Disinfection device for use in presence of chickens and suitable for stacked-cage rearing mode

Abstract

A disinfection device for use in presence of chickens and suitable for a stacked-cage rearing mode, aiming at solving the limitations of existing chicken house disinfection technology in terms of disinfection efficiency and targeted disinfection and sterilization capability. The device is composed of a chassis (1), a laser radar (103) and the like, and a control box (106) and a spray assembly (2) are mounted on the top. The spray assembly (2) comprises a liquid storage tank (203), a water pump (201), solenoid valves (209), spray head telescopic rods (207), and an electric push rod (204), and can adapt to cage layers of different heights, avoid collision with an egg collection line, and support disinfection and sterilization for the whole chicken house and a designated cage position. The device is suitable for a high-density stacked-cage rearing chicken house, can efficiently disinfect a multi-layer stacked-cage rearing chicken house on a large scale, can also automatically navigate to a designated cage position for precise disinfection without the need for a preset path, and can automatically go to a charging station or be charged when the power level is insufficient, thereby greatly improving disinfection efficiency and reducing labor costs.

Description

A disinfection device for chickens in a stacked cage rearing system Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of chicken house disinfection technology, and in particular relates to a disinfection device for chickens in a stacked cage rearing mode. Background Technology

[0002] High poultry stocking dens in chicken coops mean that infections can cause significant losses. Regular, large-scale disinfection of chicken farms is a crucial aspect of disease control. Furthermore, after poultry dies, pathogens in the muscles and blood multiply rapidly within five hours, posing a substantial risk of disease spread. Therefore, timely and effective disinfection measures to reduce pathogen transmission are essential for ensuring biosecurity on chicken farms. Targeted disinfection of areas with dead chickens can significantly save manpower and resources.

[0003] A search revealed that patent application number 202311157594.2 discloses a chicken coop spray disinfection device. This device is mounted on an AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) and can automatically travel and operate according to a pre-set route. The height of the spray nozzle can be adjusted to a certain extent.

[0004] However, the aforementioned device has the following problems: 1. The device can only disinfect the entire chicken house according to a pre-set path, and cannot disinfect specific cages; 2. The device has limited lifting height and cannot adapt to multi-layered caged chicken houses. Therefore, a smart device is needed to meet the disinfection needs of multi-layered caged chicken houses, which can perform large-scale and efficient disinfection of the entire chicken house, as well as precise disinfection of specific dead chicken cages. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a spray disinfection device suitable for stacked cage-raised laying hens and breeder hens, solving the problems that existing disinfection devices cannot adapt to stacked cage-raised chicken houses or have low disinfection efficiency in this scenario, and cannot accurately disinfect designated dead chicken cage locations.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a disinfection device for chickens in a stacked cage rearing system, comprising a drive motor for driving wheels mounted on a chassis, the drive motor being equipped with a battery, and an automatic charging module connected to the battery mounted under the chassis. Four wheels are rotatably mounted on both sides of the mobile robot chassis, and a first support plate is fixedly mounted on the top of the chassis. The control box for the entire device is fixedly mounted on the top of the first support plate, and a disinfection spray assembly is also fixedly mounted thereon via mounting brackets. A first anti-collision bar and a second anti-collision bar are respectively fixedly mounted on the front and rear sides of the mobile robot chassis.

[0007] The spray assembly includes a liquid storage tank connected to a first support plate, the liquid storage tank storing disinfectant. An opening on one side of the liquid storage tank connects to a water pump inlet. The water pump outlet is connected to a flexible hose.

[0008] The mounting base is fixedly connected to the electric actuator. Multiple nozzle support rods are fixedly connected to one side of the electric actuator. The nozzle telescopic rod is fixedly connected to the nozzle support rod, and the solenoid valve is fixed to the telescopic module of the telescopic rod. The inlet of the solenoid valve is connected to the flexible hose, and the atomizing nozzle is connected to the outlet of the solenoid valve.

[0009] Preferably, the hose has a coiled structure at the extension and retraction point of the electric push rod.

[0010] Preferably, the hose has a coiled structure at the extension and retraction point of the nozzle telescopic rod.

[0011] Preferably, the telescopic portion of the electric push rod is fixedly connected to the guide rail.

