JPH0731317A - Breeding apparatus for experimental animal or the like provided with automatic feeding function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a breeding apparatus for experimental animals, etc., capable of automatically and efficiently carrying out feeding to plural bleeding parts using one feeder by solving defect originated in that an automatic feeder is provided in each bleeding apparatus. CONSTITUTION:This breeding apparatus is provided with plural breeding parts arranged at plural stages in vertical direction and over plural rows in horizontal direction and a feeding unit 5 movably provided in horizontal direction around bleeding rows and simultaneously, capable of distributing and supplying feed to a breeding part in each stage belonging to the rows in the position corresponding to each row. The breeding apparatus is controlled so as to supply feed only to the breeding part necessary for feed among the breeding part at each stage belonging to the row to the feeding unit moved until the position corresponding to each row. Feed detection sensors 6a to 6c for detecting whether feeding to breeding part at each stage belonging to each breeding part row is required are preferably further provided in the breeding apparatus.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a breeding apparatus having an automatic feeding function for breeding management of experimental animals such as dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs, and more particularly to a breeding apparatus suitable for large numbers of breeding.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, the above-mentioned experimental animals and the like are bred individually or in predetermined groups in breeding boxes or the like. Then, although a fixed amount of food is supplied at a fixed time, it is troublesome and laborious to manually perform such a feeding operation. In particular, it was extremely difficult to secure feeding work during long vacations and long absences.

Therefore, in order to automate the feeding work, various automatic feeding devices have been proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 52-13 / 1987).
No. 6779, JP-A-63-207334, etc.), and breeding devices equipped with these automatic feeding devices are provided.

[0004]

By the way, in order to stably carry out the experiment over a long period of time, it is desirable to keep a large number of experimental animals at all times.

However, in the conventional breeding apparatus with the automatic feeding function, one automatic feeding apparatus is provided for each breeding apparatus, so that the cost is high and the overall size is large. I had to do it. Therefore, securing a large number of such breeding devices leads to an increase in equipment costs and installation space, which naturally limits the number of breeding.

Further, there is also a disadvantage that the observation of the breeding animals is hindered by the automatic feeding device existing in front of or inside each breeding device, and the appearance is disturbed.

Further, since each feeding device is provided with an automatic feeding device, there is a problem that the feeding is always present in the vicinity of the breeding animal, which causes a stress to the breeding animal.

The present invention has been made in view of the above technical background, and solves the above-mentioned drawbacks caused by the automatic feeding device provided in each breeding device,
An object of the present invention is to provide a breeding apparatus for experimental animals or the like that can automatically and efficiently feed a plurality of breeding units with one feeding apparatus.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, and a plurality of columns arranged in a plurality of columns in the vertical direction and a plurality of columns in the horizontal direction. A feeding unit (5) that is provided so as to be horizontally movable around the breeding unit and each breeding unit row, and that at a position corresponding to each row, the feed can be distributed and supplied to the breeding units of each stage belonging to that row (5) And controlling the operation of the feeding unit (5) that has moved to the position corresponding to each row so that the feeding unit (5) is fed only to the feeding section that needs feeding among the breeding sections of each stage belonging to that row. The gist of the present invention is a breeding apparatus for experimental animals or the like having an automatic feeding function, which is characterized by comprising a control device (91).

The necessity of feeding in each breeding section of each row belonging to each breeding section row can be automatically detected by the sensors (6a) to (6c). As a specific embodiment, the breeding box (2) is arranged in the breeding unit, and the presence or absence of the breeding box is detected by the feeding detection sensors (6a) to (6c) to determine the necessity of feeding the breeding unit. Can be detected. In addition, preferably, a plurality of feeding detection sensors (6a) to (6c) are provided in the feeding unit (5) at a height position corresponding to each breeding section, and the feeding detection sensors (6a) to (6c) move in the horizontal direction together with the feeding unit. Is good.

