lid regulating portion 72A has an abutment portion (first abutment portion) 74A and a guide portion (first guide portion) 75A. As shown in FIG. 16, the first abutment portion 74A extends a predetermined length in the front-rear direction below the bottom lid 50 in the closed state P1. Also, as shown in FIG. 22, the first abutment portion 74A is located at the height position of the lower part of the bottom lid 50 when the bottom lid 50 is in the downward state P2, and abuts against the surface of the bottom lid 50 of the first seedling supply cup 46A upstream in the transport direction X1.

In order to allow the seedlings to fall smoothly from the cup body (container) 49, it is preferable to open the bottom lid 50 at a speed faster than the speed at which the seedlings fall. For this reason, the seedling supply cups 46A, 46B are provided with a biasing spring 51 that opens the bottom lid 50 and biases it in the direction Y1. However, if the biasing force of the biasing spring 51 is large, the bottom lid 50 may open excessively, which may cause problems. For example, the bottom lid 50 may be damaged by colliding with the first closing portion 68A or the like when rotated to the horizontal position P3 (see Figure 13). In addition, the strong biasing force of the biasing spring 51 may cause the bottom lid 50 to open excessively, causing a recoil that may affect the fall of the seedlings.

In the first bottom cover regulating portion 72A of this embodiment, when the bottom cover 50 of the first seedling supply cup 46A opens, the bottom cover 50 abuts against the first abutting portion 74A to prevent the bottom cover 50 from opening excessively. In detail, as shown in FIG. 22, the first abutting portion 74A abuts against the bottom cover 50 at a position P5 where the bottom cover 50 of the first seedling supply cup 46A rotates in the opening direction Y1 from a position P4 where the bottom cover 50 extends vertically downward from the pivot 49b, thereby preventing the bottom cover 50 from opening excessively. In other words, the first abutting portion 74A allows the bottom cover 50 to open to the downward state P2. As a result, when the bottom cover 50 of the first seedling supply cup 46A opens and the seedlings fall, the bottom cover 50 comes out of the area vertically below the cup body 49, so that the bottom cover 50 can be prevented from interfering with the fall of the seedlings.

As shown in Fig. 22, the first guide portion 75A extends from the first contact portion 74A in the transport direction X1, and is connected to the extending end of the fifth part 71Ae of the support arm portion 71A as also shown in Fig. 17. Also, as shown in Fig. 22, the first guide portion 75A is formed in an inclined shape that transitions downward from the first contact portion 74A in the transport direction X1.
As shown in Fig. 22, the bottom cover 50 of the first seedling supply cup 46A comes into contact with the first contact portion 74A, then goes over the first contact portion 74A and slides on the first guide portion 75A, but at this time, the bottom cover 50 slides on the first guide portion 75A in an inclined position that moves to the opposite side of the transport direction X1 (upstream side of the transport direction X1) as it moves downward. Also, the bottom cover 50 of the first seedling supply cup 46A gradually becomes less inclined as it moves in the transport direction X1, and is released from the first guide portion 75A on the downstream side of the transport direction X1 of the first guide portion 75A, and becomes in a downward state P2. As a result, the first guide portion 75A opens the bottom cover 50 of the first seedling supply cup 46A at a slower operating speed than the operating speed at which it opens from the closed state P1. Therefore, even if the bottom lid 50 of the first seedling supplying cup 46A comes off the first bottom lid regulating portion 72A (first guide portion 75A), it will not open excessively in the opening direction Y1.

As shown in Figures 12, 18 to 21, the seedling supply device 28 has a bottom cover guide (second bottom cover guide) 69B fixed to the second fixing portion 91Bc of the second mounting member 91B. The second bottom cover guide 69B has a base 70B, a support arm portion 71B, and a bottom cover regulating portion (second bottom cover regulating portion) 72B. The base 70B is fixed to the lower surface of the second fixing portion 91Bc forward of the third regulating member 48C. The support arm portion 71B has a first portion 71Ba extending downward from the downstream end of the base 70B in the transfer direction X1, a second portion 71Bb extending in the transfer direction X1 from the lower end of the first portion 71Ba, and a third portion 71Bc extending rearward from the downstream end of the base 70B in the transfer direction X1 of the second portion 71Bb.

