Title of Invention	"RICE TRANSPLANTER"
Abstract	A rice transplanter, wherein a body main frame (16) forming a frame is divided into three parts, i.e., a from frame (17), a center frame (18), and a rear frame (19), whereby the handling and assemblage of the transplanter can be improved more than the transplanter having the body main frame (16) of long integral structure.

Full Text

Field of the Art The Present invention relates to a rice transplantor, wherein a vehicle is provided with a transplanting portion comprising seedling racks and rice transplanting pawls for continuously performing rice transplanting work. Background In a rice transplanter according to Japanese Publication Number S61-285175 having a structure wherein an engine frame and a body frame are connected to a front side and a rear side of a transmission case, respectively, it is necessary to disconnect the engine frame and the main body frame each time when performing maintenance of the transmission case. When the main frame is provided with front and rear wheels, an engine, and a driving seat, there are problems that mounting of the engine on a top of the main frame prevents hot air around the engine from being exhausted downward due to blocking by the main frame, leading to low efficiency of engine cooling, and that a vertical mounting dimension between the engine and the main frame is difficult to be reduced, leading to difficulty in reducing the total height of an engine mounting portion. Moreover, it is difficult to reduce engine vibration transmitted to right and left main frames in a torsional direction (around a longitudinal body axis) of the machine due to a limitation of a lateral mounting interval of right and left vibration proof members for supporting the engine, and it is difficult to reduce the weight of the main frames by reducing wall thickness of the main frames. Since the main frames are provided with dedicated members for supporting spare seedling racks, there are structural and handling problems that make it difficult to simplify components to reduce weight and cost. When transporting the machine on a deck of a truck, necessity for removing an upper portion of a pillar, divided into top and bottom parts, of the seedling racks causes clearance at a joint portion of the pillar of the seedling racks. Since the bottom pillars of the seedling racks are fixed to the main frames, it is necessary to secure a large housing space such as a barn. Summary of the invention This present invention relates to a rice transplanter, wherein a pair of right and left main frames (16) constituting a vehicle body is divided into three parts, which conpries pair of right and left front frames (17) supporting an engine (36); a pair of right and left middle frames (18) connected to the pair of right and left front frames (17) ; and a pair of right and left rear frames (19) connected to the pair of middle frames (18), the pair of middle frames supporting a driving seat, the engine (36) is supported by the pair of right and left front frames (17) through a bottom plate (52) that is fixed to a bottom of the engine (36).a pair of right and left front axle cases (38), which extend along a vehicle width direction and are connected at their inner ends in the vehicle width direction to a transmission case 37), are respectively supported by the pair of middle frames (18),a rear axle case (42) is connected to a gate-shaped frame (20), which is connected to the pair of rear frames (19),the transmission case (37) and the rear axle case (42) are connected through a body case (41), which is positioned between the pair of main frame (16) with respecl to the vehicle width direction and extends along a vehicle longitudinal direction.the engine (36)is provided with an output shaft (58) at a front side of the engine (36), a bearing cylinder (54) fixed to a bottom of the bottom plate (52) a transmission shaft (59) supported by the bearing cylinder in a rotatable manner around its axis, pulleys (55,56) and a belt (57) connecting the output shaft (58) and a front portion of the transmission shaft (59); and a rear portion of the transmission shaft (590 is detachably connected to an input shaft (60) at a front side of the transmission case (37). Since a cross-sectional area of the front frame 17 is designed to be larger than that of the rear frame 19 and the engine 36 is supported by the front frames 17, the heavy engine 36 can be supported by the front frames 17 and improvement of longitudinal balance with a transplanting portion 3 provided to a rear side of the body results in better stability of the body. In a rice tansplanter of which the right and left main frames 16 are provided with front and rear wheels 5 and 6, an enginem 36, and a driving seat 7, installation width of the right and left main frames 16 is formed to be larger than the lateral width of an engine 36 in a side view. Therefore, a ventilation space can be secured between the right and left main frames 16 and both sides of the engine 36. Moreover, the