Cage abnormality detection device and cage abnormality detection method

Abstract

The present invention quickly and easily detects an abnormality in a specific cage row or cage by relatively comparing a plurality of cage rows. The present invention comprises sensors 2 corresponding to a plurality of cage rows 12 in which egg-laying hens of substantially the same age are accommodated, and an abnormality detection unit 34 for detecting an abnormality in a specific cage 11 or cage row 12 included in the plurality of cage rows 12 on the basis of information obtained from the sensors 2.

Description

Cage abnormality detection device and cage abnormality detection method

[0001] The present invention relates to a cage abnormality detection device and a cage abnormality detection method.

[0002] Conventionally, it has been considered to manage the number of eggs laid by laying hens for each individual cage in a laying hen house. For example, in Patent Document 1, the number of eggs laid is managed for a single cage row. In addition, Patent Document 1 makes it possible to, for example, evaluate the number of eggs laid in a cage row based on past data, identify cage rows that lay fewer eggs than the standard daily number, and analyze egg-laying trends in a cage row over the past week.

[0003] Incidentally, egg-laying chicken farming has become increasingly large-scale in recent years, to the point where tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of egg-laying hens are housed and raised in a single egg-laying chicken coop. Specifically, multiple rows of connected cages are installed in a multi-layer structure (9- or 12-layer structures have also been proposed), and egg-laying hens are raised in these cages.

[0004] Furthermore, because eggs are not an industrial product but are laid by living hens, the number of eggs laid each day, the size of the eggs, and the dirtiness of the eggs are not constant and depend on the health of each laying hen. The health of these laying hens is affected by whether they are being fed and watered properly, whether the air conditioning and ventilation are being properly performed, and whether there are any differences in the comfort of the laying hens depending on their location in the chicken coop, etc.

[0005] Furthermore, in laying hens, where tens of thousands of chickens are kept in a single building, a certain number of birds die every day. In recent years, there have been cases of sudden mass deaths of chickens due to highly pathogenic avian influenza and other factors. Furthermore, the outbreak of other infectious diseases and the influence of microorganisms such as mites can cause chickens to become depressed, resulting in a decrease in egg production and eventual death. Furthermore, if the air conditioning equipment is unable to adapt to changes in the external environment (temperature, wind, sunlight, rain, etc.), the environment inside the chicken coop can deteriorate, causing the laying hens to suffer from heatstroke. Malfunctions in feeders and water dispensers can also cause laying hens to starve and die.

[0006] In such a situation, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to quickly and easily detect abnormalities in a specific cage row or cage by simply managing the number of eggs laid for a single cage row.

[0007] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 58-141734

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to quickly and easily detect an abnormality in a specific cage row or cage by relatively comparing a plurality of cage rows.

[0009] In other words, the cage abnormality detection device of the present invention is characterized by having sensors corresponding to multiple cage rows containing laying hens of approximately the same age, and an abnormality detection unit that detects abnormalities in a specific cage or cage row based on information obtained from the sensors.

[0010] This cage abnormality detection device detects abnormalities in a specific cage or cage row included in multiple cage rows by relatively comparing the multiple cage rows based on information obtained from sensors corresponding to the multiple cage rows housing egg-laying hens of approximately the same age, making it possible to quickly and easily detect abnormalities such as egg-laying abnormalities, egg-collection abnormalities, equipment abnormalities, egg-laying hen abnormalities, etc. Since the present invention can quickly and easily detect abnormalities such as egg-laying abnormalities, egg-collection abnormalities, equipment abnormalities, egg-laying hen abnormalities, etc., it can quickly and easily detect, for example, malfunctions in feeders or water dispensers, the outbreak of infectious diseases, the influence of microorganisms such as mites, ventilation conditions, etc.

[0011] If there is an abnormality in a cage row, the abnormality can be detected by detecting eggs on an egg collection belt provided along the cage row. Therefore, it is desirable that the sensor is fixed to the egg collection belt provided in each of the cage rows, or is provided so as to be movable along the egg collection belt. Note that if the sensor moves along the egg collection belt, the sensor may be configured to detect the condition of the egg-laying hens in the cage. Here, an example of providing a sensor so as to be movable along the egg collection belt is to provide it on a traveling cart that has a feeder or the like.

[0012] As a specific embodiment of the sensor, it is desirable that the sensor detects the eggs placed on the egg collection belt or the physical properties thereof.

[0013] In order to detect abnormalities by simply comparing the information of multiple cage rows, it is desirable that the abnormality detection unit use a cage row equipped with egg collection belts that start and stop at the same timing as a comparison group, and detect abnormalities in a specific cage or cage row included in the comparison group. This allows the information of multiple egg collection belts (multiple cage rows used as the comparison group) with the same egg collection time and number of egg collections to be compared, making it possible to accurately detect abnormalities such as egg-laying abnormalities.

