NL2023153B1

NL2023153B1 - Device and system for the collection and disposal of pig excrements

Info

Publication number: NL2023153B1
Application number: NL2023153A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Petrus Maria Dessing Jacobus; Jacob De Graaf Frans; De Borst Leendert; Arnoldus Aurik Erik
Original assignee: Big Dev B V
Priority date: 2019-05-16
Filing date: 2019-05-16
Publication date: 2020-12-01

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the collection and disposal of animal excrements, in particular pig excrements, comprising a discharge channel, a cover plate, comprising at least one slot connecting a top surface and a bottom surface of the cover plate, wherein the at least one slot extends in a radial direction of the discharge channel and an elongated scraper.

Description

Device and system for the collection and disposal of pig excrements The invention relates to a device for the collection and disposal of animal excrements, in particular pig excrements. The invention also relates to a sewage system and a pig pen comprising such device. The invention further relates to the useof said device in a pig pen. In modern pig husbandry, it is known to house large numbers of pigs within a single large pen. Group pens allow the animals to socially interact, and to display natural behaviour. Further, pigs are known as clean and trainable animals. Their natural behavior is that within their living area they choose their lying area first and thereafter their defecating area. Their defecating area is typically a quit and safe environment which is preferably far removed from the area where they eat or sleep. it is further known that pigs can be trained to defecate on a certain spot, and hence to use a toilet. This ability can be used for several developments in livestock farming in order to improve health and well-being of the animals while lowering the environmental pollution. Pig toilets allow that manure is concentrated around a small area, which can reduce the risk of contamination of the entire pen with manure.

A goal of the invention is to provide an improved device for collection and disposal of excrements of animals, in particular pigs.

The invention provides thereto a device according to claim 1.

The device according to the present invention can also be referred to as pig toilet and is in particular configured for use in a pig pen or pigsty. The device according to the invention has several advantages. It is to be understood that the device is configured such that pigs are motivated to defecate onto the cover plate.

Preliminary experimental results indicate that the pigs can be trained to do so. Hence, a pig can step, either directly or indirectly, on the cover plate, wherein the cover plate is typically positioned substantially in the same plane as the ground surface of the living area of the pigs. Therefore, the gutter and the discharge channel are typically positioned below the ground surface. Hence, a first advantage of the device according to the present invention is that the device can provide a cleaner and more comfortable living area for the pigs.

The combination of the cover plate which comprises at least one slot and the elongated scraper which is configured to scrape pig excrements deposited onto the cover plate into such a slot enables that the excrements can be (continuously) removed from the living area of the pigs in a relatively efficient and simple manner. lt is for example possible that the scraper is activated after a pig has defecated such that the time frame wherein the pigs are exposed to excrements is reduced.

The (direct) removal of excrements will reduce the formation of (volatile) ammonia and particulate matter emissions.

Typically, ammonia is formed when urine of the pigs comes in contact with excrements of the pigs.

Ammonia is experienced by the pigs as an unpleasant odour, which could easily affect the appetite of the pigs, and hence the feed conversion ratio (FCR) which can be obtained.

The feed conversion ratio (FCR) or feed conversion rate is a ratio or rate measuring of the efficiency with which the bodies of livestock convert animal feed into the desired output, which is weight gain in case of fattening pigs.

Quick removal of manure (excrements) may also reduce the methane and further odour emissions and can therefore positively contribute to the hygiene for and welfare of both the pigs and to the staff members working in the pig pen.

Due to a smart (mechanical) configuration, the gutter and the scraper are configured for performing a synchronised movement during rotation of the scraper up to a configuration wherein the gutter and the scraper are substantially or entirely concurrently positioned directly below respectively above the same slot of the cover plate.

This enables that the gutter can receive excrements which were delivered onto the cover plate in a relatively controlled manner.

The excrements can be discharged in a relatively controlled manner by using a gutter slider by means of which the gutter can be emptied in a relatively controller manner.

The gutter slider pushes (slides) the excrements, optionally together with urine, towards and into the discharge channel to subsequently drain (flush) the excrements, preferably after having analysed the excrements composition within the discharge channel — hence in-line during transport towards the sewage pipe (flushing tube) —, by using at least one analysing sensor.