engine can be mounted in a low position to easily lower the center of gravity of the body. Both sides of a frame member 35 on which vibration-proof members 53 for supporting the engine 36 can be installed are fixed to the right and left main frames 16. Therefore, strength of the main frames 16 can be lowered to reduce the weight by reinforcing the aforementioned frame member 35. A highly rigid frame structure can support the engine 36 in a vibration-proof manner. A mounting interval of the right and left vibration-proof members 53 can be enlarged to reduce vibraion, of the engine 36, transmitted in a torsional direction of the machine. Morever, a body structure can be easily simplified, and vibration-proof function of the engine 36 can be easily improved. Since a transmission case 37 is fixed to the frame member 35, strength of the frame member 35 can be easily secured against vertical vibration of the engine 36. The right and left main frames 16 can be easily connected using the frame member 35, and strength for supporting the engine 36 can be easily improved. Rigidity of the frame member 35 in a torsional direction of the machine can be improved to simplify a structure for supporting the engine 36 and reduce the weight. The transmission case 37 is fixed to the frame member 35 almost in the middle of a mounting portion of the right and left vibration-proof members 53. Therefore, the strength of the frame member 35 can be secured by fixing the transmission case 37 against a torsional deformation force caused by vibration of the engine 36 in either the right or left direction, and a deformation damage to the frame member 35 can be prevented to improve durability. In a rice transplanter wherein the main frames 16 are provided with a step 9 through step stays 24 and 25, and the upper portions of the main frames 16 are covered by the step 9, the aforementioned step stays 24 and 25 are provided with a mounting portion of seedling rack pillars 94 are mounted on the step stays 24 and 25. since the step stays 24 and 25, serving as highly rigid members, are commonly used to allow the seedling rack pillars 94 to stand, reduction of the number of parts for mounting the seedling rack pillar 94 to stand, reduction of the number of parts for mounting the seedling rack pillar 94 and reduction of the number of man-hours for assembling enable reduction in weight and manufacturing costs. Moreover, higher strength can be obtained by supporting the load of the spare seedling racks 15 thanks to the high rigidity of the step 9, and the body structure for mounting the spare seedling racks 15 can be simplified. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a side view of a rice transplanter; Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view explaining a vehicle; Figure 4 is a plan view of a mainframe portion; Figure 5 is a side view of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a side view of a transmission case portion; Figure 7 is a side view of an engine transmission portion; Figure 8 is a plan view of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a perspective view of a body on which an engine is mounted; Figure 10 is an enlarged view of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a perspective view of a body on which a transmission case is mounted; Figure 12 Figure 13 Figure 14 Figure 15 Figure 16 Figure 17 Figure 18 Figure 19 Figure 20 Figure 21 Figure 23 s an enlarged view of figure 11; s a perspective view of a travel transmission portion; s a perspective view of a front portion of main frames; s an enlarged view of Figure 14; s a perspective view of a top of an engine portion; s a perspective view of a bottom of an engine portion; s a front view of the engine portion; s a plan view of the engine portion; s a front view explaining a front axle case; s a cross-sectional view of a left front axle case; s an enlarged view of Figure 21; Figure 24 is a plan view explaining Figure 23; Figure 25 is a front view explaining spare seedling racks; and Figure 26 is a view explaining housing of seedling rack pillars. The Best Mode of Embodiment of the Invention An embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a side view of a rice transplanter, and Figure 2 is a plan view of the same. A transplanting portion 3 is provided to a rear side of a vehicle 1 through a link mechanism 2 in a liftable manner, and a side ridge fertilizer distributor 4 for burying fertilizer in a side of seedling transplanted by the transplanting portion 3 is mounted on a top of a rear side of the vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 comprises front and rear wheel 5 and 6, a driving seat 7, and a steering wheel 8. The front and rear wheel 5 and 6 are provided below a step 9 forming a body cover, the steering wheel 8 is installed to a rear side of a bonnet 10 located in a front side of the step 9, and the driving seat 7 is mounted on a top of a rear side of the step 9. Seedling racks 11 and transplanting pawls 12 for five-ridge transplanting are provided to