前記公知例は、育苗容器の上面の床土を均平するスクレーパーに貯留部を設けた構成のため、スクレーパーで床土を寄せるためにはどうしても、貯留部からスクレーパーに床土が通過できる切欠が必要であり、そのため、貯留部を貯留状態にしていても、床土繰出装置から繰出される床土の一部は、貯留部の切欠部分から下方に漏れて落下し、育苗容器の土供給装置の周囲に飛散させてしまう課題がある。
また、公知例ではスクレーパーが育苗容器（セルトレイ）に当接して放擲位置に回動させる構成のため、薄いセルトレイがスクレーパーに引っ掛かってめくれるという課題もある。
本願は、貯留放擲体により床土を受け止めて、育苗容器が床土繰出装置の下方に来たときに補充する構成とし、また、育苗容器（セルトレイ）のめくれも防止したものである。
In the above-mentioned known example, a storage section is provided in a scraper that levels the bed soil on the top surface of the seedling container, so in order to push the bed soil with the scraper, a notch is necessary to allow the bed soil to pass from the storage section to the scraper.As a result, even if the storage section is in a stored state, some of the bed soil dispensed from the bed soil dispensing device leaks downward through the notch in the storage section and falls, causing it to be scattered around the soil supply device for the seedling container.
Furthermore, in the known example, the scraper comes into contact with the seedling container (cell tray) and rotates it to the discard position, which presents the problem that the thin cell tray can get caught on the scraper and flip over.
In the present application, bed soil is received by a storage and release body and replenished when the seedling container comes under the bed soil dispensing device, and also the seedling container (cell tray) is prevented from turning over.
請求項１の発明は、移送台１に、移送中の育苗容器Ａの前後左右に多数並設したポット２に上方から床土を落下させて供給する床土繰出装置１５を設け、床土繰出装置１５の床土繰出ベルト１７の前側には、床土繰出装置１５の繰出口１８から繰り出される床土を受け止めて一時貯留し、移送されてくる育苗容器Ａの先端が床土供給箇所に至ると、貯留した床土を放擲する貯留放擲体２６を設け、貯留放擲体２６の底板３０の後端は床土繰出ベルト１７に可及的に接近させた育苗容器の土供給装置としたものである。
請求項２の発明は、貯留放擲体２６の側板３１の後縁は床土繰出ベルト１７のローラー１７Ａの円弧面に合わせた円弧面３４に形成した育苗容器の土供給装置としたものである。
請求項３の発明は、貯留放擲体２６は床土繰出装置１５の下方を育苗容器Ａが移送されていないときには床土繰出装置１５の繰出口１８から繰り出される床土を受け止め、移送中の育苗容器Ａが床土繰出装置１５の繰出口１８の所定下方に位置に至ると、軸心が左右方向の取付軸３６中心に放擲位置に回動する構成とした育苗容器の土供給装置としたものである。
請求項４の発明は、貯留放擲体２６の下方の移送台１には、移送中の育苗容器Ａが床土の供給を受ける供給位置に移送されたことを検出する育苗容器検出部２７を、貯留放擲体２６とは別体で設け、育苗容器検出部２７が育苗容器Ａを検出すると、貯留放擲体２６を放擲位置に自動的に回動させる構成とした育苗容器の土供給装置としたものである。
請求項５の発明は、育苗容器Ａは引出形状の収納箱８に嵌合させた状態で移送台１により、先行育苗容器Ａと後続育苗容器Ａとの間に所定の隙間Ｓを空けて移送する構成とし、隙間Ｓが床土繰出装置１５の下方を通過する間、貯留放擲体２６は床土を受止めて貯留する構成とした育苗容器の土供給装置としたものである。
請求項６の発明は、貯留放擲体２６は、待機して床土を貯留させる貯留状態において、略水平となる無孔の底板３０の左右両側に側板３１を設け、左右の側板３１の前縁を前板３２で連結し、側板３１または前板３２に設けたブラケット３５に設けた取付軸３６により床土繰出装置１５側に回動自在に取付けた育苗容器の土供給装置としたものである。
請求項７の発明は、移送中の育苗容器Ａが床土の供給を受ける供給位置に移送されたことを検出する育苗容器検出部２７の検出体４１は、育苗容器Ａを収納した収納箱８にのみ当接して育苗容器Ａの移送を検知する構成とした育苗容器の土供給装置としたものである。
請求項８の発明は、移送中の育苗容器Ａが床土の供給を受ける供給位置に移送されたことを検出する育苗容器検出部２７は、育苗容器Ａの移送路４０内に位置する待機位置と、育苗容器Ａが移送路４０を移動するときに下方に退避する退避位置との間移動自在の検出体４１を設け、検出体４１は上方に起立するように左右方向の取付軸４２に検出体４１の基部を固定して設けた育苗容器の土供給装置としたものである。
請求項９の発明は、貯留放擲体２６は、待機して床土を貯留させる貯留位置と、貯留した床土を放擲する放擲位置の間回動自在に床土繰出装置１５側に取付軸３６により取付け、移送中の育苗容器Ａが床土の供給を受ける供給位置に移送されたことを検出する育苗容器検出部２７の検出体４１を、育苗容器Ａの移送路４０内に位置する待機位置と、育苗容器Ａが移送路４０を移動するときに下方に退避する退避位置の間移動自在に設け、前記検出体４１と貯留放擲体２６とをリンク機構４５により連結し、検出体４１が育苗容器Ａを検出すると、貯留放擲体２６を放擲位置に回動させる構成とした育苗容器の土供給装置としたものである。
請求項１０の発明は、貯留放擲体２６を床土繰出装置１５の繰出口１８から繰り出される床土を受け止めて一時貯留する貯留位置での保持と、移送されてくる育苗容器Ａが床土供給箇所に移送されたことを検出する育苗容器検出部２７の検出体４１の検出位置の保持とを、単独のバネ４９により行う構成とした育苗容器の土供給装置としたものである。
請求項１１の発明は、育苗容器Ａを移送する移送台１の移送手段２は、育苗容器Ａを嵌合させた引出形状の収納箱８を移送フック５０により、先行育苗容器Ａと後続育苗容器Ａとの間に所定の隙間Ｓを空けて移送する構成とし、隙間Ｓが床土繰出装置１５の下方を通過する間、貯留放擲体２６は床土を受止めて貯留する構成とし、移送フック５０は育苗容器Ａの前後長に前記隙間Ｓを足した間隔で無端状の移送体６０に設けた育苗容器の土供給装置としたものである。
請求項１２の発明は、貯留放擲体２６は、育苗容器検出部２７の検出体４１が移送中の育苗容器Ａを床土の供給を受ける供給位置に移送されたことを検出すると放擲位置に回動する構成とし、検出体４１の育苗容器Ａの移送方向下手側の移送手段２は移送方向に所定間隔おいて設けた駆動回転する移送ローラー６５により構成した育苗容器の土供給装置としたものである。
The invention of claim 1 is provided with a bed soil dispensing device 15 on a transport table 1 which supplies bed soil from above to a number of pots 2 lined up in a row on the front, back, left and right sides of the seedling container A being transported, and a storage and discharge body 26 is provided on the front side of the bed soil dispensing belt 17 of the bed soil dispensing device 15 which receives the bed soil dispensed from the dispensing outlet 18 of the bed soil dispensing device 15 and temporarily stores it, and when the tip of the seedling container A being transported reaches the bed soil supply point , the rear end of the bottom plate 30 of the storage and discharge body 26 is brought as close as possible to the bed soil dispensing belt 17 to form a soil supply device for the seedling container .
The invention of claim 2 is a soil supplying device for seedling containers in which the rear edge of the side plate 31 of the storage and discharge body 26 is formed into an arcuate surface 34 that matches the arcuate surface of the roller 17A of the bed soil dispensing belt 17.
The invention of claim 3 is a soil supply device for seedling containers in which the storage and release body 26 receives bed soil delivered from the delivery outlet 18 of the bed soil delivery device 15 when the seedling container A is not being transported below the bed soil delivery device 15, and when the seedling container A being transported reaches a position predetermined below the delivery outlet 18 of the bed soil delivery device 15, the axis rotates to the release position around the left-right mounting axis 36.
