Sex determination device

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to allow the wings of a chick to be spread with a simple configuration, and to accurately determine the sex of the chick. The present invention is a sex determination device 100 for determining the sex of a chick C, the sex determination device 100 being provided with a dropping mechanism 2 for dropping the chick C, an imaging part 3 for imaging the chick C dropped by the dropping mechanism 2, and a determination part 4 for determining the sex of the chick C on the basis of the image captured by the imaging part 3.

Description

Male and female discrimination device

[0001] The present invention relates to a sexing device.

[0002] Conventionally, a method for sexing chicks is known as a feather sexing method, in which chicks are sexed based on the state of feather growth immediately after hatching.

[0003] One sexing device that utilizes this feather discrimination method is one that moves chicks on an inclined conveyor, captures images of the chicks with their wings spread, and discriminates the sex of the chicks from the captured images, as shown in Patent Document 1. Another method has been devised to blow air onto chicks on an inclined conveyor to encourage them to spread their feathers.

[0004] However, moving chicks on an inclined conveyor or blowing air at them does not necessarily cause the chicks to fully spread their wings, and even if the chicks are photographed, it is difficult to reliably capture the feathers of the chicks' wings, making it impossible to accurately distinguish between males and females.

[0005] JP 2022-43144 A

[0006] Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to enable chicks to spread their wings using a simple structure and to accurately distinguish between the sexes of chicks.

[0007] In other words, the sex determining device of the present invention is a sex determining device that determines the sex of chicks, and is characterized by comprising a dropping mechanism that drops the chicks, an imaging unit that images the chicks dropped by the dropping mechanism, and a discrimination unit that determines the sex of the chicks based on the image captured by the imaging unit.

[0008] This sexing device takes advantage of the chicks' tendency to spread their wings when they fall, so that the chicks will certainly spread their wings when they fall. Then, by capturing an image of the chicks as they fall using the dropping mechanism, it is possible to reliably capture an image of the chicks' feathers. As a result, the image captured by the imaging unit allows the state of the chicks' feathers to be determined, and sex can be determined.

[0009] A specific embodiment of the dropping mechanism is preferably one that has a conveying section for conveying the chicks and drops the chicks from the end of the conveying section in the conveying direction. With this configuration, the chicks can be continuously transported, dropped, and sexed.

[0010] The sexing device of the present invention preferably has a discharge section that forms a landing surface for the chicks dropped by the dropping mechanism and that carries out the dropped chicks. With this configuration, the dropped chicks can be carried out as they are. Furthermore, the sexing can also be separated in the discharge section.

[0011] According to the present invention configured in this manner, the chicks' wings can be spread with a simple structure, and the sex of the chicks can be accurately determined.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a front view schematically showing the configuration of a sex determining device according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view schematically showing the configuration of a sex determining device of a modified embodiment; Fig. 3 is a plan view schematically showing the configuration of a sex determining device of a modified embodiment; Fig. 4 is a front view schematically showing the configuration of a sex determining device of a modified embodiment.

[0013] An embodiment of the sex-determining 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 designated by the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted where appropriate.

[0014] <Configuration of the Sexing Device 100> The sexing device 100 of this embodiment utilizes the habit of chicks C to spread their feathers C1 when they fall. The chicks C to be sexed are those on the first or second day after hatching, and there is a large difference in the growth rate of feathers between males and females of these chicks C.

[0015] Specifically, the sex determination device 100 comprises a dropping mechanism 2 for dropping the chicks C, an imaging unit 3 for capturing images of the chicks C dropped by the dropping mechanism 2, and a discrimination unit 4 for determining the sex of the chicks C based on the images captured by the imaging unit 3.

[0016] The dropping mechanism 2 drops the chicks C during transport. Specifically, the dropping mechanism 2 has a transport section 21 that transports the chicks C and a discharge section 22 that discharges the chicks C. Both the transport section 21 and the discharge section 22 can be configured using belt conveyors. The transport section 21 is also provided with a mechanism for transporting the chicks C one by one.

[0017] The conveying direction terminal end 21x of the conveying section 21 is located at a higher position than the discharge section 22. With this configuration, the chicks C fall from the conveying direction terminal end 21x of the conveying section 21. The discharge section 22 forms a landing surface 22x for the chicks C that have fallen from the conveying direction terminal end 21x, and discharges the dropped chicks C. The landing surface 22x is formed by the upper surface of the belt conveyor that constitutes the discharge section 22.

[0018] Here, the end 21x of the conveying section 21 in the conveying direction is located at a height of 100 mm to 200 mm above the landing surface 22x of the discharge section 22. In other words, the falling distance of the chicks C is 100 mm to 200 mm.

[0019] The imaging unit 3 captures images of the chicks C that have been dropped and landed by the drop mechanism 2. This imaging unit 3 captures images of the chicks C from vertically above as they fall from the end 21x of the conveyance direction. Specifically, the imaging unit 3 is provided above the end 21x of the conveyance section 21 in the conveyance direction, facing the landing surface 22x of the discharge section 22.

[0020] Here, the imaging format of the imaging unit 3 may be either moving images or still images. If it is a moving image, it is possible to continuously image the chick C from the end 21x of the conveying direction until after it lands on the landing surface 22x, and it is possible to reliably image the feathers C1 of the chick C. Even if it is a still image, it is possible to reliably image the feathers C1 of the chick C by capturing multiple images from the end 21x of the conveying direction until after it lands on the landing surface 22x.

