JP3612290B2 - Automatic feeding machine for small animals and feed therefor - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic feeder for small animals, particularly laboratory animals, and a bait suitable therefor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, feeding of laboratory animals has been carried out freely, resulting in a serious problem when obese or various diseases affect life span and it is necessary to conduct experiments for a long time.
To solve this problem, it is only necessary to restrict feeding. However, measuring and feeding a certain amount every day is inefficient because it takes a lot of time and effort.
[0003]
In addition, feeding of pets raised at home is also inevitable because long-term absence is unavoidable when the house is away.
Examining patent gazettes related to feeding to small animals, the following gazettes were picked up, but all differed greatly from those to which the present invention is concerned.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-70656 discloses a powder feeder intended to rotate by the action of a small animal and scrape the powdered feed downward. The problem remains.
[0004]
JP-A-8-114 discloses a feeder for small animals, which is used for measurement of food intake, and provides a feeder that is free from contamination due to spillage, mess, excrement, etc. The problem of the present invention cannot be solved.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-75599 discloses an accessory for a feeder, which is intended to prevent problems such as spillage of animal excrement inside the feeder.
[0005]
On the other hand, the problem of the shape of the bait is an obstacle to the development of an automatic feeder. Conventionally, a cylindrical bait has been used as a bait for experimental animals. However, when this is used for an automatic feeding machine, it rolls sideways but does not roll vertically, so that smooth feeding cannot be performed. As a form that rolls, there is a spherical shape, but this is a normal EP feed for dogs and cats (Expansion Pellet), but for animals where hard food is preferred, such as rats and mice. EP feed was not used because it was too soft and inappropriate.
Therefore, development of a bait suitable for an automatic feeding machine and an automatic feeding machine is desired.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The subject is the development of an automatic feeder for small animals, especially laboratory animals, and the development of a bait suitable for an automatic feeder.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a result of diligent efforts to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have found that it is possible to solve the problem by developing the following automatic feeding machine while making the bait spherical and making it easy to roll.
[0008]
First, the present inventors gave soft food to an ICR mouse and conducted a comparative experiment with a conventional hard food, and found that the soft food can sufficiently raise the mouse. That is, when the EP feed and CE feed (hard feed normally fed to mice etc.) were subjected to weight transition, feed intake transition and mandible observation, there was a significant difference between EP feed and CE feed. I couldn't find it.
[0009]
Therefore, by adopting EP feed that can produce a soft but spherical bait, the problem of securing a bait suitable for an automatic feeding machine was solved.
In the present invention, the term “spherical” includes not only a true sphere but also any shape close to a sphere that is easy to roll.
[0010]
As a method for producing pellet-shaped bait, generally, a pressurized steam is blown into a powdered feed, and after passing through a die, it is obtained by cooling and drying. However, since the bait used in the present invention is spherical, it is EP processed. EP processing uses an extruder to apply heat, moisture, and pressure to the raw material, and after the starch material in the blended raw material is α-modified, it is swollen and released into the atmosphere. It is to make around 3 porous pellets.
[0011]
Next, the automatic feeder according to the present invention is provided with a hopper 1 for containing bait and a rotating disk 2 therein, and the rotating disk 2 is provided with holes 3, 3 'around it, A hole 4 is formed in the hopper.
A pipe 5 through which bait falls is fitted directly below the hole 4. The rotating disk 2 is inclined downward from the center toward the periphery, and stoppers 6 and 6 ′ are attached in front of the peripheral holes 3 and 3 ′ formed in the rotating disk in the rotation direction.
A small animal container such as a net cage 7 is installed at the end of the pipe so as to receive food at the lower end of the pipe 5 and feed the small animal.
[0012]
The rotating disk 2 considers the type of food and the type / condition of the animal, calculates an appropriate amount of food to be supplied to the small animal, and determines the number of rotations. Usually, experimental animals are fed about 4 g of food per day. That is, the number of rotations of the rotating disk is adjusted so that 8 to 10 spherical baits are provided. Depending on the purpose of the experimental animal, food with low nutritional value may be given, and the number must be changed.
[0013]
Furthermore, in order to be able to adjust the amount of feeding according to the body weight of the experimental animal, the body weight measurement and the amount of feeding were linked.
That is, the weight is measured in a state in which only the slat-like bottom surface (11) of a container such as a net cage containing animals is slightly separated from the net cage body and the experimental animal is on the bottom surface of the net cage.
