JP4890937B2 - Automatic food consumption measuring device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic food intake measuring device for measuring the body weight and food intake of a small experimental animal.

  In recent years, research on obesity and various diseases associated with it (metabolic syndrome) has been actively conducted using small animals, and it is necessary to measure and control the food intake of small experimental animals for use in these studies. It has increased. Furthermore, the need for measuring and controlling the food intake and body weight of laboratory animals is increasing in research on foods for specified health use due to increased interest in diets.

  However, conventionally, it has been necessary to measure the amount of food intake every day and feed a constant amount, and this measurement and the like have been very laborious. In order to solve this problem, a method of measuring the amount of food intake by counting the number of pellet-shaped foods to be fed is known.

  In general, the method of measuring the weight of small experimental animals is generally measured by taking the small animals directly from the cage and placing them on a scale, or placing the entire cage on the scale and subtracting the weight of the cage. It was.

Furthermore, Patent Document 1 discloses an automatic measurement device that measures the weight and food intake of a small experimental animal using a single electronic weighing device. In this automatic measuring device, the cage and the feeding container are each placed on an independent receiving plate, and four struts erected on the electronic balance pass through each of the receiving plates in a non-contact manner near the four corners of the receiving plate. Each of the receiving plates is supported by a claw that has a built-in motor and is rotatable. For example, the weight of a small animal is measured together with the cage when the nail supporting the cage descends and comes into contact with the engaging portion provided on the cylinder, and the weight is obtained by subtracting the weight of the cage. .
JP 11-337389 A

  In the above conventional technique, it is possible to count the number of pellet-like foods fed to small experimental animals, but it is not possible to measure a certain amount and control the daily food intake. It was. In addition, since the shape of the bait that can be measured is limited to that formed in a pellet shape, it was not possible to measure when feeding an unusual shape such as a fine granular material, a powdered material, or a mixed food. Furthermore, since the food intake is measured by the number of pellets, it is difficult to accurately measure the food intake when leftovers or food residue is generated.

  Also, when weighing body weights, grabbing a small experimental animal directly with your hand can cause stress, making it difficult to conduct accurate experiments, and when performing experiments using multiple animals, There is a problem such as taking. On the other hand, when weighing in the cage, food waste and excrement may affect the weight measurement value, and if a small animal moves around in the cage, shaking will occur and it will be accurate. It was difficult to weigh the weight.

  Moreover, in patent document 1, since the receiving plate of the measuring stand for measurement was made into the 2 layer structure, the structure was complicated and the production cost was started. In addition, when food spills are scattered around the feeding container, the structure is complicated, and the cleaning work is cumbersome and time-consuming. In addition, there is a possibility that an error may occur in the measurement of food consumption. Furthermore, daily food intake could not be controlled at a constant level.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide an automatic food intake measuring device that can easily measure the body weight of a small experimental animal and can control or measure food intake. And

The present invention is a cage that accommodates a small animal, a food box that is provided adjacent to the cage and has an opening that allows the small animal to ingest food inside, and is located below the food box. A bait receiver, a bait weight sensor for detecting the weight of the bait box, the bait holder, and the bait inside thereof, a shutter capable of opening and closing the opening of the bait box, and the shutter A shutter drive unit that opens and closes, a weight measurement box that is provided adjacent to the cage and is formed so as to be dark inside, and the small animal is provided to be movable from the cage; and the small animal on which the weight measurement box is placed a weight sensor for weighing for detecting the weight with, to control the opening and closing of the shutter by processing signals from the weight sensor the bait by the shutter driving unit, detection by the weight sensor the weight And a control device for measuring the weight of the small animal by signal, the small animal can ingest the food only by the opening, spilling food of the diet dropped to receiving the bait, wherein the control device, wherein Automatic food intake that measures the weight of food in the food box and the food receiver, controls the shutter drive unit, and controls the opening operation of the shutter so that only a predetermined amount of the food can be eaten. It is a measuring device.

Furthermore, the cage, the bait box, and the weight measuring box are fixed on an apparatus main body provided with an operation panel .

