Key information

Title
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RELEASING FISH FEED
Application number
20221252
Case type
National
Status
11.11.2024 Patent meddelt (B1)
Filed
22.11.2022
Effective date
22.11.2022
Publicly available
23.05.2024
Next annual fee due
30.11.2026
Applicant
SURFEED AS (NO)
Owner
SURFEED AS (NO)
Inventor
Ronny Lassesen (NO)
Agent
BRYN AARFLOT AS (NO)
Granted
11.11.2024
Patent number
348298
Expiry date
22.11.2042

Abstract and drawing

Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content.
An apparatus and method for the release of feed into a breeding tank and their use for feeding aquatic organisms. The apparatus comprises a container for feed having an upper part and a funnel, a position sensor attached on the container for feed, configured to measure the vertical distance between the funnel and the surface of liquid of the breeding tank, and a linear actuator. The funnel further comprises a body and a mouthpiece, the mouthpiece comprising a feed release mechanism, such as an Archimedean screw. The method comprises sensing a distance between the position sensor and the surface of liquid of the fish breeding tank, adjusting accordingly the height of the container using the linear actuator to a desired height, and releasing feed from the funnel mouthpiece by enabling the release mechanism.

Publications

B1A1
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Documents

 Expand Download files (25)
Date
 Date Doc. No. Process Case number In/Out Journal description To/from
 15.11.2024 11-01 Saksbehandling 20221252(348298) UT PT Registreringsbrev nasjonal patent (15) (PT20221252)
02.10.2024 10-01 Saksbehandling 20221252 UT PT Varsel om betaling av første årsavgift (3317) (PT20221252) BRYN AARFLOT AS
 27.08.2024 09-01 Saksbehandling 20221252 UT Intention to grant BRYN AARFLOT AS
 08.04.2024 08-03 Saksbehandling 20221252 INN Response NIPO BRYN AARFLOT AS
 08.04.2024 08-02 Saksbehandling 20221252 INN 141925Claim-no rev01 offset BRYN AARFLOT AS
 08.04.2024 08-01 Saksbehandling 20221252 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) BRYN AARFLOT AS
 18.03.2024 07-01 Saksbehandling 20221252 UT 20221252_1828829_PT 08 Eng BRYN AARFLOT AS
 20.09.2023 06-06 Saksbehandling 20221252 INN Response NIPO BRYN AARFLOT AS
 20.09.2023 06-05 Saksbehandling 20221252 INN 141925_description-amended-marked BRYN AARFLOT AS
 20.09.2023 06-04 Saksbehandling 20221252 INN 141925_description-amended-clean BRYN AARFLOT AS
 20.09.2023 06-03 Saksbehandling 20221252 INN 141925_claims-amended-marked BRYN AARFLOT AS
 20.09.2023 06-02 Saksbehandling 20221252 INN 141925_claims-amended-clean BRYN AARFLOT AS
 20.09.2023 06-01 Saksbehandling 20221252 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) BRYN AARFLOT AS
 22.03.2023 05-02 Saksbehandling 20221252 UT PT report 03:54:00
22.03.2023 05-01 Saksbehandling 20221252 UT 20221252_1690332_PT 08 Eng BRYN AARFLOT AS
 08.12.2022 04-03 Saksbehandling 20221252 INN Generalfullmakt Norge BRYN AARFLOT AS
 08.12.2022 04-02 Saksbehandling 20221252 INN Erklæring om søkers rettighet til oppfinnelsen BRYN AARFLOT AS
 08.12.2022 04-01 Saksbehandling 20221252 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) BRYN AARFLOT AS
 24.11.2022 03-01 Saksbehandling 20221252 UT Formal Examination 1 BRYN AARFLOT AS
 24.11.2022 02-01 Saksbehandling 20221252 UT Informasjon til oppfinner Ronny Lassesen
 22.11.2022 01-05 Saksbehandling 20221252 INN 141925_Feed Releasing_Figures-en_basis BRYN AARFLOT AS
 22.11.2022 01-04 Saksbehandling 20221252 INN 141925_Feed Releasing_Description-en_basis BRYN AARFLOT AS
 22.11.2022 01-03 Saksbehandling 20221252 INN 141925_Feed Releasing_Claims-en_basis BRYN AARFLOT AS
 22.11.2022 01-02 Saksbehandling 20221252 INN 141925_Feed Releasing_Abstract-en_basis BRYN AARFLOT AS
 22.11.2022 01-01 Saksbehandling 20221252 INN Søknadsskjema Patent BRYN AARFLOT AS