[0014] It is desirable that the cage abnormality detection device of the present invention further comprises a recording unit that links the information obtained from the sensor with position information within the cage train and records it. With this configuration, it is possible to compare multiple divided areas of the cage train and detect an abnormality in a specific cage.

[0015] When detecting an abnormality in a specific cage row among multiple cage rows, depending on the conditions of each cage row, simply comparing the information obtained from the sensors may not be able to accurately detect the abnormality. For example, if half of the laying hens in the third cage row died last week due to a malfunction of the drinking fountain, using the egg information from the egg collection belt corresponding to the third cage row as is would result in a false detection of an abnormality in the specific cage row. Therefore, it is desirable that the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality in the specific cage or cage row based on cage row information including information on the laying hens housed in each cage in each of the multiple cage rows, in addition to the information obtained from the sensors.

[0016] When detecting an abnormality in a specific cage row among multiple cage rows, it may not be possible to accurately detect the abnormality simply by comparing the information obtained from the sensors, depending on the health condition of the layer hens housed in each cage row. Therefore, it is desirable that the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality in the specific cage or cage row using layer hen information including the body temperature or activity level of the layer hens in addition to the information obtained from the sensors.

[0017] In order to detect eggs from multiple cage rows while reducing the number of sensors and detect abnormalities in multiple cage rows all at once, it is desirable that the cage abnormality detection device of the present invention includes a collection belt that collects the eggs from the multiple cage rows by cage row, the sensor is a camera that takes images of the eggs on the collection belt, and the abnormality detection unit detects abnormalities in the specific cage or cage row based on the images taken by the camera.

[0018] Furthermore, the cage abnormality detection method according to the present invention is characterized in that sensors are provided corresponding to a plurality of cage rows housing laying hens of approximately the same age, and an abnormality in a specific cage or cage row included in the plurality of cage rows is detected based on information obtained from the sensors.

[0019] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, a detection device for detecting eggs moves along the cage row to detect the eggs, but because eggs fall out of each cage while the detection device is moving, it is not possible to accurately manage the number of eggs laid in each cage.Similarly, even in a configuration with a conveyor belt that is installed along the cage row and collects and conveys eggs from the cage row, if eggs are transferred in from the cage regardless of whether the egg collection belt is in conveyance or stopped, it is not possible to accurately manage the number of eggs laid in each cage.

[0020] Therefore, the egg collection management system of the present invention is characterized by comprising an egg collection belt that collects eggs from a row of cages housing laying hens and transports them downstream, which is one end of the cage row; an egg stopper that moves between a blocking position that stops the eggs from moving from the cage row to the egg collection belt and an open position that allows the eggs to move from the cage row to the egg collection belt; and a control device that coordinates and controls the operation of the egg collection belt and the egg stopper.

[0021] According to this egg collection management system, the operation of the egg collection belt and the operation of the egg stopper are coordinated and controlled. For example, by setting the egg stopper to the blocking position while the egg collection belt is in conveyance, new eggs are not transferred from each cage while the egg collection belt is in conveyance, and egg-laying information such as the number of eggs laid in each cage before the egg collection belt begins to be conveyed, and the presence or absence of dirty eggs or deformed eggs, can be accurately managed. This makes it possible to accurately detect abnormalities in the cage rows, such as abnormal egg laying, abnormal egg collection, equipment abnormalities, and layer abnormalities. Since the present invention can accurately detect abnormalities such as abnormal egg laying, abnormal egg collection, equipment abnormalities, and layer abnormalities, it can accurately detect, for example, a decrease in the number of eggs laid due to malfunctions of feeders or water dispensers, the outbreak of infectious diseases, the influence of microorganisms such as mites, ventilation conditions, etc.

[0022] It is desirable that the control device set the egg stopper to the blocking position during a circular conveying operation in which the eggs released from the most upstream cage are conveyed downstream by the egg collection belt. With this configuration, new eggs will not be transferred from all cages during the conveying operation of the egg collection belt, and egg-laying information such as the number of eggs laid in all cages before the start of the conveying operation of the egg collection belt, and the presence or absence of dirty eggs, deformed eggs, etc. can be accurately managed.

[0023] If the egg stopper is in the blocking position before the circular conveying operation starts, the control device desirably sets the egg stopper to the open position, then to the blocking position, and then starts the circular conveying operation. With this configuration, eggs remaining in each cage can be moved to the egg collection belt before the egg collection belt starts its circular conveying operation. As a result, egg-laying information such as the number of eggs laid in each cage and the presence or absence of dirty eggs, deformed eggs, etc., before the circular conveying operation of the egg collection belt starts can be accurately managed.