The second bottom cover restricting portion 72B is disposed between the second release portion 61B and the second closing portion 68B. Similarly to the first bottom cover restricting portion 72A, the second bottom cover restricting portion 72B has a function of restricting the bottom cover 50 from being opened excessively by the biasing force of the biasing spring 51, and opening the bottom cover 50 at a slower operating speed than the operating speed at which the bottom cover 50 is opened from the closed state P1.
The second bottom lid regulating portion 72B has an abutment portion (second abutment portion) 74B and a guide portion (second guide portion) 75B. As shown in FIG. 20, the second abutment portion 74B is located below the bottom lid 50 and is provided at the rear end of the third portion 71Bc. As shown in FIG. 23, the second abutment portion 74B is located at the height position of the lower part of the bottom lid 50 when the bottom lid 50 is in the downward state P2, and abuts against the surface of the bottom lid 50 of the second seedling supply cup 46B upstream in the transfer direction X1.

In the second bottom lid regulating portion 72B of this embodiment, when the bottom lid 50 of the second seedling supply cup 46B opens, the bottom lid 50 abuts against the second abutting portion 74B to prevent the bottom lid 50 from opening excessively. In detail, as shown in FIG. 23, the second abutting portion 74B abuts against the bottom lid 50 at a position P5 where the bottom lid 50 of the second seedling supply cup 46B rotates in the opening direction Y1 from a position P4 where the bottom lid 50 extends vertically downward from the pivot 49b, thereby preventing the bottom lid 50 from opening excessively. In other words, the second abutting portion 74B allows the bottom lid 50 to open to the downward state P2. As a result, when the bottom lid 50 of the second seedling supply cup 46B opens and the seedlings fall, the bottom lid 50 comes out of the area vertically below the cup body 49, so that the bottom lid 50 can be prevented from interfering with the fall of the seedlings.

As shown in Fig. 23, the second guide portion 75B extends from the second contact portion 74B in the transport direction X1. Also, as shown in Fig. 23, the second guide portion 75B is formed in an inclined shape that transitions downward from the second contact portion 74B in the transport direction X1.
As shown in Fig. 23, the bottom cover 50 of the second seedling supply cup 46B comes into contact with the second contact portion 74B, then goes over the second contact portion 74B and slides on the second guide portion 75B, but at this time, the bottom cover 50 of the second seedling supply cup 46B slides on the second guide portion 75B in an inclined position that moves to the opposite side of the transport direction X1 (upstream side of the transport direction X1) as it moves downward. Also, the bottom cover 50 of the second seedling supply cup 46B gradually becomes less inclined as it moves in the transport direction X1, and is released from the second guide portion 75B on the downstream side of the transport direction X1 of the second guide portion 75B, and becomes in a downward state P2. As a result, the second guide portion 75B opens the bottom cover 50 of the second seedling supply cup 46B at a slower operating speed than the operating speed at which it opens from the closed cover state P1. Therefore, even if the bottom lid 50 of the second seedling supplying cup 46B comes off the second bottom lid regulating portion 72B (second guide portion 75B), it will not open excessively in the opening direction Y1.

As described above, in this embodiment, the biasing force of the biasing spring 51 is increased to allow the seedlings to fall smoothly from the cup body (storage section) 49, while the bottom lid regulating section (first bottom lid regulating section 72A, second bottom lid regulating section 72B) regulates the bottom lid 50 from opening excessively, thereby preventing problems caused by the bottom lid 50 opening excessively.
24 and 25 show bottom lid restricting portions (first bottom lid restricting portion 72A, second bottom lid restricting portion 72B) according to other embodiments. Fig. 24 shows another embodiment of the first bottom lid restricting portion 72A, and Fig. 25 shows another embodiment of the second bottom lid restricting portion 72B.

24, the first guide portion 75A is formed in an inclined shape that transitions upward from the first abutment portion 74A toward the transport direction X1. Even in other embodiments of this first bottom cover regulating portion 72A, the bottom cover 50 of the first seedling supply cup 46A abuts against the first abutment portion 74A, then passes over the first abutment portion 74A and slides over the first guide portion 75A, but at this time, the bottom cover 50 slides against the first guide portion 75A in an inclined position that transitions toward the upstream side of the transport direction X1 as it transitions downward. In another embodiment of the first bottom lid regulating part 72A, the first guide part 75A is formed with an upward inclination toward the transport direction X1, so that the bottom lid 50 of the first seedling supply cup 46A swings in the closing direction as it moves in the transport direction X1, but even when it leaves the downstream end of the first guide part 75A in the transport direction X1, it leaves the first guide part 75A in an inclined position that moves toward the upstream side of the transport direction X1 as it moves downward, so that the first guide part 75A opens the bottom lid 50 of the first seedling supply cup 46A at a slower operating speed than the operating speed at which it opens from the closed state P1. Therefore, even in this other embodiment of the first bottom lid regulating part 72A, the bottom lid 50 of the first seedling supply cup 46A does not open excessively in the opening direction Y1 even if it leaves the first bottom lid regulating part 72A (first guide part 75A).