the transplanting portion 3 for continuously transplanting seedlings for five ridges. Fertilizer is sent out from the fertilizer distributor 4 through a conveying hose 14 for five ridges by means of a conveyor using a blower 13 and is buried in soil at each side of the seedling for five ridges, while the spare seedlings placed on spare seedling racks 15 at a side of the aforementioned bonnet 10 are supplied to seedling racks 11 to continue the transplanting work. As shown in Figures 3 through 15, the aforementioned vehicle 1 comprises a pair of right and left main frames 16. The main frames 16 are formed by connecting front frames 17, middle frames 18, and rear frames 19 in an almost linear manner in a plan view. A gate-shaped frame 20 is fixed to a rear side of the right and left rear frames 19. A front bumper 22 on which a center marker 21 is attached and a towing hook 23 are fixed to the front sides of the right and left front frames 17. A pair of right and left step tables 24, 25, and 26 is fixed to the external sides of front and rear portions of the front frames 17 and the external sides of front portions of the rear frames 19. A long step table 27 is fixed to a top in the middle of the rear frames 19 laterally in a manner covering the total width. A pair of right and left step tables 28 is fixed to an upper portion of the aforementioned gate-shaped frame 20. A horizontal frame 30 having right and left step tables 29 is provided. External sides of step tables 24 through 26 are connected by a front side frame 31. The step tables 26 and 27 and an external side of the horizontal frame 30 are connected by the rear side frame 32. The steps 9 are mounted on and fixed to the tops of step tables 24 through 29. A step 33 for riding is fixed to an external side of the rear side frame 32 by bolting in a detachable manner. As shown in Figure 4, a pair of right and left receiving tables 34 and a frame member 35 is fixed to the right and left front frames 17 to carry an engine 36. As shown in figure 8, right and left front axle cases 38 are fixed to both sides of a transmission case 37. Front wheels 5 are installed to cases 38. The middle frames 18 for connecting the front and rear frames 17 and 19 are fixed to an upper portion of the aforementioned cases 38. A steering case 40 composed of a hydraulic variable speed transmission case 39 for transmitting an output of the engine 36 to the transmission case 37, a torque generator for boosting steering force of the front wheels 5 of the steering wheel 8, a torque generator for boosting steering force of the front wheels 5 of the steering wheel 8, wand a gear mechanism is fixed to a front side of the transmission cases 37. A rear axle case 42 is fixed to a rear side of the transmission case 37 through a body case 41. Both sides of the gate-shaped frame 20 are fixed to the aforementioned case 42. The rear wheels 6 are installed to the aforementioned case 42. A hydraulic elevating cylinder 43 is installed to an upper portion of the aforementioned body case 41 e. A piston of the aforementioned cylinder 43 is connected to the aforementioned link mechanism 2 for supporting the transplanting portion 3 in a liftable manner. As clearly shown above, the main body frame 16 is divided into three parts, namely the front frame 17, the middle frame 18, and the rear frame 19. Therefore, handling and assembly work can be facilitated in comparison with a machine having a main body frame 16 with a long integrated structure. Since the front axle case 38 is connected to the middle frames 18, the transmission case 37 and the front axle case 38 can be easily assembled and dismantled integrally in a condition that the engine 36 is still mounted on the front frame 17. Therefore, maintainability of the transmission case 37 and the front axle case 38 can be improved. Since a cross-sectional area of the front frame 17, is designed to be larger than that of the rear frame 19 and the engine 36 is supported by the front frame 17, the heavy engine 36 can be firmly supported by the front frame 17, and a longitudinal balance with the transplanting portion 3 mounted on a rear side of the body can be improved to obtain better stability of the body. As shown in Figures 4 and 9, both ends of a tank table frame 44 are fixed to front sides of the right and left rear frames 19, a front portion of a fuel tank 45 for supplying the engine 36 with fuel is fixed to the table frame 44, and a tank 45 is installed between the right and left rear frames 19. As shown in Figure 3, a seat frame 46 is installed to the rear frame 19 in a standing position, the driving seawt 7 is mounted on an upper portion of the seat frame 46 through the seat table 47, and the driving seast 7 is arranged on a top of a front portionof the aforementioned tank 45. A muffler 49 for the engine 36 is installed to a bottom side of the left front side frame 31 supported by the left step tables 24 and 25 through stays 48, and a battery table 50 is fixed to the right front side frame 31 supported by the