PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reliably clamp seedlings by a clamping means, for example, without damaging the seedlings, and to easily insert (set) the seedlings to the clamping means.SOLUTION: A seedling transplanter includes: a seedling conveyance unit for conveying liana seedlings, such as seedlings of sweet potatoes, and a seedling transplanting unit for inserting a stem part of seedlings conveyed by the seedling conveying unit into a field for transplanting. The seedling conveying unit includes: a strip of conveying belt for conveying seedlings to a prescribed position and a clamping means that is provided in the conveying belt to clamp the stem part of the seedlings. The clamping means includes a pair of tongues opposing at upper and lower sides in the conveyance direction of the conveying belt, the respective tongues are formed planarly by an elastic material and are disposed while the side faces are oriented in a direction nearly orthogonal to the conveyance direction, and the tips of the opposing tongues are curved in one direction nearly orthogonal to the conveyance direction for face contact in a pressed state, thus clamping the step part of the seedlings.COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&INPIT【課題】挟持手段により苗を損傷等させることなく堅実に挟持することができるとともに、挟持手段への苗の挿入(セット)作業が容易となるようにすること。【解決手段】甘藷苗等の蔓状の苗を搬送する苗搬送部と、苗搬送部により搬送された苗の茎部を圃場中に挿入して移植する苗移植部とを備え、苗搬送部は苗を所定の位置まで搬送する帯状の搬送ベルトと、搬送ベルトに設けて苗の茎部を挟持する挟持手段とを具備する苗移植機であって、前記挟持手段には、搬送ベルトの搬送方向において上手側と下手側で対向する一対の舌片を配設するとともに、各舌片は弾性素材により板状に形成して側面を搬送方向と略直交する方向に向けて配置し、対向する舌片の先端部同士は、搬送方向と略直交する一方向に湾曲して押圧状態に面接触することで苗の茎部を挟持するようにした。【選択図】図4
