ANIMAL TRAP

Abstract

The invention refers to an animal trap, in particular a rat or mouse trap, comprising a catching device (M2) with a one-way segment and at least one killing device (M3, M6), in which a caught animal (T) can be killed, and that has an outlet area positioned downstream of a killing device through which the animal can be released from the animal trap.

Claims

1. An animal rat or mouse trap comprising: a catching device with a one-way segment; a killing device in which a caught animal can be killed; and an outlet area positioned downstream of the killing device through which the animal can be released from the animal trap.

2. The animal trap in accordance with claim 1, further comprising below the catching device: an access device having a climbing element by which the animal enters the catching device.

3. The animal trap in accordance with claim 2, further comprising: a guide device that has an at least partially enclosed space with a one-way entrance and an exit, the exit being constructed to guide a small animal directly from the exit to the access device.

4. The animal trap in accordance with claim 1, wherein the killing device has at least one electrically conductive electrode directly in the catching device downstream of or at a downstream end of the one-way segment.

5. The animal trap in accordance with claim 1, wherein the one-way segment of the catching device is provided with a free wheel with a horizontal rotational axis, and that rotates freely toward the one-way segment and a drop device is downstream of the catching device into which the animal falls from the free wheel toward the outlet area.

6. The animal trap in accordance with claim 5, wherein the drop device is formed by a vertical tube that connects the catching device and the outlet area or at least leads from the catching device toward the outlet area.

7. The animal trap in accordance with claim 6, wherein the tube has at least one projection on an inner wall surface winding spirally around a central tube axis and that has a triangular cross section perpendicular to a direction of elongation of the tube.

8. The animal trap in accordance with claim 6, wherein the killing device is below or in the drop device, the killing device is provided with knife blades diagonally to a direction of drop and to a longitudinal extension of the tube or with at least one comb-like electrode to which electrical alternating voltage has been applied.

9. The animal trap in accordance with claim 6, further comprising: a packaging device downstream of the drop device or killing device in which an animal can be packaged in or with a plastic tube formed between two adhesive films.

10. The animal trap in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: a hood or bell open at the bottom, in which at least the catching device is provided.

11. The animal trap system to form an animal trap in accordance with claim 1, wherein the different devices, are each formed by at least one modular element and the modular elements forming the different devices can be optionally combined with each other.

12. The animal trap system in accordance with claim 11, further comprising: a module support plate on which the modular elements of the animal trap system can be fixed.

13. A method of operating an animal trap in accordance with claim 1, wherein a caught and killed or dying animal is conveyed automatically by the force of gravity to an outlet area of the trap, leaving the trap there.

14. The method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the animal is packaged in a packaging device of the animal trap arranged upstream of the outlet area in an air-tight manner or between two adhesive films.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0100] Examples of embodiments for the wet area parallel to the dry area with and without the packaging of the animals are explained in the following with reference to the drawing in which:

[0101] FIG. 1 is a side view partly in section of a modular trap with several modules for use in a wet area;

[0102] FIG. 2 is a side view partly in section of a modular trap with several modules for use in a dry area; and

[0103] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a detail of FIG. 2.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0104] The traps shown in the drawing are described together with respect to their common features.

[0105] Attracted by positive feelings sent by an ultrasound signal transmitter, for example, the animal T is attracted from a distance to the set trap. Once in the vicinity it also smells the bait scent and is drawn to the access device. As far as the invention is concerned, it is irrelevant how animals are attracted. This may not even be necessary.

[0106] The animal T first reaches the access device of the module M1 that in a wet area preferably comprises a climbing rope as climbing element 1 that can be provided at the entrance of the catching device that is formed by the module M2.

[0107] In a dry area (FIG. 2) the climb can be made via a gangplank or a climbing tube or similar as the climbing element 1. The climbing element 1 accordingly forms the upward path to the catching device of the module M2 and can be exchanged or selected depending on the application by virtue of the modularity.

