A METHOD AND A MACHINE FOR THE VACCINATION OF FISH

Abstract: In a method for the vaccination of fishes, especially trout and salmon fry, one has aimed at achieving a rapid and lenient vaccination of each single fish. A machine for carrying out the method is to be reliable, of high capacity in relation to its size and capable of ensuring precision vaccination of the fish. For these objects the method is characterized in that the fish first is anaesthetized in a vessel (1) containing anaesthetic-admixed water. From the vessel, the fish - as it is anaesthetized and as a consequence thereof sinks to the bottom - is conveyed upwards and transferred to a unidirectional device (4). The unidirectional device (4) ensures that further conveyed fish is carried head first in the feeding direction. From the unidirectional device (4), the fish, via an edgewise-turner (6) ensuring turning of the fish edgewise, is carried into a vaccination device (7) having injection means for individually vaccination of the fish. A machine for carrying out this method comprises an anaesthetizing vessel (1), a conveyor (2) for conveying anaesthetized fish from the vessel (1) to an unidirectional device (4), wherefrom the fish, via an edgewise-turner (6), is carried into a vaccination chamber provided with vaccination means for the vaccination of the fishes individually.

Description: A METHOD AND A MACHINE FOR THE VACCINATION OF FISH The present invention relates to a method and a machine for the vaccination of fish, especially trout and salmon fry. Today, vaccination of fish takes place either by hand or by placing the fish in a bath containing the vaccine. Manual vaccination of fish is very time-consuming and consequently very expensive, at the same time as the vaccination capacity is too low in relation to the need. By means of manual vaccination only a small part of the fish fry can thus be vaccinated each year at the breeding extent of today. "Bathing" of the fish in vaccine-containing water represents a rapid but expensive method. In practice it has been found that it is neither particularly efficient in that only about 60% of the fish become vaccinated. In accordance with the present invention one has aimed at eliminating these disadvantages and provide an efficient method which allows for rapid and lenient vaccination of each single fish. A machine for carrying out this method is to be reliable, of high capacity and capable of ensuring precision vaccination of the fish. In accordance with the invention, this can be achieved by the features appearing from the following claims. The method for the vaccination of fish according to the invention thus consists in its broad features in anaesthetizing the fish by placing it briefly in an appropriate bath, from where the fish is transported upwards by means of a suitable conveyor for thereafter to be subjected to unidirectional positioning, preferably followed by edgewise turning, for mechanical vaccination. The invention is based on the acknowledgement that fish being anaesthetized, sink to the bottom. Thus, the conveyer which with a portion extends substantially paralelly to the bottom of the anaesthetic-containing vessel and adjacent to the bottom of the vessel, will only pick up anaesthetized fish from the vessel, in that fish not yet anaesthelized will keep themselves swimming closer to the surface of the bath. The anaesthesia has primarily the purpose to eliminate movements of the fish when subsequently treated. Each single fish is fed, head first, towards the vaccination device - in order to secure vaccination at the correct spot - laying either on the back or on the belly. There are two groups of opposing, individually activated vaccination means, in that a means in the one group provides for the vaccination of a fish laying on the belly, while a means in the other group provides for the vaccination of a fish laying on the back.. A machine for carrying out the method comprises a anaesthetizing vessel, a conveyor, e.g. a so-called "swan neck" conveyor, extending down into the vessel adjacent to its bottom, for conveying anaesthetized fish up from the vessel to a reciprocating, vibrating unidirectional device which serves to unidirect the fish with the head in front in the direction of advance. Thereafter, the fish arrive by preference at a edgewise-turning device having self-motion and the object of which is to turn the fish with the belly upwards, and from where the fish being conveyed to the vaccination device. As the fish, as mentioned, may be vaccinated also laying back upwards, the edgewise turner is not critical when carrying out the invention in practice. Preferably, the machine is computer-controlled. The invention is further explained in the following in association with an embodiment of a method for the vaccination of fish in accordance with the invention and with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of a machine for carrying out this method, and wherein: Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a side view, partly in vertical section, of a machine formed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows a top plan view of the machine of Figure 1, wherein the vaccination device is omitted; Figure 3 on a larger scale shows a partial view of the machine of Figures 1 and 2 in the area of and immediately prior to the vaccination device, and wherein further details, i.a. electronic control units, are included. In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2, the reference numeral 1 denotes an anaesthetizing vessel wherein an anaesthetic- containing bath is maintained. Fishes to be vaccinated are placed in the anaesthetizing