JP2009195172A - Apparatus for separating fish and method for separating fish - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for separating fishes, which simply separates a plurality of fries one by one and a method for separating fishes. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus 20 for separating fishes is composed of a water tank 21 having the bottom openably and closably closed by a bottom lid 26 and a plurality of partition walls 28 arranged under the water tank 21. A fish assembly and a liquid 24 storing the fishes 23 are dropped vertically downwardly and released by opening the bottom lid 26 from a state in which the fish assembly and the liquid 24 are retained in the water tank 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fish separating apparatus for separating a fish assembly composed of a plurality of fish into one fish.

  In fish farming, it is necessary to identify and remove fry that have abnormal shapes. In aquaculture, it is desirable that the number of fry to be handled is large because the better the shape and the number of healthy fry, the better. However, as the number of fry increases, it takes more time and labor to determine the quality of fry, so efficiency is also required to determine the quality of fry.

  When discriminating the quality of fry, it is necessary to separate a plurality of fry one by one prior to this discrimination step. It is desirable that this separation step be performed in water in order to prevent the fish from being damaged. Until now, in order to determine the quality of fry, the process of separating a plurality of fry one by one has been performed manually. In the aquarium containing a plurality of fry, the fry can swim in the aquarium and the position of the fry is not fixed. Therefore, it is difficult to catch fry by human hands one by one. In addition, the method of catching fry using a net has a problem that fry is likely to be damaged when the fry is exposed.

  As a device that separates the fry one by one while swimming the fry underwater, the fish separation device uses a channel for the water channel so that the width dimension of the water channel becomes narrower from the upstream side to the downstream side of the water flow. Was devised.

  FIG. 31 is a plan view of the fish separating apparatus 1 in a state where it is intended to separate a plurality of fry fish 2 into one fish in the fish separating apparatus 1 according to the prior art. In this fish separating apparatus 1, in order to line up the juveniles 2 in a line in the direction of the water flow, water is flowed from the upstream to the downstream of the water channel, and the fry 2 is moved from the upstream to the downstream of the water channel, thereby the width dimension of the water channel. It is an apparatus which tries to make the row of fry 2 into one row in the narrow downstream area.

  In the fish separation apparatus 1 using the channel groove portion 3 whose width dimension becomes narrower from the upstream side to the downstream side of the water channel, when the water is not flowed, the plurality of fry fish 2 as a whole does not move. , Fry 2 cannot be separated one by one. If water flows from the upstream area where the width dimension is widened toward the downstream area where the width dimension is narrow, the fry will swim against the water flow, so in this case as well, the fry will be located in the downstream area as a whole. Difficult to move to. Moreover, even if there is the fry 2 that goes to the downstream area among the plurality of fry 2, the fry 2 is arranged in the width direction of the waterway in the downstream area where the width dimension is narrow, and the fry 2 passes through the downstream area of the waterway. There is a problem that trying to be prevented.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a fish separation apparatus and a fish separation method that can easily separate a plurality of juvenile fish one by one.

The present invention can accommodate a fish assembly together with a liquid, and a water tank whose bottom is closed by a bottom lid so as to be opened and closed,
Provided below the aquarium, with a plurality of partition walls standing in parallel, the distance between adjacent surfaces of adjacent partition walls being at least 1 and less than 2 times the body width of the fish, the lower end of each partition wall It is a fish separation apparatus characterized by including the isolation | separation body from which a part connects with the bottom member.

  In addition, the present invention is characterized in that the interval in the thickness direction between the adjacent partition walls becomes narrower from vertically upward to vertically downward.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the distance between the opposing surfaces of the lower end portions of the partition walls adjacent in the thickness direction is within 1.5 times the body width of the fish to be separated.

Further, in the present invention, at least a part of the surface facing the water tank side of the bottom member is formed as an inclined surface inclined with respect to a horizontal virtual plane,
The inclined surface is a plane or a curved surface that is vertically upward as it goes in one of the horizontal and vertical directions perpendicular to the partition wall thickness direction.

  In the present invention, the bottom member includes a plurality of plate-like members in which a plurality of holes penetrating in the thickness direction is formed, the plurality of plate-like members are stacked in the thickness direction, and one of the plurality of plate-like members is The plurality of holes formed in the plate member and the plurality of holes formed in the other plate member can communicate with each other in the thickness direction of the plate member.

Further, the present invention is provided on the downstream side of the separator in the liquid flow direction through the space between the partition walls, and the flow path is configured with the width dimension of the flow path being 1 to 2 times the body width of the fish A flow path component that
A passage width limiting means that protrudes into the flow path, has flexibility, and defines a passage region through which the fish passes from the width direction;
The passage width limiting means defines the passage region so that the width dimension of the passage region becomes narrower from the upstream side in the flow direction of the liquid flowing through the flow path toward the downstream side in the flow direction.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of the passage width restriction means are provided in one flow path, and the plurality of passage width restriction means are located apart from each other in the flow direction.

Further, in the present invention, the channel structure is provided with a plurality of groove portions that define the channel,
The plurality of grooves are aligned in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction and horizontal,
Each groove portion has a floor portion defining the flow path from below,
A vertical portion that protrudes upward from the floor, has a longitudinal direction in the flow direction, and defines the flow channel from both sides in the width direction of the flow channel,
In each groove portion, the respective downstream end portions in the flow direction of the two vertical portions defining the flow path from the width direction are formed at different positions in the flow direction,
Among the downstream end portions, the two flow paths on both sides sandwiching the downstream end portion located on the upstream side with the downstream position of the downstream end portion located on the upstream side in the flow direction being merged Formed as one flow path that merges with each other downstream of the point,
The width dimension of one flow path merged with each other is less than twice the body width of the fish.

Further, the present invention can accommodate a fish assembly together with a liquid, and a water tank whose bottom is closed so as to be opened and closed by a bottom lid;
Provided below the aquarium, with a plurality of partition walls standing in parallel, the distance between adjacent surfaces of adjacent partition walls being at least 1 and less than 2 times the body width of the fish, the lower end of each partition wall Using a separating body provided with a bottom member that closes between the parts,
A method for separating fishes, wherein a group of fish composed of a plurality of fishes is separated into one fish,
A closing step of closing a lower portion of the water tank by the bottom lid;
A charging step of putting fish aggregates and liquid into the aquarium;
And a step of opening the closed bottom lid within a predetermined time.

  The present invention is further characterized by further including a fish catcher that is provided on the downstream side of the flow path through which the fish passes along with the liquid and catches the fish from both sides in the body width direction of the fish.

In the present invention, the fish catcher is
It is provided on the downstream side of the flow path through which the fish passes along with the liquid, and includes two flat members formed on both sides of the crossing direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction of the fish and the liquid, and is vertical and horizontal to the flow direction A side wall formed to be displaceable in any direction,
It includes an electromagnet that functions as a magnet when energized, and is connected to the lower end of the side wall inward in the crossing direction from the side wall. When the electromagnet functions as a magnet, the side wall is displaced in the crossing direction by the magnetic force of the magnet. An electromagnet part for bringing two flat members close to each other;
A contact portion that is formed of a stretchable material, is provided to be fixed to each flat plate-like member inward in the crossing direction of the side wall, and includes two stretchable members that are formed inward in the crossing direction. There,
Regardless of the position of the side wall crossing direction, an internal space is always formed between the two stretchable members,
The length of this internal space in the crossing direction is set larger than the body width of the fish to be captured,
When the side wall portion is closest to the inside in the crossing direction, the distance between the two stretchable members is, on the downstream side in the flow direction of the internal space, a contact portion that is shorter than the body width of the fish to be captured. It is characterized by including.

In the present invention, the fish catcher is
A sensor that detects the presence or absence of fish in a part of the predetermined flow path upstream of the side wall in the flow direction of the liquid flowing in the flow path, and outputs a signal if the presence of the fish is detected,
A side wall drive unit for displacing one side wall part in the crossing direction of the two flat members of the side wall part in the crossing direction;
A control unit that receives a signal from the sensor and that controls the timing of energization of the electromagnet unit to the electromagnet and the driving of the side wall drive unit based on the signal from the sensor and the time when the signal is received from the sensor; It is characterized by that.

In the present invention, the fish catcher is
A floor plate portion that is provided on the downstream side in the flow direction from the flow path, is formed at a position lower than the side wall portion, the contact portion and the electromagnet portion, and supports the side wall portion, the contact portion and the electromagnet portion from below;
Fixed to the floor plate part, defining a concave groove, formed extending in the cross direction, including a recess extending in one direction of crossing than the floor plate part, and sliding in the cross direction with the convex part provided at the lower part of the electromagnet part It further includes a support guiding portion that can be fitted.

Further, the present invention is a side wall portion provided on the downstream side of a flow path through which fish passes with liquid, and is provided with two flat plate members separated on both sides in a crossing direction perpendicular and horizontal to the flow direction of fish and liquid. And an electromagnet part including an electromagnet that functions as a magnet when energized, and is connected to the lower end of the side wall part inward of the side wall part. When the electromagnet functions as a magnet, the side wall portion is displaced in the crossing direction by the magnetic force of the magnet, the two plate-shaped members are brought close to each other, and the upstream side in the flow direction of the liquid flowing through the flow path from the side wall portion. Detecting the presence or absence of fish in a part of the predetermined flow path, and outputting a signal if the presence of fish is detected, and one side wall part of the two flat plate members of the side wall part is displaced in the crossing direction Make A wall drive unit and a floor plate unit provided on the downstream side in the flow direction from the flow path, and formed at a position lower than the side wall part, the contact part and the electromagnet part, and supports the side wall part, the contact part and the electromagnet part from below. Using the floorboard part to
An electromagnet energization step of energizing the electromagnet portion based on a signal output from the sensor;
A first sidewall driving step of displacing one flat member in the intersecting direction in the intersecting direction than the floor plate by the sidewall driver;
An electromagnet energization stop process for stopping energization of the electromagnet part;
After the electromagnet energization stopping step, the method further includes a second side wall portion driving step of further displacing one flat member in the cross direction in one of the cross directions.

  According to the present invention, the fish separation device is configured to include the aquarium whose bottom portion can be opened and closed by the bottom lid. Therefore, the fish lid and the liquid containing the fish are held in the aquarium, so that the bottom lid By opening the, the fish aggregate and the liquid can be dropped downward and released. This prevents the fish from swimming against the liquid flow and the fish from remaining in the aquarium.

  In addition, since the fish separation device is configured to include a plurality of partition walls provided below the aquarium, a plurality of fishes released vertically downward when the bottom lid is opened enter a space between the plurality of partition walls. . Since the length in the thickness direction of the partition wall in the space between the plurality of partition walls is not less than 1 and less than twice the body width of the fish, the fish entering one space between the partition walls has a thickness of the partition wall. It is possible to prevent a plurality of lines from being arranged in the direction. This is to realize a fish separating apparatus that can easily separate a plurality of juveniles one by one. The fish aggregate is discharged vertically downward together with the liquid containing the fish. Therefore, even when the fish rides on the upper ends of the plurality of partition walls, the fish enters the space between the partition walls by the water flow. be able to.

  Further, according to the present invention, the interval in the thickness direction between adjacent partition walls becomes narrower from vertically upward to vertically downward, so that when a plurality of fish enter the space between adjacent partition walls. In addition, as the fish approaches the lower end of the partition wall, the difference in the vertical distance between the fishes can be increased.

  Moreover, since the space | interval of the upper end parts of an adjacent partition wall is larger than the space | interval of the lower end parts of an adjacent partition wall, compared with when the space | interval of upper end parts is small, a fish is the upper end part of several partition walls. The possibility of getting on can be reduced. Also, as it falls from the top and approaches the bottom member, the liquid that hits the surface of the partition wall facing the adjacent partition wall can be collected in the thickness direction, so the speed at which the fish and liquid fall downward from above is moderated And the shock can be mitigated when the fish hits the bottom member.

  According to the present invention, the distance between the opposing surfaces of the lower ends of the partition walls adjacent to each other in the thickness direction is within 1.5 times the body width of the fish to be separated. It is possible to prevent a plurality of fish from being arranged in the thickness direction of the partition wall in the vicinity of the bottom member. Further, in the vicinity of the bottom member between adjacent partition walls, most of the momentum of the flowing liquid is applied as a force that pushes against the fish, so that the fish can be prevented from proceeding against the flow.

  According to the invention, at least a part of the surface of the bottom member facing the water tank is formed as an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to a horizontal virtual plane, and is perpendicular to the thickness direction of the partition wall and in one of the horizontal directions. As it goes to, the inclined surface goes vertically upward. Accordingly, it is possible to apply power to the fish and the liquid that enter between the partition walls while falling from the upper side to the lower side to advance in the other direction that is perpendicular to the partition wall thickness direction and horizontal.

  According to the invention, the bottom member includes a plurality of plate-like members formed with a plurality of holes penetrating in the thickness direction. Thereby, a part of the liquid entering between the partition walls while falling can be dropped below the bottom member through a plurality of holes formed in the plate-like member of the bottom member. Therefore, the amount of liquid that flows and moves with the fish can be reduced. When a fish is in a flowing liquid, it has the property of swimming in the liquid and proceeding against the liquid flow, but by reducing the amount of liquid that flows and moves with the fish, the fish becomes a liquid flow. It can be prevented from proceeding in the opposite direction.

  Moreover, the magnitude | size of the hole which a liquid can pass can be changed by displacing the several plate-shaped member in which the several hole was formed mutually. This allows the amount of liquid that flows and moves with the fish to be adjusted. Therefore, it is possible to achieve both of securing the amount of liquid that flows with the fish and pushes the fish downstream in the flow direction and preventing the fish from moving in the opposite direction to the flow of the liquid.

  Further, according to the present invention, it is configured to further include a flow path constituting body constituting the flow path, and the width dimension of the flow path is set to be not less than 1 time and less than 2 times the body width of the fish. It is possible to prevent fish from simultaneously passing through the same position in the flow direction in one flow path. In addition, since the fish separating device is configured to include a passage width limiting means that projects from the width direction and is provided so as to protrude from the flow path, the fish that travels in the flow path has only one flow path. It is possible to prevent the fish traveling upstream in the flow direction from catching up with the fish traveling downstream in the flow direction. Further, when a fish traveling upstream in the flow direction and a fish traveling downstream in the flow direction overlap in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction in one channel, the fish traveling upstream in the flow direction and the downstream in the flow direction It is possible to increase the distance from the fish traveling on the side.

  Since the passage width limiting means has flexibility, it is possible to prevent the fish from being damaged when the fish passes from the upstream side in the flow direction to the downstream side in the flow direction while contacting the passage width limiting means. The passage restricting member defines the passage area so that the width dimension of the fish passage area becomes narrower from the upstream side in the flow direction to the downstream side in the flow direction. The fish can be prevented from passing from the upstream side in the flow direction toward the downstream side in the flow direction while allowing the fish to pass toward the downstream side.

  According to the invention, a plurality of passage width limiting means are provided in one flow path, and the plurality of passage width limiting means are provided apart from each other in the flow direction. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the fish from catching up with another fish on the downstream side in the flow direction after passing through one passage width limiting means in the flow path.

  According to the present invention, a plurality of flow paths are formed in the flow path structure. Two adjacent channels on the upstream side of the merge point are formed as one merged channel on the downstream side of the merge point, and the width dimension of the merged channel is less than twice the body width of the fish It is. According to this configuration, since a maximum of two fish reach the confluence at the same time, the flow path whose width dimension is three times or more the fish body width is twice the body width on the downstream side. The possibility of a plurality of fish reaching the confluence at the same time can be reduced as compared with the case where the number of fishes is less than that. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility that a plurality of fishes arrive at the confluence at the same time and prevent the progress toward the downstream side from each other.

  According to the present invention, the method for separating fish includes an opening step of opening the closed bottom lid within a predetermined time. Thereby, the fish assembly and the liquid containing the fish can be dropped from the bottom of the aquarium vertically downward and released in a short time. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the fish from moving against the liquid flow and remaining in the water tank.

  In addition, since the fish separation method uses a plurality of partition walls provided below the aquarium, a plurality of fishes released vertically downward by the opening of the bottom lid enter the spaces between the plurality of partition walls. Since the length in the thickness direction of the partition wall defined by the plurality of partition walls is not less than one time and less than twice the body width of the fish, the fish entering one space between the partition walls is separated from the partition wall. Can be prevented from being arranged in the thickness direction. The fish aggregate is discharged vertically downward together with the liquid containing the fish. Therefore, even when the fish rides on the upper ends of the plurality of partition walls, the fish enters the space between the partition walls by the water flow. be able to.

  According to the present invention, the fish separation device further includes a fish catcher. The fish catcher is a device that catches fish from both sides of the body crossing direction on the downstream side of the flow path. As a result, it is possible to capture the fish that have moved downstream in the flow path and put them into the fish shape discriminating apparatus one by one.

  Moreover, according to this invention, the fish catcher is comprised including a side wall part, an electromagnet part, and a contact part. The side wall portion is provided on the downstream side of the flow path through which the fish passes along with the liquid, and includes two flat members formed on both sides in the cross direction of the flow path so as to be displaceable in the cross direction. When the two flat members are displaced inward in the cross direction when the fish has passed through the flow path, the fish located through the flow path and inward in the cross direction of the side wall is captured from both sides of the cross direction. Can do.

  The electromagnet part includes an electromagnet that functions as a magnet when energized, and is connected to the lower end of the side wall part inwardly of the side wall part. When the electromagnet functions as a magnet, the side wall part is crossed by the magnet's magnetic force. Displace inward direction. Accordingly, when the fish is positioned inward in the cross direction of the side wall, the electromagnet functions as a magnet, thereby shortening the distance between the two flat members and catching the fish by the displacement of the side wall. .

  The contact portion is formed to include two stretchable members, and is provided to be fixed to each flat plate-like member inward in the cross direction of the side wall portion. The two stretchable members have recesses formed inward in the cross direction. Regardless of the position of the side wall in the cross direction, an internal space is always formed between the two stretchable members, and the length of the internal space in the cross direction is set larger than the body width of the fish to be captured. The When the side wall portion is closest to the inside in the crossing direction, the distance between the two elastic members is shorter than the body width of the fish to be captured on the downstream side in the flow direction of the internal space.

  When the side wall portion is displaced inward in the crossing direction, the contact portion faces the fish, so that it is possible to prevent the fish from being damaged when the fish is caught. When the side wall portion is closest to the inside in the cross direction, the elastic member can catch the fish from both sides in the cross direction. Further, it is possible to prevent the thinned fish located between the elastic members from being pressed from both sides in the crossing direction.

  According to the invention, the fish catcher further includes a sensor, a side wall drive unit, and a control unit. The sensor detects the presence or absence of fish in a part of the predetermined flow path upstream of the side wall portion in the flow direction of the liquid flowing through the flow path, and outputs a signal when the presence of the fish is detected. The side wall drive unit displaces one flat plate member in the cross direction among the two flat plate members on the side wall in the cross direction. The control unit receives a signal from the sensor, and controls the timing of energization of the electromagnet to the electromagnet and the driving of the side wall driving unit based on the signal from the sensor and the timing at which the signal is received from the sensor.

  Accordingly, it is possible to detect that the fish has approached the fish catcher by the sensor, and it is possible to predict the time when the fish is located inward in the crossing direction of the side wall portion. The fish can be caught by driving the electromagnet part at a time when the fish is located inward in the crossing direction of the side wall part. Further, by driving the side wall drive unit after catching the fish, the caught fish, the side wall portion, and the contact portion can be displaced in one of the intersecting directions.

  Further, according to the present invention, a convex portion protruding downward is formed in the lower portion of the electromagnet portion, and the convex portion is formed with the intersecting direction as the longitudinal direction. The position of the lower end part of the convex part is set lower than the lower end part of the side wall part. The fish catcher further includes a floor plate portion and a support guide portion. A floor board part is provided in the flow direction downstream rather than a flow path, is provided in a position lower than a side wall part, a contact part, and an electromagnet part, and supports a side wall part, a contact part, and an electromagnet part from the downward direction. The support guide part defines a concave groove, is formed to extend in the crossing direction, includes a recess extending in one of the crossing directions from the floor plate part, and can slide in the crossing direction with the convex part provided at the lower part of the electromagnet part To fit.

  The convex part of the electromagnet is formed in the support guiding part and is slidably fitted in the concave part extending in one of the crossing directions than the floor plate part, so that the side wall part, the electromagnet part and the contact part are guided to the support guiding part. Thus, it is possible to displace one side in the crossing direction from the floor plate portion. Thereby, the caught fish can be moved to one side in the crossing direction rather than the floor board. Therefore, the fish can be dropped below the floor board part by releasing the catching of the fish while crossing the floor board part. Thereby, the fish can be thrown into the fish body shape discriminating apparatus.

  According to the present invention, the fish catching method includes an electromagnet energization step. The side wall can be displaced by the force attracted by the electromagnet, so that the fish can be caught, so the fish can move from the side wall to the downstream side in the flow direction after the fish is located inward of the side wall. Fish can be caught in less time. In addition, the magnitude of the force attracted by the electromagnet can be adjusted by adjusting the current value applied to the electromagnet. Therefore, the magnitude of the force attracted by the electromagnet can be adjusted to reduce fish damage due to the displacement of the electromagnet in the cross direction. It becomes possible to prevent.

  The fish catching method further includes a side wall driving step, an electromagnet energization stopping step, and a second side wall driving step. As a result, the fish caught by the side wall portion is positioned in one of the crossing directions from the floor plate portion, and the flat plate members of the side wall portion disappear in the state where there is no floor plate portion below, and the force that attracts each other in the cross direction disappears. By increasing the distance in the crossing direction of the members, the catch of the fish can be released. Therefore, the fish can be dropped below the floor plate portion in one of the crossing directions than the floor plate portion.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a water tank 21 and a separator 22 of a fish separating apparatus 20 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the fish separating apparatus 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The fish separation apparatus 20 according to the first embodiment is an apparatus that separates a fish assembly composed of a plurality of live fish 23 into one live fish 23. The live fish 23 is referred to as “fish”. The fish 23 to be separated by the fish separating apparatus 20 according to the first embodiment is a salmon fry, but the fish 23 to be separated by the fish separating apparatus 20 in the present invention is not particularly defined. For example, in another embodiment, the fish separation device 20 includes fish 23 such as perch, puffer, damselfish, scorpionfish, flying fish, pearlfish, ostrich, mullet, carp, cod, salmon, etc. Fry can be targeted for separation.

  In the present invention, the liquid 24 containing the fish 23 is water or water containing salt, and may be, for example, fresh water, sea water, or brackish water. Taking out one fish 23 at a time from a state where a plurality of fish 23 are swimming in the liquid 24 is referred to as “separation”. In other words, the separation in the present invention means that the fishes 23 that are present in a mess are forcibly aligned to form a row of fishes 23 that are lined up one by one, and the messiness associated with the fish 23 is reduced. A plurality of fishes 23 swimming without being fixed in position are referred to as “fish aggregates”. The length from the rostral end of the fish 23 to the end of the vertebra of the caudal portion is referred to as “standard body length”. The mustache is removed from the rostral tip. The length from the maximum back edge to the abdominal edge in the direction perpendicular to the line that matches the standard body length is referred to as “body height”. Dorsal fin and pectoral fin are excluded from height. In the direction perpendicular to the line segment that matches the standard body length and the line segment that matches the body height, the maximum width of the fish body is referred to as “body width”. Excluding chest and buttocks from body width.