The invention of claim 4 is a soil supply device for seedling containers in which a seedling container detection unit 27 is provided separately from the storage and release body 26 on the transfer table 1 below the storage and release body 26 to detect when the seedling container A being transported has been transported to a supply position where it receives a supply of bed soil, and when the seedling container detection unit 27 detects the seedling container A, the storage and release body 26 is automatically rotated to the release position.
The invention of claim 5 is a soil supply device for seedling containers in which the seedling container A is fitted into a drawer-shaped storage box 8 and transported by a transfer table 1 with a predetermined gap S between the preceding seedling container A and the succeeding seedling container A, and while the gap S passes under the bed soil dispensing device 15, the storage and release body 26 receives and stores the bed soil.
The invention of claim 6 is a soil supply device for seedling containers in which, when the storage and discharge body 26 is in a standby state in which it stores bed soil, side plates 31 are provided on both the left and right sides of a substantially horizontal, non-perforated bottom plate 30, the front edges of the left and right side plates 31 are connected by a front plate 32, and the soil supply device is freely rotatably attached to the bed soil dispensing device 15 side by a mounting shaft 36 provided on a bracket 35 provided on the side plate 31 or the front plate 32.
The invention of claim 7 is a soil supply device for seedling containers, in which a detection body 41 of a seedling container detection unit 27, which detects when a seedling container A being transported has been transported to a supply position where it receives a supply of bed soil, is configured to abut only against a storage box 8 that contains the seedling container A and detect the transport of the seedling container A.
The invention of claim 8 is a seedling container detection unit 27 that detects when a seedling container A being transported has been transported to a supply position where it receives a supply of bed soil, and is provided with a detection body 41 that can be freely moved between a waiting position located within the transport path 40 of the seedling container A and a retracted position where it retracts downward as the seedling container A moves along the transport path 40, and the detection body 41 is provided with a base fixed to a left-right mounting shaft 42 so that it stands upright, forming a soil supply device for a seedling container.
The invention of claim 9 is a soil supply device for seedling containers in which the storage and release body 26 is attached to the bed soil dispensing device 15 by an attachment shaft 36 so as to be freely rotatable between a storage position where it waits to store bed soil and a release position where it releases the stored bed soil, and a detection body 41 of the seedling container detection unit 27 which detects when the seedling container A being transported has been transported to a supply position where it receives a supply of bed soil is provided so as to be freely movable between a standby position located within the transport path 40 of the seedling container A and a retracted position where it retracts downward as the seedling container A moves along the transport path 40, the detection body 41 and the storage and release body 26 are connected by a link mechanism 45, and when the detection body 41 detects the seedling container A, the storage and release body 26 is rotated to the release position.
The invention of claim 10 is a soil supplying device for seedling containers in which a single spring 49 is used to hold the storage and release body 26 in a storage position where it receives and temporarily stores the bed soil discharged from the discharge outlet 18 of the bed soil dispensing device 15, and to hold the detection position of the detection body 41 of the seedling container detection unit 27 which detects that the transported seedling container A has been transported to the bed soil supply location.
In the invention of claim 11, the transport means 2 of the transport table 1 for transporting the seedling container A is configured to transport a drawer-shaped storage box 8 in which the seedling container A is fitted, using a transport hook 50 to leave a predetermined gap S between the preceding seedling container A and the succeeding seedling container A, and while the gap S passes under the bed soil dispensing device 15, the storage and release body 26 receives and stores the bed soil, and the transport hook 50 is a soil supply device for the seedling container provided on an endless transport body 60 at a distance equal to the front-to-rear length of the seedling container A plus the gap S.
The invention of claim 12 is a soil supply device for seedling containers, in which the storage and release body 26 is configured to rotate to the release position when the detection body 41 of the seedling container detection unit 27 detects that the seedling container A being transported has been transported to a supply position where it receives a supply of bed soil, and the transport means 2 on the downstream side of the detection body 41 in the transport direction of the seedling container A is composed of transport rollers 65 that are driven to rotate and are provided at predetermined intervals in the transport direction.
請求項１の発明では、床土繰出装置１５の床土繰出ベルト１７の前側に、床土繰出装置１５の繰出口１８から繰り出される床土を受け止めて一時貯留し、移送されてくる育苗容器Ａの先端が床土供給箇所に至ると、貯留した床土を放擲する貯留放擲体２６を設けているので、床土繰出装置１５の繰出口１８から繰り出される床土は貯留放擲体２６により予め受け止められ、繰出口１８の下方に育苗容器Ａが移送されると、貯留放擲体２６を反転させて育苗容器Ａの前方部のポットＰに床土を補給する。
したがって、床土繰出装置１５の繰出口１８から繰り出される床土の略全量を貯留放擲体２６が受け止めるので、床土作業現場で床土が飛散するのを防止でき、作業環境を良好にし、かつ、落下する床土の回収装置等を設けずに済み、経費削減できる。
また、貯留放擲体２６の底板３０の後端は床土繰出ベルト１７に可及的に接近させ、ているので、繰出口１８から繰り出される床土は貯留放擲体２６により略全量受け止めることができ、周囲に床土が飛散するのを防止できる。
請求項２の発明では、貯留放擲体２６の側板３１の後縁は床土繰出ベルト１７のローラー１７Ａの円弧面に合わせた円弧面３４に形成しているので、繰出口１８から繰り出される床土は貯留放擲体２６により略全量受け止めることができ、周囲に床土が飛散するのを防止できる。
請求項３の発明では、貯留放擲体２６は床土繰出装置１５の下方を育苗容器Ａが移送されていないときには床土繰出装置１５の繰出口１８から繰り出される床土の略全量を受け止め、移送中の育苗容器Ａが床土繰出装置１５の繰出口１８の所定下方に位置に至ると、放擲位置に回動する構成としているので、育苗容器Ａの前方部のポットＰへの床土の充填を確実にできると共に、床土作業現場で床土が飛散するのを防止でき、作業環境を良好にし、かつ、落下する床土の回収装置等を設けずに済み、経費削減できる。
請求項４の発明では、貯留放擲体２６の下方の移送台１には、移送中の育苗容器Ａが床土の供給を受ける供給位置に移送されたことを検出する育苗容器検出部２７を設け、育苗容器検出部２７が育苗容器Ａを検出すると、貯留放擲体２６を放擲位置に自動的に回動させるので、育苗容器検出部２７が育苗容器Ａを検出したときのみ床土を放擲させることができ、育苗容器Ａの前方部のポットＰへの床土の充填を確実にできると共に、床土作業現場で床土が飛散するのを防止でき、作業環境を良好にし、かつ、落下する床土の回収装置等を設けずに済み、経費削減できる。
請求項５の発明では、育苗容器Ａは引出形状の収納箱８に嵌合させた状態で移送台１により、先行育苗容器Ａと後続育苗容器Ａとの間に所定の隙間Ｓを空けて移送する構成とし、隙間Ｓが床土繰出装置１５の下方を通過する間、貯留放擲体２６が床土を受止めて貯留するので、貯留放擲体２６は床土貯留する時間を常時同一時間とすることができ、育苗容器Ａに同量の床土を補給できる。
請求項６の発明では、貯留放擲体２６は、待機して床土を貯留させる貯留状態において、略水平となる無孔の底板３０の左右両側に側板３１を設け、左右の側板３１の前縁を前板３２で連結し、側板３１または前板３２に設けたブラケット３５に設けた取付軸３６により床土繰出装置１５側に回動自在に取付けているので、底板３０の上面と側板３１の内面と前板３２の後面とにより形成される貯留空間３３により、床土繰出装置１５の繰出口１８から繰り出される略全量の床土を確実に受け止めることができる。
請求項７の発明では、移送中の育苗容器Ａが床土の供給を受ける供給位置に移送されたことを検出する育苗容器検出部２７の検出体４１は、育苗容器Ａを収納した収納箱８にのみ当接して育苗容器Ａの移送を検知する構成としているので、育苗容器Ａに検出体４１は接触せず、育苗容器Ａが収納箱８から「外れ」や「めくれる」のを防止でき、床土供給を確実に行うことかできる。
請求項８の発明では、移送中の育苗容器Ａが床土の供給を受ける供給位置に移送されたことを検出する育苗容器検出部２７は、育苗容器Ａの移送路４０内に位置する待機位置と、育苗容器Ａが移送路４０を移動するときに下方に退避する退避位置との間移動自在の検出体４１を設け、検出体４１は上方に起立するように左右方向の取付軸４２にその基部を固定しているので、育苗容器Ａを嵌合させた収納箱８が検出体４１を回動することにより育苗容器Ａが床土供給位置に到達したことを検出でき、育苗容器Ａに検出体４１が当接しないので、育苗容器（セルトレイ）Ａが収納箱８からめくれることを防止でき、確実に床土を供給できる。
