Abstract: An unloading system for unloading at least one transport unit having at least one rack and at least one transport crate mounted for receiving poultry. The rack includes a transport restraint for each transport crate, which include a bottom and side walls. A cover arranged at a distance from the upper edge of the side walls. The system includes an unloading station for at least one transport unit, a pushing device for ejecting transport crates in an ejection position, and a receiving device for receiving and conveying ejected transport crates. In the ejection position, position of transport crate to the cover is vertically controllable during the entire ejection operation so a maximum distance between the upper edge of trailing side walls of the transport crates in the pushing direction and the cover are maintainable depending on the position of the transport crate within the rack during the ejection operation.

Abstract: A handling system for transport units of live poultry in a slaughterhouse, includes an inlet station, a transfer line to receive drawer-like cages extracted from supporting frames of the transport units, and an extraction device. Between the inlet station and the transfer line a rigid receiving structure of the two stacks of drawer-like cages is interposed, vertically displaceable between a position of simultaneous receipt of the two stacks of extracted drawer-like cages and a separate depositing position of the drawer-like cages of each stack onto the transfer line.

Abstract: A living animals conveying device for sorting animals with respect to a characteristic such as color, size, gender, or weight. In the case of chicks, an embodiment of the invention includes a section for conveying chicks with chicks positioned in buckets with their wings spread out, and an automatic chicks sexing system. A first endless bucket conveyor comprising pre-positioning buckets able to individually receive and transport a living animal, is oriented with respect to a second endless bucket conveyor, comprising sorting buckets able to individually receive and transport a living animal, the first conveyor and the second conveyor being arranged in such a way that each pre-positioned living animal in a pre-positioning bucket falls from the pre-positioning bucket into a sorting bucket arranged below the pre-positioning bucket.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for unloading birds from a compartment for holding birds, wherein a first conveyor belt is provided above the birds and a second conveyor belt is provided underneath the birds, for moving the birds toward the exit of the compartment. The present invention further relates to a conveyor assembly for unloading birds from a compartment for holding birds, the device includes a first conveyor belt which is configured to be provided above the birds and a second conveyor belt which is configured to be provided underneath the birds, for moving the birds toward the exit of the compartment.

Abstract: A livestock tracking system includes the collection of animal data upon loading of the livestock for transport and the collection of similar data upon unloading, thereby monitoring and tracking same. Livestock is transported from a grouped plurality to individual animals capable of being weighed and then put into transport containers. Each transport container is readily identifiable throughout the process such that upon the unloading of the livestock the information pertaining to the livestock within each container can be compared to data collected upon loading and therefore traced. While the most important data is weight, other measurements may be utilized. A method incorporating this system is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention describes a poultry-loading machine able to guide poultry into a cage, the cage having an opening and a bottom surface. The machine comprises: a main frame; a first conveyor belt for transporting the poultry from a first position into a second position, the first conveyor belt being supported by the main frame; and a second conveyor belt for transporting the poultry into the container, the second conveyor belt defining a loading belt surface. The machine also comprises a device for modifying the inclination of the second conveyor belt so that the loading belt surface is substantially parallel to the bottom of the container; and an approach frame which supports the second conveyor belt, the approach frame being able to move the second conveyor belt towards and away from the container, the second conveyor belt being displaceable so as to enter into the container and transport the poultry inside it.

Abstract: An apparatus for capturing and loading fowl having a mobile frame to which a forward conveyor and a rearward conveyor are pivotally mounted. The forward conveyor has plurality of fingered drums that are rotated to engage the fowl and place them on the conveyor for movement to the frame. The forward and rearward conveyors are pivotally mounted for movement about a common vertical axis. Each conveyor may also be pivotal about a horizontal axis. The fowl are discharged from the forward conveyor onto the rearward conveyor which transports the fowl from the frame to storage cages. A rearward fingered drum is provided to engage the fowl and discharge the fowl from the conveyor and into a plurality of vertically stacked forming the cage compartments. The rearward conveyor includes a first rearward conveyor pivotally mounted to the frame and a second rearward conveyor slidibility connected to the first rearward conveyor.