Description, claims and drawings

Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content. Description
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RELEASING FISH FEEDINTRODUCTIONThe present invention concerns an apparatus and method for releasing of fish feed into a breeding tank.BACKGROUNDThe spatial distribution of feed inside the liquid of a fish tank are important for the welfare and evolution of the fish.One of the major contributors that negatively impact the quality of water in a breeding tank, with environmental ramifications, is uneaten feed. The uneaten feed is typically gathered in the bottom of the breeding tank where fish cannot access it easily. When the feed decomposes, the decomposition process itself causes two problems. Firstly, the decomposing feed releases ammonia and nitrite that are toxic to the fish. Secondly, the decomposition processes involve oxygen as a reactant, a process that reduces the dissolved oxygen content of the liquid, causing further stress to the fish.Some of the most typical methods to distribute feed in a tank include hand feeding, the use of mechanical or automatic equipment like feeding canons or (centralized) automatic feeders, which contribute to the problems described above.CN 209473361 U discloses a spreader with a lifting function for pond culture. The device comprises a stand column, a storage barrel and a mounting box, a camera is mounted at the top of the stand column through a mounting bracket; a sliding rail is arranged on one side of the stand column through a limiting groove. A speed reducing motor is mounted at the upper end of the sliding rail through amounting plate; an output shaft of the speed reducing motor is provided with a screw rod through a mounting piece; the bottom end of the screw rod is sleeved with a screw block; a connecting rod is welded at one end of the screw block; a mounting box is arranged at the bottom of the connecting rod through a fixing plate, a power storage box is mounted on the inner wall of the mounting box through screws, a temperature sensor and a PH meter are arranged at the inner bottom of the mounting box through fixing grooves, a storage barrel is mounted at one end of the connecting rod through bolts, and a machine shell is mounted at the bottom of the storage barrel through bolts.US 20190021292 A1 discloses a system, method and computer program product for feeding aquatic animals, including a hopper configured to hold food to be dispensed; a dispensing mechanism coupled to the hopper to dispense the food from the hopper to a feeding area in water; a camera configured to capture images from the feeding area; and a processor configured to perform image analysis of the images captured from the camera and control the dispensing mechanism based the captured images.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention provides a solution to or at least alleviates some of the problems mentioned above.The invention provides an apparatus for the gentle deposition of fish feed on the surface of a breeding tank. The apparatus comprises a container for feed, which has an upper part and a funnel. Additionally, it comprises a position sensor attached on the container for feed, configured to measure the vertical distance h between the funnel and the surface of liquid of the breeding tank. Further, it comprises a linear actuator.The funnel has a body and a mouthpiece. In the lower part of the funnel, it is arranged a release mechanism, which can be an Archimedean screw, and is configured to allow the controlled release of feed from the end of the mouthpiece.The position sensor and the funnel both have a bottom end, and the height difference between them is defined as d.The linear actuator is configured to move vertically the container for feed and the position sensor vertically in relation to the surface of the liquid. The invention also provides a method for gently distributing fish feed on the surface of a breeding tank by sensing a distance between the position sensor and the surface of liquid of the fish breeding tank, adjusting accordingly the height of the container using the linear actuator to a desired height, and releasing feed from the funnel mouthpiece by enabling the release mechanism.The invention also provides a use of the apparatus for feeding aquatic organisms.Other advantageous features will be apparent from the accompanying claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGSExample embodiments are described with reference to the following drawings, where:Fig. 1 is an illustration of a breeding tank and the feed releasing apparatus from various angles and in various modes of operation.Fig. 2 is an illustration of the feed releasing