WO2013108251A2

WO2013108251A2 - Device for use in monitoring fish condition

Info

Publication number: WO2013108251A2
Application number: PCT/IL2013/050044
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ofer BEN-TOVIM; Pavel ENGAUS; Eran SADAN
Original assignee: Crystal Vision Agricultural Cooperative Society Ltd.
Priority date: 2012-01-17
Filing date: 2013-01-17
Publication date: 2013-07-25
Also published as: WO2013108251A3; IL217578A; SG11201404081SA; IL217578A0

Abstract

A device and method are presented for guiding fish from a reservoir to a desired destination. The device comprises a water reservoir for containing fish and having an inlet and an outlet; first and second conduits connected to respectively the outlet and inlet of the reservoir; and a space reducing assembly within the reservoir. The first conduit serves for guiding a fish flow to a desired location, and comprises an inlet which is joined to the outlet of the reservoir, and has a size and shape configured for receiving only one fish at a given time from the reservoir. The second conduit is configured for introducing water into the reservoir via the inlet of the reservoir, so as to create a water current within the reservoir directed toward the outlet of the reservoir joined to the inlet of the first conduit. The space reducing assembly is operable to gradually reduce a volume of water containing the fish in the vicinity of the inlet of the first conduit thereby forcing the fish toward the inlet of the first conduit. The water current in the reservoir directed toward the input of the first conduit and the gradual reduction of water volume in the vicinity of the inlet of the first conduit prevent crowding the fish at the inlet of the first conduit and allow the fish to successively enter the first conduit one fish at a time.

Description

DEVICE FOR USE IN MONITORING FISH CONDITION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is generally in the field of fish farming, and relates to monitoring of fish condition. More particularly, the invention relates to a device for guiding fish flow from a reservoir to a desired destination so as to enable automatic inspection of the fish.

BACKGROUND

In fish farming, fish are raised commercially in tanks or enclosures. Fish so raised may be used as food, or may be released into the wild for recreational fishing or for supplementing a species' natural numbers.

In fish farms, it is often necessary to perform routine fish handling operations on a large number of live fish, such as counting fish, sorting fish by size, tagging fish, and performing vaccinations. Some of these operations typically require that fish be separated from each other, so that each fish can be handled individually. In the art, many techniques are known for automatically separating fish.

US Patent Publication 2006/0096547 discloses a system and method for controlling the flow of fish. The system includes a vessel containing water and having an exit aperture. The system also includes a sensor configured to sense a first fish moving through the exit aperture. In addition, the system includes a jet device in communication with the sensor. The jet device is positioned adjacent to the exit aperture and is configured to spray a jet to prevent a second fish from moving through the exit aperture. In one embodiment, the system also includes a gate positioned at the exit aperture, the gate being normally closed and configured to be pushed open by a fish moving through the exit aperture. The system may be employed for providing spacing between fish or may be employed to provide a single fish on demand.

US Patent No. 3,716,025 discloses a self-contained system for rearing and harvesting fish commercially, e. g. catfish or the like. This system includes a vertically disposed cylindrical tank having a roof positioned over the open upper end thereof. A cone-shaped bottom member of the tank collects toxic matter and decomposed food and provides sump which is communicated with a closable dump valve. Also included are primary and secondary aeration units which jointly provide multilevel aeration from a source of air. An automatic portion feeder is included which is connected with an outside water source and has discharge structure communicated with the interior of the tank for conveying and discharging optimum portions of feed into the tank. The temperature of the water within the tank is thermostatically controlled within an optimum temperature range by structure provided and adapted for this purpose. A remote control panel is included which is electrically connected to certain disclosed structure to conveniently operate the totally self-contained system. Also included is a circular grid which is adapted to be raised to a discharge outlet that communicates with a loading chute. Raising the grid is effective to urge the fish through the discharge outlet hence the loading chute for loading the harvested fish onto a suitable conveyance.

US Patent 3,040,980 discloses a device for counting fish and the like mobile aquatic creatures comprising separate adjacent holding and receiving tanks, said holding and receiving tanks being constructed so as to provide space for said creatures to freely swim, a connection between the lower parts of said tanks for conducting a flow of water from the holding tank to the receiving tank, a water delivery supply positioned to deliver a flow of water to the holding tank, said flow continuing through said connection to the receiving tank, said receiving tank being provided with an overflow outlet above said connection for maintaining a prescribed depth of water therein, said connection being shaped so as to converge from a larger cross-sectional area adjacent the receiving tank to a counting passage of minimum cross-sectional area adjacent the holding tank, said counting passage being constructed so as to provide a path transversely thereof along which a beam of light can be projected, a light source positioned externally in respect to said counting passage for projecting a light beam along said path and photo responsive means positioned externally in respect to said counting passage and located so that said light beam can impinge thereon so as to be activated thereby.

US Patent 4,743,742 discloses a counting device for fish, especially smolt, comprising a pipe that is open at both ends and is adapted for being secured at one end to a vessel containing a quantity of fish to be counted. To the pipe devices are connected for generating a water flow in the pipe, the water flow having a higher velocity at the outer portion of the pipe in a direction towards the outlet of the pipe that at the portion closed to the vessel. At the outlet of the pipe a device known per se for detecting each individual fish is provided.

US Patent Publication 2011/0114029 discloses an aquatic-animal counting system. The system includes a channel, a linear photographing device, and an operation processing device. A channel is used for a plurality of aquatic animals to pass through. The linear photographing device is used for photographing the aquatic animals passing through the channel to generate at least one image. The operation processing device is electrically connected to the linear photographing device and the operation processing device includes an image processing module. The image processing module utilizes at least one operation rule to analyze the at least one image, so as to calculate a number of the aquatic animals in the at least one image. An aquatic-animal counting method and a recording medium are also provided.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

There is a need in the art to provide a system enabling monitoring /automatic inspection of the condition of fish. This requires the fish flow, one-by-one, along a conduit, from a reservoir to a desired location.