Abstract: This invention is a system and involved components for staging a series of multi-compartmented, multi-tier chicken cages and loading them in a chicken house for with a chickens loader that receives chickens urged by a revolving gathering head onto a first longitudinal conveyor belt sloped upwardly to a second longitudinal conveyor belt assembly the distal end of which is vertically and horizontally positional form pivot positions at the proximal end thereof. A third conveyor system is longitudinally aligned and slideably mounted on the second conveyor assembly for extension and retraction. The belts of the three belt conveyors are operated to increase the speed of the chickens on the belts to a terminal speed in the range of from about 500 to about 1400 feet per minute, for discharge of the chickens into a facing open compartment of the chicken cage at that terminal speed.

Abstract: A portable device for transporting young fowl from a hatchery to a growout house within a climate-controlled compartment located on a delivery vehicle, wherein the portable device can be composed, in part, of a frame, at least one conveyor belt, at least one baffle coupled to each of the at least one conveyor belt, a plurality of rollers coupled to the frame to support the conveyor belts, a motor for driving the conveyor belts, and a plurality of wheels supporting the frame. In operation, young fowl are loaded onto the at least one conveyor belt at a hatchery using a loading slide. After the portable device has been loaded to a desired level, it is loaded into the climate-controlled compartment and transported to the growout house. The young fowl are unloaded by backing the delivery vehicle into the growout house and unloading the young fowl using an unloading slide.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for emptying a turkey coop of its cargo. A support structure, moveable along rails, is aligned with the coop. A moveable carriage, supported by the support structure, is moved into the coop and the turkeys are surrounded and contained therein. After the turkeys are contained within the moveable carriage, the moveable carriage is extracted from the coop and the turkeys move onto a conveyor belt that moves them away from the coop.

Abstract: A turkey loading apparatus (10) includes a transport conveyor (30) and a loading conveyor (50). The loading conveyor (50) is positioned underneath the transport conveyor (30) and moves from a retracted position to an extended position. The transport conveyor has a first segment (32) pivotally connected to a second segment (33). As the loading apparatus (10) is raised and lowered, the first segment (32) pivots with respect to the second segment (33). In addition, the first segment (32) moves laterally.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for emptying a coop having cargo, such as turkeys or other poultry. A support structure, moveable along rails, is aligned with the coop. A moveable carriage, supported by the support structure, is moved into the coop and the turkeys are surrounded and contained therein. After the turkeys are contained within the moveable carriage, the moveable carriage is extracted from the coop and the turkeys move onto a conveyor belt that moves them away from the coop.

Abstract: A turkey loading apparatus (10) includes a transport conveyor (30) and a loading conveyor (50). The loading conveyor (50) is positioned underneath the transport conveyor (30) and moves from a retracted position to an extended position. The transport conveyor has a first segment (32) pivotally connected to a second segment (33). As the loading apparatus (10) is raised and lowered, the first segment (32) pivots with respect to the second segment (33). In addition, the first segment (32) moves laterally.

Abstract: A poultry agitator is operable for use in conjunction with long rectangular confined poultry houses equipped with a flow-through ventilation system. The agitator imitates the action of a human moving through a congregation of birds to encourage the birds to exercise, feed and intake water. The agitator is formed as a continuous cable that is supported in a circumferential route around the poultry house. The cable is entrained around a drive wheel that is operable to circulate the flexible cable and the agitator members attached thereto. A stop mechanism halts the movement of the agitator members near the end of the building and effects a reversal of the direction of operation of the drive wheel to cause the agitator to be returned to the initial home position. The cable is supported from spaced hangers without the need for massive support beam structure to carry the agitator along its path of travel along the side walls of the poultry house. The agitator is clamped on the cable to move therewith.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for transporting a large number of live poultry from one location to another. Using a tray, the birds are loaded and transported to the new location where the tray is lifted upward and/or laterally into a position for unloading which is convenient relative to the features present at the new location. When the apparatus reaches the new location, a gate on the leading edge of the tray is opened and the birds are forcibly moved across the floor of the tray through the open gate and into the desired location. Movement of the birds is caused in one disclosed embodiment by equipping the tray with a slippery floor and tilting the tray toward the open gate. In one alternative disclosed embodiment, movement of the birds is caused by equipping the floor of the tray with a conveyor belt and a rake to gently push the birds toward the open gate.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring live objects, such as chickens, to a shackle line are presented. The system and method include introducing a plurality of live objects to a singulator. The singulator isolates the individual live objects and places them in a pallet on a conveyor. The system may detect and remove cadavers from amongst the live objects. The conveyor leads the live objects to a grasper. The grasper positions the legs of the live objects so that a shackler can secure the legs of the live objects with a shackle. The live objects and the shackle are then inverted and passed on to a shackle line. The shackle line may be a kill line buffer or a kill line.

