AU2008200902A1 - Bee Enclosure - Google Patents

Description

2008 02/27 13:53 FAX +61 3 9543 2711 MORCOM PERNAT R004/040 1

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT "Bee Enclosure" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: COMS ID No: ARCS-180914 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:06 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 13:53 FAX +81 3 9543 2711 MOCMPRA 05/4 MORCOM PERNAT 1in005/040 00 2 Cl BEE ENCLOSURE Field of the Invention This invention relates to an enclosure which may be used as a bee hive for rearing and o farming bees.

0 Background of the Invention 00 o 1 Humans have been obtaining benefit from bees for many thousands of Years. Not only are bees useful for the honey which they supply, they also serve to pollinate plants and even the wax they produce for their hives may be used in some human-based applications.

Because of the obvious commercial advantages associated with fanning bees, humans have set about maldng enclosures for rearing bees, the contents of which are readily accessible for harvesting of honey and wax. Such enclosures have also been used to transport bees to different locations for collection of honey and pollination of plants.

Typically, such enclosures have been formed of relatively hard materials such as wood. The tougher forms of wood are sufficiently hard to resist being attacked by bees. In this regard, bees will typically chew out any soft material as part of their natural instinct to hollow out a cavity for their hive.

Such enclosures are provided with a number of panels with honeycomb apertures. As the bees natural comb material is formed as a hexagonal honeycomb of wax in which they deposit honey and eggs, the basic honeycomb shape of the panels serves to facilitate the bees efforts to produce wax honeycomb walls for storage of honey.

Whilst wooden enclosures of this type have achieved common acceptance and are reasonably effective in assisting the rearing and transportation of bees as well as COMS ID No: ARCS-I 80914 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:06 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 13:53 FAX ±61 3 9543 2711 MRCMPNA 100/4 MORCOM PERNAT IaOO6/040 00 3 providing an effective approach for the harvesting of honey stored in such enclosures, they still suffer from a number of disadvantages.

Cl For example, the wooden material of which the enclosures are construicted may tend to be relatively heavy and therefore less easy to transport. Furthermore, the cost of Cl the wood used to make the enclosure as well as the cost involved in constructing the enclosure tends to be relatively high.

00 Bees tend to operate at maximum efficiency at a temperature of about 34 0 C to produce a honey with a moisture content of about 12-18%. When the conditions in Cl the hive depart substantially from these figures, the efficiency of the bees in harvesting honey and reproducing decreases. Beyond about 500'C the bees may die.

Because wood is only a moderately good insulator, enclosures made from wooden materials cannot adequately protect bees from wide temperature fluctuations.

Because wooden enclosures are assembled from a number of wooden members, they include joints which can become contaminated with bacteria or can provide small holes which allow ants access to the interior of the enclosure.

Furthermore, because the wooden enclosure and associated items such as panels for honeycomb can be difficult to sterilise they can be a vehicle for transmission of disease. Finally, the step of separating honey from the honeyc omb can be labour intensive- It is an abject of the invention to provide an enclosure for bees which obviates or ameliorates one or more of the foregoing disadvantages.

Disclosure of the Invention An enclosure for bees comprising, a container formed of a foamed plastic material defining a walled cavity for collecting honey from bees, COMS ID No: ARCS-i 80914 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:06 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 13:53 FAX +-61 3 9543 2711 MRO ENTIj0/4 MORCOM PERNAT R007/040 00 4 a wide mouth for the container for facilitating human access to bees and combs within the cavity, a removable lid for closing the wide mouth, and CA a bee entrance in a wall of the container for allowing bees to enter the cavity, wherein the surface of the walls of the cavity and the bee opening are shielded wit a o baffler material which substantially prevents the bees from. attacking the foamed ON plastic material.

00 Suitably, the foamed plastic material comprising the container may be foamed polystyrene or foamed polyurethane. it may comprise moulded foamed polystyrene beads. It may be prepared by any of the conventional foam, moulding processes known in the art.

The container may comprise a bottom module which can act as a brood box for the bees. Suitably, the bottom module may be moulded as an integral unit. It may have a square or rectangular box configuration.