[0012] Preferably, the radar camera bracket is fixedly connected to the top of the first support plate. The second support plate and the depth camera are sequentially fixedly connected to the upper and lower layers of the radar camera bracket. The lidar is fixedly connected to the top of the second support plate. The mobile robot chassis is equipped with the lidar and depth camera and is connected to the host computer in the control box. After receiving the coordinates of the cage containing dead chickens, the mobile robot chassis can accurately reach the location to complete the disinfection work through relevant algorithms. When multiple coordinates to be processed are received, the optimal path is selected through path planning algorithms, improving work efficiency. It can also provide navigation and obstacle avoidance for the device during large-scale disinfection.

[0013] Preferably, the disinfection device can adjust the nozzle telescopic rod to adjust the position of each nozzle to adapt to the number of chicken cages and sizes in different chicken houses. If the nozzle operates at a fixed height, the area A1 swept by the spray is: A1=2r×v×T (1) where r is the radius of the circle formed by the spray cone in the plane, v is the speed of the trolley, and T is the movement time. If the speed of the trolley remains constant, and the nozzle is mounted on an electric push rod with a reciprocating speed of q and a stroke of l, the center trajectory of the circle can be described as: Wherein: amplitude angular frequency The length S2 of the path of motion around the center of the circle is: The calculation yields: Where E(m) is the elliptic integral of the first kind. Therefore, the area A2 swept by the electric push rod is: A2=2r×S2 (5) The ratio μ of the area swept by the spray in the two cases is: If the trolley's forward speed v = 1 m / s and the nozzle's reciprocating speed q = 0.05 m / s, for a small m, μ can be approximated using Taylor series expansion: The solution μ≈1.5708 indicates that when the nozzle is mounted on an electric actuator and moved, its spray area is 1.5708 times that of a fixed nozzle, thus increasing the disinfection range.

[0014] Preferably, the lidar, depth camera, automatic charging module, drive motor, battery, electric actuator, solenoid valve, nozzle telescopic rod, and water pump are connected to a control box. The control box is used to control the opening and closing of individual nozzles, the start and stop of the water pump, the raising and lowering of the electric actuator and nozzle telescopic rod, and the movement of the robot chassis.

[0015] Preferably, the water pump is a diaphragm pump. This type of pump is lightweight and portable. It has high flexibility and can be installed in the confined space of a mobile robot chassis. It has low energy consumption while meeting pressure requirements. Furthermore, it generates low noise, meeting national noise standards for disinfection of chickens.

[0016] Preferably, the chicken disinfection device suitable for stacked cage rearing mode is equipped with an automatic charging module, which can automatically go to the charging base or designated area to charge or add medicine when the power or medicine is insufficient or when the disinfection operation is completed, which greatly saves manpower and improves work efficiency.

[0017] Compared with existing technologies, a spray disinfection device suitable for stacked cage-raised laying hens and breeder hens has the following beneficial effects:

[0018] 1. Equipped with a lidar chassis, it can reach cages containing dead chickens for disinfection without the need for pre-laid routes, saving significant manpower and resources. It can also perform large-scale disinfection of the entire chicken house without modification, resulting in high efficiency. When power or medication is low, it autonomously moves to the charging station or designated area to recharge or add medication. This greatly saves manpower, improves the management efficiency of chicken farms, and reduces biological risks.

[0019] 2. The electrically operated push rod not only avoids obstacles in the chicken house such as doors, egg carriers, and lights, but also allows for close-range disinfection of the upper chicken cages, improving the disinfection effect of poultry house disinfection equipment. The telescopic nozzle rod allows the disinfection device to adapt to different chicken house and cage sizes, and the nozzle moves up and down according to the set stroke during disinfection, increasing the disinfection spray range. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the device structure of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 is a front view of the device of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the chassis structure of the device of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 is a partial schematic diagram of the spray assembly of the device of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 5 is a partial schematic diagram of the guide rail connection and nozzle extension / retraction of the device of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the chassis interior;

[0027] In the diagram: 1. Chassis, 101 First support plate, 102 Depth camera, 103 LiDAR, 104 Second support plate, 105 LiDAR camera bracket, 106 Control box, 107 Automatic charging module, 108 Wheels, 109 First anti-collision bar, 110 Second anti-collision bar, 111 Drive motor, 112 Battery, 2. Spray assembly, 201 Water pump, 202 Mounting base, 203 Liquid storage tank, 204 Electric push rod, 205 Guide rail, 206 Nozzle support rod, 207 Nozzle telescopic rod, 208 Hose, 209 Solenoid valve, 210 Atomizing nozzle. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0029] This invention proposes a disinfection device for chickens in a stacked cage rearing system.