Direct discharge of the excrements from cover plate can prevent that heavy stains and dirt can be formed.

The vertically oriented discharge channel in which the excrements are eventually disposed is configured for termination into a sewage pipe such that the excrements, whether or not in combination with urine, can be discharged via a sewerage system.

Another advantage is that the invention enables excrements of a pig deposited over a certain surface area of the cover plate to be transported towards and discharged through a central discharge channel. The combination of the scraper, gutter and gutter slider enables that excrements of a certain area, and thus of a certain pig, can be separately collected, identified and/or analysed, preferably within the discharge channel, and preferably by making use of at least one analysis sensor.

This excremental analysis enables that specific information regarding the digestion, and hence the health condition of a certain pig can be obtained, since the composition of the excrements, in particular the ratio between digested feed and undigested feed, typically provides a health indication of the pig. Knowledge of the health condition of the pig(s) can provide for example early detection of possible illness or infections. Moreover, the food and/or medicaments of the pig can be balanced based upon the analysis results. A further advantage of the device according to the present invention is that a rather compact configuration can be obtained due to the rotational orientation of several device elements around the central discharge channel. This is beneficial from spatial point of view. The synchronised movement it is referred to can be either in the same or in opposite direction of rotation. Possibly, the device comprises monitoring means, such as at least one or more cameras and/or one or more other animal tracking devices (e.g. GPS devices), to track and, preferably to identify, pigs upon or above the cover plate. In this manner, the pigs can be followed, preferably individually. Non-limiting examples of camera’s are an infrared camera and a contract camera. The camera is preferably useable for real-time imaging. Based upon the collected pig location related data, at least one scraper can be rotated such that the pig excrements deposited onto the cover plate can be scraped into a slot of the cover plate from where it is collected in the gutter. The gutter slider is preferably displaceable between an initial position wherein the gutter slider is positioned at a predetermined distance from the discharge channel, and a discharge position wherein the gutter slider is positioned substantially near or even at least partially within the discharge channel such that the gutter slider can slide the excrements into the discharge channel the said outlet of the gutter. In a further embodiment, the gutter is connected, preferably stationary (permanently) connected, to a drive shaft positioned coaxially with relation to the discharge channel and extending in an upward direction. The drive shaft may for example be an electrically driven, axially rotatable drive shaft. The drive shaft can for example be driven by a drive unit, such as a motor, in particular an electromotor. The gutter being connected to a drive shaft positioned coaxially with relation to the discharge channel and extending in an upward direction can further contribute to the compact and efficient configuration of the device.

In a preferred embodiment, the drive shaft comprises a cam configured for taking along (pushing) the scraper such that upon a rotation of the gutter in a first direction of rotation the scraper can be rotated along in said first direction of rotation. Via this embodiment, a synchronised movement of the gutter and the scraper can be provided in a relatively simple manner. Also substantially concurrently positioning of the gutter directly below a slot of the cover plate and the scraper substantially above the same slot can be enabled via this embodiment. It is beneficial that a single drive shaft can be used to rotate both the scraper and the gutter. A one- directional cam may be used such that it only rotates the scraper in a predetermined direction of rotation. Hence, the gutter can for example be configured to rotate in a reverse (second) direction of rotation with respect to the first direction without taking the scraper along. It can in particular be beneficial when the device is configured such that the gutter slider can be returned from a discharge position to an initial position when the gutter is rotated in a reverse direction with respect to the first direction. The gutter slider is in a preferred embodiment configured for displacement towards the outlet of the gutter upon rotation of the gutter in a second direction of rotation. The second direction of rotation is typically reverse to the first direction of rotation.