[0024] The egg management system of the present invention preferably comprises an egg sensor provided at one end of the cage row that detects the eggs or physical properties of the eggs transported by the egg collection belt, and a recording unit that records information obtained from the egg sensor by linking it to cage information such as cage number. With this configuration, it is possible to obtain the egg distribution in the cage row, compare the number of eggs laid between cages, and detect abnormalities in specific cages.

[0025] If the time period during which the egg stopper is in the closed position overlaps with the peak egg-laying time of the laying hens, eggs may accumulate in the cage, adversely affecting the eggs in the cage. Therefore, it is desirable that the control device perform a temporary release operation to temporarily set the egg stopper to the open position during the conveying operation of the egg collection belt. In this configuration, it is desirable that the recording unit record information about the conveying distance from the start of the circular conveying operation of the egg collection belt to the temporary release operation. This configuration makes it possible to manage information about cages in which eggs were detected between the start of the circular conveying operation and the temporary release operation, and also to manage information about cages 11 in which eggs E from another cage 11 were added by the temporary release operation. As a result, egg-laying information, such as the number of eggs laid in each cage and the presence or absence of dirty eggs, deformed eggs, etc., can be accurately managed.

[0026] The control device preferably coordinates the operation of the egg collection belt and the operation of the egg stopper based on egg-laying information by time period according to the physiology of the laying hens. With this configuration, the egg collection belt can be transported during a time period that avoids peak egg-laying times for the laying hens, for example.

[0027] Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for acquiring egg-laying information in an egg-laying hen house having an egg collection belt that collects eggs from a row of cages housing egg-laying hens and transports them downstream, i.e., one end of the row of cages, and an egg stopper that moves between a blocking position that stops the eggs from moving from the row of cages to the egg collection belt and an open position that allows the eggs to move from the row of cages to the egg collection belt, wherein an egg sensor that detects the eggs or their physical properties is moved along the egg collection belt with the egg stopper in the blocking position, or the egg sensor is fixed to one end of the row of cages and the eggs are transported by the egg collection belt, thereby acquiring egg-laying information corresponding to each cage. According to this egg-laying information acquisition method, egg-laying information corresponding to each cage is acquired with the egg stopper in the blocking position, so that new eggs are not transferred from each cage when the egg sensor detects them, and egg-laying information such as the number of eggs laid in each cage and the presence or absence of dirty eggs, deformed eggs, etc. can be acquired with high accuracy.

[0028] According to the present invention configured in this manner, by relatively comparing a plurality of cage rows, an abnormality in a specific cage row or cage can be detected quickly and easily.

[0029] FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing an egg-laying hen house system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing the egg-laying hen house system of the same embodiment. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a cage abnormality detection device of the same embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the relationship between the circular conveying operation of the egg collection belt and the opening and closing operation of the egg stopper of the same embodiment. FIG. 5 is a view showing the number distribution in each cage before the circular conveying operation of the egg collection belt starts in the same embodiment. FIG. 6 is a view showing detection information etc. of the same embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the egg collection operation and detected eggs when a temporary release operation of a modified embodiment is performed. FIG. 8 is a side view and a plan view schematically showing a cage abnormality detection device of a modified embodiment.

[0030] An embodiment of an egg-laying chicken house system equipped with a cage abnormality detection device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that, for ease of understanding, all of the drawings shown below are drawn in a schematic manner with appropriate omissions or exaggerations. Identical components are given the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will be omitted where appropriate.

[0031] <1. System Configuration> As shown in FIG. 1 , the egg-laying hen house system 100 of this embodiment includes an egg-laying hen house 10 having an artificial environment adjustment function, such as an enclosed egg-laying hen house (windowless chicken house), and a cage abnormality detection device 20 provided in the egg-laying hen house 10.

[0032] 2. Egg-laying hen house 10 The egg-laying hen house 10 is provided with a plurality of cage rows 12, each of which has a plurality of cages 11 housing egg-laying hens of approximately the same age arranged in one direction. In this embodiment, the cage rows 12 are arranged side by side, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The cage rows 12 are arranged in three tiers, one above the other, but the number of tiers is not limited to this. Note that the egg-laying hens of approximately the same age include egg-laying hens whose ages differ by up to one month, and preferably, include egg-laying hens whose ages differ by up to about two weeks.