right step tables 24 and 25. As shown in figure 14, a battery 51 for starting the engine 36 is mounted on the aforementioned battery table 50, and the muffler 49 and the battery 51 are separately arranged on a bottom side of the step 9 at both sides of the engine 36. As shown in Figures 16 through 19, a bottom plate 52 is fixed to a bottom of the aforementioned engine 36, and right and left sides of the aforementioned bottom plate 52 is fixed to the aforementioned receiving table 34 and the frame member 35 through four, namely right front, right rear, left front, and left rear, vibration-proof members 53 made of rubber. A bearing cylinder 54 is fixed to a right side of a bottom of the bottom plate 52 by bolting in a detachable manner, a transmission shaft 59 is supported by the bearing cylinder 54 rotatably, and a front portion of the transmission shaft 59 is connected to an output shaft 58 at a front side of the engine 36 through pulleys 55 and 56 and belts 57. As shown in figure 7, a rear portion of the aforementioned transmission case 39 separably, and driving power of the engine 36 is transmitted to the aforementioned transmission case 39 through the transmission shaft 59. PTO shaft 61a is extended backward from a rear side of the transmission case 37 to tansmit power to the transplanting portion 3, a rear drive shaft 61b is extended backward from the transmission case 37 to input power to the rear axle case 42, and power is transmitted from the transmission case 37 to the rear wheels 6 through the rear axle case 42. Furthermore, power is transmitted from the transmission case 37 to the front wheels 5 through the front axle case 38. As shown in Figure 18, a middle of the aforementioned frame member 35 is bent downward so as to be lower than a bottom of the front frame 17, and the vibration-proof members 53 are arranged at almost the same height as the front frame 17. In a rice transplanter wherein front and rear wheels 5 and 6, an engine 36, and a driving seat 7 are mounted on right and left main frames 16, a lateral installation width of front frames 17 of the right and left main frames 16 is formed to be larger than the lateral width of the engine 36. As shown in Figure 7, a lower portion of the engine 36 is allowed to lap over the front frames 17 of the main frames 16 in a side view, a ventilation space is secured between the right and left front frames 17, and both sides of the engine 36 to exhaust hot air around the engine 36 in order to improve cooling efficiency of the engine 36, and the engine is mounted on a low position to lower the center of gravity of the body. Both ends of the frames member 35 to which the vibration-proof members 53 for supporting the engine 36 can be installed are fixed to the front frames 17 of the right and left main frames 16, and the aforementioned frame member 35 is reinforced to maintain the strength of the right and left front frames 17 and to reduce weight. The engine 36 is supported by a high rigid frame structure to reduce vibration. Installation spacing of the right and left vibration-proof members 53 is enlarged to reduce vibration of the engine 36 transmitted in a torsional direction of the machine to simplify a body structure and improve the vibration-proof function of the engine 36. As shown in Figures 12 and 18, both ends of a seat plate 62 of a gate-like shape in a plan view is fixed to an almost middle position of the lateral width of the frame member 35, and a middle portion of the gate shape of the seat plate 62 is protruded backward from the frame member 35. The aforementioned seat plate 62 is fixed by bolting to a table seat 63 formed on a front surface of the steering case 40 at a front side of the aforementioned transmission case 37 in a detachable manner, and an almost middle portion of the frame member 35 of which both ends are fixed to the right and left front frames 17 is fixed to the transmission case 37 through the steering case 40. As shown in figures 8 and 12, the transmission case 37 through the steering case 40. As shown in Figures 8 and 12, the transmission case 37 is fixed to the frame to the frame member 35 so that the frame member 35 is allowed to secure strength against vertical vibration of the engine 36, and the strength of the frame member 35 for connecting the right and left frames 16 and for supporting the engine 36 is improved. Rigidity of the frame member 35 in the torsional direction of the machine is improved to simplify the structure for supporting the engine 36 and to reduce weight. The frame member 35 and the transmission case 37 are fixed to an almost middle position of the installation width of the right and left vibration-proof members 53. Thus, the strength of the frame member 35 is secured by fixing to the transmission case 37 against a torsional deformation force in either a right or left direction caused by vibration of the engine 36, and deformation of and damage to the frame member 35 can be prevented in order to improve durability. As shown in Figures 7 and 17, a