The container may also comprise one or more additional intermediate modules which may be stacked one atop the other on top of the bottom module. These are commonly referred to in the art as super boxes. The intermediate modules may also be formed of the same foamed plastic material as the bottom module. They may be formed by slicing the base off a bottom module or they may be mnoulded separately.

The wide mouth may be provided on the bottom module where it is not associated with any intennediate modules. It may be provided with a reinforcing frame or gasket. A complementary reinforcing frame or gasket may be provided on the bottom of any intermediate module sitting on top of the bottom module. Where one or more intermediate modules are stacked atop a bottom module the uppermost of the intermediate modules may provide the wide mouth which has a reinforcing framne.

Opposed side walls of the bottom module may be provided with a step for suspending combs in the form of panels. The panels suitably incorporate a honeycomb grill.

COMS ID No: ARCS-180914 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:06 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 13:54 FAX +61 3 9543 2711 MRO ENTIj0/4 MORCOM PERNAT IaOO8/040 00 ri They may comprise a frame for the honeycomb grill. Opposed ends of the frame may extend laterally from the top of the frame in order that they may be hung from the opposed steps.

The steps may include reinforcing means. The reinforcing means may be provided Ci such that the extended portions of the fr-ame may rest on them to suspend the panels in the cavity. They may be associated with slotted elements for holding the edges of the 0 panels.

0 The reinforcing members may comprise an shaped right angle member or a "Z" shaped right angle member or even more complex stepped shape for the sides where the panels are hung. They also may include an extended flange for facilitating locking of modules together.

Suitably, the lid includes ventilating means for facilitating air flow through the container. The lid may be mounted on the wide mouth. It may be provided with ducting for allowing air to be vented from the cavity through the ducting and out of the enclosure. It may include fan means for promoting air flow. The fan means may comprise an electric motor associated with a propeller.

Power for the electric motor may be supplied by power generation means. The power generation means may comprise a mains power source, battery power or solar cell power.

The enclosure may be provided with a control module. The control module may be located in or on the removable lid. The control module may control power from the power source to operate the fan.

The control module may be associated with a sensor. The sensor may sense temperature and/or humidity of air in the cavity. It may control operation of the fan to operate the fan when the temperature in the enclosure exceeds a predetermined limit.

COMS ID No: ARCS-180914 Received by IP Australia: Time (I-Em) 14:06 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 13:54 FAX -+61 3 9543 2711 MRCMPNAIj09/4 MORCOM PERNAT Q009/040 00 6 Cl It may be set to operate the fan when the temperature exceeds 35 0 C, more preferably 400C Cl It may be associated with means for heating the air in the cavity when the temperature fahls below a predetermined limit. It may also be associated with means for regulating Cl the humidity of air within the cavity.

o The barrier material for shielding the surface of the walls of the cavity may comprise 00 a sheet or mesh material which lines the walls of the cavity. It may comprise any one 0 o 10 or more of aluminium. foil, perforated metal foil, mylar, flyscreen mesh and/or any Cl combination of these materials.

Alternatively, the baffler material may comprise a portion of the plastics material forming the foamed core of the container which has not been foamed so as to provide a hard surface skin which acts as a barrier to these- In another alternative, it may comprise a moulded insert which fits into the cavity after having been separately moulded.

In another alternative, it may comprise a material which is directly moulded to the surface of the foamed plastic material.

In another alternative it may comprise a surface skin which may be painted or sprayed on.

Similarly, the exterior walls of the container may also include a layer to protect the walls from the external environment and bees. This outer layer may comprise a conventional shrink wrap plastic. It may also comprise a separately moulded member within which the container may be fitted. Alternatively, it may comprise a skin which has been moulded directly onto the surface of the container or any other suitable material such as has been described with reference to the barrier material.

COMS ID No: ARCS-i 80914 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:06 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 13:54 FAX +61 3 9543 2711 MRO ENTLj1/4 NORCON PERNAT Q 010/040 00 7 The barrier for the bee opening may comprise the samne material as or different 0 material to that provided in the cavity. Most suitably, it may comprise an insert wich can be fitted into the bee opening.

The insert may be manufactured of metal or plastic. It may include attachment means for facilitating attachment to various devices which may be used to open or close the opening to control -movement of bees and to collect pollen.