[0033] The egg-laying hen house 10 is also provided with multiple egg collection belts 14 that collect eggs E from each of the multiple cage rows 12 and transport them to one end of the cage rows 12. In this embodiment, one egg collection belt 14 is provided corresponding to each cage row 12. Each egg collection belt 14 is driven by a belt drive device 15 and moves toward one end of the cage row 12. The belt drive device can drive the multiple egg collection belts 14 collectively and can be configured using a belt drive motor, etc. The egg collection belts 14 and the belt drive device 15 form an egg collection conveyor. The eggs E transported to one end of each cage row 12 are then transported to another egg collection device 16. The belt drive device 15 is also provided with an encoder 17 for detecting the transport distance (movement distance) of the egg collection belt 14. The belt drive device 15 is controlled by the function of the control and calculation device 3, which will be described later.

[0034] Furthermore, egg stoppers 18 are provided between each cage row 12 and each egg collection belt 14 to prevent eggs E from moving from the cage row 12 to the egg collection belt 14. These egg stoppers 18 are moved by an actuator (not shown) between a blocking position that stops eggs E from moving from the cage row 12 to the egg collection belt 14 and an open position that allows eggs E to move from the cage row 12 to the egg collection belt 14. The egg stoppers 18 are controlled by the function of the control and computing device 3, which will be described later.

[0035] <3. Cage abnormality detection device 20> The cage abnormality detection device 20 detects abnormalities in a specific cage 11 or cage row 12 by detecting eggs E on each egg collection belt 14. This cage abnormality detection device 20 can detect abnormalities such as egg laying abnormalities, egg collection abnormalities, equipment abnormalities, and egg-laying hen abnormalities. In other words, detecting abnormalities in a cage 11 or cage row 12 includes detecting abnormalities such as egg laying abnormalities, egg collection abnormalities, equipment abnormalities, and egg-laying hen abnormalities.

[0036] Specifically, as shown in Figure 1, the cage abnormality detection device 20 is provided at one end (downstream end) of the cage row 12 and includes an egg sensor 2 that detects eggs E transported to the one end (downstream end) by the egg collection belt 14, and a control and calculation device 3 that detects abnormalities in the cage row 12 based on the detection signal of the egg sensor 2, etc.

[0037] 1 and 2, the egg sensor 2 is provided at one end (downstream end) of the cage row 12 in a position where it can detect eggs E on the egg collection belt 14. The egg sensor 2 of this embodiment is provided at the downstream end of the egg collection belt 14, between the most downstream cage 11 in the cage row 12 and the belt drive device 15. The egg sensor 2 can be, for example, an imaging sensor such as a camera or line sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an optical sensor (for example, a transmission or reflection photoelectric sensor), a capacitance sensor, or a mechanical switch (limit switch).

[0038] <3-2. Configuration of the control and calculation device 3> The control and calculation device 3 controls various devices for detecting abnormalities in the cages 11 or cage rows 12, as well as the egg collection belt 14, egg stoppers 18, etc. The control and calculation device 3 is configured by a computer having a CPU, memory, input / output interface, AD converter, input device, display device, etc. The CPU and peripheral devices work together based on a predetermined program stored in the memory to perform each function of the control and calculation device 3. The control and calculation device 3 may be configured by a single computer or by multiple computers.

[0039] Specifically, as shown in Figure 3, the control and arithmetic device 3 has a drive device control unit 31 that controls the belt drive device 15 of the egg collection belt 14, and a stopper control unit 32 that controls the stopper drive actuator (not shown) of the egg stopper 18. The control device 30, which is made up of the drive device control unit 31 and the stopper control unit 32, coordinates and controls the operation of the egg collection belt 14 and the operation of the egg stopper 18. The egg collection belt 14, egg stopper 18, control device 30, etc. make up an egg collection management system.

[0040] Here, the drive device control unit 31 controls the belt drive devices 15 so that the multiple egg collection belts 14 are driven with the same start and stop operations. In other words, the drive device control unit 31 synchronously controls the belt drive devices 15 that drive each of the multiple egg collection belts 14, so that the conveying start times and conveying stop times of the multiple egg collection belts 14 are the same. As a result, the multiple egg collection belts 14 perform their conveying operations at the same timing. Note that the conveying start times and conveying stop times of the multiple egg collection belts 14 do not need to be exactly the same, and they can be slightly different.

[0041] In one conveying operation (hereinafter referred to as one complete conveying operation) in which the egg collection belt 14 makes one revolution, all of the eggs on the egg collection belt 14, including the eggs E released from the most upstream cage 11, are conveyed to one end (downstream end) of the cage row 12 and transferred to another egg collection device 16. In addition, in this one complete conveying operation, the egg sensor 2 detects all of the eggs E on the egg collection belt 14.