In addition, the present invention is characterized in that the slat-like bottom surface of the container is supported by a frame, a tray (12) such as feces is provided in the frame, and a scale (13) is set on the bottom of the tray. Yes.
[0014]
In addition, it is possible to connect a plurality of these devices and control them with a personal computer, and because the feed has become spherical, the feed tank and automatic feeder are connected by a pipeline, etc., automatically from the feed tank. It is also possible to transport feed to an automatic feeder.
Small animals in the present invention include experimental animals such as mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs and the like.
Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The automatic feeder of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
When the spherical bait 8 is accommodated in the hopper 1, the rotating disk 2 in the hopper is rotated, and the holes 3, 3 ′ drilled in the rotating disk 2 communicate with the hole 4 drilled in the bottom surface of the hopper, the bait 8 Falls into the pipe 5 fitted in the hole 4 and is accommodated in a container such as a net cage 7 disposed at the lower end. Further, the bait acceptor 10 may be partitioned and provided inside a cage in which experimental animals are housed.
The experimental animal 9 feeds the bait 8 accommodated in the container. However, since the rotational speed of the rotating disk 2 is controlled, the experimental animal cannot eat more than a certain amount.
[0016]
In addition, the rotary disk 2 is provided with stoppers 6 and 6 ′ in front of the rotation directions of the holes 3 and 3 ′. When the bait is reduced, the stoppers 6 and 6 ′ are used to stop the food and drop it into the holes 3 and 3 ′. To do. The shape of the stoppers 6 and 6 ′ is a mountain shape having a gentle slope on the side of the holes 3 and 3 ′.
[0017]
The rotary disk 2 is inclined downward from the center toward the periphery, and consideration is given so that the bait 8 gathers at the holes 3 and 3 ′. The number of holes 3, 3 'may be one or two or more, but it is preferably about two because of the relationship with the amount of feeding.
Feces etc. fall to the saucer 12 through the slats.
[0018]
4, 5 and 6 show a set of weight scales. FIG. 7 shows a system in which a plurality of automatic feeders are controlled by a personal computer. The body weight of the small animal is calculated by subtracting the weight of feces, etc., in addition to the slats, frame, and pan.
[0019]
The operation of the present invention will be described. First, spherical bait is accommodated in a hopper. Next, the number of rotations of the rotating disk is appropriately calculated and set according to the purpose of the experiment, the type of animal, and the type of food. At this time, when the feed amount is varied depending on the body weight of the animal, the feed amount is determined by computer control in conjunction with the scale.
[0020]
When the feed amount is determined, the rotating disk then rotates slowly, and the bait also rotates. When the hole in the rotating disk and the hole in the hopper overlap, the food enters the pipe through the hole and falls in the pipe. And stored in the bait receptacle at the lower end. A small animal housed in the container will feed the food in the food receiver.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention has developed an automatic feeding machine for small animals, and has devised a bait for that purpose, so that when feeding to small animals, a certain amount can be automatically fed, facilitating animal experiments, It has become possible to raise properly without using labor.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view of an automatic feeding machine according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a top view of the automatic feeding machine of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the automatic feeding machine of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a side view of an example in which a weight scale is set in the automatic feeding machine of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a view showing the relationship between the bottom surface of the container and the scale.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the automatic feeding machine of the present invention in which a weight scale is set.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example in which a plurality of automatic feeding machines according to the present invention are controlled by a computer.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hopper 2 Rotating disk 3, 3 'hole 4 hole 5 Pipe 6 Stopper 7 Container 8 Feed 9 Small animal 10 Food acceptor 11 Saw-like bottom face 12 Receiving tray 13 Scale

Claims (2)

Automatic for laboratory animals, equipped with a rotating disk with a hole in the hopper, a hole in the bottom of the hopper, one end of the pipe fitted into the hole in the bottom of the hopper, and a laboratory animal container at the other end An automatic feeding machine for laboratory animals, characterized in that the bottom of the experimental animal container is a separate body and a scale is set so that the weight of the experimental animal riding on the bottom of the container can be measured. 2. The automatic feeding machine for laboratory animals according to claim 1, wherein a slat-like bottom surface of the container is supported by a frame body, a tray such as feces is provided in the frame body, and a scale is set on the bottom surface of the tray. .

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