請求項９の発明では、貯留放擲体２６は、待機して床土を貯留させる貯留位置と、貯留した床土を放擲する放擲位置の間回動自在に床土繰出装置１５側に取付軸３６により取付け、移送中の育苗容器Ａが床土の供給を受ける供給位置に移送されたことを検出する育苗容器検出部２７の検出体４１を、育苗容器Ａの移送路４０内に位置する待機位置と、育苗容器Ａが移送路４０を移動するときに下方に退避する退避位置の間移動自在に設け、前記検出体４１と貯留放擲体２６とをリンク機構４５により連結し、検出体４１が育苗容器Ａを検出すると、貯留放擲体２６を放擲位置に回動させる構成としているので、リンク機構４５による簡素な機械的構成で、検出体４１の育苗容器Ａの検出と貯留放擲体２６の放擲とを連動させ、土供給装置を安価に提供できると共に、故障の発生も抑制でき、メンテナンスを容易にすることができる。
請求項１０の発明では、貯留放擲体２６を床土繰出装置１５の繰出口１８から繰り出される床土を受け止めて一時貯留する貯留位置での保持と、移送されてくる育苗容器Ａが床土供給箇所に移送されたことを検出する育苗容器検出部２７の検出体４１の検出位置の保持とを、単独のバネ４９により行う構成としているので、構成を簡素にできて、土供給装置を安価に提供できると共に、故障の発生も抑制でき、メンテナンスを容易にすることができる。
請求項１１の発明では、育苗容器Ａを移送する移送台１の移送手段２は、育苗容器Ａを嵌合させた引出形状の収納箱８を移送フック５０により、先行育苗容器Ａと後続育苗容器Ａとの間に所定の隙間Ｓを空けて移送する構成としているので、隙間Ｓが床土繰出装置１５の下方を通過する間に、貯留放擲体２６が常に一定量の床土を受止め放擲でき、各ポットＰに均等に床土を供給でき、また、育苗容器Ａの前後長に前記隙間Ｓを足した間隔で移送フック５０が育苗容器Ａを移送するので、隙間Ｓを常時一定にできる。
請求項１２の発明では、貯留放擲体２６は、育苗容器検出部２７の検出体４１が移送中の育苗容器Ａを床土の供給を受ける供給位置に移送されたことを検出すると放擲位置に回動する構成とし、検出体４１の育苗容器Ａの移送方向下手側の移送手段２は移送方向に所定間隔おいて設けた駆動回転する移送ローラー６５により構成しているので、移送手段２全体を簡素に構成でき、床土供給装置を安価に提供できる。
In the invention of claim 1, a storage and discharge body 26 is provided on the front side of the bed soil dispensing belt 17 of the bed soil dispensing device 15 to receive and temporarily store the bed soil dispensed from the dispensing outlet 18 of the bed soil dispensing device 15, and when the tip of the transported seedling container A reaches the bed soil supply point, the storage and discharge body 26 discharges the stored bed soil, so that the bed soil dispensed from the dispensing outlet 18 of the bed soil dispensing device 15 is received in advance by the storage and discharge body 26, and when the seedling container A is transported below the dispensing outlet 18, the storage and discharge body 26 is inverted to replenish the bed soil to the pot P at the front of the seedling container A.
Therefore, the storage and discharge body 26 receives almost the entire amount of bed soil discharged from the discharge outlet 18 of the bed soil dispensing device 15, preventing the bed soil from scattering at the bed soil work site, improving the working environment, and eliminating the need to install a device for recovering the fallen bed soil, thereby reducing costs.
In addition, the rear end of the bottom plate 30 of the storage and discharge body 26 is brought as close as possible to the bed soil delivery belt 17, so that the bed soil delivered from the delivery outlet 18 can be received in its entirety by the storage and discharge body 26, thereby preventing the bed soil from scattering around.
In the invention of claim 2, the rear edge of the side plate 31 of the storage and discharge body 26 is formed into an arcuate surface 34 that matches the arcuate surface of the roller 17A of the bed soil discharge belt 17, so that almost the entire amount of bed soil discharged from the discharge outlet 18 can be received by the storage and discharge body 26, preventing the bed soil from scattering around.
In the invention of claim 3, the storage and release body 26 is configured to receive almost the entire amount of bed soil being discharged from the discharge outlet 18 of the bed soil dispensing device 15 when the seedling container A is not being transported below the bed soil dispensing device 15, and to rotate to the release position when the seedling container A being transported reaches a position predetermined below the discharge outlet 18 of the bed soil dispensing device 15.This ensures that the pots P at the front of the seedling container A are filled with bed soil, prevents bed soil from scattering at the bed soil work site, improves the working environment, and eliminates the need to install a recovery device for fallen bed soil, thereby reducing costs.
In the invention of claim 4, a seedling container detection unit 27 is provided on the transfer table 1 below the storage and release body 26 to detect when the seedling container A being transported has been transported to a supply position where it receives a supply of bed soil.When the seedling container detection unit 27 detects the seedling container A, the storage and release body 26 is automatically rotated to the release position.Therefore, bed soil can be released only when the seedling container detection unit 27 detects the seedling container A.This ensures that the pot P at the front of the seedling container A is filled with bed soil, prevents bed soil from scattering at the bed soil work site, improves the working environment, and eliminates the need to install a recovery device for fallen bed soil, thereby reducing costs.
In the invention of claim 5, the seedling container A is fitted into a drawer-shaped storage box 8 and transported by a transfer table 1 with a predetermined gap S between the preceding seedling container A and the succeeding seedling container A, and while the gap S passes under the bed soil dispensing device 15, the storage and release body 26 receives and stores the bed soil, so that the storage and release body 26 can always store the bed soil for the same period of time, and the same amount of bed soil can be replenished to the seedling container A.
In the invention of claim 6, when the storage and discharge body 26 is in a storage state in which it is waiting to store bed soil, side plates 31 are provided on both the left and right sides of a substantially horizontal, non-perforated bottom plate 30, the front edges of the left and right side plates 31 are connected by a front plate 32, and the body is rotatably attached to the bed soil dispensing device 15 by a mounting shaft 36 provided on a bracket 35 provided on the side plate 31 or the front plate 32.Therefore, the storage space 33 formed by the upper surface of the bottom plate 30, the inner surface of the side plate 31, and the rear surface of the front plate 32 can reliably receive substantially the entire amount of bed soil dispensed from the dispensing outlet 18 of the bed soil dispensing device 15.
In the invention of claim 7, the detection body 41 of the seedling container detection unit 27, which detects when the seedling container A being transported has been transported to a supply position where it receives a supply of bed soil, is configured to abut only against the storage box 8 containing the seedling container A to detect the transport of the seedling container A. Therefore, the detection body 41 does not come into contact with the seedling container A, preventing the seedling container A from "falling off" or "turning over" from the storage box 8 and ensuring the supply of bed soil.
In the invention of claim 8, the seedling container detection unit 27, which detects when the seedling container A being transported has been transported to a supply position where it receives a supply of bed soil, is provided with a detection body 41 that can move freely between a waiting position located within the transport path 40 of the seedling container A and a retracted position where it retracts downward as the seedling container A moves along the transport path 40, and the base of the detection body 41 is fixed to a left-right mounting shaft 42 so that it stands upright.Therefore, the storage box 8 in which the seedling container A is fitted rotates the detection body 41, thereby detecting that the seedling container A has reached the bed soil supply position, and since the detection body 41 does not come into contact with the seedling container A, the seedling container (cell tray) A can be prevented from being turned over from the storage box 8, and bed soil can be reliably supplied.