[0042] The stopper control unit 32 sets the egg stoppers 18 in the blocking position while the drive device control unit 31 is driving the egg collection belts 14 (during the egg collection belts 14 conveying operation). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4 , the stopper control unit 32 sets the egg stoppers 18 in the blocking position during the circular conveying operation, and sets the egg stoppers 18 in the blocking position from the start of the circular conveying operation to the end of the circular conveying operation. This prevents new eggs E from being transferred from the cage rows 12 to the egg collection belt 14 during the circular conveying operation of the egg collection belt 14. The circular conveying operation may end when the conveying distance information reaches a set distance, when the conveying time reaches a set time, or when no eggs E are detected by the egg sensor 2 for a predetermined period of time. Then, when the circular conveying operation of the egg collection belt 14 ends, the stopper control unit 32 moves the egg stoppers 18 to the open position while the egg collection belt 14 is stopped. This causes new eggs E to move from the cage rows 12 to the egg collection belt 14.

[0043] 4, if egg stopper 18 is in the blocking position before the egg collection belt 14 starts its circular transport operation, stopper control unit 32 sets egg stopper 18 to the open position and then to the blocking position, and then starts the circular transport operation by egg collection belt 14. By controlling in this manner, eggs E remaining in each cage 11 can be moved to egg collection belt 14 before egg collection belt 14 starts its circular transport operation. As a result, egg-laying information such as the number of eggs laid in each cage 11 and the presence or absence of dirty eggs, deformed eggs, etc., before the egg collection belt 14 starts its circular transport operation can be accurately managed.

[0044] Here, stopper control unit 32 controls the stopper drive actuators so that the multiple egg stoppers 18 are driven in the same opening / closing operation. In other words, stopper control unit 32 synchronously controls the stopper drive actuators that drive each of the multiple egg stoppers 18, so that the opening start times and opening stop times of the multiple egg stoppers 18 are the same. As a result, the multiple egg stoppers 18 perform the opening / closing operation at the same timing. Note that the opening start times and opening stop times of the multiple egg stoppers 18 do not need to be completely the same, and may be slightly different.

[0045] The control and calculation device 3 has an egg information calculation unit 33 that calculates egg information for the multiple egg collection belts 14 from the detection signals of each of the multiple egg sensors 2, and an abnormality detection unit 34 that detects an abnormality in a specific cage row 12 included in the multiple cage rows 12 based on the egg information for the multiple egg collection belts 14.

[0046] Specifically, the egg information calculation unit 33 detects and counts the eggs E based on the detection signal from the egg sensor 2. Furthermore, the egg information calculation unit 33 acquires conveying distance information using a pulse signal that is an output signal from the encoder 17 provided on the belt drive device 15, and each time an egg E is detected, the egg information calculation unit 33 can link the detection information (count information) of the egg E with conveying distance information (position information) at the time the egg E was detected and cage information such as the cage number, and record this as egg distribution information in the recording unit 35. The recording unit 35 can also record date and time information of the conveying operation of the egg collection belt 14. Alternatively, the position information can be acquired by providing a position indicator (not shown), such as a QR code, on the egg collection belt 14 and reading the position indicator with the reading unit.

[0047] Figure 5 shows the number distribution when a round-trip conveying operation is performed in one cage row 12. This cage row is made up of 90 cages, each housing eight laying hens (720 hens in total). In Figure 5, the horizontal axis (rows) represents the cage number, and the vertical axis (columns) represents the number of eggs. Figure 5 shows that the number of eggs laid in cages 3 and 4 is significantly lower than in the other cages, indicating that an abnormality has occurred in cages 3 and 4.

[0048] The abnormality detection unit 34 detects abnormalities in a specific cage row 12 by comparing the egg information (here, the number information) of each of the multiple egg collection belts 14 obtained by the egg information calculation unit 33. The abnormality detection unit 34 of this embodiment detects abnormalities in a specific cage row 12 by comparing egg information (here, the number information) under the same or similar conditions. Specifically, the abnormality detection unit 34 uses cage rows 12 provided with egg collection belts 14 that start and stop at the same timing as a comparison group, and detects abnormalities in a specific cage 11 or cage row 12 included in the comparison group.

[0049] For example, as shown in Figure 6, the egg information (count information) for each of multiple egg collection belts 14 obtained during the same period (same start / stop operation) is compared. Figure 6 shows the egg information (count information) for egg collection belts corresponding to six cage rows a1 to a3 and b1 to b3, which are a comparison group, and by comparing this information, an abnormality in specific cage row a2 is detected. Note that the egg information (including not only count information but also egg distribution information) shown in Figure 6 can be displayed as a list on the display, or the specific cage row in which an abnormality was detected can be displayed in a recognizable manner.

