JP3556713B2 - Veterinary cage - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention is used to breed laboratory animals. The present invention is suitable for long-term storage of monkeys for medical, pharmaceutical and other scientific experiments.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Laboratory animals are individually housed in small cages for specific experiments and research. This small cage has a metal frame and a wall made of a large number of round bars inserted through the metal frame.The wall has a large door for putting animals in and out, and is housed inside. There is known a structure having a small door that opens and closes in order to perform an experiment on an animal. Such a conventional structure is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 63-134661, which is a prior application of the present applicant.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
For example, when putting a monkey in and out of such a small cage, it is necessary to hold the monkey with one hand and operate the cage with the other hand, and it is possible to open and close the large door with one hand and lock it. It is hoped that it can be done. Also, even with a simple structure that can be locked with one hand, the animal must not escape. In addition, a contained monkey may grab the door and in that case, if there is "play" in the fixed state of the door, the monkey will be interested in the sound and it will cause loud noise and cause unnecessary mischief This causes the cage body to be damaged, which leads to danger to workers.
[0004]
In addition, the small door that opens and closes for experiments or for feeding food has one hand holding experimental equipment and food when opening and closing, so it is necessary to open and close it with one hand and further lock it. . It is desired that the feeding box can be easily attached and detached, and that the feeding box is not easily detached due to the mischief of the domestic animal.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in such a background, and a large door can be opened and closed with one hand to be locked, the large door is locked and there is no backlash, and a small door is opened and closed with one hand to be locked. It is an object of the present invention to provide an animal cage in which a feed box is not removed due to mischief of a domestic animal.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to a cage for housing laboratory animals, particularly medical and pharmaceutical research animals, for a long period of time, and is provided with a large door for taking in and out a domestic animal and a small door for accessing an internal domestic animal. In the cage, the large door has an opening / closing structure that rotates around a vertical axis, and includes a vertical rod that locks the large door to a horizontal frame when the large door is closed. The vertical rod is configured to be locked or released with respect to the horizontal frame by being rotated, and includes first spring means for inhibiting rotation at a locking position of the vertical rod with respect to the horizontal frame. The spring means has a structure in which the rotation prohibition state is released by one-handed operation, and the small door has an opening and closing structure which slides vertically along the wall surface of the large door, and in a state where the small door is closed. The second prohibits sliding by engaging with the upper horizontal frame. And spring means, is displaced by gravity, characterized in that a locking fitting to prohibit engaging sliding of the small door to the lower horizontal frame in a state in which the small door is released.
[0007]
An external feed box is provided, the feed box is configured to be hooked on a wall surface, and a third spring means for fixing the hooked position is provided. It is desirable to have a structure that releases the fixed state by inserting and pressing.
[0008]
[Action]
When the operation cylinder (5e) of the vertical rod (5) is closed at a position parallel to the large door (3), the vertical rod (5) preferably has a cutout having a plate-shaped cross section formed at two places. (5j) passes through the opening (7b) of the corresponding locking device (7) on the cage side and is housed in the holding hole (7a). When the operation cylinder (5e) is turned toward the back in this state, the locking pin (5h) of the first spring means provided inside the operation cylinder (5e) moves along the arc-shaped guide plate (8). To move into the engaging hole (8a) provided at a position of about 45 degrees by projecting and engaging by the urging force of the coil spring (5d) to fix the vertical rod (5). The notch (5j) moves from the position of the opening (7b) with the rotation of the vertical rod (5), and the outer periphery of the vertical rod (5) engages with the inside of the opening (7b). The large door (3) is in a locked state, and opening by the external force for opening the door is prohibited.
[0009]
When opening the large door (3), the operating cylinder (5e) is directed toward the axis of the vertical rod (5), and the coil spring (5d) is once compressed and moved, and the locking hole (8a) of the guide plate (8) is moved. ) Is disengaged from the locking pin (5b) and pulled back toward the large door (3), the notch (5j) of the vertical rod (5) is inserted into the opening (7b) of the locking tool (7). ), The large door (3) is opened. Since all of these operations can be performed with one hand, the breeding animals can be taken in and out by themselves, and when the large door (3) is closed, the outer periphery of the vertical rod (5) and the locking hole Since the inner periphery of (8a) is engaged with the inner periphery in close contact, no noise is generated even if the rearing animal grasps the door and shakes it.