In the invention of claim 9, the storage and discharge body 26 is attached to the bed soil feeding device 15 by a mounting shaft 36 so as to be rotatable between a storage position where the bed soil is stored while waiting and a discharge position where the stored bed soil is discharged, and a detection body 41 of the seedling container detection unit 27 which detects that the seedling container A being transported has been transported to a supply position where the bed soil is supplied is located at a standby position located within the transport path 40 of the seedling container A and a retreat position where the seedling container A is retracted downward when the seedling container A moves along the transport path 40. The detection body 41 and the storage and release body 26 are connected by a link mechanism 45, and when the detection body 41 detects the seedling container A, the storage and release body 26 is rotated to the release position. Therefore, with a simple mechanical configuration using the link mechanism 45, the detection of the seedling container A by the detection body 41 and the release of the storage and release body 26 are linked, making it possible to provide a soil supply device at low cost, suppressing the occurrence of breakdowns, and making maintenance easier.
In the invention of claim 10, the storage and release body 26 is held in a storage position where it receives and temporarily stores the bed soil discharged from the discharge outlet 18 of the bed soil dispensing device 15, and the detection position of the detection body 41 of the seedling container detection unit 27 which detects that the transported seedling container A has been transported to the bed soil supply point is maintained by a single spring 49, so that the configuration can be simplified, the soil supply device can be provided at low cost, the occurrence of breakdowns can be suppressed, and maintenance can be made easier.
In the invention of claim 11, the transport means 2 of the transport table 1 that transports the seedling container A is configured to transport a drawer-shaped storage box 8 in which the seedling container A is fitted, using a transport hook 50 to leave a predetermined gap S between the preceding seedling container A and the succeeding seedling container A.Therefore, while the gap S passes under the bed soil dispensing device 15, the storage and releasing body 26 can always receive and release a constant amount of bed soil, and bed soil can be supplied evenly to each pot P.Furthermore, since the transport hook 50 transports the seedling container A at an interval equal to the front-to-rear length of the seedling container A plus the gap S, the gap S can always be kept constant.
In the invention of claim 12, the storage and release body 26 is configured to rotate to the release position when the detection body 41 of the seedling container detection unit 27 detects that the seedling container A being transported has been transported to a supply position where it receives a supply of bed soil, and the transport means 2 on the downstream side of the detection body 41 in the transport direction of the seedling container A is composed of transport rollers 65 that are driven to rotate and are provided at a predetermined interval in the transport direction, so that the entire transport means 2 can be configured simply and a bed soil supply device can be provided at low cost.
本発明の一実施形態を図により説明すると、１はナス、トマト等の野菜や花あるいは稲等の種子を播種して育苗する育苗容器Ａを移送する移送台であり、移送台１は移送手段２を有し、始端部より終端部に向けて育苗容器Ａを移送し、支脚３により床上に載置される（図１）。
育苗容器Ａは、当業者にセルトレイと称されているものであり、前後左右に多数のポットＰを形成しており、ポットＰは、下面４に透孔５を形成し、側壁６の上端縁を連結部７により連結して一枚状（一体状）に形成されている（図１）。
育苗容器Ａは所定厚さを有する薄い合成樹脂により製造されているため、育苗容器Ａ自体を移送手段２により直接移送すると変形するため、育苗容器Ａは、引出形状の収納箱８に、透孔５を下にして嵌合させて移送し、移送中のポットＰに、上方より床土を供給する構成としている。
One embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. Reference numeral 1 denotes a transport table for transporting a seedling container A in which seeds of vegetables such as eggplants and tomatoes, or flowers, or rice, etc. are sown and grown. The transport table 1 has a transport means 2 and transports the seedling container A from the starting end to the terminal end, and is placed on the floor by supports 3 (Figure 1).
The seedling container A is what is known to those skilled in the art as a cell tray, and has numerous pots P formed on the front, back, left and right sides. Each pot P has a through hole 5 formed on the underside 4 and the upper edges of the side walls 6 are connected by connecting parts 7 to form a single piece (integral) (Figure 1).
Since the seedling container A is made of a thin synthetic resin having a predetermined thickness, it will be deformed if it is directly transported by the transport means 2, so the seedling container A is transported by fitting it into a drawer-shaped storage box 8 with the through hole 5 facing downward, and bed soil is supplied from above to the pots P during transport.
移送台１は育苗容器Ａの移送方向に長い左右一対のフレーム１０を有して構成し、移送台１の始端部上方には収納箱８に嵌合させた育苗容器Ａを予め所定高さまで段積み収容し、一つづつ収納箱８および育苗容器Ａを供給する自動供給装置１１を設ける。自動供給装置１１の構成は任意であり、複数の育苗容器Ａを収容し、一つずつ供給しうる構成であればよい。１２は自動供給装置１１の支柱である。
自動供給装置１１の下手側の移送台１には床土繰出装置１５を設ける。床土繰出装置１５は上方に供給ホッパー１６を設け、供給ホッパー１６の下方に床土繰出ベルト１７を設ける。１８は床土繰出ベルト１７の繰出口、１９は供給量調節板、２０は床土繰出装置１５のフレームである。
The transport platform 1 is constructed with a pair of left and right frames 10 that are long in the transport direction of the seedling containers A, and an automatic supply device 11 is provided above the starting end of the transport platform 1 to stack the seedling containers A fitted into the storage boxes 8 to a predetermined height and supply the storage boxes 8 and seedling containers A one by one. The automatic supply device 11 may be configured in any manner as long as it is capable of storing a plurality of seedling containers A and supplying them one by one. Reference numeral 12 denotes a support for the automatic supply device 11.
A bed soil delivery device 15 is provided on the transfer table 1 downstream of the automatic supply device 11. The bed soil delivery device 15 has a supply hopper 16 at its upper part and a bed soil delivery belt 17 below the supply hopper 16. Reference numeral 18 denotes a delivery outlet of the bed soil delivery belt 17, 19 a supply amount adjustment plate, and 20 a frame of the bed soil delivery device 15.
床土繰出装置１５の床土繰出ベルト１７の前側には、床土繰出装置１５の繰出口１８から繰り出される床土を受け止めて一時貯留し、移送されてくる育苗容器Ａの先端が床土供給箇所に至ると、育苗容器Ａを検出し、貯留した床土を放擲する貯留放擲装置２５の貯留放擲体２６を設ける。
すなわち、移送中の育苗容器Ａに上方から床土を落下供給する場合、育苗容器Ａの前側部分のポット２には土があまり入らず、床土量が少なくなる傾向がある。
A storage and discharge body 26 of a storage and discharge device 25 is provided in front of the bed soil dispensing belt 17 of the bed soil dispensing device 15, which receives the bed soil dispensed from the dispensing outlet 18 of the bed soil dispensing device 15 and temporarily stores it, and when the tip of the transported seedling container A reaches the bed soil supply point, detects the seedling container A and discharges the stored bed soil.
That is, when bed soil is supplied by dropping it from above into the seedling container A during transportation, not much soil is received in the pots 2 in the front part of the seedling container A, and the amount of bed soil tends to be small.
そこで、本発明では、育苗容器Ａを収納箱８に嵌合させて、先行育苗容器Ａと後続育苗容器Ａとの間に隙間Ｓが空けて移送し、隙間Ｓが床土繰出装置１５の下方を通過する間、貯留放擲体２６が床土を受止めて貯留し、育苗容器Ａの前側のポットＰが床土落下地点に至ると、貯留放擲装置２５の育苗容器検出部２７が育苗容器Ａを検出し、貯留放擲体２６が貯留床土を育苗容器Ａの先頭ポットＰに放擲すると共に、床土繰出装置１５による床土の繰出供給を開始する構成とする（図８）。
In this invention, the seedling container A is fitted into the storage box 8, and is transported with a gap S between the preceding and following seedling containers A. While the gap S passes under the bed soil dispensing device 15, the storage and discharging body 26 receives and stores the bed soil. When the pot P at the front of the seedling container A reaches the bed soil drop point, the seedling container detection section 27 of the storage and discharging device 25 detects the seedling container A, and the storage and discharging body 26 discharges the stored bed soil onto the leading pot P of the seedling container A, and the bed soil dispensing device 15 starts dispensing and supplying the bed soil (Figure 8).