[0050] Here, possible methods for comparing egg information to detect abnormalities include detecting an abnormality when the egg information (number of eggs counted in one conveying operation) of multiple egg collection belts 14 deviates by more than a predetermined value from the average or median, or detecting an abnormality when the difference from the egg information of a predetermined egg collection belt 14 deviates by more than a predetermined value.

[0051] Furthermore, the abnormality detection unit 34 may detect an abnormality in a specific cage row 12 based on cage row information including information on the laying hens housed in each cage 11 in each of the cage rows 12, in addition to egg information on the multiple egg collection belts 14 (information obtained from the egg sensors 2). This cage row information is periodically updated with the latest chicken breed, age, number of individuals, etc. Furthermore, a machine learning algorithm may be used to detect an abnormality by the abnormality detection unit 34. This machine learning algorithm may be supervised learning, using various data stored in the recording unit 35 of the control arithmetic device 3, etc. as training data, or may be unsupervised learning.

[0052] Furthermore, the abnormality detection unit 34 may detect an abnormality in a specific cage row 12 based on egg information (information obtained from the egg sensors 2) of the multiple egg collection belts 14 as well as laying hen information including the body temperature or activity level of the laying hens housed in each cage 11 in each of the multiple cage rows 12. Note that this laying hen information is measured periodically or in real time by a body temperature sensor such as a temperature sensor provided in each cage 11 or a specific cage 11, or by a movement amount sensor such as a camera for measuring the movement amount of the laying hens.

[0053] Furthermore, the control and arithmetic device 3 may have an abnormality notification unit 36 ​​that notifies the occurrence of an abnormality when the abnormality detection unit 34 detects the abnormality. The abnormality notification unit 36 ​​may display information notifying the occurrence of an abnormality on a display device such as a display, or may use an indicator light or an alarm provided inside or outside the egg-laying hen house 10.

[0054] 4. Effects of the Present Embodiment According to the egg-laying hen house system 100 of the present embodiment, abnormalities in a specific cage 11 or cage row 12 included in the plurality of cage rows 12 are detected by relatively comparing the plurality of cage rows 12 based on information obtained from the egg sensors 2 corresponding to each of the plurality of cage rows 12. This makes it possible to quickly and easily detect abnormalities such as egg-laying abnormalities, egg-collection abnormalities, equipment abnormalities, and egg-laying hen abnormalities, compared to when detecting an abnormality in a cage row 12 based on a single cage row 12. In the present embodiment, abnormalities such as egg-laying abnormalities, egg-collection abnormalities, equipment abnormalities, and egg-laying hen abnormalities can be quickly and easily detected, so that, for example, a decrease in the number of eggs laid due to malfunctions of feeders or waterers, the outbreak of infectious diseases, the influence of microorganisms such as mites, ventilation conditions, etc. can be quickly and easily detected.

[0055] In particular, in this embodiment, the multiple egg collection belts 14 are driven with the same start / stop operation, and egg information from multiple egg collection belts 14 (multiple cage rows 12 considered as a comparison group) with the same egg collection time and egg collection frequency is compared, making it possible to accurately detect abnormalities in a specific cage 11 or cage row 12. Furthermore, the multiple egg stoppers 18 are driven with the same shut-off / open operation, and egg information from multiple egg collection belts 14 with the same time period in which eggs E move from the cage row 12 is compared, making it possible to accurately detect abnormalities in a specific cage 11 or cage row 12.

[0056] 5. Modified Embodiments of the Present Invention The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments.

[0057] For example, in the above embodiment, the egg information calculation unit 33 is provided in a control and calculation device 3 that is provided separately from the egg sensor 2, but the egg information calculation unit 33 and the egg sensor 2 may be integrated into one unit.

[0058] In addition, the egg information calculation unit 33 may calculate the physical properties of the egg E (e.g., the volume, weight, shape or appearance of the egg, etc.) as egg information by, for example, processing two-dimensional image data from the imaging sensor which is the egg sensor 2.

[0059] In addition, the control and calculation device 3 may acquire the amount of feed supplied and the amount of feed consumed by the feeder, and the amount of water supplied and the amount of water consumed by the waterer, and may use this data together with the egg information to detect abnormalities in a specific cage 11 or cage row 12.

[0060] Furthermore, the control and calculation device 3 may acquire operation information of the air conditioning equipment in the egg-laying hen house 10 and detect an abnormality in a specific cage 11 or cage row 12 from the operation information together with the egg information.