Further, as a preferable mode of the feeding unit, the feeding unit (5) is connected to a feeding hopper (51) for stocking the bait, and is connected below the hopper so that the bait from the hopper corresponds to the number of stages of the breeding section. Food dispenser (5
2) and a plurality of feeding chutes (53b) (53c) for dropping food which communicate with the bottom of each distributor and extend to the corresponding breeding section at the lower end.

Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the feeding unit (5) is in a standby position outside the outermost rearing section row when it is inactive, and after moving horizontally around each rearing section row when it is in operation. , Feeding unit (5) that is supposed to return to the standby position again or moves horizontally
There may be a case where stop devices (71) and (72) for stopping the feeding at each row are provided, and a case where a timer (92) that sets the movement timing of the feeding unit (5) is provided.

[0013]

Operation: The feeding unit (5) moves horizontally from the standby position. On the other hand, at each row-corresponding position, the feeding necessity of the feeding section of each stage belonging to the row, that is, the feeding section is preferably detected by the feeding detection sensors (6a) to (6c) and moved to each row-corresponding position. The unit distributes and feeds the food only to the breeding units of which the feeding detection sensor has detected the need for feeding among the breeding units of the respective stages belonging to the row. Therefore, feeding is not performed for the breeding departments for which the need for feeding was not detected. In this way, the feeding unit (5) automatically performs the feeding work for each breeding unit while moving around each breeding box row.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1 showing the overall structure of the breeding apparatus,
(1) is an apparatus main body formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape by a metal frame. The apparatus main body (1) is vertically divided into three horizontally long spaces, and in each space, five breeding boxes (2) are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction. Therefore, a total of 15 breeding boxes are installed in the main body of the apparatus in three rows vertically and five rows horizontally.

As shown schematically in FIG. 5, each breeding box (2) has an engaging flange (21) projecting outwardly in the horizontal direction at the left and right upper edges of the breeding box (2). A guide guide (12) having an inverted T-shaped cross section provided at a predetermined position of the support shelf (11)
It is possible to move in the front-back direction (thickness direction of the paper surface) by being placed on. The breeding box (2) can be removed from the device body (1) by pulling it out, and the engaging body (1) can be pushed by engaging the engaging flange (21) with the guide guide (12). ) Can be attached to.

Each breeding box (2) is made of metal, and its front surface is a lattice plane (22) excluding the peripheral portion, so that the breeding animals inside can be observed. In addition, the front lattice surface (22) of each breeding box (2) has a bait box (23) with an upper opening.
Is attached, and food can be supplied from the upper opening of the food container (23).

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, two traveling rails (3) are provided parallel to each other at both ends in the front-rear direction above the apparatus body (1), and an axle (41a) is provided on the lower surface. The traveling carriage (4) to which the wheels (41b) are attached has the wheels (41b) mounted on the traveling rail (3). Moreover, the traveling carriage (4) is equipped with a feeding unit (5) for distributing and feeding the feeding to the breeding boxes (2) in each row, and the traveling carriage (4) is attached to the bottom surface of the feeding carriage (4) and the axles. It is possible to move horizontally along the traveling rail (3) by rotation of the traveling motor (42) with a speed adjuster and a brake that meshes with the feeding unit (5) along with the movement of the traveling carriage (4). Is also supposed to move horizontally.

The feeding unit (5) is fixed to a single feeding hopper (51) for feeding stock which is supported on the upper inclined surface of the traveling carriage (4) and the front wall of the traveling carriage (4), A bait distributor (52) continuously provided at the lower end discharge port of the bait hopper (51), and a bait dropping chute (53b1) (53b1) (continuously provided at the lower end of the bait distributor (52) ( 53b2) (53
b3) (53c).

The feeding hopper (51) is for stocking food, and as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, an inspection window (51a) made of a transparent body for confirming the remaining amount of food is provided on the front surface thereof. ing. A baffle plate (51b) for adjusting the amount of fall of the bait is arranged above the lower end discharge port inside the hopper.