そのため、貯留放擲体２６が、先行育苗容器Ａと後続育苗容器Ａとの間の隙間Ｓに床土を落下させることは無く、床土供給現場に無駄な床土の飛散を防止できる。
育苗容器検出部２７が育苗容器Ａを検知すると、床土繰出装置１５による床土の繰出供給に加えて、貯留放擲体２６が床土を放擲補給するから、育苗容器Ａの前側部分の床土不足傾向を解消し、良好に育苗できる。
貯留放擲体２６の構成は任意であるが、一例を示すと、待機位置で略水平で無孔の底板３０の左右両側に側板３１を設け、左右の側板３１の前縁を前板３２で連結し、底板３０の上面と側板３１の内面と前板３２の後面とにより包囲された貯留空間３３を形成する（図２）。
Therefore, the storage and release body 26 does not drop bed soil into the gap S between the preceding seedling raising container A and the succeeding seedling raising container A, and unnecessary scattering of bed soil at the bed soil supply site can be prevented.
When the seedling container detection unit 27 detects the seedling container A, in addition to the bed soil being fed out and supplied by the bed soil feeding device 15, the storage and discharge body 26 discharges and replenishes bed soil, thereby eliminating the tendency for bed soil shortage in the front part of the seedling container A and enabling good seedling growth.
The configuration of the storage and discharge body 26 is arbitrary, but as an example, in the standby position, side plates 31 are provided on both the left and right sides of a bottom plate 30 which is substantially horizontal and non-perforated, and the front edges of the left and right side plates 31 are connected by a front plate 32 to form a storage space 33 surrounded by the upper surface of the bottom plate 30, the inner surfaces of the side plates 31, and the rear surface of the front plate 32 (Figure 2).
貯留空間３３は、育苗容器Ａの最前列から３列目程のポットＰに補給しうる床土を貯留できる容積となるように設定すると、床土の補給が良好に行われて好適である。この場合、貯留空間３３が貯留する床土の量は、ポットＰへ供給する床土の全量では無く、不足分であるから、充分に貯留可能であり、本実施形態では、２～３列ほどのポットＰに補充可能な床土量を貯留する設定としている。
この場合、貯留放擲体２６は、繰出口１８から繰り出される床土を受け止められるように配置すると共に、繰出口１８から繰り出される床土を略全てを受け止めて、飛散を抑制させる構成とする（図５）。
そのため、底板３０の後端は床土繰出ベルト１７に可及的に接近させ、側板３１の後縁は床土繰出ベルト１７のローラー１７Ａの円弧面に合わせた円弧面３４に形成する（図６）。
The storage space 33 is preferably set to a volume capable of storing bed soil sufficient to replenish the pots P in the third row from the front row of the seedling container A, as this allows for smooth replenishment of bed soil. In this case, the amount of bed soil stored in the storage space 33 is not the total amount of bed soil to be supplied to the pots P, but a deficiency, so that sufficient storage is possible, and in this embodiment, the storage space is set to store an amount of bed soil sufficient to replenish the pots P in about two to three rows.
In this case, the storage and discharge body 26 is positioned so as to receive the bed soil discharged from the discharge outlet 18, and is configured to receive substantially all of the bed soil discharged from the discharge outlet 18, thereby preventing it from scattering (Figure 5).
For this reason, the rear end of the bottom plate 30 is brought as close as possible to the bed soil delivery belt 17, and the rear edge of the side plate 31 is formed into an arcuate surface 34 that matches the arcuate surface of the roller 17A of the bed soil delivery belt 17 (Figure 6).
したがって、貯留放擲体２６が待機位置にときは、床土繰出装置１５の繰出口１８から繰り出される床土を貯留放擲体２６より下方に殆ど落下させない。
貯留放擲体２６は、側板３１または前板３２にブラケット３５を設け、ブラケット３５に左右方向の取付軸３６を固定し、取付軸３６の軸心中心に回動自在に設け、取付軸３６中心に回動して貯留空間３３内の床土を放擲する。
貯留放擲装置２５の育苗容器検出部２７は、育苗容器Ａの移送路４０内に位置する待機位置と、育苗容器Ａが移送路４０を移動するときに下方に退避する退避位置の間移動自在の検出体４１を有して構成する（図５）。検出体４１は軸棒体により形成し、左右方向の取付軸４２に左右に所定間隔をおいて複数並設する。取付軸４２は、移送台１のフレーム１０側に回転のみ自在に軸装している。
Therefore, when the storage and discharge body 26 is in the standby position, the bed soil discharged from the discharge outlet 18 of the bed soil discharging device 15 hardly falls below the storage and discharge body 26.
The storage and release body 26 has a bracket 35 attached to the side panel 31 or the front panel 32, a left-right mounting shaft 36 fixed to the bracket 35, and is freely rotatable around the axis of the mounting shaft 36.The storage and release body 26 rotates around the center of the mounting shaft 36 to release the bed soil in the storage space 33.
The seedling container detector 27 of the storage and release device 25 has a detector 41 that can move between a standby position in the transport path 40 for the seedling containers A and a retracted position where the seedling containers A retract downward when they move along the transport path 40 (Fig. 5). The detector 41 is formed of a shaft rod, and a plurality of detectors 41 are arranged side by side at a predetermined interval on a left-right mounting shaft 42. The mounting shaft 42 is axially mounted on the frame 10 side of the transport table 1 so as to be free to rotate only.
育苗容器検出部２７の検出体４１と貯留放擲体２６との間には、検出体４１の育苗容器Ａの検出を貯留放擲体２６に伝達するリンク機構４５を設ける（図２～４）。
リンク機構４５は取付軸４２にアーム４６の基部を固定し、アーム４６の先端にロッド４７の下部を取付ける。ロッド４７の上部はアーム４８の先端に取付け、アーム４８の基部を前記取付軸３６の端部に固定状態に取付ける。
そのため、育苗容器Ａが所定位置に移送されると、育苗容器Ａを嵌合させた収納箱８の前端が検出体４１に当接し、検出体４１は取付軸４２中心に前方回動し、検出体４１の回動により回転した取付軸４２がアーム４６を下方回動させ、アーム４６はロッド４７を下方に牽引し、ロッド４７の下動によりアーム４８の先端を下方回動させ、これにより、取付軸３６が回転し、貯留空間３３内の床土を育苗容器Ａの前列のポットＰに向けて放擲して補充する。
A link mechanism 45 is provided between the detector 41 of the seedling container detector 27 and the storage and release body 26 to transmit the detection of the seedling container A by the detector 41 to the storage and release body 26 (FIGS. 2 to 4).
The link mechanism 45 has a base of an arm 46 fixed to the mounting shaft 42, and a lower part of a rod 47 attached to the tip of the arm 46. An upper part of the rod 47 is attached to the tip of an arm 48, and a base part of the arm 48 is fixedly attached to the end of the mounting shaft 36.
Therefore, when the seedling container A is transported to a predetermined position, the front end of the storage box 8 in which the seedling container A is fitted comes into contact with the detection body 41, and the detection body 41 rotates forward around the mounting shaft 42, and the mounting shaft 42 rotates due to the rotation of the detection body 41, causing the arm 46 to rotate downward, and the arm 46 pulls the rod 47 downward, and the downward movement of the rod 47 causes the tip of the arm 48 to rotate downward, thereby rotating the mounting shaft 36 and dumping the bed soil in the storage space 33 toward the front row of pots P of the seedling container A to refill it.
貯留放擲体２６が取付軸３６中心に放擲位置に回動しているとき、検出体４１は収納箱８により検知位置に保持させれているので、貯留放擲体２６は放擲位置に保持され、床土繰出装置１５の繰出口１８からの床土の繰出に干渉しない（図８）。
また、リンク機構４５には、検出体４１を常時検出位置に位置するように付勢するバネ４９を設ける。本実施形態では、ロッド４７の下部に設けたアーム４７Ａと前記アーム４８との間に引張バネ４９を設けている（図４）。
また、検出体４１の回動路には検出体４１を育苗容器Ａ（収納箱８）に当接する検出位置に待機させるストッパー４３を設ける（図５）。
When the storage and release body 26 rotates around the mounting shaft 36 to the release position, the detection body 41 is held in the detection position by the storage box 8, so that the storage and release body 26 is held in the release position and does not interfere with the dispensing of bed soil from the dispensing outlet 18 of the bed soil dispensing device 15 (Figure 8).
