Waste bedding disposal and supply system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a waste bedding disposal and supply system. The waste bedding disposal and supply system of the present invention comprises: a bedding disposal unit that collects waste bedding of a cage and purifies and exhausts contaminants generated when collecting the waste bedding; a cage washing unit that is installed to be connected to the bedding disposal unit and allows the cage, from which the waste bedding has been disposed of, to be washed, sterilized, and then dried; a bedding supply unit that is installed to be connected to the cage washing unit and supplies new bedding to the washed cage; and a transfer unit that is installed to be connected to the bedding supply unit, the cage washing unit, and the bedding disposal unit and allows the cage to be moved to the bedding disposal unit, the cage washing unit, and the bedding supply unit. According to the present invention, provided is a waste bedding disposal and supply system with excellent work efficiency, which automatically collects contaminated bedding generated in a cage during the keeping of laboratory animals, washes, sterilizes, and dries the cage, and automatically supplies a fixed amount of new bedding.

Description

Waste bedding treatment and supply system

[0001] The present invention relates to a waste bedding treatment and supply system, and more particularly, to a waste bedding treatment and supply system that automatically collects contaminated bedding generated in a cage during the raising of laboratory animals, and not only washes, sterilizes, and dries the cage, but also automatically supplies new bedding in a quantitative manner, thereby achieving excellent work efficiency.

[0002] With the recent development of biotechnology, the breeding of laboratory animals is increasing day by day.

[0003] There have been many studies on the odor and pollution sources generated by cages contaminated with laboratory animal husbandry in reality or contaminated bedding containing excrement and experimental materials discharged from those cages.

[0004] For example, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1376085 discloses an automatic cage washing and drying device using waste bedding, comprising: a cage transporting means for separating waste bedding from a contaminated cage and transporting the separated cage for washing and drying; a waste bedding transporting means installed on one side of the cage transporting means for collecting the separated waste bedding from the cage and transporting it for manufacturing pellets; a pellet manufacturing means installed connected to the waste bedding transporting means for compressing the transported waste bedding for manufacturing pellets; a high-temperature water generating means installed connected to the pellet manufacturing means for applying heat to the manufactured pellets to combust them to generate high-temperature water; and a washing and drying means installed connected to the high-temperature water generating means and the cage transporting means for washing and drying the cages transported from the cage transporting means using the generated high-temperature water.

[0005] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-0558761 discloses a rotary cage automatic washer, which comprises a washing machine main body placed on the ground, a motor (M) and a high-pressure pump installed in an inner space and operated by a control panel, a washing room having an empty inner space and a cage inlet fixed to the upper portion of the main body, a turntable rotated by the motor formed flat at a position where the main bodies of the washing room are supported and fixed to each other, and a spray nozzle for spraying a cleaning solution by a high-pressure pump onto the turntable is provided in the inner space of the main body on the lower side of the turntable.

[0006] However, the above technology only allows for cage cleaning, and has the problem that automation of the bedding, which is the source of contamination, is impossible.

[0007] The present invention is intended to solve such problems, and provides a waste bedding treatment and supply system with excellent work efficiency by automatically collecting contaminated bedding generated in cages during the raising of laboratory animals, washing, sterilizing, and drying the cages, and automatically supplying new bedding in a quantitative manner.

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a litter treatment and supply system comprising: a litter treatment unit for collecting litter from a cage and, when collected, purifying and exhausting the generated pollutants; a cage washing unit connected to the litter treatment unit for washing, sterilizing, and drying a cage in which litter has been treated; a litter supply unit connected to the cage washing unit for supplying new litter to the washed cage; and a transport unit connected to the litter supply unit, the cage washing unit, and the litter treatment unit for moving the cage to the litter treatment unit, the cage washing unit, and the litter supply unit.

[0009] The above litter treatment unit is preferably composed of a litter case having an open front to form a space in which the cage can be turned upside down, a waste box installed in communication with the litter case to collect the litter, and an exhaust device installed in the internal space of the litter case in communication with the waste box to filter and exhaust pollutants.