[0061] If the time period during which the egg stopper 18 is in the blocking position overlaps with the peak egg-laying time of the laying hens, eggs E may accumulate in the cages 11, adversely affecting the eggs E in the cages 11. For this reason, it is desirable that the stopper control unit 32 perform a temporary release operation to temporarily set the egg stopper 18 to the open position during the circular conveyance operation of the egg collection belt 14. It is also desirable that the recording unit 35 record information about the conveyance distance from the start of the circular conveyance operation of the egg collection belt 14 to the temporary release operation. With this configuration, it is possible to manage information about cages 11 in which eggs E were detected between the start of the circular conveyance operation and the temporary release operation, and it is also possible to manage information about cages 11 in which eggs E from another cage 11 were added by the temporary release operation. As a result, the number of eggs laid in each cage 11 can be managed accurately.

[0062] Figure 7 shows the egg collection operation when a temporary release operation is performed during the egg collection belt 14's circular transport operation, and the cage from which the detected eggs E have been transferred to the egg collection belt 14. Figure 7 shows (a) the egg collection from the day before yesterday (a day's worth of egg collection), (b) yesterday's egg collection (a day's worth of egg collection), and (c) today's egg collection (a day's worth of egg collection), with the temporary release operation performed in (a) and (b).

[0063] In FIG. 7A, at 9:00, when egg collection begins, the egg stopper 18 is set to the open position, and the eggs in the cages 11 are moved onto the egg collection belt 14. At this time, the egg collection belt 14 is loaded with eggs "A" corresponding to cages 1 to 60. The circular conveyance operation then begins. When egg E corresponding to cage 30 is detected by egg sensor 2 (9:15), a temporary release operation is performed, and new eggs "B" corresponding to cages 1 to 30 are placed on top of the eggs E corresponding to cages 31 to 60 on the egg collection belt 14. The circular conveyance operation then resumes, completing the operation. When the circular conveyance operation has finished, the egg collection belt 14 is loaded with eggs "D" corresponding to cages 31 to 60 (see FIG. 7B). These eggs "D" corresponding to cages 31 to 60 are located ahead of cages 1 to 30 on the egg collection belt 14.

[0064] In FIG. 7B, at 9:00, the start of egg collection the next day, the egg stopper 18 is set to the open position, and the eggs E in the cages 11 are moved onto the egg collection belt 14. At this time, the egg collection belt 14 is in a state in which the eggs "C" corresponding to cages 1 to 60 are placed on top of the eggs "D" corresponding to cages 31 to 60. A circular conveyance operation is then initiated. When egg E corresponding to cage 40 is detected by egg sensor 2 (9:20), a temporary release operation is performed, and new eggs "E" corresponding to cages 1 to 20 are placed on top of the eggs E corresponding to cages 41 to 60 on the egg collection belt 14. The circular conveyance operation is then resumed, and the circular conveyance operation is completed. When the circular conveyance operation is completed, the egg collection belt 14 is in a state in which the eggs "G" corresponding to cages 21 to 60 are placed on top of the eggs "D" corresponding to cages 31 to 60 (see FIG. 7C). The eggs "G" corresponding to cages 21 to 60 are located in front of cages 1 to 40 on the egg collection belt 14.

[0065] In (c), at 9:00, the start of today's egg collection, the egg stopper 18 is set to the open position and the eggs E in the cages 11 are moved onto the egg collection belt 14. At this time, the egg collection belt 14 is in a state where the eggs "F" corresponding to cages 1 to 60 are placed on top of the eggs "G" corresponding to cages 21 to 60. After that, the round transport operation begins. For today's egg collection, the round transport operation ends without a temporary release operation.

[0066] Furthermore, the control device 30 may coordinate the operation of the egg collection belts 14 and the operation of the egg stopper 18 based on time-zone-specific egg-laying information according to the physiology of the laying hens. For example, after the peak egg-laying time period according to the time-zone-specific egg-laying information has passed, the egg collection belts 14 may start their circular transport operation while the egg stopper 18 is maintained in the blocking position. With this configuration, the egg collection belts can be transported during times, for example, that avoid the peak egg-laying time period of the laying hens.

[0067] In the above embodiment, the comparison group in the abnormality detection unit 34 is a plurality of cage rows 12 equipped with egg collection belts 14 that start and stop at the same timing. However, the comparison group is not limited to this. For example, the comparison group may be cages 11 or cage rows 12 at different heights in the layer hen house 10 (e.g., upper, middle, and lower floors), or cages 11 at different positions or zones in the longitudinal direction of the cage row 12 (e.g., upstream, central, and downstream sections, near the air inlet, the center of the hen house, and near the air outlet). Here, multiple zones in the longitudinal direction of the cage row 12 may overlap each other. Furthermore, the comparison group may include cages 11 or cage rows 12 from different layer hen houses 10. Alternatively, the comparison group may be a plurality of cage rows 12 equipped with egg collection belts 14 that start and stop at timings that are offset by a predetermined time.