As shown in detail in FIG. 6, the bait distributor (52) is constructed by horizontally connecting three rectangular box-shaped bodies (52a). Each box (52a)
Is equipped with a rotor (52c) which is rotationally driven by a horizontal drive shaft (52b) extending in the front-rear direction. The rotor (52c) is made of a hard or semi-rigid rubber-like elastic material, and is provided with six radial blades (52d) at intervals of 60 degrees on the peripheral surface and adjacent blades (52d). ) (52d) is used as the food measuring section. Further, both ends in the axial direction of the rotor (52c) are installed in close proximity to the front and rear surfaces of the box-shaped body facing each other so that the bait (A) can be prevented from spilling from between the two.

The rotor (52c) is rotationally driven in the counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 6 (a). Thus, the feeding port (52f) from the hopper (51) is provided at the one upper position on the right side of the drawing which rotates upward, and the feeding port (52f) from the hopper (51) is provided on the lower side of the other side of the drawing which rotates downward. Is
There is a bait outlet (52g).

The feed port (52f) is formed between the feed guide plate (52h) and the feed amount adjusting plate (52i).
The bait guide plate (52h) has its upper end fixed to the inner surface of the box-like body (52a) with screws or the like, and the middle part extends slightly obliquely toward the rotor (52c) and extends downward. Is formed in an arcuate portion along the outer peripheral surface of the rotor (52c), and is elastically contacted with the outer peripheral surface of the rotor, that is, the tips of the radial blades (52d) (52d), and the rotor (52c) and the bait guide plate (52h). ) Is supposed to be able to prevent the fall of food from between.

On the other hand, the feed amount adjusting plate (52i) adjusts the opening degree of the feed feeding port (52f) to adjust the dropping feed amount of the feed (A) to the rotor (52c). Body (52
From the upper part of the side of (a), it is inclined downward toward the food supply port (52f), and the food supply port (52f) is formed by leaving a predetermined gap between the tip and the guide plate (52h). ing. The adjustment plate (52i) can be adjusted in the vertical mounting position as appropriate, and the tip end of the adjustment plate is a projecting forward / backward adjusting plate attached for adjustable forward / backward displacement. By adjusting the amount, the opening degree of the feed supply port (52f) can be adjusted.

A spill prevention plate (52j) is provided at a lateral position on the left side in the drawing which rotates downwardly of the rotor (52c). The spill prevention plate (52j) is
It consists of a strip-shaped plate corresponding to the width of c), the upper end in the longitudinal direction is fixed to the inner surface of the box (52a) with screws or the like, and is bent in the direction in which the lower part is separated from the intermediate part in the longitudinal direction. And is elastically contacted with the tips of the blades (52d) of the rotor (52c) at a position near the lower end.

The drive shaft (52b) of the rotor (52c) penetrates the box (52a) back and forth, and the front end of the penetrating portion on the front side is fixed to the motor mounting plate (54). Five
It is linked to 5). Further, the drive shaft (52b) is provided with a rotating disc (56) which rotates integrally with the rotor (52c) at a position between the feeding motor (55) and the box (52a). And, the horizontal bending part of the motor mounting plate (54)
An interrupter type rotation amount detection sensor (57) is attached in such a manner as to sandwich the peripheral end portion of the rotating disc (56). On the other hand, a cut (56a) is formed on the outer circumference of the rotating disk (56) at six equal positions, and the cut (56a) passes through the rotation amount detection sensor (57) to rotate the rotor (52c). It is said that the amount can be detected. Incidentally, (58) shown in FIG. 6 (b) is a motor cover.