bearing cylinder 54of a separate structure is fixed by bolting to a bottom side of the bottom plate 52 forming the engine table in a detachable manner, and maintenance, such as replacement of the belts 57, can be efficiently performed by detaching the bearing cylinder 54 and adjusting the mounting posture and position. Therefore, alignment of the belts 57 can be accurately achieved after mounting the engine 36 to improve assembly work, accuracy of tension of the belts 57, and the life and reliability of the belts 57. As shown in Figures 17 and 18, a generator 64 is provided to a front side of the aforementioned engine 36 to allow the output shaft 58 of the engine 36 to drive the generator 64. A base frame 65 is fixed to an almost middle position of a lateral width at a front side of the aforementioned bottom plate 52 serving as the engine platform, and the generator 64 is fixed by bolting to the engine 36 and the base frame 65. Since a support portion provided to the generatror 64 is fixed to the engine 36 and the bottom plate 52, severe vibration of a support member of the generation 64 caused by strong vibration of the engine 36 can be prevented in comparison with the prior art wherein the generator 64 is supported only by the engine 36. Thus, it is possible tomaike the support member of the generator 64, such as a connecting portion with the base frame 65 and the engine 36 compact, to reduce cost and weight, to reduce vibration of the engine 36 and the bottom plate 52, and to improve performance of the machine. As shown in Figures 13 and 20 through 24, the right and left front axle case 38 comprise the right and left output cases 66 and 67 of which the internal sides are fixed to the aforementioned transmission case 37, right and left front cases 69 fixed to the external sides of the output cases 66 and 67, the right and left gear cases 69 connected to the lower portions of the front cases 68 in a slidable manner, and a case cover 70 fixed to an upper portion of the aforementioned front cases 68. Right and left output shafts 71 and 72 are inserted into the right and left output cases 66 and 67. The right and left output shafts 71 and 72 are connected to a differential gear mechanism 73 of the transmission case 37 to change the speed of the engine 36 and transmit differential output from the gear mechanism 73 to the right and left output shafts 71 and 72. Right and left axles 74 are supported by the aforementioned gear case 69 in an outward direction, and the right and left front wheels 5 are supported by the right and left axles 74. As shown in Figures 13 and 20 through 24, the right and left front axle case 38 comprise the right and left output cases 66 and 67 of which the internal sides are fixed to the aforementioned transmission case 37, right and left gear cases 69 connected to the lower portions of the front cases 68 in a slidable manner, and a case cover 70 fixed to an upper portion of the aforementioned front cases 68. Right and left output shafts 71 and 72. Right and left axles 74 are supported by the aforementioned gear cases 69 in an outward direction, and the right and left front wheels 5 are supported by the right and left axles 74. As shown in Figures 13 and 20, knuckle arms 75 are fixed by bolting to an upper external side of the aforementioned gear case 69. A steering arm 76, which is laterally oscillated by a rotating operation of the steering wheel 8 through the torque generator and the like, is provided to a lower portion of the steering case 40. The steering arm 76 is connected to the right and left knuckle arms 75 through right and left tie rods 77. A travel direction of the front wheels 5 is turned in proportion to a steering angle of the steering wheel 8 around a kingpin type drive shaft 78 inserted into the aforementioned front case 68. As shown in Figures 21 and 22, an upper portion of the drive shaft 78 is connected to the aforementioned output shafts 71 and 72 through bevel gears 79 and 80. A lower portion of the drive shaft 78 is connected to the axle 74 through bevel gears 81 and 82 to transmit power from the output shafts 71 and 72 to the front wheels 5. The aforementioned knuckle arms 75 are extended upward in parallel with the drive shaft 78. A cylindrical support member 83 for sliding and rotation is integrally formed on an upper portion of the knuckle arms 75. The support portions 83 of the knuckle arms 75 are fitted to external sides of a cylinder portion of the aforementioned case cover 70 in a slidable and rotatable manner. Morover, both ends of the knuckle arms 75 are supported by the aforementioned gear case 69 and the case cover 70. A lower portion of the drive shaft 78 provided with the bevel gear 81 is supported by the bearing 84 in the gear case 69. A bottom portion of a piston type holder 85 is supported by a bearing 86 at an upper portion of the drive shaft 78 spline-fitted to the bevel gear 80. Suspension springs 87 of a compression coil spring-type combining large and small diameters are made in contact with a top