  A fish separation device 20 according to the first embodiment includes a water tank 21 and a separator 22. The aquarium 21 is a container for containing a fish assembly and a liquid 24, and the bottom is closed by a bottom lid 26 so as to be opened and closed. The bottom lid 26 is at least a part of the bottom of the aquarium 21. When the bottom lid 26 is closed, the aquarium 21 holds the fish 23 and the liquid 24. When the bottom lid 26 is opened, the fish 23 and the liquid 24 in the aquarium 21 are opened. Is allowed to fall vertically downward.

  The separation body 22 is a member that aligns the fish aggregates as a plurality of rows by dividing the fish aggregates. The separator 22 is provided below the water tank 21. The separator 22 includes a bottom member 27 and a plurality of partition walls 28. The partition wall 28 is a member that separates the rows of fish 23 from each other when the fish assembly is aligned as a plurality of rows. The partition wall 28 is generally formed in a plate shape, and is provided upright in parallel. The thickness direction of the partition wall 28 is horizontal, and a plurality of the partition walls 28 are formed side by side in parallel with the thickness direction.

  The plurality of partition walls 28 are arranged with a gap, and the distance between the surfaces of the adjacent partition walls 28 facing each other is arranged to be not less than 1 and less than twice the body width of the fish 23 to be separated. The interval in the thickness direction between the adjacent partition walls 28 becomes narrower as it goes from vertically upward to vertically downward. The distance between the opposing surfaces of the lower ends of the partition walls 28 adjacent to each other in the thickness direction is within 1.5 times the body width of the fish 23 to be separated.

  The bottom member 27 is a member that connects between the partition walls 28. At least a part of the surface of the bottom member 27 facing the water tank 21 is formed as an inclined surface 29 that is inclined with respect to a horizontal virtual plane. The inclined surface 29 is directed vertically upward as it goes to one of the horizontal and vertical directions that are perpendicular to the thickness direction of the partition wall 28. The inclined surface 29 is a flat surface or a curved surface. The fish 23 and the liquid 24 that have fallen from the bottom of the aquarium 21 enter the space between the partition walls 28, and the flowing direction is determined by the inclined surface 29. The direction in which the liquid 24 flows is referred to as “flow direction”.

  The bottom member 27 includes a plurality of plate-like members 31, and each plate-like member 31 is formed with a plurality of holes 32 penetrating in the thickness direction of the plate-like member. The plurality of plate-like members 31 are stacked in contact with each other in the thickness direction of the plate-like member, and the plurality of holes 32 formed in one plate-like member 31 among the plurality of plate-like members 31 and the other plate-like shape. The plurality of holes 32 formed in the member 31 can communicate with each other in the thickness direction of the plate member. The plurality of plate-like members 31 can change their relative positions while being in contact with each other.

  The fish separating apparatus 20 further includes a flow path structure 33 and a passage width limiting means 34. The flow path component 33 is provided downstream of the separator 22 in the flow direction of the liquid 24 passing through the space between the partition walls 28, and the width dimension of the flow path 36 is 1 to 2 times the body width of the fish 23. This is a member constituting the flow path 36. The length of the flow path 36 and the passage region 41 in the direction perpendicular to the flow direction and the horizontal direction is referred to as “width dimension”, and the direction perpendicular to the flow direction and horizontal is referred to as “width direction”. For each flow path 36, the direction in the width direction from the inside of the flow path 36 to the outside of the flow path 36 is referred to as “outward in the width direction”, and the direction in the width direction from the outside of the flow path 36 to the inside of the flow path 36 is “width”. It is called “direction inward”.

  The flow path 36 is formed on the downstream side of the separator 22 in the flow direction, and is a path through which the fish 23 and the liquid 24 flow. The flow path 36 is defined by the flow path structure 33 from at least the lower side and two directions perpendicular to the flow direction and horizontal. A plurality of flow paths 36 are formed in the flow path structure 33. Each flow path 36 is defined by a groove 37 of the flow path structure 33. Each groove part 37 is a part which prescribes | regulates the one flow path 36, respectively, and the flow-path structure 33 comprises the several groove part 37. FIG. The plurality of groove portions 37 are arranged in the width direction. Each groove portion 37 includes a floor portion 38 and a vertical portion 39. The floor portion 38 defines the flow channel 36 from below, and the vertical portion 39 defines the flow channel 36 from both sides in the width direction of the flow channel 36. The vertical portion 39 is a plate-like member that protrudes upward from the floor portion 38 and has a longitudinal direction in the flow direction. The flow path 36 is defined by a floor portion 38 and a vertical portion 39.

  The passage restriction member is a member that protrudes into the flow path 36 and defines a passage region 41 through which the fish 23 passes from the width direction. The passage restriction member has flexibility, and defines the passage region 41 so that the width dimension of the passage region 41 of the fish 23 becomes narrower from the upstream side in the flow direction of the flow path 36 toward the downstream side in the flow direction. To do. A range in which the fish 23 can pass in the flow path 36 is referred to as a “passing region”. Regarding the water tank 21 and the separator 22, the thickness direction of the partition wall 28 is the width direction. A plurality of passage width limiting means 34 are provided in one flow path 36. The plurality of passage width limiting means 34 are located away from each other in the flow direction.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the steps of the fish separation method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The method for separating fish includes a closing step, a charging step, and an opening step. The fish separation method is a method of separating fish aggregates into individual fishes 23 by taking out each fish 23 from the fish aggregates using the aforementioned fish separation apparatus 20. The closing step is a step of closing the lower portion of the water tank 21 by the bottom lid 26. The charging process is a process of putting the fish aggregate and the liquid 24 into the aquarium 21, and includes a liquid 24 injection stage and a fish charging stage. The liquid 24 injection step is a step of putting the liquid 24 containing the fish 23 into the water tank 21, and the fish charging step is a step of putting the fish 23 into the liquid 24 in the water tank 21. The opening step is a step of opening the closed bottom lid 26 within a predetermined time. The predetermined time is a time that is negligibly short compared to the time when the fish aggregate and the liquid 24 held in the water tank 21 enter the space formed in the separator 22 by dropping. The time required for opening the bottom cover 26 is, for example, within a few seconds, and preferably within one second.

  The fish separating apparatus 20 according to the first embodiment is configured to include a water tank 21 whose bottom is closed by a bottom lid 26 so that the fish lid and the liquid 24 are held in the water tank 21. By opening the, the fish aggregate and the liquid 24 are dropped downward and released. This prevents the fish 23 from swimming against the flow of the liquid 24 and prevents the fish 23 from remaining in the aquarium 21.

  The fish separating apparatus 20 includes a plurality of partition walls 28 provided below the water tank 21, and the plurality of fish 23 discharged vertically downward by the opening of the bottom lid 26 is provided between the plurality of partition walls 28. Enter the space. The plurality of partition walls 28 are arranged with a gap, and the distance between the surfaces of the adjacent partition walls 28 facing each other is arranged to be not less than 1 and less than twice the body width of the fish 23 to be separated. The number of fish 23 entering one space between the partition walls 28 is one in the thickness direction of the partition walls 28, and a plurality of fishes 23 are not arranged in the thickness direction of the partition walls 28 in one space between the partition walls 28. Since the fish aggregate is discharged vertically downward together with the liquid 24, the fish 23 enters the space between the partition walls 28 by the water flow even when the fish 23 rides on the upper ends of the plurality of partition walls 28. .

  The interval in the thickness direction between the adjacent partition walls 28 becomes narrower as it goes from vertically upward to vertically downward. Thus, when a plurality of fishes 23 enter the space between adjacent partition walls 28, the difference in the vertical distance between the fishes 23 increases as the fish 23 approaches the lower end of the partition wall 28. Further, the possibility that the fish 23 rides on the upper end portions of the plurality of partition walls 28 is made smaller than when the interval between the upper end portions is small. Further, as it falls from above and approaches the bottom member 27, the liquid 24 hitting the surface of the partition wall 28 facing the adjacent partition wall 28 can be collected in the thickness direction. This moderates the speed at which the fish 23 and the liquid 24 fall from the upper side to the lower side, and reduces the impact when the fish 23 collides with the bottom member 27. The fish 23 that has entered the space between the adjacent partition walls 28 temporarily floats in the surrounding liquid 24 and is away from the bottom member 27. In this state, the fish 23 has a posture in which the back portion is directed upward and the abdomen portion is directed downward.

  The distance between the opposing surfaces of the lower ends of the partition walls 28 adjacent to each other in the thickness direction is within 1.5 times the body width of the fish 23 to be separated. In the vicinity of the bottom member 27 between the adjacent partition walls 28, one fish 23 is provided in the thickness direction of the partition walls 28, and a plurality of fish 23 are not arranged in the thickness direction of the partition walls 28 in one space between the partition walls 28. . Further, in the vicinity of the bottom member 27 between the adjacent partition walls 28, most of the momentum of the flowing liquid 24 is applied as a force that pushes against the fish 23, and the fish 23 is prevented from proceeding against the flow.

  The bottom member 27 is a member that connects between the partition walls 28. At least a part of the surface of the bottom member 27 facing the water tank 21 is formed as an inclined surface 29 that is inclined with respect to a horizontal virtual plane, and the inclined surface 29 is directed vertically upward as it goes in one direction of flow. Thus, it is possible to apply power to the fish 23 and the liquid 24 that enter between the partition walls 28 while falling from above to move downward in the flow direction.

  The bottom member 27 includes a plurality of plate-like members 31, and each plate-like member 31 is formed with a plurality of holes 32 penetrating in the thickness direction of the plate-like member. The plurality of plate-like members 31 are stacked in contact with each other in the thickness direction of the plate-like member, and the plurality of holes 32 formed in one plate-like member 31 among the plurality of plate-like members 31 and the other plate-like shape. The plurality of holes 32 formed in the member 31 can communicate with each other in the thickness direction of the plate member.

  As a result, a part of the liquid 24 that enters between the partition walls 28 while falling is dropped below the bottom member 27 through the plurality of holes 32 formed in the plate-like member 31 of the bottom member 27 and flows together with the fish 23. The amount of liquid 24 that moves is reduced. If the fish 23 is in the flowing liquid 24, it has the property of swimming in the liquid 24 and proceeding against the flow of the liquid 24, but by reducing the amount of liquid 24 that flows and moves with the fish 23, The fish 23 is prevented from proceeding against the flow of the liquid 24.

  The plurality of plate-like members 31 can change their relative positions while being in contact with each other. By displacing the plurality of plate-like members 31 with each other, the size of the hole 32 through which the liquid 24 can pass is changed. This adjusts the amount of liquid 24 that flows and moves with the fish 23. By changing the size of the hole 32 through which the liquid 24 can pass, it is possible to secure the amount of the liquid 24 that flows with the fish 23 and pushes the fish 23 downstream in the flow direction, and in the opposite direction to the flow of the liquid 24. To prevent the fish 23 from proceeding.

  The fish separation device 20 is further configured to include a flow path structure 33 that forms the flow path 36, and the width dimension of the flow path 36 is set to be 1 to 2 times the body width of the fish 23. This prevents the fish 23 traveling in the flow path 36 from simultaneously passing through the same position in the flow direction within the single flow path 36. The fish separating apparatus 20 includes a passage width limiting means 34 that protrudes from the flow path 36 and defines a passage area 41 through which the fish 23 passes from the width direction. This prevents the fish 23 traveling in the flow path 36 from catching up with the fish 23 traveling in the upstream in the flow direction within the single flow path 36. Further, when the fish 23 traveling upstream in the flow direction and the fish 23 traveling downstream in the flow direction overlap in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction in one flow path 36, the fish 23 traveling upstream in the flow direction. And the distance between the fish 23 traveling downstream in the flow direction is increased.

  Since the passage width restriction means 34 has flexibility, the fish 23 is prevented from being damaged when the fish 23 passes from the upstream side in the flow direction to the downstream side in the flow direction while contacting the passage width restriction means 34. The passage restriction member defines the passage region 41 such that the width dimension of the passage region 41 of the fish 23 becomes narrower from the upstream side in the flow direction of the flow path 36 toward the downstream side in the flow direction. Accordingly, the fish 23 is prevented from passing from the upstream side in the flow direction toward the downstream side in the flow direction while allowing the fish 23 to pass from the upstream side in the flow direction toward the downstream side in the flow direction.

  A plurality of passage width restriction means 34 are provided in one flow path 36, and the plurality of passage width restriction means 34 are provided apart from each other in the flow direction. This prevents the fish 23 from catching up with another fish 23 on the downstream side in the flow direction after passing through one passage width limiting means 34 in the flow path 36.

  The fish separation method using the fish separation apparatus 20 includes an opening step of opening the closed bottom lid 26 within a predetermined time. The predetermined time is a time that is negligibly short compared to the time when the fish aggregate and the liquid 24 held in the water tank 21 enter the space formed in the separator 22 by dropping. As a result, the liquid 24 containing the fish assembly and the fish 23 is dropped from the bottom of the aquarium 21 vertically downward and released in a short time, and the fish 23 advances against the flow of the liquid 24 and enters the aquarium 21. Prevent it from remaining.

  Further, since the fish separation method uses a plurality of partition walls 28 provided below the aquarium 21, the plurality of fish 23 released vertically downward by the opening of the bottom lid 26 is placed in the space between the plurality of partition walls 28. enter in. Since the length of the partition wall 28 in the thickness direction of the space defined by the plurality of partition walls 28 is not less than one time and less than twice the body width of the fish 23, it enters one space between the partition walls 28. One fish 23 is provided in the thickness direction of the partition wall 28, and a plurality of fishes 23 are not arranged in the thickness direction of the partition wall 28 in one space between the partition walls 28. Since the aggregate of fish is discharged vertically downward together with the liquid 24 containing the fish 23, even when the fish 23 rides on the upper ends of the plurality of partition walls 28, the fish 23 is separated from the partition walls 28 by the water flow. Enter the space between.

  Although the fish 23 to be separated by the fish separation apparatus 20 according to the first embodiment is a carp juvenile, for example, in another embodiment, the fish separation apparatus 20 is a striped horse mackerel, amberjack, trough puffer, a yellowtail, a yellowtail, a carp. Etc. can be targeted for separation. In the first embodiment, the fish 23 to be separated is a fry having a standard body length of 6 cm to 11 cm, a body height of 2 to 4 cm, and a body width of 1 to 1.5 cm.

  FIG. 4 is a front view of the aquarium 21 and the separator 22 of the fish separator 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment, the water tank 21 is a rectangular parallelepiped having a size of 25 cm in the width direction, 12 cm in the flow direction, and 12 cm in height, and is formed of a transparent member except for the bottom lid 26, and the height direction is a vertical direction. The bottom is placed horizontally. Specifically, it is composed of an acrylic resin plate, and the thickness of each acrylic resin plate is 1 cm. An opening 42 is formed at the bottom of the water tank 21 so as to be openable and closable. The opening 42 has a size of 20 cm in the width direction and a size of 8 cm in the flow direction, and is formed at the center of the bottom of the water tank 21. The opening 42 is a rectangular hole 32 at the bottom of the water tank 21 that penetrates in the height direction.

  A member that defines the space in the water tank 21 from the width direction and the flow direction is referred to as a “circumferential wall”. A bottom plate is formed from the lower end portion of the peripheral wall 43 to a portion that defines the opening 42. A virtual straight line that is perpendicular to the bottom plate at the bottom of the water tank 21 and passes through the center of the opening 42 of the opening 42 is referred to as a “water tank center line”. From an intermediate position in the height direction of the peripheral wall 43 to a portion that defines the opening 42, an inclined portion 46 having an inclined surface is formed by the same flat plate member 31 made of acrylic resin as the member forming the water tank 21. The inclined portion 46 includes a first inclined portion 47 that planarly connects the intermediate wall 43 in the width direction of the water tank 21 to a portion that defines the opening 42 from the width direction, and the flow of the water tank 21. And a second inclined portion 48 that planarly connects the intermediate wall 43 in the direction from the intermediate position in the height direction to a portion that defines the opening 42 from the flow direction.

  The upper end portion of the first inclined portion 47 and the upper end portion of the second inclined portion 48 are provided at the same position in the height direction and are fixed to each other. The lower end portion of the first inclined portion 47 and the lower end portion of the second inclined portion 48 are provided at the same position in the height direction and are fixed to each other, and both the first and second inclined portions 47 and 48 have the opening 42. It is fixed to the specified part. The space in the water tank 21 is defined from below by the first and second inclined portions 47 and 48 and the bottom lid 26. In other words, the first and second inclined portions 47 and 48 define the internal space in the water tank 21 in a tapered shape from the top to the bottom.

  The bottom lid 26 comes into contact with a portion defining the opening 42 from below and closes the opening 42. The bottom lid 26 is larger than the opening 42 when viewed in the height direction of the water tank 21. The bottom lid 26 is a flat plate member 31, and the size in the width direction is smaller than the size in the width direction of the water tank 21. The water tank 21 is supported by the lower part of the both ends of the width direction, and is fixed so that it may not displace. The bottom cover 26 can be displaced in one direction of flow. When the bottom cover 26 is displaced in one direction of flow by man or machine, the opening 42 is opened, and the space in the water tank 21 and the space below the water tank 21 are opened. And communicate.

  The separator 22 disposed below the water tank 21 includes a plurality of partition walls 28 and a bottom member 27. The shape of the cross section perpendicular to the flow direction of each partition wall 28 is a shape in which the height direction is the longitudinal direction, and is tapered such that the width dimension decreases from the bottom to the top. The shape of the upper end portion of the cross section is a round tip. Among the plurality of partition walls 28, the partition walls 28 located at both ends in the width direction are formed at the same height, and are formed higher than the partition wall 28 located in the middle in the width direction. The upper end portions of the partition walls 28 located at both ends in the width direction are in contact with the bottom plate of the water tank 21, and the contacting position is located outward in the width direction from the opening 42 and the bottom lid 26.

  The partition walls 28 located in the middle in the width direction are all formed at the same height, and the upper ends of the partition walls 28 located in the middle in the width direction are separated from the bottom of the water tank 21 and the bottom lid 26 and below the opening 42. Located in. The height of the partition wall 28 located in the middle in the width direction among the plurality of partition walls 28 is formed to be higher than the standard length of the fish 23 to be separated by the fish separation device 20. The ends of the plurality of partition walls 28 on the downstream side in the flow direction are located on the downstream side in the flow direction with respect to the downstream ends of the water tank 21 in the flow direction. The upstream ends of the plurality of partition walls 28 in the flow direction are located at the same position in the flow direction with respect to the upstream ends of the water tank 21 in the flow direction.

  The upstream side of the plurality of partition walls 28 in the flow direction with respect to the water tank center line L1 is formed in a curve as viewed in the width direction. The end of the partition wall 28 from the upstream end in the flow direction of the partition wall 28 to the bottom of the partition wall 28 at the same position in the flow direction as the water tank center line L1 is formed as a differentiable curve when viewed in the width direction. The When this curve is approximated as a part of a circle, the radius of curvature of the circle is approximately equal to the distance between the water tank center line L1 and the upstream end of the water tank 21 in the flow direction.

  The partition wall 28 is formed of foamed polystyrene. The partition walls 28 include seven partition walls 28 including the partition walls 28 located at both ends in the width direction, and six spaces are provided between the plurality of partition walls 28. A space between the partition walls 28 adjacent to each other in the width direction is narrow in the width direction at the bottom and is wide in the width direction when placed above. The intervals between the lower ends of the partition walls 28 adjacent in the width direction are the same in the width direction for all six. The distance s1 between the opposing surfaces of the lower end portions of the partition walls 28 adjacent in the thickness direction is set shorter than the distance s2 between the surfaces of the upper end portions of the partition walls 28 adjacent in the thickness direction that are separated from each other in the width direction. Is done. The seven partition walls 28 are fixed to the bottom member 27 of the separator 22. Accordingly, the six spaces between the partition walls 28 are defined from below by the bottom member 27.

  FIG. 5 is a separation view showing a part of the bottom member 27 according to the first embodiment of the present invention by separating it into a first plate member 51 and a second plate member 52. Of the bottom member 27 of the separator 22, the upstream side in the flow direction from the water tank center line L <b> 1 is formed as a curved surface, and is formed as an inclined surface 29 that goes upward as it goes upstream in the flow direction. The upstream end portion in the flow direction of the bottom member 27 is in contact with the lower end portion of the upstream end portion of the water tank 21. The bottom member 27 is formed from two plate-like members 31. Each plate-like member 31 is made of a flexible resin having a uniform thickness and is a material that can be bent with a radius of curvature as the distance from the water tank center line L1 to the upstream end of the water tank 21 in the flow direction. is there.

  A plurality of holes 32 are formed in each plate-like member 31. The plurality of holes 32 are all holes 32 penetrating in the thickness direction of each plate-like member, and the diameter of each hole 32 is smaller than the body height of the fish 23 to be separated by the fish separating apparatus 20. The plurality of holes 32 formed in the plate-like member 31 closer to the water tank 21 and the plurality of holes 32 formed in the plate-like member 31 far from the water tank 21 are seen in the thickness direction of the plate-like member. It is formed at the matching position. The thickness direction of each part of the plate-like member 31 is referred to as “thickness direction of the plate-like member”. Therefore, the thickness direction of the plate-like member does not mean a certain direction, and changes according to each part of the plate-like member 31. The plate-like member 31 closer to the water tank 21 is called “first plate-like member”, and the plate-like member 31 far from the water tank 21 is called “second plate-like member”.

  The first plate member 51 is fixedly provided on the partition wall 28, and the second plate member 52 is provided so as to be displaceable with respect to the first plate member 51. The displacement of the second plate-like member 52 relative to the first plate-like member 51 is such that the surface of the second plate-like member 52 that faces the water tank 21 and the surface of the first plate-like member 51 that faces the second plate-like member 52. It is displaced so that it always touches. The upstream end portion in the flow direction of the first plate member 51 is in contact with the lower end portion of the upstream end portion of the water tank 21, and the upstream end portion in the flow direction of the second plate member 52 is the upstream end portion of the water tank 21. It is located away from the lower end of the lower part. When the relative positions of the first plate member 51 and the second plate member 52 are changed, the plurality of holes 32 provided in the first plate member 51 and the plurality of holes provided in the second plate member 52 are changed. The relative position with respect to the hole 32 also changes. Due to the change in the relative position, the holes 32 formed in the first plate member 51 and the holes 32 formed in the second plate member 52 communicate with each other as viewed in the thickness direction of the plate member. The area changes.