00 The attachment means may comprise guide rails provided on opposed sides of the bee opening. The guide rails may be shaped so as to allow an insert to be slid therebetween whereby the insert may be held in registry with the bee opening by the guide rails.

The panels forming the combs used in the enclosure may comprise, a frame having a generally horizontally extending upper frame member joined to two spaced generally vertically extending side frame members, an open faced support network between the two generally vertically extending side members, and a honeycomb extending between the two side frame members, wherein the open faced support network is embedded in and supports the honeycomb to provide bees access to the honeycomb.

The panels may be constructed by, heating the support network to a temperature above which material comprising the honeycomb softens or melts, pressing the open faced support material into the honeycomb so that it lies substantially within the honeycomb, and allowing the open faced support material to cool sufficiently whereby to cause the material comprising the honeycomb to harden round the open faced support material.

COMS ID No: ARCS-180914 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:06 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 13:54 FAX 61 3 9543 2711 IROPENTE01/4 MORCOM PERNAT [a 011/040 00 8 The honey may be harvested by an apparatus for squeezing honey from a panel supporting a honeycomb comprising, a pair of opposed rollers arranged with parallel axes to define a compression nip therebetween, the compression nip being dimensioned to compress the honeycomb without damaging the fr-ame, o means for rotating the opposed rollers in counter rotating fashion, and ON honey collection means beneath the opposed rollers.

00 Preferred aspects of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a bottom module for use with the invention; Figure 2 shows an isometric view of the bottom module of Figure 1 with the base cut out; Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the base module associated with various beekeeping components; Figure 4 shows an isometric exploded view of the base module and an intennediate module; Figure 5 shows a partially assembled enclosure; Figure 6 shows an isometric view of an assembled enclosure with lid lifted off; Figure 7 shows an assembled enclosure with lid closed; Figure 8 shows the partial sectional view VUT-VlH of Figure Figure 9 shows the section IX-IX of Figure 6; Figure 9a shows a section equivalent to that for Figure 9 with an alternative form of lid construction; Figure 10 shows an isometric view of an alternative bottom module and intermediate module; Figure 11I shows an expanded view of the ringed portion A of Figure COMS ID No: ARCS-i 80914 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:06 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 13:54 FAX -+61 3 9543 2711 MRO ENTIj1/4 MORCON PERNAT Q012/040 00 9 (N Figure 12 shows an assembled enclosure using modules described with reference to Figure Figure 13 shows an expanded view of the circled region B of Figure 12; Figure 14 shows a section X-X through Figure 12; Figure 15 shows a panel for a honeycomb; and Figure 16 shows an apparatus for extracting honey from panels.

o Detailed Description of the Drawings 00 Preferred aspects of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The various integers identified by the numerals in the drawings are listed in the following integer list- Integer List 1 Container 3 Bottom Module 4 Foam Core Side Wall 7 End Wall 8 Base 9 Cavity 11 Intermediate Module 13 Barrier Lining 14 Outer Skin Bee Entrance 17 Insert 19 Rectangular Duct 21 Front Plate 23 Guide Rail COMS ID No: ARCS-180914 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:06 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 13:55 FAX -61 3 9543 2711 MORCON PERNAT ib013/040 00 0 0 C, 25 Access Opening 26 Landing Step 27 Closing Plate 28 Pollen Trap 29 Mouth Frame Bristle Step 31 Complementary Frame 33 Panel 00 35 Side Support 1 37 Top Support 38 Extended Edge 39 Honeycomb Grill Opening 41 Angle Reinforcement 42 step 43 Clearance 44 Separating Mesh/Queen Excluder 46 Lid 48 Solar Collector/Control Module 50 Fan Condensation Plate 51 Mesh 52 Duct 54 Base Support 101 Container 103 Bottom module 105 Side wall 107 End wall 108 Separable base 111 Intermediate module 129 Frame/reinforcing gasket 130 Elliptical recess COMS ID No: ARCS-180914 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:06 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 13:55 FAX 81 3 9543 2711 MOCMPNTIi01/4 MORCOM PERNAT [a 014/040 0 131 Complementary frame/reinforcing gasket 132 Extended flange 133 Panel 134 Locking strip 136 Slotted portions o137 Panel S138 Sheet o142 Step 00 146 Lid 170 Upper frame member 172 Side frame member 173 Extension 174 Lower frame member 176 Wire 178 Double sided honeycomb 180 Honey retrieval apparatus 182 Roller 184 Nip 186 Crank handle 188 Wiper blade 190 Collection funnel Referring to Figures 1 to 9 and 9a of the accompanying drawings, the enclosure for bees shown in the drawings comprises the container 1 which includes a bottom module 3 moulded from a suitable foamed insulating material such as polystyrene beads. This foamed material comprises the foam core 4 shown more clearly in Figur 3.