25, the second guide portion 75B is formed in an inclined shape that transitions upward from the second abutment portion 74B in the transport direction X1. Even in other embodiments of this second bottom lid regulating portion 72B, the bottom lid 50 of the second seedling supply cup 46B abuts against the second abutment portion 74B, then passes over the second abutment portion 74B and slides over the second guide portion 75B, but at this time, the bottom lid 50 slides against the second guide portion 75B in an inclined position that transitions toward the upstream side of the transport direction X1 as it moves downward. Also, in other embodiments of the second bottom lid regulating part 72B, the second guide part 75B is formed with an upward inclination toward the transport direction X1, so that the bottom lid 50 of the second seedling supply cup 46B swings in the closing direction as it moves in the transport direction X1, but even when it leaves the downstream end of the second guide part 75B in the transport direction X1, it leaves the second guide part 75B in an inclined position that moves toward the upstream side of the transport direction X1 as it moves downward, so that the second guide part 75B opens the bottom lid 50 of the second seedling supply cup 46B at an operating speed slower than the operating speed at which it opens from the closed state P1. Therefore, even in other embodiments of this second bottom lid regulating part 72B, the bottom lid 50 of the second seedling supply cup 46B does not open excessively in the opening direction Y1 even if it leaves the second bottom lid regulating part 72B (second guide part 75B).

In the above embodiment, the first guide portion 75A and the second guide portion 75B are illustrated as being configured to incline upward or downward as they proceed in the transport direction X1, but this is not limited to this and they may be configured to extend horizontally in the transport direction X1.
Further, in this embodiment, the first bottom cover guide 69A and the second bottom cover guide 69B are formed from rod material, but are not limited to this and may be formed from, for example, a plate material or the like.

In addition, in this embodiment, the first bottom lid regulating part 72A is provided on the first release position adjustment member 66A, but may be provided on the left planting device 30, and the second bottom lid regulating part 72B is provided on the second release position adjustment member 66B, but may be provided on the right planting device 30. In this case, the first release position adjustment member 66A and the second release position adjustment member 66B are attached to a member of the planting device 30 that does not move up and down, such as the support 104 or the seedling guide 29. In addition, the distance in the position adjustment direction between the first release position adjustment member 66A and the left planting device 30 is set so that the positions are changed by the same distance in the same direction, and the distance in the position adjustment direction between the second release position adjustment member 66B and the right planting device 30 is set so that the positions are changed by the same distance in the same direction. In other words, to adjust the position where the seedlings are dropped (the position where the bottom cover 50 is opened) and the position where the seedlings are planted by the planting tool 27, the direction and distance for moving the first release position adjustment member 66A and the left planting device 30 are set to be the same, and the direction and distance for moving the second release position adjustment member 66B and the right planting device 30 are set to be the same.

The transplanter 1 of the above embodiment includes a seedling supply cup (first seedling supply cup 46A, second seedling supply cup 46B) including a storage section (cup body) 49 into which seedlings are inserted, a bottom cover 50 that opens and closes the lower end opening of the storage section 49, and a biasing spring 51 that biases the bottom cover 50 in the opening direction Y1, a cup transfer mechanism 47 that transfers a number of seedling supply cups 46A, 46B arranged in a loop along a placement path R1, and an open holder 48 that holds the bottom cover 50 in a closed state P1 that closes the lower end opening of the storage section 49, and the bottom cover 50 is opened and closed by the biasing force of the biasing spring 51 at a predetermined position in the transfer direction X1 of the seedling supply cups 46A, 46B. The open holder 48 includes a release section (first release section 61A, second release section 61B) that releases the hold to open the bottom lid 50 and a closing section (first closing section 68A, second closing section 68B) that returns the bottom lid 50 to the closed state P1 at a position a predetermined distance away from the release sections 61A, 61B in the transport direction X1, and a bottom lid regulating section (first bottom lid regulating section 72A, second bottom lid regulating section 72B) that is disposed between the release sections 61A, 61B and the closing sections 68A, 68B and uses a biasing force to regulate the bottom lid 50 from opening excessively and opens the bottom lid 50 at a slower operating speed than the operating speed at which the bottom lid 50 opens from the closed state P1.