In addition, the link mechanism 45 is provided with a spring 49 for biasing the detection body 41 so as to always be located at the detection position. In this embodiment, a tension spring 49 is provided between the arm 47A provided at the lower part of the rod 47 and the arm 48 (FIG. 4).
A stopper 43 is provided on the rotation path of the detector 41 to keep the detector 41 waiting at the detection position where it abuts against the seedling container A (storage box 8) (FIG. 5).
したがって、検出体４１は常時検出位置に位置するように、引張バネ４９により付勢され、これにより、リンク機構４５は貯留放擲体２６を貯留位置に位置させ、検出体４１が引張バネ４９の弾力に抗して育苗容器Ａ（収納箱８）に当接して回動すると、貯留放擲体２６を放擲位置に回動させる。
すなわち、リンク機構４５を、側面視において、ロッド４７の上下部にアーム４７Ａとアーム４８とバネ４９とを四角状に配置することにより、一つのバネ４９により検出体４１と貯留放擲体２６とを所定位置に位置させ、かつ、連動させることができ、合理的構成とすることができる（図４）。
Therefore, the detection body 41 is biased by the tension spring 49 so that it is always positioned in the detection position, whereby the link mechanism 45 positions the storage and release body 26 in the storage position, and when the detection body 41 rotates against the elasticity of the tension spring 49 and abuts against the seedling container A (storage box 8), it rotates the storage and release body 26 to the release position.
That is, by arranging arms 47A, 48 and spring 49 in a square shape on the upper and lower parts of rod 47 when viewed from the side, link mechanism 45 can position detection body 41 and storage/discharge body 26 in predetermined positions and link them together by one spring 49, resulting in a rational configuration (Figure 4).
しかして、貯留放擲体２６に貯留される床土量を一定にし、かつ、正確に育苗容器Ａの最前列のポットＰに床土を補給するためには、先行育苗容器Ａと後続育苗容器Ａとの間の隙間Ｓを一定にすることが望ましく、床土繰出装置１５に至るまでの移送手段２は、移送フック５０により収納箱８を移送する同期移送手段５１とし、移送フック５０は移送ベルト４２に収納箱８に隙間Ｓを加えた長さより長い間隔をおいて移送フック５０を複数並設して構成する（図１、６）。
そのため、移送手段２の同期移送手段５１は、先行育苗容器Ａと後続育苗容器Ａとの間の隙間Ｓを正確に同じにして移送することができる。
However, in order to keep the amount of bed soil stored in the storage and release body 26 constant and to accurately replenish bed soil to the front row of pots P of the seedling container A, it is desirable to keep the gap S between the leading seedling container A and the following seedling container A constant, and the transport means 2 up to the bed soil dispensing device 15 is a synchronous transport means 51 that transports the storage box 8 by means of a transport hook 50, and the transport hook 50 is configured by arranging a plurality of transport hooks 50 in parallel on the transport belt 42 at intervals longer than the length of the storage box 8 plus the gap S (Figures 1 and 6).
Therefore, the synchronous transport means 51 of the transport means 2 can transport the preceding seedling container A and the succeeding seedling container A with the gap S between them kept exactly the same.
また、床土繰出装置１５の床土繰出ベルト１７の下方には振動付与装置５５を設ける（図１）。振動付与装置５５は床土供給中の育苗容器Ａを上下に振動させて床土がポットＰ内に充分充填されるようにする。振動付与装置５５は、振動ローラー５６をアーム５７の先端に取付け、アーム５７の前後中間部を軸５８により移送台１に回動自在に取付け、アーム５７の後端をカム体５９に弾接させる（図１）。
カム体５９は同期移送手段５１の移送フック５０を取付けた無端状の移送体（移送ベルト・チェン）６０を掛け回した前側ローラー（図示省略）と同軸状に設けている。
そのため、カム体５９の回転によりカム体５９にバネ（図示省略）の弾力により弾接しているアーム５７の後端が上下し、これにより、振動ローラー５６を上下させて育苗容器Ａを振動させる。
A vibration imparting device 55 is provided below the bed soil advancing belt 17 of the bed soil advancing device 15 (Fig. 1). The vibration imparting device 55 vibrates the seedling container A up and down while bed soil is being fed so that the pots P are sufficiently filled with bed soil. The vibration imparting device 55 has a vibrating roller 56 attached to the tip of an arm 57, the front and rear intermediate parts of which are rotatably attached to the transfer table 1 by a shaft 58, and the rear end of the arm 57 is brought into elastic contact with a cam body 59 (Fig. 1).
The cam body 59 is provided coaxially with a front roller (not shown) around which an endless transport body (transport belt chain) 60 to which the transport hook 50 of the synchronous transport means 51 is attached is wound.
Therefore, as the cam body 59 rotates, the rear end of the arm 57, which is in elastic contact with the cam body 59 due to the elasticity of a spring (not shown), moves up and down, thereby moving the vibrating roller 56 up and down to vibrate the seedling container A.
この振動付与装置５５の移送方向下手側の移送手段２は駆動回転の移送ローラー６５により構成している（図１）。
床土繰出装置１５の下手側の移送台１には、育苗容器Ａ上に供給された床土を鎮圧する床土鎮圧ローラー６７を設ける。床土鎮圧ローラー６７は図示は省略するが、移送台１の移送ローラー６５の回転の伝達を受けて駆動回転する構成としている。
The transport means 2 on the downstream side in the transport direction of the vibration applying device 55 is composed of a transport roller 65 which is driven to rotate (FIG. 1).
The transfer table 1 on the downstream side of the bed soil feeding device 15 is provided with bed soil pressing rollers 67 for pressing down the bed soil supplied onto the seedling container A. Although not shown, the bed soil pressing rollers 67 are configured to be driven to rotate by receiving the rotation of the transfer rollers 65 of the transfer table 1.
床土鎮圧ローラー６７の下手側には、育苗容器Ａの上面の床土を均平するスクレーパー７０を設ける。スクレーパー７０は図示は省略するが、平面視において、Ｖ型形状に形成し、Ｖの字の交点部分を後側になるように配置し、育苗容器Ａの上面の中央の床土を外側に寄せながら均平することにより、各ポットＰの左右両側の端部分にも充分に床土が供給されるようにしている。
スクレーパー７０の下手側には回転均平ブラシ７５を設ける。回転均平ブラシ７５は、育苗容器Ａの上面の余分な床土を移送方向上手側に掃き戻す。
回転均平ブラシ７５の下手側には灌水装置７７を設ける。
A scraper 70 is provided below the bed soil compacting roller 67 to level the bed soil on the top surface of the seedling container A. Although not shown, the scraper 70 is formed in a V-shape in a plan view and is positioned so that the intersection of the V is at the rear. By leveling the bed soil in the center of the top surface of the seedling container A while pushing it outward, a sufficient amount of bed soil is supplied to the left and right end portions of each pot P.
A rotary leveling brush 75 is provided on the downstream side of the scraper 70. The rotary leveling brush 75 sweeps excess bed soil from the top surface of the seedling container A back to the upstream side in the transport direction.
An irrigation device 77 is provided downstream of the rotating leveling brush 75 .
（実施形態の作用）
本発明は上記構成であり、移送台１の始端部の自動供給装置自動供給装置１１に収納箱８に嵌合させた育苗容器Ａを複数収容し、作業を開始する。
自動供給装置１１は移送台１に一つずつ育苗容器Ａを供給し、供給された育苗容器Ａは移送手段２により移送され、床土繰出装置１５の下方に至る。
床土繰出装置１５は自動供給装置１１により育苗容器Ａが移送台１に供給されると、通電され、床土繰出ベルト１７により床土の繰出が開始される。
この場合、移送中の育苗容器Ａに上方から床土を落下供給すると、育苗容器Ａの前側部分のポット２には土があまり入らず、床土量が少なくなる傾向があり、これを放置すると、その後の育苗に悪影響を及ぼすことが判明している。
(Operation of the embodiment)
The present invention is configured as described above, and a plurality of seedling containers A fitted into the storage box 8 are placed in the automatic feeder 11 at the start end of the transfer table 1, and the operation is started.
