Laboratory Animal Breeding Cage with Dual-Material Visibility and Cleaning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laboratory animal breeding cages are difficult to clean due to the adherence of excrement, and solutions like disposable plastic covers increase waste and reduce visibility.
Innovation Solution
A laboratory animal breeding cage composed of a transparent thermoplastic resin for visibility and an opaque resin composition with fillers for easy excrement removal, adhered together using two-color molding or ultrasonic fusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a transparent thermoplastic resin is used for the entire cage, then visibility is improved, but excrement removal becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cage is divided into different regions with different material properties: the lower portion uses opaque resin composition for easy excrement removal, while the upper portion uses transparent thermoplastic resin for visibility. This local differentiation allows each region to fulfill its specific function optimally.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining transparent thermoplastic resin and opaque resin composition in a single molded cage. This composite approach integrates the advantages of both materials: transparency for observation and opacity with filler for easy cleaning of excrement.
2Ease of operation
If an opaque resin composition is used for the entire cage, then excrement removal becomes easy, but visibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cage is divided into different regions with different material properties: the lower portion uses opaque resin composition for easy excrement removal, while the upper portion uses transparent thermoplastic resin for visibility. This local differentiation allows each region to fulfill its specific function optimally.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining transparent thermoplastic resin and opaque resin composition in a single molded cage. This composite approach integrates the advantages of both materials: transparency for observation and opacity with filler for easy cleaning of excrement.
3Ease of operation
If a disposable plastic cover is used inside the cage, then excrement removal is simplified, but plastic waste increases and visibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite structure combining transparent thermoplastic resin and opaque resin composition in a single molded cage. This composite approach integrates the advantages of both materials: transparency for observation and opacity with filler for easy cleaning of excrement.
Solution Approach 2:
The cage structure itself provides the excrement removal function through its dual-material construction, eliminating the need for separate disposable plastic covers. The opaque portion with filler enables easy excrement removal while the transparent portion maintains visibility, making the cage self-sufficient.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The cage provides excellent visibility and easy removal of excrement without increasing waste, maintaining transparency and structural integrity through appropriate material selection and bonding methods.
Implementation Method 1
a transparent part (5) and an opaque part (6) which are adhered to each other
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
There is provided a laboratory animal breeding cage 1 comprising a bottom 2 and a side wall 3 and having an opening at the top, whose shape in a planar view is rectangular, wherein the cage 1 is made up of a transparent part 5 made of a transparent thermoplastic resin and an opaque part 6 made of an opaque resin composition comprising a thermoplastic resin and a filler; at least corner sections 7 of the upper surface 2a of the bottom 2 are made up of the opaque part 6 while at least the upper half of the side wall 3 is made up of the transparent part 5; and the transparent part 5 and the opaque part 6 are adhered to each other. Thus, there is provided a laboratory animal breeding cage which is excellent in visibility and enables easy removal of deposited excrement.