[0010] In addition, it is preferable that the cage washing unit is composed of a washing case, a mesh-type bottom plate rotatably installed inside the washing case, one or more washing devices for washing cages placed on the bottom plate up and down, a sterilizing device installed spaced apart from the washing device for sterilizing the cage up and down, and a drying device installed spaced apart from the sterilizing device for drying the cage up and down with hot air.

[0011] In addition, it is preferable that the above washing device be installed with a D-shaped washing frame and one or more washing nozzles connected to the washing frame.

[0012] In addition, it is preferable that the sterilizing device is configured with a ㄷ-shaped sterilizing frame, one or more sterilizing nozzles are connected to the sterilizing frame, and the drying device is configured with a ㄷ-shaped drying frame that dries with hot air.

[0013] In addition, it is preferable that the above-mentioned bedding supply unit be composed of a bedding case having an upper hopper and a lower hopper, and a hopper supply device installed inside the upper hopper to be connected to the lower hopper and to transport the bedding of the lower hopper to the upper hopper as well as filter foreign substances in the lower hopper.

[0014] In addition, it is preferable that the upper hopper is supplied with litter when the cage is approached by a proximity sensor.

[0015] In addition, it is preferable that the above hopper supply device be opened and closed by the weight of the bedding to supply the bedding to the upper hopper.

[0016] In addition, it is preferable that the upper part of the hopper supply device be installed with a mesh net so as to be connected to the ring blower through a dust container to collect foreign substances.

[0017] In addition, it is preferable that the above-mentioned transport unit is composed of a first frame that is installed so as to be rotatable 360 ​​degrees, a second frame that is installed so as to be connected to the first frame and so as to be rotatable up and down, and a third frame that is installed so as to be connected to the second frame and so as to hold or turn over the cage.

[0018] The present invention by the above solution automatically captures contaminated bedding generated in a cage during the raising of laboratory animals, and not only washes, sterilizes, and dries the cage, but also automatically supplies new bedding in a quantitative manner, thereby achieving excellent work efficiency.

[0019] Figure 1 is a general diagram of the waste bedding treatment and supply system of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 is a detailed drawing of the litter treatment section of the litter treatment and supply system of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 3 is a detailed view of the cage washing section of the litter treatment and supply system of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 4 is a detailed drawing of the litter supply section of the litter treatment and supply system of the present invention.

[0023] 1: Cage

[0024] 100: Bed treatment department

[0025] 110: Lung case

[0026] 120: Waste box

[0027] 130: Exhaust system

[0028] 200: Cage Washing Unit

[0029] 210: Cleaning case

[0030] 220: Floor plate

[0031] 230: Washing device

[0032] 231: Washing frame

[0033] 232: Washing nozzle

[0034] 240: Sterilizer

[0035] 241: Sterilizing nozzle

[0036] 245: Sterilization and drying frame

[0037] 250: Drying device

[0038] 255: Dry frame

[0039] 300: Bedding Supply Department

[0040] 311: Upper hopper

[0041] 312: Lower hopper

[0042] 320: Hopper feeder

[0043] 321: Dustbin

[0044] 322: Ring Blower

[0045] 400: Transport section

[0046] 410: First frame

[0047] 420: Second frame

[0048] 430: Third frame

[0049] The litter treatment and supply system of the present invention is configured to have excellent work efficiency by capturing contaminated litter generated in cages during the raising of laboratory animals, washing, sterilizing, and drying the cages, and automatically supplying new litter in a quantitative manner.

[0050]

[0051] In this application, terms such as “include” or “consist of” are intended to specify the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, but should be understood as not excluding in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0052] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs.

[0053] Terms defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted to have a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly defined in this application.

[0054]

[0055] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0056] FIG. 1 is a general view of the litter treatment and supply system of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the litter treatment section of the litter treatment and supply system of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the cage washing section of the litter treatment and supply system of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the litter supply section of the litter treatment and supply system of the present invention.

