Untitled record

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The present invention relates to a method and an installation for weighing animals, in particular birds, such as palmipeds or poultry.

It relates more particularly to an animal weighing installation of the type comprising a frame delimiting a passageway for at least one animal.

To date, breeders are required to manually weigh their animals to check their growth status. As the number of animals in the farms is large (2,000 to 10,000 animals or more, especially in the case of duck farming), checking the growth is a time constraint and requires significant physical effort. The verification of this growth must be regular in order to give a diet corresponding to a real need of the animal.

An aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a method and an installation the designs of which make it possible to dispense with any handling of the animal during weighing operations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and an installation of the aforementioned type, the designs of which allow a large number of animals to be weighed.

To this end, the object of the invention is an animal weighing installation of the type comprising a frame delimiting a circulation corridor for at least one animal, characterized in that said corridor comprises a weighing zone comprising an entrance, a outlet and weighing means, and a feed zone for said animal at the entrance to the weighing zone, said feed zone being equipped with feed means comprising a conveyor belt arranged at ground level of said corridor, between at least one end, called the entrance, of the corridor and the entrance to the weighing area, and in that the installation further comprises a supply of animal feed equipped with at least one access opening to its content, said food reserve being mounted so as to move between an active position, called a weighing position, in which it obstructs the exit of the weighing zone and has its opening accessible from the weighing zone and an inactive position in which the exit of the weighing zone is unobstructed.

Thanks to the presence of a food reserve which obstructs the exit of the weighing zone during the carrying out of the weighing using weighing means arranged in the weighing zone, on the one hand, any untimely exit of The animal from the weighing area before the end of the weighing is prevented, on the other hand, the animal is relatively calm during the weighing operations due to the presence of food on which it can feed.

Thanks to the fact that the food reserve is mounted mobile on the frame, and is able, at the end of the weighing, to pass from an active weighing position to an inactive position in which the exit of the weighing zone is unobstructed, and, preferably, the opening for access to the contents of the food reserve is inaccessible from the weighing area, the animal is encouraged to leave the weighing area without human intervention, as has been done observed in practice through experiments.

Preferably, the food reserve is, for its displacement between the inactive position and the active position, movable upward and downward.

The food reserve is therefore able to pass from an inactive position, called high, in which it is arranged at the level of the upper part or ceiling of the corridor, to an active position, called low, in which it is arranged at the level of the lower part or floor of said corridor.

Preferably, the installation further comprises means for automatic food distribution and the food reserve is, in the inactive position, disposed below the distribution means for automatic recharging by gravity of food from said food reserve. .

It is thus possible to make available to the animal being weighed, a limited and predetermined quantity of food to possibly take it into account during the weighing.

In addition, recharging the food reserve after each weighing increases the guarantee of the presence of food in said reserve.

Preferably, the dispensing means comprise a dispenser mounted movably between an active dispensing position and an inactive position, the dispenser and the food reserve being configured for movement in synchronism, the dispenser being able to pass from the active position. distribution to the inactive position when switching the food reserve from the inactive position to the active weighing position.

Preferably, the dispenser and the food reserve each comprise moving drive means for the passage from one position to another, the distributor and the food reserve being directly or through their means of 'drive coupled by a mechanical link to allow, during the drive in movement of the reserve, the drive in movement of said distributor or vice versa. This results in a simplification of the architecture of the installation.

Preferably, the exit from the weighing zone opens into an evacuation zone of said animal, said evacuation zone comprising an inclined ramp carried by the frame of the installation, said ramp being inclined with a downward slope from the weighing zone. towards the free end of the ramp.

Again, the ramp constitutes a means to encourage the animal to leave the weighing zone.

Preferably, the food reserve takes the form of a trough and the means for driving the reserve in movement between the active position and the inactive position comprise two arms arranged between, and pivotally coupled to said frame and to the reserve. , and at least one actuator, such as a jack, for driving in pivotal displacement of said arms.

Preferably, the feed zone comprises means for detecting the presence of an animal at the entrance to the corridor and / or in the feed zone and the feed means comprise operating control means configured. to control the operation of the supply means as a function of said detection means.

Thus, in the absence of detection of animals at the entrance to the corridor, and / or in the feed zone, the feed means are stopped.

Preferably, the feed zone is equipped at the inlet with a closure member, such as a barrier, movably mounted between a closed position of said feed zone and an open position of the feed zone, and in addition to the so-called main detection means, additional detection means to allow, in the activated state of the main detection means, the passage of the shutter member from the closed position to the open position and, in the activated state of the additional detection means, the passage of the closure member from the open position to the closed position to prevent the introduction of a new animal into the supply zone already occupied by a first animal .