[0068] Although the sensor 2 in the above embodiment is provided at the downstream end of the egg collection belt 14, it may also be provided so as to be movable along the egg collection belt 14. In this case, the sensor 2 may be provided on a traveling carriage (not shown) that moves along the cage row 12. The traveling carriage is equipped with a feeder (not shown) that supplies feed to feed troughs (not shown) provided along the cage row 12. In this case, the sensor 2 is not limited to a configuration that detects eggs on the egg collection belt 14, but may also be configured to capture images of the interior of each cage 11 to detect the condition of the laying hens. In this case, the position information may be obtained from the travel distance from the starting point, or may be obtained by providing a position display unit (not shown) such as a QR code on the cage 11 and reading the position display unit with a reader.

[0069] Furthermore, although the egg sensor 2 in the above embodiment detects eggs on the egg collection belt 14, it may also have the configuration shown in Figure 7. The egg-laying hen house 10 shown in Figure 8 is equipped with a collecting belt 19 that collects eggs E from multiple cage rows 12 for each cage row 12. This collecting belt 19 is connected to multiple egg collection belts 14 and collects eggs E from multiple egg collection belts 14. Figure 8 shows a configuration in which eggs E are collected from a total of four cage rows 12, two rows in front and back and two rows above and below. In addition, a connecting belt 191 is provided between the collecting belt 19 and the egg collection belt 14 as needed. Furthermore, the collecting belt 19 has conveying regions R1 to R4 corresponding to each cage row 12.

[0070] The sensor 2 is provided above the collecting belt 19. A camera capable of collectively capturing images of the eggs E (transport regions R1 to R4 corresponding to each cage row 12) on the collecting belt 19 can be used as this sensor 2. The abnormality detection unit 34 detects an abnormality in a specific cage 11 or cage row 12 based on the image captured by the camera 2. Here, the number of apparent sensors can be reduced by associating pixel areas of the image captured by the camera 2 with each cage row 12.

[0071] The abnormality detection unit 34 in the above embodiment detects an abnormality in a specific cage 11 or cage row 12 by relatively comparing the multiple cage rows 12 included in the comparison group, but in cases where there are a small number of cage rows 12, in addition to this relative comparison, it may also detect an abnormality in a specific cage 11 or cage row 12 by comparing with pre-prepared reference information or past data. Here, the pre-prepared reference information may be, for example, the standard number of eggs laid.

[0072] The control and calculation device 3 of the cage abnormality detection device 20 in the above embodiment may be integrated with the control device of the egg-laying hen house 10 to control the egg-laying hen house 10 and the cage abnormality detection device 20 collectively.

[0073] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0074] According to the present invention, by relatively comparing multiple cage rows, abnormalities in a particular cage row or cage can be quickly and easily detected.

[0075] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100: Egg-laying chicken coop system E: Egg 11: Cage 12: Cage row 14: Egg collection belt 20: Cage abnormality detection device 2: Sensor (egg sensor) 34: Abnormality detection unit 35: Recording unit 19: Collection belt

Claims

1. A cage abnormality detection device comprising: sensors corresponding to multiple cage rows housing laying hens of approximately the same age; and an abnormality detection unit that detects abnormalities in a specific cage or cage row based on information obtained from the sensors.

2. A cage abnormality detection device as described in claim 1, wherein the sensor is fixed to an egg collection belt provided in each of the multiple cage rows, or is movably provided along the egg collection belt.

3. A cage abnormality detection device as described in claim 2, wherein the sensor detects eggs placed on the egg collection belt or their physical properties.

4. A cage abnormality detection device as described in claim 2 or 3, wherein the abnormality detection unit uses a cage row equipped with the egg collection belt that starts and stops at the same timing as a comparison group, and detects abnormalities in a specific cage or cage row included in the comparison group.

5. A cage abnormality detection device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a recording unit that links and records information obtained from the sensor with position information within the cage row.

6. A cage abnormality detection device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality in the specific cage or cage row based on cage row information including information on the egg-laying hens housed in each cage in each of the plurality of cage rows, in addition to the information obtained from the sensor.

7. A cage abnormality detection device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality in the specific cage or cage row based on egg-laying hen information including the body temperature or activity of the egg-laying hens in addition to the information obtained from the sensor.

8. A cage abnormality detection device as described in claim 1, further comprising a collection belt that collects eggs from the multiple cage rows by cage row, the sensor being a camera that captures images of the eggs on the collection belt, and the abnormality detection unit detecting an abnormality in the particular cage or cage row based on the image captured by the camera.

9. A cage abnormality detection method comprising providing a sensor corresponding to each of a plurality of cage rows housing egg-laying hens of approximately the same age, and detecting an abnormality in a specific cage or cage row included in the plurality of cage rows based on information obtained from the sensor.