It is known that fish typically swim against the water current. Some known techniques utilize this phenomenon to induce the fish flow from a reservoir. More specifically, according to these techniques, the fish is drawn from the reservoir to enter a conduit by creating a water flow in the reservoir directed away from the inlet of the conduit. Thus, once current away from the conduit is generated, the fish swim against the current on their own accord. However, this impedes the control of the flow of fish into the conduit, and moreover, such natural (uncontrolled) movement of the fish toward the conduit against the current from the conduit causes a crowding of fish in the vicinity of the conduit's inlet (as explained, for example, in Karplus et al., "Guidance of groups of guppies (Poecilia reticulata) to allow sorting by computer vision", Aquacultural Engineering, 32 (2005), pp. 509-520). This crowding may cause injury to the fish, and may cause the fish to enter the conduit too close to each other (e.g. in groups), thereby making the automatic inspection practically impossible.

In the present invention, there is provided a novel technique for guiding fish from a reservoir to a desired destination via a conduit, such that spacing between the fish is created and the fish successively arrive at the destination being separated from one another. According to the invention, a water flow/current is created in a fish- containing reservoir in a direction towards an outlet of the reservoir connected to an inlet of a conduit; and concurrently and independently the fish in the reservoir is brought/pushed toward a region in the reservoir in the vicinity of the conduit's inlet (e.g. by a piston head moving within the reservoir) thereby gradually restricting the volume of water in which the fish swim.

Therefore, because of the water current in the reservoir in a direction toward the input of the conduit and because of the decrease of volume of water in the reservoir accessible to the fish, the fish are carried against their will into the conduit by the water flowing into the conduit's inlet. In this manner, overcrowding near the conduit's inlet is decreased, and consequently a certain separation between fish entering the conduit is created. Also, as the fish is caused to swim against a water current which is higher than a current that can be withstood by the fish, the fish are rotated and carried tail first by the current toward the conduit's inlet and into the conduit. This effect even more decreases the overcrowding near the conduit's inlet, and consequently contributes into the separation between fish entering the conduit. The inlet of the conduit has a shape and size designed to enable passage of one fish at a time. In this manner, the fish enter the conduit one after the other, and flow towards their destination separately.

Thus, the device of the present invention for guiding fish from a reservoir to a desired destination includes first and second conduits connected to the fish reservoir. The first conduit is a fish flow conduit which is by its inlet connected to the outlet of the reservoir and extends to the desired location, and the second conduit introduces water into the reservoir thus creating the water current in the reservoir directed towards the inlet of the first conduit. The inlet of the fish flowing conduit and the respective outlet of the reservoir has a shape and size designed to enable passage of only one fish. Also provided is a space reducing assembly operable to vary the volume of water in which the fish swim in the reservoir. As indicated above, such space reducing assembly may include a piston head. In some embodiments the piston head has an inclined surface, for further restricting the volume available to the fish. Optionally, the inclined surface tapers in the vicinity of the conduit's inlet, in order to ease the entry of the fish into the conduit's inlet.

Thus, according to one broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for guiding fish from a reservoir to a desired destination, the device comprising: a water reservoir for containing fish, the reservoir having an inlet and an outlet; a first conduit comprising an inlet joined to the outlet of the reservoir, the first conduit having a size and shape configured for receiving only one fish at a given time from the reservoir, and for guiding a fish flow to a desired location;

a second conduit configured for introducing water into the reservoir via the inlet of the reservoir, to create a water current within the reservoir directed toward the outlet of the reservoir joined to the inlet of the first conduit; and

a space reducing assembly within the reservoir configured and operable to gradually reduce a volume of water containing the fish in the vicinity of the inlet of the first conduit thereby forcing the fish toward the inlet of the first conduit;

the water current in the reservoir directed toward the input of the first conduit and the gradual reduction of water volume in the vicinity of the inlet of the first conduit preventing crowding the fish at the inlet of the first conduit and allowing the fish to successively enter the first conduit by one fish at a time.

In a variant, the first conduit is titled downward such that a vertical position of the inlet is higher than a vertical position of the outlet.

In another variant, the first conduit's inlet is elevated with respect to a base of the reservoir, and the space reducing assembly (e.g. piston head) is configured to raise the fish toward the first conduit's inlet.

In a further variant, the piston head is configured to move from a first side of the reservoir to a second side of the reservoir, in order to push the fish toward the first conduit's inlet.

In yet another variant, the first conduit's inlet is substantially level with a base of the reservoir.

In yet a further variant, the piston head is impassable to water.

Optionally, the piston head is tilted with respect to a waterline, such that when the piston head is brought to the level of the first conduit's inlet, a lowermost section of the piston head is aligned with the lower part of the inlet of the first conduit.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the side of the piston head facing the fish includes elevated walls arranged to define a channel between the walls.

In a variant, a width of the channel decreases as the channel's distance from the first conduit's inlet decreases. In another variant, a width of the channel in proximity of the inlet of the first conduit is substantially equal to a width of the inlet of the conduit.

In a further variant, the side of the piston head facing the fish includes a slide tapering toward the first conduit's inlet.

In yet another variant, the first conduit comprises a pipe.

In yet a further variant, the first conduit comprises a duct having a top portion open to air.

Optionally, the first conduit comprises at least one section in form of a pipe and at least one section in form of a duct having a top portion open to air.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for use in inspection of fish. The system includes a device for guiding fish from a reservoir to a desired destination container; a conveyor for moving an array of containers to said desired destination, such that that the containers sequentially arrive to said destination, wherein each of the containers is configured for receiving a single fish from a fish guiding device, and being transparent to certain radiation used in an inspection system such that an image of the container captured by the inspection system comprises the image of the fish while in the container.

In a variant, the device for guiding fish is configured according to any one of embodiments mentioned above.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container for use in a fish inspection system. The container is configured for receiving a single fish from liquid medium in a fish guiding device into liquid medium in the container, and being transparent to certain radiation used in the inspection system such that an image of the container captured by the inspection system comprises the image of the fish while in the container.