bath in the vessel 1. As previously mentioned, fishes being anesthetized, will sink to the bottom of the vessel 1, wherein a so-called "swan-neck"-conveyor 2 is arranged, the direction of movement of which is defined by arrows 3. The conveyor 2 has a course comprising a portion extending paralell to the bottom of the vessel and adjacent the same; an upwardly sloping portion and an adjoining, horizontal portion, the end 2' of which is located above an unidirectional device 4 having reciprocal self-motion according to the dual arrow 5. The conveying belt of the conveyor 2 may consist of wire cloth, Figure 2, and is provided with lateral carriers in the form of ledges 2". These carrier ledges 2" are laterally divided into three, in that the carrier ledge parts are mutually displaced in the longitudinal direction of the conveying belt in relation to adjacent carrier ledge parts. This arrangement of the carrier ledges 2" ensures a more uniform supply of fishes to the unidirectional device 4 than with paralell undivided lateral ledges. The unidirectional device 4 provides in per seg known manner for unidirecting the fish so that it during the continued feeding is oriented head first. Fishes not unidirected in this manner, are returned to the anaesthetizing vessel 1 in a manner not shown specifically, confer Figure 1. From the unidirectional device 4 the fishes arrive at an edgewise-turning device 6 having self-motion (reciprocal motion). The edgewise-turner 6 provides for turning the fish, preferably bel3.y up, and, belly or back up, the fish arrives at a vaccination device 7, which is' on3.y indicated in Figure 1 and omitted from Figure 2. Reference is now being made to Figure 3. At the completion end of the edgewise-turner 6, in front of the vaccination device 7, a flap 8 is arranged and, after the vaccination device 7, a corresponding flap 9. The flaps 8, 9 are pivotable about horizontal shafts 10 and 11, respectively. Starter position for the vaccination device 7 presupposes that the flap 8 extending in the path of motion of the fish, is located in an open or turned-away position, while the flap 9 likewise extending in the fishes' path of motion, occupies a closed position. Furthermore, said starter position presupposes that a pivotable fixation plate 12 is in a turned-up position. The fixation plate 12 serves to fix the fish through resting against the same during vaccination. These turning movements are effected by means of not shown pneumatic pressure cylinders. The vaccination device 7 comprises a top and bottom group of injection means 13 and 14, respectively. An upper or lower injection means is used depending on whether the fish arrives at the vaccination device laying on the back or laying on the belly, so that the injection i each single case takes place in the belly region. An electronic control may comprise e.g. eight paralell identical channels or vaccination chambers 15, to which chutes 16 formed in the edgewise-turning device 6 lead. To each vaccination chamber 15 belong four detectors 17, 18, 19 and 20. The detectors 17 and 18 are located immediately after each other at the completion portion of the edgewise- turner 6, and the detectors 19 and 20 are located respectively at the initiation end of the vaccination chamber 15 and at its completion end. Each vaccination chamber comprises five control signals relating to flap 8, flap 9, fixation plate 12, upper injection means 13 and lower injection means 14, respectively. All control signals have two conditions, off/on . Additionally, the electronic plant may count the number of vaccinated fishes per vaccination chamber 15 and the total number of fishes vaccinated. These data are shown on a not shown screen and registered on a not shown printer. The sequence is as follows: Detector 17 detects whether fish is present at the controlled area of the edqewise-turner 6. In case it does not detect fish, a new detection is made by means of the detector 17. Detector 18 is activated subsequent to a minor time delay if the flap 9 is open (turned-up; confer the arrow 21). Detector 18 gives a signal of whether the fish is laying belly or back up. Thereafter, the flap 9 closes, and the flap 8 opens. Then detector 19 is activated. When it detects fish, the flap 8 is closed, so that only one fish at the time is received in each vaccination chamber 15. The flap 8 is flexible and follows the body of the fish. The flap 8 may consist of soft rubber and will slide over a fish on its way into a vaccination chamber 15, but will close for the next following fish. After a minor time delay, the fixation plate 12 is activated and turns downwards against the fish to rest on the same. Detector 20 is activated and detects when sufficient fixation pressure for the plate 12 is achieved. Thereafter, the fixation plate is maintained at this pressure. Depending on the directional detection of the detector 18, injection means 13 or 14 is activated, so that the injection takes place in the belly of the fish. In the situation of figure 3, the injection means 13 is activated, as the fish is laying belly up in the vaccination chamber 15. After effected injection i a vaccination chamber 15, the fixation plate 12 is turned upwards (the arrow 22). Then, when the detector 20 detects that the fixation pressure of the plate 12 is reduced, the flap 9 is opened so that the vaccinated fish falls into a water chute 23 or another device for further transport. Thereby, one sequence is completed, and a new sequence is started. A vaccination machine of the design shown using eight paralell identical vaccination chambers will have a vaccination capacity of 200-300 fishes a minute.

