Electronic button tag for tagging and identifying cattle

• US 20060117619A1
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allflex Europe SAS (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Allflex Europe SAS (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Costantini, Anne
• Granted Patent: US 7,726,055 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 40/301
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/004 with electronic identification means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/006 Automatic identification systems for animals, e.g. electronic devices, transponders for animals identification systems for access to feeding pens A01K1/0209; ear tags with electronic identification means A01K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/00 Joining or sealing of preformed parts , e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor general aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts B29C66/00; using porous material formed by internal pressure generated therein for joining preformed parts B29C44/1228, B29C44/326
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/16 Laser beams
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/1616 Near infrared radiation [NIR], e.g. by YAG lasers
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/1674 making use of laser diodes B29C65/167 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1222 comprising at least a lapped joint-segment
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1224 comprising at least a butt joint-segment
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/12821 comprising at least two overlap joint-segments
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1284 comprising at least one butt joint-segment
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/3022 said melt initiators being integral with at least one of the parts to be joined
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/5344 said single elements being substantially annular, i.e. of finite length, e.g. joining flanges to tube ends B29C66/5346 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/54 Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/542 joining hollow covers or hollow bottoms to open ends of container bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2007/004 Tags; Tickets labels B29L2031/744
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/50 Readily interlocking, two-part fastener requiring either destructive or tool disengagement

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic button tag for tagging and identifying cattle and other animals, of the type which is intended to be placed on one of the ears of the animal. The inventive button tag includes a transponder which is enclosed in a shell. The shell is made from two half-shells, namely a lower half-shell and an upper half-shell, which are assembled together at a median plane. The transponder is fixed in place, without compression, between the two half-shells using a glue; and the two half-shells are assembled by a laser weld.

Claims

1. An electronic button tag for tagging and identifying cattle comprising a transponder, programmable or not, enclosed in a shell, said shell comprising an open-ended or blind axial transverse passage for a fixing means to the ear of the animal, characterised in that:

the shell is made from two half-shells namely a lower half-shell and an upper half-shell, which are assembled together at a median plane which is disposed transversely to the axial passage opening for the fixing means,

the transponder is fixed in place without compression between the two half-shells using a glue,

the two half-shells are assembled by means of a laser weld.

2. An electronic button tag according to claim 1 characterised in that the two half-shells are provided with complementary internal and external walls, contributing to their assembly, to stiffening the shell and to fixing the internal transponder in place.

3. An electronic button tag according to claim 1 characterised in that the upper half-shell comprises a sleeve with a central opening around the median axis, wherein a cylindrical wall projects outwards on a planar wall and is extended by an inner cylindrical wall below said planar wall to connect with a corresponding cylindrical wall on the lower half-shell, the planar wall of the upper half-shell being connected ion its periphery to a vertical cylindrical wall connecting it to the lower half-shell.

4. An electronic button tag according to claim 3 characterised in that the lower half-shell comprises a cylindrical inner wall around its median axis corresponding to that of the sleeve of the upper half-shell and providing the transverse passage,

that it is provided with an internal projection,

that it is provided with a projecting peripheral rim cooperating with the orthogonal peripheral wall of the upper half-shell.

5. An electronic button tag according to claim 4, characterized in that an internal projection is placed between the internal cylindrical wall and the peripheral rim.

6. An electronic button tag according to claim 4, characterized in that the internal projections is of a lesser height than the clear height within the button tag.

7. An electronic button tag according to claims 3, characterised in that the cylindrical wall of the lower half-shell has a conical form with an upper shoulder enabling the tip of the punch of a male panel tag to be locked in.

8. An electronic button tag according to claims 7 characterised in that the sleeve is blind on the upper half-shell.

9. An electronic button tag according to claim 3, characterised in that the ends of the vertical walls of the upper half-shell are provided with flux cores (10).

10. An electronic button tag according to claim 1, characterised in that the processor of the transponder is folded down onto the coil, the unit being fixed into position by the glue.

11. An Electronic button tag according to claim 9, characterized in that the flux cores are welded by use of a laser.

12. An electronic button tag according to of claims 3, characterised in that the lower half-shell is provided with a peripheral rim which on assembly fits into the external shoulder of the vertical wall of the upper half-shell.

13. An electronic button tag for tagging and identifying cattle including a transponder, programmable or not, enclosed in a shell, the shell being composed of a first shell portion and a second shell portion which are assembled together at a median plane, the transponder is fixed in place without compression between the two shell portions using an adhesive and the two shell portions are assembled by means of a laser weld, and the two shell portions are provided with complementary internal and external walls, contributing to their assembly, to stiffen the shell and to fix the internal transponder in place, the second shell portion including a sleeve with a central opening around a median axis, said sleeve projects outwards from one side of a planar wall and is extended by a cylindrical wall extending from an opposite side of said planar wall to connect with a cylindrical wall of the first shell portion, a planar wall of the first shell portion being connected at its periphery to the second shell portion.

14. An electronic button tag according to claim 13 wherein the cylindrical wall of the first shell portion provides a passage for a punch of a male tag for fixing the tag to the ear of an animal, said cylindrical wall of the first shell portion having a conical form and providing a shoulder within the sleeve to enable a tip of the punch of a male tag to be locked n the sleeve.

15. An electronic button tag as claimed in claim 14 wherein an internal projection is located between the cylindrical wall and a peripheral rim of the second shell position, the internal projection being of a height less than the distance between the planar walls of the first and second shell portions.

16. An electronic button tag as claimed in claim 13 or 14 wherein the sleeve is blind.

17. An electronic button tag as claimed in claim 14 or 15 wherein the ends of the cylindrical wall of the second shell portion and a peripheral wall of the second shell portion are provided with flux cores.

18. An electronic button tag according to claim 14 or 15 wherein the ends of the cylindrical wall of the second shell portion and a peripheral wall of the second shell portion are provided with flux cores and the flux cores are welded by use of a laser.

19. An electronic button tag according to claim 17 or 18 wherein the first shell portion is provided with a peripheral rim which on assembly fits into an external shoulder of the peripheral wall of the second shell portion.

20. An electronic button tag as claimed in claim 13 or 14 wherein a processor of the transponder is located on the coil, the unit being fixed into position by the adhesive.

21. An electronic button tag as claimed in claim 13 wherein the sleeve is blind, the ends of the cylindrical wall and a peripheral wall of the second shell portion are provided with flux cores and the flux cores are welded by use of a laser.

22. An electronic button tag according to claim 21 wherein the first shell portion is provided is with a peripheral rim which on assembly fits into an external shoulder of the peripheral wall of the second shell portion.