The bottom moduale has opposed side walls 5 and end walls 7 with an integral base 8 between them defining the cavity 9 for rearing bees COMS ID No: ARCS-i 80914 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:06 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 13:55 FAX -61 3 9543 2711 MORCOM PERNAT Q~015/040 00 12 ~0 As is shown in Figure 2, an intermediate module 11 may be formed from a bottom module 3 by cutting off the base 8. The base 8 may ultimately be used as a lid providing it is cut out so as to provide ventilation as will be described hereinafter.

A barrier lining 13 is used to line the walls of the cavity. The barrier lining may Co comprise any material suitable for preventing bees from physically attacking the foam S core of the container. Of course, the barrier material must itself be sufficiently ci resistant to withstand the environment of the cavity ie. it should not degrade in the o0 presence of moisture or organic materials usually associated with bees. Examples of o1i suitable barrier linings include aluminium foil, perforated metal, mylar and flyscreen.

An outer skin 14 may be provided on the external surface of the container to protect the foam core against an external environment- The outer skin may be provided on the external surface of all the major components of the container, namely the bottom module, the intermediate module or modules and the lid. Shrink wrap polyethylene may be used for this purpose, although many other materials including the material forming the baffler lining may also be suitable.

Both the baffler lining and the outer skin may themselves be integrally formed with the container during the moulding process for forming the foam core. Alternatively, the outer skin and barrier lining may comprise separately moulded components which fit on the inside and outside of the bottom module, intermediate module and lid.

One of the end walls 7 is provided with a bee entrance 15 for allowing bees to access the cavity in which they may set up their hive.

An insert 17 formed of materials which are resistant to attack by bees fits into the bee entrance to protect the foam core surrounding the bee entrance.

Thus the insert includes a rectangular duct 19 which is constructed so as to snugly fit within the bee entrance and to extend through its depth so as to deny the bees access to the foam core. A front plate 21 which surrounds the forward opening of the COMS ID No: ARCS-180914 Received by IP Australia: lime 14:06 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 13:55 FAX +~61 3 9543 2711 ORDPENT101/4 MORCOM PERNAT 14016/040 00 13 (N rectangular duct is provided at the front of the insert. The front plate includes upper and lower guide rails 23 and an access opening 25 giving bees access to the rectangular duct.

The purpose of the guide rails is to allow various items to be slid across the front plate using the guide rails to direct these items and to hold them in place once they have been slid into position. Thus for example, the guide rails may be used to hold a o landing step 26 for assisting bees to land in front of the bee entrance and to enter the 00 cavity via an opening 40 in the landing step which comes into registry with the access oto opening Alternative items which may be used in association, with the bee entrance to be held there by the guide rails include a closing plate 27. This has a number of breathe holes too small for the bees to pass through. Another alternative item is the pollen trap 28 including a bristle covered step 30. The bristles on the step serve to brush off pollen attached to the legs of bees landing on the step.

The mout of the bottom module is provided with a mouth frame 29 secured around the top of the mouth. It may be secured by any suitable means such as gluing or some form of physical attachment. Alternatively, it may be integrally mnoulded in the moulding process for forming the bottom module.

The mouth frame is shaped so that it may serve to correctly locate the intermediate module which is to be positioned on top of the bottom module or the lid 46 if no intermediate module is required. For this purpose, it includes a ridge running around the frame so that it encircles the mouth.

A complementary fr-ame 31 formed with a recess complementary to the ridge on the frame 29 is provided on the underside of the intermediate module and lid.