of the aforementioned holder 85. The suspension springs 87 are inserted in a cylinder portion of the case cover 70 wherein the aforementioned holder 85 slides vertically. The front wheels 5 are pressed downward elastically by the suspension springs 87 through the aforementioned drive shaft 78 and the gear case 69. Ground contact pressure of the front wheels 5 is maintained by the aforementioned springs 87. A core shaft 88 having almost the same length as a dimension of the aforementioned spring 87 at maximum compression is inserted into a central portion of the springs 87. The aforementioned springs 87 are fully compressed by the body weight of the vehicle 1. The aforementioned springs closely contact in a normal condition where the four wheels 5 and 6 are in contact with the ground to keep the vehicle height constant. On the other hand, when traveling on uneven ground where three wheels, namely the right and left rear wheels 6 and either right or left front wheel 5, are in contact, the front wheel 5 is lowered by extension of the suspension springs 87 to maintain ground contact pressure of the front wheel 5 to prevent slip. As shown in figures 23 and 24, a stopper 89 is integrally formed in an internal side of the aforementioned knuckle arm 75. Right and left protusions 90 and 91 for restricting right and left rotation are integrally formed on the front and rear external sides of the aforementioned front cases 68, and the stopper 89 is made in contact with either protrusion 90 or 91 by maximum turning of the steering wheel 8 to restrict directional change of the wheels 5. The stopper 89 is formed so as to be equal to or longer than a range of sliding (suspension stroke) of the gear box 69 and the knuckle arms 75 made by extension and contraction of the suspension springs 87. Thus, the stopper 89 can be in contact with the protrusions 90 and 91 in all ranges where the knuckle arms 75 are slid by the front spring 87. As clearly shown above, in a rice transplanter wherein the gear box 69 to which the front wheels 5 are installed is provided to a lower portion of the front cases 68 connected to a side of the machine to constitute the front axle case 38 and the aforementioned gear box 69 is provided around the drive shaft 78 serving as a kingpin in rotatable and vertically slidable manners, the suspension spring 87 serving as an elastic member for elastically pressing the aforementioned gear box 69 downward is installed inside the case cover 70 at an upper portion of the front case 68, and another end of the knuckle arm 75 of which one side is fixed to the gear box 69 is supported by the aforementioned case cover 70 in a slidable manner. Upper and lower portions of the aforementioned knuckle arm 75 are firmly supported by a both ends of the supporting structure in order to stably support a sliding connection portion of the front case 68 and the gear box 69 against a deformation force in an inclining or a torsional direction. Thus, the strength necessary for supporting the front wheels 5 is secured without increasing a diameter of, for example, the drive shaft 78 serving as the kingpin in order to reduce weight of a structure of the front axle case 38 to which the front wheels 5 are installed and to reduce the manufacturing cost. The knuckle arm 75 is provided so as to slide on an external side of the case cover 70 in which the suspension spring 87 is provided in order to arrange the suspension structure in a space saving manner. The stopper 89 serving as the member for restricting rotation corresponding to, at least, a vertical sliding range of the gear box 69 is provided inside the knuckle arm 75. The aforementioned stopper 89 is arranged in a space saving manner. The stopper 89 is formed by commonly using the knuckle arm 75, the front case 68, or the like in order to reduce the number of components by commonly using the components and in order to easily obtain strength of the stopper 89 necessary for restricting the rotation of the gear box 69 around the drive shaft 78. A downward sliding of the gear box 69 is restricted by making the case cover 70 or the front case 68 in contact with a bottom of the support portion 83 of the knuckle arm 75. Thus, a stopper such as a stop ring conventionally used at the maximum extension of the front case 68 and the gear box 69 can be eliminated, and it is not necessary to specially provide a stopper part for restricting an extending motion of the gear box 69. A support structure for the gear box 69 can be simplified. A stopper structure having an advantage in strength can be obtained by commonly using the highly rigid knuckle arm 75, thereby manufacturing cost is reduced and durability is improved. In a rice transplanter wherein the front wheels 5 serving as travel wheels are provided to the machine through the suspension springs 87 in a liftable manner, force of the suspension springs 87 is set so that the highest position of the front wheels 5 against the machine corresponds to a normal condition in order to eliminate the problem