  The more the holes 32 formed in the first plate-like member 51 and the holes 32 formed in the second plate-like member 52 overlap in the thickness direction of the plate-like member, the more they overlap from the opening 42 of the water tank 21. Of the dropped liquid 24, the ratio of the liquid 24 that passes through the holes 32 of the plate-like member 31 and falls further downward increases. The smaller the area of the region where the hole 32 formed in the first plate-like member 51 and the hole 32 formed in the second plate-like member 52 communicate with each other, the more the area fell, the more it fell from the opening 42 of the water tank 21. The ratio of the liquid 24 that passes through the holes 32 of the plate-like member 31 and falls further downward is reduced. It is also possible to close all of the plurality of holes 32 by shifting the holes 32 formed in the first plate-like member 51 and the holes 32 formed in the second plate-like member 52 from each other.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the flow path structure 33 and the passage width limiting means 34 in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a plan view of the separator 22, the flow path structure 33, the passage width limiting means 34, and the fish catcher 54 in the first embodiment of the present invention. The flow path structure 33 includes a floor portion 38 and a plurality of vertical portions 39. The plurality of vertical portions 39 are arranged in a row in the width direction, and the interval between the vertical portions 39 adjacent to each other in the width direction is the distance between the opposing surfaces of the lower end portions of the partition walls 28 adjacent in the width direction. Set equal. The lower ends of the seven vertical portions 39 are connected by the floor portion 38 of the plate member 31. As a result, a groove is formed between the vertical portions 39 adjacent in the width direction. The upper part of the groove between the adjacent vertical portions 39 is open and communicates with the external space. A portion defining one groove from the width direction and from below is referred to as a “groove”. The groove portion 37 defines a flow path 36 through which the fish 23 and the liquid 24 flow.

  Six groove portions 37 are provided, and each of the six groove portions 37 is located on the downstream side in the flow direction of the six spaces between the partition walls 28 of the separator 22. Each of the six groove portions 37 is formed linearly. The height of the vertical portion 39 is set to be larger than the height of the fish 23 to be separated by the fish separating apparatus 20. The upstream end portion in the flow direction of the vertical portion 39 is formed higher than the portion of the vertical portion 39 excluding the upstream end portion. It is assumed that the upstream end portion formed to be higher is a portion having a length equal to or longer than the standard body length of the fish 23 in the flow direction from the upstream end surface of the vertical portion 39. In the first embodiment, the height of the upstream end in the flow direction of the vertical portion 39 is set to be lower than the height of any partition wall 28 among the plurality of partition walls 28. The lengths of the adjacent groove portions 37 in the flow direction are different from each other. The groove part 37 located at both ends in the width direction is the shortest, and the groove part 37 is set longer as it approaches the center in the width direction. A fish catcher 54 is installed on the downstream side in the flow direction of the groove portion 37. In the middle of the flow direction of each groove portion 37, a plurality of passage restriction members are provided apart in the flow direction.

  Of the six flow paths 36, the length of the flow path 36 located on both sides in the width direction is shorter than the flow path 36 located in the middle of the width direction, and the flow path 36 closer to the center in the width direction The length of is set longer. The two flow paths 36 located in the center in the width direction have the same length in the flow direction, but there is a difference of about 15 cm in the length in the flow direction of the other adjacent flow paths 36. Provided. By setting this difference as a difference in the length in the flow direction of the adjacent flow paths 36, a person is located near the downstream end in the flow direction of each flow path 36 and has passed through the flow path 36. Can be captured by hand and put into the fish shape discriminating device 53.

  Of the six channels 36, a fish catcher 54 that takes out the fish 23 in one width direction is installed on the downstream side of the three channels 36 on one side in the width direction. On the downstream side of the three flow paths 36 on the other side, a fish catcher 54 that takes out the fish 23 in the other in the width direction is installed. The fish catcher 54 will be described later.

  The passage width limiting means 34 is formed of a flexible member. The passage width limiting means 34 includes two portions provided so as to project into the flow path 36 from both of the adjacent vertical portions 39. These two portions are provided at the same position in the flow direction, and are formed so that the width dimension of the passage region 41 through which the fish 23 passes becomes shorter from the upstream side in the flow direction toward the downstream side in the flow direction. Each of the two parts is generally formed of a plate-like member, and is formed so as to become thinner from the upstream side in the flow direction toward the downstream side in the flow direction. A cross section obtained by cutting each portion of the passage width limiting means 34 along a virtual plane including the flow direction and the width direction extends in a curved shape from the width direction outer side to the width direction inner side of each flow path 36, The base end portion of the channel 36 on the outer side in the width direction protrudes inward in the width direction, and the tip portion on the inner side in the width direction extends from the upstream side in the flow direction to the downstream side in the flow direction.

  Although the passage width limiting means 34 defines the passage region 41 from both sides in the width direction so that the width dimension of the passage region 41 of the fish 23 becomes narrower from the upstream side in the flow direction of the flow path 36 toward the downstream side in the flow direction, Each portion constituting the passage width restricting means 34 is flexible, and the fish 23 has a central portion in the width direction of the passage area 41 defined by the passage width restricting means 34 from the upstream side in the flow direction to the downstream side in the flow direction. Can pass towards. The fish 23 may pass while contacting the passage width limiting means 34. The passage width limiting means 34 is deformed when pressed by the fish 23 so as not to damage the fish 23 by contacting the fish 23.

  When the fish 23 tries to pass through the passage region 41 defined by the passage width restriction means 34 from the downstream side in the flow direction toward the upstream side in the flow direction, the fish 23 from the downstream side in the flow direction with respect to the passage width restriction means 34. In contact with each other, the passage width limiting means 34 is deformed to further narrow the passage area 41. This makes it impossible for the fish 23 to pass from the downstream side in the flow direction toward the upstream side in the flow direction. In this way, the passage width limiting means 34 prevents the fish 23 from proceeding against the flow direction by defining the passage area 41. When the fish 23 advances from the upstream side in the flow direction toward the downstream side in the flow direction, the inner end portion in the width direction of the material forming the passage width limiting means 34 is pressed from the upstream side in the flow direction by the fish 23, thereby limiting the passage width. The width dimension of the passage area 41, which is narrowly defined by the means 34, is increased.

  Since the fish 23 that have passed through each flow path 36 are separated one by one, the fish 23 is put into the fish shape discriminating device 53 by the fish catcher 54 or by a human hand, and the fish 23 is judged to be good or bad. Sorting is performed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the fish separation method includes a closing step, a charging step, and an opening step. After the start of this process, the process proceeds to the closing step of step a1, and the bottom lid 26 is closed. Next, the process proceeds to the liquid 24 injection stage of step a <b> 2, and the liquid 24 is injected into the water tank 21. As the liquid 24, a component suitable as the liquid 24 that houses the fish 23 to be separated is selected. In the first embodiment, the fish 23 to be separated is a salmon fry, so it is seawater. In addition, when the fish 23 is cultivated, it may contain components that keep the fish 23 healthy and facilitate the culturing.

  Next, the process proceeds to the fish input stage of step a 3, and the fish 23 is input to the liquid 24 in the aquarium 21. Although putting the fish 23 into the liquid 24 is referred to as “loading”, it is not always necessary to throw the fish 23 into the liquid 24. Next, the process proceeds to the opening process of step a4, and the bottom cover 26 of the water tank 21 is opened. Although the state in which the bottom lid 26 of the water tank 21 is opened is indicated by 26 a in FIG. 2, the bottom lid 26 may be moved anywhere as long as it is removed from the bottom of the water tank 21.

  The bottom lid 26 of the water tank 21 is opened within a predetermined time. The predetermined time is a time that is negligibly short compared to the time when the fish assembly and the liquid 24 held in the aquarium 21 enter the space formed in the separated body 22 by dropping. . Thereafter, the fish separation method is finished, and the process proceeds to the stopping process of the fish 23.

  In the fish separation method, the liquid 24 injection step of step a2 and the fish injection step can be performed simultaneously. Prior to this processing, the relative position of the two plate-like members 31 of the bottom member 27 shown in FIG. 5 is changed, and the liquid 24 falling through the plurality of holes 32 formed in the plate-like member 31 is changed. A step of adjusting the amount may be included. This step can be omitted when it is not necessary to change the amount of the liquid 24 passing through the hole 32 of the plate-like member 31.

  In the first embodiment, when there is a large difference between the speed at which the fish 23 passes through the flow path 36 and the speed at which the liquid 24 passes through the passage, the liquid 24 existing around the fish 23 decreases. The fish separation method may further include a liquid replenishing step for injecting the liquid 24 into the flow path 36 from the outside of the fish separation apparatus 20.

  According to the first embodiment, the fish separation device 20 includes the aquarium 21 whose bottom is closed by the bottom lid 26 so that the fish can be opened and closed. When the bottom lid 26 is opened from the state held in the above, the fish assembly and the liquid 24 can be dropped and released vertically. As a result, the fish 23 swims against the flow of the liquid 24, and the fish 23 can be prevented from remaining in the aquarium 21.

  Further, since the fish separating apparatus 20 includes a plurality of partition walls 28 provided below the water tank 21, the plurality of fish 23 discharged vertically downward when the bottom lid 26 is opened is divided into the plurality of partition walls 28. Enter the space between. The length in the thickness direction of the partition wall 28 in the space between the plurality of partition walls 28 is not less than one time and less than twice the body width of the fish 23, so that the fish 23 entering one space between the partition walls 28. However, it is possible to prevent a plurality of lines from being arranged in the thickness direction of the partition wall 28. Thus, it is to realize a fish 23 separation device that can easily separate a plurality of fry fish one by one. Since the aggregate of fish is discharged vertically downward together with the liquid 24 containing the fish 23, even when the fish 23 rides on the upper ends of the plurality of partition walls 28, the fish 23 is separated from the partition walls 28 by the water flow. You can enter the space between.

  In addition, according to the first embodiment, the interval in the thickness direction between the adjacent partition walls 28 becomes narrower from the vertically upward direction to the vertically downward direction, so that a plurality of fishes are disposed in the space between the adjacent partition walls 28. When 23 enters, as the fish 23 approaches the lower end of the partition wall 28, the difference in the vertical distance between the fishes 23 can be increased.

  Moreover, since the space | interval of the upper end parts of the adjacent partition wall 28 is larger than the space | interval of the lower end parts of the adjacent partition wall 28, compared with when the space | interval of upper end parts is small, the fish 23 has several partition walls 28. It is possible to reduce the possibility of riding on the upper end of the. Further, as the liquid 24 falls from above and approaches the bottom member 27, the liquid 24 hitting the surface of the partition wall 28 facing the adjacent partition wall 28 can be collected in the thickness direction, so that the fish 23 and the liquid 24 fall downward from above. When the fish 23 collides with the bottom member 27, the impact can be reduced.

  Moreover, according to 1st Embodiment, since the distance between the mutually opposing surfaces of the lower end part of the partition wall 28 adjacent to the thickness direction is less than 1.5 times the body width of the fish 23 used as the object of separation. In the vicinity of the bottom member 27 between the adjacent partition walls 28, a plurality of fish 23 can be prevented from being arranged in the thickness direction of the partition wall 28. In addition, in the vicinity of the bottom member 27 between the adjacent partition walls 28, most of the momentum of the flowing liquid 24 is applied as a force that pushes the fish 23, so that the fish 23 is prevented from proceeding against the flow. be able to.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, at least a part of the surface of the bottom member 27 facing the water tank 21 is formed as the inclined surface 29 inclined with respect to the horizontal virtual plane, and is perpendicular to the thickness direction of the partition wall 28. And as it goes to one of the horizontal directions, the inclined surface 29 goes vertically upward. Thus, the fish 23 and the liquid 24 entering between the partition walls 28 while falling from the upper side to the lower side are given power to advance the other in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the partition wall 28. Can do.

  Moreover, according to 1st Embodiment, the bottom member 27 is comprised including the some plate-shaped member 31 in which the some hole 32 penetrated in the thickness direction was formed. Accordingly, a part of the liquid 24 that enters between the partition walls 28 while falling can be dropped below the bottom member 27 through the plurality of holes 32 formed in the plate-like member 31 of the bottom member 27. Therefore, the amount of the liquid 24 that flows and moves with the fish 23 can be reduced. If the fish 23 is in the flowing liquid 24, it has the property of swimming in the liquid 24 and proceeding against the flow of the liquid 24, but by reducing the amount of liquid 24 that flows and moves with the fish 23, It is possible to prevent the fish 23 from proceeding against the flow of the liquid 24.

  Further, by displacing the plurality of plate-like members 31 formed with the plurality of holes 32, the size of the holes 32 through which the liquid 24 can pass can be changed. Thereby, the amount of the liquid 24 that flows and moves together with the fish 23 can be adjusted. Therefore, both the securing of the amount of the liquid 24 that flows along with the fish 23 and pushes the fish 23 toward the downstream in the flow direction and the prevention of the progress of the fish 23 in the direction opposite to the flow of the liquid 24 are achieved. Can do.

  In addition, according to the first embodiment, the flow path configuration body 33 that further configures the flow path 36 is further included, and the width dimension of the flow path 36 is set to be 1 to 2 times the body width of the fish 23. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the fish 23 traveling in the flow path 36 from simultaneously passing through the same position in the flow direction within the single flow path 36. The fish separating device 20 includes a passage width limiting means 34 that protrudes from the flow path 36 and defines a passage area 41 through which the fish 23 passes from the width direction. 23 can prevent the fish 23 traveling upstream in the flow direction within one flow path 36 from catching up with the fish 23 traveling downstream in the flow direction. Further, when the fish 23 traveling upstream in the flow direction and the fish 23 traveling downstream in the flow direction overlap in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction in one flow path 36, the fish 23 traveling upstream in the flow direction. And the distance between the fish 23 traveling downstream in the flow direction can be increased.

  Since the passage width limiting means 34 has flexibility, it is possible to prevent the fish 23 from being damaged when the fish 23 passes from the upstream side in the flow direction to the downstream side in the flow direction while contacting the passage width limiting means 34. it can. The passage restriction member defines the passage region 41 so that the width dimension of the passage region 41 of the fish 23 becomes narrower from the upstream side in the flow direction of the flow path 36 toward the downstream side in the flow direction. It is possible to prevent the fish 23 from passing from the upstream side in the flow direction toward the downstream side in the flow direction while allowing the passage from the side toward the downstream side in the flow direction.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, a plurality of passage width restriction means 34 are provided in one flow path 36, and the plurality of passage width restriction means 34 are provided separately from each other in the flow direction. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the fish 23 from catching up with another fish 23 on the downstream side in the flow direction after passing through one passage width limiting means 34 in the flow path 36.

  According to the first embodiment, the method for separating fish includes an opening step of opening the closed bottom lid 26 within a predetermined time. Thereby, the liquid 24 containing the fish assembly and the fish 23 can be dropped from the bottom of the water tank 21 vertically downward and released in a short time. Therefore, the fish 23 can be prevented from proceeding against the flow of the liquid 24 and remaining in the water tank 21.

  Further, since the fish separation method uses a plurality of partition walls 28 provided below the aquarium 21, the plurality of fish 23 released vertically downward by the opening of the bottom lid 26 is placed in the space between the plurality of partition walls 28. enter in. Since the length of the partition wall 28 in the thickness direction of the space defined by the plurality of partition walls 28 is not less than one time and less than twice the body width of the fish 23, it enters one space between the partition walls 28. A plurality of fish 23 can be prevented from being arranged in the thickness direction of the partition wall 28. Since the aggregate of fish is discharged vertically downward together with the liquid 24 containing the fish 23, even when the fish 23 rides on the upper ends of the plurality of partition walls 28, the fish 23 is separated from the partition walls 28 by the water flow. You can enter the space between.

  As a result of the experiment, the fish 23 flowing through the flow path 36 has a posture in which the back part is directed upward and the abdomen is directed downward without exception. However, the fish 23 flowing through the flow path 36 is directed downward and the abdomen upward. The fish 23 can be separated by the fish separation device 20 according to the first embodiment even when the posture is directed toward the head.

  The fish 23 that passes through the flow path 36 includes a fish 23 that faces one side in the flow direction and a fish 23 that faces the other side in the flow direction. In either case, the fish separation device 20 separates the fish 23. There is no obstacle to doing.

  Since the aquarium 21 is formed of a transparent member in the first embodiment, the state of the fish 23 and the liquid 24 in the aquarium 21 is also observed from the outside of the aquarium 21 perpendicularly away from the aquarium center line L1. Becomes easier. This makes it easy to find the unhealthy fish 23 when the unhealthy fish 23 exists in the fish assembly. Therefore, the user of the fish separating apparatus 20 can increase the chances of judging pass / fail.

  In the water tank 21, first and second inclined portions 47 and 48 that define the internal space in the water tank 21 in a tapered shape are provided from the top to the bottom. The smaller the area of the bottom lid 26 that closes the bottom in the water tank 21, the shorter the time taken to open the bottom lid 26. However, when the inclined portion 46 is not provided inside the water tank 21, if the opening 42 at the bottom of the water tank 21 closed by the bottom lid 26 is reduced, the bottom of the water tank 21 when the bottom lid 26 is opened, There is a possibility that the fish 23 remains in a portion different from the portion covered by the bottom lid 26. In the first embodiment, since the first and second inclined portions 47 and 48 are provided in the water tank 21, the bottom lid 26 is opened compared to the case where the first and second inclined portions 47 and 48 are not provided. Moreover, the possibility that the fish 23 remains in the water tank 21 can be reduced.

  Among the plurality of partition walls 28, the height in the vertical direction of the two partition walls 28 positioned at both ends in the width direction is set higher than that of the partition wall 28 positioned in the middle in the width direction. Thereby, when the bottom lid 26 is opened, it is possible to prevent the fish 23 and the liquid 24 that fall toward the space between the partition walls 28 from being discharged outward in the width direction from the partition walls 28. .

  The upper end of each partition wall 28 facing the water tank 21 in a cross section perpendicular to the flow direction is formed in a rounded shape. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the fish 23 from being damaged when the fish 23 comes into contact with the upper end portion of the partition wall 28. Further, it is possible to prevent the fish 23 from getting on the partition wall 28 and to allow the fish 23 to enter the space between the partition walls 28. Further, the downstream end portions of the plurality of partition walls 28 in the flow direction are located on the downstream side in the flow direction with respect to the downstream end portion in the flow direction of the water tank 21. Thereby, the possibility that the fish 23 dropped from the water tank 21 jumps to the downstream side in the flow direction from the partition wall 28 can be reduced.

  In the first embodiment, the partition wall 28 is a material made of resin. Since the resin has a lower hardness than glass and metal, the possibility of the fish 23 being damaged by the partition wall 28 can be reduced. More specifically, the partition wall 28 is made of foamed plastic. Since the foamed plastic is less elastic than the resin having rubber elasticity, it is easy to maintain the shape of the entire partition wall 28. Moreover, since the elasticity is large compared with the plastic which is below the glass-rubber transition temperature and does not contain air bubbles, the possibility of the fish 23 being damaged can be reduced.

  The bottom member 27 includes two plate members 31 in which a plurality of holes 32 are formed. Thereby, a part of the liquid 24 dropped from the water tank 21 can be passed vertically downward. Further, the amount of the liquid 24 that passes through the plurality of holes 32 and falls vertically downward can be adjusted by changing the relative positions of the two plate-like members 31. This makes it possible to adjust the amount of the liquid 24 that goes with the fish 23 toward the downstream side in the flow direction. The greater the amount of liquid 24 that flows from the upstream side to the downstream side in the flow direction along with the fish 23, the easier it is for the fish 23 to swim against the flow of the liquid 24, and the fish 23 moves from the downstream side toward the upstream side. It becomes easy to swim. Further, the smaller the amount of the liquid 24 that flows downstream with the fish 23, the more the fish 23 cannot be supported by buoyancy and the fish 23 may be damaged. Since the amount of the liquid 24 flowing downstream in the flow direction can be adjusted by the two plate-like members 31 included in the bottom member 27, the fish 23 can be prevented from going up and the fish 23 can be easily separated.

  Of the six channels 36, the lengths in the flow direction of the two channels 362 located at the center in the width direction are the same, but the length in the flow direction of the other adjacent channels 36 is A difference of about 1.5 cm is provided. By setting this difference as a difference in the length in the flow direction of the adjacent flow paths 36, a person is located near the downstream end in the flow direction of each flow path 36 and has passed through the flow path 36. Can be captured by hand and put into the fish shape discriminating device 53.

  The fish 23 that has entered the space between the adjacent partition walls 28 temporarily floats in the surrounding liquid 24 and is away from the bottom member 27. In this state, the fish 23 has a posture in which the back portion is directed upward and the abdomen portion is directed downward. When the fish 23 and the liquid 24 enter the flow path 36 while floating in the liquid 24 in the space between the partition members, the lower the vertical portion 39 that defines the flow path 36 from the width direction, the lower the fish. There is a high possibility that 23 will jump up above the vertical portion 39. In the first embodiment, the height of the upstream end portion in the flow direction of the vertical portion 39 is higher than the height of the vertical portion 39 excluding the upstream end portion in the flow direction. When the fish 23 enters the flow path 36 and proceeds downstream from the upstream end of the vertical portion 39 in the flow direction, the liquid 24 located near the fish 23 diffuses in the flow direction. The possibility of being positioned higher than the vertical portion 39 is low. Therefore, by forming the upstream end of the vertical portion 39 in the flow direction higher, the fish 23 may move over the vertical portion 39 to the adjacent flow path 36 and the fish 23 may jump up and be vertical. The possibility of riding on the upper end portion of the portion 39 can be reduced.

  In the fish separation method according to the first embodiment, the possibility of damaging the fish 23 can be reduced by performing the liquid 24 injection step prior to the fish injection step.

  In the first embodiment, the water tank 21 is formed of a transparent member except for the bottom plate portion, and specifically, is formed of an acrylic resin. However, the material of the water tank 21 is not defined in the present invention. For example, in other embodiments, the water tank 21 may be a metal. Further, the absolute size of the water tank 21 is not specified.

  In 1st Embodiment, although the water tank 21 shall be installed so that a baseplate part may become horizontal, the water tank 21 may be installed so that a baseplate part may incline with respect to a horizontal virtual plane. For example, in another embodiment, the water tank 21 is inclined so that the surface of the bottom plate part perpendicular to the thickness direction includes a straight line that is perpendicular to the flow direction and goes downward as it goes downstream in the flow direction. It may be installed.

  In the first embodiment, the partition wall 28 is made of foamed plastic, but the partition wall 28 may not be made of foamed plastic. For example, in another embodiment, the partition wall 28 may be made of a resin that does not enclose bubbles, or may be a composite material in which a resin is bonded to both sides in the width direction of a metal plate whose width direction is the thickness direction. Good.

  In the first embodiment, the upstream side in the flow direction of the bottom member 27 of the separator 22 from the water tank center line L1 is formed as a curved surface, and is formed as an inclined surface 29 that goes upward as it goes upstream in the flow direction. However, in other embodiments, the bottom member 27 may be formed as a flat member.

  In the first embodiment, a groove is formed between the vertical portions 39 adjacent to each other in the width direction of the flow path structure 33, and the upper portion of the groove between the adjacent vertical portions 39 is open, and the external space Communicating with However, in other embodiments, the flow path structure 33 may include a plurality of cylindrical members having a longitudinal direction in the flow direction.