Optionally, the container is transparent to optical radiation.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for guiding fish from a reservoir to a desired destination via a conduit having an inlet joined to an outlet of the reservoir and having a size and shape configured for receiving one fish at a time, the method comprising:

creating a water current within the reservoir, the water current being directed toward the inlet of the conduit joined to reservoir; gradually decreasing a volume of water accessible to the fish within the reservoir at the inlet of the conduit, while moving the fish toward the inlet of the conduit, thereby ensuring that the fish are in the vicinity of the conduit's inlet;

the water current in the reservoir directed toward the input of the conduit and the gradual reduction of water volume in the vicinity of the inlet of the conduit forcing the fish to enter the conduit via said inlet while preventing crowding of the fish at the inlet of the conduit, thereby allowing the fish to successively enter the conduit by one fish at a time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs, la- lb are schematic drawings illustrating a device of the present invention for delivering fish from a reservoir to a desired location, wherein a piston is raised to bring the fish near the inlet of a conduit and decrease the volume of water accessible to the fish;

Figs. 2a-2b are schematic drawings illustrating an example in which a conduit for guiding the fish is tilted downward;

Figs. 3a-3b are schematic drawings illustrating an example of the present invention, in which the piston's head is tilted with respect to the water line;

Figs. 4a-4b are schematic drawings illustrating an example of the present invention in which the reservoir is tilted with respect to the water line;

Figs. 5a-5c are schematic drawings exemplifying an embodiment of the present invention, in which the piston head is impassable to water;

Fig. 6 is a perspective drawing illustrating an embodiment of the present invention, in which the top portion of the piston's head includes elevated walls arranged to define a channel between the walls;

Figs. 7a-7b are schematic drawings illustrating a side view and a front view of the piston's head, which includes a slide tapering toward the first conduit's inlet;

Figs. 8a-8b are schematic drawings illustrating a device of the present invention for delivering fish from a reservoir to a desired location, wherein the piston is moved from a first side of the reservoir to second side of the reservoir, to bring the fish near the inlet of a conduit and decrease the volume of water accessible to the fish;

Fig. 9a-9b are schematic drawings exemplifying an embodiment of the device of Figs. 8a-8b in which the piston head is tilted with respect to the waterline;

Fig. 10 is a schematic drawing of a system for sorting fish, according to some embodiments of the present invention;

Fig. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method of the present invention for delivering fish from a reservoir to a desired location; and

Fig. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method of the present invention for sorting fish according to one or more predetermined parameters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to Figs, la-lb, schematic drawings illustrate an example of a device of the present invention for guiding fish, generally 101, from a water reservoir 102 to a desired location. It should be noted that the present invention is particularly useful for guiding live fish from a reservoir to the desired location, and is therefore described below with respect to this specific application. The device 100 includes a first conduit 108 and a second conduit 110 connected to a fish containing reservoir 102, and a space reducing assembly (e.g. a piston head) 104 in the reservoir 102. The first conduit 108 has an inlet 108a joined to the reservoir 102 for receiving a fish flow from the reservoir, and an outlet 108b located in proximity of a desired location, such that fish 101 leaving the first conduit 108 are delivered to the desired location. The second conduit 110 serves for flowing water into the reservoir 102. Thus, water flows into the reservoir 102 via the second conduit 110 (flow 111), and out of the reservoir 102 via the first conduit 108 (flow 109). In this manner, the water current within the reservoir 102 is created in the direction of the first conduit 108.

The desired location may be that where the fish are separately collected in dedicated containers (which option will be exemplified further below) e.g. for inspection, sorting, tagging, and performing vaccinations and other applications. If the fish are inspected, the inspection results may be stored to be further used as sorting decision related data. Generally, the case may be such that the fish are being inspected during their propagation along the first conduit 108, in which case the destination location may be associated with a physical sorting station. As indicated above, the space reducing assembly 104 is used for gradually decreasing the volume of water accessible to the fish in the vicinity of the first conduit's inlet 108a. In the present specific but not limiting example, the space reducing apparatus 104 includes a piston head permeable to water. In Fig. la, the piston head 104 is near the bottom of the reservoir. Fig. lb shows a successive stage of the device operation, where the piston head 104 is raised to be located near the conduit's inlet thus decreasing the volume of water accessible to the fish.

The piston head 104 is located within the reservoir 102 to fit within the inner surface of the reservoir 104, and is operable to be moved within the reservoir 102, for example, via the shaft 106. The piston head 104 is impassable to the fish 101, while being penetrable by water. When the piston head 104 is moved (e.g. raised) toward the inlet of the first conduit 108, the volume of water accessible to the fish 101 is diminished (as can be seen in Fig. lb), so that the fish 101 are trapped in the limited water volume between the piston head 104 and the water line 112.

In Fig. lb, the fish are located in the limited volume of water proximal to the inlet 108a of the first conduit 108 and are subjected to a water flow which pulls the fish 101 toward the inlet 108a. In this manner, the fish are carried by the water current into the inlet 108a of the first conduit 108.

It should be understood that because of the water current in the reservoir towards the inlet 108a of the first conduit 108 (keeping in mind that fish tend to swim against the flow), and because of the decrease of water volume accessible by fish in the vicinity of the inlet 108a, the effect of fish crowding at the inlet 108a is avoided or at least significantly reduced, and also the fish 101 are typically carried into the first conduit 108 tail first. The significant reduction of crowding and the appropriate shape and size of the conduit's inlet 108a provide together that the fish flow into the conduit in fish-by- fish manner with proper separation between the fish.

The water flow 111 into the reservoir 102 may be set to match the flow 109 of water leaving the reservoir 102 through the first conduit 108, in order to maintain the water line 112 above the inlet 108a of the first conduit 108. The flow 109 of water leaving the reservoir may be increased in order to ensure that the water current within the reservoir 112 is higher than the water current that can be withstood by the fish. In this manner, it is ensured that the fish 101 are carried by the water current towards the inlet 108a. The water flow 109 may be increased, for example, by a pump and/or by tilting the conduit 108 downward, as described below in Figs. 2a-2b.

The shape and size of the inlet 108a of first conduit 108 are set, so as to allow only one fish to enter the first conduit 108 at a time. This causes some spacing to be created between the fish travelling in the first conduit 108. This may provide for separate collection of the fish into dedicated containers at the outlet of the first conduit 108.