COMS ID No: ARCS-180914 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:06 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 13:55 FAX -61 3 9543 2711 MOCMPRAIj01/0 MORCOM PERNAT [it 017/040 00 14 Cl A number of panels 33 which comprise a support for the combs of bees are o constructed so that they may be hung from the sides of the bottom module and intermediate modules as required.

The panels include fr-ame members comprising two side supports 35 and a top support 37. The fr-ame includes extended edges 38 at both ends of the top support for allowing the panel to be suspended from the sides of the bottom module and any o intermediate modules if intennediate modules are included in the overall construction.

00 The panel fi-aine extends round the honeycomb grill 39 which is provided as a basis on which the bees can build theft comb. The honeycomb grill may comprise a wax foundation sheet with honeycomb cut outs, the honeycomb providing a plan on which the bees can build their combs.

The end walls of the bottom module and intermediate modules include a step 42 near the top of the respective modules. The step provides support for the extended edges of the panels whereby they may be suspended to hang vertically in the bottom module or intermediate module as the case may be.

The step is reinforced with angle reinforcement 41. It is particularly usefuil to include this reinforcement on the step as the bees bind the panel extended edges to the step with their wax. It is often necessary to use a screwdriver or similar implement to lever the edges of the panel away from the step when the panel is to be removed. The angle reinforcement serves to minimise the chances of damage when the panel is broken away from its wax encrusted attachment to the step.

The panels are designed so that there is a clearanice 43 between the side supports 35 of the panel and the barrier lining 13 of the end walls 7.

Where an intermediate module is mounted above a bottom module, a queen excluder may be mounted therebetween. A queen excluder is an item well known in the beekeeping art, a typical queen excluder being a thin perforated metal plate which COMS ID No: ARCS-180914 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:06 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 13:55 FAX -61 3 9543 2711 MRO ENTIj1/4 MORCOM PERNAT [in 018/040 00 separates the cavity in the intermediate module from the cavity in the bottom module.

The size of the holes of the queen excluder should be big enough to allow worker bees to pass through but not big enough to allow the queen to pass through in order to (N prevent the queen going from one hive body into the next.

The lid of the container 46 as shown in Figures 6, 7 and 9 includes a solar collector 48 ON and control module. The solar collector provides power for a fan 50 located in the lid o in communication with ducts 52. A mesh 51 provided on the underside of the lid has 00 holes sufficiently small to prevent any bees frm passing through the mesh to come in contact with the fan.

The control module associated with the solar collector may act to control operation of the fan ic. when the temperature of the air in the cavity exceeds a predetermined limit (eg 40'C), the control module activates the fan. Thus, the control module may include a temperature sensor. It may also include a battery facility including electronic means for charging the battery from the solar collector. In areas where low overnight temperatures are likely to be experienced, the control module may even be associated with some form of electrical heating means which are automatically switched on by the control module when the temperature falls below a predetermined limit.

In an alternative construction the lid 46 as shown in Figure 9a may simply include an inverted condensation plate 50a embedded on a surface of an upper part of the lid.

The opening covered by the mesh 51 allows the warm moist air to rise up through the screened chimney like vent bringing the moist air in contact with the condensation plate which is cooled by proximity to outside air. Condensate drips along the surface of the plate and runs to the edges where it falls into the ducts 52 from which it drains out of a hive.

The whole assembly comprising the container may be typically placed on a base support 54.

COMS ID No: ARCS-i 80914 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:08 Date 2008-2-27 2008 02/27 13:56 FAX r6l 3 95431 2711 MRCMPNA j09/4 MORCON PERNAT a019/040 00 16 (N Whilst the drawings show a container comprising a bottom module and two intermediate modules, it is to be appreciated that the container may simply comprise the bottom module and lid without any internediate modules. When a hive is being started off, it is anticipated that the container would only have this simpler configuration at least until the hive numbers have grown to the point where an (N intermediate module may be mounted on the bottom module to extend the size of the cavity therein. Similarly, a second intermediate module may be added when a further o expansion of the hive has taken place.

00 olo The alternative bee enclosure described with reference to Figures 10 to 15 follows substantially along the lines of that described with reference to Figures 1 to 10. Thus the enclosure is in the form of a container generally designated 101 with a bottom module 103 having side walls 105 and end walls 107 formed of a material of good insulating properties such as polystyrene beads or foamn polyurethane.