[0010]
The small door (4), which slides in the vertical direction and opens and closes, has a tip of a second spring means (leaf spring 9) provided on the side of the large door (3) in the closed state. Since it is projected and engaged on the horizontal frame (4a), it cannot be opened even if an external force is applied. When the second spring means (9) is opened, the engagement is released by pushing the second spring means (9) toward the inside of the cage (1). By this lifting operation, the lower horizontal frame (4c) comes into contact with the outer periphery of the hook-shaped locking metal fitting (10) suspended like a pendulum and presses outward to lock when the lower horizontal frame (4c) passes. The metal fitting (10) is returned to the vertical position by gravity, and the lower horizontal frame (4c) engages with the metal fitting (10) to keep the small door (4) open. Since these operations can also be performed with one hand, it is possible to handle the bred animal with one hand. The latch (10) is released from the engaged state by being pulled back by hand, and the small door (4) falls by its own weight, and the tip of the second spring means (9) is placed on the upper horizontal rod (4a). It is engaged and locked by the urging force.
[0011]
In the feed box (6), guide grooves (13) provided on both sides of the feed box (6) are engaged with sliding plates (11) provided on two vertical lattices on the wall of the cage (1). Further, the tip of the third spring means (leaf spring 12) provided on the side of the cage (1) abuts and is fixed to the stop rod (14) attached to the back surface thereof. When the bait box (6) is separated, the leaf spring (12) is pushed into the cage (1) by a finger through an extrusion hole (6a) provided on the back surface thereof, so that the stop rod (14) is connected to the bait box (6). The engagement with the tip of the leaf spring (12) is released, and in this state, the bait box (6) can be easily separated by pulling it up.
[0012]
【Example】
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view showing the overall configuration of the embodiment of the present invention.
[0013]
In the embodiment of the present invention, a cage 1, a large door 3 disposed on the front of the cage 1 and pivoting around a vertical shaft 2 to open and close, and provided on the large door 3 in a vertical direction along a wall surface thereof. A small door 4 that opens and closes by sliding, a vertical rod 5 that locks to the cage 1 when the large door 3 is closed, and a feed box 6 that is arranged on the front of the cage 1 and stores food to be fed to domestic animals. Be provided. The large door 3 is opened and closed when a domestic animal is taken in and out, and the small door 4 is opened and closed when performing an experimental treatment on the domestic animal.
[0014]
FIG. 3 is a side view showing the shape of the vertical rod according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a spring means provided on the vertical rod according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 6, and FIG. The vertical rod 5 has a bent portion 5a whose upper end is bent in the horizontal direction, and the bent portion 5a is provided with first spring means. As shown in FIG. 4, the first spring means includes a stop pin 5b and a retaining pin 5c fixed to the lower surface of the bent part 5a, and one end of the stopper pin 5c abuts on the bent part 5a. And an operating cylinder 5e that accommodates the coil spring 5d therein and slides in the horizontal direction by manual operation. The operating cylinder 5e is provided with a slot 5f which comes into contact with the retaining pin 5c to serve as an axial guide and to prevent rotation. The detachment of the retaining pin 5c from the slit 5f and the bending of the operating cylinder 5e are performed. A stop plug 5g for preventing detachment from the 5a, a locking pin 5h for fixing the operation tube 5e, and a support plate 5i fixed to the operation tube 5e and supporting the locking pin 5h are provided.
[0015]
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the vertical rod 5 is formed with two notches 5j. As shown in FIG. 5, the cutout portion 5j is formed in a plate shape having a cross section of approximately 20 mm and both side surfaces parallel to each other.
[0016]
FIGS. 7A and 7B are enlarged perspective views of a portion C shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for explaining the engagement between the notch portion of the vertical rod and the locking tool in the embodiment of the present invention. At the position corresponding to the notch 5j of the vertical rod 5, a locking member 7 that engages with the vertical rod 5 is fixed to the cage 1, and the vertical rod 5 is rotatably held by the locking member 7. Holding hole 7a and an opening 7b through which the notch 5j passes.
[0017]
Also, on the upper surface of the cage 1 on which the operation cylinder 5e rotates, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the protrusion of the locking pin 5h by the coil spring 5d is suppressed, and when the operation cylinder 5e rotates about 45 degrees. An arc-shaped guide plate 8 having a locking hole 8a for fixing the operation cylinder 5e by projecting the locking pin 5h is provided.