The first direction of rotation can for example be a clockwise rotation, whereas the second direction of rotation is a counter clockwise rotation, or vice versa. The gutter slider being configured for displacement towards the outlet of the gutter upon rotation of the gutter in a second direction of rotation enables that in the gutter collected pig excrements can be slided towards and into the discharge channel via the outlet of the gutter whilst the gutter is rotated away from the slot where the excrements where collected. In this manner the gutter slider does not negatively affect collection of the excrements. It is in particular beneficial if the gutter slider engages a spiral grid, which spiral grid extends in a plane substantially parallel to a rotational plane of the gutter and comprises at least one spiral guide emanating from the discharge channel and revolving around the discharge channel, thereby moving the gutter slider towards the discharge channel in the second direction of rotation. It is conceivable that the spiral guide is configured for displacement of the gutter slide during rotation of the 5 gutter both in a first and second direction of rotation. When it is referred to a spiral grid, also non-limiting examples as a helix grid or corkscrew grid are meant. The spiral grid is typically configured to engage the gutter slider and to take along the gutter slide towards the outlet of the gutter upon rotation of the gutter in a second direction of rotation. Since the gutter slider is displaced towards the outlet of the gutter, the gutter slider slides the excrements collected in the gutter via the outlet into the discharge channel. Rotation of the gutter in a first direction of rotation may cause the gutter slider to move away from the discharge channel. It is possible that the device further comprises a collection bin which is positioned below the gutter and configured for collecting and/or discharging pig excrements into the discharge channel. This is in particular beneficial for the collection of excrements which were for any reason not collected in the gutter. Excrements or further waste can be collected in the collection bin via at least one slot of the cover plate. The collection bin may for example have the configuration of a hopper or a funnel, such that discharging of excrements/waste into the central discharge channel is simplified. The collection bin can also be configured for collecting urine of the pigs. This is for example an interesting embodiment when the cover plate is permeable to urine.

The device may further comprises cleaning nozzles configured for spraying cleaning liquid, in particular water, onto the cover plate to clean the cover plate. The cleaning nozzles may be activated periodically and/or manually. As mentioned already above, in a further preferred embodiment, the device comprising at least one excrement analysis sensor. lt is in particular beneficial if the discharge channel comprises an excrement analysis sensor positioned between the outlet of the gutter and the lower end of the discharge channel. The excrements analysis sensor can be used for analytical purposes of the excrements of at least one pig. The composition of the excrements can be a good indication of the health condition of the pig. Knowledge of the health condition of the pig(s) can provide for example early detection of possible illness or infections.

Hence, the food and/or medicaments of the pig can be balanced based upon the analysis results.

Analysis of the excrements of the pigs can be of importance for the human food chain too since the pigs are typically destined for slaughter.

It is for example conceivable that the device is configured such that only the solid fraction of the manure, or excrements, is collected for analysis.

Preferably, the device comprises monitoring means, such as at least one or more cameras and/or one or more other animal tracking devices (e.g.

GPS devices), to track and, preferably to identify, pigs upon or above the cover plate.

In this manner, the pigs can be followed, preferably individually.

Based upon the collected pig location related data, at least one scraper can be rotated such that the pig excrements deposited onto the cover plate can be scraped into a slot of the cover plate from where it is collected in the gutter.

When monitoring means are used in combination with an excrement analysis sensor the health situation of each individual pig can be analysed.

Non-limiting examples of camera's are an infrared camera and a contrast camera.

It is desirable that the discharge channel comprises a closing valve for opening and closing the lower end of the discharge channel.

Hence, pig excrements can be collected in the discharge channel before it is terminated into a sewage pipe when the lower end of the discharge channel is closed.

This can for example be useful in case the sewage pipe is to be flushed or repaired.

It is also useful to be able to close the lower end of the discharge channel in order to temporarily store excrements for analysis purposes in the discharge channel.

In case the discharge channel comprises an excrement analysis sensor positioned between the outlet of the gutter and the lower end of the discharge channel, the collected excrements can be analysed in a relatively simple manner.

The closing valve preferably comprises a control lever positioned coaxially with relation to the discharge channel and extending in an upward direction.

In this manner, the closing valve can be controlled in a relatively simple manner. lt is in particular beneficial if the control lever is configured to move the closing valve in vertical direction between a closed position wherein the closing valve resides inside the discharge channel and an open position wherein the closing valve protrudes downwards past the lower end of the discharge channel.