The automatic supply device 11 supplies the seedling containers A one by one to the transfer table 1, and the supplied seedling containers A are transported by the transport means 2 to reach below the bed soil delivery device 15.
When the automatic feeder 11 supplies the seedling container A to the transport table 1, the bed soil delivery device 15 is energized and the bed soil delivery belt 17 starts to deliver bed soil.
In this case, when bed soil is dropped from above into the seedling container A during transport, the pots 2 in the front part of the seedling container A tend not to receive much soil, resulting in a small amount of bed soil. It has been found that if this is left unattended, it will have a negative effect on the subsequent seedling growth.
従来では、育苗容器Ａ上の床土を均平するスクレーパーを設け、このスクレーパーの一部に床土貯留部を設けて、貯留部に貯留させた床土を充填させていた。しかし、スクレーパーに貯留部を設けていたので、床土繰出装置１５から繰り出される床土の一部のみを受止める構成となり、床土繰出装置１５から繰り出される半分以上の床土は下方に落下して飛散し、この分の床土が無駄になる。
Conventionally, a scraper was provided to level the bed soil on the seedling container A, and a bed soil storage section was provided in part of the scraper, and the bed soil stored in the storage section was filled in. However, because the scraper had a storage section, it was configured to receive only a portion of the bed soil dispensed from the bed soil dispensing device 15, and more than half of the bed soil dispensed from the bed soil dispensing device 15 fell downward and scattered, resulting in wasted bed soil.
本発明では、床土繰出装置１５の繰出口１８の近傍に繰出口１８から繰り出される床土の略全量を受け止める貯留放擲体２６を有する貯留放擲装置２５を設け、貯留放擲装置２５は繰出口１８の下方に育苗容器Ａが移送されると、貯留放擲体２６を反転させる構成としているので、育苗容器Ａが移送台１に供給されると、床土繰出装置１５の繰出口１８から繰り出される床土は貯留放擲体２６により予め受け止められ、繰出口１８の下方に育苗容器Ａが移送されると、貯留放擲体２６を反転させて育苗容器Ａの前方部のポットＰに床土を補給する。
In the present invention, a storage and discharge device 25 having a storage and discharge body 26 that receives almost the entire amount of bed soil discharged from the discharge port 18 of the bed soil dispensing device 15 is provided near the discharge port 18 of the bed soil dispensing device 15, and the storage and discharge device 25 is configured to invert the storage and discharge body 26 when the seedling container A is transported below the discharge port 18. Therefore, when the seedling container A is supplied to the transfer table 1, the bed soil discharged from the discharge port 18 of the bed soil dispensing device 15 is received in advance by the storage and discharge body 26, and when the seedling container A is transported below the discharge port 18, the storage and discharge body 26 is inverted to supply bed soil to the pot P at the front of the seedling container A.
したがって、床土繰出装置１５の繰出口１８から繰り出される床土の略全量を貯留放擲体２６が受け止めるので、床土作業現場で床土が飛散するのを防止でき、作業環境を良好にし、かつ、落下する床土の回収装置等を設けずに済み、経費削減できる。
貯留放擲装置２５は、育苗容器Ａを非検出状態では貯留放擲体２６を貯留位置に保持させ、育苗容器検出部２７が育苗容器Ａを感知すると、自動的に貯留放擲体２６を反転させて内部の床土を育苗容器Ａに向けて放擲し、床土を補充するので、床土の貯留と放擲とが自動で行われて、床土供給作業を容易にする。
Therefore, the storage and discharge body 26 receives almost the entire amount of bed soil discharged from the discharge outlet 18 of the bed soil dispensing device 15, preventing the bed soil from scattering at the bed soil work site, improving the working environment, and eliminating the need to install a device for recovering the fallen bed soil, thereby reducing costs.
The storage and release device 25 holds the storage and release body 26 in a storage position when the seedling container A is not detected, and when the seedling container detection part 27 detects the seedling container A, it automatically inverts the storage and release body 26 to release the bed soil inside toward the seedling container A and replenishes the bed soil, so that the bed soil is automatically stored and released, facilitating the bed soil supply work.
この場合、育苗容器Ａを収納箱８に嵌合させて、先行育苗容器Ａと後続育苗容器Ａとの間に隙間Ｓを空けて移送し、隙間Ｓが床土繰出装置１５の下方を通過する間、貯留放擲体２６が床土を受止めて貯留する構成とし、育苗容器Ａを移送する移送手段２は育苗容器Ａに前記隙間Ｓを足した間隔で移送フック５０を設けて構成しているので、常に、隙間Ｓは一定となり、それゆえ、貯留放擲体２６が床土を貯留する時間も一定となり、床土補充精度を向上させられる。
In this case, the seedling container A is fitted into the storage box 8 and transported with a gap S between the preceding seedling container A and the following seedling container A, and while the gap S passes under the bed soil dispensing device 15, the storage and release body 26 receives and stores the bed soil. The transport means 2 for transporting the seedling container A is configured by providing a transport hook 50 at a distance equal to the gap S added to the seedling container A, so that the gap S is always constant, and therefore the time for which the storage and release body 26 stores the bed soil is also constant, improving the accuracy of bed soil replenishment.
換言すると、貯留放擲装置２５は、下方を育苗容器Ａが通過しているときは、貯留放擲体２６を繰出口１８から退避させて放擲位置に位置させ、下方に育苗容器Ａが移送されていないときには、貯留放擲体２６は貯留位置に復帰して繰出床土を受け止める。
この貯留放擲体２６は、待機している貯留位置において、略水平となる無孔の底板３０の左右両側に側板３１を設け、左右の側板３１の前縁を前板３２で連結しているので、底板３０の上面と側板３１の内面と前板３２の後面とにより貯留空間３３が形成され、床土繰出装置１５の繰出口１８から繰り出される床土を受け止める。
In other words, when the seedling container A is passing below, the storage and release device 25 retracts the storage and release body 26 from the discharge outlet 18 and positions it at the discharge position, and when the seedling container A is not being transported below, the storage and release body 26 returns to the storage position to receive the discharged bed soil.
When this storage and discharge body 26 is in its standby storage position, it has side panels 31 on both the left and right sides of a substantially horizontal, non-perforated bottom plate 30, and the front edges of the left and right side panels 31 are connected by a front panel 32.A storage space 33 is formed by the upper surface of the bottom plate 30, the inner surfaces of the side panels 31, and the rear surface of the front panel 32, which receives the bed soil discharged from the discharge outlet 18 of the bed soil dispensing device 15.
貯留放擲体２６は、育苗容器Ａの最前列から３列目位までのポットＰに補給しうる床土を貯留できる容積となるように設定しているので、床土の補給が良好に行われる。
この場合、貯留放擲体２６は、繰出口１８から繰り出される床土の略全量を受け止められるように配置しているので、繰出口１８から繰り出される床土を飛散させず、作業環境を良好に保持する。
貯留放擲体２６は、底板３０の後端を床土繰出ベルト１７に可及的に接近させ、側板３１の後縁を床土繰出ベルト１７のローラー１７Ａの円弧面に合わせた円弧面３４に形成しているので、貯留放擲体２６が貯留位置のときには、床土繰出装置１５の繰出口１８から繰り出される床土を貯留放擲体２６より下方に殆ど落下させずに受け止めることができる。
The storage and release body 26 is set to have a capacity capable of storing bed soil to be replenished to the pots P from the front row to about the third row of the seedling container A, so that bed soil can be replenished efficiently.
In this case, the storage and discharge body 26 is positioned so as to receive substantially the entire amount of bed soil discharged from the discharge port 18, so that the bed soil discharged from the discharge port 18 is not scattered, and a good working environment is maintained.
