Patents by Inventor David Bernard Tinker

David Bernard Tinker has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6338673
    Abstract: Apparatus for electrical stunning and killing poultry comprises a conveyor (31) and means for applying electrical voltage across the heads of the birds (3; 37; 42). In one embodiment, means are also provided for applying a voltage between the bird's head and rear by means of a further electrode (4). In this case, a two stage stun and kill process is used, with the bird being stunned by a voltage applied to it across its head and then killed by a voltage applied between its head and rear, causing fibrillation of the heart. The apparatus may also include means (5; 34) for restraining the bird's heads and/or facilitating contact of the bird's heads with the electrodes. The electrodes themselves may take a number of forms, including dry resilient foam covered by a conductive wire mesh, or a number of parallel sprung pins, or a rail along which the bird's heads slide, or a conductive endless belt. A pair of manual stunning tongs (61) is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: BTG International Limited
    Inventors: Paul Simon Berry, Ambur Balakrishnan Mohan Raj, Michael O'Callaghan, Lindsay John Wilkins, David Bernard Tinker
  • Publication number: 20010044272
    Abstract: Apparatus for electrical stunning and killing poultry comprises a conveyor (31) and means for applying electrical voltage across the heads of the birds (3; 37; 42). In one embodiment, means are also provided for applying a voltage between the bird's head and rear by means of a further electrode (4). In this case, a two stage stun and kill process is used, with the bird being stunned by a voltage applied to it across its head and then killed by a voltage applied between its head and rear, causing fibrillation of the heart. The apparatus may also include means (5; 34) for restraining the bird's heads and/or facilitating contact of the bird's heads with the electrodes. The electrodes themselves may take a number of forms, including dry resilient foam covered by a conductive wire mesh, or a number of parallel sprung pins, or a rail along which the bird's heads slide, or a conductive endless belt. A pair of manual stunning tongs (61) is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventors: Paul Simon Berry, Ambur Balakrishnan Mohan Raj, Michael O'Callaghan, Lindsay John Wilkins, David Bernard Tinker
  • Patent number: 5853320
    Abstract: A plucking unit, apparatus or equipment (25) for plucking poultry carcasses on a shackle line (26) including a plurality of individual plucking units (10), one for each of a number of carcasses to be plucked at any one time, and shielding means (12) included in or provided additionally to, said plucking units (10) whereby the plucking heads of each said unit are shielded from the plucking heads of the neighboring units during plucking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: British Technology Group Limited
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Wathes, David Bernard Tinker, Colin Gibson