  In the first embodiment, the interval between the vertical portions 39 adjacent to each other in the width direction of the flow path structure 33 is equal to the distance between the surfaces facing each other at the lower end portions of the partition walls 28 adjacent in the width direction. It is sufficient if the interval between the vertical portions 39 adjacent to each other in the direction is set to be not less than 1 and less than 2 times the body width of the fish 23 to be separated. For example, in another embodiment, the interval between the vertical portions 39 adjacent in the width direction may be shorter or longer than the distance between the opposing surfaces of the lower end portions of the partition walls 28 adjacent in the width direction. .

  In the first embodiment, the number of the partition walls 28 and the groove portions 37 aligned in the width direction is six, but the number of the partition walls 28 and the groove portions 37 aligned in the width direction is not defined. For example, in other embodiments, the number of the partition walls 28 and the groove portions 37 arranged in the width direction may be five or less, or may be seven or more.

  In the first embodiment, each groove portion 37 is formed in a straight line. However, the upper end surface of one end portion of the floor portion 38 on the side close to the water tank 21 is the other side of the floor portion 38 at a position away from the water tank 21. It is only necessary that the height is monotonous from the one end portion of the floor portion 38 toward the other end portion of the floor portion 38, which is higher than the end surface. In another embodiment, the groove portion 37 may be formed so that an axis line related to the groove portion 37 is curved. When the groove part 37 is bent and provided, the name of “flow direction” does not represent a certain direction, and is the direction of the flow of the liquid 24 formed in each part of the groove part 37.

  In the first embodiment, the passage width limiting means 34 includes two portions provided in both the adjacent vertical portions 39 so as to protrude into the flow path 36. However, in the present invention, the passage width limiting means 34 is It is sufficient if it is formed so as to limit the width dimension of the passage region 41 through which the fish 23 passes from both sides in the width direction. For example, in another embodiment, the passage width limiting means 34 may be formed by a single member that protrudes into the flow path 36 from one or the other vertical portion 39 in the width direction in the flow path 36.

  FIG. 8 is a plan view of the separator 22, the flow path structure 33, the passage width limiting means 34, and the fish catcher 54 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the plurality of groove portions 37 are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction and horizontal. Each groove portion 37 includes a floor portion 38 and a vertical portion 39. The floor portion 38 defines the flow path 36 from below, the vertical portion 39 protrudes upward from the floor portion 38, has a longitudinal direction in the flow direction, and defines the flow path 36 from both sides in the width direction of the flow path 36. . In each groove portion 37, the downstream end portions in the flow direction of the two vertical portions 39 that define the flow path 36 from the width direction are formed at different positions in the flow direction. The two flow paths 36 on both sides sandwiching the downstream end located on the upstream side have, as the junction 56, the position downstream of the downstream end located upstream in the flow direction among the downstream ends. In the downstream side of the junction point 56, a single flow path 36 that is joined together is formed. The width dimension of one flow path 36 that merges with each other is less than twice the body width of the fish 23.

  In the second embodiment, six flow paths 36 are formed, and the lengths of the adjacent groove portions 37 in the flow direction are different from each other. The groove portion 37 located at the outermost position in the width direction is the shortest, and the groove portion 37 is set longer as it approaches the center in the width direction. The flow path 36 located on the other side in the width direction is referred to as “first flow path” and “second flow path” from the flow path 36 located on the one side in the width direction to the other side in the width direction. It is called “road”. The first flow path 57 and the second flow path 58 merge to form one flow path 36, and the fifth flow path 62 and the sixth flow path 63 merge to form one flow path 36. The downstream end of the vertical portion 39 located between the two flow paths 36 that join together is referred to as a “merging point vicinity end”. A confluence point end 64 located between the first flow path 57 and the second flow path 58 and a confluence point vicinity end 64 located between the fifth flow path 62 and the sixth flow path 63 are other confluence points. It is on the most upstream side with respect to the vicinity end portion 64.

  The joined flow path 36 is formed as a flow path 36 having a width dimension less than twice the body width of the fish 23 on the downstream side of the merge point 56. The shorter the length in the flow direction from the confluence 56 to the flow path 36 whose width dimension is less than twice the body width of the fish 23, the better. The flow path 36 where the first flow path 57 and the second flow path 58 merge is adjacent to the third flow path 59. The flow path 36 where the fifth flow path 62 and the sixth flow path 63 merge is adjacent to the fourth flow path 61. On the downstream side of the end 64 near the merge point between the first and second channels 57 and 58, the channel 36 where the first and second channels 58 merge and the third channel 59 merge. . The flow path 36 where the fifth and sixth flow paths 63 merge and the fourth flow path 61 merge on the downstream side of the end 64 near the merge point between the fifth and sixth flow paths 62 and 63. . One flow path 36 on the downstream side of the first to third flow paths 59 and one flow path 36 on the downstream side of the fourth to sixth flow paths 63 are adjacent to each other, and they merge. Two flow paths 36 adjacent in the width direction merge to form one flow path 36, and one flow path 36 formed by merging on the downstream side of the merge point 56 is adjacent to the flow path 36. Join 36. The number of channels 36 arranged in the width direction decreases toward the downstream side, and finally becomes one channel 36. The fish 23 passing through the flow path 36 is captured by a fish catcher 54 disposed on the downstream side of the flow path 36 and is input to the fish body shape determination device 53.

  According to the second embodiment, a plurality of flow paths 36 are formed in the flow path structure 33. The two flow paths 36 adjacent on the upstream side of the merge point 56 are formed as one merged flow path 36 on the downstream side of the merge point 56, and the width dimension of the merged single flow path 36 is the fish 23. Is less than twice the body width. According to this configuration, since at most two fishes 23 reach the confluence 56 at the same time, the flow path 36 having a width dimension of three times or more the body width of the fish 23 is set to the downstream side thereof. The possibility that the plurality of fishes 23 reach the confluence 56 at the same time can be reduced as compared with the case where the fish 23 is formed to be less than twice the body width. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the plurality of fishes 23 arrive at the confluence 56 at the same time and prevent the downstream progression from being mutually prevented.

  FIG. 9 is a plan view of the fish catcher 54 in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a side view of the fish catcher 54 according to the first embodiment of the present invention viewed from the inside in the width direction. The fish separation apparatus 20 according to the first embodiment is configured to further include a fish catcher 54. The fish catcher 54 is a device that catches the fish 23 from both sides in the body width direction of the fish 23 on the downstream side of the flow path. In the first embodiment, the fish catcher 54 includes a side wall portion 66, an electromagnet portion 67, and a contact portion 68. The side wall portion 66 is provided on the downstream side of the flow path 36 through which the fish 23 passes along with the liquid 24, and is formed on the two flat plate members 31 that are separated from each other in the crossing direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction of the fish and the liquid. And is formed to be displaceable in the width direction. The width direction at the downstream end of the flow path is referred to as “crossing direction”. The crossing direction is a direction that is perpendicular and horizontal to the traveling direction of the fish and liquid moving from the flow path to the fish catcher.

  The electromagnet portion 67 includes an electromagnet that functions as a magnet when energized, and is connected to the lower end portion of the side wall portion 66 inward in the width direction with respect to the side wall portion 66. When the electromagnet functions as a magnet, the side wall 66 is displaced in the width direction by the magnetic force of the magnet, and the two flat members 31 are brought close to each other.

  The contact portion 68 includes two stretchable members in which a recess 78 is formed inward in the width direction. The two stretchable members are formed of felt, sponge, or rubber net, and are fixedly provided to the respective plate-like members 31 on the inner side in the width direction of the side wall portion 66. In the first embodiment, the stretchable member is formed of felt. Regardless of the position of the side wall 66 in the width direction, an inner space is always formed between the two stretchable members, and the length of the inner space in the width direction is larger than the body width of the fish 23 to be captured. It is set large. When the side wall 66 is closest to the inside in the width direction, the distance between the two stretchable members is shorter than the body width of the fish 23 to be captured on the downstream side in the flow direction of the internal space. .

  In the first embodiment, the fish catcher 54 further includes a sensor 69, a side wall drive unit 71, and a control unit 72. The sensor 69 detects the presence or absence of the fish 23 in a part of the predetermined flow path 36 upstream of the side wall portion 66 in the flow direction of the liquid 24 flowing through the flow path 36, and detects the presence of the fish 23. Is output. The side wall driving unit 71 displaces one flat plate member 31 in the width direction of the two flat plate members 31 of the side wall portion 66 in the width direction. The control unit 72 receives a signal from the sensor 69, and based on the signal from the sensor 69 and the time when the signal is received from the sensor 69, the timing of energizing the electromagnet of the electromagnet unit 67 and the driving of the side wall driving unit 71. And control.

  In the first embodiment, a convex portion 73 projecting downward is formed at the lower portion of the electromagnet portion 67, and the convex portion 73 is formed with the width direction as a longitudinal direction. The position of the lower end portion of the convex portion 73 is set lower than the lower end portion of the side wall portion 66. The fish catcher 54 further includes a floor plate portion 74 and a support guide portion 76. The floor plate portion 74 is provided on the downstream side of the flow path 36 in the flow direction, and is provided at a position lower than the side wall portion 66, the contact portion 68 and the electromagnet portion 67, and the side wall portion 66, the contact portion 68 and the electromagnet portion 67 are disposed below Support from. The support guide portion 76 is fixed to the floor plate portion 74, defines a concave groove 77, is formed to extend in the width direction, includes a recess 78 that extends to one side in the width direction relative to the floor plate portion 74, and And is slidably fitted in the width direction.

  In the first embodiment, a fish catcher 54 and a fish shape discriminating device 53 are attached to the downstream side of each flow path 36 in the flow direction. The fish catcher 54 is included in the fish separation device 20 according to the first embodiment, catches the fish 23 that has passed through the flow path 36 and has come to the downstream side in the flow direction, and uses the caught fish 23 as a fish shape discrimination device. 53 is an apparatus to be charged. The fish catcher 54 includes a side wall portion 66, a contact portion 68, a floor plate portion 74, a support guide portion 76, an electromagnet portion 67, a sensor 69, a control portion 72, and a side wall drive portion 71. Is done.

  The side wall portions 66 are made of two flat metal materials and form a pair with two flat materials separated in the width direction. Each flat plate-like material is arranged in parallel with a straight line extending in the flow direction and a straight line extending in the up-down direction. The side wall portion 66 can be displaced in the width direction with respect to the groove portion 37. Each metal material is longer than the total length of the standard body length and tail fin length of the fish 23 in the flow direction, and longer than the body height of the fish 23 in the height direction.

  FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the fish catcher 54 according to the first embodiment of the present invention cut along the cutting plane line AA shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the fish catcher 54 in the closed state in the first embodiment of the present invention. The contact portion 68 is formed of felt and includes two stretchable members that are fixedly attached to a metal material inside the side wall portion 66 in the width direction. Two elastic members form a pair, thereby catching the fish 23 from both sides in the width direction.

  A concave portion 78 is provided inward in the width direction of the contact portion 68, and even if the side wall portion 66, the contact portion 68, and the electromagnet portion 67 contract in the width direction, the fish catcher 54 has both sides in the width direction. The recess 78 forms a space between the felts. The width dimension of the space in the width direction is larger than the body width of the fish 23 to be separated by the fish separation device 20 in the central portion in the vertical direction. The fish 23 captured by the contact portion 68 is located in the space between the felts formed by the concave portions 78 on both sides in the width direction. The contact portion 68 does not press the fish 23 simultaneously from both sides in the width direction.

  When the fish catcher 54 is closed, the internal space defined by the contact portion 68 is opened upward. In addition, an opening 42 opened downward in the closed state is also formed, but the opening 42 opened downward in the closed state is a small opening 42 that the fish 23 cannot pass through.

  The floor plate portion 74 is provided on the downstream side of the flow path 36 and is below the side wall portion 66, the contact portion 68 and the electromagnet portion 67, and supports the fish 23 and the liquid 24 flowing through the flow path 36 from below. To do. A support guide portion 76 extending in the width direction is fitted to the floor plate portion 74, and the floor plate portion 74 and the support guide portion 76 are fixed to each other. The upper surface of the floor plate portion 74, the upper surface of the bottom portion of the flow path 36, and the surface of the upper end portion of the support guiding portion 76 are formed to be flush with each other.

  The support guiding portion 76 is below the side wall portion 66, the contact portion 68, and the electromagnet portion 67 and is fitted to the bottom plate portion. In the present embodiment, the support guiding portion 76 includes two concave portions 78 that define two concave grooves 77. Each recess 78 has a longitudinal direction in the width direction, and extends longer in the width direction than the bottom plate portion downstream of the three flow paths 36 located on one side in the width direction among the six flow paths 36. In the downstream of the three flow paths 36 located on the other side in the width direction among the six flow paths 36, the six flow paths 36 extend longer in the other direction in the width direction than the bottom plate portion. One end surface in the width direction of the concave portion 78 extending to one side in the width direction from the bottom plate portion and one end surface in the width direction of the bottom plate portion are separated in the width direction, and this distance is larger than the body width of the fish 23 to be separated. long.

  FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the support guiding portion 76 in the first embodiment of the present invention. The opening 42 formed in the recess 78 and the internal space are collectively referred to as a “concave groove”. An opening 42 is formed at the upper end of each recess 78 that defines the groove 77 in the flow direction and the upper end is separated, and the internal space formed inside the recess 78 communicates with the external space above. To do. The length of the internal space formed inside the recess 78 in the flow direction is longer than the length of the opening 42 in the flow direction. The cross section of the recess 78 cut by a plane perpendicular to the width direction defines an internal space shaped like a T-shape upside down.

  When the concave groove 77 is viewed from above, among the portions defining the internal space from below, the central portion in the flow direction is directly visible, and the portion defining the internal space on both sides in the flow direction is the upper end of the concave portion 78 in the vicinity of the opening 42. It is not visible directly from the information. At both ends in the width direction of the concave groove 77, the internal space and the opening 42 communicate with the external space, and the convex portion 73 fitted into the concave groove 77 is either in the width direction with respect to the concave groove 77. Inserted from the side.

  Each concave groove 77 is fitted with a convex portion 73 provided below the electromagnet portion 67 to support the side wall portion 66, the contact portion 68 and the electromagnet portion 67. The surface of the concave portion 78 that defines the concave groove 77 is a smooth surface. The two recesses 78 are located away from each other in the flow direction and are located near both ends of the side wall portion 66 in the flow direction.

  The electromagnet part 67 includes an electromagnet structure. Four electromagnet structures are fixedly provided on each of the two flat plate-like materials constituting the side wall portion 66, and a total of eight electromagnet structures are provided for one side wall portion 66 including a pair of flat plate-like materials. . The electromagnet structure is provided so as to protrude inward in the width direction from the upper end and the lower end in the height direction on the upstream side and the downstream side in the flow direction of the side wall 66. Each electromagnet structure includes a coil and a core, and when an electric current is generated in the coil, each electromagnet structure functions as a magnet, and when the current in the coil disappears, each electromagnet structure The function as an electromagnet is lost.

  Of the electromagnetic structure provided fixed to each flat plate material, a convex portion 73 protruding downward is formed at the lower part of the electromagnet structure located near the lower end of each flat plate material. The convex portion 73 is formed to project downward from the side wall portion 66 and fits into a concave groove 77 formed in the support derivative. When the convex portion 73 is fitted into the concave groove 77, the side wall portion 66, the contact portion 68, and the electromagnet portion 67 are prevented from being displaced in the flow direction and can be displaced in the width direction. When the convex portion 73 is displaced in the width direction in the concave groove 77, the side wall portion 66, the contact portion 68, and the electromagnet portion 67 can be displaced in the width direction. Two convex portions 73 are disposed on each side wall portion 66, and each convex portion 73 has a shape that is long in the width direction. Thus, the side wall portion 66, the contact portion 68, and the electromagnet portion 67 are prevented from being angularly displaced with the vertical line as the axial direction.

  Of each convex portion 73, the portion that fits into the opening 42 above the concave portion 78 has a short length in the flow direction, and the portion that fits in the internal space of the concave portion 78 has a long length in the flow direction. It is formed. The cross section perpendicular to the width direction of each convex portion 73 has a shape that the T-shape is turned upside down, and the convex portion 73 is located above the concave portion 78 with the convex portion 73 fitted in the concave portion 78. Even if it is going to be displaced, the convex part 73 and the concave part 78 are prevented from being engaged and displaced from each other. When fitting the convex portion 73 into the concave portion 78, the convex portion 73 is inserted into the concave groove 77 from either side of the concave portion 78 in the width direction.

  The sensor 69 is provided upstream of the side wall portion 66, the contact portion 68, and the electromagnet portion 67 in the flow direction, and detects the presence of the fish 23 traveling in the flow path 36. The sensor 69 is a photointerrupter having a light emitting diode and a phototransistor, and outputs an electrical signal to the control unit 72 when detecting that the fish 23 has reached a predetermined position. Even if the liquid 24 exists in the flow path 36 at a position where the sensor 69 detects the presence of the fish 23, no electrical signal is output to the control unit 72. Six sensors 69 are provided according to the number of the flow paths 36.

  A predetermined position where the sensor 69 detects the presence of the fish 23 is the flow path 36 on the upstream side in the flow direction with respect to the side wall portion 66, the electromagnet portion 67 and the contact portion 68. The sensor 69 may observe any location in the flow direction of the flow path 36 to detect the presence or absence of the fish 23, but it is preferable to observe in the downstream area in the flow direction of the flow path 36.

  The control unit 72 receives an electrical signal from the sensor 69, determines a time when the side wall driving unit 71 and the electromagnet are driven, and drives the electromagnet and the side wall driving unit 71. Electricity is passed through the electromagnet portion 67 under the control of the sensor 69. As a result, the electromagnet portion 67 has a magnetic force and functions as a magnet. When the electromagnet portion 67 functions as a magnet, an external force by the electromagnet is applied to the side wall portion 66 that is separated in the width direction. The external force generated by the electromagnet attracts the pair of electromagnets separated in the width direction and displaced in the width direction. The electromagnets displaced in the width direction by the attractive force between the electromagnets contact each other.

  The side wall drive unit 71 moves the side wall unit 66, the contact unit 68, and the electromagnet unit 67. In the present embodiment, the side wall drive unit 71 has one flat plate-like material in the width direction among the pair of flat plate materials downstream of the three flow channels 36 located on one side in the width direction among the six flow channels 36. The material, the contact portion 68 fixed to the material, and the electromagnet are moved in one width direction. Of the six flow paths 36, downstream of the three flow paths 36 located on the other side in the width direction, out of the pair of flat plate materials, the other flat plate material in the width direction and the contact fixed thereto. The part 68 and the electromagnet are moved to the other side in the width direction. The side wall drive unit 71 has a double-acting air cylinder or a rack and pinion mechanism.

  The side wall drive unit 71 is provided on one side in the width direction rather than one plate-shaped material in the width direction, includes a rod having a longitudinal direction in the width direction and displaced in the width direction, and the other side in the width direction of the rod. The end portion is connected to one surface portion in the width direction of one flat plate-like material in the width direction. Among the materials constituting the fish catcher 54, the side wall 66, the contact 68, the floor plate 74, the support guide 76, the electromagnet 67, the sensor 69, and the side wall drive 71 are each flow-type. One is provided on the downstream side of the path 36. Although six control units 72 may be provided in accordance with the number of the flow paths 36, one control unit 72 may be provided in the present embodiment.

  FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a state in which the fish catcher 54 is driven in the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 14, the concave portion 78 extends longer in the width direction than the bottom plate portion, and the side wall driving portion 71 is fixed to one of the flat plate materials in the width direction among the pair of flat plate materials. The form about the case where the contact part 68 and an electromagnet are moved to the width direction one side was shown. Of the six channels 36, the fish catcher 54 located on the downstream side of the three channels 36 on the other side in the width direction has a configuration in which one in the width direction and the other in the width direction are reversed. When the fish 23 passes through the flow path 36 and comes downstream in the flow direction of the flow path 36, the sensor 69 detects that the fish 23 has come to a predetermined position. The sensor 69 outputs information indicating that the fish 23 has arrived at a predetermined position to the control unit 72 by outputting an electrical signal to the control unit 72.

  As shown in FIG. 14A, when the fish 23 is positioned between the contact portions 68 that are separated in the width direction, the fish is captured by the electromagnet portion 67 functioning as a magnet as shown in FIG. 14B. Is done. Next, as shown in FIG. 14C, the side wall drive unit 71 displaces one side wall in the width direction to one side in the width direction, and both the side wall part 66, the electromagnet part 67, and the contact part 68 in the width direction have one side in the width direction. The internal space in the contact portion 68 is positioned on one side in the width direction with respect to the floor plate portion 74. Next, when energization to the electromagnet portion 67 is stopped and the function of the electromagnet portion 67 as a magnet is stopped, when one side wall portion 66 in the width direction is further displaced in the width direction by the side wall driving portion 71, the width direction The space between the contact portions 68 on both sides widens, and the fish falls below the floor plate portion 74.

  FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection relationship included in the fish catcher 54. The control unit 72 in the fish catcher 54 is electrically connected to the sensor 69, the electromagnet unit 67, and the side wall drive unit 71. The control unit 72 controls the electromagnet unit 67 and the side wall driving unit 71 based on a signal output from the sensor 69.

  Based on the signal output from the sensor 69 and the time when the signal is output from the sensor 69, the control unit 72 determines when the fish 23 arrives inward in the width direction of the side wall portion 66 and the contact portion 68. Predict. The control unit 72 controls the electromagnet unit 67 and the side wall drive unit 71 to drive the electromagnet unit 67 and the side wall unit 66 in accordance with the time when the fish 23 arrives inward in the width direction of the side wall unit 66 and the contact unit 68. When the eight electromagnets of the electromagnet portion 67 have a magnetic force and function as magnets, a force is applied to the pair of side wall portions 66 and the pair of contact portions 68 in a direction in which they are brought close to each other. Accordingly, in a state where the pair of fishes 23 are positioned between the side wall part 66 and the pair of contact parts 68, the side wall part 66 and the contact part 68 move inward in the width direction, and the fish 23 is captured. The electromagnets of the eight electromagnet portions 67 that are fixed to the pair of side wall portions 66 function as magnets, and the four electromagnet portions 67 that are fixed to the one flat plate member 31 in the width direction and the other in the width direction. The four electromagnet portions 67 provided on the side wall portion 66 are paired with each other, and the side wall portion 66 and the contact portion 68 are closed.

  The side wall drive unit 71 is driven in a state where the fish 23 is captured. The side wall drive unit 71 displaces one flat plate member 31 in the width direction to one side in the width direction, and both side wall portions 66 on both sides in the width direction are guided by the support guide portions 76 and displaced in one direction in the width direction. In the state where the inner space defined from both sides in the width direction of the contact portion 68 is located on one side in the width direction than the bottom plate portion, and there is no bottom plate portion below the inner space, the control unit 72 supplies power to the electromagnet portion 67. Stop and stop the function of the electromagnet as a magnet. Then, the side wall drive part 71 displaces one flat member 31 in the width direction further in the width direction. As a result, the internal space formed between the contact portions 68 is enlarged, and the length in the width direction of the opening 42 below the internal space becomes longer than the body width of the fish 23, and the supplement of the fish 23 is released. Is done. As a result, the fish 23 falls downward by a driving force based on its own weight, and is thrown into the fish shape discriminating device 53. The driving force based on its own weight is the gravity of the earth acting on the mass.