[0057] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the litter treatment and supply system of the present invention comprises a litter treatment unit (100), a cage washing unit (200), a litter supply unit (300), and a transport unit (400).

[0058]

[0059] The above litter treatment unit (100) collects the waste litter from the cage and purifies the pollutants generated during collection so that they can be exhausted.

[0060]

[0061] This litter treatment unit (100) is composed of a litter case (110) having an open front to form a space in which the cage can be turned upside down, a waste box (120) installed in communication with the litter case (110) to collect the litter, and an exhaust device (130) installed in the internal space of the litter case (110) in communication with the waste box (120) to filter and exhaust pollutants.

[0062]

[0063] That is, the litter treatment unit (100) has a structure in which the transport unit (400) described below breaks the cage (1), turns it over in the front space of the litter case (110), and shakes it up and down so that the litter is piled in the waste box (120), and the pollutants generated at this time are filtered and exhausted through the exhaust device (130).

[0064]

[0065] The above cage washing unit (200) is installed to be connected to the bedding treatment unit (100) so that the cage (1) treated with bedding can be washed, sterilized, and then dried.

[0066]

[0067] This cage washing unit (200) is composed of a washing case (210), a mesh-type bottom plate (220) rotatably installed inside the washing case (210), one or more washing devices (230) for washing the cage placed on the bottom plate (220) upward and downward, a sterilizing device (240) installed spaced apart from the washing device (230) for sterilizing the cage upward and downward, and a drying device (250) installed spaced apart from the sterilizing device (240) for drying the cage upward and downward with hot air.

[0068]

[0069] The above washing device (230) is configured to have a structure in which a washing frame (231) in the shape of the letter D, one or more washing nozzles (232) are installed in the washing frame (231) to be connected between the mesh-type bottom plate (220), and the cage can be washed up and down.

[0070]

[0071] In addition, the sterilizing device (240) is configured such that a ㄷ-shaped sterilizing frame (245), one or more sterilizing nozzles (241) are installed on the sterilizing frame (245), and the drying device (250) is configured such that a ㄷ-shaped drying frame (255) that dries with hot air is connected between the mesh-type bottom plate (220), so that the cage can be sterilized from above and below and dried with hot air.

[0072]

[0073] The above bedding supply unit (300) is installed to be connected to the cage washing unit (200) and is structured to be able to supply new bedding to the washed cage (1).

[0074]

[0075] This bedding supply unit (300) is composed of a bedding case (310) having an upper hopper (311) and a lower hopper (312), and a hopper supply device (320) installed inside the upper hopper (311) to be connected to the lower hopper (312) and to transport the bedding of the lower hopper (312) to the upper hopper (311) and to filter foreign substances in the lower hopper (312).

[0076]

[0077] Meanwhile, the upper hopper (311) is structured to be able to supply litter when the cage is approached by a proximity sensor.

[0078] In addition, the hopper supply device (320) is configured to open and close depending on the weight of the bedding, thereby supplying the bedding to the upper hopper (311).

[0079] In addition, the upper part of the hopper supply device (320) is installed with a mesh net and connected to a ring blower (322) through a dust container (321), so that foreign substances can be collected.

[0080]

[0081] The above-mentioned transport unit (400) is installed to be connected to the bedding supply unit (300), the cage washing unit (200), and the bedding treatment unit (100), so that the cage (1) can be moved to the bedding treatment unit (100), the cage washing unit (200), and the bedding supply unit (300).

[0082]

[0083] The above-mentioned transfer unit (400) is composed of a first frame (410) that is installed so as to be rotatable 360 ​​degrees, a second frame (420) that is installed so as to be connected to the first frame (410) and so as to be rotatable up and down, and a third frame (430) that is installed so as to be connected to the second frame (420) and so as to hold or turn over the cage.