[0108] In the dry area, the rodent pest animal T, such as a mouse or rat, prefers to run along walls. So as to facilitate entry to the trap, a guide device as a module M3 is placed directly in their path. On entering the guide device M3 they pass the entrance area of the module M3, for example via symmetrically arranged access openings with wall access blocking bars 2.

[0109] In the event of a disturbance to the system, the invention can provide for an emergency-stop activator 3 that triggers the locking of the wall access blocking bars 2, thereby blocking access to further animals. If an animal is in the system during blocking of the access, it can leave the system by jumping through a top escape slit.

[0110] The guide device formed as the module M3 has a top funnel-like exit 4 into which the lower end of the climbing element 1 extends. Its top end is connected to a module support preferably in a jointed manner or directly to the catching device of the module M2.

[0111] Irrespective of the specific design of the access of the module M1, the animals reach the entrance area of the catching device formed as module M2 at the upper end of the access device and in particular of the climbing element 1.

[0112] The animals T enter the catching space 5 via a slip-proof surface of the free wheel 6. The module M2 preferably offers a sufficiently wide surface restricted between the rear wall and a preferable inspection pane and a sufficiently high passageway between the outer slip-proof surface of the free wheel 6 as floor, and the ceiling arch 7.

[0113] The animal moves into the catching device M2, for example enticed by the bait scent from a bait scent opening that is provided for as the module M3 in the killing device, into which the animal falls head first after passing the free wheel 6.

[0114] The animal T first climbs the free wheel 6 that is locked against reverse travel to reach its particularly slip-free outer surface, whereby due to its body height it lifts the pivotable locking bar 8. The spikes that may be present on the locking bar 8 forming a semi-circle, exercise slight pressure on the neck and back of the animal beneath them and prevent it from reversing from the catching space 5 without injury.

[0115] The animal T is therefore forced to continue its path forward. It lifts the locking bar 8 with his body height that actuates a start pulse transmitter 9 that transmits a start pulse to a controller and starts a program sequence stored in the controller.

[0116] Following the start pulse of the start pulse transmitter 9, loud acoustic signals are given, for example, via an acoustic shock signal emitter and/or bright light signals outside the animal's field of vision behind him via a visual shock signal light, because it cannot look back due to the predefined one-way direction and takes flight forward in panic over the surface of the free wheel 6, i.e. toward the bait scent of the bait scent outlet opening.

[0117] A drive can be provided for that sets the free wheel 6 in motion in the running direction for a predefined period of time. The short rotational pulse of the free wheel 6 pulls the animal T clawed on to it in a forward direction toward the drop device of module M3 that also comprises a killing device.

[0118] Accelerated after the shift in weight of the animal over the peak in a forward direction, the free wheel bearing of the free wheel 6 runs free and the animal falls freely into the drop device with killing device of the module M3.

[0119] High-voltage combs 10 as electrodes are arranged in the drop or killing device M3, which contain in particular the low frequency, preferably varying, high voltages from a high voltage generator with different frequency, phase displacement and amplitude.

[0120] The animal holds on to the preferably electrically conductive free wheel 6 with its claws to which an electrical reference potential can be switched.

[0121] In this position, the electrical circuit is closed via the one comb electrode 10 and the other comb electrode 10 with a significantly higher low frequency high voltage through the body of the animal, and the electrically conductive surface of the free wheel 6 via its feet. A low transitional resistance through its feet exists if its feet are wet. Since this cannot be guaranteed in practice, provision is made for at least two comb electrodes 10.

[0122] During its drop downward, the animal T automatically passes the comb electrodes 10 so that the comb electrodes 10 on the other side of the body come into contact with the skin, similarly creating a small transitional resistance to its body. The fatal electrical circuit is closed through the comb electrodes 10 that are preferably diagonal to its body, through its heart.

[0123] Since the comb electrodes 10 have direct contact with the skin of the caught animal, the animal's fur cannot catch fire and unpleasant burning smells are avoided that could prevent further animals from seeking out the trap.