  Even when the side wall 66, the electromagnet 67, and the contact 68 are displaced in the width direction one side than the floor 74, the floor 74 is separated from the side 66 by the support guide 76 fixed to the floor 74. Since the portion 67 and the contact portion 68 are supported, the side wall portion 66 electromagnet portion 67 and the contact portion 68 are indirectly supported by the floor plate portion 74.

  The control unit 72 of the fish catcher 54 is also electrically connected to a sensor 69 in the fish shape discriminating device 53 that determines whether or not the fish shape discriminating device 53 is in a state where the fish 23 can be received. The drive timing of the drive unit 71 is determined. When the sensor 69 in the fish shape discriminating device 53 outputs an electrical signal to the control unit 72 of the fish catcher 54 and transmits information indicating that the fish 23 can be received to the control unit 72, the control of the fish catcher 54 is performed. The unit 72 controls the electromagnet unit 67 and the side wall drive unit 71 to determine when to put the fish 23 passing through the flow path 36 into the fish shape discriminating device 53. As a result, one fish 23 is put into the fish shape discrimination device 53 one by one.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the steps of the fish catching method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the fish catching method, the fish 23 that has passed through the flow path 36 from the upstream side in the flow direction toward the downstream side in the flow direction on the downstream side in the flow direction of the liquid 24 flowing along with the fish 23 of the flow path 36 in which the fish 23 flows along with the liquid 24. Is a way to capture.

  In the fish catching method in the first embodiment, the side wall portion 66, the electromagnet portion 67, the sensor 69, the side wall drive portion 71, and the floor plate portion 74 are used. The side wall portion 66 is provided on the downstream side of the flow path 36 through which the fish 23 passes with the liquid 24, and includes two flat members 31 that are formed on both sides in the width direction of the flow path 36. The side wall 66 is formed to be displaceable in the width direction. The electromagnet portion 67 includes an electromagnet that functions as a magnet when energized, and is connected to the lower end portion of the side wall portion 66 inward in the width direction with respect to the side wall portion 66. When the electromagnet functions as a magnet, the electromagnet portion 67 displaces the side wall portion 66 in the width direction by the magnetic force of the magnet and brings the two flat plate members 31 close to each other.

  The sensor 69 detects the presence or absence of the fish 23 in a part of the predetermined flow path 36 upstream of the side wall portion 66 in the flow direction of the liquid 24 flowing through the flow path 36, and detects the presence of the fish 23. Is output. The side wall driving unit 71 displaces one flat plate member 31 in the width direction of the two flat plate members 31 of the side wall portion 66 in the width direction. The floor plate portion 74 is provided on the downstream side in the flow direction with respect to the flow path 36 and is formed at a position lower than the side wall portion 66, the contact portion 68 and the electromagnet portion 67, and the side wall portion 66, the contact portion 68 and the electromagnet portion 67 are disposed below. Support from.

  In the fish catching method according to the first embodiment, an electromagnet energization step of energizing the electromagnet portion 67 based on a signal output from the sensor 69 and the flat plate member 31 in the width direction from the floor plate portion 74 by the side wall drive portion 71. After the first side wall portion driving step of displacing the electromagnet portion 67 in the width direction, the electromagnet energization stop step of stopping the energization of the electromagnet portion 67, and the electromagnet energization stop step, And the second side wall portion 66 driven to be displaced.

  More specifically, the contact portion 68, the control portion 72, and the support guide portion 76 described above are also used. Prior to this process, the sensor 69 continues to operate. The presence or absence of the fish 23 is observed in a part of the predetermined flow path 36, and if the presence of the fish 23 is detected, this process is started. After the start of this process, the process proceeds to the timing calculation step of step b1, and the control unit 72 determines that the fish 23 detected by the sensor 69 is a side wall based on the signal from the sensor 69 and the timing at which the signal is received from the sensor 69. The arrival time in the width direction of the part 66 is calculated.

  Next, the process proceeds to the electromagnet energization process of step b2, and the electromagnet in the electromagnet portion 67 is energized to generate a magnetic force in the electromagnet. The timing of energization of the electromagnet 67 to the electromagnet is the position calculated by the control unit 72 and where the fish 23 arrives inward in the width direction of the side wall 66. Accordingly, when the eight electromagnets of the electromagnet portion 67 have a magnetic force and function as magnets, a force is applied to the pair of side wall portions 66 and the pair of contact portions 68 in a direction in which they are brought close to each other. Accordingly, in a state where the pair of fishes 23 are positioned between the side wall part 66 and the pair of contact parts 68, the side wall part 66 and the contact part 68 move inward in the width direction, and the fish 23 is captured.

  Next, the process proceeds to the first side wall portion driving step of step b3, and one flat plate member 31 in the width direction is displaced to one side in the width direction from the floor plate portion 74. The side wall portions 66 on both sides in the width direction are all guided by the support guide portion 76 and displaced in one direction in the width direction. Accordingly, the fish 23 captured by the side wall portion 66 is positioned on one side in the width direction from the floor plate portion 74. Next, the process proceeds to the electromagnet energization stopping step of step b4, and the control unit 72 stops energization to the electromagnet unit 67 and stops the function of the electromagnet as a magnet. Next, the process proceeds to the second side wall portion driving step of step b5, and the side wall driving portion 71 displaces one flat plate member 31 in the width direction further in the width direction. As a result, the side wall portion 66 opens the captured fish 23, and the fish 23 falls to a position lower than the floor plate portion 74. Thereafter, this process ends.

  In the fish capturing method according to the first embodiment, the predetermined position at which the sensor 69 observes the presence or absence of the fish 23 is the channel 36 on the upstream side in the flow direction from the side wall portion 66, the electromagnet portion 67, and the contact portion 68. It is a downstream area in the flow direction of the flow path 36.

  The fish separation apparatus 20 according to the first embodiment is configured to further include a fish catcher 54. The fish catcher 54 is a device that catches the fish 23 from both sides in the body width direction of the fish 23 on the downstream side of the flow path. As a result, the fish 23 that has moved downstream in the flow path 36 can be captured and put into the fish shape discriminating device 53 one by one.

  In the first embodiment, the fish catcher 54 includes a side wall portion 66, an electromagnet portion 67, and a contact portion 68. The side wall portion 66 is provided on the downstream side of the flow path 36 through which the fish 23 passes along with the liquid 24, and includes two flat members 31 that are formed on both sides in the width direction of the flow path 36, and can be displaced in the width direction. Formed. When the two plate-like members 31 are displaced inward in the width direction when the fish 23 passes through the flow path 36, the width of the fish 23 that passes through the flow path 36 and is positioned inward in the width direction of the side wall portion 66 is reduced. Capture from both directions.

  The electromagnet portion 67 includes an electromagnet that functions as a magnet when energized. The electromagnet portion 67 is connected to the lower end portion of the side wall portion 66 inward in the width direction with respect to the side wall portion 66, and when the electromagnet functions as a magnet, The part 66 is displaced inward in the width direction. Thus, when the fish 23 is positioned inward in the width direction of the side wall portion 66, the distance between the two flat plate members 31 is shortened by causing the electromagnet to function as a magnet, and the fish 23 is moved by the displacement of the side wall portion 66. Can be captured.

  The contact portion 68 is formed of felt, and is fixedly provided on each flat plate member 31 on the inner side in the width direction of the side wall portion 66. It includes two stretchable members in which a recess 78 is formed inward in the width direction. Regardless of the position of the side wall 66 in the width direction, an inner space is always formed between the two stretchable members, and the length of the inner space in the width direction is larger than the body width of the fish 23 to be captured. It is set large. When the side wall 66 is closest to the inside in the width direction, the distance between the two stretchable members is shorter than the body width of the fish 23 to be captured on the downstream side in the flow direction of the internal space. .

  When the side wall portion 66 is displaced inward in the width direction, the contact portion 68 faces the fish 23, so that the fish 23 can be prevented from being damaged when the fish 23 is captured. When the side wall 66 is closest to the inside in the width direction, the fish 23 can be caught from both sides in the width direction by the elastic member. Further, it is possible to prevent the fish 23 that is thinned between the elastic members from being pressed from both sides in the width direction.

  In the first embodiment, the fish catcher 54 further includes a sensor 69, a side wall drive unit 71, and a control unit 72. The sensor 69 detects the presence or absence of the fish 23 in a part of the predetermined flow path 36 upstream of the side wall portion 66 in the flow direction of the liquid 24 flowing through the flow path 36, and detects the presence of the fish 23. Is output. The side wall drive unit 71 displaces one flat plate member 31 in the width direction of the two flat plate members 31 on the side wall in the width direction. The control unit 72 receives a signal from the sensor 69, and based on the signal from the sensor 69 and the time when the signal is received from the sensor 69, the timing of energizing the electromagnet of the electromagnet unit 67 and the driving of the side wall driving unit 71. And control.

  As a result, the sensor 69 can detect that the fish 23 has approached the fish catcher 54, and the control unit 72 can predict when the fish 23 is located inward in the width direction of the side wall 66. it can. The fish 23 can be captured by driving the electromagnet portion 67 at a time when the fish 23 is located inward in the width direction of the side wall portion 66. Further, by driving the side wall driving unit 71 after catching the fish 23, the caught fish 23, the side wall part 66, and the contact part 68 can be displaced in one width direction.

  Further, in the first embodiment, a convex portion 73 protruding downward is formed at the lower portion of the electromagnet portion 67, and the convex portion 73 is formed with the width direction as a longitudinal direction. The position of the lower end portion of the convex portion 73 is set lower than the lower end portion of the side wall portion 66. The fish catcher 54 further includes a floor plate portion 74 and a support guide portion 76. The floor plate portion 74 is provided on the downstream side in the flow direction with respect to the flow path 36, and is provided at a position lower than the side wall portion 66, the contact portion 68, and the electromagnet portion 67, and the side wall portion 66, the contact portion 68, and the electromagnet portion 67 are disposed below. Support from. The support guiding portion 76 defines a concave groove 77, is formed to extend in the width direction, includes a concave portion 78 that extends to one side in the width direction from the floor plate portion 74, and includes a convex portion 73 provided below the electromagnet portion 67. Fits slidably in the width direction.

  The electromagnet convex portion 73 is formed in the support guiding portion 76 and is slidably fitted in the concave portion 78 extending in the width direction one side than the floor plate portion 74, so that the side wall portion 66, the electromagnet portion 67 and the contact portion 68. Is guided by the support guiding portion 76 and can be displaced in the width direction one side than the floor plate portion 74. Thereby, the captured fish 23 can be moved to one side in the width direction from the floor plate portion 74. Therefore, the fish 23 can be dropped below the floor board portion 74 by releasing the capture of the fish 23 on the one side in the width direction than the floor board portion 74. Thereby, the fish 23 can be thrown into the fish body shape discriminating device 53.

  In the first embodiment, the control unit 72 of the fish catcher 54 is also electrically connected to the sensor 69 in the fish shape discriminating device 53 that determines whether or not the fish shape discriminating device 53 is ready to receive the fish 23. Therefore, the timing of driving the electromagnet and the side wall drive unit 71 can be determined by controlling the electromagnet unit 67 and the side wall drive unit 71 to determine the time when the captured fish 23 is thrown into the fish shape discriminating device 53. it can. As a result, it becomes possible to put the fish 23 one by one into the fish body shape discriminating device 53.

  In the first embodiment, the surface of the upper end portion of the support guiding portion 76 is flush with the upper end portion of the floor plate portion 74, and includes a portion protruding upward from the upper end portion of the floor plate portion 74. Not in. Thereby, when the fish 23 enters the fish catcher 54, it is possible to prevent the lower portion of the fish 23 from being damaged.

  Two convex portions 73 provided on the electromagnet portion 67 are arranged on each side wall portion 66, and each convex portion 73 has a shape that is long in the width direction. Thereby, the side wall part 66, the contact part 68, and the electromagnet part 67 can be prevented from being angularly displaced with the straight line in the vertical direction as the axis.

  The cross section perpendicular to the width direction of each convex portion 73 has a shape that is T-shaped upside down, and the cross section of the concave portion 78 cut by a plane perpendicular to the width direction is upside down. An internal space having a shape as described above is defined. As a result, even when trying to displace the convex portion 73 upward with respect to the concave portion 78 in a state where the convex portion 73 is fitted in the concave portion 78, the convex portion 73 and the concave portion 78 are engaged and displaced from each other. Can be prevented. Further, the side wall portion 66, the contact portion 68, and the electromagnet portion 67 can be prevented from being angularly displaced about a horizontal straight line as an axis.

  In a state in which the side wall portion 66, the electromagnet portion 67 and the contact portion 68 are closed in the width direction, the internal space formed between the contact portions 68 is upwardly opened to the external space above the contact portion 68. Is formed. As a result, the side wall 66 and the contact portion 68 are closed in the width direction, and at the same time, the liquid 24 around the fish 23 can move above the contact portion 68. Since the liquid 24 around the fish 23 is not sealed, it is possible to prevent the fish 23 from being pressurized through the liquid 24 around the fish 23.

  The fish catching method in the first embodiment includes an electromagnet energization process. The side wall 66 can be displaced by the force attracted by the electromagnet and the fish 23 can be captured. Therefore, after the fish 23 is positioned inward in the width direction of the side wall 66, the fish 23 is downstream of the side wall 66 in the flow direction. The fish 23 can be captured in a shorter time than the time required to move to the side. Moreover, since the magnitude of the force attracted by the electromagnet can be adjusted by adjusting the value of the current flowing through the electromagnet, it is possible to prevent the fish 23 from being damaged by the displacement in the width direction of the electromagnet.

  The fish catching method in the first embodiment is further configured to include a first side wall portion driving step, an electromagnet energization stopping step, and a second side wall portion driving step. Thereby, the fish 23 captured by the side wall portion 66 is positioned on one side in the width direction with respect to the floor plate portion 74, and the flat plate members 31 of the side wall portion 66 attract each other in the width direction in a state where the floor plate portion 74 is not below. The catch of the fish 23 can be canceled by increasing the distance in the width direction of the flat plate member 31. Therefore, the fish 23 can be dropped below the floor plate portion 74 on one side in the width direction from the floor plate portion 74.

  In the electromagnet energization process in other embodiments, the electromagnet may be energized, and at the same time, the side wall drive unit 71 may displace one flat plate member 31 in the width direction to the other in the width direction. As a result, the force with which the electromagnets separated in the width direction are attracted to each other increases, and after the fish 23 is positioned inward in the width direction of the side wall portion 66, the fish 23 moves from the side wall portion 66 to the downstream side in the flow direction. The fish 23 can be captured within a shorter period of time.

  In the first embodiment, the fish catcher 54 directly feeds the fish 23 into the inlet of the fish shape discriminating device 53, but the fish catcher 54 uses the fish 23 as the inlet of the fish shape discriminating device 53. Any configuration that opens the catch of the fish 23 at the target position where the fish can be headed and when the fish shape discriminating device 53 is in a state where the fish 23 can be received at the insertion port is sufficient. For example, in another embodiment, the fish catcher 54 may release the catch of the fish 23 in the vicinity of the other end of the hose that is connected to the insertion port of the fish shape discriminating device 53.

  In the first embodiment, the fish 23 that has exited the fish separation device 20 downstream in the flow direction is configured to be captured by the fish catcher 54. However, in another embodiment, the fish separation device 20 is disposed downstream in the flow direction. The fish 23 that has come out may be thrown into the fish shape discriminating device 53 by a human hand. In this case, it is not necessary to install the fish catcher 54 on the downstream side in the flow direction of the fish separator 20. Even in this case, the fish separating apparatus 20 can separate the fish aggregate into one fish 23 flowing through the flow path 36, so that one fish 23 can be obtained from the fish aggregate swimming in the aquarium 21. The fish 23 can be separated and captured more easily than when captured by a human hand.

  FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing the inside of the fish shape discriminating apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 18 is a plan view of the fish shape discriminating apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the fish shape discriminating device taken along the section line CC shown in FIG. 18 when the imaging container 79 is in the imaging area 81 in the first embodiment of the present invention. is there. In FIG. 19, among the plurality of imaging containers 79, the imaging containers 79 other than the imaging containers 79 located in the imaging area 81 and the discharge area 82 are illustrated. When the fish shape discriminating apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is cut along the cutting plane line BB shown in FIG. 18, a cross-sectional view of FIG. 17 is obtained.

  The fish shape discriminating apparatus according to the present embodiment discriminates the shape of the live fish 23. In the present invention, the state in which the fish 23 faces the back upward and the abdomen faces downward is referred to as an “upright state”. Determining whether the fish 23 is good or bad is referred to as “determination”, and sorting the fish 23 based on the determined determination result is referred to as “determination”. The fish shape discrimination device includes an imaging container 79, an imaging means 83, and a determination means 84. The imaging container 79 is translucent and accommodates the fish 23 together with the liquid 24 in an upright state, and the imaging means 83 images the fish 23 accommodated in the imaging container 79. The determination unit 84 analyzes the image of the fish 23 obtained by the imaging unit 83 and determines the shape of the fish 23. The property of transmitting light in at least a part of the wavelength region of visible light is referred to as “translucency”.

  The fish body shape discriminating apparatus is configured to include a stimulus applying means 86 that gives a stimulus to the fish 23 accommodated in the imaging container 79. In the present embodiment, the stimulus imparting means 86 includes a pressing piece 87. The pressing piece 87 presses the fish 23 from the side of the fish 23 to give the fish 23 a stimulus. The fish shape discriminating apparatus further includes a fish discharge means 88. The fish discharge means 88 accommodates the fish 23 and the liquid 24 in a state where the fish 23 can swim, and the imaging container 79 is disposed below. In this state, the fish 23 is discharged downward together with the liquid 24. In the present embodiment, the fish discharge means 88 has a discharge container 89 and a bottom lid 91. The discharge container 89 discharges the fish 23 together with the liquid 24 in a state where the fish 23 can swim, and a discharge port 92 is formed at the bottom. The bottom lid 91 opens and closes the discharge port 92 of the discharge container 89.

  The fish shape discriminating apparatus further includes a transport means 93. The transport means 93 holds the imaging container 79, moves the imaging container 79 from the input area 94 to the imaging area 81 and the discharge area 82 in this order, and returns to the input area 94 again. The input area 94 is disposed below the fish discharge means 88, and the imaging area 81 is an area where the imaging container 79 is located when the imaging means 83 images the fish 23 by the imaging means 83. The discharge area 82 is an area where the imaging container 79 is located when the fish 23 is discharged from the imaging container 79. In the present embodiment, the transport unit 93 includes a turntable 96 and a table driving unit 97. The turntable 96 holds the imaging container 79, and the table driving unit 97 rotationally drives the turntable 96.

  The imaging container 79 is held by the transport means 93 so that the posture can be changed over the accommodation posture 98 and the discharge posture 99. In the storage posture 98, the posture of the imaging container 79 is a posture in which the opening is directed upward, and in the discharging posture 99, the posture of the imaging container 79 is a posture in which the opening is directed sideways or downward. The fish shape discriminating apparatus further includes posture adjusting means 102. The posture adjustment unit 102 changes the image pickup unit 83 from the storage posture 98 to the discharge posture 99 in a state where the imaging container 79 is disposed in the discharge area 82.

  FIG. 20 is a plan view of the fish shape discriminating apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 21 is a sectional view of the fish shape discriminating apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 21, the imaging container 79 is illustrated excluding the imaging container 79 other than the imaging container 79 located in the input area 94, the discharge area 82, and the posture return area 103.

  A plurality of discharge area portions 101 are provided in the discharge area 82, and the attitude adjustment unit 102 rolls over the imaging container 79 in the discharge area portion 101 corresponding to the determination result based on the determination result by the determination means 84. A posture return area 103 is provided between the discharge area 82 and the input area 94 in the conveyance path of the imaging container 79. The posture adjustment means 102 raises the imaging container 79 in the posture return area 103 and changes the posture from the discharge posture 99 to the storage posture 98.

  A driving force based on its own weight acts on the imaging container 79 held by the conveying means 93, and the imaging container 79 changes from the accommodation posture 98 to the discharge posture 99 by the driving force based on the own weight of the imaging container 79. The posture adjustment means 102 includes a container support 104, a plurality of support pieces 106, a support piece drive unit, and a guide body 108. The container support 104 supports the imaging container 79 and maintains the attitude of the imaging container 79 in the accommodation attitude 98 when the imaging container 79 is disposed in a path portion from the posture return area 103 to the discharge area 82 in the transport path. To do. Further, when the imaging container 79 is maintained in the accommodation posture 98 and is disposed in an area portion other than each discharge area portion 101 in the discharge area 82, the imaging container 79 is supported and the posture of the imaging container 79 is accommodated in the accommodation attitude. 98.

  The plurality of support pieces 106 can be displaced between a support position 109 and an allowable position 111. The support piece 106 supports the imaging container 79 and supports the imaging container 79 when the imaging piece 79 is disposed in the discharge region portion 101 in a state where the imaging container 79 is maintained in the accommodation attitude 98 in the support position 109. The housing posture 98 is maintained. The support piece 106 in the state at the allowable position 111 allows the posture change of the image pickup container 79 to the discharge posture 99 when the image pickup container 79 is disposed in the discharge region portion 101 in a state where the image pickup container 79 is maintained in the storage posture 98. To do.

  The support driving unit drives each support piece 106 to be displaced over the support position 109 and the allowable position 111 individually. The guide body 108 has a guide surface 110, and the guide surface 110 guides the imaging container 79 when the imaging container 79 passes the posture return area 103. Accordingly, the guide body 108 guides the imaging container 79 to the support piece 106 while changing the posture from the discharge posture 99 to the storage posture 98.

  The fish body shape discriminating apparatus includes a discharge fish detection means 112, an imaging fish detection means 113, a container position detection means 114, and a control means 116. The released fish detection means 112 detects whether or not the fish 23 is accommodated in the fish release means 88. The imaging fish detection unit 113 detects whether or not the fish 23 is stored in the imaging container 79. The container position detection unit 114 detects whether or not the imaging container 79 is disposed below the fish discharge unit 88. Based on the detection results of the discharge fish detection means 112, the imaging fish detection means 113, and the container position detection means 114, the control means 116 arranges an imaging container 79 that does not contain the fish 23 below the fish discharge means 88, And when the fish 23 is not accommodated in the imaging container 79, the fish discharge means 88 discharges the fish 23 and the liquid 24.

  The control unit 116 causes the conveyance unit 93 to convey the imaging container 79 to the imaging area 81 and causes the imaging unit 83 to image the fish 23. In addition, the control unit 116 causes the determination unit 84 to analyze the image obtained by imaging and determine the shape of the fish 23. Further, the control unit 116 causes the transport unit 93 to transport the imaging container 79 to the discharge area portion 101 corresponding to the determination result based on the determination result. In addition, the control unit 116 causes the support piece driving unit to drive each support piece 106 and causes the imaging container 79 to roll over in the discharge region portion 101 corresponding to the determination result to discharge the fish 23.