  According to the automatic food intake measuring device of the present invention, the daily food intake can also be automatically controlled at a constant amount or at predetermined time intervals, and the measurement error of the food intake due to the spilled food is prevented. It can be done. Moreover, the weight of a small animal can be easily measured without directly touching it.

  Hereinafter, one embodiment of the automatic food intake measurement device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The automatic food intake measurement device 10 of this embodiment is used for experimental breeding of small experimental animals, and performs weight measurement, food intake measurement and food intake control.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic food intake measurement device 10 has a device body 12 formed in a rectangular box shape made of metal and resin. An operation panel 14 is formed on one end surface of the apparatus main body 12 in the longitudinal direction, as shown in FIG. A display unit 16 made of liquid crystal or the like is provided in the center of the operation panel 14, and a calibration switch 18 is provided in the vicinity of the display unit 16. A power switch 20 is provided on the side of the calibration switch 18 in the vicinity of one end portion of the operation panel 14 in the longitudinal direction, and an animal detection lamp 22 is provided above the power switch 20. In the vicinity of the end of the operation panel 14 on the opposite side with the display unit 16 as the center, four external input lamps 24 of LEDs are provided in a row at predetermined intervals in a substantially parallel manner along the short edge. Further, a power cable (not shown) is provided on the end surface of the apparatus main body 12 located on the opposite side of the operation panel 14, and four external sensor input connectors (not shown) and an RS232C connector 26 and the like are provided as shown in FIG. It has been. In addition, a shutter control connector (not shown), a fuse box outlet (not shown), and the like are provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a positioning plate 28 having a substantially rectangular shape and an appropriate thickness is attached to the center of the upper surface of the apparatus main body 12 with a screw or the like. And on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 12 in the vicinity of one edge of the positioning plate 28 in the longitudinal direction, an appropriate gap is formed parallel to the edge with respect to the upper surface of the apparatus main body 12, and a thin bait weight measuring base 31 is provided. Is provided. The bait weight measurement base 31 is formed of a metal plate having an L-shaped vertical cross section, and is attached to the bait weight sensor 30 shown in FIG.

  In addition, a fitting groove 31a is provided at the center in the longitudinal direction of the vertical surface of the bait weight measurement cradle 31 with an appropriate width from the upper end and vertically downward. A bait receiver 34 formed in a box shape with a transparent resin is placed on the bait weight measurement pedestal 31, and a knob is inserted into the fitting groove 31 a into a through hole provided in the bait receiver 34. A bait receiver 34 is fastened to a bait weight measuring pedestal 31 through the attached screw 36.

  An upper portion of the bait receiver 34 is opened, and a bait box connecting portion 38 is formed by protruding upward from the upper end of the surface fixed by the knob screw 36 in a tongue shape. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, a bait box 40 made of a transparent resin and formed in a box shape is located on the upper part of the bait receiver 34, and an opening provided on the bottom surface side of the bait box 40, A bait box connecting portion 38 of the bait receiver 34 is inserted. In addition, the bait box 40 is formed with a fitting groove 40a that is cut into an appropriate width vertically upward from the center of the lower end of the side surface. And the screw 37 with the knob | pick inserted by the through-hole of the bait receptacle 34 and the fitting groove 38a fit, and the bait box 40 is being fixed to the bait receptacle 34. FIG.

  A pair of animal detection sensors 32 are erected on both ends in the width direction of the food receiver 34 and the food box 40. The animal detection sensor 32 is formed in a quadrangular prism shape, and a pair of light emitting portions and light receiving portions are located in the vicinity of both side surfaces of a feeding window 48 described later in the vicinity of the upper end portion thereof.

  A rectangular feeding window 42 is formed on the surface opposite to the surface on which the fitting groove 40a of the food box 40 is formed. A food receiving plate 43 that is inclined obliquely toward the lower end of the feeding window 42 is fixed in a space facing the feeding window 42 in the feeding box 40. The feed receiving plate 43 is formed such that the feed 84 in the feed box 40 slides naturally toward the feeding window 42 and is caught by the feeding window 42.