The storage and release body 26 has the rear end of the bottom plate 30 as close as possible to the bed soil dispensing belt 17, and the rear edge of the side plate 31 is formed into an arcuate surface 34 that matches the arcuate surface of the roller 17A of the bed soil dispensing belt 17, so that when the storage and release body 26 is in the storage position, the bed soil dispensed from the dispensing outlet 18 of the bed soil dispensing device 15 can be received with almost no falling below the storage and release body 26.
貯留放擲体２６は、前板３２の部分に左右方向の取付軸３６を固定し、取付軸３６の軸心中心に回動自在に設けているので、取付軸３６中心に貯留放擲体２６を回動させると、貯留空間３３内の床土を育苗容器Ａに放擲する。
貯留放擲装置２５の育苗容器検出部２７は、育苗容器Ａの移送路４０内に位置する待機位置（非検出状態）と、育苗容器Ａが移送路４０を移動するときに下方に退避する退避位置（検出状態）の間移動自在の検出体４１を設け、検出体４１は軸棒体により形成し、左右方向の取付軸４２に左右に所定間隔をおいて複数起立するように並設しているので、育苗容器Ａが移送手段２の移送フック５０により移送されると、収納箱８の前壁が検出体４１に当接し、検出体４１を前方に押し倒してオンになり、貯留放擲体２６を放擲させる。
The storage and release body 26 has a left-right mounting shaft 36 fixed to the front plate 32 and is freely rotatable around the axis of the mounting shaft 36. When the storage and release body 26 is rotated around the axis of the mounting shaft 36, the bed soil in the storage space 33 is released into the seedling container A.
The seedling container detection section 27 of the storage and release device 25 is provided with a detection body 41 that is freely movable between a waiting position (non-detection state) located within the transport path 40 of the seedling container A and a retracted position (detection state) in which it retracts downward when the seedling container A moves along the transport path 40.The detection body 41 is formed by an axial rod body and is arranged in parallel to stand upright at a predetermined interval on the left and right of the mounting shaft 42 in the left-right direction.Therefore, when the seedling container A is transported by the transport hook 50 of the transport means 2, the front wall of the storage box 8 abuts against the detection body 41, pushing the detection body 41 forward and turning it on, thereby releasing the storage and release body 26.
したがって、検出体４１は育苗容器Ａに直接接触することはなく、育苗容器Ａが収納箱８からずれたり・まくれたりして外れるのを防止し、育苗容器Ａへの床土供給を確実に行える。
育苗容器検出部２７の検出体４１と貯留放擲体２６との間には、検出体４１の育苗容器Ａの検出を貯留放擲体２６に伝達するリンク機構４５を設け、リンク機構４５は取付軸４２にアーム４６の基部を固定し、アーム４６の先端にロッド４７の下部を取付け、ロッド４７の上部はアーム４８の先端に取付け、アーム４８の基部を取付軸３６の端部に固定状態に取付けているので、育苗容器Ａが所定位置に移送されると、育苗容器Ａを嵌合させた収納箱８の前端が検出体４１に当接し、検出体４１は取付軸４２中心に前方回動し、検出体４１の回動により回転した取付軸４２がアーム４６を下方回動させ、アーム４６はロッド４７を下方に牽引し、ロッド４７の下動によりアーム４８の先端を下方回動させ、これにより、取付軸３６が回転し、貯留放擲体２６内の床土を育苗容器Ａの前列のポットＰに向けて放擲して補充する。
貯留放擲体２６が放擲位置に回動しているとき、検出体４１は収納箱８により検知位置に保持させれているので、貯留放擲体２６は放擲位置に保持され、床土繰出装置１５の繰出口１８からの床土の繰出に干渉しない。
Therefore, the detection body 41 does not come into direct contact with the seedling container A, preventing the seedling container A from slipping or turning over and coming off from the storage box 8, and ensuring the supply of bed soil to the seedling container A.
Between the detector 41 of the seedling container detector 27 and the storage and release body 26, a link mechanism 45 is provided to transmit the detection of the seedling container A by the detector 41 to the storage and release body 26. The link mechanism 45 fixes the base of an arm 46 to the mounting shaft 42, attaches the lower part of a rod 47 to the tip of the arm 46, attaches the upper part of the rod 47 to the tip of an arm 48, and attaches the base of the arm 48 to the end of the mounting shaft 36 in a fixed state. Therefore, the seedling container A is transported to a predetermined position. When this is done, the front end of the storage box 8 in which the seedling container A is fitted comes into contact with the detection body 41, which rotates forward around the mounting shaft 42, and the mounting shaft 42, rotated by the rotation of the detection body 41, rotates the arm 46 downward, which pulls the rod 47 downward, and the downward movement of the rod 47 rotates the tip of the arm 48 downward, thereby rotating the mounting shaft 36 and releasing the bed soil in the storage and release body 26 toward the front row of pots P of the seedling container A to replenish it.
When the storage and release body 26 is rotated to the release position, the detection body 41 is held at the detection position by the storage box 8, so that the storage and release body 26 is held at the release position and does not interfere with the delivery of bed soil from the delivery outlet 18 of the bed soil delivery device 15.
また、床土繰出装置１５の床土繰出ベルト１７の下方には振動付与装置５５を設けているので、育苗容器Ａは振動付与装置５５の振動ローラー５６により上下に振動中に床土繰出装置１５から床土の供給を受け、床土はポットＰ内に充填される。
移送手段２の移送フック５０は、振動付与装置５５の振動ローラー５６まで育苗容器Ａを移送する構成とし、振動付与装置５５の移送方向下手側の移送手段２は移送ローラー６５により構成しているので、育苗容器Ａは移送ローラー６５により移送される。
そのため、床土繰出装置１５までは移送フック５０により常時一定の隙間Ｓを保持して育苗容器Ａを移送し、振動付与装置５５により振動を付与した後は移送ローラー６５により移送するので、移送手段２の全体の構成を簡素にすることができる。
In addition, a vibration imparting device 55 is provided below the bed soil dispensing belt 17 of the bed soil dispensing device 15, so that the seedling container A receives bed soil from the bed soil dispensing device 15 while being vibrated up and down by the vibrating roller 56 of the vibration imparting device 55, and the bed soil is filled into the pot P.
The transport hook 50 of the transport means 2 is configured to transport the seedling container A to the vibration roller 56 of the vibration imparting device 55, and since the transport means 2 on the downstream side of the vibration imparting device 55 in the transport direction is composed of a transport roller 65, the seedling container A is transported by the transport roller 65.
Therefore, the seedling container A is transported to the bed soil dispensing device 15 while maintaining a constant gap S at all times using the transport hook 50, and after vibration is imparted by the vibration imparting device 55, it is transported by the transport rollers 65, thereby simplifying the overall configuration of the transport means 2.
床土繰出装置１５の下手側の移送台１には、育苗容器Ａ上に供給された床土を鎮圧する床土鎮圧ローラー６７を設けているので、ポットＰ内に充分な床土を充填する。
床土鎮圧ローラー６７の下手側にはスクレーパー７０を設けているので、育苗容器Ａの上面の余分な床土を均平して、余剰床土を他のポットＰに補充し、かつ、余った床土をスクレーパー７０により除去する。
スクレーパー７０の下手側には回転均平ブラシ７５を設けているので、育苗容器Ａの上面の余分な床土は回転均平ブラシ７５により移送方向上手側に掃き戻される。
回転均平ブラシ７５の下手側には灌水装置７７を設けているので、育苗容器ＡのポットＰ内の床土は灌水装置７７により灌水を受ける。
The transfer platform 1 downstream of the bed soil delivery device 15 is provided with bed soil pressing rollers 67 for pressing down the bed soil supplied onto the seedling container A, so that the pot P is filled with a sufficient amount of bed soil.
A scraper 70 is provided on the downstream side of the bed soil pressing roller 67, so that excess bed soil on the upper surface of the seedling container A is leveled, the excess bed soil is replenished to other pots P, and the excess bed soil is removed by the scraper 70.
A rotary leveling brush 75 is provided on the downstream side of the scraper 70, so that excess bed soil on the upper surface of the seedling raising container A is swept back upstream in the conveying direction by the rotary leveling brush 75.
An irrigation device 77 is provided downstream of the rotating leveling brush 75, so that the bed soil in the pot P of the seedling container A is watered by the irrigation device 77.