  The fish 23 is accommodated in the imaging container 79 in an upright state, and the imaging unit 83 images the fish 23 in an upright state. This prevents erroneous determination due to the reverse determination of the back and abdomen of the fish 23. The fish 23 is accommodated in the imaging container 79 together with the liquid 24, and the fish 23 is imaged in the liquid 24. If the fish 23 is taken out of the liquid 24 and handled, the fish 23 is easily damaged compared to the case where the fish 23 is handled in the liquid 24, and the health condition of the fish 23 deteriorates. Increases the likelihood that will occur. On the other hand, the fish shape discriminating apparatus prevents the fish 23 from being damaged by imaging the fish 23 in the liquid 24. The determination of the fish 23 is performed by analyzing the image of the fish 23. As a result, errors in the judgment results associated with judgments made by humans are prevented.

  The stimulus applying means 86 gives a stimulus to the fish 23 and causes the fish 23 to open a salmon. Prior to the imaging of the fish 23, the stimulation is given to the fish 23 by the stimulus applying means 86, and the fish body is imaged by removing the fish 23 from the outline of the fish body. Therefore, the change in the contour due to the fish 23 being included in the contour of the fish body is prevented. As a result, the outline of the fish 23 excluding the salmon is clearly imaged.

  The pressing piece 87 presses the fish 23 to give a stimulus, and simultaneously gives the fish 23 a stimulus, and at the same time stops the movement of the fish 23. Prior to imaging of the fish 23, the fish 23 is imaged by excluding the salmon of the fish 23 from the outline of the fish body by pressing and stimulating the fish 23 from the side of the fish 23 with the pressing piece 87. The camera is stopped and images are taken together. The pressing piece 87 reduces the inclination when the fish 23 is inclined with the head-tail direction as the axis.

  The fish discharge means 88 accommodates the fish 23 together with the liquid 24 in a state where the fish 23 can swim. As a result, the fish 23 is brought into an upright state by itself. Since the fish 23 has a property of being in an upright state in the liquid 24, the fish 23 can be in an upright state by utilizing this property. Thereby, even in the state after dropping the fish 23, the imaging container 79 is brought into an upright state. Further, the fish discharge means 88 discharges the fish 23 together with the liquid 24 and discharges the fish 23 and the liquid 24 downward by a driving force based on its own weight. Thereby, the fish discharge means 88 reduces the possibility of damaging the fish 23 as compared with the case where an external force for moving the fish 23 is applied to the fish 23.

  The fish discharge means 88 includes a discharge container 89 and a bottom cover body 91, and the bottom cover body 91 opens and closes a discharge port 92 formed at the bottom of the discharge container 89. By opening the bottom lid 91, the support for the fish 23 and the liquid 24 is released, and the fish 23 and the liquid 24 are moved downward by a driving force based on their own weight. This prevents the fish 23 from moving upward against the flow of the liquid 24. Further, since the fish 23 is released, the possibility of damaging the fish 23 is reduced as compared with the case where an external force is applied to the fish 23.

  The transport means 93 transports the imaging container 79 from the input area 94 to the imaging area 81, from the imaging area 81 to the discharge area 82, and to return to the input area 94 again. The transport means 93 transports the fish 23 together with the liquid 24 while accommodated in the imaging container 79, images it, and discharges it. The fish 23 is not taken out of the liquid 24 and handled, and the fish 23 is prevented from being damaged. After the imaging container 79 discharges the fish 23 in the discharge area 82, the transport means 93 returns the imaging container 79 to the input area 94 again, and uses the imaging container 79 repeatedly. The transport unit 93 includes a drive unit, and the drive unit transports the imaging container 79 by rotational driving, and moves the imaging container 79 by one driving unit.

  The imaging container 79 in the storage posture 98 is in a posture with the opening facing upward, and the imaging container 79 stores the fish 23 and the liquid 24 in the storage posture 98. The imaging container 79 in the discharge posture 99 is a posture in a state of being rolled over from the housing posture 98, and is a posture in which the opening is directed sideways or downward. The imaging container 79 discharges the fish 23 and the liquid 24 stored in the storage posture 98 by changing from the storage posture 98 to the discharge posture 99. The imaging container 79 discharges the fish 23 and the liquid 24 using a driving force based on the weight of the fish 23 and the liquid 24. This prevents the fish 23 from moving upward against the flow of the liquid 24.

  A plurality of discharge area portions 101 are provided in the discharge area 82, and the imaging container 79 is turned over by the discharge area portion 101 corresponding to the determination result, and the fish 23 is sorted by the difference in position. The posture adjusting means 102 changes the posture of the imaging container 79 from the discharge posture 99 to the storage posture 98 between the discharge area 82 and the input area 94, and after the discharge is finished, the image pickup container 79 is directed upward. Return to stowed position 98.

  In order to change the imaging container 79 from the accommodation posture 98 to the discharge posture 99, the driving force based on the weight of the imaging container 79 is used to reduce the energy required for driving to discharge the fish 23. The posture adjusting means 102 includes a container support 104. The posture adjustment means 102 prevents the imaging container 79 from changing to the discharge posture 99 in the path portion from the posture return region 103 to the discharge region 82 and the region portion other than each discharge region portion 101 in the discharge region 82. The fish 23 and the liquid 24 accommodated in the imaging container 79 are prevented from being discharged.

  The plurality of support pieces 106 are individually driven to be displaced by the support piece drive unit over the support position 109 and the allowable position 111. Accordingly, the position at which the imaging container 79 changes from the accommodation posture 98 to the discharge posture 99 is determined by selecting the support piece 106 to be displaced. The guide body 108 both changes the imaging container 79 from the discharge posture 99 to the accommodation posture 98 and guides the imaging container 79 to a position where the imaging container 79 is supported by the support piece 106. The imaging container 79 after discharging the liquid 24 is in a state where the fish 23 and the liquid 24 can be accommodated.

  The released fish detection means 112 detects that the fish 23 is stored in the fish discharge means 88, the imaging fish detection means 113 detects that the fish 23 is not stored in the imaging container 79, and the container position is detected. When the means 114 detects that the imaging container 79 is disposed below the fish discharge means 88, the control means 116 causes the fish discharge means 88 to release the fish 23 and the liquid 24.

  The fish shape discriminating apparatus includes a control unit 116, and the control unit 116 controls the transport unit 93, the imaging unit 83, and the support piece driving unit based on the determination result by the determination unit 84 for the fish 23. . As a result, the fish shape determination apparatus performs imaging of the fish 23, determination of the shape of the fish 23, conveyance of the fish 23, and discharge of the fish 23.

  FIG. 20 is a plan view of the fish shape discriminating apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention as described above. FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the fish shape discriminating apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention as described above. In FIG. 21, the imaging container 79 is illustrated excluding the imaging container 79 other than the imaging container 79 located in the input area 94, the discharge area 82, and the posture return area 103. The fish shape discriminating apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a housing 117, a turntable 96, and a container support 104.

  The turntable 96 is generally a flat plate-like member, and is arranged with its thickness direction as the vertical direction. The turntable 96 rotates about a straight line that passes through the center of a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction of the turntable 96 and extends in the thickness direction. This axis is referred to as “rotation axis”, and the circumferential direction of the turntable 96 is simply referred to as “circumferential direction”. The direction perpendicular to the rotation axis L2 and away from the rotation axis L2 is referred to as “radially outward”, and the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis L2 and approaching the rotation axis L2 is referred to as “radial inward”. The turntable 96 is generally circular when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis L2.

  A container support 104 is arranged below the turntable 96. The container support body 104 is a flat plate-like member, and is arranged with the thickness direction as the vertical direction. The container support 104 is generally circular when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis L2. The diameter of the container support 104 when the container support 104 is viewed in the rotation direction is smaller than the diameter of the turntable 96 when the turntable 96 is viewed in the rotation direction. The turntable 96 rotates around the rotation axis L2 in the clockwise direction R1 when viewed from above. The container support 104 is fixed to the casing 117 and does not rotate.

  Eight imaging containers 79 are attached to the outer edge of the turntable 96 in the radial direction. The eight imaging containers 79 are arranged at equal intervals on the outer edge of the turntable 96. In a state where the turntable 96 is stopped, one imaging container 79 is arranged in the imaging area 81, the position of the imaging container 79 with respect to the container support 104 is set to the first position 118, and the clockwise rotation R1 is advanced from the first position 118. Assuming that the second position 119 is the same as the second position 119 in the clockwise direction, the eighth position 127 is a position advanced counterclockwise from the first position 118. The first position 118 is the imaging area 81, and the second to fourth positions 122 are discharge positions. A posture return area 103 is provided between the fifth position 123 and the sixth position 124. The sixth to eighth positions 127 are the input area 94. A fish discharge means 88 is provided above the imaging container 79 located in the input area 94.

  The casing 117 includes an imaging container 79, an imaging means 83, a stimulus applying means 86, a turntable 96, a table driving unit 97, a posture adjusting means 102, an imaging fish detection means 113, and a container position detection means 114. And contain. The discharge container 89 and the bottom lid 91 are provided above the casing 117.

  FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing the inside of the fish shape discriminating apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention as described above. The fish discharge means 88 is disposed on each imaging container 79 located at the sixth to eighth positions 127, and three fish discharge means 88 are provided. The fish discharge means 88 is formed including a discharge container 89 and a bottom lid 91. In the present embodiment, the discharge container 89 is formed of a transparent member, and the side wall of the discharge container 89 is formed in a rectangular tube shape. The discharge container 89 is arranged such that the axial direction of the rectangular tube is a vertical direction and the bottom is horizontally arranged. The length of the internal space of the discharge container 89 in the direction perpendicular and horizontal to the radial direction is longer than the length from the rostral end of the fish 23 to be discriminated to the tip end of the tail. The length from the rostral tip of the fish 23 to the tip of the tail is referred to as “body length”. The upper part of the discharge container 89 is open to the external space.

  The discharge container 89 is composed of a transparent acrylic resin plate. A discharge port 92 is formed at the bottom of the discharge container 89. The discharge port 92 is a hole formed in the bottom of the discharge container 89, and the discharge port 92 is formed through the bottom of the discharge container 89 in the vertical direction. By the discharge port 92, the internal space of the discharge container 89 and the external space below the discharge container 89 communicate with each other. The discharge port 92 is closed by the bottom lid body 91 so as to be opened and closed. The space penetrating the discharge port 92 is formed in a rectangle when viewed in the vertical direction, and the length of the rectangle in the longitudinal direction is longer than the body length of the fish 23 to be determined. The length of the rectangle in the short side direction is longer than the body width of the fish 23 to be determined and shorter than the body length. The discharge port 92 is formed at the center of the bottom of the discharge container 89 when viewed in the vertical direction.

  The discharge container 89 is disposed such that the rectangular longitudinal direction of the discharge port 92 is perpendicular to the radial direction. Two inclined surfaces 128 are formed from a portion defining the discharge port 92 from both sides in the radial direction toward two upper end portions at both ends in the radial direction of the discharge container 89. Of the two inclined surfaces 128, the radially inner inclined surface 128 passes through a portion defining the radially inner side of the discharge port 92, and is an end portion located radially inward of the upper end portion of the discharge container 89. Is formed as a plane passing through. Of the two inclined surfaces 128, the radially outer inclined surface 128 passes through a portion defining the radially outer side of the discharge port 92, and is an end portion located radially outward of the upper end portion of the discharge container 89. Is formed as a plane passing through. The inclined member having the inclined surface 128 is a flat plate member. The shape of the inclined member viewed in the thickness direction is defined by the side wall of the discharge container 89 and the bottom of the discharge container 89. The inclined member is formed of a flat plate member having translucency.

  Discharged fish detection means 112 is provided inward and outward from the discharge container 89 in the radial direction. The emitted fish detection means 112 is a photo interrupter including a light emitting element 129 and a light receiving element 131. A light emitting element 129 is disposed radially inward of the discharge container 89, and a light receiving element 131 is disposed radially outward. The light emitting element 129 emits light rays outward in the radial direction, and the light rays pass through the emission container 89. The light receiving element 131 is disposed at a position where the light from the light emitting element 129 that has passed through the emission container 89 can be received, and the light receiving surface of the light receiving element 131 receives the light from the light emitting element 129. If there is a fish 23 between the light emitting element 129 and the light receiving element 131, the light beam from the light emitting element 129 is reflected or absorbed by the fish 23, and the light beam does not reach the light receiving surface of the light receiving element 131. Thereby, it is detected whether or not the fish 23 exists in the discharge container 89.

  The discharge port 92 of the discharge container 89 is closed by the bottom lid 91 from below the discharge container 89. The bottom cover body 91 is formed in a rectangular shape, and the rectangular shape of the bottom cover body 91 is longer than the rectangular shape of the discharge port 92 on both the long side and the short side. The bottom cover body 91 closes the discharge port 92 from below, and the discharge container 89 accommodates the fish 23 and the liquid 24 in a state where the discharge port 92 is closed by the bottom cover body 91. The radially outer end of the bottom cover 91 is connected to the bottom of the discharge container 89, and the bottom cover 91 can be angularly displaced around the connection between the bottom cover 91 and the discharge container 89. When the bottom lid 91 is angularly displaced, the discharge port 92 is opened. During the transition from the closed state to the opened state of the bottom lid 91, the fish 23 and the liquid 24 accommodated in the discharge container 89 are dropped by the driving force based on their own weight and begin to pass through the discharge port 92. Compared to the time it takes to pass through, it is negligibly short. The bottom lid 91 is opened and closed by the bottom lid drive unit 132. The bottom lid drive unit 132 uses a rotary solenoid as a drive source. The driving force of the rotary solenoid is transmitted to the bottom lid body 91 by the link member, and the opening and closing of the bottom lid body 91 is realized.

  A through hole is formed in a portion of the housing 117 located below the discharge container 89, and the through hole formed in the housing 117 vertically connects the internal space of the housing 117 and the external space of the housing 117. Communicate in the direction. Although the through hole may be a hole having the same size as the discharge port 92 when viewed in the vertical direction, in the present embodiment, the through hole in the direction perpendicular to the radial direction and horizontal is the fish 23 to be classified. It is set shorter by about 2 cm than the body length. As a result, the fish 23 that falls vertically downward when the bottom lid 91 is opened is prevented from falling from the snout tip and entering the imaging container 79 with its back and abdomen reversed. The snout tip of the fish 23 that falls first from the snout tip contacts the portion that defines the through-hole of the housing 117, and the dropping speed of the snout tip decreases, and enters the imaging container 79 from the abdomen. Even if the tail fin comes into contact with the portion defining the through-hole of the housing 117, it can bend more flexibly than the rostral tip, so the falling speed does not decrease, and the fish 23 that has passed through the through-hole of the housing 117 Drop down toward the bottom.

  When the image pickup container 79 containing the liquid 24 is positioned below the discharge container 89 in a state where the discharge container 89 contains the fish 23 and the liquid 24, and the fish 23 is not present inside the image pickup container 79, the bottom lid 91 is The fish 23 and the liquid 24 enter the imaging container 79 through the discharge port 92. The imaging container 79 is formed of a flat plate member made of acrylic resin having translucency. The internal space of the imaging container 79 is formed as a rectangular parallelepiped. A part of the pressing piece 87 is inserted into the internal space of the imaging container 79. Of the internal space of the imaging container 79, the space in the range where the fish 23 can be located is reduced by the volume occupied by a part of the pressing piece 87. The length of the internal space of the imaging container 79 in the direction perpendicular and horizontal to the radial direction is longer than the body length of the fish 23. The vertical length of the imaging container 79 is longer than the body height of the fish 23. Each discharge container 89 accommodates one fish 23, and each imaging container 79 also accommodates one fish 23.

  FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the fish shape discrimination device when the imaging container 79 is in the imaging area 81 in the first embodiment of the present invention as described above. In FIG. 19, among the plurality of imaging containers 79, the imaging containers 79 other than the imaging containers 79 located in the imaging area 81 and the discharge area 82 are illustrated. The first position 118 is an imaging area 81, and the imaging container 79 located in the imaging area 81 is imaged by a camera disposed at the fifth position 123. The imaging unit 83 includes a camera.

  A surface light source 136 is disposed outside the imaging container 79 in the first position 118 in the radial direction. The surface light source 136 is formed including a plurality of photodiode arrays. The photodiode is disposed on the entire surface perpendicular to the radial direction of the surface light source 136, and the surface facing the radially inward of the surface light source 136 emits light over the entire surface. The light emitted from the surface light source 136 passes through the discharge container 89 and reaches the camera. When the fish 23 exists in the imaging container 79 located in the imaging area 81, the light from the surface light source 136 is shielded by the fish 23 in the imaging container 79. As a result of imaging by the camera, a portion where the fish 23 is shielded is dark, and a portion where the fish 23 is not shielded is a bright image.

  FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the pressing piece 87 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A pressing piece 87 is disposed in the imaging container 79. The pressing piece 87 is attached to the imaging container 79 so as to be displaceable at a pressing position 87a and a pressing release position 87b. The pressing piece 87 includes two flat members and a hinge part 139. One of the two flat members is inserted into the internal space of the imaging container 79. Of the two flat members included in the pressing piece 87, one flat member inserted into the internal space of the imaging container 79 is referred to as “pressing piece first portion”, and the other flat member is referred to as “pressing piece first”. 1 part ".

  The pressing piece first portion 141 is a flat plate member arranged with the radial direction as the thickness direction at the pressing release position 87b, and the surface perpendicular to the thickness direction of the pressing piece first portion 141 is formed in a rectangular shape. A pair of opposing sides of the first part of the pressing piece 87 is arranged vertically and horizontally in the radial direction. The other pair of opposing sides of the rectangular shape of the pressing piece first portion 141 are arranged in the vertical direction. The first pressing piece portion 141 is disposed at the innermost radial direction in the internal space of the imaging container 79. The length in the height direction of the pressing piece first portion 141 is longer than the length in the vertical direction of the internal space of the imaging container 79, and the upper end portion is arranged to protrude upward from the imaging container 79. The length of the pressing piece first portion 141 in the direction perpendicular and horizontal to the radial direction is longer than the body length of the fish 23 accommodated in the imaging container 79. The upper end portion of the pressing piece first portion 141 is fixed to the radially outer end portion of the pressing piece first portion 142.

  The pressing piece first portion 142 is a flat plate member that is arranged with the vertical direction as the thickness direction at the pressing release position 87b, and the surface perpendicular to the thickness direction of the pressing piece first portion 142 is formed in a rectangular shape. A pair of opposing sides of the rectangular shape of the pressing piece first portion 142 are arranged vertically and horizontally in the radial direction. One side of the pressing piece first portion 142 that is rectangular and opposed is arranged in the radial direction. The upper end portion of the pressing piece first portion 141 and the radially outer end portion of the pressing piece first portion 142 are fixed to each other. The length of the pressing piece first portion 142 in the direction perpendicular and horizontal to the radial direction is the same as the length of the pressing piece first portion 141 in the direction perpendicular and horizontal to the radial direction.

  The hinge part 139 is attached to the pressing piece first part 142. The hinge portion 139 is attached to the pressing piece first portion 142 and the radially inner upper end portion of the imaging container 79. The hinge portion 139 includes a torsion coil spring that elastically deforms and returns elastically, and the pressing piece first portion 141 and the pressing piece first portion 142 are disposed at the pressing release position 87b in a natural state. The hinge part 139 is formed to extend in a direction perpendicular to the radial direction and horizontal. When the pressing piece first portion 141 and the pressing piece first portion 142 are arranged at the pressing release position 87b, the volume occupied by a part of the pressing piece 87 inserted into the imaging container 79 in the internal space of the imaging container 79 is occupied. The remaining internal space after subtraction is referred to as “internal space”. The length of the inner space in the radial direction is longer than the body width of the fish 23 and shorter than the body height of the fish 23. The length of the inner space in the direction vertical and horizontal to the radial direction is longer than the body length of the fish 23.

  A convex portion 160 is provided on the inner wall of the casing 117 near the imaging container 79 when the imaging container 79 is in the imaging area 81 at the first position 118. When the turntable 96 rotates clockwise R1 when viewed from above and the imaging container 79 is disposed in the imaging area 81, the pressing piece 87 attached to the imaging container 79 is also moved in accordance with the rotational drive of the turntable 96. One position 118 is arranged. The convex portion 160 provided on the inner wall of the housing 117 pushes down the radially inner end of the pressing piece first portion 142 arranged at the first position 118 from above, and displaces the pressing piece 87 to the pressing position 87a. . This displacement is a displacement around the hinge portion 139. When displacing from the pressing position 87a to the pressing release position 87b and from the pressing release position 87b to the pressing position 87a, the pressing piece first portion 141 and the pressing piece first portion 142 are hinges extending in a direction perpendicular to the radial direction and in the horizontal direction. Angular displacement is performed about the axis of the portion 139.

  In the pressing position 87a, the pressing piece first portion 141 presses the abdomen of the fish 23 accommodated in the imaging container 79 from the side outward in the radial direction. As a result, the pressing piece 87 stimulates the fish 23 and presses the fish 23 against the radially outer side wall of the imaging container 79 to restrict the movement of the fish 23. Since the fish 23 has a property of opening a spear by receiving a stimulus, when the fish 23 is pressed from the side, the fish 23 opens the spear. As a result, the opened carp has translucency, and when the fish 23 is imaged by the camera, and the outline of the fish 23 is extracted from the captured image, the carp on the outline of the fish 23 is obtained. Can be removed.

  A posture support body 143 is connected to the imaging container 79. The posture support body 143 is connected to the imaging container 79 so as to be opposite to the opening of the imaging container 79 with respect to the imaging container 79, and contacts the container support 104 when the imaging container 79 is in the accommodation posture 98. The relative position between the container support 104 and the imaging container 79 is maintained. The posture support body 143 includes a support member 144 and a rotating body 146. One end of the support member 144 is fixedly connected to the imaging container 79, and the rotating body 146 is connected to the other end of the support member 144 at a position away from one end of the support member 144. When the imaging container 79 is in the housing posture 98, the direction from the one end portion to the other end portion of the support member 144 is the vertical direction. The rotating body 146 is rotatably connected to the other end portion of the support member 144. The rotating body 146 is rotatable about the support member 144 as an axis.

  The end of the imaging container 79 opposite to the opening is connected to the outer edge of the turntable 96 in the radial direction by a hinge 147. The hinge 147 connects the imaging container 79 so as to be displaceable with respect to the turntable 96 between a storage posture 98 and a discharge posture 99. The imaging container 79 is displaced into the accommodation posture 98 and the discharge posture 99 by being angularly displaced about the axis line in a direction perpendicular to the radial direction and horizontal.

  When the imaging container 79 is located in the range from the input area 94 of the sixth to eighth positions 127 to the imaging area 81 of the first position 118, the imaging container 79 is held in the accommodation posture 98. When the imaging container 79 is in the accommodation posture 98, the posture support body 143 formed to extend vertically below the imaging container 79 contacts the container support body 104. Specifically, the rotating body 146 contacts the container support 104. The container support 104 keeps the distance between the rotating shaft of the turntable 96 and the rotating body 146 constant. Accordingly, the posture support body 143 prevents the imaging container 79 from being angularly displaced about the hinge 147 to the discharge posture 99, and keeps the imaging container 79 in the housing posture 98. The container support 104 is located below the turntable 96 and controls the relative position between the turntable 96 and the rotating body 146.

