Sliding bee escape board, kit, and corresponding procedure

Abstract

The invention relates to a bee escape board (1) for a beehive (2), the board comprising: a panel (1p) provided with at least two panel holes (4p, 5p) passing through the panel (1p); a sliding structure (1g) provided with at least one sliding hole (4g, 5g) passing through the sliding structure (1g); and a bee escape structure (6) allowing the passage of bees in only one direction. The invention is characterized in that the bee escape board (1) is configured to be movable between an open position in which at least one sliding hole (5g) coincides at least partially with at least one panel hole (5p), outside the bee escape structure (6), and a closed position in which at least one sliding hole (4g) coincides at least partially with at least one panel hole (4p) and an entrance to the bee escape structure (6). The invention further relates to a kit, a beehive device, and a corresponding method. Figure from the summary: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Sliding bee escape plate, kit, and corresponding method

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of beekeeping, and more particularly to the manufacture of beehive devices.

[0002] In this field, it is known to propose a hive separated by a tray, between an upper compartment, called the super, and a lower compartment, called the hive body or the hive.

[0003] The hive is the compartment in which the colony lives, and the honey super serves as a honey reserve. The honey super is typically placed on top of the hive. When the hive's reserves are replenished after winter, the bees then fill the frames of the honey super with surplus honey.

[0004] The use of beehives has given rise to a need to control the movement of bees between the two compartments. Thus, several prior art documents propose trays in two parts movable relative to each other and having a plurality of holes which coincide or not depending on the position of the two parts.

[0005] Unfortunately, prior art documents are not fully satisfactory because the movements of bees are in uncontrolled directions.

[0006] An objective of the invention is to propose a means to control, temporarily and without dismantling, the movement of bees in a defined direction, in particular from the super to the hive in order to be able to harvest the honey stored in the super, without being hindered by the bees, in particular behind the hives.

[0007] To achieve this objective, the invention relates to a bee escape board for a beehive, the board comprising - a panel equipped with at least two panel holes passing through the panel, - a sliding structure equipped with at least one slide hole passing through the sliding structure, and - a bee escape structure allowing bees to pass in only one direction.

[0008] According to a first aspect, the bee escape plate is configured to be movable between - an open position in which at least one slide hole coincides at least partially with at least one panel hole, outside the bee-swept structure, and - a closed position in which at least one slide hole coincides at least partially with at least one panel hole and a bee escape structure inlet.

[0009] Advantageously, the closed position of the bee escape plate allows the movement of the bees to be directed towards the hive without having to dismantle the hive, or even to smoke the hive.

[0010] According to other aspects taken individually or combined according to all technically feasible combinations: - the panel is configured to be fixed to the hive and the sliding structure is movable in said positions; and / or - the panel cooperates with the slide on one side, and the bee escape structure is attached to the panel on the other side; and / or - the panel includes three panel holes, and the slide includes two slide holes.

[0011] The invention further relates to a kit comprising at least one bee chaser plate according to the invention.

[0012] Another object of the invention relates to a beehive device comprising at least one bee escape tray according to the invention.

[0013] The invention further relates to a honey production process comprising the installation of a bee escape tray according to the invention, a kit according to the invention or a beehive device according to the invention.

[0014] The invention will be further detailed by describing non-limiting embodiments, and based on the accompanying figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which:

[0015] [fig. 1] is a diagram of a view in space from below a panel of a bee escape tray according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0016] [fig.2] is a diagram of a side view of the bee escape plate according to the mode of preferred realization of the invention;

[0017] [fig.3] is a side view of a beehive device according to an embodiment preferred of the invention;

[0018] [fig.4] is a schematic diagram of a bottom view (hive side) of the platform in figure 3; and

[0019] [fig.5] is a diagram of a top view (rising side) of the plate in figure 2.

[0020] The invention relates to the construction of beehive devices in beekeeping, in order to optimize honey production.

[0021] The invention relates more specifically to a particular bee chaser plate 1 to be placed in a hive 2 at once and to be activated to cause a movement of the bees in a determined direction, in particular towards the hive 2, without dismantling or smoking.

[0022] The bee escape board 1 is configured to provide an interface between the hive 2 and the super 3, and to allow the controlled passage of bees from one compartment to the other.

[0023] The platform 1 according to the invention comprises a panel Ip having at least two panel holes 4p, 5p passing through the panel 1p. The panel Ip forms in particular the interface on the hive side 2 and allows the bees to pass towards the hive 2.

[0024] The platform 1 according to the invention further comprises a sliding structure 1g having at least one sliding hole 4g, 5g passing through the sliding structure 1g. In particular, the sliding structure 1g is configured to be movable relative to the panel Ip, for example by sliding, here in translation, here actuated from the outside.

[0025] In particular, the Ip panel cooperates with the 1g sliding structure on one side, here side rise 3.

[0026] The platform 1 according to the invention further comprises a bee escape structure 6 allowing the passage of bees in only one direction. In particular, the bee escape structure 6 is fixed to the panel Ip on the hive side 2.

[0027] In particular, the bee escape structure 6 is attached to the Ip panel on another side, here on the hive side 2.

[0028] According to the invention, the bee escape plate 1 is configured to be movable between - an open position in which at least one slide hole 4g ​​coincides at least partially with at least one panel hole 4p, outside the bee escape structure 6, and - a closed position in which at least one slide hole 5g coincides at least partially with at least one panel hole 5p and a bee escape structure entrance 6.

[0029] Advantageously, the closed position of the bee escape plate allows the movement of the bees to be directed towards the hive without having to dismantle the hive, or even to smoke the hive.

[0030] Surprisingly, the inventor realized that in this configuration, an operator acting from the rear of the hive can harvest the honey from the super without needing protection against bee stings because all the bees remain in the hive.

