A device and method for preventing earthworms from escaping during experiments.

Abstract

This invention discloses an experimental earthworm gut-cleaning and escape-prevention device and method, comprising a box, a drain pipe, a transparent glass door, a camera, an ultraviolet lamp, a control screen, a spray head, a filter paper fixing clip, a rotating connector, a filter paper inlet, a perforated plate, a circular track, a collection box, a linear slide rail, a baffle, and a waste filter paper collection box. The box has a transparent glass door with a camera inside. A control screen is located on the front of the box. The drain pipe is connected to the box. A filter paper inlet is opened on one side of the box. The circular track is located on the two inner walls of the box. The rotating connector is located on the circular track. The perforated plate is fixedly connected to the rotating connector. Nylon mesh is located on the inner and outer sides of the box. This invention has significant theoretical and practical implications for promoting agricultural production and the sustainable remediation of polluted soil.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of earthworm gut cleaning technology, specifically to an experimental earthworm gut cleaning and escape prevention device and method. Background Technology

[0002] Earthworms are the most common and largest soil invertebrates, acting as ecosystem engineers and significantly impacting various soil processes. They play a crucial role in decomposing organic pollutants and enriching nutrients. Furthermore, their high responsiveness to pollutants makes them ideal model organisms for ecotoxicity assessment and environmental risk assessment. In past scientific research, earthworms have been widely used as biological indicators in experiments to assess the potential harmful effects of pollutants due to their high sensitivity to them.

[0003] Earthworm intestines are rich in endophytic bacteria, primarily originating from the soil. Therefore, thorough gut cleaning of earthworms before experiments and dissection is essential to eliminate the influence of their original intestinal contents and bacterial flora. Practice has shown that earthworms frequently escape during gut cleaning and cultivation. Improper gut cleaning methods can significantly impact subsequent experiments; therefore, a convenient, effective, and cost-efficient earthworm gut cleaning and escape prevention device is needed.

[0004] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides an effective and cost-efficient experimental device and method for cleaning the intestines of earthworms and preventing their escape. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention provides an effective and low-cost experimental device and method for cleaning the intestines of earthworms and preventing them from escaping.

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide an earthworm gut cleaning and escape prevention device for experiments, including a box, a drain pipe, a transparent glass door, a camera, an ultraviolet lamp, a control screen, a water spray head, a filter paper fixing clip, a rotating connector, a filter paper inlet, a diameter perforated plate, a circular track, a collection box, a linear slide rail, a baffle, and a waste filter paper collection box. The box is equipped with a transparent glass door, and a camera is located inside the transparent glass door. A control screen is located on the front of the box. The drain pipe is connected to the box. A filter paper inlet is opened on one side of the box. The circular track is located on the two inner walls of the box. The two ends of the rotating connector are located on the circular track. The diameter perforated plate is fixedly connected to the rotating connector. The linear slide rail is located on the two inner walls of the box, and the rotating connector is located on the linear slide rail.

[0007] Furthermore, the waste filter paper collection box is located at the bottom of the box.

[0008] Furthermore, the spray nozzles are located at the top of the tank.

[0009] Furthermore, the collection box is located inside the container, and the baffle is located at the bottom of the collection box.

[0010] Furthermore, the filter paper retainer is mounted on the perforated plate.

[0011] Furthermore, ultraviolet lamps are installed on both sides of the top inside the enclosure.

[0012] Furthermore, the control screens include an automatic sprinkler control screen, a lighting control screen, and a temperature and humidity control screen.

[0013] A method for preventing earthworms from escaping during experiments, comprising the following steps:

[0014] Step 1: When starting the colon cleansing, turn on the ultraviolet lamp for sterilization;

[0015] Step 2: Insert a filter paper with a diameter of the perforated plate into the filter paper inlet. One sheet of paper will be dispensed. The automatic water spray device will be activated via the control screen to wet the filter paper. Set the paper dispensing time for automatic paper dispensing. Use nylon mesh to seal the paper and prevent earthworms from escaping.

[0016] Step 3: Place the earthworms to be cleaned on the wet filter paper on the perforated plate, then cover the earthworms with another sheet of paper and wet the filter paper. Secure the filter paper with the filter paper clamp.

[0017] Step 4: Set the water spraying time through the automatic sprinkler control screen, and set the temperature and humidity through the temperature and humidity control screen.

