JPH049486B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a breeding apparatus for experimental animals such as mice and rats.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in experimental animal breeding equipment for mice, rats, etc., wood chips are placed inside a plastic box-shaped cage with an open top, and a metal wire grid cover is placed over the open top, and water is automatically supplied from the side of the cage. A system in which the tip of the container is inserted into the cage and the animal inside the cage drinks water is generally used. However, in this type of breeding equipment, when experimental animals exercise and move around in the cage, it is easy to touch the tip of the automatic waterer, and during exercise, the tip of the automatic waterer may be used as a play tool, or the automatic waterer may be used as a play tool. Move the water drinking tube at the tip to cause water to leak into the cage. If even a small amount of water accumulates in the cage, the experimental animals will become cold and lose weight, which may interfere with the experiments in which animals are being tested for medication and its effects. Also, when connecting the cage to the automatic water dispenser attached to the water supply pipe, insert the tip of the automatic water dispenser into the water dispenser insertion hole of the cage, and fit the stopper attached to the automatic water dispenser into the insertion hole of the cage. It is fixed. However, since the cages are sterilized and sterilized using an autograve, the shape of the insertion hole of the cage may also change due to the heat generated during sterilization, making it difficult for the plug attached to the automatic water supply device to fit properly. In research institutions where several hundred or more experimental animals are kept side by side, it is difficult to connect cages and automatic water feeders, which is troublesome.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

As described above, the present invention is an apparatus for breeding laboratory animals by placing wood chips in a conventional box-shaped cage and inserting the tip of an automatic waterer from the side of the cage, in which water leaks from the tip of the automatic waterer into the cage. In addition to eliminating the causes of this problem, the aim is to streamline the process by simplifying the connection between hundreds of cages and automatic waterers.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to prevent water leaking from the tip of the automatic water dispenser into the cage when drinking water, the tip of the water drinking tube provided inside the outer tube of the automatic water dispenser is moved slightly inward from the tip opening of the outer tube. Create an automatic water dispenser by retracting the automatic water dispenser into the cage, insert the automatic water dispenser slightly upwards into the cage, and drain the water leaking from the tip of the water drinking capillary tube of the automatic water dispenser into the outer tube of the automatic water dispenser. It flows to the lower base side of the cage and outflows to the outside of the cage and the cage installation room. In addition, in order to make the connection means between a large number of automatic water dispensers connected to a water supply pipe and a large number of cages simple and effective, in the present invention, a rubber cup is fitted to the outer pipe of the automatic water dispenser, If you push the cage toward the automatic water dispenser, the tip of the automatic water dispenser outer tube will naturally be inserted into the cage hole, and even if the shape of the cage hole is slightly deformed due to steam disinfection, the automatic water dispenser The suction cup of the rubber cup attached to the outer tube presses against the peripheral wall of the cage hole, thereby sealing the gap between the inserted outer tube of the water supply device and the cage hole.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a metal wire lattice lid provided with partition plates is inserted into a box-shaped cage according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a plastic box-shaped cage with an open top, and a hole 2 for inserting an automatic water supply device is provided in the rear side wall. Reference numeral 3 denotes a metal wire lattice lid, and as shown in the perspective view of FIG. It is attached to the bottom of the lid. The lower side of this partition plate is dimensioned to reach the inner bottom surface of the cage. 5 is a hole provided in the metal mesh partition plate at a position opposite to the cage hole 2, into which the animal's proboscis can be inserted up to the tip of an automatic waterer inserted into the cage when the animal tries to drink water. It's just a hole.
6 is a feeding chamber formed integrally with the metal wire lattice lid. As shown in Fig. 2, the automatic water feeder attached to the cage is such that when the animal moves the tip of the water drinking tube 8 provided at the center of the outer tube 7 of the automatic water feeder with the tip of its mouth, water flows out from the tip opening. An automatic water dispenser is used that allows water to be dispensed little by little, and in the present invention, the tip of the water drinking tube 8 of the automatic water dispenser is slightly smaller than the tip of the outer tube 7. Use one that has been pushed back inward.