[0030] Please refer to Figures 1-6. In one example of a chicken disinfection device suitable for stacked cage rearing mode proposed in this invention, the device includes: 1. a chassis; 101 a first support plate; 102 a depth camera; 103 a lidar; 104 a second support plate; 105 a lidar camera bracket; 106 a control box; 107 an automatic charging module; 108 wheels; 109 a first anti-collision bar; 110 a second anti-collision bar; 111 a drive motor; 112 a battery; 2. a spray assembly; 201 a water pump; 202 a mounting base; 203 a liquid storage tank; 204 an electric push rod; 205 a guide rail; 206 a nozzle support rod; 207 a nozzle telescopic rod; 208 a hose; 209 a solenoid valve; and 210 an atomizing nozzle.

[0031] A drive motor 111 for driving the wheels 108 is mounted on the chassis 1. The drive motor 111 is equipped with a battery 112. An automatic charging module 107 is installed under the chassis 1 and is connected to the battery 112. The four wheels 108 are rotatably mounted on both sides of the chassis 1, and a first support plate 101 is fixedly mounted on the top. The control box 106 of the entire device is fixedly mounted on the top of the first support plate 101, and the disinfection spray assembly 2 is fixedly mounted on it via a first support rod 205. A first anti-collision bar 109 and a second anti-collision bar 110 are fixedly mounted on the front and rear sides of the mobile robot chassis, respectively.

[0032] The spray assembly 2 includes a liquid storage tank 203 connected to the first support plate 101, which stores disinfectant. One side of the liquid storage tank 203 has an opening for connection to the inlet of a water pump 201. The outlet of the water pump 201 is connected to a flexible hose 208. Further, a mounting base 202 is fixedly connected to the first support plate 101. An electric push rod 208 is fixedly connected to the top of the mounting base 202. Multiple nozzle support rods 206 are fixedly connected to one side of the electric push rod 208. A nozzle telescopic rod 207 is fixedly connected to the nozzle support rods 206, and a solenoid valve 209 is fixed to the telescopic module of the nozzle telescopic rod 207. The inlet of the solenoid valve 209 is connected to the flexible hose 208, and the atomizing nozzle 210 is connected to the outlet of the solenoid valve 209.

[0033] This invention proposes a disinfection device for chickens in a stacked cage rearing system, which can more conveniently disinfect the environment inside the chicken house, with higher efficiency and better disinfection effect. The specific working principle is as follows: At the initial position of the disinfection robot, a QR code carrying information on the height of different cages in the chicken house is affixed. The depth camera 102 identifies the QR code and adjusts the height of the nozzle extension rod 207 according to the information contained in the QR code, ensuring that each atomizing nozzle 210 can disinfect the center area of ​​the chicken cage. When a signal is received indicating that disinfection is needed for cages with dead chickens, the chassis 1 will automatically start. Using the surrounding environmental information provided by the depth camera 102 and the lidar 103, the information is processed by the host computer in the control cabinet and navigates to the cage requiring disinfection. Then, the electric push rod 205 will rise to the appropriate height. According to the number of cage layers to be disinfected, open the solenoid valve 209 corresponding to that layer, start the water pump 201, and the water pump 201 pumps the disinfectant in the storage tank 203 to the hose 208, which then enters the corresponding opened solenoid valve 209, and finally sprays it out from the atomizing nozzle 210 to disinfect the designated area in the chicken house.

[0034] When large-scale disinfection of the entire chicken coop is required, chassis 1 will perform large-scale disinfection based on the pre-set path and the surrounding environmental information provided by depth camera 102 and lidar 103. At this time, electric push rod 204 will rise and open all solenoid valves 209. 。 The water pump 201 is activated, pumping the disinfectant solution from the storage tank 203 into the hose 208, which then enters all the solenoid valves 209. The solution is finally sprayed out from the atomizing nozzle 210. Simultaneously, the atomizing nozzle 210 moves vertically along the travel set by the nozzle extension rod 207, increasing the spray coverage. If the disinfection process encounters obstacles that are too high to pass, such as doors, egg conveyors, or light fixtures, the water pump 201 will shut off, and the electric push rod 204 will be lowered. After passing the obstacle, the electric push rod 204 and the water pump 201 will be raised to continue the disinfection operation.

[0035] The spraying device 2 and the control box 106 are respectively fixedly installed on the top two sides of the first support plate 101 to prevent droplets from affecting the control circuit and triggering a short circuit during the spray disinfection process. The automatic charging module 107 is fixedly installed at the bottom of the first support plate 101. When the device's battery is low or the disinfection operation is completed, it will automatically navigate to the charging dock to replenish its power.