[0018] Step 5: Based on the amount of earthworm excrement, every 2-4 hours, slide the rotating connector above the collection box using the linear slide rail. Rotate the circular track 45 degrees clockwise, allowing the earthworms to fall into the collection box. Then rotate it 90 degrees counterclockwise and spray water through the nozzles to flush the waste filter paper into the waste filter paper collection box through the holes. Rotate it 45 degrees clockwise to return it to its original position. Slide the rotating connector to the filter paper inlet using the linear slide rail. One sheet of filter paper will exit from the filter paper inlet onto the diameter perforated plate. Wet the filter paper with the spray nozzles. Manually put the earthworms in the collection box back onto the diameter perforated plate.

[0019] After completing steps six and five, proceed to step three, repeating this process until 24 or 48 hours later, when the water sprayer quickly washes the earthworms. At this point, the intestinal cleaning is complete, and the earthworms' intestinal contents are completely expelled.

[0020] This invention has the following advantages: Through pre-treatment using earthworms as indicator organisms, the earthworms are quickly cleaned and placed in a breathable container. A layer of moistened filter paper is evenly placed above and below the earthworms. The container is sealed with nylon mesh or gauze to prevent the earthworms from escaping. Depending on the amount of earthworm excrement, the moistened filter paper is replaced every 2-4 hours until the intestinal cleansing is completed after 24 or 48 hours. This has significant theoretical and practical implications for promoting agricultural production and the sustainable remediation of polluted soil. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention.

[0022] In the diagram: 1. Box body; 2. Drain pipe; 3. Filter paper inlet; 4. Waste filter paper collection box; 5. Baffle; 6. Collection box; 7. Diameter perforated plate; 8. Filter paper fixing clip; 9. Rotary connector; 10. Circular track; 11. Spray head; 12. Linear slide rail; 13. Automatic spray device control screen; 14. Lighting control screen; 15. Temperature and humidity control screen; 16. Ultraviolet lamp; 17. Transparent glass door; 18. Camera. Detailed Implementation

[0023] This invention provides an earthworm gut cleaning and escape prevention device for experiments, comprising a box 1, a drain pipe 2, a transparent glass door 17, a camera 18, an ultraviolet lamp 16, a control screen, a water spray head 11, a filter paper fixing clip 8, a rotating connector 9, a filter paper inlet 3, a diameter perforated plate 7, a circular track 10, a collection box 6, a linear slide rail 12, a baffle 5, and a waste filter paper collection box 4. The box 1 is provided with a transparent glass door 17, and the camera 18 is located inside the transparent glass door 17. The control screen is located on the front of the box 1. The drain pipe 2 is connected to the box 1. A filter paper inlet 3 is opened on one side of the box 1. The circular track is set on the two inner walls of the box. The two ends of the rotating connector 9 are set on the circular track 10. The diameter perforated plate 7 is fixedly connected to the rotating connector 9. The linear slide rail 12 is set on the two inner walls of the box 1, and the rotating connector 9 is set on the linear slide rail 12.

[0024] In this embodiment, the waste filter paper collection box 4 is located at the bottom of the box body 1.

[0025] In this embodiment, the water spray head 11 is located at the top inside the housing 1.

[0026] In this embodiment, the collection box 6 is disposed inside the box body 1, and the baffle 5 is disposed at the bottom of the collection box 6.

[0027] In this embodiment, the filter paper fixing clip 8 is disposed on the diameter perforated plate 7.

[0028] In this embodiment, the ultraviolet lamps 16 are disposed on both sides of the top inside the housing 1.

[0029] In this embodiment, the control screen includes an automatic water spray device control screen 13, a lighting control screen 14, and a temperature and humidity control screen 15.

[0030] A method for preventing earthworms from escaping during experiments, comprising the following steps:

[0031] Step 1: When starting the bowel cleansing, turn on the UV lamp 16 for sterilization;

[0032] Step 2: Insert a filter paper with a diameter of 7 into the filter paper inlet 3. One sheet of paper is dispensed and the automatic water spray device is activated on the control screen 13 to wet the filter paper. Set the paper dispensing time and dispense the paper automatically. Seal the filter paper with nylon mesh 19 to prevent earthworms from escaping.

[0033] Step 3: Place the earthworms to be cleaned on the wet filter paper on the perforated plate 7, then cover the earthworms with another sheet of paper and wet the filter paper. Secure the filter paper with the filter paper fixing clip 8.