  On the apparatus main body 12, a cage 44 that is formed in a box shape with a transparent resin and accommodates animals is provided adjacent to the food receiver 34 and the food box 40. The cage 44 is placed in the vicinity of the four corners of the positioning plate 28 so that the legs 44a are positioned, and is formed in a box shape having an open top. A feeding window 48 that is an opening having a size substantially equal to that of the feeding window 42 is formed on a side surface of the cage 44 that faces the feeding window 42 of the feeding box 40. The feeding window 48 is provided with a slidable shutter 46 that can be opened and closed in the horizontal direction.

  The shutter 46 has a sliding groove 48a that is elongated in the longitudinal direction at the center thereof, and is slidably supported by a guide projection 49 provided on the side surface of the cage 44. A box-shaped shutter drive unit 50 for sliding the shutter 46 is detachably attached to the side surface of the cage 44, and the end of the shutter 46 located at the end of the cage 44 is a shutter motor inside the shutter drive unit 50. It is connected to an opening / closing mechanism driven by 52. Further, a shutter open / close sensor 54 for detecting the open / close state of the shutter 46 is attached inside the shutter drive unit 50.

  A transparent lid 56 made of the same material as that of the cage 44 is covered on the opening surface of the upper portion of the cage 44, and the lid 56 is provided with a plurality of through holes (not shown) having appropriate shapes. A rectangular box-shaped tray 58 made of a transparent resin is accommodated below the cage 44 so that it can be pulled out from one end surface in the longitudinal direction of the cage 44. The tray 58 is open at the top surface located in the cage 44, and a handle 58 a is provided on the drawer surface on the side surface side of the cage 44. Further, a metal net (not shown) is laid above the bottom surface of the tray 58.

  At substantially the same position on the side surface facing the side surface of the cage 44 provided with the feeding window 48, there is formed a moving port 60 that opens in substantially the same shape as the feeding window 48 and allows a small animal to pass through. A weight measuring box 62 having an entrance 62 a formed to be able to communicate with the moving port 60 is provided on the apparatus main body 12 adjacent to the cage 44.

  The weight measuring box 62 is formed in a square box shape made of an opaque resin, and is formed so that the inside becomes dark. The weight measurement box 62 is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 12 and is placed on a weight measurement cradle 65 formed in the same shape as the bait weight measurement cradle 31. The weight measurement base 65 is formed of a metal plate having an L-shaped vertical cross section, and is attached to the weight sensor 64 for weight shown in FIG. In addition, a fitting groove is provided at the center in the longitudinal direction of the vertical surface of the weight measurement cradle 65 at an appropriate width from the upper end in the vertical downward direction, and the fitting groove is connected to the through hole provided in the weight measurement box 62. The weight measuring box 62 is fixed to the weight measuring cradle 65 through the inserted screw 36 with the knob.

  Next, the control device and operation of the automatic food intake measurement device 10 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, first, when the power switch 20 is turned on, the microcomputer 68 mounted on the control board 66 built in the apparatus body 12 initializes the memory and the display unit 16 in the microcomputer 68. Processing is performed (S1). Next, when calibration is not completed or when recalibration is performed, calibration processing is executed (S2). The calibration process is a process for adjusting the scales of the bait weight sensor 30 and the body weight sensor 64 to a predetermined reference value. Then, various processes are sequentially executed.

  First, when there is an input from the external sensor 70, the input external sensor signal is processed (S3). A signal input from the external sensor 70 is a digitized signal in advance, and the microcomputer 68 performs a count process and the like. Further, the input is input independently, for example, 4ch, and the external sensor input lamp 24 is displayed in conjunction with the input state from the external sensor 70.

  Subsequently, a normal measurement process is executed. In a normal measurement process, a process for measuring the amount of food and body weight is executed. For example, an analog signal input from the food weight sensor 30 is amplified by the differential amplifier 72, converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 74 connected to the reference voltage IC 76, and input to the microcomputer 68. . Then, calculation processing is performed by the microcomputer 68, weight display processing (S4) is performed in units of grams, and a display signal is sent to the display unit 16 to be displayed in units of grams. The detection signal of the animal detection sensor 32 is input to the microcomputer 68 as a digital signal, and at the same time, the animal detection lamp 22 is controlled to blink according to the signal from the microcomputer 68 according to the input state.

