Livestock sorter

Details Livestock sorter Livestock sorter

1999-06-02

2001-05-29

Hofsass, Jeffery (Department: 2736)

Communications: electrical

Condition responsive indicating system

Specific condition

C340S573100, C340S691100, C340S693110, C340S528000, C119S169000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06239711

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to devices for sorting livestock and more particularly to a device for sorting livestock according to different classifications of weight.
BACKGROUND
Common practice in raising livestock such as pigs or hogs is to sort the animals according to different weight classifications for determining which animals are suitable for being sold on the market.
There exists various known prior art for devices which aid in the task of sorting livestock. Of these devices some are purely mechanical in nature while others are electrically operated. In general the mechanical devices are either manually operated or require numerous links and mechanical parts to actuate appropriate gates for sorting the animals. This can result in devices which require a lot of maintenance or in devices which lack the accuracy required.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,138,968 to Ostermann provides a mechanical livestock sorter involving complex linkages. The sorter will respond to transient loadings from moving animals which may result in weight measurement errors. The entrance gate does not prevent the entry of a second animal, or prevent a second animal from placing forefeet on the scale platform which also results in weight measurement errors.
SUMMARY
According to the present invention there is provided a livestock sorter for sorting livestock according to weight, the sorter comprising:
a chute having an entrance at a back end and a pair of exits at a front end;
a platform for supporting an animal thereon;
an entrance gate positioned across the back end of the chute for movement between an open position wherein the animal is free to pass through the entrance and closed position wherein the animal cannot pass through the entrance;
an entrance gate latch for latching the entrance gate in the closed position, the entrance gate latch being arranged such that the entrance gate is free to move into the open position when the entrance gate latch is disabled;
a pair of exit gates mounted across respective exits on the front end of the chute, each gate being movable between an open position wherein the animal is free to pass through the corresponding exit and a closed position wherein the animal cannot pass through the corresponding exit;
a pair of exit gate latches for latching the respective exit gates in the closed position, each being arranged such that the respective exit gate is free to move into the open position when the respective exit gate latch is disabled; and
a control system comprising:
a weight sensing device mounted beneath the platform for generating a weight signal representing a weight on the platform;
an exit gate latch control being responsive to the weight signal from the weight sensing device for disabling a predetermined one of the exit gate latches in response to an overweight signal representing a weight greater than a predetermined weight and for disabling the other exit gate latch in response to an underweight signal representing a weight less than the predetermined weight;
an entrance gate latch control for disabling the entrance gate latch in response to an absence of a weight signal from the weight sensing device.
The sorter has few mechanical parts for improved reliability while remaining compact and lightweight for portability. The control system allows full adjustability of the predetermined weight and the timing of each weighing cycle. The control system also permits adjustment of the predetermined weight to a precision which is not attainable using a mechanical system.
Preferably there is provided a gate sensing element for interrupting the passage of the weight signal from the weight sensing device to the exit gate latch control if the entrance gate is not in the closed position such that both exit gates remain in the closed position until the entrance gate is in the closed position.
The entrance gate latch may comprise a ratchet mechanism such that the entrance gate is permitted to be displaced only towards the closed position once the gate has been partially closed and the entrance gate latch is engaged.
Preferably there is provided a scale delay circuit connected to the weight sensing device such that only a steady weight signal will release one of the exit gate latches. The scale delay circuit may be a timing circuit including an adjustable resistor pot for adjusting a duration of the scale delay.
Preferably there is provided a general delay circuit connected to the exit gate control, the general delay circuit being activated when the entrance gate is in the closed position for activating the exit gate latch control only after a predetermined weighing cycle time has expired. The general delay circuit may be a timing circuit including an adjustable resistor pot for adjusting a duration of the predetermined weighing cycle time.
There may be an override switch connected to the overweight and underweight responsive elements for overriding the weight signal such that both exit gates remain latched.
A reversing switch may be connected between the exit gate latch control and the exit gate latches such that activating the switch will reverse which exit gate latch is disabled in response to the overweight signal and which exit gate latch is disabled in response to the underweight signal.
A weight signal delay circuit may be connected between the entrance gate latch control and the exit gate latch control such that the exit gate latches remain latched until the entrance gate has been latched for preventing an animal from passing through the sorter without being properly weighed.
The exit gates may be pivotally mounted on opposing sides of the chute at an outer side of each exit gate such that each exit gate extend inwards towards an inner side adjacent an inner side of the other exit gate in the closed position.
A resilient member is preferably connected between the exit gates for urging each exit gate towards the closed position.
A sleeve may be mounted on the inner side of each exit gate, the sleeve being arranged to roll along an animal's body as the animal passes therethrough such that the gate does not rub against the animal.
For sorting numerous hogs there may be provided:
a housing area connected to the entrance gate for housing livestock therein;
an underweight pen adjacent the exit gate corresponding to underweight livestock including a one way gate connecting the underweight pen to the housing area such that livestock in the underweight pen are free to return to the housing area; and
an overweight pen adjacent the exit gate corresponding to overweight livestock such that livestock in the overweight pen are separated from the housing area.
There may provided transport means for raising and transporting the sorter. When using transport means the transport means may comprise:
a pair of pivot shafts extending laterally from respective bottom front corners of the frame for rotation between a transport position and a working position;
a pair of levers extending from the respective pivot shafts;
a pair of wheels mounted on the respective levers and oriented for travel in a forward direction; and
a pair of handles extending from the respective pivot shafts;
wherein rotation of one of the handles about a respective axis of the pivot shaft will rotate the pivot shaft and the respective wheel mounted on the respective lever between the transport position and the working position;
wherein in the transport position the wheels engage a support surface for raising the sorter from the support surface and in the working position the wheels are free from the support surface for fixing the sorter to the support surface.
There may be provided a U-shaped bar mounted on the platform such that the bar extends upwards therefrom and prevents an animal from lying down on the platform.
The entrance gate may comprise a pair of entrance gates pivotally mounted on respective sides of the chute at outer sides of the respective entrance gates, each entrance gate extending inward towards the other entrance gate such that inner sides of the respective entrance gates are positio

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