Hence, the closing valve may even protrude into a sewage pipe (flushing pipe) connected to the discharge channel, and typically positioned underneath the discharge channel. The figures show how this embodiment can benefit of a cleaning step of the closing valve during flushing of the sewage pipe. It is conceivable that the device comprises a mixer for physically mixing (i.e.

stirring) at least a fraction of the excrements within the discharge channel. Such a mixer may for example prevent clotting of excrements within the discharge channel. Mixing of the excrements may also be done as pre-analysis step before the analysis done via at least one excrements analysis sensor. It is conceivable that more reliable results can be obtained in an analysis when a more homogenous material is to be analysed. The mixer is in a preferred embodiment controlled via a common drive shaft. In a further preferred embodiment, the discharge channel comprises a plunger moveable inside the discharge channel between an upper position above the outlet of the gutter and a lower position below the outlet of the gutter. The plunger can be applied in order to force the excrements in a predetermined section of the discharge channel, for example for analysis purposes. This is in particular possible when the plunger is used in combination with the closing valve. The plunger can also be used in order to empty the discharge channel. Hence, the plunger can force the excrements into the sewage pipe. The device may comprise at least one vertical fence crossing over the cover plate thereby defining multiple discrete areas for the collection of pig excrements on the top surface of the cover plate. The fence may for example be a grated fence. The fence is preferably configured such that the pig can engage or lean to the fence during defecating. Hence, it is conceivable that a pig standing in a first section of the device defecates onto the cover plate of an adjacent section. In case the device comprises monitoring means this behavior can be observed and the pig responsible for the excrements can be identified.

lt is also conceivable device further comprises at least two mutually parallel partition walls enclosing a pig residing area leading on to the cover plate. In this way, a pig can be guided towards the cover plate, or a section thereof, in a relatively simple manner. It is also conceivable that the device comprises multiple discrete areas and that each discrete area comprises parallel partition walls enclosing a pig residing area leading on to the cover plate.

The cover plate may for example have a substantially circular shape.

This is beneficial for the co-action between the cover plate and the scraper.

The length of the scraper is preferably such that the scraper can scrape the cover plate substantially fully.

It is conceivable that the cover plate comprises multiple cover plate sections, wherein adjacent sections are separated via a slot.

The cover plate may for example be substantially permeable to urine.

Hence the urine can be separated from the substantially solid excrements.

The cover plate may be provided with a support element configured to provide support for a pig during defecating.

The pig can for example lean to the support element.

In addition to support for the pig, this may also provide a guidance for the dropping of the excrements onto the cover plate.

The support element can for example be a raised edge, which is possibly substantially parallel to an outer edge of the cover plate.

It is also possible that the cover plate is removable.

This may enable easy maintenance of the device.

In a further embodiment, it is conceivable that the device comprises a reward delivery system for a pig.

Hence, the pigs can be motived to repeat the habit of using the pig toilet. it is for example conceivable that a reward will only be provided after the pig managed to drop its excrements onto the cover plate.

Non-limiting examples of reward delivery systems are a nutritional award, such as candy or food, a physical award, such as a scratch element or brush, and/or an acoustic award.

In a further preferred embodiment, the device comprises monitoring means, such as at least one or more cameras and/or one or more other animal tracking devices (e.g.

Non-limiting examples of monitoring means are an infrared camera and/or a contrast camera.

A benefit of using an infrared camera and/or contrast camera is that it enables determining if a pig has defecated and preferably subsequently what type of excrements, solid and/or liquid e.g. feces and/or urine, are delivered.

In this manner, specific data about a certain pig can be obtained.

Based upon a predetermined condition of the collected pig related data, the reward delivery system can be activated.

Once the reward delivery system is activated the reward is accessible for the pig.

Hence, desired behavior of the pig, e.g. defecating onto the cover plate, can be rewarded substantially promptly which will motive the pig to repeat said behavior. The invention also relates to a sewage system for a piggery comprising at least one device for collection and disposal of pig excrements according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sewage system further comprises at least one sewage pipe. The invention also relates to a pig pen provided with at least one device according to the present invention as described above. The invention also relates to the use of such device in a pig pen. The invention will be elucidated on the basis of non-limitative exemplary embodiments shown in the following figures.