  FIG. 23 is a diagram in which the captured image of the fish 23 with the shark open is compared with the captured image of the fish 23 with the shark unopened in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 23A shows the fish 23 that has not opened the salmon. When this is imaged, the captured image is as shown in FIG. 23B, and the salmon is included in the silhouette of the fish 23. However, if the fish 23 is opened as shown in FIG. 23C, the salmon can be excluded from the silhouette of the fish 23 as shown in FIG. As a result, the shape of the portion excluding the wrinkles can be determined, and determination with high reproducibility can be performed.

  FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of the fish shape discriminating apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention cut along the cutting plane line DD shown in FIG. The second to fourth positions 122 disposed adjacent to the downstream side in the transport direction from the first position 118 are the discharge area 82. In the discharge position, three imaging containers 79 are arranged at the second to fourth positions 122. Each of the second to fourth positions 122 is referred to as a “discharge area portion”. When the imaging container 79 is disposed in the discharge area portion 101, the rotating body 146 of the posture support body 143 leaves the container support body 104.

  A support piece 106 is disposed below the three imaging containers 79 located in the discharge area 82. One support piece 106 is provided below each imaging container 79 at the second to fourth positions 122, and three support pieces 106 are provided. The radially outer edge of each support piece 106 and the radially outer edge of the container support 104 are formed to be flush with each other.

  In the region where each support piece 106 exists, the container support 104 is formed with three notches. Each support piece 106 is disposed in a notched region of the container support 104. In the region where each notch is formed, an axis in the direction perpendicular to the radial direction and horizontal is provided in the vicinity of a part of the container support 104 that defines each notch from the inside in the radial direction. This shaft is referred to as a “support piece locking shaft”. The radially inner end of each support piece 106 surrounds this support piece locking shaft 148. The support piece 106 can be angularly displaced about the support piece locking shaft 148.

  FIG. 25 is a side view showing a state in which the support piece 106 is at the support position 109 and a state at the allowable position 111 in the first embodiment of the present invention. The support piece 106 is angularly displaced about the support piece locking shaft 148 and the radially outer end thereof is displaced downward. The position of the support piece 106 when the radially outer end face of the support piece 106 is flush with the radially outer end face of the container support 104 is referred to as a “support position”. The position of the support piece 106 when the outer end surface is displaced below the outer edge of the container support 104 in the radial direction is referred to as a “discharge position”.

  The imaging container located in each discharge region portion 101 by displacing the support piece 106 from the support position 109 as shown in FIG. 25A to the discharge position as shown in FIG. 25B. 79 is angularly displaced about the hinge 147 due to gravity applied to its own weight of the imaging container 79, falls outward in the radial direction, and becomes a discharge posture 99. As a result, the opening of the imaging container 79 is located radially outward as compared to when in the accommodating posture 98, and the fish 23 and the liquid 24 are discharged radially outward.

  Of the three discharge area portions 101, one discharge area portion 101 discharges the fish 23 determined to be non-defective, while the other one discharge area portion 101 discharges the fish 23 determined to be defective, and the remaining In one discharge area portion 101, the fish 23 determined to be required to be determined again is discharged. If the fish 23 is not present in the imaging container 79, the imaging container 79 assumes the discharging posture 99 in the remaining one discharging area portion 101. The fish 23 and the liquid 24 discharged in any one of the three discharge area portions 101 pass through the respective discharge flow paths 150 defined by the smooth surface and move to the respective containers.

  At the support position 109, the support piece 106 is a support piece flat plate member 149 whose thickness direction is the vertical direction, and is radially outward of the support piece flat plate member 149 and is flush with the outer edge portion of the container support 104. A support piece outer member 151 having a surface formed in a shape and a protrusion 152 formed to protrude downward from the support piece flat plate member 149 are formed. At the discharge position, the support piece 106 is in a state where the support piece flat plate member 149, the support piece outer member 151, and the protrusion 152 are angularly displaced about the support piece locking shaft 148.

  When the support piece 106 is at the support position 109, the rotating body 146 of the posture support body 143 contacts the support piece outer member 151 from the outside in the radial direction and presses it inward in the radial direction. The support piece flat plate member 149 supports a force from the outside in the radial direction applied through the support piece outer member 151, and thereby maintains the imaging container 79 in the accommodation posture 98. Two locking holes are formed in the protrusion 152, and when the support piece 106 is at the support position 109, the locking holes are arranged in the vertical direction. Of the two holes, the upper hole is referred to as a “first locking hole”, and the lower hole is referred to as a “second locking hole”. A portion defining the first locking hole 153 is connected to an electromagnetic plunger positioned below the container support 104 and radially inward of the support piece 106. The portion defining the second locking hole 154 is always pulled outward in the radial direction by the tension coil spring 162.

  A table driving unit 97 that drives the turntable 96 is formed below the container support 104. The table driving unit 97 includes a motor 158, a bearing 159, and a transmission mechanism 167 that transmits the rotational driving force of the motor to the turntable. Below the container support 104, a motor 158, a bearing 159 through which a shaft that transmits rotation of the motor 158 passes, a base 161 for fixing the bearing 159 to the housing 117, and a transmission mechanism 167 are arranged. Is done. A portion of the base 161 below the support piece 106 of each discharge region portion 101 is provided with a portion that defines the second locking hole 154 and a locking projection 165 that is connected by a tension coil spring 162. . The locking projection 165 is located outward in the radial direction from the protrusion 152 of the support piece 106. The tension coil spring 162 applies a force in a direction to reduce the distance between the portion defining the second locking hole 154 and the locking projection 165 provided on the base 161 to the protrusion 152 and the base 161. Since the base 161 is fixed, the protrusion 152 of the support piece 106 is pulled outward in the radial direction.

  Thus, the support is disposed at the support position 109 in a natural state where the electromagnetic plunger is not driven. The electromagnetic plunger connected to the portion that defines the first locking hole 153 is a drive source that includes a solenoid, and when energized, the portion that defines the first locking hole 153 is displaced radially inward. . Although the protrusion 152 is pulled radially outward by the tension coil spring 162, the electromagnetic plunger displaces the protrusion 152 radially inward against the force of the tension coil spring 162. As a result, the support piece 106 is angularly displaced about the support piece locking shaft 148, and the support piece outer member 151 is displaced downward.

  In the present embodiment, when the imaging container 79 that houses the fish 23 determined to be non-defective passes through the second position 119, the support piece 106 below the imaging container 79 located at the second position 119 Thus, the imaging container 79 that accommodates the fish 23 determined to be non-defective is in the discharge posture 99 at the second position 119 and continues to take the discharge posture 99 in the range of the second to fifth positions 123. When the imaging container 79 containing the fish 23 determined to be defective passes through the third position 121, the support piece 106 below the imaging container 79 located at the third position 121 becomes the allowable position 111, thereby The imaging container 79 that houses the fish 23 determined to be defective is in the discharge posture 99 at the third position 121 and continues to take the discharge posture 99 in the range of the third to fifth positions 123. Below the imaging container 79 located at the fourth position 122 when the imaging container 79 that houses the fish 23 that has been determined to be redetermined and the imaging container 79 that does not contain the fish 23 pass through the fourth position 122. The support piece 106 is in the permissible position 111, whereby the imaging container 79 that houses the fish 23 determined to be re-determined assumes the discharge posture 99 at the fourth position 122, and the fourth and fifth positions 122, The discharge posture 99 is continued in the range of 123.

  When the imaging container 79 is further transported in the discharge posture 99 and passes near the support piece 106 on the downstream side in the transport direction from the discharge region portion 101 in the discharge posture 99, is the support piece 106 at the support position 109? Regardless of the allowable position 111, the imaging container 79 does not contact the support piece 106 with the posture support body 143.

  An imaging unit 83 is disposed at the fifth position 123. Since the imaging container 79 takes the discharge posture 99 at any one of the discharge region portions 101 in the second to fourth positions 122, the imaging container 79 transported to the fifth position 123 is in the discharge posture 99. Therefore, even if the imaging unit 83 is disposed at the fifth position 123, the transported imaging container 79 does not come into contact with the camera. From the fifth position 123, the imaging unit 83 images the imaging container 79 in the imaging area 81 at the first position 118 and the fish 23 accommodated in the imaging container 79 at the first position 118. The imaging unit 83 includes a camera including a charge coupled device (abbreviated as “CCD”), and as a result of imaging by the camera, the camera uses the captured image information as digital information to the determination unit 84. Output.

  FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection relationship included in the fish processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the determination unit 84 is a unit that analyzes image information in the form of digital information, extracts the outline of the fish 23, and determines whether the fish 23 is good or bad based on the outline of the fish 23. The determination unit 84 includes a computer and software that defines the operation of the computer. The determination unit 84 extracts the outline of the fish 23 from the image information obtained by imaging the fish 23 and recognizes the shape of the fish 23. Extraction of the outline of the fish 23 is performed by setting a judgment standard for each pixel constituting the image to a degree of lightness and darkness and separating a brighter part and a darker part from the judgment standard. However, the contour may be extracted by a method in which the position of the pixel and the degree of light and dark are used as functions and differentiated.

  The determination unit 84 performs normalization correlation on the extracted contour and detects the position and orientation of the fish 23. Normalized correlation is sometimes called pattern matching. After determining the position and orientation of the fish 23 by the normalized correlation, the shape of the outline of the fish 23 is measured and feature extraction is performed. For example, the measurement is performed for a plurality of items such as the standard length of the fish 23, the height, and the ratio of the standard length to the height. Whether the fish 23 is good or bad is determined based on the measurement results of a plurality of items.

  FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing the process steps performed by the determination unit 84 in the first embodiment of the present invention. After the start of this process, the process proceeds to the image capture process in step c1, and image information output from the camera is acquired. Next, the process proceeds to the pre-processing step of step c2, and noise removal and contour extraction of the image are performed. Next, the process proceeds to the posture specifying step of step c3, and the position and orientation of the fish 23 are specified. Next, the process moves to the measurement process of step c4, and shape measurement and feature extraction are performed. Next, the process proceeds to the determination step of step c5, and the quality of the fish 23 is determined based on the results of shape measurement and feature extraction. Thereafter, this process ends.

  After completion of the determination of the fish 23 by the determination unit 84, the determination unit 84 outputs a determination result to the control unit 116. The control unit 116 displaces the support piece 106 to the allowable position 111 at any one of the second to fifth positions 123 according to the determination result, and sets the imaging unit 83 to the discharge posture 99. The control means 116 is connected to the container position detection means 114. The container position detecting means 114 is a means for detecting where each imaging container 79 moved around the rotation axis L2 by the turntable 96 is located at a certain time. The container position detecting means 114 is disposed on a plurality of protruding pieces 166 provided to protrude below the turntable 96 radially inward of each imaging container 79, and radially inward and radially outward of each protruding piece 166. And a position detection sensor that detects whether or not the protruding piece 166 exists at a predetermined position.

  The protruding pieces 166 are eight members that are fixed to the turntable 96 and rotate around the rotation axis L2 as the turntable 96 rotates. The eight projecting pieces 166 are attached to the lower side of the turntable 96, radially inward of the plurality of imaging containers 79, and are arranged side by side at a certain interval in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis L2. The The position detection sensor detects the presence / absence of the protruding piece 166 on the inner side in the radial direction of the sixth position 124. When the imaging container 79 is positioned at the sixth position 124, the position detection sensor detects the presence of the protruding piece 166 located below the turntable 96 radially inward of the imaging container 79, and the sixth position 124 is detected. Information indicating that the imaging container 79 is present is output to the control means 116. When the imaging container 79 located at the sixth position 124 moves between the sixth position 124 and the seventh position 126, the protruding piece 166 does not exist in the range detected by the position detection sensor, and the position detection sensor Information that the piece 166 does not exist is output to the control means 116.

  The turntable 96 makes one rotation in about 8 seconds. Accordingly, in the region detected by the position detection sensor, the time when the protruding piece 166 exists and the time when the protruding piece 166 does not exist is about 1 second in total.

  The control means 116 grasps the number of imaging containers 79 that have passed the sixth position 124 based on information from the position detection sensor. Thereby, when the fish 23 in the imaging container 79 located at the first position 118 is determined to be a non-defective product, it can be understood that the imaging container 79 located at the first position 118 has moved to the second position 119. The support piece 106 corresponding to the imaging container 79 at the second position 119 is displaced to the allowable position 111. When the fish 23 in the imaging container 79 located at the first position 118 is determined to be defective, the control unit 116 recognizes that the imaging container 79 located at the first position 118 has moved to the third position 121. The support piece 106 corresponding to the imaging container 79 at the third position 121 is displaced to the allowable position 111. When it is determined that the fish 23 in the imaging container 79 located at the first position 118 needs to be re-determined and when it is determined that there is no fish 23 in the imaging container 79 located at the first position 118, the control means 116 Then, it is grasped that the imaging container 79 located at the first position 118 has moved to the fourth position 122, and the support piece 106 corresponding to the imaging container 79 at the fourth position 122 is displaced to the allowable position 111.

  Since the imaging container 79 takes the discharge posture 99 at any one of the discharge region portions 101 in the second to fourth positions 122, the imaging container 79 transported to the fifth position 123 is in the discharge posture 99. Therefore, even if the camera is arranged at the fifth position 123, the transported imaging container 79 is not positioned between the camera and the imaging container 79 at the first position 118, and is positioned at the fifth position 123. Imaging of the imaging container 79 at the first position 118 by the camera is not hindered.

  FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the guide body 108 in the first embodiment of the present invention. Between the fifth position 123 and the sixth position 124, a guide body 108 for returning the imaging container 79 in the discharge posture 99 to the storage posture 98 is provided. The guide body 108 is a part of the posture adjustment means 102, and the posture return area 103 is between the fifth position 123 and the sixth position 124. In the posture return area 103, a notch is formed in the container support 104, and the guide body 108 is located in the notched area of the container support 104. The guide body 108 is fixed to the container support 104. When the guide body 108 is viewed in the radial direction, it has a triangular shape as shown in FIG. The length in the vertical direction increases from the fifth position 123 toward the sixth position 124. The upper surface of the end portion of the guide body 108 closest to the sixth position 124 is parallel to the lower surface of the turntable 96. When the guide body 108 is viewed in the vertical direction, the radially outer edge of the guide body 108 draws a curve having an equal distance from the rotation axis L2. When viewed in the vertical direction, the radially outer edge of the guide body 108 draws a curve connected to the outer edge of the container support 104 on both the fifth position 123 side and the sixth position 124 side.

  The upper surface of the guide body 108 is located in the vicinity of the lower surface of the turntable 96 and is located above the rotating body 146 of the posture support body 143. The length of the guide body 108 in the vertical direction becomes shorter from the sixth position 124 toward the fifth position 123 side, and the end of the guide body 108 on the fifth position 123 side is a triangle when viewed in the radial direction. And located above the rotating body 146. The lower surface of the guide body 108 is formed as one curved surface together with the radially outer side surface of the guide body 108. This continuous curved surface is the guide surface 110.

  The rotating body 146 of the posture support body 143 passes through the fifth position 123 in the discharging posture 99 and contacts the lower surface of the end portion on the fifth position 123 side of the guide body 108. Since the lower surface of the guide body 108 is directed downward toward the sixth position 124, the rotating body 146 is pushed downward by the guide surface 110, and the imaging container 79 and the posture support body 143 are angularly displaced around the hinge 147. It approaches the accommodation posture 98. Since the guide surface 110 is smoothly connected to the radially outer side surface and forms one curved surface, the rotating body 146 is pushed radially outward toward the sixth position 124. The rotating body 146 is pushed by the outer edge portion of the end portion on the sixth position 124 side of the guide body 108, and the imaging container 79 assumes the accommodation posture 98. The rotating body 146 after passing through the end portion on the sixth position 124 side of the guide body 108 is supported by the container support body 104, and the imaging container 79 passes through the sixth to eighth positions 127 of the input area 94 in the accommodation posture 98. To do.

  The liquid 24 is injected into the imaging container 79 that has passed through the guide body 108. The imaging container 79 is filled with the liquid 24 until the sixth position 124 is reached. With the imaging container 79 positioned at the sixth position 124, the presence or absence of the fish 23 in the imaging container 79 is detected by the imaging fish detection device. The imaging fish detection device is a photo interrupter including a light emitting element 129 and a light receiving element 131. A light emitting element 129 is disposed radially inward of the imaging container 79, and a light receiving element 131 is disposed radially outward. The light emitting element 129 emits light rays outward in the radial direction, and the light rays pass through the emission container 89. The light receiving element 131 is disposed at a position where the light from the light emitting element 129 that has passed through the imaging container 79 can be received, and the light receiving surface of the light receiving element 131 receives the light from the light emitting element 129. If there is a fish 23 between the light emitting element 129 and the light receiving element 131, the light beam from the light emitting element 129 is reflected or absorbed by the fish 23, and the light beam does not reach the light receiving surface of the light receiving element 131. Thereby, it is detected whether or not the fish 23 exists in the discharge container 89 in the imaging container 79.

  The liquid 24 is continuously injected into each discharge container 89. A liquid level detection sensor 163 for detecting the height of the liquid 24 in each discharge container 89 is disposed. Each discharge container 89 is loaded with the fish 23 in a state where two conditions are satisfied that the fish 23 does not exist in each discharge container 89 and the height of the liquid 24 in each discharge container 89 is 5 cm or more. It will be in a good state. Lamps 164 are arranged in the vicinity of each discharge container 89, and each lamp 164 is turned on when the fish 23 can be put into each discharge container 89. Thus, when the fish 23 is put into the discharge container 89 by the hand of the person, the operator who puts the fish 23 is in a state where each discharge container 89 can put the fish 23 into the lamp 164 by lighting. Can know.

  Each bottom lid 91 is opened in a state where the imaging container 79 is positioned below each discharge container 89 and the fish 23 is not contained in the imaging container 79 in a state where the fish 23 is put in each discharge container 89. The control means 116 controls the driving and timing of each bottom lid 91.

  The control means 116 includes a computer and software that defines the operation of the computer. The control means 116 includes three liquid level detection sensors 163, three released fish detection means 112, an imaging fish detection means 113, a container position detection means 114, an imaging means 83, a discrimination means, and three lamps 164. And a rotary solenoid, a table drive unit 97, and three electromagnetic plungers. The control unit 116 controls the imaging unit 83, the three lamps 164, the rotary solenoid, the table driving unit 97, and the three electromagnetic plungers. The table driving unit 97 is controlled by the control unit 116, and makes the turntable 96 make a round in 8 seconds.

  Based on the output signals from the liquid level detection sensor 163, the discharge fish detection means 112, the imaging fish detection means 113, and the container position detection means 114, the control means 116 is in a state where the fish 23 is not present in the discharge container 89. The lamp 164 is turned on. The discharge fish detection means 112 outputs information that the fish 23 exists in the discharge container 89 to the control means 116, and the container position detection means 114 controls the information that the imaging container 79 is located below the release container 89. When the imaging fish detection apparatus outputs information indicating that the fish 23 is not present in the imaging container 79 to the control means 116, the control means 116 drives the rotary solenoid to displace the bottom lid body 91 to release the discharge port 92. Is opened.

  When the imaging container 79 is present at the sixth position 124, the other imaging container 79 is located at the first position 118, so that the container position sensor informs the control means 116 that the imaging container 79 is present at the sixth position 124. Upon output, the control means 116 immediately drives the camera to image the imaging container 79 at the first position 118. As a result of imaging, when the determination unit outputs a determination result on the quality of the fish 23 that has passed the first position 118 to the control unit 116, the control unit 116 determines whether the second to third positions are based on the determination result. The electromagnetic plunger in the support piece drive unit 121 is energized, the support piece drive unit is controlled, and the imaging container 79 is turned over.

  FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a process in which the control means 116 controls the three fish release means 88 in the first embodiment of the present invention. After the start of this process, the process proceeds to the sixth released fish information acquisition step of step d1, and the control means 116 determines whether or not the fish 23 exists in the release container 89 located above the sixth position 124. Obtained from the released fish detection means 112 located above the 6 position 124. Next, the process proceeds to a sixth position imaging fish information acquisition step of step d2, and information that the imaging container 79 is present at the sixth position 124 is acquired from the container position detection means 114, and the fish 23 is present in the imaging container 79. Get the information. When the fish 23 is present in the discharge container 89 above the sixth position 124 and the fish 23 is not present in the imaging container 79 at the sixth position 124, the process proceeds to the sixth position bottom lid opening step of step d3, and the sixth position The fish 23 and the liquid 24 in the upper discharge container 89 are dropped.

  When there is no fish 23 in the discharge container 89, or when the fish 23 exists in the imaging container 79, and when the sixth position bottom lid opening process in step d3 is completed, the seventh released fish in step d4 Control proceeds to the information acquisition step, and the control means 116 indicates whether or not the fish 23 is present in the discharge container 89 located above the seventh position 126, and the released fish detection means 112 located above the seventh position 126. Get from. Next, the process proceeds to the seventh position imaging fish information acquisition step of step d5, and information that the imaging container 79 is present at the seventh position 126 is acquired from the container position detection means 114, and the fish 23 is present in the imaging container 79. Get the information. When the fish 23 is present in the discharge container 89 above the seventh position 126 and the fish 23 is not present in the imaging container 79 at the seventh position 126, the process proceeds to the seventh position bottom lid opening process of step d6, and the seventh position The fish 23 and the liquid 24 in the upper discharge container 89 are dropped.

  When there is no fish 23 in the discharge container 89, or when the fish 23 is present in the imaging container 79, and when the seventh position bottom lid opening process in step d6 is completed, the eighth released fish in step d7. Control proceeds to the information acquisition step, and the control means 116 indicates whether or not the fish 23 exists in the discharge container 89 located above the eighth position 127, and the released fish detection means 112 located above the eighth position 127. Get from. Next, the process proceeds to an eighth position imaging fish information acquisition step in step d8, where information that the imaging container 79 is present at the eighth position 127 is acquired from the container position detection means 114, and the fish 23 is present in the imaging container 79. Get the information. When the fish 23 exists in the discharge container 89 above the eighth position 127 and the fish 23 does not exist in the imaging container 79 at the eighth position 127, the process proceeds to the eighth position bottom lid opening process in step d9, and the eighth position The fish 23 and the liquid 24 in the upper discharge container 89 are dropped. Thereafter, this process ends.

  FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing steps of determination of the fish 23 by the determination device and determination of the fish 23 by the control means 116 in the first embodiment of the present invention. After the start of this processing, the process proceeds to the imaging step of step e1, and at the same time as the imaging container 79 reaches the first position 118, the control unit 116 drives the camera to perform imaging, and the captured image is output to the determination unit 84. . Next, the process proceeds to the analysis step of step e2, where analysis is performed by the determination means 84, and the quality of the shape of the fish 23 is determined. Next, the process proceeds to the storage step of step e3, and the determination result by the determination means 84 is stored. This may be performed by the determination unit 84, but is stored by the control unit 116 in the present embodiment.