Preferably, the weighing means are, in the weighing zone, arranged at the level of the floor of the corridor.

Preferably, the installation comprises means for marking the animals as a function of the result of the weighing means, said marking means preferably being arranged in the weighing zone.

Preferably, the installation comprises means for comparing the data supplied by the weighing means with stored data, and said marking means are formed by means for projecting a marking fluid configured to project a fluid, such as 'a food painting, in the weighing zone or in the evacuation zone of the installation with a view to marking the animal according to the result of the comparison between measured weight data and stored weight data. It is thus possible to mark animals whose weight is lower or higher than a predetermined weight value, at the choice of the breeder.

A further subject of the invention is a method for weighing an animal, characterized in that it comprises a step of driving the movement by scrolling of said animal in a corridor as far as a weighing zone, the outlet of which is closed by a reserve of food the contents of which are accessible to said animal from the weighing area, a step of weighing said animal in the weighing zone and a step of releasing the exit from the weighing zone by driving the food reserve in movement to a so-called inactive position.

Preferably, the method further comprises a step of automatically filling the food reserve with food in the inactive position of said reserve.

Preferably, the method further comprises, prior to the step of moving said animal by scrolling through said lane to a weighing zone, a step of detecting the presence of the animal at the entrance, or in the vicinity of the entrance, of said corridor, and, if necessary, a step of controlling the operation of the means for driving the movement by scrolling of said animal in the corridor.

The invention will be clearly understood on reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents a schematic perspective view of an installation according to the invention in the inactive position of the food reserve;

FIG. 2 represents a schematic perspective view of an installation according to the invention in the active weighing position of the food reserve;

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FIG. 3 represents a schematic perspective view of an installation according to the invention in the active weighing position of the food reserve taken on the feed zone side of said installation;

FIG. 4 represents a schematic perspective view of an installation according to the invention during the passage of the food reserve from the active weighing position to the inactive position for reloading with food.

As mentioned above, the invention relates to an installation 1 for weighing animals, in particular birds, such as breeding ducks.

This installation 1 comprises a frame 2 whether or not it can be rolled. This frame 2 is generally metallic. This frame 2, formed from an assembly of elements, defines a circulation corridor 3, the longitudinal walls of which are here formed by folded sheets.

This corridor comprises a weighing zone 4 having an inlet 41, an outlet 42 and weighing means 43 preferably arranged at ground level of the corridor 3 in said weighing zone 4.

These weighing means 43 can be formed by a strain gauge, a pressure sensor or the like arranged, for example, under the floor of the corridor in said weighing zone.

The measurements carried out by the weighing means 43 can be stored in a central unit remotely or placed on the frame. This central unit may include means for processing the measured data and optionally means for comparing the measured data with stored data in order, depending on the result, to trigger, for example, a marking of the animals weighed as will be described below.

These data can also be used to modify the daily food intake of said animals.

The corridor 3 also includes a zone 5 for bringing animals to the entrance 41 of the weighing zone 4.

In the examples shown, this feed zone 5 is equipped with feed means 51 comprising a conveyor belt arranged at ground level of said corridor 3 between one end, called the entrance 31 of the corridor 3, and the entrance 41 of the zone. 4 weighing.

This supply zone 5 comprises means 15 for detecting the presence of an animal at the entrance 31 of the corridor 3 and / or in the supply zone 5, and the supply means 51 comprise means 16 for operating control configured to control the operation of the supply means 51 as a function of said detection means 15.

Thus, the feed zone 5 can be equipped with an infrared or ultrasonic sensor which, in the activated state, sends a control signal to the operating control motor means of the conveyor belt in order to cause said belt to move. in the direction of movement of said animal from the entrance to the corridor towards the weighing zone.

Once the movement of the animal has been carried out, this movement being able to be controlled using, for example, a coding wheel, the conveyor belt can be stopped until a new animal is detected.

To prevent the successive entry of two animals into the corridor, a shutter member, such as a movable barrier, can be placed at the entrance to the corridor. This closure member is able to switch from the closed position to the open position, or vice versa, depending on the result of the detection means.

Additional detection means can be provided in the feed zone to facilitate the management of the control of this closure member.

The installation also comprises a reserve 6 of animal feed equipped with at least one opening 7 for access to its contents. This food reserve 6 is movably mounted between an active weighing position in which it obstructs the outlet 42 of the weighing zone 4 and its opening 7 is accessible from the weighing zone, and an inactive position in which the outlet 42 of the weighing zone 4 is clear, and, preferably, the opening 7 of the food reserve 6 is inaccessible from the weighing zone, as illustrated in the figures.