apparatus.Fig. 3 is an illustration of the funnel of the apparatus.DETAILED DESCRIPTIONExample embodiments are described with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals are used for the same or similar features in all the drawings and throughout the description.Fig. 1 shows a breeding tank 11, which has a bottom 11a. The breeding tank is filled with liquid, specifically water, where aquatic organisms may exist. The liquid has a surface 13. A feed releasing apparatus 10 is arranged above the surface of the liquid 13 at a vertical distance h 14. The feed releasing apparatus 10 can be in stand-by mode 12a or in feeding mode 12b, 12c. A side view of the stand-by mode is shown in 12a. A side view of the feeding mode is shown in 12c. A front view of the feeding mode is shown in 12b.The feed releasing apparatus 10 may be used for feeding aquatic organisms. The feed releasing apparatus 10 is shown in more detail in Fig.2. The feed releasing apparatus 10 comprises a container for feed 21, having an upper part 21a and a funnel 22. The feed releasing apparatus 10 further comprises a position sensor 25, which is attached on the container for feed 21, and is configured to measure the vertical distance h 14 between the funnel 22 and the surface of liquid 13 of the breeding tank 11. The position sensor 25 further comprises a bottom end 25a, the position sensor 25 being attached on the container for feed 21 and being configured to measure the vertical distance between the funnel 22 and the surface of liquid 13 of the breeding tank 11. The position sensor 25 may be vertically adjustable. The position sensor 25 may be a mechanical float sensor, a capacitive position sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or a proximity sensor. A mechanical float sensor may either be open normal or closed normal, which means that when the floating body gets in contact with the fluid, a circuit is opened or closed. The funnel 22 comprises a body 23 and a mouthpiece 24, the mouthpiece 24 having a bottom end 24a. The mouthpiece bottom end 24a and position sensor bottom end 25a have a vertical height difference d 27. The vertical height difference d 27, may be either positive or negative. The feed releasing apparatus 10 further comprises a linear actuator 26. The linear actuator 26 may be an electro-mechanical linear actuator, a mechanical linear actuator, a hydraulic linear actuator, a pneumatic linear actuator, or a piezoelectric linear actuator. An example of a linear actuator 26 may be a rack 26a with pinions 26b, 26c. The linear actuator 26 is configured to move the container for feed 21 and the position sensor 25 vertically in relation to the surface of the liquid 13.Feed may be placed and contained in the container for feed 21. The feed is comprised of feed grains which may be in the form of pellets, flakes, powder.Fig. 3 shows a more detailed view of the funnel 22. The funnel body 23 may have a shape suitable for assisting the guiding of the feed from the container 21 towards the funnel mouthpiece 24. The mouthpiece 24 of the funnel 22 comprises a release mechanism 31. The release mechanism 31 may be a horizontally arranged Archimedean screw. In the stand-by mode 12a, the release mechanism 31 is not operating. When the apparatus is in feeding mode 12b, 12c, the release mechanism 31 may be activated and the release of feed may be initiated.The feed releasing apparatus 10 may be in stand-by mode 12a as shown in Fig.1. Under operation, the apparatus senses a distance between the position sensor 25 and the surface of liquid 13 of the fish breeding tank 11, adjusts accordingly the height of the container 21 using the linear actuator 26 to a desired height, being the feeding position 12b, 12c, and releases feed from the funnel mouthpiece 24 by enabling the release mechanism 31.The vertical distance h 14 from the surface of liquid 14 may be such that after the release of the fish feed grain from the apparatus 10, the fish feed grain is deposited gently on the surface of liquid 13 and it floats, using the surface tension of the liquid. The floating of the fish feed allows the even distribution of feed across the surface of liquid 13 without it sinking around the area of impact. Hence, more fish can access the fish feed, since a larger part of the surface of liquid 13 is utilized. Additionally, this gentle deposition is not disturbing the surface of liquid 13, reducing the stress that fish experience.The release mechanism 31, may release fish feed in a controlled way. An example of a type of a release mechanism is an Archimedean screw as shown in Fig.3, arranged horizontally with respect to the surface of liquid 13. The rotation of the Archimedean screw is rearranging the fish feed in the lower layers of the funnel body 23. This rearrangement is capturing some of the fish feed grains of the lower layers of the funnel body 23 and guides them in a spiral movement along an axis parallel to the axis of the Archimedean screw. When a grain transitions from the upper half-plane of the Archimedean screw axis into the lower half-plane, there is no physical boundary to retain the fish feed grain inside the funnel and as a result, the fish feed grain is released from the funnel 22 of the container 21. The speed of rotation of the Archimedean screw can be adjusted accordingly. The speed of rotation of the Archimedean screw determines the speed of release of fish feed.Number Object