Preferably, the size of the inlet 108a is slightly larger than that of the fish, in order to decrease the chances of injury to the fish 101 during the fish's entry into the first conduit 108. In a variant of the present invention, the cross sectional size of the first conduit 108 is substantially constant throughout the length of the first conduit 108, to ensure that at each position along the first conduit 108 the spacing between fish is maintained.

In a variant the first conduit 108 may be a closed pipe enclosing the fish from both the sides and from the top and bottom. In another variant the first conduit 108 is a duct that encloses the fish from sides and the bottom, but has a top portion open to air. The opening on the duct's top section enables the exhaust of air bubbles or cavitations (pockets of vapor or vacuum) that may be formed in the first conduit 108. If not exhausted, air bubbles and cavitations may slow or impede the movement of fish within the first conduit 108, and may even prevent the fish from entering the first conduit's inlet. Optionally, the first conduit 108 is composed by one or more first sections in the form of closed pipes, and by one or more second sections in the form of ducts having an open top portion.

The spacing between the fish inside the first conduit 108 and at the first conduit's outlet 108b may be controlled by controlling the water flow 109 via the first conduit 108. For example, a higher water flow 109 may cause the fish 101 to enter the first conduit 108 at a higher rate, and therefore may bring about a decreased spacing between the fish. Similarly, a lower water flow 109 may cause the fish 101 to enter the first conduit 108 at a lower rate, and therefore may bring about an increased spacing between the fish.

Because the fish 101 enter the first conduit 108 separately, the fish 101 may be easily counted while travelling within the first conduit 108. The counting may be performed by a user, or automatically (e.g., via an appropriate sensing technique, e.g. optical technique or acoustic pressure sensing). Optionally, the shape and size of the outlet 108b of the first conduit 108 are also set in order to allow passage of only one fish at a time. In this manner, the fish 101 leave the conduit 108 separately (one by one), and a certain time interval passes between the delivery of any two fish into the desired location. This may be advantageous in the inspection and/or sorting system illustrated in Fig. 10, in which fish are delivered to moving containers, such that only one fish is delivered to one of the containers.

The piston head 104 may be made of a porous material traversable by water, or may be a net-structure composed by crossing members. The apertures in the net are set to be smaller than the fish, so as to prevent the fish to cross the piston head 104. The crossing members may be rigid (e.g. metal rods, plastic rods, etc.) or flexible (e.g. ropes).

In a variant, the piston head 104 is configured to tightly fit the inner surface of the reservoir 102, such that at all times, the piston head's circumference is in contact with the reservoir's inner surface. In another variant, the piston head 104 is configured to loosely fit inner surface of the reservoir 102, such that a gap between the piston head's circumference and the inner surface of the reservoir 102 can be present. Optionally, the gap is smaller than the size of the fish, in order to prevent passage of fish via the gap, and ensure that all the fish in the reservoir are moved with the movement of the piston head 104.

The outlet of the second conduit 110 may be below the water line 112 (as shown in the figures) or above the water line 112. If the second conduit's outlet is below t he water line 112, the outlet of the second conduit 110 into the reservoir may be covered by a filter, in order to ensure that fish do not enter the second conduit 110. In some embodiments, the strength of the water flow 111 into the reservoir 102 may be enough to prevent the fish from entering the second conduit 110. Optionally, the outlet of the second conduit 110 is located at the base of the reservoir 102.

Referring now to Figs. 2a-2b, schematic drawings illustrate an example in which a conduit for guiding the fish is tilted downward. In Fig. 2a, the piston head is near the bottom of the reservoir. In Fig. 2b, the piston head is raised to be located near the conduit's inlet. To facilitate understanding, the same reference numbers are used for identifying components that are common in all the examples of the invention. In Figs. 2a- 2b, the device 100 includes the first conduit 108, the second conduit 110, and the piston head 104, as described above. However, in Figs. 2a-2b, the first conduit 108 is tilted downward, such that the inlet 108a is higher than the outlet 108b. In this manner, the speed of the water flowing through the conduit 108 is increased. This causes an increase in the water flow at the inlet 108a, and an ensuing increase in the current generated within the reservoir 102. The tilted configuration of the first conduit 108, therefore, increases the water current leading the fish 101 into the first conduit 108.

Referring now to Figs. 3a-3b, schematic drawings illustrate an example of the present invention, in which the piston's head is tilted with respect to the water line. In Fig. 3a, the piston head is near the bottom of the reservoir. In Fig. 3b, the piston head is raised to be located near the conduit's inlet.

In the device 100 of Figs. 3a-3b, the piston head 104 is tilted with respect to the water line 112. The tilting is such that when the piston head 104 is raised to be at the level of the first conduit's inlet 108a, the lowermost section of the piston head is aligned with the lowermost part of inlet 108a of the first conduit 108. In this manner a slope is produced, leading the fish toward the first conduits' inlet 108a. It should be noted that, compared to the case in which the piston head is substantially parallel to the water line, the provision of a tilted piston head 104 further decreases the volume of water available to the fish and ensures that the fish are brought even closer to the inlet 108a. This can be seen by comparing, for example, Fig. 3b (tilted piston head) with Fig. lb or Fig. 2b (piston head parallel to the water line).

Referring now to Figs. 4a-4b, schematic drawings illustrate an example of the present invention in which the reservoir is tilted with respect to the water line. In Fig. 4a, the piston head is near the bottom of the reservoir. In Fig. 4b, the piston head is raised to be located near the conduit's inlet.

The effect provided by the tilted piston head 104 of Figs. 3a- 3b can be achieved by providing a reservoir 102 which is tilted with respect to the water line, as illustrated in Figs. 4a-4b. The piston head 104 is parallel to the base of the reservoir 102. Since the base of the reservoir 102 is titled with respect to the water line 112, the piston head 104 is also tilted with respect to the water line 112. In this manner, when the piston head 104 is brought to the vicinity of the first conduit's inlet 108a, a slope is produced, as explained above, with reference to Figs. 3a-3b. It should thus be understood that generally the tilted configuration may be achieved by tilting the piston in a vertical reservoir or by tilting the reservoir with respect to the water line. Optionally, the conduit 108 is also titled, as explained above in Figs. 2a-2b.