[0124] The comb electrodes 10 are not dirtied by the animals because the comb electrodes 10 glide between the fur of the animal T, thereby coming into direct contact with its skin, permitting a minimum transitional resistance through the body.

[0125] In the meantime the power supply of the free wheel drive is stopped and the plastic film drive and an inert gas valve to blow up a packaging bag of the module M4 formed as packaging device triggered if this is provided for in the dry area in accordance with FIG. 2.

[0126] In the packaging device M4 the killed animals are packaged between two self-adhesive strips, the adhesive sides of which face each other. The adhesive strips are run off from two rollers 11 that are pivotal in the packaging device.

[0127] In order to produce an air-tight packaging, tensioning of the adhesive strips is preferably provided for by braking the mountings of the strip rollers 11 and of the strip rollers 11 themselves. The adhesive strips are conducted via a moveable and preferably spring pretensioned roller 12 mounted on a slide 14 and a counter-roller 13, so that the adhesive sides are brought together and stick together. The animal is packed in an air-tight manner and sealed from the environment between the adhesive strips.

[0128] The roller 12 can encompass the animal due to the fact that it has an area with reduced diameter in terms of its axial length and breadth, thereby forming a cavity between the surfaces of the counter-roller 13 and roller 12. The reduced area can have the shape of a hyperbole in the cross section parallel to the rotational axis. Only the axial end areas of the surfaces of roller 11 come into contact with the counter-roller 13 via the adhesive strips enclosed between them.

[0129] A mounting of a strip coil 11 can have a pulse emitter to record movement in order to check the existence of the adhesive strips for which the movement pulses are transmitted to a controller, for example to determine the length of adhesive strip spooled off from the sum of the pulses counted.

[0130] In order to ensure a reliable and hygienic packaging of the killed animals, the animals that have already been killed land between the rollers 12 and 13 prepared in this way and are enclosed between the adhesive strips that form a sleeve around the animal.

[0131] During the adhesive process, inert gas can be applied under pressure from inert gas nozzles to between the adhesive strips in order to fill the inner cavity between the adhesive strips with inert gas before the tight sealing of the adhesive strips.

[0132] The end of the adhesive strip tube conveyed between the pressure element and the sealing roller can be sealed by the at least one sealing roller 15 that can exert a mechanical pressure from the outer side of the adhesive strip on the still open packaging, because the adhesive strips brought together here are pressed together over the entire width.

[0133] This sealing can be communicated to the controller by means of a closure signal transmitter.

[0134] A separating device can be provided for in the module M4 or externally as a separate module in order to separate the plastic tube preferably between two packaged animals and to release the animals packaged in this way individually from the trap.

[0135] After reaching a separating position, the controller stops the film drive, and starts a separating device as shown in FIG. 3. The separating device comprises a frame 16 through which the plastic tube is conducted. For the purposes of separation, a stamp element 17 is first pressed against a counter-bearing 18 and the plastic tube conveyed between them tensioned. The cutter 18 is then pushed into the middle of the plastic tube with the tip of its V-shaped blade in the example here and cuts it from the center outward to the edge with an axial movement.

[0136] The separated packaging bag with the animal corpse falls into the catch box 19 that in this embodiment forms the outlet area of the trap. So as to avoid any contamination of the system if any of the packagings are damaged, the inside of the catch box is disinfected by way of UVC light and/or chemical agents.

[0137] The filled level of the catch box can be checked and the filled volume sent to the controller, thereby avoiding a blockage due to overfill and alerting a monitoring center if necessary.

[0138] In the wet area, the animal T climbs up to module M2 of the catching device via the climbing element 1 formed as a climbing rope (FIG. 1) and continues its path via the slip-proof outer surface of the free wheel, as already described.