[0018]
FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the configuration of the upper end of the small door in the embodiment of the present invention. The upper horizontal frame 4a of the small door 4 is provided with a gripping tool 4b which is gripped when the small door 4 is opened and closed. On the side of the large door 3 corresponding to the gripping tool 4b, the tip of the upper horizontal frame 4a is attached. A leaf spring (second spring means) 9 which comes into contact with the small door 4 and cannot be opened, and a shielding plate 15 which is located on the back of the leaf spring 9 and which is prevented from being operated by a domestic animal, are provided. . Further, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 9, the large door 3 is provided with a lock 10 for automatically locking the lower horizontal frame when the small door 4 is opened.
[0019]
FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view showing an attached state of the bait box in the embodiment of the present invention. Two sliding plates 11 and leaf springs (third spring means) 12 are attached to a vertical lattice arranged on the front surface of the cage 1. On the back of the bait box 6, a stopper 13a is provided at the upper end thereof, a guide groove 13 engaging with each of the two sliding plates 11, and a stop rod 14 abutting on the lower end of the leaf spring 12. Is provided, and an extrusion hole 6a for pushing the leaf spring 12 with a finger is provided at a position corresponding to the center of the leaf spring 12.
[0020]
Next, the handling operation of the embodiment of the present invention thus configured will be described. First, the operation of closing the large door 3 in the open state will be described. When the operating cylinder 5e provided on the vertical rod 5 is turned toward the cage 1 so as to be parallel to the large door 3 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. In the state shown in (a), it passes through the opening 7b and is housed in the holding hole 7a of the locking member 7. Here, when the operation cylinder 5e is turned toward the back of the cage 1, the locking pin 5h moves while being pushed into the axial center side by the guide plate 8, and moves to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. ), The locking pin 5h projects into the locking hole 8a of the guide plate 8 and is fixed by the urging force of the coil spring 5d shown in FIG. With this rotation, the vertical rod 5 also rotates, and the notch 5j moves to the position shown in FIG. 7B while being housed in the holding hole 7a. Due to this movement, the outer periphery of the vertical rod 5 is locked in the opening 7b, and the breeding animal is in a locked state where it cannot be opened even if force is applied to open the large door 3 from inside.
[0021]
When the large door 3 is opened, the operating cylinder 5e is moved in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 11 so that the operating cylinder 5e moves while compressing the coil spring 5d to the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. The stop plug 5g contacts the stop pin 5b. With this movement, the locking pin 5h is also retracted, and the locking pin 5h is separated from the locking hole 8a of the guide plate 8. In this state, when the operating cylinder 5e is pulled back to the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 11, the notch 5j of the vertical rod 5 moves to the position shown in FIG. It becomes open.
[0022]
Since the opening and closing of the large door 3 can all be performed by one-handed operation, the rearing animal can be taken in and out with the other hand, and the rearing animal can be treated alone.
[0023]
Next, the opening and closing operation of the small door 4 will be described. When the small door 4 is opened, the leaf spring 9 is deformed by pressing the leaf spring 9 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. Get out of In this state, when the small door 4 is lifted by holding the gripping tool 4b, the upper horizontal frame 4a slides on the surface of the leaf spring 9 and moves, and the locked state with the leaf spring 9 as shown by the chain line. The small door 4 is released and can be slid.
[0024]
When the small door 4 is lifted and reaches near the rising end, the corner of the lower horizontal frame 4c comes into contact with the locking fitting 10 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. The latch 10 is hooked with a large play so as to form a pendulum, and is formed in a hook shape, so that when the corner of the lower horizontal frame 4c comes into contact, it is pushed out and passed. At times, it is returned to its original position by gravity, and its tip moves below the lower horizontal frame 4c as shown by the solid line in FIG. As a result, even if the hand is released from the gripping tool 4b, the lower horizontal frame 4c is locked by the locking metal fitting 10, and the small door 4 remains open.
[0025]
When the small door 4 is closed, the small metal door 4 is automatically dropped by its own weight and closed by pulling the latch 10 toward the front to release the engagement with the lower horizontal frame 4c. When the small door 4 falls, the upper horizontal frame 4a pushes the leaf spring 9 to the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 12, and when it stops, it returns to the position shown by the solid line due to elasticity. Locked by a leaf spring 9. Since the shield plate 15 is attached to the back side of the leaf spring 9, the leaf spring 9 is prevented from being operated by the domestic animal when the small door is closed. Since the opening and closing of the small door 4 can be operated with one hand, the reared animal can be handled with the other hand.