When feeding, the feeding motor (5
By driving 5), the rotor (52c) rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 6 (a), and the bait contained in the bait supply port (52f) dropped into the bait measuring section (52e) of the rotor (52c) is rotated. Along with that, it is continuously fed counterclockwise and dropped from the outlet (52g). Therefore, the amount of food carried and dropped by the food measuring unit (52e) corresponds to the rotation amount of the rotor (52c),
It is said that the feeding amount for one feeding can be set by setting the rotation amount. Specifically, the feeding amount setter (95) (shown in FIG. 7) to be described later sets the feeding amount once in advance, and the rotation of the rotor (52c) detected by the rotation amount detection sensor (57). When the amount reaches the amount of rotation corresponding to the set feeding amount, the driving of the feeding motor (55) is stopped and 1
It is supposed that the feeding will be completed once.

The supply chute is shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4.
As shown in FIG. 3, a triple-type fixed hopper portion (53a) having a concave shape is continuously provided at the lower end of each distributor unit, and a triple-arrangement is provided that extends downward along the front surface of the breeding box (2). It consists of fixed chutes (53b1) (53b2) (53b3) and three short movable chutes (53c) connected to the lower ends of the fixed chutes. The three fixed shoots correspond to the upper, middle and lower three-stage breeding boxes (2), and the first fixed shoot (53) on the left side
b1) has its lower end extending to a position slightly above the center of the upper feeding box (2a), and the lower end of the second fixed chute (53b2) in the middle to a position slightly higher than the center of the middle feeding box (2b). The lower end of the third fixed chute (53b3) on the right side extends to a position slightly above the center of the lower breeding box (2c). On the other hand, the movable chute (53c) is the fixed chute (53b1)
It is attached to the lower ends of (53b2) and (53b3) by a spring or the like so as to be rotatable within a predetermined range. And the movable chute (53
The bottom outlet of c) is biased toward the food container (23) so as to face the food container (23) of the feeding box (2), and the device is moved along with the movement of the feeding unit (5). When moving in front of the front vertical frame (13) of the main body (1), the movable chute (53c) is fixed to the frame (13) in order to avoid collision between the movable chute (53c) and the frame. Guided by the tip of the forced cam plate (14),
4 is a solid line in FIG. 4 (shown with the cam plate (14) in FIG. 3 removed)
As shown by the chain line, the housing is rotated downward from the breeding box (2) in the separating direction.

The second fixed chute (53b2) in the middle is located at a height position facing the front of the food container (23) of the breeding box (2a) in the upper stage and the third fixed chute (53b3) on the right side is in the middle stage. At the height position facing the front of the feeding box (23) of the breeding box (2b) and the height position facing the front of the feeding box (23) of the lower feeding box (2c), the first to third total of three Feeding detection sensor (6a) (6
b) (6c) is installed. These detection sensors (6
a) (6b) (6c) detects the presence or absence of the feeding box (2) on each stage of the row when the feeding unit (5) moves horizontally and reaches the position corresponding to each row of feeding boxes, and eventually feeds. In this embodiment, it is constituted by a photoelectric switch with a built-in amplifier that generates a detection signal when it comes close to the front face of the food feeding device (23). Then, as will be described later, when the breeding box (2) is detected, it is determined that feeding is necessary, and the rotor (52c) in the box-shaped body (52a) is rotationally driven to the breeding box (2). It is said that feeding will be performed. Therefore, it is sufficient to pull out the feeding box (2) that does not have any breeding animals and does not need feeding from the device body (1). In this case, the feeding box (2) is not detected by the detection sensor, so that feeding is not performed. become.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, on the upper surface of the apparatus main body (1), a plurality of sensor operating plates (71) made of small metal pieces are arranged at intervals in front of the traveling rail (3). And the sensor operating plate (7) at the horizontal center of the rear surface of the front wall of the traveling carriage (4).
Each row stop position detection sensor (72) consisting of a photoelectric switch with a built-in amplifier is installed so as to be able to face the upper adjacent position of 1). The row stop position detection sensor (72) and the sensor operating plate (71) constitute a stopping device for stopping the feeding unit (5) at the position corresponding to each row, and the sensor operating plate (71). Is provided at a position approximately in the center of the breeding boxes (2) in each row in the left-right direction. Then, when the traveling carriage (4) moves, the feeding unit (5) moves in the horizontal direction, and when each row stop position detection sensor (72) reaches above the sensor operation plate (71), each row stop is stopped. The position detection sensor (72) detects the presence of the operating plate (71) and outputs a signal, the traveling motor (42) is stopped and controlled based on this signal, and the feeding unit (5) is set to the corresponding breeding box row. It is supposed to stop at the position directly above.