Abstract: A method for moving chickens or other poultry, wherein the chickens are moved upwards from the floor (3) by means of a conveyor (4), to a level on which the bottom of a collecting space (5) is positioned. A vehicle, in which the conveyor (4) and the collecting space (5) are mounted, is thereby driven through a poultry house. Several collecting spaces (5, 9, 10) are disposed one above the other, and the collecting spaces are moved in vertical direction in such a manner that various collecting spaces can successively be positioned in relationship with the sloping surface (4). The chickens are led from said collecting spaces (5) into transport spaces (17)), which are mounted on a lorry. From said transport spaces the chickens are led into accommodation spaces (22), which form part of a slaughterhouse.

Abstract: Automation of delivery of newborn avian chicks into grow-out houses is accomplished by use of a delivery vehicle which has a powered telescoping conveyor mounted to this vehicle. The vehicle is positioned at one of the personnel doors of a grow-out house and the conveyor extended into the interior of the building. A moving blower is provided at the discharge end of the telescoping conveyor to distribute the chicks over the floor of a grow-out house in such a manner as to prevent piles of chicks from forming.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading a batch of turkeys or other cargo into multilayer containers. A method of unloading the turkeys or cargo from the multilayer containers. Each container or coop includes a liftable gate at each end that enables access into the container through either end, and a slidably moveable floor positioned over a rigid permanent floor. As the turkeys are introduced into the containers, the slideable floor is retracted into the container, pulling the bird farther back into the container. Similarly, to unload the turkeys, the slideable floor is extracted from the container, moving the birds out of the container. A removable holding wall may be located at the end of the slideable floor to urge any hesitant turkeys out of the container.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for animal-appropriate conveying, in which animals are conveyed in conveying channels, the animals being advantageously conveyed separated from one another in columns and the animals are guided at a drive mechanism (49) onto a platform (49.3), which is swivelled and the animals are driven into a conveying space (50).

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for emptying a load of turkeys from multilayer containers is disclosed. Each container or coop includes a liftable gate that enables access into the container and a slidably moveable push member that may also comprise the back wall of the container. The push member is moved from the rear of the container and toward the access port thereof. As the push member moves and engages turkeys in the coop, the turkeys are moved by the push member across the container floor and out of the access port onto a series of conveyors. The push members of a plurality of coops can be interconnected to simultaneously unload a plurality of containers. The mechanisms for moving the push member may be mounted externally of the coop structure. The same mechanism may also be used for returning the push member to and for locking it in its initial transport position.

Abstract: A bird counter capable of separating, detecting, and counting birds. A counterrotating rotor mechanism having flexible fingers receives the birds into a space between the rotors substantially one at a time to separate the birds. The counterrotating rotor mechanism expels the birds from the space substantially one at a time. A fiber optic bird detecting system detects the number of expelled birds after the birds have been separated by the counterrotating rotors.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for emptying a load of multilayer container columns is disclosed. A carriage is aligned in an unloading position relative to a container. The carriage includes a mechanism for opening a gate of the container, a mechanism for extending a container floor out of the container, and a mechanism for urging contents of the container carried by the floor off the floor and onto an unloading receptor when the floor is extended from the container.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuous high speed loading of chicks into handling trays positioned therebelow which includes two conveyors positioned above one another. The upper conveyor carries chicks thereon divided into a plurality of rows such as three or four rows and the lower conveyor carries trays adapted to receive a given number of chicks within each tray such as one hundred count per tray. The lower conveyor periodically advances each tray one station to move through a first and second loading station located immediately beneath the end of the continuously moving chick supply conveyor. A deflector assembly is positioned adjacent the output end of the chick conveyor which includes a plurality of diverters each associated with one of the rows of chicks being carried upon the chick conveyor for guiding thereof into the handling tray therebelow positioned in either the first or second tray loading position. A counter is included for determining the number of chicks being loaded.

Abstract: In a method for unloading a poultry transport container, which comprises at least one loading tray with a side unloading flap, the end of a discharge conveyor is applied from the side of the unloading flap closely above the loading tray. This end is gradually moved towards the side of the loading tray opposite the unloading flap, thus forcing the poultry to take place onto the discharge conveyor. The loading tray, the discharge conveyor or both may be displaceable for obtaining their relative movement.