Figure 1a shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a device 100 for the collection and disposal of pig excrements according to the present invention. Figure 1b shows a cross section of the device 100 shown in figure 1. Hence, within these figures, similar references correspond to similar or equivalent features or elements. The device 100 comprises a vertically oriented discharge channel 101 comprising a lower end which terminates into a sewage pipe 150. The device 100 comprises a cover plate 102, comprising multiple, in particular four, slots 103 connecting a top surface and a bottom surface of the cover plate 102. Each slot 103 for in particular an opening. Each slot 103 extends in a radial direction R of the discharge channel 101. The cover plate 102 comprises four cover plate sections in the shown embodiment. The shown embodiment comprises one elongated scraper 104 which is rotatable around the discharge channel 101 and which extends in a radial direction R of the discharge channel 101. The scraper 104 is configured to scrape pig excrements deposited onto the cover plate 102 into a slot 103 of the cover plate 102. The device 100 further comprises an elongated gutter 105 which is positioned substantially below the cover plate 102, and which is rotatable around the discharge channel 101. The gutter 105 extends in a radial direction R of the discharge channel 101 and comprises an outlet 106 leading into the discharge channel 101 at a location along the discharge channel 101 above the lower end of the discharge channel 101. The gutter 105 is configured to collect pig excrements scraped by the scraper 104 into a slot 103. The device 100 also comprises a gutter slider 107 which is displaceable along an inside of the gutter 105 in lengthwise direction of the gutter 105. The gutter slider 107 is configured to slide in the gutter 105 collected pig excrements towards and into the discharge channel 101 via the outlet 106 of the gutter 105. The cover plate 102 is positioned in between the gutter 105 and the scraper 104. The scraper 104 is in particular positioned above the cover plate 102, whereas the gutter 105 is positioned below the cover plate 102. The device 100 benefits of the gutter 105 and the scraper 104 being configured for performing a synchronised movement during rotation of the scraper 104 up to a configuration wherein the gutter 105 and the scraper 104 are substantially concurrently positioned directly below respectively above the same slot 103 of the cover plate 102. An example of these movements are shown in the further figures.

The gutter 105 is connected to a drive shaft 108 which is positioned coaxially with respect to the discharge channel 101 and which drive shaft 108 extends in an upward direction.

The device 100 is configured such that pigs are motivated to drop their excrements onto the cover plate 102. This can either directly or indirectly.

In the shown embodiment is the cover plate 102 configured such that pigs can stand directly onto the upper surface of the cover plate 102. It is, however, also conceivable that the pigs are supposed to stand upon a raster, or equivalent,

positioned above the cover plate 102. The device 100 further comprises a collection bin 117 which is positioned below the gutter 105 and configured for collecting and/or discharging pig excrements into the discharge channel 101. The device 100 further comprises an excrement analysis sensor 110 positioned within the discharge channel 101. Since the discharge channel 101 also comprises a closing valve 111 for opening and closing the lower end of the discharge channel 101, excrements of one or more pigs can be temporary stored in the discharge channel 101 and analysed via the excrement analysis sensor 110. The closing valve 111 is controlled via a control lever 112 positioned coaxially with relation to the discharge channel 101 and extends in an upward direction.

The device 100 also comprises multiple vertical fences 113 crossing over the cover plate 102 thereby defining multiple discrete areas for the collection of pig excrements on the top surface of the cover plate 102. The embodiment shown is configured to have four fences 113, defining four separate toilet areas for the pigs.

Figure 1a shows only two of the four vertical fences 113 for clarity reasons.

The fences 113 are in particular grated fences 113. The device 100 further comprises multiple mutually parallel partition walls 114 enclosing a pig residing area leading on to the cover plate 102. The left side of figure 1a shows this configuration. Optionally, the device 100 comprises a reward delivery system 115 for rewarding the pig after defecating on the cover plate 102.

Figures 2a-2g show a schematic representation of a device 200 for collection and disposal of pig excrements according to the present invention. Figure 2a shows the device 200 as such, where figures 2b-2g show subsequent steps during use of the device 200.