Referring now to Figs. 5a-5c, there is exemplified an embodiment of the present 5 invention, in which the piston head is impassable to water. In Fig. 5a, the piston head is near the bottom of the reservoir. In Fig. 5b, the piston head is raised to be located near the conduit's inlet, raising the level of the water line. In Fig. 5c, the water line descends as water drains from the reservoir into the conduit.

The device 200 includes a piston head 204, and a conduit 108 associated with

10 the reservoir 102. The conduit 108 is configured for receiving fish from the reservoir and leading the fish to a desired location, as described above. The piston head 204 is moves within the reservoir 102 to carry the fish 101 near the inlet 108a of the conduit 108, as described above. The reservoir 102 may or may not be part of the device 200. In the device 200, the piston head 204 is impassable to both water and fish 101. Therefore

15 the piston head 204 is configured to tightly fit the reservoir's inner surface, such that all the water and the fish 101 are carried with the piston head 204 toward the conduit 108, as the piston head 204 moves.

When raised toward the inlet 108a of the conduit 108, the piston head 204 raises the water as well as the fish. In Fig. 5a, the water line 112 is initially below the level of

20 the conduit's inlet 108a. In Fig. 5b, the piston head 204 is raised to be aligned with the conduit's inlet 108a, thereby raising the water and the fish 101. At this point the water line 112 is above the level of the conduit's inlet 108a. In this manner, a flow 109 from the reservoir 102 into the conduit 108 is created, as the water drains from the reservoir into the conduit 108. The flow carries the fish toward (and into) the conduit 108. In Fig.

25 5c, the water line 112 has descended because of the water draining into the conduit 108.

The drainage of the water into the conduit 108 decreases the volume of water of accessible to the fish 101, and therefore brings the fish 101 which are still in the reservoir closer to the conduit's inlet 108a. The water flow into the conduit 108 and the decrease of accessible water in the reservoir 102 force the fish 101 to enter the conduit

30 108.

As explained above, the conduit 108 is configured to allow entry thereto of one fish at a time. Preferably, the conduit 108 also releases the fish therefrom one at a time. The device 200 may further include a second conduit (not pictured), configured for bringing water into the reservoir 102 after the piston head 204 has been raised to be aligned with the inlet 108a of the conduit 108. This enables the water line 112 to be maintained at a desired height, and thereby to maintain the water current carrying the fish from the reservoir 102 into the conduit 108. For this purpose, the second conduit's outlet is located either at the level of the inlet 108a of the conduit 108 or above the level of the inlet 108a.

The piston head 204 may be tilted with respect to the water line toward the conduit 108, as described above. Because the piston head 204 is impassable to water, the tilt of the piston head 204 increases the flow rate of the water from the reservoir 102 into the conduit 108.

Referring now to Fig. 6, an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, in which the top portion of the piston's head (i.e. the portion of the piston head facing the fish) includes opposite elevated walls arranged to define a channel between the walls.

The piston head 104 may be titled (as shown in Fig. 6) or parallel to the water level. The piston head 104 includes a first elevated wall 300a and a second elevated wall 300b, impassable to fish. The walls 300a and 300b are located on the upper surface of the piston head 104, and define a channel between them, to further restrict the volume of water accessible to the fish. Each wall extends from the channel's border to the circumference of the piston head 104. In this manner, fish carried by the water current toward the conduit 108 are forced to pass through the channel.

Optionally, the channel is set such that the channel's size (width) in proximity of the inlet of the conduit 108 substantially matches that of the inlet of the conduit 108. In this manner, the channel leads the fish towards the inlet of the conduit 108 and eases the entry of the fish into the conduit 108. It should be noted that the piston head 104 of any of Figs.la-lb, 2a-2b, 3a-3b, 4a-4b (penetrable by water) as well as the piston head 204 of Figs. 5a-5c (impassable to both fish and water) may be formed with such elevated walls 300a and 300b. Moreover, the walls 300a and 300b and the channel may or may not be impassable to water.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the channel tapers toward the conduit 108. In other words, the width of the channel decreases as the channel's distance from the conduit's inlet decreases. The channel's section located at the inlet of the conduit 108 has a width that is substantially that of the conduit's inlet. The tapering prevents an overcrowding of fish in the zone near the conduit's inlet. Such overcrowding may lead to a blockage of the inlet conduit 108 and to the possible injury of the fish. In fact, the tapering of the channel ensures that only one fish can be located near the inlet of the conduit 108.

In a variant, the height of the walls 300a and 300b is chosen, such that the topmost section of the walls is near the water line. In this manner, all the fish are located in the channel, and the volume of water accessible to the fish is further reduced. This further eases the entry of the fish into the conduit 108.

Referring now to Figs. 7a-7b, there are schematic drawings illustrating a side view (Fig. 7a) and a front view (Fig. 7b) of the piston's head including a slide tapering toward the first conduit's inlet.

Instead of the walls described in Fig. 6, the piston head 104 of Figs. 7a-7b includes a slide 400 tapering toward the inlet of the conduit 108. The slide 400 is located in the upper surface of the piston head 104 (i.e. on the side of the piston head facing the fish), and is enclosed on the sides by two barriers 402 and 404. Optionally, a portion of the slide 104 is elevated over the upper surface of the piston head 104.

The slide 400 has the same function as the channel of Fig. 6, namely, to ease the entry of the fish into the conduit 108. The tapering of the slide 400 is similar to the tapering of the above-described channel, and prevents an overcrowding of fish in the zone near the conduit's inlet. Optionally, the slide 400 is designed such that the bottom section thereof and the barriers 402 and 404 are curved to fit the shape of the fish, and further ease the passage of the fish from the reservoir 102 to the conduit 108.