According to this configuration, problems caused by the bottom covers 50 of the seedling supplying cups 46A, 46B opening excessively can be prevented.
In addition, the bottom cover 50 is rotatably supported on the storage section 49 via the pivot 49b at its downstream side in the transport direction X1 and opens in the transport direction X1, and the bottom cover regulating sections 72A, 72B have abutment sections (first abutment section 74A, second abutment section 74B) that abut against the bottom cover 50 at position P5 where the bottom cover 50 has been rotated in the opening direction Y1 from position P4 where the bottom cover 50 extends vertically downward from the pivot 49b, thereby restricting excessive opening of the bottom cover 50.

According to this configuration, when the bottom lid regulating portions 72A, 72B regulate the excessive opening of the bottom lid 50, the bottom lid 50 can be prevented from interfering with the fall of the seedlings.
In addition, the bottom lid regulating portions 72A, 72B have guide portions (first guide portion 75A, second guide portion 75B) extending from the abutment portions 74A, 74B toward the transport direction X1, and have guide portions 75A, 75B that slide in an inclined position that transitions to the opposite side of the transport direction X1 as the bottom lid 50 moves downward.

According to this configuration, the bottom cover 50 is released from the bottom cover regulating portions 72A, 72B in an open state at a predetermined angle, so that the bottom cover 50 can be opened at a slower speed than the speed at which the bottom cover 50 is opened from the closed state P1.
Further, the guide portions 75A, 75B are formed in an inclined shape that transitions downward from the contact portions 74A, 74B in the transfer direction X1.

According to this configuration, the bottom cover 50 can be opened smoothly at a speed slower than the speed at which the bottom cover 50 is opened from the closed state P1.
Further, the guide portions 75A, 75B are formed in an inclined shape that transitions upward from the contact portions 74A, 74B in the transfer direction X1.
This configuration also allows the bottom lid 50 to be opened at a slower speed than the speed at which the bottom lid 50 is opened from the closed state P1.

The planting tool 27 plants the seedlings supplied from the seedling supply cups 46A, 46B in the field, and includes a plurality of planting tools 27 whose spacing in the width direction of the machine can be adjusted. The open holder 48 is a release position adjustment member (first release position adjustment member 66A, second release position adjustment member 66B) including release parts 61A, 61B, and has release position adjustment members 66A, 66B that can change the position at which the bottom cover 50 is opened and operated according to the adjustment of the spacing between the plurality of planting tools 27, and the bottom cover regulating parts 72A, 72B are provided on the release position adjustment members 66A, 66B.

According to this configuration, the position of the bottom lid regulating portions 72A, 72B is adjusted simultaneously with the position adjustment of the release position adjustment members 66A, 66B, so that the positional relationship between the bottom lid 50 and the bottom lid regulating portions 72A, 72B can be maintained constant when the bottom lid 50 is in the position where it opens.
Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the embodiment disclosed herein should be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, not the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

27 Planting tool 46A Seedling supply cup (first seedling supply cup)
46B Seedling supply cup (second seedling supply cup)
47 Cup transfer mechanism 48 Open holder 49 Storage section (cup body)
49b Pivot 50 Bottom cover 51 Spring 61A Release portion (first release portion)
61B Release part (second release part)
66A release position adjustment member (first release position adjustment member)
66B release position adjustment member (second release position adjustment member)
68A Closing portion (first closing portion)
68B Closing portion (second closing portion)
72A Bottom lid regulation part (first bottom lid regulation part)
72B Bottom lid regulation part (second bottom lid regulation part)
74A Contact part (first contact part)
74B Contact part (second contact part)
75A Guide portion (first guide portion)
75B Guide part (second guide part)
P1: Closed lid state R1: Placement path X1: Transfer direction Y1: Open direction P4: Position P5: Position

Claims (6)