  Further, when a command is received from the personal computer 78, command processing (S5) corresponding to a command specified in advance is executed. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when there is a data request from the personal computer 78, a data transmission process (S6) is executed in response to the command request. When a data request command is received from the personal computer 78 during the measurement, the weight value of food, the weight of the small animal, the count value of each external sensor, etc. are transmitted for 4 channels. In the personal computer 78 that has received this data, the data is stored in a time series by dedicated software, and the increase or decrease in food consumption or body weight for each time is managed.

  When a shutter control command is received, the open / close state of the shutter 46 is input by the shutter open / close sensor 54, and the motor driver 80 is connected to the shutter motor 52 of the shutter drive unit 50 that slides the shutter 46. Through the microcomputer 68, the shutter opening / closing process (S7) is executed.

  Next, the usage method of this automatic food intake measuring apparatus 10 is demonstrated. First, dedicated software is installed in the personal computer 78 to be executable. Next, a floor is put on the tray 58, the shutter 46 of the cage 44 is closed, a small animal for experiment such as a mouse is put, and the lid 56 is put on. The cage 44 is placed so that the legs 44 a are positioned in the vicinity of the four corners of the positioning plate 28 on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 12.

  Subsequently, the bait receiver 34 is placed on the bait weight measurement cradle 31 and fastened by a screw 36 with a knob. At this time, care should be taken so that the food receiver 34 placed on the food weight measurement cradle 31 and the cage 44 do not come into contact with each other. The bait box 40 containing the bait 84 is positioned above the bait catch 34, the bait box connecting portion 38 is inserted into the bait box 40, and the picked screw 37 is passed through the through groove 40a on the side surface of the bait box 40 to feed. The receptacle 34 and the bait box 40 are connected. Further, the weight measuring box 62 is placed on the weight measuring cradle 65 and fastened by the screw 36 with the knob.

  Next, the shutter drive unit 50 is attached to the side surface of the cage 44. At this time, the end portion of the shutter 46 located in the vicinity of the end side of the cage 44 is connected to the opening / closing mechanism by the shutter motor 52 inside the shutter driving unit 50. A communication cable is communicably connected to the personal computer 78 and the RS232C connector of the apparatus main body 12.

  Finally, the power switch 20 of the apparatus main body 12 is turned on to start up. At this time, when the bait weight sensor 30 and the body weight sensor 64 are not calibrated or when recalibration is performed, the power switch 20 is turned on while the calibration switch 18 provided on the operation panel 14 is pressed. Then calibrate. When calibration is performed, turn off the power once and restart. When a plurality of automatic food intake measuring devices 10 are connected to one personal computer 78, each automatic food intake measuring device 10 is connected to the personal computer 78 via the multiplexer 82.

  The weight measurement by the automatic food intake measurement device 10 of this embodiment is performed by the weight sensor 64 for weight when the small animal spontaneously moves to the weight measurement box 62 formed in a dark room state preferred by the small animal for experiment. Based on this, the weight is automatically detected by a predetermined calculation process. And the weight measured by the said process is recorded with measurement time and the frequency | count of a measurement. In addition, the amount of food is detected by the weight sensor 30 for food both in the food box 40 and the food receiver 34 in the state of being put in the food box 40, and is measured and recorded by the above processing. Here, the small animal for experiment eats the bait 84 with the head placed in the feeding window 48 and the feeding window 42 with the shutter 46 opened. Therefore, the food 84 is not brought into the cage 44, and the spilled food 84 is spilled and received in the food receiver 34, and is measured as the remaining amount of food together with the uneaten food.

  In addition, the number of times the food 84 has been eaten can be counted by the animal detection sensor 32, and the food 84 is regularly eaten for a certain time or a certain amount by the opening / closing control of the shutter 46 by the shutter driving unit 50. It is also possible to control so that it is possible. That is, it is possible to perform control such as opening the shutter 46 only for a certain period of time in a day, or closing the shutter 46 when the amount of food eaten while the shutter 46 is opened reaches a certain amount. .