[0026]
Next, an operation of attaching and detaching the bait box 6 will be described. When the bait box 6 is mounted, the guide grooves 13 mounted on both sides of the back of the bait box 6 are engaged with the two sliding plates 11 mounted on the two vertical lattices of the cage 1 shown in FIG. 13, the stop rod 14 attached to the back of the bait box 6 pushes the leaf spring 12 attached to the vertical lattice of the cage 1 to a position shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. When the bait box 6 is further pushed down and the upper end of the slide plate 11 comes into contact with the retaining stopper 13 a provided at the upper end of the guide groove 13, the position of the stop rod 14 is higher than the lower end of the leaf spring 12. Also moves downward, and the pushing of the leaf spring 12 by the stop rod 14 is released. As a result, the lower end of the leaf spring 12 is returned to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 13 and contacts the stop rod 14 to fix the bait box 6.
[0027]
In this state, even if the breeding animal tries to remove the feed box 6, it cannot be separated because the leaf spring 12 attached to the cage 1 is engaged with the stop rod 14 attached to the feed box 6 side. .
[0028]
When the bait box 6 is to be detached, the leaf spring 12 is moved to the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 13 by pushing the leaf spring 12 toward the inside of the cage 1 from the pushing hole 6a provided on the back surface. And comes off the stop rod 14. If the bait box 6 is pulled upward in this state, the guide groove 13 is disengaged from the slide plate 11, and the bait box 6 is separated from the cage 1.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the large door can be opened and closed with one hand to lock the door, so that the rearing animal can be taken in and out with the other hand. In addition, the small door can be opened and closed with one hand and locked, so that it is possible to hold laboratory equipment or food with the other hand, and to take in and out of the breeding animal, or to treat the breeding animal by itself. effective.
[0030]
Furthermore, since the large and small doors have a structure that does not cause backlash in the closed state, no noise is generated even if the breeding animal grabs the door and continues to shake with interest in the sound Such an operation can be prevented. Therefore, there is no damage to the cage body, and the worker can rest safely.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing the entire configuration of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing the shape of the vertical rod in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a spring means provided on the vertical rod in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line AA shown in FIG. 3 in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a view on arrow B shown in FIG. 4 in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion C shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for explaining the engagement between the notch portion of the vertical rod and the locking tool in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the configuration of the upper end of the small door in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged side view showing the configuration of the locking fitting in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view showing an attached state of the bait box in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a view for explaining rotation of the operation cylinder and engagement by a locking pin in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a side view illustrating an engagement state with a leaf spring when the small door is opened and closed in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a side view for explaining attachment / detachment of the bait box in the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 1 cage 2 vertical shaft 3 large door 4 small door 4a upper horizontal frame 4b gripper 4c lower horizontal frame 5 vertical rod 5a bent portion 5b stop pin 5c retaining pin 5d coil spring 5e operating cylinder 5f slot 5g stop plug 5h locking Pin 5i Support plate 5j Notch 6 Feeder box 6a Push-out hole 7 Locking tool 7a Holding hole 7b Opening 8 Guide plate 8a Locking holes 9, 12 Leaf spring 10 Locking metal fitting 11 Sliding plate 13 Guide groove 13a 14 Stop rod 15 Shield plate

Claims (2)

In an animal cage with a large door for taking in and out the domestic animal and a small door for accessing the internal animal,
The large door has an opening / closing structure that rotates around a vertical axis, and includes a vertical rod that locks the large door to a horizontal frame when the large door is closed, and the vertical rod rotates around the axis. The vertical rod is configured to be locked or released with respect to the horizontal frame by the first spring means for inhibiting rotation of the vertical rod at the locked position with respect to the horizontal frame. A structure in which the rotation prohibition state is released by one hand operation,
The small door has an opening / closing structure that slides vertically along the wall surface of the large door, and a second spring means for engaging the upper horizontal frame of the small door in a closed state to inhibit sliding. An animal cage which is displaced by gravity and engages with a lower horizontal frame of the small door in a state where the small door is released to prevent sliding of the small door. An external feed box is provided, the feed box is structured to be hooked on a wall surface, and a third spring means for fixing the hooked position is provided. 2. The animal cage according to claim 1, wherein the animal cage is configured to release the fixed state by inserting and pressing.

Images