Figure 2a shows a cross section of the device 200. The figure shows that the device 200 comprises multiple mutually parallel positioned partition walls 214 which enclose a pig residing area leading on to the cover plate 202 of the device 200. The device 200 typically comprises fences which are similar to the once shown in figures 1a and 1b, however these are not shown in figures 2a-2g. Figure 2a further shows that the device 200 comprises a vertically oriented discharge channel 201 comprising a lower which terminates into a sewage pipe 250. The cover plate 202 comprises multiple slots 203. These are preferably equivalent to the slots shown in figures 1a and 1b. The device 200 further comprises an elongated scraper 204 which is rotatable around the discharge channel 201 and extends in a radial direction of the discharge channel 201. The scraper 204 is configured to scrape pig excrements 230 deposited onto the cover plate 202 into a slot 203 of the cover plate 202. The device 200 also comprises an elongated gutter 205 and a gutter slider 207 which is displaceable along an inside of the gutter 205 in lengthwise direction of the gutter 205. That the gutter 205 and the scraper 204 are configured for performing a synchronised movement during rotation of the scraper 204 up to a configuration wherein the gutter 205 and the scraper 204 are substantially concurrently positioned directly below respectively above the same slot 203 of the cover plate 202 is shown in figures 2b-2g. The gutter 205 is connected to a drive shaft 220 positioned coaxially with relation to the discharge channel 201 and extending in an upward direction. The drive shaft is electrically driven by a drive unit 219. The drive shaft 220 comprises a cam 224 configured for taking along the scraper 204 such that upon a rotation of the gutter 205 in a first direction of rotation the scraper 204 can be rotated along in said first direction of rotation. The cam 224 can for example be semi-flexible, such that it won't take along the scraper 204 when the gutter 205, and thus the shaft 220 is rotated in the second direction of rotation. The cover plate 202 comprises a support element 216 which is configured to provide support for a pig during defecating. A collection bin 217 positioned is present below the gutter 205. The collection bin 217 is configured for collecting and/or discharging pig excrements and/or urine into the discharge channel 201. It is also conceivable that the urine is discharged via a further discharge channel (not shown). A mixer 218 is present in the discharge channel 201 and configured to mix the collected excrements. The mixer 218 is driven by a second drive unit 221. Further, the gutter slider 207 engages a spiral grid 222, which spiral grid 222 extends in a plane parallel to a rotational plane of the gutter 205 and comprises at least one spiral guide 223 emanating from the discharge channel 201 and revolving around the discharge channel 201, thereby moving the gutter slider 207 towards the discharge channel 201 in the second direction of rotation R2.

Figure 2b shows an initial position of the device 200 wherein the scraper 204 is in position to scrape the cover plate 202 such that the excrements 230 are removed from the cover plate 202. The scraper 204 and the gutter 205 will rotate in a first direction of rotation R1. The cam 224 will take along the scraper 204 when the gutter 205 is rotated via the drive shaft 220.

Figure 2c shows a second position wherein both the gutter 205 and the scraper 204 are displaced with respect to the configuration of figure 2b. Both the gutter 205 and the scraper 204 have rotated 90 degrees with respect to the initial position. The scraper 204 has cleaned the first section 202a of the cover plate 202 such that the pig excrements 230 are scraped into the adjacent slot 203 of the cover plate 202 and the excrements 230 are subsequently received in the gutter 205. The figure shows that the gutter 205 and the scraper 204 are positioned in a configuration wherein the they are substantially concurrently positioned directly below respectively above the same slot 203 of the cover plate 202. The gutter slider 207 is positioned at maximum distance from the discharge channel 201.

Figure 2d shows a further position wherein the gutter 205 has rotated 270 degrees in the second direction of rotation R2. The scraper 204, however, is not displaced since the shown embodiment rotation of the scraper 204 will only be initiated when the gutter 205 is rotated in the first direction of rotation R1. The gutter slider 207 is displaced along an inside of the gutter 205 in lengthwise direction of the gutter 205. The excrements 230 are slided towards and into the discharge channel 201 via the outlet of the gutter 205. Displacement of the gutter slider 207 is enabled via the spiral grid 222, wherein the gutter slider 207 is displaced via the spiral guide 223 of the spiral grid 222.