Further, a total of two switch actuating plates (81a) (81b) made of small metal pieces are erected upright behind the traveling rails (3) at the left and right ends of the upper surface of the apparatus body (1). At the rear of the traveling carriage (4), there are two final stop position detection switches (82a) which are limit switches which come into contact with the switch operation plates (81a) (81b).
) (82b) is horizontally offset. These switch operating plates (81a) (81b) and final stop position detection switches (82a) (82b) regulate the maximum movement position of the feeding unit (5) to the right and the maximum movement position to the left. Play a role. That is, when the feeding unit (5) moves to the right and the final stop position detection switch (82a) on the right side comes into contact with the switch operating plate (81a), the switch is turned on and the traveling motor (42) is controlled to stop. It is supposed to be done. In this case, the left final stop position detection switch (82b) prevents the runaway of the feeding unit (5) when the right final stop position detection switch (82a) does not operate due to a failure or the like. Function as an overrun prevention switch. On the other hand, when the feeding unit (5) moves to the left, the final stop position detection switch (82b) on the left side comes into contact with the switch actuating plate (81b) to be turned on and the traveling motor (4).
2) is supposed to be stopped and controlled. In this case, the final stop position detection switch (82a) on the right side functions to prevent overrun of the feeding unit (5).

(9) provided on the side surface of the feeding unit is a main operation panel. The main operation panel (9) has a built-in sequencer for controlling the operation of the breeding device, and a 24-hour timer for setting the movement time of the feeding unit so that feeding is performed regularly in accordance with the feeding time. Feeding amount setting device to set the number of times, operation switch, emergency stop switch,
An operation lamp that lights up during operation, an abnormal lamp that lights up during an abnormality, etc. are provided.

In this embodiment, the inclined shelves (10) are arranged below the breeding boxes (2) at the upper, middle and lower stages, and
One end of each shelf is connected by a communication pipe (10a) to form a meandering inclined passage as a whole.
It is said that water etc. that has fallen to 0) can be made to flow down along the passage and discharged from the lower end drainage port (10b).

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an operation circuit of the breeding apparatus shown in FIGS.

In the figure, (91) is a sequencer and (9
2) is a 24-hour timer, (93) is an operation switch, (94)
Is an emergency stop switch, (95) is a feeding amount setting device, (72) is a row stop position detection sensor, (82a) (82b) is a final stop position detection switch, (6a) to (6c) are feed detection sensors,
(57) is a rotation amount detection sensor, (42) is a traveling motor, (5
5) is a feeding motor for rotating the rotor (52c), (96)
Is an operation lamp, and (97) is an abnormal lamp. These are as described above, and signals are input to the sequencer (91) from the switches, sensors, setters, etc. described on the left side of the sequencer in FIG. 7, and control signals corresponding to these signals are transmitted. It is supposed that the sequencer (91) outputs to each motor and lamp described on the right side.

Next, the operation of the breeding apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.

When not in operation, the feeding unit (5)
Is waiting at the outside waiting position of the left outermost breeding box row.