of a variation in vehicle height depending on load weight of spare seedlings as seen in a structure of the suspension springs 87 wherein the front wheels 5 are supported during elevation of the front wheels. Rice transplanting work is done in a condition that the body is supported almost horizontally in a rice field to maintain high accuracy of rice transplanting. Ground contact pressure of the front wheels 5 is secured by a ground contact action of the suspension springs 87 are provided to an upper portion of the drive shaft 78 for transmitting drive power to the front wheels 5. The bearing 86 and the holder 85 are provided between the aforementioned drive shaft 78 and the suspension springs 87. Thus, a structure for installing the suspension springs 87 can be simplified in comparison with a structure wound and supported around, for example, the drive shaft 78. Deformation or friction of the suspension springs 87 by rotational force of the drive shaft 78 can be prevented. A surface area of the suspension springs 87 supported by the aforementioned holder 85 is made to be larger in order to prevent inclination of the springs 87. The suspension springs 87 are provided in order to obtain a minimum vehicle height wherein the machine approaches closest to the front wheels 5 by body weight and to allow the front wheels 5 to be in contact with the ground by separating the front wheels 5 from the machine. Thus, deformation of the suspension springs 87 by spare seedlings or weight placed at a time of transplanting work can be prevented. Tilting of the body caused by vehicle height changes due to body weight changes can be prevented. Moreover, meandering travel can be prevented by reducing slipping of the front wheels 5 caused by an uneven road surface. As shown in Figure 22, the output shaft 72 is supported by a bearing 92 at an external side of the output case 67 fixing the front case 68. A boss portion 93 of the bevel gear 79 provided inside the front case 68 is extended in a direction of the output shaft 72. An end surface of the aforementioned boss portion 93 is made in contact with the bearing 92 in order to bear the thrust load of the bevel gear 79 is eliminated to reduce the number of parts. Thu, machining 93 is made in contact with the bearing 92 in order to bear the thrust load of the bevel gear 79. An uppermost portion of the case cover 70 receiving the aforementioned suspension springs 87 is made close to a bottom of the step 9. The support member 70 made of rubber for the step 9 is provided to a head portion of the case cover 70 is constructed so as to be used as mounting member of a step 9. The stays for supporting the step 9 are eliminated to reduce the number of parts. Both the step 9 and the main frame 16 are supported by the front axle case 38 to support the step 9 in a highly rigid manner. As shown in Figures 14, 15 and 25, the aforementioned spare seedling racks 15 are provided with a seedling rack pillar 94 having a gate-like shape in a side view and a seedling tray 95 of a vertically three stage structure fixed by bolting to the aforementioned pillar 94 in a cantilever manner. A base 96 is fixed to a lower portion of the gate shape of the seedling rack pillar 94. The base 96 is fixed by bolts 97 to external top surfaces of the step stays 24 and 25 provided to external sides of the front frames 17 forming the main frame 16 in a detachable manner. The seedling rack pillars 94 are vertically installed to the step stays 24 and 25 for supporting the step 9 in a removable manner. The right and left spare seedling racks 15 are arranged on external sides of the step 9 at both ends of the bonnet 10. Moreover, spare seedlings taken out of the seedling tray 95 supported by an external side of the seedling rack pillar 94 are supplied to the seedling racks 11. As clearly shown above, in a rice transplanter wherein the main frame 16 is provided with the step 9 through the step stays 24 and 25, and an upper portion of the main frame 16 is covered by the step 9, mounting portions of the seedling rack pillar 94 of the spare seedling racks 15 for carrying spare seedlings for supply is provided to the aforementioned step stays 24 and 25 serving as highly rigid members. The number of parts for installing the seedling rack pillars 94 and assembly man-hours are minimized to reduce weight and manufacturing costs. A load of the spare seedling racks 15 is supported by the rigidity of a step 9 with an advantage of high strength in order to simplify the machine structure on which the spare seedling racks 15 are mounted. As shown in Figure 26, a standing plane 98 and a laying plane 99 are formed in the aforementioned base 96. The standing plane 98 is made in contact with tops of the step stays 24 and 25 to fix the base 96 with the bolts 97. The seedling rack pillar 94 is arranged almost vertically, and the seedling tray is installed to enable rice transplanting work. The laying plane 99 is made in contact with the tops of the step stays 24 and 25 to fix the base 96 by the