  Next, the process proceeds to the second position determination step of step e4, and it is determined whether or not the imaging result is a non-defective product. If the result of imaging is a non-defective product, the process proceeds to the second position driving step of step e5, the support piece driving unit below the second position 119 is driven, and the support piece 106 below the second position 119 is moved to the allowable position. Displace to 111. When the imaging result is not a non-defective product, the process proceeds to the third position determination step in step e6, and it is determined whether or not the imaging result is a defective product. When the imaging result is a defective product and when the third position determining process at step e6 is completed, the process proceeds to the third position driving process at step e7, and the support piece driving unit below the third position 121 is reached. And the support piece 106 below the third position 121 is displaced to the allowable position 111.

  When the imaging result is not a defective product and when the third position driving process of step e7 is completed, the process proceeds to the fourth position driving process of step e8, and the support piece driving unit below the fourth position 122 To move the support piece 106 below the fourth position 122 to the allowable position 111. Thereafter, this process ends. In the present embodiment, the support piece flat plate member 149, the support piece outer member 151, and the electromagnetic plunger 157 shown in FIG. 24 are arranged below the fourth position 122, but in the other embodiments, the fourth position 122 is provided. The support piece flat member 149, the support piece outer member 151, and the electromagnetic plunger 157 are not disposed below, and a notch similar to the present embodiment may be formed only in the container support 104. . Thereby, the imaging container 79 positioned at the fourth position 122 can be forced to the discharge posture 99, and the imaging container 79 can be reliably prevented from colliding with the camera disposed at the fifth position 123. it can.

  According to the present embodiment, since the fish 23 is accommodated in the imaging container 79 in an upright state, the fish 23 can be imaged in an upright state. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a determination error due to the reverse determination of the back and abdomen of the fish 23. Further, since the fish 23 is accommodated in the imaging container 79 together with the liquid 24, the fish 23 can be imaged in the liquid 24. When the fish 23 is taken out of the liquid 24 and handled, the fish 23 is easily damaged compared to the case where the fish 23 is handled in the liquid 24, and the health condition of the fish 23 deteriorates, and infection from the wound occurs. The chance of happening increases. Since the fish body shape discriminating device images the fish 23 in the liquid 24, the fish 23 can be prevented from being damaged. Since the determination of the fish 23 is performed by analyzing the image of the fish 23, it is possible to prevent an error in the determination result associated with the determination by the human. Since the fish shape discriminating apparatus performs the imaging of the fish 23, the analysis of the image of the fish 23 obtained by the imaging means 83, and the discrimination of the fish 23, it is possible to reduce human effort and discriminate the fish 23. It is possible to increase the efficiency of doing.

  In addition, according to the embodiment, the stimulus applying means 86 gives a stimulus to the fish 23, so that the fish 23 can be opened. Prior to imaging the fish 23, the stimulus is given to the fish 23 by the stimulus imparting means 86, so that the fish body can be imaged by removing the fish 23 from the outline of the fish body. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a change in the contour due to the fish 23 being included in the contour of the fish body. As a result, the contour of the fish 23 excluding the salmon can be clearly imaged. Therefore, the shape of the fish 23 can be determined by detecting the details of the shape of the fish 23.

  Further, according to the embodiment, the stimulus applying means 86 includes the pressing piece 87, and the pressing piece 87 presses the fish 23 to give the stimulus. Can be stopped. Prior to imaging the fish 23, the fish 23 is pressed from the side of the fish 23 with the pressing piece 87 to stimulate the fish 23, and the fish 23 is imaged by excluding the fish 23 from the outline of the fish body. It is possible to achieve both of stopping and taking an image. Moreover, since the pressing piece 87 presses the fish 23 from the side of the fish 23, the inclination can be reduced when the fish 23 is inclined with the head-tail direction as the axis. Therefore, it is possible to capture a clear image of the outline of the fish 23 excluding the salmon. Therefore, the shape of the fish 23 can be determined by detecting the details of the shape of the fish 23.

  Further, according to the embodiment, the fish discharge means 88 accommodates the fish 23 together with the liquid 24 in a state where the fish 23 can swim, so that the fish 23 can be in an upright state by itself. Since the fish 23 has a property of being in an upright state in the liquid 24, the fish 23 can be in an upright state by utilizing this property. Thereby, even in the state after the fish 23 is dropped, the imaging container 79 can be brought into an upright state. Moreover, since the fish discharge | release means 88 discharge | releases the fish 23 with the liquid 24 below, it can discharge | release the fish 23 and the liquid 24 below with the driving force based on dead weight. Therefore, compared with the case where the external force for moving the fish 23 is applied to the fish 23, the possibility of damaging the fish 23 can be reduced.

  According to the embodiment, the fish discharge means 88 includes a discharge container 89 and a bottom lid 91, and the bottom lid 91 opens and closes a discharge port 92 formed at the bottom of the discharge container 89. By opening the lid 91, the support for the fish 23 and the liquid 24 can be released, and the fish 23 and the liquid 24 can be moved downward by a driving force based on their own weight. As a result, the fish 23 can be prevented from traveling upward against the flow of the liquid 24. Further, since the fish 23 is released, the possibility of damaging the fish 23 can be reduced as compared with the case where an external force is applied to the fish 23.

  In addition, according to the embodiment, the transport means 93 transports the imaging container 79 from the input area 94 to the imaging area 81, from the imaging area 81 to the discharge area 82, and transports it back to the input area 94. 23 can be transported, imaged and discharged together with the liquid 24 while being accommodated in the imaging container 79. Since it is not necessary to take out the fish 23 from the liquid 24 and handle it, the fish 23 can be prevented from being damaged. Moreover, since the image pickup container 79 returns the image pickup container 79 to the input area 94 after the image pickup container 79 discharges the fish 23 in the discharge area 82, the image pickup container 79 can be used repeatedly.

  In addition, according to the embodiment, the transport unit 93 includes a drive unit, and the drive unit transports the imaging container 79 by rotational driving. Therefore, the imaging container 79 can be driven by one drive unit. Therefore, the mechanism of the transport unit 93 can be simplified as compared with the case where the imaging container 79 is driven by a plurality of driving units.

  According to the embodiment, the imaging container 79 in the storage posture 98 is in a posture in which the opening is directed upward, so that the fish 23 and the liquid 24 can be stored. Since the imaging container 79 in the discharge posture 99 is in a state of being rolled over from the storage posture 98, the fish 23 and the liquid 24 stored in the storage posture 98 are changed by changing from the storage posture 98 to the discharge posture 99. Can be discharged. Further, when the storage posture 98 is changed to the discharge posture 99, the fish 23 and the liquid 24 are discharged by rolling over from the posture in which the opening is directed upward, so that the driving force based on the weight of the fish 23 and the liquid 24 is used. The fish 23 and the liquid 24 can be discharged. As a result, the fish 23 can be prevented from traveling upward against the flow of the liquid 24. Further, since the fish 23 is released, the possibility of damaging the fish 23 can be reduced as compared with the case where an external force is applied to the fish 23.

  According to the embodiment, the discharge area 82 is provided with a plurality of discharge area portions 101, and the imaging container 79 is rolled over at the discharge area portion 101 corresponding to the determination result. Therefore, the fish 23 is sorted according to the difference in position. be able to. Thereby, the sorted fish 23 can be advanced to different paths according to the determination result, and the fish 23 can be sorted.

  In addition, according to the embodiment, the posture adjustment unit 102 changes the posture of the imaging container 79 from the discharge posture 99 to the storage posture 98 between the discharge area 82 and the input area 94, so 79 can be returned to the accommodation posture 98 with the opening facing upward. In addition, since the posture of the imaging container 79 is returned while the imaging container 79 is being transported from the discharge area 82 to the input area 94, the imaging container 79 is changed from the discharge attitude 99 to the accommodating attitude 98, and the imaging container 79 is input to the input area 94. Can be carried out at the same time.

  In addition, according to the embodiment, since the driving force based on the weight of the imaging container 79 is used for the change of the imaging container 79 from the accommodation posture 98 to the discharge posture 99, the energy required for driving to discharge the fish 23 is used. Can be reduced. The posture adjusting means 102 includes a container support 104. Thus, the imaging container 79 is prevented from changing to the discharge attitude 99 in the path portion from the posture return area 103 to the discharge area 82 and the area portions other than the discharge area portions 101 in the discharge area 82, and the imaging container It is possible to prevent the fish 23 and the liquid 24 accommodated in 79 from being discharged. The plurality of support pieces 106 are individually driven to be displaced by the support piece drive unit over the support position 109 and the allowable position 111. As a result, the position at which the imaging container 79 changes from the accommodation posture 98 to the discharge posture 99 can be determined by selecting the support piece 106 to be displaced. The guide body 108 performs both of changing the imaging container 79 from the discharge posture 99 to the accommodating posture 98 and guiding the imaging container 79 to a position where the imaging container 79 is supported by the support piece 106. The imaging container 79 after discharging the liquid 23 and the liquid 24 can be in a state where the fish 23 and the liquid 24 can be accommodated.

  Further, according to the embodiment, the discharge fish detection means 112 detects that the fish 23 is stored in the fish discharge means 88, and the imaging fish detection means 113 does not store the fish 23 in the imaging container 79. When the container position detection means 114 detects that the imaging container 79 is disposed below the fish discharge means 88, the control means 116 releases the fish 23 and the liquid 24 to the fish discharge means 88. Can be made. Thereby, when the fish discharge means 88 discharge | releases the fish 23 and the liquid 24 below, it can be ensured that the fish 23 is accommodated in the imaging container 79. FIG.

  In addition, according to the embodiment, the fish body shape determination apparatus includes the control unit 116, and the control unit 116 is based on the determination result by the determination unit 84 for the fish 23, the transport unit 93, the imaging unit 83, The support piece drive unit is controlled. Thereby, the fish body shape determination device can perform imaging of the fish 23, determination of the shape of the fish 23, conveyance of the fish 23, and discharge of the fish 23.

  A through hole is formed in a portion of the housing 117 located below the discharge container 89. The through-hole in the direction vertical and horizontal to the radial direction is set to be shorter than the body length of the fish 23 to be classified. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the fish 23 falling vertically downward when the bottom lid 91 is opened from entering the imaging container 79 with the back portion and the abdomen being reversed from the rostral end. The snout tip of the fish 23 that falls first from the snout tip can be brought into contact with the portion that defines the through hole of the housing 117 to reduce the snout tip falling speed and enter the imaging container 79 from the abdomen. Even if the tail fin comes into contact with the portion defining the through-hole of the housing 117, it can bend more flexibly than the rostral tip, so the fall speed does not decrease. Therefore, the fish 23 that has passed through the through hole of the casing 117 can be dropped with its abdomen facing downward.

  The fish 23 determination device is provided with three fish discharge means 88. Thereby, when the fish 23 is thrown into the discrimination device for the fish 23 by a human hand, the fish 23 can be thrown in by three people. Therefore, work efficiency can be made higher than the case where the fish 23 is thrown into the discrimination apparatus of the fish 23 by one person.

  In the present embodiment, when the imaging container 79 is in the housing posture 98, the direction from the one end portion to the other end portion of the support member 144 is the vertical direction, but the support member 144 has the imaging container 79 opened. It is sufficient if the imaging container 79 can be supported in a state in which the storage posture 98 can be taken upward. For example, in another embodiment, the direction from the one end portion to the other end portion of the support member 144 may be an angle that forms an angle with the vertical direction.

  In the present embodiment, the stimulus imparting means 86 for causing the fish 23 to open the spear is the pressing piece 87 that presses the abdomen of the fish 23 from the side. It is enough if you can give a jar and open the bag. For example, in another embodiment, the stimulus applying means 86 may be a mechanism that applies vibration to the liquid 24 containing the fish 23.

  In the present embodiment, the determination unit and the control unit 116 are different computers, but it is sufficient if the determination unit and the control unit 116 can balance different functions. For example, in another embodiment, the determination unit and the control unit 116 may be realized by a single computer. In this case, a program for causing one computer to function as both the determination unit and the control unit 116 is installed in the computer.

It is a perspective view of water tank 21 and separation object 22 of fish separation device 20 concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view of the fish separation apparatus 20 which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart showing the process of the separation method of the fish which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the aquarium 21 and the separation body 22 of the fish separation apparatus 20 which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a separation view showing a part of the bottom member 27 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, separated into a first plate member 51 and a second plate member 52. It is a perspective view of the flow path structure 33 and the passage width limiting means 34 in the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the separation body 22, the flow path structure 33, the passage width restriction means 34, and the fish catcher 54 in the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the separating body 22, the flow-path structure 33, the channel | path width limiting means 34, and the fish catcher 54 in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the fish catcher 54 in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the side view which looked at the fish catcher 54 in 1st Embodiment of this invention from the width direction inner side. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the fish catcher 54 in 1st Embodiment of this invention, and cut | disconnected by cut surface line AA shown in FIG. In 1st Embodiment of this invention, it is sectional drawing of the fish catcher 54 in the closed state. It is a perspective view showing the support guidance part 76 in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view showing a mode that the fish catcher 54 drives in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram showing the electrical connection relationship contained in the fish catcher. It is a flowchart showing the process of the fish catching method in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the inside of the fish body shape determination apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the fish shape discriminating device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. In 1st Embodiment of this invention, when the imaging container 79 exists in the imaging area 81, it is sectional drawing seen by cut | disconnecting the fish body discrimination | determination apparatus by the cut surface line CC shown in FIG. It is a top view of the fish shape discriminating device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a fish shape discrimination device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the press piece 87 which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. In 1st Embodiment of this invention, it is the figure which compared the picked-up image of the fish 23 which opened the salmon with the captured image of the fish 23 which did not open the coral. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the fish shape discriminating apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention cut along a cutting plane line DD shown in FIG. 19. It is the side view showing the state in which the support piece 106 in 1st Embodiment of this invention exists in the support position 109, and the permissible position 111. FIG. It is a block diagram showing the electrical connection relation contained in the fish processing apparatus concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart showing the process of the process which the determination means 84 performs in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the guide body in 1st Embodiment of this invention. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the control means 116 is a flowchart showing the process of controlling three fish discharge means 88. 5 is a flowchart showing steps of determination of fish 23 by a determination device and determination of fish 23 by control means 116 in the first embodiment of the present invention. In the fish separation apparatus which concerns on a prior art, it is a top view of the fish separation apparatus in the state which tries to isolate | separate several juveniles one by one.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Fish separation device 21 Water tank 22 Separation body 23 Fish 24 Liquid 26 Bottom cover 27 Bottom member 28 Partition wall 29 Inclined surface 31 Plate-shaped member 32 Hole 33 Flow path structure 34 Passage width restriction means 36 Flow path 37 Groove part 38 Floor part 39 Vertical part 41 Passing area 42 Opening 46 Inclined part 53 Fish shape discriminating device 54 Fish catcher 56 Junction point 66 Side wall part 67 Electromagnet part 68 Contact part 69 Sensor 71 Side wall drive part 72 Control part 73 Convex part 74 Floor plate part 76 Support guidance part 77 Concave groove 78 Concave 79 Imaging container 81 Imaging area 82 Discharge area 83 Imaging means 84 Judgment means 86 Stimulation means 87 Pressing piece 88 Fish release means 89 Release container 91 Bottom lid body 92 Release port 93 Conveying means 94 Input area 96 Turntable 97 Table drive unit 98 Accommodating posture 99 Discharging posture 101 Discharging area portion 102 posture Adjusting means 103 Posture return area 104 Container support 106 Support piece 107 Support piece drive section 108 Guide body 109 Support position 110 Guide surface 111 Permissible position 112 Released fish detection means 113 Imaging fish detection means 114 Container position detection means 116 Control means 117 Housing Body 128 Inclined surface 132 Bottom lid drive unit 136 Surface light source 157 Electromagnetic plunger 158 Motor 161 Base

Claims (14)

A fish tank that can contain a collection of fish together with liquid and whose bottom is closed by a bottom lid so as to be opened and closed;
Provided below the aquarium, with a plurality of partition walls standing in parallel, the distance between adjacent surfaces of adjacent partition walls being at least 1 and less than 2 times the body width of the fish, the lower end of each partition wall A fish separating apparatus comprising: a separating body whose parts are connected by a bottom member.   2. The fish separation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an interval in the thickness direction between the adjacent partition walls becomes narrower from vertically upward to vertically downward.   The distance between the mutually opposing surfaces of the lower end part of the partition wall adjacent to the thickness direction is within 1.5 times the body width of the fish to be separated, according to claim 1 or 2. Fish separation equipment. At least a part of the surface facing the water tank side of the bottom member is formed as an inclined surface inclined with respect to a horizontal virtual plane,
4. The fish according to claim 1, wherein the inclined surface is a plane or a curved surface that is vertically upward as it goes to one of a horizontal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the partition wall. Separation device.   The bottom member includes a plurality of plate-like members formed with a plurality of holes penetrating in the thickness direction, the plurality of plate-like members being stacked in the thickness direction, and formed on one plate-like member among the plurality of plate-like members. The plurality of holes formed and the plurality of holes formed in the other plate-shaped member can communicate with each other in the thickness direction of the plate-shaped member. Fish separation equipment. A flow path component that is provided on the downstream side of the separator in the liquid flow direction through the space between the partition walls and that configures the flow path with a width dimension of the flow path of 1 to 2 times the body width of the fish When,
A passage width limiting means that protrudes in the flow path, has flexibility, and defines a passage region through which the fish passes from the width direction;
The passage width limiting means defines the passage region so that the width dimension of the passage region becomes narrower from the upstream side in the flow direction of the liquid flowing through the flow path toward the downstream side in the flow direction. 5. The fish separation apparatus according to 5.   7. The fish separating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of the passage width limiting means are provided in one flow path, and the plurality of passage width limiting means are located apart from each other in the flow direction. The channel structure is provided with a plurality of grooves defining the channel,
The plurality of grooves are aligned in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction and horizontal,
Each groove portion has a floor portion defining the flow path from below,
A vertical portion that protrudes upward from the floor, has a longitudinal direction in the flow direction, and defines the flow channel from both sides in the width direction of the flow channel,
In each groove portion, the respective downstream end portions in the flow direction of the two vertical portions defining the flow path from the width direction are formed at different positions in the flow direction,
Among the downstream end portions, the two flow paths on both sides sandwiching the downstream end portion located on the upstream side, with the downstream position of the downstream end portion located on the upstream side in the flow direction being joined Formed as one flow path that merges with each other downstream of the point,
8. The fish separation apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the width dimension of one flow path joined to each other is less than twice the body width of the fish. A fish tank that can contain a collection of fish together with liquid and whose bottom is closed by a bottom lid so as to be opened and closed;
Provided below the aquarium, with a plurality of partition walls standing in parallel, the distance between adjacent surfaces of adjacent partition walls being at least 1 and less than 2 times the body width of the fish, the lower end of each partition wall Using a separating body provided with a bottom member that closes between the parts,
A method for separating fishes, wherein a group of fish composed of a plurality of fishes is separated into one fish,
A closing step of closing a lower portion of the water tank by the bottom lid;
A charging step of putting fish aggregates and liquid into the aquarium;
And a step of opening the closed bottom lid within a predetermined time.   9. The fish catcher according to claim 6, further comprising a fish catcher that is provided on a downstream side of the flow path through which the fish passes along with the liquid and catches the fish from both sides in the body width direction of the fish. Fish separation equipment. The fish catcher
It is provided on the downstream side of the flow path through which the fish passes along with the liquid, and includes two flat members formed on both sides of the crossing direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction of the fish and the liquid, and is vertical and horizontal to the flow direction A side wall formed to be displaceable in any direction,
It includes an electromagnet that functions as a magnet when energized, and is connected to the lower end of the side wall portion inward of the side wall from the side wall. When the electromagnet functions as a magnet, the side wall is displaced in the cross direction by the magnetic force of the magnet. An electromagnet part for bringing two flat members close to each other;
A contact portion that is formed of a stretchable material, is provided to be fixed to each flat plate-like member inward in the crossing direction of the side wall, and includes two stretchable members that are formed inward in the crossing direction. There,
Regardless of the position of the side wall crossing direction, an internal space is always formed between the two stretchable members,
The length of this internal space in the crossing direction is set larger than the body width of the fish to be captured,
When the side wall portion is closest to the inside in the crossing direction, the distance between the two stretchable members is, on the downstream side in the flow direction of the internal space, a contact portion that is shorter than the body width of the fish to be captured. The fish separation apparatus according to claim 10, comprising: The fish catcher
A sensor that detects the presence or absence of fish in a part of the predetermined flow path upstream of the side wall in the flow direction of the liquid flowing in the flow path, and outputs a signal if the presence of the fish is detected,
A side wall drive unit for displacing one side wall part in the crossing direction of the two flat members of the side wall part in the crossing direction;
A control unit that receives a signal from the sensor and that controls the timing of energization of the electromagnet of the electromagnet unit and the driving of the side wall drive unit based on the signal from the sensor and the time when the signal is received from the sensor; The fish separation apparatus according to claim 11. The fish catcher
A floor plate portion that is provided on the downstream side in the flow direction from the flow path, is formed at a position lower than the side wall portion, the contact portion and the electromagnet portion, and supports the side wall portion, the contact portion and the electromagnet portion from below;
Fixed to the floor plate part, defining a concave groove, formed extending in the cross direction, including a recess extending in one direction of crossing than the floor plate part, and sliding in the cross direction with the convex part provided at the lower part of the electromagnet part The fish separation apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, further comprising a support guide portion that can be fitted. A side wall provided on the downstream side of the flow path through which the fish passes along with the liquid, including two plate-like members provided on both sides of the cross direction that is perpendicular and horizontal to the flow direction of the fish and the liquid. An electromagnet part including a side wall part formed so as to be displaceable and an electromagnet that functions as a magnet when energized, and is connected to a lower end part of the side wall part inward of the side wall part in an intersecting direction. Functioning as an electromagnet part that displaces the side wall part in the crossing direction by the magnetic force of the magnet and brings the two flat plate members close to each other, and a predetermined flow path upstream of the side wall part in the flow direction of the liquid flowing in the flow path A sensor that detects the presence or absence of a fish and outputs a signal if the presence of a fish is detected, and a side wall drive unit that displaces one side wall part in the crossing direction in the crossing direction of the two flat members of the side wall part, , A floor plate portion provided on the downstream side in the flow direction from the road, and formed at a position lower than the side wall portion, the contact portion, and the electromagnet portion, and uses the floor plate portion that supports the side wall portion, the contact portion, and the electromagnet portion from below. ,
An electromagnet energization step of energizing the electromagnet portion based on a signal output from the sensor;
A first sidewall driving step of displacing one flat member in the intersecting direction in the intersecting direction than the floor plate by the sidewall driver;
An electromagnet energization stop process for stopping energization of the electromagnet part;
The fish separation method according to claim 9, further comprising a second side wall portion driving step of displacing one flat plate member in the crossing direction further in the crossing direction after the electromagnet energization stopping step.

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