A seedling supply cup including a storage section into which seedlings are put, a bottom cover for opening and closing a bottom opening of the storage section, and a biasing spring for biasing the bottom cover in an opening direction;
A cup transport mechanism that transports a number of the seedling supply cups arranged in a loop along a placement path;
an open holder that holds the bottom lid in a closed state that closes the lower end opening of the storage section, the open holder including: a release section that releases the hold to open and operate the bottom lid by the biasing force of the biasing spring at a predetermined position in the transport direction of the seedling supply cup; and a closing section that returns the bottom lid to the closed state at a position a predetermined distance away from the release section in the transport direction;
a bottom cover regulating portion disposed between the release portion and the closing portion, regulating the bottom cover from being opened excessively by the biasing force, and opening the bottom cover at an operating speed slower than an operating speed for opening the bottom cover from the closed state;
Equipped with
the bottom cover is pivotally supported by the housing portion via a pivot at a downstream side in the transport direction and opens in the transport direction,
The bottom cover regulating portion is
a contact portion that is formed separately from the closing portion and that is disposed at a distance from the closing portion on the upstream side in the transport direction, the contact portion contacting the bottom cover at a position where the bottom cover has rotated in the opening direction from a position where the bottom cover extends vertically downward from the pivot shaft, thereby restricting the bottom cover from opening excessively,
The transplanter is not provided with any member that prevents the bottom cover from moving in the opening direction due to the biasing force of the biasing spring until the bottom cover moves from the closed state to the state where it abuts against the abutment portion . the release unit is adjustable in position in the transport direction so as to change a position at which the bottom cover is opened;
2. The transplanter according to claim 1, wherein the position of the contact portion is adjustable in the transport direction in response to the position adjustment of the release portion . A seedling supply cup including a storage section into which seedlings are put, a bottom cover for opening and closing a bottom opening of the storage section, and a biasing spring for biasing the bottom cover in an opening direction;
A cup transport mechanism that transports a number of the seedling supply cups arranged in a loop along a placement path;
an open holder that holds the bottom lid in a closed state that closes the lower end opening of the storage section, the open holder including: a release section that releases the hold to open and operate the bottom lid by the biasing force of the biasing spring at a predetermined position in the transport direction of the seedling supply cup; and a closing section that returns the bottom lid to the closed state at a position a predetermined distance away from the release section in the transport direction;
a bottom cover regulating portion disposed between the release portion and the closing portion, regulating the bottom cover from being opened excessively by the biasing force, and opening the bottom cover at an operating speed slower than an operating speed for opening the bottom cover from the closed state;
Equipped with
the bottom cover is pivotally supported by the housing portion via a pivot at a downstream side in the transport direction and opens in the transport direction,
the bottom cover regulating portion has an abutment portion that abuts against the bottom cover at a position where the bottom cover is rotated in an opening direction from a position where the bottom cover extends vertically downward from the pivot shaft, thereby regulating excessive opening of the bottom cover,
The bottom lid regulating portion is a guide portion extending from the abutment portion toward the transport direction, and has a guide portion that slides in an inclined position that transitions to the opposite side of the transport direction as the bottom lid moves downward. The transplanter according to claim 3, wherein the guide portion is formed in an inclined shape that transitions downward from the contact portion toward the transport direction. The transplanter according to claim 3, wherein the guide portion is formed in an inclined shape that transitions upward from the contact portion toward the transport direction. A seedling supply cup including a storage section into which seedlings are put, a bottom cover for opening and closing a bottom opening of the storage section, and a biasing spring for biasing the bottom cover in an opening direction;
A cup transport mechanism that transports a number of the seedling supply cups arranged in a loop along a placement path;
an open holder that holds the bottom lid in a closed state that closes the lower end opening of the storage section, the open holder including: a release section that releases the hold to open and operate the bottom lid by the biasing force of the biasing spring at a predetermined position in the transport direction of the seedling supply cup; and a closing section that returns the bottom lid to the closed state at a position a predetermined distance away from the release section in the transport direction;
a bottom cover regulating portion disposed between the release portion and the closing portion, regulating the bottom cover from being opened excessively by the biasing force, and opening the bottom cover at an operating speed slower than an operating speed for opening the bottom cover from the closed state;
A planting tool that plants the seedlings supplied from the seedling supply cup in a field, the planting tool having an adjustable interval in the width direction of the machine body ;
Equipped with
The open holder has a release position adjustment member including the release portion, and the release position adjustment member is capable of changing the position at which the bottom cover is opened in accordance with the interval adjustment of the plurality of planting tools,
The bottom cover regulating portion is provided on the release position adjusting member.

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