Figure 2e shows the device 200 after the subsequent step where the gutter 205 has rotated 270 degrees backwards with respect to the configuration of figure 2d. Hence, the gutter 205 has rotated 270 degrees in the first direction of rotation R1.

This has caused that the gutter slider 207 is displaced in a direction away from the discharge channel 201. The gutter slider 207 is not yet at it outer most position. Rotation of 90 degrees in the first direction will cause the gutter slider 207 to do see, which can be seen in figure 2f.

Figures 2f shows that the gutter 205 and the slider 204 are rotated over 90 degrees in the first direction of rotation. The slider 204 slides over the second section (not shown) of the cover plate 202, such that the excrements are collected in the gutter

205. Emptying of the gutter 205 can be performed via a similar method as presented in figures 2d and 2e. Pig excrements present on all four sections of the cover plate 202 can be collected and disposed via the described method. Figure 2g shows the configuration of the gutter 205 and the slider 204 in a subsequent step. Figures 3a-3d show a schematic representation of a sequence of device 300 according to the present invention in use. The device 300 is compatible with the devices 100, 200 shown in the previous figures. These figures show the efficient manner in which discharging and analysing of the excrements can be conducted. Excrements of the pigs are received in the discharge channel 301 via the gutter

305. Figure 3a shows that the discharge channel 301 comprises a closing valve 340 for opening and closing the lower end of the discharge channel 301. The closing valve 340 comprises a control lever 341 positioned coaxially with relation to the discharge channel 301 and extending in an upward direction. It can be seen that the control lever 341 is in an upward position in the situation as shown in figure 3a. The closing valve 340 is closed. The control lever 341 is configured to move the closing valve 300 in vertical direction between a closed position wherein the closing valve 340 resides inside the discharge channel (figure 3a) and an open position wherein the closing valve 340 protrudes downwards past the lower end of the discharge channel 301 (figure 3c). The discharge channel 301 comprises a plunger 343 moveable inside the discharge channel 301 at least between an upper position above the outlet of the gutter 305 and a lower position below the outlet of the gutter

305. A compression spring 342 is used to control the plunger 343. Figure 3a shows the plunger 343 in an initial position wherein the outlet of the gutter 305 is left open such that the excrements can be received in the discharge channel 301. Figure 3b show a position of the plunger 343 which enables analysis of excrements in a relatively simple manner. The plunger 343 forces the excrements into a section of the discharge channel 301 near the excrement analysis sensor 310. The closing valve 340 remains closed. After analysis is done, the plunger 343 pushed the excrements into the sewer pipe 350, see figure 3c. Flushing of the sewer pipe 350 may also flush, and therefore clean, the closing valve 340. Figure 3d shows that the plunger 343 and closing valve 340 are returned to the initial position. The plunger 343 and closing valve 340 are independently controllable. The device 300 as shown in figures 3a-3d further comprises multiple vertical fences 413 crossing over the cover plate thereby defining multiple discrete areas for the collection of pig excrements on the top surface of the cover plate.

Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of a further embodiment of a device 400 according to the present invention. The device 400 is shown in combination with an analysis system for excrements 430. The device 400 is schematically shown, reference 410 represent the excrement analysis sensor, element 440 the closing valve and reference 450 the sewage pipe. The excrement analysis sensor 410 provides data for the data processing unit 451, which is in connection with a data management system 452.

Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of multiple devices 500 according to the present invention used in a pigpen 590. The figure shows a top view. Each separate living area for pigs comprises a pig toilet 500 according to the present invention. The figure indicates that all devices 500 are connected to a common sewage pipe 550. Further separation of the thick and thin fraction in the manure via the sewage system is conceivable.

it will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the working examples shown and described herein, but that numerous variants are possible within the scope of the attached claims that will be obvious to a person skilled in the art. The device according to the invention is in particular suitable for use in a pig pen. It is however, also conceivable that the device is used for other animals such as cows, donkeys, horses and/or others. When it is referred to excrements, a combination of urine and excrements may also be meant. Hence, the above-described inventive concepts are illustrated by several illustrative embodiments. It is conceivable that individual inventive concepts may be applied without, in so doing, also applying other details of the described example. It is not necessary to elaborate on examples of all conceivable combinations of the above- described inventive concepts, as a person skilled in the art will understand numerous inventive concepts can be (re)combined in order to arrive at a specific application. The verb “comprise” and conjugations thereof used in this patent publication are understood to mean not only “comprise”, but are also understood to mean the phrases “contain”, “substantially consist of”, “formed by” and conjugations thereof.