Referring now to Figs. 8a-8b and Fig. 9a-9b, a device of the present invention is illustrated for delivering fish from a reservoir to a desired location, wherein the piston is moved from a first side of the reservoir to second side of the reservoir, to bring the fish near the inlet of a conduit and decrease the volume of water accessible to the fish. In Figs. 8a and 9a, the piston head is far from the conduit's inlet. In Figs. 8b and 9b, the piston head is moved towards the conduit's inlet. In Figs. 8a-8b, the piston head is substantially perpendicular to the water line. In Fig. 9a-9b, the piston head is tilted wither respect to the water line.

The device 100 of the Figs. 8a-8b and Fig. 9a-9b is generally similar to the device 100 described in Figs, la-lb, 2a-2b, 3a-3b, 4a-4b. The difference between such devices lies in the fact that in Figs. 8a-8b and Fig. 9a-9b, the piston head 104 moves substantially horizontally within the reservoir 102 (i.e. in the fish flow direction), rather than vertically (transverse to the fish flow direction). The inlet 108a of the conduit 108 is joined to either the lower section of a side of the reservoir 102, or to the bottom of the reservoir 102 proximal to the side of the reservoir 102. The piston head 104 is impassable to the fish 101, but permeable to water. The piston 104 is moved from a first side of the reservoir 102 to a second side of reservoir, toward the conduit 108. In this manner, the volume of water accessible to the fish is reduced. At the same time, water flows from the second conduit 110 to the first conduit 108, creating a water current within the reservoir, to drive the fish 101 toward the first conduit 108. As explained above, the decrease of water volume accessible to the fish combined with the water current created in the reservoir causes the fish 101 to be carried to the inlet 108a and into the first conduit 108.

The piston head 104 may be substantially perpendicular to the water line 112 (Figs. 8a-8b) or tilted with respect to the water line 112. The piston head 104 may be tilted such that the distance between the piston head 104 and the side of the reservoir proximal to the first conduit 108 increases with height (Figs. 9a-9b). Alternatively, the piston head 104 may be tilted such that the distance between the piston 104 head and the side of the reservoir proximal to the first conduit 108 decreases with height (not pictured). Optionally, the side of the piston head facing the fish is joined to two walls defining a channel (see Fig. 6), or to a slide (see Figs. 7a-7b). If present, the channel/slide is configured to ease the entry of the fish 101 into the first conduit 108, as explained above. Optionally, the channel/slide tapers toward the inlet 108a of the conduit 108.

Referring now to Fig. 10, a system 500 for use in sorting fish according to some embodiments of the present invention is illustrated. The system 500 may be used to sort live fish and/or dead fish.

The system 500 includes a guiding device 502 for delivering fish, a plurality of containers 504 (e.g. filled with water) for receiving the fish, and a conveyor 506 for moving the containers 504 along a predetermined path. Also preferably provided in the system 500 is an inspection system. In the present example, the inspection system includes a sensing system comprising one or more cameras 508 for capturing one or more images of the fish while in the containers. Also, preferably, each container is marked by a unique identification code which may be optically read and recorded while imaging the fish in the same container. Optionally, a counter is provided to count the containers, such that each container is assigned a number upon being counted. Such a counter may be used as alternative to the use of identification codes, or as an addition thereto. The system 500 further includes a control unit 512, which is typically a computer system including inter alia a processor configured for analyzing the images of the fish, and generating sorting data to be used for sorting the fish accordingly at a sorting station. Also, one or more manipulators (e.g. 509, 510, 511) may be provided for handling the containers and delivering their contents into selected tanks (e.g., 513, 514, 515). The manipulating units (509, 510, 511) may be controlled by the control unit 512 to deliver selected fish to selected tanks.

The guiding device 502 is configured for flowing the fish one by one through the guiding device and for outputting one fish at a given time. For example, the guiding device 502 is configured as any of the devices exemplified above. The device 502 may be used for the delivery of live fish or dead fish, alike. Fish are delivered from the device 502 into the containers 504 via a delivery conduit 108 (described above with reference to the preceding figures). The containers 504 are moved by a conveyor 506 with respect to the guiding device 502 to successively pass the outlet of the delivery conduit 108. The rate at which the fish are delivered and/or the speed at which the containers 504 are moved by the conveyor 506 are set, so as to ensure that each of containers 504 receives no more than one fish. The delivery rate of fish can be also controlled by controlling the water current within the reservoir, as explained above. The speed of the conveyor 506 may be controlled manually or automatically. In a variant, the conveyor 506 moves the containers 504 along a path shaped as a closed loop, enabling each container to repeatedly receive the fish from the device 502 and deliver the fish to the tanks (e.g., 513, 514, 515). The speed of conveyor, and/or the current within the reservoir may be controlled by the control unit 512, by a different automated unit, or manually by a user.

The containers 504 may be filled with water prior to receiving the fish or may be filled with water during reception of the fish from the delivery conduit 108. In some embodiments, at least some water received by the containers 504 from the delivery conduit 108 is drained, in order to limit the movement of the fish during inspection. This may be achieved by providing one or more drainage holes on the containers 504. In a variant, at least some of the water is drained while in the conduit 108, before reaching the containers 504. This may be achieved, for example, by providing one or more drainage holes in the conduit 108.

The camera 508 captures images of the fish in the containers. The images may be stills or video images. The camera may be an optical camera configured for detecting light returned from the fish (e.g. reflected by the fish), or may be part of an imaging unit, such as an acoustic imaging unit (which transmits and receives acoustic waves to and from the containers), or a radiological unit (which emits and detects radiation - such as x-rays). In a variant, the camera 508 receives waves/radiation coming directly from the fish. In another variant, the system includes radiation directing arrangement (e.g. optical) for receiving radiation coming from the fish and directing it (e.g. by deflection, diffraction, etc.) towards the camera 508. Optionally, such radiation directing arrangement includes a mirror located on the side of the fish which does not face the camera, so as to enable the camera 508 to receive light coming from both the side of the fish facing the camera and the side of the fish which is outside the field of view of the camera. In this manner the inspection of the fish is enhanced.