In the example shown, the food reserve 6 takes the form of a trough and the means for driving the movement of the reserve 6 between the active position and the inactive position comprise two arms 13 arranged between the frame 2 and the reserve 6. These arms 13 are pivotally coupled to the frame 2 and to the food reserve 6.

An actuator, of the jack type (not shown), is provided at the base of the frame to allow the drive in pivoting movement of said arms 13. The food reserve is therefore, for its movement between the inactive position and the active position, moving up and down.

In the inactive position, the food reserve 6 extends substantially at the level of the ceiling of the corridor, while in the low position, it rests on the floor of the corridor at the level of the outlet of the weighing zone 4.

This food reserve 6, by blocking said corridor, therefore prevents an animal from leaving the weighing zone 4. In this position, the opening of the trough located on the top of the trough is directly accessible to the animal present in the weighing zone 4. This opening 7 of the food reserve 6 is located substantially at, or slightly below, the head of the animal which can thus, while being weighed, sustain itself.

When the weighing is carried out, the reserve is driven in movement by means of the pivoting arms mounted to pivot about a horizontal axis to its inactive upper position.

As illustrated in the figures, the installation further comprises means 8 for automatic food distribution and the food reserve 6 is, in the inactive position, disposed below these distribution means 8 for automatic reloading by gravity. food from said food reserve 6.

These distribution means 8 comprise, here, a distributor 9 surmounted by a hopper 10, said distributor 9 being movably mounted between an active distribution position and an inactive position. In the example shown, the dispenser 9 is formed by a hollow rotary roller with a horizontal axis equipped with a longitudinal slot capable of passing, during the drive in rotational displacement of the roller about its longitudinal axis, of an inactive position in which the opening of the roll faces upward and extends below the hopper and the cavity formed by the hollow roll is filled with the contents of the hopper, to an active dispensing position in which the opening of the roll is oriented downwards and extends directly above the opening 7 for access to the food reserve 6 into which it pours its ίο contents.

As a variant, the dispenser could have been formed by a simple closure member of the hopper 10 mounted to move between an open position and a closed position of the hopper.

However, the solution adopted allows a simplification of the architecture and a coupling in displacement of the distributor and the food reserve, which guarantees a perfect operation of the installation.

Thus, in the example shown, the distributor 9 and the food reserve 6 are configured for movement in synchronism. The distributor 9 is able to switch from the active distribution position to the inactive position when the food reserve 6 passes from the inactive position to the active weighing position, and from the inactive distribution position to the active position when the passage of the food reserve 6 from the active weighing position to the inactive position.

Thus, in the examples shown, the means for driving the movement of the reserve formed by the pivoting arms are connected by a mechanical connection, such as a set of connecting rods and pinions, to the distributor 9 to allow simultaneous movement and in synchronism of the two.

The installation also includes an area 11 for the evacuation of the animal from the area.

4 weighing. Indeed, the outlet 42 of the weighing zone 4 opens into a zone 11 for the evacuation of said animal.

This evacuation zone 11 comprises an inclined ramp 12 carried by the frame 2 of the installation. This ramp 12 is inclined with a downward slope from the weighing zone 4 towards the free end of the ramp 12.

Finally, the installation comprises means 17 for marking the animals as a function of the result of the weighing means 43. These marking means 17 are here arranged in the weighing zone 4 and are formed by means for projecting a flow of edible paint. The operation of these projection means depends on the result of the comparison of the measured weight of the animal with a stored predetermined weight value.

It thus becomes easy for the breeder to visually verify that the food rations are sufficient or not, depending for example on the number of animals marked, when the marking takes place on animals of insufficient weight or in excess.

The operation of the installation, as described above, takes place as follows:

The installation is arranged at a predetermined location in the livestock building. An animal approaches. It is detected by the detection means of the installation and the conveyor belt starts up. The animal mounted on the conveyor belt is driven by the conveyor belt to the weighing zone 4. The outlet of this weighing zone 4 is blocked by the food reserve 6.

The animal finds itself positioned facing said reserve to the contents of which it has access through the opening 7 made in said reserve 6. The animal feeds while it is being weighed.

Once the weighing has been carried out, a marking may or may not be operated at the choice of the breeder depending on the weight measured. Marking takes place here in the weighing area.

Once the marking has been made, the food reserve rises and the animal is evacuated by the evacuation ramp 12.

In the high position, the food reserve 6 is recharged with food from the distribution 9 before being lowered again and brought back to the position of obstruction of the outlet of the weighing zone 4.

The installation is ready and waiting for a new weighing.

As the above description illustrates, the weighing can be done entirely without human intervention. This results in an absence of stress for the animals and the possibility of weighing a large number of animals.