Next, prior to the operation, one feeding amount, that is, one rotation amount of each rotor (52c) in the food distributor is set by the feeding amount setting device (95), and the operation is started at the start of the operation. Select whether the method is automatic or manual (S1). For automatic operation, 24-hour timer (9
2) to a specified value (S2), and then the operation switch (9
Turn on 3). On the other hand, when manual operation is selected, the operation switch (93) is turned on without setting the timer. A drive signal is output from the sequencer (91) to the travel motor (42) when the time set by the timer (92) is reached, or when the operation switch (93) is turned on in the case of a manual system, the travel motor (42) The rotation is transmitted to the axle (41a) and the wheel (41b) of the traveling carriage (4), and the traveling carriage (4) starts moving rightward in FIG. 1 along the traveling rail (3). Then, the feeding unit (5) integrally attached to the traveling carriage also moves to the right (S3
).

First feeding unit (5) is the outermost row on the left
When it reaches above the row of breeding boxes, the row stop position detection sensor (72) of the traveling carriage (4) detects the presence of the sensor operating plate (71), and the detection signal is input to the sequencer (91). . Then, a stop signal is output from the sequencer (91) to the traveling motor (42) to stop the traveling motor (42), so that the feeding unit (5) stops at a position just above the first breeding box row (S4). ).

Next, the sequencer (91) judges whether the stop position is the maximum stop position or each row stop position (S5), and if it is not the final stop position, the three feeding detection sensors (6a) to (6c).
Operate. Since each feeding detection sensor (6a) to (6c) is provided in a position facing the front of the feeding box (23) of each step of the feeding boxes (2a) to (2c), the feeding boxes (2a) to (2c) If there is, the bait box (23) is detected and a detection signal is output.
If there is no breeding box, no detection signal will be output. Then, the sequencer (91) determines that feeding is necessary when the detection signal is received, and determines that feeding is unnecessary when the detection signal is not received (S6).

Next, a breeding box (2a) determined to require feeding
Feeding work is performed on (2c) (S7). Specifically, an operation signal is sent from the sequencer (91) to the feeding motor (55) of the food distributor (52) corresponding to the breeding box, and the motor (55) rotates and the rotor (52c). Rotates counterclockwise. The rotation amount of the rotor (52c), that is, one feeding amount is detected by a rotation amount detection sensor (57) that detects passage of a notch (56a) of the rotating disc (56), and the rotation amount is the feeding amount setting device ( The rotor (52c) is driven to rotate until the amount set by (95) is reached. By this rotation of the rotor, a set amount of bait drops below the rotor (52c), and the corresponding fixed chutes (53b1) to (53b3) and the movable chute (53).
It is thrown through c) into the desired food container (23).

After the feeding work is completed, or when it is determined by all feeding detection sensors (6a) to (6c) that there is no breeding box (2a) to (2c) in any of the stages. The traveling signal is again output from the sequencer (91) to the traveling motor (42), and the feeding unit (5) moves rightward again. When the second row breeding box row is reached, a stop signal is output by the cooperation of each row stop position detection sensor (72) and the second row sensor operating plate (71), and the second breeding box The feeding unit (5) stops just above the line. Then, after the necessity of feeding to each stage of the second breeding box row is detected and feeding is performed, the feeding unit (5) starts to move to the right again, and so on. The fifth row feeding operation is performed.

The feeding unit (5) which has finished feeding in the final fifth breeding box row moves further to the right, but when the final stop position detection switch (82a) on the right side contacts the switch operating plate (81a). Turns on and the sequencer (91)
Stops the feeding unit (5) and determines that the feeding unit (5) has reached the final stop position (S
Five ). Here, the final stop position detection switch (82a
) Becomes inoperable due to a malfunction etc., the feeding unit (5) tries to move past the final stop position, but the left final stop position detection switch (82b) is activated to prevent overrun. It

After the feeding unit (5) has stopped at the final stop position, the presence or absence of the feeding boxes (2a) to (2c) is confirmed (S8) by the feeding detection sensors (6a) to (6c), just in case. If there is a box, the feeding operation is performed (S9), and if there is no box, a reverse rotation command is issued to the traveling motor (42), and the feeding unit (5) moves back to the left (S10).