bolts 97. The seedling rack pillar 94 is fixed by inclining in a direction toward the bonnet 10. Thus, total height of the body is lowered to enable transport of the machine bya truck having two, namely upper and lower, decks or to enable the accommodation of the machine in a small barn. As clearly described above, the seedling rack pillar 94 and a support body 96 for supporting a base are formed integrally, and the seedling rack pillar 94 is inclined in a lateral direction of the machine to enable a secure connection. The seedling rack pillar 94 is made as a single part of reduce the number of parts and to eliminate clearance at the joint portions of parts. The seedling rack pillar 94 is fixed by inclining toward an inside of the machine. Thus, total height of the machine is minimized, and the spare seedling racks 15 can be shipped from a factory or accommodated in a barn, thereby an expense for truck transportation is reduced and a housing space is secured. Reference of co-pending patent application numbers 1302/DELNP/2003 and 1371/DELNP/2003 are made herewith. A rice transplanter, wherein a pair of right and left main frames (16) constituting a vehicle body is divided into three parts, which comprises a pair of right and left front frames (17) supporting an engine (36); a pair of right and left middle frames (18) connected to the pair of right and left front frames (17); and a pair of right and left rear frames (19) connected to the pair of middle frames (18), the pair of middle frames supporting a driving seat, the engine (36) is supported by the pair of right and left front frames (17) through a bottom plate (52) that is fixed to a bottom of the engine (36). a pair of right and left front axle cases (38), which extend along a vehicle width direction and are connected at their inner ends in the vehicle width direction to a transmission case 37), are respectively supported by the pair of middle frames (18), a rear axle case (42) is connected to a gate-shaped frame (20), which is connected to the pair of rear frames (19), the transmission case (37) and the rear axle case (42) are connected through a body case (41), which is positioned between the pair of main frame (16) with respect to the vehicle width direction and extends along a vehicle longitudinal direction. Characterized in that the engine (36) is provided with an output shaft (58) at a front side of the engine (36), a bearing cylinder (54) fixed to a bottom of the bottom plate (52) a transmission shaft (59) supported by the bearing cylinder in a rotatable manner around its axis, pulleys (55,56) and a belt (57) connecting the output shaft (58) and a front portion of the transmission shaft (59); and a rear portion of the transmission shaft (590 is detachably connected to an input shaft (60) at a front side of the transmission case (37). A rice transplanter as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the width in the vehicle width direction between the pair of front frames (17) is formed to be larger than the lateral width of the engine (36), a pair of right and left receiving tables (34) and a frame member (35) are fixed to the pair of front frames (17), and the engine (36) is supported by the receiving tables (34) and the frame member (35) so as to be lapped over the pair of front frames (17) in a side view. 3. A rice transplanter as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein a cross-sectional area of the front frame (17) is formed to be larger than that of the rear frame (19). 4. A rice transplanter as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the engine (36) is supported by the receiving tables (34) and the frame member (35) through vibration-proof members (53). 5. A rice transplanter as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the transmission case (37) is connected to the frame member (35). 6. A rice transplanter as claimed irvClaim 1 wherein the main frame (16) having a step (29) through trough step stays (24,25) so as to cover an upper portion of the main frame (16), the step stays (24, 25) are provided with mounting portions of a seedling rack pillar (94) of a spare seedling rack (15) for carrying spare seedlings, and the seedling rack pillar (94) is mounted on the step stays (24,25) 7. A rice transplanter substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

1794-delnp-2003-abstract.pdf

1794-delnp-2003-assignment.pdf

1794-delnp-2003-claims.pdf

1794-delnp-2003-complete specification (granded).pdf

1794-delnp-2003-correspondence-others.pdf

1794-delnp-2003-correspondence-po.pdf

1794-delnp-2003-description (complete).pdf

1794-delnp-2003-drawings.pdf

1794-delnp-2003-form-1.pdf

1794-delnp-2003-form-13.pdf

1794-delnp-2003-form-18.pdf

1794-delnp-2003-form-2.pdf

1794-delnp-2003-form-3.pdf

1794-delnp-2003-form-5.pdf

1794-delnp-2003-pa.pdf

1794-delnp-2003-pct-101.pdf

1794-delnp-2003-pct-210.pdf

1794-delnp-2003-pct-304.pdf

1794-delnp-2003-petition-137.pdf

1794-delnp-2003-petition-138.pdf

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