The images captured by the camera 508 are sent to the control unit 512, which includes an image processing utility configured to determine one or more properties or parameters of the fish. Non-limiting examples of the properties may include: size, color, sex, body pattern, absence of tails or fins, health, vitality. Data indicative of the fish properties/parameter(s) is generated by the image processing utility of the control unit 512 and processed by sorting utility (e.g. a look-up table or an algorithm) of the control unit 512, where each fish is identified according to the ID or number of the dedicated container, and categorized and assigned to one of a plurality of predetermined groups (which are to be separated) according to the transmitted data.

In the present example, a plurality of tanks (e.g., tanks 513, 514, 515) is provided near the conveyor 506 for receiving fish. Each tank corresponds to one of the predetermined groups. The manipulators (e.g. manipulators 509, 510, 511) are configured for delivering each categorized fish into its corresponding tank, when the container that houses the fish passes by the tank corresponding to the group to which the fish is assigned. Optionally, each manipulator corresponds to a single tank. For example, the manipulator 509 corresponds to the tank 513, and is configured for delivering to the tank 513 fish belonging to the group associated with the tank 513. Similarly, the manipulator 510 corresponds to the tank 514, and the manipulator 511 corresponds to the tank 515. Alternatively, two or more manipulators are assigned to each tank. In this manner, two or more containers 504 may be manipulated at once to deliver the fish to their assigned tanks. In an embodiment of the present invention, the manipulators are stationary or have a limited movement range, and are located in the vicinity of their corresponding tanks. In this embodiment, the manipulators handle the appropriate containers 504 when such containers are moved by the conveyor 506 to the vicinity of the manipulators.

In a variant, the manipulators are configured to grab the containers 504, empty the content of the containers 504 into the appropriate tanks, and return the empty containers to the conveyor 506. In another variant, the manipulators push the containers 504 along with their contents into the corresponding tanks. In yet another variant, each container 504 is joined to the conveyor 506, via a respective hinge 514. In such an embodiment, the manipulators are operable to cause the containers 504 to rotate about their hinges 514, tilting the containers 504 to spill their contents in the tanks 511. In a variant, the hinges 514 are spring loaded. In this manner, after being tilted, the containers return to their upright position and can be used again to receive fish from the device 502. Optionally, each container 504 includes a flap, which is horizontal when the container is in its upright position. When the flap is lifted by the manipulator, the container 504 is tilted.

In a variant, the manipulators are controlled directly by the control unit 512. In such a case, the control unit 512 is informed at all times about the positions of the categorized fish, in order to operate the appropriate manipulator at the appropriate time, and deliver each categorized fish into its corresponding tank. Optionally, the information is relayed to the control unit 512 by one or more external sensors tracking the positions of the categorized fish. According to some embodiments of the present invention, each container is counted when the image thereof is captured by the camera 508, and is assigned a number. The control unit 512 is provided with a timing utility, which is provided with or measures the speed at which the containers 504 are moved by the conveyor 506. The timing utility is also provided with a distance between each manipulator and the location at which the counting is performed. Therefore, the timing utility of the control unit 512 is configured for determining the time at which each counted container 504 passes near each manipulator, and can control suitable manipulators to deliver the contents of suitable containers into the appropriate tanks. As indicated above, each of the containers 504 may be marked by a unique identification indicator. The identification indicators are recognizable by an appropriate sensor 508a associated with the camera 508 and possibly also by a second sensor associated with or included in each of the manipulators 510. The identification indicator may be a barcode or any other optical mark (a color or a pattern), which may be recognized, respectively, by a barcode scanner or an optical detector, or may be imaged together with the container contents to be recognized in the image itself. Alternatively or additionally, the identification indicator may be in the form of a signal (electromagnetic, acoustic, RF, etc.) emitted by an emitter at each container and appropriately modulated to distinguish between the containers, in which case the control unit has an appropriate receiver. When the image of a particular fish is captured by the camera 508, the sensor 508a detects the identification code of the container in which the particular fish is located. The image of the fish is associated with the detected identification code.

In a variant, after the fish is categorized, data relating to the identification code associated with the particular fish's container is sent by the control unit 512 to one or more manipulators located near a tank associated with the group to which the particular fish belongs. The second sensors of these manipulators scan each container that travels near the manipulators, and compare the IDs of the passing containers to the ID supplied by the control unit 512. When a match is found between the ID of a passing container and the ID supplied by the control unit 512, the manipulator(s) corresponding to the second sensor that has found a match is activated to deliver the particular fish to the appropriate tank. In this manner, the fish associated with each group are delivered to their intended tank. Optionally, the manipulator is activated a certain time interval after the second sensor's detection of the matching identification indicator. In this manner, the manipulator is activated when the container is in the vicinity of the manipulator.

In another variant, the manipulators are all connected to and controlled by the control unit 512. The second sensors transmit to the control unit 512 data relating to the scan of the passing containers' identification indicators. The control unit includes a comparison utility configured to compare the IDs of the containers passing near the manipulators with the ID of the container holding the particular fish. When a match is found, the control unit 512 determines whether the container containing the particular fish is located near the tank associated with the fish's group. This may be done, for example, by checking which manipulator's second sensor sensed the matching ID. If it is determined that matching ID was sensed by a second sensor associated with a manipulator located near the tank associated with the particular's fish's group, such manipulator is activated to deliver the fish into the tank. Otherwise, no manipulator is activated.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the containers 504 are transparent to the waves (e.g., optical, radiation, acoustic) detected by the camera 508. This feature enables images of the fish to be taken from one of a plurality of angles. In this manner, the camera 508 may be located anywhere in the system 500, and the location of the camera 508 is not restricted by the geometry of the containers 504. Furthermore, a plurality of cameras may be used to capture different images from different angles, in order to better determine the properties/parameters of the fish. If the camera 508 is an optical camera capturing light coming from the fish, the containers 504 may be made, for example, of transparent plastic, or glass.

Referring now to Fig. 11, a flowchart 600 illustrates an example of a method of the present invention for guiding fish from a reservoir to a desired location.