[0084] That is, the transport unit (400) is installed to be connected to the bedding treatment unit (100), the cage washing unit (200), and the bedding supply unit (300), so that the cage (1) is destroyed, and the waste bedding of the cage (1) is treated in the bedding treatment unit (100) in the first stage, and the contaminated cage (1) from which the waste bedding has been treated is washed, sterilized, and dried in the cage washing unit (200) in the second stage, and then new bedding is supplied to the cleaned cage (1) in the third stage through the bedding supply unit (300).

[0085]

[0086] The present invention has the effect of automatically capturing contaminated bedding generated in cages during the raising of laboratory animals, washing, sterilizing, and drying the cages, and automatically supplying new bedding in a quantitative manner, thereby achieving excellent work efficiency.

[0087]

[0088] According to the present invention, a waste bedding treatment and supply system with excellent work efficiency is provided, which automatically captures contaminated bedding generated in a cage during the raising of laboratory animals, and not only washes, sterilizes, and dries the cage, but also automatically supplies new bedding in a quantitative manner.

Claims

1. A litter treatment unit (100) that collects the litter from the cage and purifies and exhausts the pollutants generated during collection; A cage washing unit (200) installed to be connected to the above bedding treatment unit (100) to wash, sterilize, and dry the cage (1) in which the bedding has been treated; A bedding supply unit (300) installed to be connected to the above cage washing unit (200) to supply new bedding to the washed cage (1); and A waste bedding treatment and supply system comprising a transport unit (400) that is installed to be connected to the bedding supply unit (300), cage washing unit (200), and bedding treatment unit (100) so as to enable moving the cage (1) to the bedding treatment unit (100), cage washing unit (200), and bedding supply unit (300).

2. In the first paragraph, the litter treatment unit (100) is characterized by comprising a litter case (110) having an open front to form a space in which the cage can be turned upside down, a waste box (120) installed in communication with the litter case (110) to collect the litter, and an exhaust device (130) installed in the internal space of the litter case (110) in communication with the waste box (120) to filter and exhaust pollutants.

3. In the first paragraph, the cage washing unit (200) is characterized by comprising a washing case (210), a mesh-type bottom plate (220) rotatably installed inside the washing case (210), one or more washing devices (230) for washing the cage placed on the bottom plate (220) upward and downward, a sterilizing device (240) installed spaced apart from the washing device (230) for sterilizing the cage upward and downward, and a drying device (250) installed spaced apart from the sterilizing device (240) for drying the cage upward and downward with hot air.

4. In the third paragraph, the cleaning device (230) is characterized in that a cleaning frame (231) in the shape of the letter D is installed, and one or more cleaning nozzles (232) are connected to the cleaning frame (231).

5. In the third paragraph, the sterilizing device (240) is a sterilizing frame (245) in the shape of the letter D, one or more sterilizing nozzles (241) are installed to be connected to the sterilizing frame (245), and the drying device (250) is a t-shaped drying frame (255) that is dried by hot air, characterized in that the waste bedding treatment and supply system is formed.

6. In the first paragraph, the litter supply unit (300) is characterized by comprising a litter case (310) having an upper hopper (311) and a lower hopper (312), and a hopper supply device (320) installed inside the upper hopper (311) so as to be connected to the lower hopper (312) and transport the litter of the lower hopper (312) to the upper hopper (311) and filter foreign substances in the lower hopper (312).

7. In the 6th paragraph, the upper hopper (311) is characterized in that the litter is supplied when the cage is approached by a proximity sensor.

8. A waste bedding treatment and supply system characterized in that, in paragraph 6, the hopper supply device (320) opens and closes according to the weight of the bedding to supply the bedding to the upper hopper (311).

9. In the 6th paragraph, the upper part of the hopper supply device (320) is installed with a mesh net and connected to a ring blower (322) through a dust bin (321) so that foreign substances are collected, and is a waste bedding treatment and supply system.

10. In the first paragraph, the transport unit (400) is characterized in that it is composed of a first frame (410) that is installed so as to be rotatable 360 ​​degrees, a second frame (420) that is installed so as to be connected to the first frame (410) and so as to be rotatable up and down, and a third frame (430) that is installed so as to be connected to the second frame (420) and so as to hold or turn over the cage.

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