To install the automatic water dispenser into the cage, as shown in Figure 2, insert the tip of the automatic water dispenser into the water dispenser insertion hole of the cage, and place the tip of the automatic water dispenser against the cage.
It is installed with a slight upward slope.
This means that when an animal drinks water by moving the tip of the drinking tube, the water leaking from the tip of the drinking tube does not fall into the cage, but instead passes through the outer tube 7 of the automatic water feeder.
This is to flow to the lower base side of the outer tube and flow out from the outer tube base to the outside of the cage installation chamber through the rubber tube 9 or the like.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a rubber cup suction cup attached to the outer insertion tube of the automatic water dispenser, as shown in FIG. 11
is a water supply pipe that supplies water to an automatic water supply device, and in the case of a device in which many cages are placed side by side, a large number of automatic water supply devices are connected to the water supply pipe 11 in accordance with the positions of the many cages arranged side by side. When you want to connect the cage and the automatic water dispenser, push the cage towards the fixed automatic water dispenser, and the automatic water dispenser's drinking tube will open. It is naturally inserted into the insertion hole provided in the cage, and the peripheral wall of the cage hole comes into pressure contact with the rubber cup of the water supply device, closing the gap around the cage hole, and
When the cage is pushed forward, the rubber cup functions as a stopper without providing any special stopper means, and the cage is stopped at a predetermined position relative to the automatic water dispenser, and the two are connected by pressure contact.

[Operations and Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention provides an apparatus for raising laboratory animals in a box-shaped cage filled with wood chips. The water dispenser is installed facing upwards in relation to the cage, and the tip of the drinking tube of the automatic water dispenser is set back a little further inward than the tip of the outer tube, so when the animal drinks water, there is no possibility of leakage. Water passes through the outer pipe and flows to the base outlet of the automatic water supply device, and can flow out of the cage without leaking into the cage or the cage installation chamber. Therefore, the apparatus of the present invention can prevent various harmful effects on the animals caused by water leaking from the drinking bowl and collecting in the cage, and can also keep the interior of the cage installation room clean. Furthermore, since a rubber cup suction cup is attached to the outer insertion tube of the automatic water dispenser, connection and removal of the cage and automatic water dispenser can be done with a simple pressure welding operation, making it possible to conduct experiments by placing hundreds or more of them side by side. In research facilities that raise commercial animals, reducing the labor required to raise them has an extremely large effect.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a state in which a metal wire lattice lid provided with partition plates is inserted into a box-shaped cage according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 shows an automatic water supply device installed in the cage with an upward tilt. Diagram showing the state, 3rd
The figure is a perspective view of a metal wire grid cover, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which a rubber cup is attached to an automatic water dispenser. 1...Box-shaped cage with open top surface, 2...Automatic water feeder insertion hole, 3...Metal wire grid lid with partition mesh plate 4 attached, 5...Insert the animal's head and mouth when trying to drink water. hole, 6...feeding chamber part integrally formed with the grid lid, 7...outer pipe part of the automatic water dispenser, 8...
A water drinking tube attached to the center of the outer tube, 9...
Rubber pipe for water leakage, 10... Rubber cup attached to the automatic water dispenser, 11... Water supply pipe for supplying water to the automatic water dispenser.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a device for breeding experimental animals by placing wood chips in a box-shaped cage with an open top and inserting an automatic waterer into the cage from the rear side of the cage, the automatic waterer is attached to the tip of the water drinking tube on the side where the cage is inserted. Retract the end port a little further inward than the tip of the outer tube, and install this automatic water dispenser with an upward inclination toward the cage, so that water leaking from the tip of the water tube of the automatic water dispenser is passed through the outer tube. The automatic water dispenser is designed to flow out of the cage installation room on the lower side of the base, and a rubber cup suction cup is attached to the cage insertion side outer tube of the automatic water dispenser, and this suction cup is pressed against the cage side wall. , an experimental animal breeding device for mice, rats, etc., characterized by connecting a cage and an automatic water supply device.