The terms ‘vertical’, ‘horizontal’, ‘upper’, ‘lower’, ‘upwards’, downwards’ should within the scope of the present invention be interpreted with the device according to the invention being in its mounted state.

Claims

Conclusions

Device for collecting and removing animal excrement, in particular pig excrement, comprising: - a vertically oriented discharge channel comprising a low end for discharging into a sewer pipe, - a cover plate, comprising at least one slot comprising an upper surface and a lower surface of the cover plate, the at least one slot extending in a radial direction of the discharge channel, an elongated scraper, which is rotatable about the discharge channel and extending in a radial direction of the discharge channel, and is adapted to remove pig excrement deposited to scrape the cover plate into the slot of the cover plate, - an elongated trough, disposed mainly under the cover plate and rotatable around the discharge channel, extending in a radial direction from the discharge channel, and comprising an outlet leading to the discharge channel at a location along the drain above the low end of the drain, where at the gutter is arranged to collect pig excrement scraped into the trench by the scraper, - a gutter slide, which is movable along the inside of the gutter in the longitudinal direction of the gutter, and is adapted to slide collected pig excrement to and in the discharge channel through the outlet, the cover plate being interposed between the trough and the scraper, the trough and the scraper being arranged to perform a synchronous movement during the rotation of the scraper to a configuration where the trough and the scraper are in substantially simultaneously directly below or above the same slot of the cover plate.

Device according to claim 1, wherein the trough is connected to a drive shaft, which is disposed coaxially with the discharge channel and which extends in an upward direction.

Device according to claim 2, wherein the drive shaft comprises a cam which is arranged to take the scraper along so that as a result of a rotation of the trough in a first direction of rotation, the scraper can also rotate in the first direction of rotation.

Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the gutter slide is adapted for displacement towards the outlet of the gutter as a result of a rotation of the gutter in a second direction of rotation.

Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gutter slide engages a spiral grille, which spiral grille extends in a plane parallel to a plane of rotation of the gutter, and comprises at least one spiral guide protruding from the discharge channel, and extending revolves around the discharge channel, causing the gutter gate to move towards the discharge channel in the second direction of rotation.

Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the device further comprises a collection tray which is placed under the gutter and is adapted to collect and / or discharge pig excrement to the discharge channel.

Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one feces analysis sensor, wherein the discharge channel preferably comprises a feces analysis sensor positioned between the outlet of the gutter and the lower end of the discharge channel.

Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the exhaust channel comprises a shut-off valve for opening and closing the low end of the exhaust channel.

Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the shut-off valve comprises a control lever disposed coaxially with the discharge channel and extending upwardly.

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control handle is arranged to move the shut-off valve in a vertical direction between a closed position where the shut-off valve is contained within the discharge channel, and an open position where the shut-off valve projects downwardly beyond the low end of the discharge channel.

Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus comprises a mixer for mixing at least a fraction of the feces within the discharge channel.

Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the discharge channel comprises a plunger movable within the discharge channel between a high position above the outlet of the gutter, and a low position below the outlet of the gutter.

An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one vertical fence extending transversely across the cover plate defining several partitioned spaces for collecting pig excrement on the top surface of the cover plate.

A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device further comprises at least two mutually parallel partition walls, enclosing a pig shelter leading to the cover plate.

Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cover plate has a substantially round shape.

The device of any preceding claim, wherein the cover plate is substantially permeable to urine.

Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the cover plate comprises a support element which is adapted to support a pig when the pig is relieving itself.

The device of any preceding claim, wherein the device comprises a reward delivery system for a pig.

A pigsty sewage system comprising at least one pig excrement collection and disposal device according to any preceding claim, the sewage system further comprising at least one sewer pipe.

A pigpen provided with at least one device according to any one of claims 1-18.

21. Use of a device according to any one of claims 1-18 in a pigpen.