[0031] The open position can be defined as a free passage position, while the closed position can be defined as a forced passage position. In other words, the bee escape plate 1 is configured to be movable between - a free passage position in which at least one slide hole 4g ​​coincides at least partially with at least one panel hole 4p, outside of the bee escape structure 6, and - a forced passage position in which at least one slide hole 5g coincides at least partially with at least one panel hole 5p and a bee escape structure entrance 6.

[0032] Preferably, at least one hole in panel 5p opens into the bee escape structure 6 and at least one hole 4p is outside of it, said holes 4p, 5p communicating with at least one corresponding slide hole 4g, 4g depending on the slide's sliding motion.

[0033] Preferably, the Ip panel comprises three 4p, 5p panel holes, one of which is central and 5p, opening into a bee-escape structure. Furthermore, preferably the slide comprises two 4g, 5g slide holes.

[0034] The Ip panel is preferably configured to be attached to the hive 2. Thus, the Ip panel, and preferably the bee escape structure 6, are fixed, which disturbs the bees less.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment, it is the sliding structure 6 that is movable in these positions. It is actuated by pushing it, for example, at an overhanging end. This limits the number of internal parts moved and minimizes disturbance to the bees.

[0036] Preferably, the slide is concealed so as not to come into contact with the bees. This prevents propolis from coating the entire corresponding surface of the slide, which would impede its movement. For example, the slide 1g is located in a portion of the panel. In a preferred embodiment, the panel Ip is in two parts arranged above and below the slide 1g. Propolis may occur at the edges of the slide holes, and require impacts during slide movement to break up the propolis at this point.

[0037] The platform 1 according to the invention can be offered as a kit adaptable to existing beehive devices. The kit includes at least one Ip panel as described above.

[0038] The platform 1 according to the invention can be offered with other elements of the beehive device. Thus, the device according to the invention comprises at least one bee escape platform as described above.

[0039] The platform 1 greatly improves honey production by limiting dismantling operations and avoiding the use of smoke. Thus, the invention relates to a honey production process comprising the installation of a bee escape platform 1 as described above, a kit as described above, or a beehive device as described above.

[0040] Example

[0041] The illustrated bee escape plate 1, equipped with 2 or more holes, allows, by means of the sliding mechanism 1g, the free movement of bees between the hive 2 and the super 3 in an open position or to force them to pass through the bee escape in another closed position.

[0042] The 1g slide allows 2 positions: A and B

[0043] Position A (open position):

[0044] The holes 4g of the slide 1g correspond to those 4p of the bee escape plate panel and the bees move freely between the super 3 and the hive 2.

[0045] Position B (closed position):

[0046] A single hole 5g of the slide 1g corresponds to hole 5p of the bee escape 6. The bees pass from the super 3 to the hive 2 through the bee escape 6 and cannot go back up.

[0047] These 2 positions can be operated effortlessly, from outside the hive, without disturbing the bees, without using the smoker.

[0048] INSTALLATION:

[0049] This tray 1 is preferably installed at the same time as the super 3 and is only removed after the honey harvest.

[0050] If the honey super cover is made of transparent plastic, the honey flow can be monitored, and intervention can be made if necessary to swap frames at the outer edges or perform a partial harvest. This allows only one 3-frame super per 2-frame hive to be used.

[0051] Various bee escapes are compatible with this system. The IP panel of the tray and the 1g slide can have several holes.

[0052] The solution: Ip tray with 3 holes and a 1g slide with 2 holes seems very effective for a DADANT type hive, known in itself.

[0053] Tests carried out on several hives over 3 years have shown that this type of tray does not affect honey yield in any way.

[0054] PRECAUTIONS:

[0055] The 1g slide can be made of wood or plastic but is preferably sufficiently resistant.

[0056] This bee chaser plate 1 is equipped with a slide that can be operated from outside the hive.

[0057] This slide allows either the hive and super to be freely matched, or to force the bees to pass through the bee escape.

[0058] It can be used on various types of hives, with or without a queen excluder.

[0059] It allows one or more honey harvests without disturbing the bees, without smoking or risk of stings.

[0060] Its use requires very little manpower.

Claims

Claims

1. Bee-escape tray (1) for a hive (2), the tray comprising - a panel (Ip) provided with at least two panel holes (4p, 5p) passing through the panel (Ip), - a slide structure (1g) provided with at least one slide hole (4g, 5g) passing through the slide structure (1g), and - a bee-escape structure (6), characterized in that the bee-escape structure (6) allows the passage of bees in only one direction, and in that the bee-escape tray (1) is configured to be movable between an open position in which at least one slide hole (5g) at least partially coincides with at least one panel hole (5p), outside the bee-escape structure (6), and a closed position in which at least one slide hole (4g) at least partially coincides with at least one panel hole (4p) and an entrance to the bee-escape structure (6).

2. Bee-catching tray according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the panel (Ip) is configured to be secured to the hive (2) and the sliding structure (1g) is movable in said positions.

3. Bee-fighting tray according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the panel (Ip) cooperates with the sliding structure (1g) on ​​one side, and the bee-fighting structure (6) is secured to the panel (Ip) on the other side.

4. Bee catcher tray according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the panel (Ip) comprises three panel holes (4p, 5p), and the slide structure (1g) comprises two slide holes (4g, 5g).

5. Bee-catching tray according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slide is masked so as not to be in contact with the bees so as to avoid propolisation of the entire corresponding surface of the slide.

6. Kit comprising at least one bee-hunting tray according to one of the preceding claims.

7. Hive device comprising at least one bee-hunting tray according to one of claims 1 to 5.

8. A method of producing honey comprising the installation of a bee-hunting tray according to one of claims 1 to 5, a kit according to claim 6 or a hive device according to the preceding claim.

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