Claims: C L I M S 1. A method for the vaccination of fishes, especially trout and salmon fry, characterized in that first the fishes are anaesthetized, preferably in a vessel (1) containing water admixed anaesthetic, from where the fish - as it is anaesthetized and sinks towards the bottom of the vessel - is conveyed upwards by means of at least one conveyor (2) and is carried onto a unidirectional device (4) which ensures that further conveyed fish is fed head first in the feeding direction, and from which the fish, by preference via an edgewise-turner (6) turning the fish edgewise, is carried into a vaccination chamber (15) having injection means (13, 14) for individually vaccination of the fish. 2. Machine for carrying out the method defined in Claim 1, characterized in that the machine comprises an anaesthetizing vessel (1) containing water admixed anaesthetic; at least one conveyor (2) extending downwards into the anaesthetizing bath for conveying anaesthetized fish up from the same, said conveyor (2), possibly in cooperation with another conveyor, delivering anaesthetized fish to an unidirectional device (4) having self-motion (reciprocal motion, vibration) in the feeding direction of the fish, said unidirectional device (4) ensuring that further conveyed fish being fed head first in the feeding ,. direction, preferably an edgewise-turner (6) coupled after the unidirectional device (4) and having self-motion (reciprocal motion, vibration) and which, e.g. by means of longitudinal chutes (16) in connection with its self-motion ensures to turn the fishes, so that they laying edgewise arrive at one of preferably a plurality of vaccination chambers (15), each vaccination chamber (15) being provided with injection means (13, 14) for vaccination of the fishes individually. 3. Machine as defined in Claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of mutually paralell vaccination chambers (15) paralell to the feeding direction of the fish and corresponding to longitudinal chutes (16) formed in the edgewise-turner (6). 4. Machine as defined in Claim 2 or 3 , characterized in that the conveyor (2) is a so-called "swan-neck"-conveyor having a first substantially horizontal portion extending along the bottom of the anaesthetizing vessel (1), and whereto is joined an upwardly sloping portion the upper end of which is located above the level of the bath and whereto is joined a substantially horizontally extending portion the end of which is located above the unidirectional device (4). 5. Machine as defined in Claim 2, 3 or 4 , characterized in that the conveyor, the conveying belt of which e.g. may consist of wire cloth, has lateral carriers (2") each extending over a limited portion of the conveying belt's width, and which are displaced in the longitudinal direction of the conveying belt in relation to adjacent carriers (2"), for thereby to ensure a more uniform supply of fishes to the unidirectional device (4). 6. Machine as defined in any of the preceding Claims 2 - 5, characterized in that, both upstreamε and downstreams of the vaccination chamber or each vaccination chamber, respectively, a pivotable flap (8, 9, respectively ) is arranged, said flaps being operated by means of power-driven means, e.g. pneumatic pressure cylinders, and preferably controlled by means of electronic detectors (18-20) located at the completion portion of the edgewise-turner (6) and at the completion end of the vaccination chamber (15). 7. Machine as defined in Claim 6, characterized in that the vaccination chamber or each vaccination chamber (15), respectively, is provided with a pivotable fixation plate ( 12 ) adapted to rest against and fix one fish in the vaccination chamber (15), said fixation plate (12) being operated by means of a power-driven means, e.g. a pneumatic pressure cylinder, and preferably associated with an electronic detector (20), which is located at the completion end of the vaccination chamber ( 15 ) and adpated to react to the fixation pressure of the fixation plate (12), in order to, at reduced pressure - following vaccination - to operate the flap (9) located downstreams of the vaccination chamber (15) for its turning away (arrow 21), so that vaccinated fish may leave the machine and fall into a water chute (23) or other device for further transport . 8. Machine as defined in Claim 6, characterized in that upstreams of the vaccination chamber or each vaccination chamber (15), respectively, two electronic detectors (17, 18) are arranged, one after the other in the feeding direction of the fish, and wherein the first detector (17) is adapted to detect whether fishes are present in the controlled area, and wherein the second detector (18), which is activated after a minor time delay in relation to the first detctor (17), is adapted to register and deliver a signal if the fish is laying belly or back up. 9. Machine as defined in Claim 6, characterized in that the pivotable flap (8) upstreams of the vaccination chamber (15) is made of flexible material, e.g. soft rubber, so that it may slide over a fish in the act of moving into the vaccination chamber (15), but which will close for the next following fish. 10. Machine as defined in any of the preceding Claims 2 - 9, characterized in that the vaccination chamber or each vaccination chamber (15), respectively, is provided with two opposing injection means (13, 14) for the vaccination of fish laying belly up or back up, respectively, so that the injection in each single case takes place in the belly region of the fish.

Inventors: HAUGLAND ODDMUND O, HELGESEN WILLY, HAUGLAND, ODDMUND, O., HELGESEN, WILLY
Applicants: TRIO IND AS, TRIO INDUSTRIER A/S
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A01K61
IPC codes: A01D7, A01K61, A22C25, A61D1, A61D7