Claims
P ATENT C L A IMS1. An apparatus for the release of feed into a breeding tank (11) comprising:a container (21) for feed having an upper part (21a) and a funnel (22) arranged at the bottom of the container,a position sensor (25) attached on the container for feed (21), configured to measure the vertical distance (14) between the funnel (22) and the surface of liquid (13) of the breeding tank (11), anda linear actuator (26) configured to move the container for feed (21) and the position sensor (25) vertically in relation to the surface of the liquid (13) wherein a mouthpiece of the funnel (22) comprises a horizontally arranged Archimedes screw, configured to allow the controlled release of feed from the bottom end (24a) of the mouthpiece.2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the funnel (22) comprises a body (23) and a mouthpiece (24), the mouthpiece having a bottom end (24a).3. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the position sensor (25) has a bottom end (25a).4. The apparatus of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the bottom end (24a) of the mouthpiece (24) and the bottom end (25a) of the position sensor (25), have a vertical height difference d (27).5. A method for the release of feed into a fish breeding tank (11) using the apparatus of claim 1, comprising:sensing a distance between the position sensor (25) and the surface of liquid (13) of the fish breeding tank (11)adjusting accordingly the height of the container using the linear actuator (26) to a desired heightreleasing feed from the funnel mouthpiece (24) by enabling the release mechanism (31).6. Use of the apparatus according to anyone of the claims 1 - 4 for feeding aquatic organisms.PATENTKRAV1. Apparat for frigjøring av fôr til et oppdrettskar (11) omfattende:en fôrbeholder (21) med en øvre del (21a) og en trakt (22) anordnet i bunnen av beholderen,en posisjonssensor (25) festet på fôrbeholderen (21), konfigurert til å måle den vertikale avstanden (14) mellom trakten (22) og væskeoverflaten (13) til oppdrettskaret (11), ogen lineæraktuator (26) konfigurert til å bevege fôrbeholderen (21) og posisjonssensoren (25) vertikalt i forhold til væskeoverflaten (13) hvori et munnstykke til trakten (22) omfatter en horisontalt anordnet Arkimedes-skrue, konfigurert for å tillate kontrollert frigjøring av fôr fra bunnen (24a) av munnstykket.2. Apparatet ifølge krav 1, hvori trakten (22) omfatter et legeme (23) og et munnstykke (24), hvor munnstykket har en bunnende (24a).3. Apparat ifølge krav 1 eller 2, hvori posisjonssensoren (25) har en bunnende (25a).4. Apparatet ifølge krav 2 eller krav 3, hvori bunnenden (24a) av munnstykket (24) og bunnenden (25a) av posisjonssensoren (25), har en vertikal høydeforskjell d (27).5. Fremgangsmåte for frigjøring av fôr til et fiskeoppdrettskar (11) ved bruk av apparatet ifølge krav 1, omfattende å:registrere en avstand mellom posisjonssensoren (25) og væskeoverflaten (13) i fiskeoppdrettskaret (11)justere tilsvarende høyden på beholderen ved hjelp av lineæraktuatoren (26) til ønsket høydefrigjøre fôr fra traktmunnstykket (24) ved å aktivere en frigjøringsmekanisme (31).6. Anvendelse av apparatet ifølge hvilket som helst av kravene 1-4 for å mate vannlevende organismer.
Drawings

Priority

No priority

Patent classes

IPC classesA01K 61/80CPC classesA01K 61/80

Citations

CN 209473361 U (U)US 2019/0021292 A1 (A1)WO 2021/085971 A1 (A1)JP H04304830 A (A)

Applicants, owners and inventors

Owners
SURFEED AS
Alsvågveien 513 8432 ALSVÅG NO (ØKSNES Municipality, Nordland county)Org. number: 929962435Inventors
Ronny Lassesen
Valhøgda 15 8430 MYRE NO (ØKSNES Municipality, Nordland county)

Agent

BRYN AARFLOT AS
BRYN AARFLOT AS

Org. number: 979993269

Name and address are automatically synchronized with the Brønnøysund Register Centre.

Open in The Brønnøysund Register Centre
Stortingsgata 8 0161 OSLO NO (OSLO Municipality, Oslo county)
Org. number: 979993269
Reference: 141925/HT

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