The container includes a number of intermediate modules 111 in the manner previously described.

The bottom module includes a separable base 108 although it is to be appreciate that the base could be integrally moulded as part of the bottom module.

The walls the modules are protected from bees etc by a covering in the manner already described with reference to the preceding drawings.

However, the open ends of thle various modules have a different form of frame/reinforcing gasket 129 around the lips thereof. Typically the reinforcing gasket 129 may be moulded from a plastic material which assists with conferring rigidity to the lip of the various modules when the gasket is welded, glued or attached in any other way securely to the lip.

The bottom side of the lip of the bottom modules includes a complementary frame/reinforcing gasket 131 in similar manner.

COMS ID No: ARCS-180914 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:06 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 13:56 FAX -61 3 9543 2711 MOCMPRA MORCOM PERNAT Z~020/040 00 17 Both the reinforcing gasket 129 and complementary reinforcing gasket 131 are provided with elliptical recesses 13 0 for purposes to become apparent.

The various gaskets are also provided with an extended flange 132 which may be Ci used to lock the various modules by sliding on the locking strip 134 in the manner shown more clearly in Figure 4.

00 The reinforcing gasket 129 may include an integral step 142 to confonn to a step in the foam material in the lip of the side walls 107. Slotted portions 136 for receiving and holding the edges of the panels 133 may also be integrally moulded as part of the reinforcing gaskets 129.

The reinforcing gasket and complementary reinforcing gasket are constructed so that the elliptical recesses become opposed when the modules are stacked one atop the other. Thus, when the various modules become stuck together through bees applying wax at the joins between the modules, it is a simple matter, after removal of thle locking strip to separate the modules and break the wax joining the modules by inserting an instrument in the elliptical recess and turning it. The instrument should have an edge which is narrower than the width of the elliptical recess but is wider than the height thereof. Thus turning of the instrument or tool will result in pushing the joining modules apart and hence breakting of a wax join therebetween.

Referring to Figure 15, the panel 133 may comprise an upper frame member 170 joined to two generally vertically extending side frame members 172.

The join between the upper frame member and side frame members is such as to provide an extension 173 on either side of the upper frame member whereby to facilitate suspension of the frame in the maimer illustrated in Figures 10 and 12.

A lower fr-ame member 174 joins the bottom ends of the side frame members.

COMS ID No: ARCS-180914 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:06 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 13:56 FAX -681 3 9543 2711 MORCOM PERNAT R~021/040 00 18 (N All of the firame members including the extensions are suitably formed of a material which can be heated to allow it to be sterilised. One such material is stainless steel.

Typically, the frame members may be made of channel shaped stainless steel and the c-i side and lower frame members may be formed as a unitary channel shaped piece of stainless steel.

An open faced support network extends between the side firame members. This takes o the form of a number of wires 176 which can be embedded in a double sided 0c' honeycomb 178 of bees wax.

01 Embedding of the wire in the bees wax can be achieved by heating the wire to a temperature at which it softens or melts the bees wax and pushing the wire into the honeycomb so that it lies generally centrally therein. Upon cooling, the honeycomb solidifies and is bound to the wire.

Heating of the wire can be carried out by any conventional means including passing an electrical current through the wire or simply by heating it with flame.

An alternative form of panel 137 may be used in the bottom module which generally acts as a brood box. The fr-ame of the panel is the same as that for the panels 133.

However a sheet 138 of sterilisable material may be used as a substrate for allowing the bees to build their own wax honeycomb.

Referring to Figure 16, it can be seen that honey can readily be retrieved from the honey retrieval apparatus 180 by directing panels 133 contaiing honey loaded honeycomb through the nip 184 defined between the two rollers 182.

The width of the nip should be such as to allow the honeycomb material therein to be compressed without damaging the frame of the panel. Thus, typically the nip will have a width of between 2mm and 8mm, the exact dimensions being dependent on the width chosen for the frame and the thickness of the honeycomb. By having a frame formed of resilient channel shaped members it may be possible to slightly compress COMS ID No: ARCS-i 80914 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:06 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 13:56 FAX -61 3 9543 2711 MOCMPRA j02/4 MORCOM PERNAT U022/040 00 19 the frame as it travels through the nip without causing damage. The frame resiliently expands to its normal width alter exiting the nip.