[0021] The discrimination unit 4 discriminates the sex of the dropped chicks C based on the image captured by the imaging unit 3. The discrimination unit 4 can be configured as a computer having a CPU, memory, an input / output interface, an AD converter, a display device, an input device, etc.

[0022] Specifically, the discrimination unit 4 discriminates the sex of the fallen chick C based on pre-created reference data (reference data for distinguishing between male and female chicks) and the captured image taken by the imaging unit 3.

[0023] Here, a machine learning model can be used for the discrimination unit 4. This machine learning model is a model that has been machine-learned using training data consisting of captured images of the feathers C1 of a male chick C and captured images of the feathers C1 of a female chick C. This machine learning model is generated in advance and stored in memory. Then, the discrimination unit 4 can discriminate between the male and female of the dropped chick C by inputting the captured images captured by the imaging unit 3 into this machine learning model.

[0024] <Effects of this embodiment> The sexing device 100 of this embodiment utilizes the habit of chicks C to spread their wings C1 when they fall, and the fallen chicks C will reliably spread their wings C1. Then, by capturing an image of the dropped chicks C using the dropping mechanism 2, it is possible to reliably capture an image of the feathers C1 of the chicks C. As a result, the image captured by the imaging unit 3 makes it possible to determine the state of feather growth of the chicks C and to determine whether they are male or female.

[0025] In particular, in this embodiment, the falling chick C is imaged from vertically above, so that the feathers C1 of the chick C can be reliably imaged regardless of the direction in which the chick C is facing.

[0026] <Modified Embodiments of the Present Invention> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments.

[0027] For example, as shown in Fig. 2, the transport section 21 and the discharge section 22 can be arranged to intersect with each other. With this configuration, multiple transport sections 21 can be provided for one discharge section 22, thereby improving the efficiency of identifying chicks C.

[0028] 3, the discharge section 22 may also have a removal section 23 that separates and removes one of the sexed chicks from the discharge section 22. This removal section 23 may be configured to remove a male chick from the discharge section 22 if the dropped chick is determined to be a male. For example, the removal section 23 may be configured to push a male chick on the discharge section 22 out of the discharge section 22 using an air cylinder or the like. The male chick pushed out of the discharge section 22 is housed in a male chick housing section 24. Incidentally, female chicks are carried out by the discharge section 22 to a female chick housing section 25.

[0029] Furthermore, the conveying direction terminal end 21x of the conveying unit 21 may be inclined, for example, in the width direction. In other words, the chicks C will lose their posture as they fall from the conveying direction terminal end 21x. The chicks C will then lose their posture as they land, lengthening the time they spread their wings C1. This makes it easier for the imaging unit 3 to capture an image of the chicks C with their wings spread.

[0030] Furthermore, the landing surface 22x of the discharge section 22 may be inclined. By inclining the landing surface 22x, the chicks C lose their posture when they land, which allows them to extend the time they can spread their wings C1. This makes it easier for the imaging unit 3 to capture an image of the chicks C with their wings C1 spread.

[0031] Furthermore, the configuration of the dropping mechanism 2 is not limited to that of the above embodiment, and is not limited to a configuration in which the chicks are dropped from the end 21x of the conveying section 21 in the conveying direction, but may be a configuration in which the chicks are dropped midway through the conveying section 21. For example, a configuration in which the chicks C are dropped by opening up part of the conveying surface of the conveying section 21 may also be used.

[0032] The dropping mechanism 2 may also be configured using a lifting table. In this case, the chicks are placed on the lifting table, and the table is lowered in this state, causing the chicks to drop on the spot and land on the lowered lifting table.

[0033] Additionally, in the above embodiment, the landing surface 22x is formed by the discharge section 22, but as shown in Fig. 4, the landing surface 22x may be formed by the stage 26. In this case, the stage 26 may be provided with a sorting mechanism 27 for sorting the chicks into males and females. This sorting mechanism 27 sorts the chicks C based on the discrimination results by the discrimination section 4. For example, the sorting mechanism 27 sorts the chicks C that have been determined to be male into the male chick storage section 28 (or discharge section), and sorts the chicks C that have been determined to be female into the discharge section 22 (or female chick storage section).

[0034] Furthermore, the imaging unit 3 images the chicks C falling from the end 21x of the conveying direction from vertically above, but instead of imaging from vertically above, it may also image the falling chicks C from diagonally above, or from the side.

[0035] 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.

[0036] According to the present invention, the wings of chicks can be spread using a simple structure, and the sex of chicks can be accurately determined.

[0037] 100: Sex determining device C: Chick 2: Dropping mechanism 21: Transport section 21x: End section in transport direction 22: Discharge section 22x: Landing surface 3: Imaging section 4: Discrimination section

Claims

1. A sexing device for determining the sex of chicks, comprising: a dropping mechanism for dropping the chicks; an imaging unit for imaging the chicks dropped by the dropping mechanism; and a discrimination unit for discriminating the sex of the chicks based on the image captured by the imaging unit.

2. A sex determining device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the dropping mechanism has a transport section for transporting the chicks and drops the chicks from a terminal end of the transport section in the transport direction.

3. A sex determining device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a discharge section which forms a landing surface for the chicks dropped by said dropping mechanism and which removes the dropped chicks.

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