  According to the automatic food intake measuring device 10 of this embodiment, the weight of the small experimental animal is automatically measured when the small animal spontaneously moves to the dark weight measuring box 62, and thus is measured without touching directly. It is possible to reduce the applied stress and to easily perform an accurate experiment. The analog electric signal from the weight sensor 64 for weighing the body weight is digitized and processed in the microcomputer 68, converted into weight data in grams, and displayed on the display unit, so that accurate weight can be easily obtained. Can be confirmed.

  Further, regarding the daily food intake, the shutter 46 can be automatically opened and closed by the shutter 46 provided in the food intake window 48 of the cage 44 and the shutter drive unit 50, and the food intake is restricted from the personal computer 78. When a shutter control command is received, the feeding window 48 is opened and closed by the shutter 46 by controlling the shutter driving unit 50, thereby enabling management of the amount of feeding and the feeding time. Furthermore, the analog electric signal of the weight sensor 30 for feeding for measuring the amount of food is digitized and processed in the microcomputer 68, converted into weight data in units of grams, and can be displayed on the display unit 16. Food intake management is possible.

  Furthermore, in addition to the measurement data such as the amount of food and the body weight, a digital output signal of the external sensor 70 can be input by connecting an external sensor 70 that detects the amount of behavior of the animal, the amount of drinking water, and the like. When a communication command is received from the personal computer 78, request data from the personal computer 78 is transmitted according to the command even while each process is being executed. In the personal computer 78, data is stored in time series by dedicated software, and data management of increase / decrease in food consumption and body weight for each hour can be easily performed.

  In addition, an animal detection sensor 32 is installed in the vicinity of the feeding window 42 so that the state of the animal being fed can be detected, so that it is possible to analyze the number of times of feeding, the frequency, etc. in addition to the amount of feeding. Yes.

  In addition, since a plurality of connections can be made by one personal computer 78 through the multiplexer 82 between the automatic food intake measurement device 10 and the communication line of the personal computer 78, a plurality of controls and data management can be performed simultaneously. is there.

  The automatic food intake measuring device of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and each attachment position of the scale, the food box, and the shutter device main body can be appropriately set according to the size of the cage. Is. Furthermore, the shape and material of each member can be appropriately changed.

It is a side view which shows the automatic food intake measuring device of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the automatic food intake measuring device of this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the automatic food intake measuring device of this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the automatic food intake measuring device of this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the command processing of the automatic food intake measuring device of this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Automatic food consumption measuring apparatus 12 Apparatus main body 30 Feeding weight sensor 32 Animal detection sensor 34 Feeding receiver 40 Feeding box 42 Feeding window 44 Cage 46 Shutter 48 Feeding window 50 Shutter drive part 52 Shutter motor 54 Shutter opening / closing sensor 58 Tray 62 Weight measuring box 64 Weight sensor 68 for body weight Microcomputer 84 Bait

Claims (2)

A cage for accommodating a small animal, a food box provided adjacent to the cage and having an opening through which the small animal can ingest food, and a food receiver positioned below the food box; A bait weight sensor for detecting the weight of the bait box and the bait tray and the bait box and the bait inside thereof, a shutter capable of opening and closing the bait box, and a shutter for opening and closing the shutter Drive unit, weight measuring box provided adjacent to the cage and formed so that the inside is darkened, and the small animal is movably provided from the cage, and the weight measuring box is mounted and detects the weight together with the small animal a weight sensor for weighing the controls the opening and closing of processing the signal from the weight sensor the bait the shutter by the shutter driving unit, the detection signal by the weight sensor the weight And a control device for measuring the weight of the serial small animals, said small animal can ingest the food only by the opening, spilling food of the diet dropped to receiving the bait, the control device, the feeders And measuring the weight of the bait in the bait receiver and controlling the shutter drive unit to control the opening operation of the shutter so that only a predetermined amount of the bait can be eaten. Feeding measurement device. 2. The automatic food intake measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the cage, the food box, and the weight measuring box are fixed on an apparatus main body provided with an operation panel .

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