When the feeding unit (5) returns to the standby position outside the first breeding box row and the final stop position detection switch (82b) on the left side contacts the switch operating plate (81b), the switch is turned on, The feeding unit (5) is stopped (S11). Here, when the final stop position detection switch (82b) on the left side becomes inoperable due to a failure or the like, the final stop position detection switch (82a) on the right side operates to prevent overrun.

Feeding unit (5) returned to the standby position
Keeps its standby state until the next timer is activated or the operation switch is manually turned on.

When the feeding unit (5) moves in front of the front vertical frame (13) of the apparatus main body (1), the movable cam (53c) is fixed to the forced cam plate (14). Guided by the front end surface of the frame, it rotates in a direction away from the breeding box (2) as shown by the solid line in FIG. 3 to avoid collision with the frame (13).

In the above embodiments, the feeding unit (5) is configured to temporarily stop at the position corresponding to each row of the breeding box, but it is not always necessary to stop the feeding unit (5) while detecting the breeding box while moving. It may be used for feeding work.
In addition, the feeding detection sensors (6a) to (6c) are provided on the fixed chutes (53b1) to (53b3) so that they can be moved together with the feeding unit (5). ) ~ (2c) is to be detected, a sensor for detecting the rearing box is fixedly provided at the rear of each rearing box, etc., and the necessity of feeding is collectively grasped by the sensor and The feeding operation may be performed by the feeding unit based on the above.

Further, instead of providing a feeding sensor, a setting device for manually setting the necessity of feeding is provided, and the necessity of feeding is preset by the setting device, and the necessity of feeding is based on this. It is also possible to feed only to the breeding department.

The breeding box (2) is not always necessary, and the present invention can be applied to the case where the breeding room is divided into a plurality of stages and a plurality of rows.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of breeding units arranged in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction and a plurality of rows in the horizontal direction, and movable horizontally in each breeding unit row. At the position corresponding to each row, a feeding unit capable of distributing and supplying food to the breeding section of each stage belonging to that row, and the feeding unit moved to each row corresponding position, each belonging to that row The feeding unit is provided with a control device for controlling the operation so that the feeding is provided only to the feeding unit in which the need for feeding is detected by the feeding detection sensor. It is possible to automatically and efficiently feed many breeding departments. Therefore, it is possible to breed and manage a large number of breeding animals without significantly increasing equipment costs and installation space.
Moreover, since no automatic feeding unit is provided in each breeding unit, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that the feeding unit interferes with the observation of the breeding animal and the inconvenience that the feed is always present near the breeding animal.

Further, when a feeding detection sensor for detecting the necessity of feeding is provided in each feeding section belonging to each row of feeding sections, the necessity of feeding can be automatically detected and determined. Therefore, it can be a practical breeding device with labor saving.

In addition, when a breeding box is arranged in the breeding unit and the presence or absence of the breeding box is detected by the feeding detection sensor to detect the necessity of feeding to the breeding unit, the feeding is performed. When it is not necessary, the breeding box can be removed so that the need for feeding can be automatically detected easily.

When a plurality of feeding detection sensors are provided in the feeding unit at a height position corresponding to each feeding section and move horizontally with the feeding unit, a small number of feeding detection sensors can be used. The effect is that the necessity of feeding can be confirmed efficiently.

Further, the feeding unit is provided with a feeding hopper for stocking the bait, which is connected below the hopper, and which distributes the bait from the hopper to a number corresponding to the number of stages of the breeding section, and each distributor. When the feeding unit has a plurality of feeding chutes that are connected to the bottom surface of the above, and whose lower end extends to the corresponding breeding section at each stage, the feeding unit can be realized with a simple configuration.

Further, when the feeding unit is not in operation, it is in the outer standby position of the outermost breeding section row, and when it is in operation, it moves horizontally around each breeding section row and then returns to the standby position again. If this is the case, a single movement of the feeding unit can ensure reliable feeding to each feeding unit, and the feeding unit should be placed in a position that does not interfere with the feeding unit when it is inactive. There is an effect that the animals can be put on standby and the animals kept in all breeding areas can be sufficiently observed.