At 602, a water current in created in a reservoir toward an inlet of a delivery conduit (conduit 108 of any one of the above examples). This may be done by maintaining the water level in the reservoir to be above the delivery conduit's entry (as described above). The water current may be controlled by a pump or by the inclination of the delivery conduit. The water current is set such that fish are carried by the current towards the conduit's inlet, even when the fish swim against the current.

At 604, the volume of water accessible to the fish is decreased, as the fish are brought to the vicinity of the delivery conduit's inlet. This is done by moving the fish toward the conduit's inlet via a piston head which is impassable to the fish (e.g. the piston head 104 of Figs, la-lb, 2a-2b, 3a-3b, 4a-4b, 5a-5c, or the piston head 204 of Figs. 5a-5c). The piston head is moved along the reservoir, for example horizontally or vertically. Optionally, the piston head is tilted with respect to the water line, in order to further decrease the volume of water accessible to the fish (as described above with reference to Figs. 3a-3b, 4a-4b).

At 606, owing to the current in the reservoir and the decrease of the water volume accessible to the fish, the fish are carried toward the delivery conduit and received by the delivery conduit. The delivery conduit sports a shape and a size which allows entry of only one fish at a time. Preferably, the shape and size of the delivery conduit are set such that only one fish at a time can exit the delivery conduit.

Optionally, in order to ease the entry of the fish into the delivery conduit, the top surface of the piston head includes either a channel defined by two walls or a slide (as described above, with reference to Figs. 6, 7a-7b, respectively).

Referring now to Fig. 12, a flowchart 700 illustrates a method of the present invention for sorting fish according to one or more predetermined parameters.

Steps 702, 704, and 706 are analogous to the steps 602, 604, and 606 of Fig. 11, respectively.

At 708, the fish is delivered by the delivery conduit into a container, such that a single fish is contained in the container (for example, a container 504 of Fig. 10). At 710, the container is moved by a conveyor (for example, the conveyor 506 of Fig. 10). At 712, an image of the fish in the container is captured by a camera (for example, the camera 508 of Fig. 10). At 714, the image is analyzed by an image processing utility, in order to determine properties of the fish (fish parameters). Such properties may be, for example, a fish's size, color, or sex. At 716, the determined fished parameters are used by a sorting utility to create and record sorting data which categorizes the fish and assigns the fish to one of a plurality of predetermined groups. Then, the fish may be delivered to a tank in accordance with the sorting data (optional step 718). The delivery of the fish is performed as described above, in the description of Fig. 10.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A device for guiding fish from a reservoir to a desired destination, the device comprising:

a water reservoir for containing fish, the reservoir having an inlet and an outlet; a first conduit comprising an inlet joined to the outlet of the reservoir, the first conduit having a size and shape configured for receiving only one fish at a given time from the reservoir, and for guiding a fish flow to a desired location;

the water current in the reservoir directed toward the input of the first conduit and the gradual reduction of water volume in the vicinity of the inlet of the first conduit preventing crowding the fish at the inlet of the first conduit and allowing the fish to successively enter the first conduit one fish at a time.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the inlet of the first conduit is elevated with respect to a base of the reservoir; and the space reducing assembly is configured to raise the fish toward the first conduit's inlet.

3. The device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the space reducing assembly comprises a piston head.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the piston head is configured to move from a first side of the reservoir to a second side of the reservoir, in order to push the fish toward the first conduit's inlet.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the piston head is configured to move from a first side of the reservoir to a second side of the reservoir, in order to push the fish toward the first conduit's inlet, the first conduit's inlet being located substantially at a level of a base of the reservoir.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the piston head is impassable to water.

7. The device of any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the piston head is tilted with respect to a waterline, such that when the piston head is brought to the level of the first conduit's inlet, a lowermost section of the piston head is aligned with the lower part of the inlet of the first conduit.

8. The device of any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the side of the piston head facing the fish includes elevated walls arranged to define a channel between the walls. 5

9. The device of claim 8, wherein a width of the channel decreases as the channel's distance from the first conduit's inlet decreases.

10. The device of claim 8 or 9, wherein a width of the channel in proximity of the inlet of the first conduit is substantially equal to a width of the inlet of the conduit.

11. The device of any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the side of the piston head 10 facing the fish includes a slide tapering toward the first conduit's inlet.

12. The device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first conduit comprises a pipe.

13. The device of any one of claims 1-11, wherein the first conduit comprises a duct having a top portion open to air.

15 14. The device of any one of claims 1-11, wherein the first conduit comprises at least one section in form of a pipe and at least one section in form of a duct having a top portion open to air.

15. A system for use in inspection of fish, the system comprising: the device of any one of claims 1-14 for guiding fish from a reservoir to a desired destination container;

20 and a conveyor for moving an array of containers to said desired destination, such that the containers sequentially arrive to said destination, wherein each of the containers is configured for receiving a single fish from the fish guiding device, and being transparent to certain radiation used in an inspection system such that an image of the container captured by the inspection system comprises the image of the fish while in the

25 container.

16. A system for use in inspection of fish, the system comprising:

a device for guiding fish from a reservoir to a desired destination container; a conveyor for moving an array of containers to said desired destination, such that the containers sequentially arrive to said destination, wherein each of the containers is 30 configured for receiving a single fish from a fish guiding device, and being transparent to certain radiation used in an inspection system such that an image of the container captured by the inspection system comprises the image of the fish while in the container.

17. A container for use in a fish inspection system, the container being configured for receiving a single fish from liquid medium in a fish guiding device into liquid medium in the container, and being transparent to certain radiation used in the inspection system such that an image of the container captured by the inspection system comprises the image of the fish while in the container.

18. The container of claim 17, wherein the container is transparent to optical radiation.

19. A method for guiding fish from a reservoir to a desired destination via a conduit having an inlet joined to an outlet of the reservoir and having a size and shape configured for receiving one fish at a time, the method comprising:

creating a water current within the reservoir, the water current being directed toward the inlet of the conduit joined to reservoir;

gradually decreasing a volume of water accessible to the fish within the reservoir at the inlet of the conduit, while moving the fish toward the inlet of the conduit, thereby ensuring that the fish are in the vicinity of the conduit's inlet;