[0034] Step 4: Set the water spraying time through the automatic water spraying device control screen 13, and set the temperature and humidity through the temperature and humidity control screen 15;

[0035] Step 5: Based on the amount of earthworm excrement, every 2-4 hours, slide the rotating connector 9 above the collection box 6 via the linear slide rail 12. Rotate the circular track 10 clockwise by 45 degrees, and the earthworms will fall into the collection box 6. Then rotate it counterclockwise by 90 degrees and spray water through the spray head 11 to flush the waste filter paper into the waste filter paper collection box 4 through the holes. Then rotate it clockwise by 45 degrees to return to the original position. Slide the rotating connector 9 to the filter paper inlet 3 via the linear slide rail 12. One sheet of filter paper will exit from the filter paper inlet 3 onto the diameter perforated plate 7. The spray head 11 will wet the filter paper. Manually put the earthworms in the collection box 6 back onto the diameter perforated plate 7.

[0036] After completing steps six and five, proceed to step three, repeating the process until 24 or 48 hours later, when spray head 11 quickly washes the earthworms. At this point, the intestinal cleaning is complete, and the earthworms' intestinal contents are completely expelled.

[0037] Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, this should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this patent. Various modifications and variations that can be made by those skilled in the art without inventive effort within the scope described in the claims still fall within the scope of protection of this patent.

Claims

1. An earthworm gut cleaning and escape prevention device for experiments, comprising a box, a drain pipe, a transparent glass door, a camera, an ultraviolet lamp, a control screen, a water spray head, a filter paper fixing clip, a rotating connector, a filter paper inlet, a diameter perforated plate, a circular track, a collection box, a linear slide rail, a baffle, and a waste filter paper collection box, characterized in that: The box is equipped with a transparent glass door, and a camera is installed inside the transparent glass door. A control screen is installed on the front of the box. The drain pipe is connected to the box. A filter paper inlet is opened on one side of the box. A circular track is set on the two inner walls of the box. The two ends of the rotating connector are set on the circular track. The diameter perforated plate is fixedly connected to the rotating connector. The linear slide rail is set on the two inner walls of the box. The rotating connector is set on the linear slide rail.

2. The earthworm gut-cleansing and escape-prevention device for experiments as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The waste filter paper collection box is located at the bottom of the box body.

3. The earthworm gut-cleansing and escape-prevention device for experiments as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The water spray head is located at the top of the tank.

4. The earthworm gut-cleansing and escape-prevention device for experiments as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The collection box is located inside the box body, and the baffle is located at the bottom of the collection box.

5. The earthworm gut-cleansing and escape-prevention device for experiments as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The filter paper fixing clip is set on the diameter perforated plate.

6. The earthworm gut-cleansing and escape-prevention device for experiments as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The ultraviolet lamps are located on both sides of the top inside the box.

7. The earthworm gut-cleansing and escape-prevention device for experiments as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The control screen includes an automatic sprinkler control screen, a lighting control screen, and a temperature and humidity control screen.

8. A method for preventing earthworms from escaping during experiments, characterized in that: The method using the earthworm gut-cleansing and escape-prevention device according to any one of claims 1-7 comprises the following steps: Step 1: When starting the colon cleansing, turn on the ultraviolet lamp for sterilization; Step 2: Insert a filter paper with a diameter of the perforated plate into the filter paper inlet. One sheet of paper will be dispensed. The automatic water spray device will be activated via the control screen to wet the filter paper. Set the paper dispensing time for automatic paper dispensing. Use nylon mesh to seal the paper and prevent earthworms from escaping. Step 3: Place the earthworms to be cleaned on the wet filter paper on the perforated plate, then cover the earthworms with another sheet of paper and wet the filter paper. Secure the filter paper with the filter paper clamp. Step 4: Set the water spraying time through the automatic sprinkler control screen, and set the temperature and humidity through the temperature and humidity control screen. Step 5: Based on the amount of earthworm excrement, every 2-4 hours, slide the rotating connector above the collection box using the linear slide rail. Rotate the circular track 45 degrees clockwise, allowing the earthworms to fall into the collection box. Then rotate it 90 degrees counterclockwise and spray water through the nozzles to flush the waste filter paper into the waste filter paper collection box through the holes. Rotate it 45 degrees clockwise to return it to its original position. Slide the rotating connector to the filter paper inlet using the linear slide rail. One sheet of filter paper will exit from the filter paper inlet onto the diameter perforated plate. Wet the filter paper with the spray nozzles. Manually put the earthworms in the collection box back onto the diameter perforated plate. After completing steps six and five, proceed to step three, repeating this process until 24 or 48 hours later, when the water sprayer quickly washes the earthworms. At this point, the intestinal cleaning is complete, and the earthworms' intestinal contents are completely expelled.

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