[0036] A radar camera bracket 105 is fixedly connected to the top of the first support plate 101. A second support plate 104 and a depth camera 102 are sequentially fixedly connected to the upper and lower layers of the radar camera bracket 105. A lidar 103 is fixedly connected to the top of the second support plate 104. The mobile robot chassis carries the lidar 103 and the depth camera 102. Upon receiving the coordinates of a cage containing dead chickens, the mobile robot chassis can accurately reach the location and complete the disinfection work without pre-laying a route, using relevant algorithms. When multiple coordinates are received, the optimal path is selected through a path planning algorithm, improving work efficiency. It can also provide navigation and obstacle avoidance for the device during large-scale disinfection. A first anti-collision bar 109 and a second anti-collision bar 110 are fixedly installed on the front and rear sides of the mobile robot chassis, respectively, to prevent damage to important parts of the device in case of collision.

[0037] The hose has a coiled structure at the extension and retraction point of the electric actuator. This structure ensures that the electric actuator can supply sufficient liquid to the solenoid valve when it extends, while preventing the excessively long hose from interfering with other mechanisms when the electric actuator retracts.

[0038] The hose has a coiled structure at the extension and retraction point of the nozzle telescopic rod. This structure ensures that the extended nozzle telescopic rod can supply sufficient liquid to the solenoid valve while preventing excessively long hoses from interfering with other mechanisms when the nozzle retracts.

[0039] By fixing the guide rail 205 to the top of the electric push rod 204, the axial rotation of the extended part of the electric push rod 204 is restricted, which improves the stability of the entire device and ensures the disinfection effect of the atomizing nozzle 210 controlled by the solenoid valve 209 installed on the extended part of the electric push rod.

[0040] It should be noted that in this application, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0041] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement this application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this application. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.

Claims

1. A disinfection device for chickens in a stacked cage rearing system, characterized in that, include: Chassis (1); Wheels (108) are mounted on the chassis; Mounting bracket (202) is fixed on the chassis (1); An electric push rod (204) fixed on the mounting base; Multiple nozzle telescopic rods (207) are installed on the electric push rod (204); Multiple solenoid valves (209) are connected to the multiple nozzle telescopic rods (207); Atomizing nozzle (210) connected to the solenoid valve (209); The nozzle telescopic rod (207), solenoid valve (209) and atomizing nozzle (210) are connected together and installed at different heights of the electric push rod (204).

2. The spray disinfection device for layered cage-raised laying hens and breeder hens according to claim 1, characterized in that, The chassis (1) is equipped with a drive motor (111) that drives the wheels (108), the drive motor (111) is equipped with a battery (112), and an automatic charging module (107) is installed under the chassis (1), the automatic charging module (107) is connected to the battery (112).

3. The spray disinfection device for layered cage-raised laying hens and breeder hens according to claim 2, characterized in that, A first support plate (101) is fixed on the chassis (1), and a liquid storage tank (203) is installed on the first support plate (101). The liquid storage tank (203) is connected to the solenoid valve (209) and the atomizing nozzle (210) through a water pump (201) and a hose (208).

4. The spray disinfection device for layered cage-raised laying hens and breeder hens according to claim 3, characterized in that, The hose (208) has a coiled structure at the extension and retraction point of the electric push rod (204).

5. The spray disinfection device for layered cage-raised laying hens and breeder hens according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electric push rod (204) is provided with a nozzle support rod (206), and a nozzle telescopic rod (207) is fixed to the end of the nozzle support rod (206). The solenoid valve (209) and the atomizing nozzle (210) are fixed on the nozzle telescopic rod (207).

6. The spray disinfection device for layered cage-raised laying hens and breeder hens according to claim 5, characterized in that, The hose (208) is coiled at the nozzle telescopic rod (207).

7. The spray disinfection device for layered cage-raised laying hens and breeder hens according to claim 3, characterized in that, A control box (106) is installed on the first support plate (101), a radar camera bracket (105) is fixed on the first support plate (101), and a lidar (103) and a depth camera (102) are installed on the radar camera bracket (105).

8. The spray disinfection device for layered cage-raised laying hens and breeder hens according to claim 6, characterized in that, The laser radar (103), depth camera (102), automatic charging module (107), drive motor (111), battery (112), electric push rod (204), solenoid valve (210), nozzle telescopic rod (207) and water pump (201) are all connected to the control box (106).

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