Furthermore, when a stop device for stopping the feeding unit that moves in the horizontal direction at the position corresponding to each row is provided, the feeding unit can be reliably stopped at the position corresponding to each row, and by extension, There is an effect that feeding to each breeding department can be carried out more reliably.

Furthermore, when a timer for setting the moving time of the feeding unit is provided, the feeding operation can be fully automated, and the feeding operation can be stably and reliably performed even in the case of long vacation or long absence. Can be performed, and can be used as a breeding apparatus that can achieve further labor saving.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a breeding apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a left side enlarged view of the same.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 3 with a cam plate (14) for guiding a movable chute removed.

FIG. 5 is a front view schematically showing an attachment state of the breeding box of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a food distributor of the feeding unit,
(A) is a front view showing a part of the opening, (b) of (a)
IVb-IVb line sectional view, (c) is the IVc-IVc line sectional view of (b).

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an operation circuit of the breeding apparatus shown in FIGS.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the breeding apparatus shown in FIGS.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A ... bait 2, 2a-2c ... rearing box 23 ... bait box 5 ... feeding unit 51 ... feeding hopper 52 ... bait distributor 53 ... feeding chute 53b ... fixed chute 53c ... movable chute 6a-6c ... feeding detection sensor 71 ... sensor Actuator 72 ... Each row stop position detection sensor 91 ... PLC

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of breeding units arranged in a plurality of columns in the vertical direction and a plurality of columns in the horizontal direction, and a plurality of breeding units arranged so as to be horizontally movable around each breeding unit row and at a position corresponding to each row. , A feeding unit (5) capable of distributing and feeding food to the breeding departments of the respective stages belonging to the row
And controlling the operation of the feeding unit (5) that has moved to the position corresponding to each row so that the feeding unit (5) of each row belonging to the row feeds only the feeding section that needs feeding. A breeding device for laboratory animals and the like having an automatic feeding function, which is provided with a control device (91). 2. Feeding detection sensors (6a) to (6c) for detecting the necessity of feeding to the breeding department of each stage belonging to each breeding department row.
A breeding apparatus for laboratory animals or the like having the automatic feeding function according to claim 1, which is provided with. 3. A breeding box (2) is arranged in the breeding unit, and the presence or absence of the breeding box is detected by feeding detection sensors (6a) to (6c).
The breeding apparatus for laboratory animals and the like having the automatic feeding function according to claim 2, which is configured to detect the necessity of feeding to the breeding section by detecting the feeding rate. 4. The feeding unit (5) at a height position where the feeding detection sensors (6a) to (6c) correspond to the breeding section of each stage.
The breeding apparatus for experimental animals and the like having the automatic feeding function according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a plurality of them are provided in the feeding unit and move horizontally with the feeding unit. 5. A food feeding unit (5), which is connected to a food feeding hopper (51) for stocking food and is arranged below the hopper, and distributes the food from the hopper to the number corresponding to the number of stages of the breeding section. While communicating with the container (52) and the bottom of each distributor,
5. The automatic feeding according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a plurality of feeding chutes (53b1) (53b2) (53b3) (53c) for dropping food, the lower end of which extends to the corresponding breeding section. A breeding device for experimental animals that has functions. 6. The feeding unit (5) is in a standby position outside the outermost breeding unit row when not in operation, and when operating, moves horizontally around each breeding unit row and then returns to the standby position again. The breeding apparatus for experimental animals and the like having the automatic feeding function according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is intended to be returned. 7. Feeding unit (5) moving horizontally
The breeding device for laboratory animals or the like having the automatic feeding function according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a stop device (71) (72) for stopping the food at each row corresponding position. 8. A breeding apparatus for laboratory animals or the like having an automatic feeding function according to claim 1, further comprising a timer (92) for setting the movement time of the feeding unit (5).