A crank handle 186 which drives the rollers either directly or through a drive belt or chain may be used to manually rotate the rollers. Alternatively, a driven motor may o be used.

o Wiper blades 188 maybe positioned around the rollers to wipe off any excess honey 00 and a collection funnel 190 can be aranged underneath the rollers to collect the honey o1i as it is squeezed out. The Collection funnel may include a filter for wax or other particulate material.

After the honeycomb and honey have been removed from the panel the wax and panel may be sterilised by heating or chemical or other treatment and recycled for further use. Similarly, the modules may also be sterilised and reused.

It is to be understood that the word comprising as used throughout the specification is to be interpreted in its inclusive form ie. use of the word comprising does not exclude the addition of other elements.

It is to be understood that various modifications of and/or additions to the invention can be made without departing from the basic nature of the invention. These modifications and/or additions are therefore considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

COMS ID No: ARCS-i 80914 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:08 Date 2008-02-27

Claims (17)

1. An enclosure for bees comprising, a container formed of a foamed plastic material defining a walled cavity for Ci collecting honey from bees, a wide mouth for the container for facilitating human access to bees and o combs within the cavity, 00 a removable lid for closing the wide mouth, and a bee entrance in a wall of the container for allowing bees to enter the cavity, wherein the surface of the walls of the cavity and the bee opening are shielded with a baffler material which substantially prevents the bees from attacking the foamed plastic material.

2. An enclosure according to claim 1 provided with a plurality of combs wherein the combs each comprise a panel having a frame with a generally horizontally extending upper frame member joined to two spaced generally vertically extending side frame members, and a honey comb extending between the two side frame members.

3. An enclosure according to claim 2 wherein the honeycomb is double sided and is supported by a plurality of wires embedded in the honeycomb.

4. An enclosure according to claim 1 provided with a plurality of combs each comb comprising a moulded plastic member.

An enclosure according to claim 4 wherein the moulded plastic member comprises a plurality of open cells.

6. An enclosure according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the foamed plastic material comprises any one or more of foamed polystyrene, foamed polystyrene beads or foamed polyurethane. COMS ID No: ARCS-180914 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:06 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 13:57 FAX -61 3 9543 2711 MRO ENTIj2/4 MORCOM PERNAT [a024/040 00 21

7. An enclosure according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the foamed plastic material forming the container is moulded as a plurality of unitary modules comprising a bottom module which includes the bee entrance and one or more intermediate modules, serially stacked on top of the bottom module.

8. An enclosure according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the hatrer o material comprises a coating, sheet or mesh. 00

9. An enclosure according to claim 8 wherein the barrier material comprises any one or more of paint, plastic sheet, metal foil, perforated metal foil, aluminium foil, mylar, flyscreen mesh and any combination thereof.

An enclosure according to claim 7 wherein the uppermost module in the stack has an open mouth and a lid for closing the open mouth.

11. An enclosure according to claim 10 wherein the lid includes ventilation means for facilitating air flow through the enclosure.

12. An enclosure according to claim 11 wherein the ventilation means comprise a fan driven by an electric motor.

13. An enclosure according to claim 12 wherein electric power for the motor is provided by a mains power source, battery power, solar cell power or any combination of these.

14. An enclosure according to any one of claims 11I to 13 comprising, a sensor for sensing temperature and/or humidity of air within the enclosure, and a control module for controlling the ventilation means in response to signals from the sensor. COMS ID No: ARCS-i 80914 Received by IP Australia: Time (HKm) 14:06 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 13:57 FAX +61 3 9543 2711 MORCOM PERNAT a025/040 00 22 0 0 C,

15. An enclosure according to any one of the preceding claims having at least one open mouth defined by a circumferential lip at the top of wall sections of the enclosure, wherein the circumferential lip is reinforced by a reinforcing gasket.

16. An enclosure according to claim 8 wherein the lip includes stepping whereby to allow suspension of combs from the stepping. 0

17. An enclosure according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with 00 reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 27th day of February 2008 Seamus Terrence Hasson by his patent attorneys Morcom Pemat COMS ID No: ARCS-180914 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:06 Date 2008-02-27