[0139] The animal's body lifts the locking bar 8 that sends a start signal to the controller. The free wheel 6 is set into motion in the animal's direction of movement, the high voltage generator applies high voltage to the comb electrodes 10, causing the animal T to be killed in module M3 of the drop device or killing device.

[0140] The drop device used in the wet area as module M5 comprises a tube 20 adjusted to the circumference of the animal. The inside of the tube has an elongated spiral with a projection facing inward that makes the dropping animal that may already be dead rotate around its longitudinal axis. According to FIG. 1, module 5 follows a module 3, a killing device.

[0141] The tube 20 is connected with the killing device M3 by way of an adapter 21 for the preferably seamless transition, whereby the adapter preferably realizes a jointed connection of both modules M3/M5 for the flexible suspension of the tube 20 to avoid any water-current-related damage.

[0142] The length of the tube 20 means that the animal reaches high drop speed via the long drop segment in addition to rotating around its own axis. This also causes an extremely quick death of the animal within the meaning of Article 4 of the Animal Protection Act.

[0143] If the trap is to be operated in a wet area with no outside energy supply, the animal is not killed by high voltage in the killing module M3, but it leaves the catching device of module M2 alive through its exit opening into the drop device and falls into tube 20. In the corresponding embodiment, module M3 would therefore not be needed with respect to FIG. 1.

[0144] As a result of the vertical drop, the animal prepares for a soft landing on its paws as a reflex by stretching out its front and rear paws radially outward relative to its body axis during its fall. It tries to hold on to the inside wall of the tube 20 due to this reflex body position, and support its extremities on the elongated edge of the spiral projection coiled around the tube axis and extending along the inside wall of the tube. The projection reduces the contact surface between the inner tube wall and the falling animal, thereby increasing the drop speed of the caught animal and making it rotate (turn).

[0145] This rotation of the animal around its own axis causes deeper cuts from the killing module with blades 22 as module M6 attached to the end of the tube that lead to the faster killing and bleeding of the animal to death. It is not possible for the animal to support itself on the spiral projection preferably facing downward and inclined inward, so that it cannot brake. In addition to the possibility of attaching a killing module, as here M6 at the end of the tube, an embodiment can also be provided in that the drop device as module M5 directly also has a killing device as an integral part, so that in this case the killing device does not form a separate module.

[0146] In the case of a separate module, the killing device as module M6 can have a tubular casing, the inside of which comprises sharp blades 22 attached to the sides, relative to the longitudinal direction of the tube 20 of the casing at an angle of , which extend into the casing, causing deep and fatal cuts to the animal rotating downward.

[0147] The blades 22 are located away from the exit of the casing to avoid injuries to the operating staff.

[0148] A module M7 is attached at the lower end of module M6 as sealing device. The design of module M7 described in the following can also be an integral part of module M6.

[0149] This sealing device has a pivotable lid 23 to which a floater 24 is attached. If the water level rises, the floater on the water rises and causes the lid 23 to rotate around the axis and lift, causing the exit of module M6 to close. Water cannot therefore penetrate the trap from below.

[0150] By contrast, if the water level is low, the lid 23 hangs down such that its inner surface 25 forms an impact area diagonal to the direction of drop (to the vertical). The invention can furthermore provide for this inner surface having at least one more blade 26 that it contacts with the animal when it drops.

[0151] This part positioned close to the effluent water is therefore coated with blood, serving as scented bait for other animals interested in the trap. Finally, the animal corpse falls into the effluent water of the sewer, bleeds out and attracts others of its species with a propensity for cannibalism that in their turn dispose of the corpse by consuming it, or it is washed away by the effluent water toward the sewage treatment plant and disposed of free from poison.

[0152] The modular trap described here is ready for operation again without a time delay.

[0153] In the event of heavy rain, flooding or high water, causing the sewer to be flooded completely, the invention can provide for a water-tight hood that is open at the bottom and that is placed at least over module M2. Rising water forms an air bubble in the hood that protects the trap from a further rise in water.