Livestock unloading system and method

• US 20070169713A1
• Filed: 01/23/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Turkey Scope LLC
• Original Assignee: Turkey Scope LLC
• Inventors: Pyle, James, Strickland, Dennis, Feather, Voris, Sinn, Steven
• Application Number:
  US11/337,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20070169713A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/406
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 45/005 Harvesting or transport of poultry
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/04 for transporting animals railway wagons adapted for carrying animals B61D3/163

Abstract

A livestock unloading system is provided including a livestock storage module including a partition system, a lifting device, and a conveyor positioning system. The lifting device includes a module engaging member and a module securing mechanism operatively associated therewith such that activation of the module securing mechanism causes the module engaging member to engage with a portion of the livestock storage module. The conveyor positioning system positions a livestock storage module in proximity to an unloader by hoisting the section of conveyor and livestock storage module situated thereon. A partition system for a livestock storage module section is further provided including a partition extending the general height of the module section. A linkage operatively couples a module section door with the partition, such that opening of the door causes movement of the partition.

Claims

1. A lifting device for a livestock storage module, comprising:

a module engaging member; and

a module securing mechanism operatively associated with said module engaging member, whereupon activation of said module securing mechanism causes said module engaging member to engage with a portion of the livestock storage module.

2. The lifting device of claim 1, further comprising an indicator operatively coupled to said module securing mechanism for signaling when said module engaging member has substantially engaged with a portion of the livestock storage module.

3. The lifting device of claim 2, wherein the indicator comprises a flag which raises when said module engaging member has substantially engaged with a portion of the livestock storage module.

4. The lifting device of claim 1, wherein the module engaging member is a pin.

5. The lifting device of claim 1, wherein the module securing mechanism includes an air cylinder, wherein when said air cylinder is charged from the other end, the air cylinder causes the module engaging member to engage a portion of the livestock storage module.

6. The lifting device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of guide plates for guiding the positioning of the lifting device near the livestock storage module.

7. The lifting device of claim 1, further comprising a securing wire to accommodate an overhead crane.

8. A method for transporting a livestock storage module, comprising:

positioning a lifting device near the livestock storage module; and

engaging a portion of the livestock storage module with said lifting device for transportation thereof.

9. The method for transporting a livestock storage module of claim 8, further comprising unfastening the livestock storage module from a transport vehicle.

10. The method for transporting a livestock storage module claim 8, wherein engaging a portion of the livestock storage module includes deactivating a module securing mechanism in order to cause a module engaging member to engage with a portion of the livestock storage module.

11. The method for transporting a livestock storage module claim 8, wherein deactivating a module securing mechanism includes decreasing air pressure within an air cylinder which is operatively associated with a module engaging member to engage with a portion of the livestock storage module.

12. The method for transporting a livestock storage module claim 8, further comprising disengaging a portion of the livestock storage module with said lifting device for lifting thereof.

13. The method for transporting a livestock storage module claim 12, disengaging a portion of the livestock storage module includes activating a module securing mechanism in order to cause a module engaging member to disengage with a portion of the livestock storage module.

14. The method for transporting a livestock storage module claim 13, wherein activating a module securing mechanism includes increasing air pressure within an air cylinder which is operatively associated with a module engaging member to disengage with a portion of the livestock storage module.

15. The method for transporting a livestock storage module claim 8, further comprising indicating when a portion of the livestock storage module is engaged or disengaged with said lifting device.

16. The method for transporting a livestock storage module claim 15, wherein the indicating includes raising a flag when a portion of the livestock storage module is engaged with said lifting device and lowering a flag when a portion of the livestock storage module is disengaged with said lifting device.

17. The method for transporting a livestock storage module claim 8, wherein the positioning of said lifting device is achieved through a plurality of guide plates on said lifting device.

18. A system for unloading livestock, comprising:

a livestock storage module;

a section of conveyor for carrying said livestock storage module, said section of conveyor being situated in proximity to an unloader; and

a hoist associated with the section of conveyor situated in proximity to the unloader;

said hoist adapted to position the section of conveyor and livestock storage module carried thereon in proximity to the unloader.

19. The system for unloading livestock of claim 18, further comprising another section of conveyor, wherein after unloading the livestock storage module is transported thereto.

20. The system for unloading livestock of claim 18, further comprising a lifting device for situating the livestock storage module onto the section of conveyor.

21. The system for unloading livestock of claim 19, further comprising a lifting device for transporting the livestock storage module from the other section of conveyor.

22. The system for unloading livestock of claim 18, further comprising a moveable platform in proximity to the section of conveyor for accessing the livestock storage module.

23. A method for unloading livestock, comprising:

situating a livestock storage module on a section of conveyor; and

unloading the livestock storage module by positioning said livestock storage module in proximity to an unloader by hoisting the section of conveyor and livestock storage module situated thereon.

24. The method for unloading livestock of claim 23, further comprising situating the livestock storage module on the section of conveyor via a lifting device.

25. The method for unloading livestock of claim 23, further comprising accessing the livestock storage module with a moveable platform situated in proximity to the section of conveyor.

26. The method for unloading livestock of claim 23, further comprising transferring the livestock storage module to another section of conveyor.

27. The method for unloading livestock of claim 23, further comprising transporting the livestock storage module to another location using a lifting device.

28. A partition system for a livestock storage module section, comprising:

a partition extending the general height of the module section;

a bracket operatively coupling a module section door with the partition, such that movement of said door causes movement of said partition.

29. The partition system of claim 28, wherein the partition includes a semi-circular top portion.

30. The partition system of claim 28, wherein the linkage is configured such opening said door causes the partition to raise.

31. The partition system of claim 28, wherein the linkage is configured such that closing said door allows the partition to lower.

32. The partition system of claim 31, wherein the linkage is configured such that closing said door allows the partition to lower via the force of gravity.

33. A system for unloading livestock, comprising:

a livestock transport container having multiple storage units, said container being adaptive to removably engage a transport vehicle, said units being generally rectangular with a top, a bottom, two sides and two ends, said sides of said unit generally extending said width of said container such that said ends are readily accessible from either of said sides;

a lift for removing said container from said vehicle and placing said container on a conveying system; and

a livestock unloader having an extending/retracting conveyor for removing livestock from said unit, said conveyor adapted to extend the width of said container.

34. A method of unloading livestock, comprising:

providing a plurality of livestock containers positioned on a transport vehicle;

lifting said containers from said vehicle to a first conveying system;

conveying said containers to a unloading station; and

unloading a storage unit of said container by extending a second conveying system from one side of said container to the other.

35. A method of unloading livestock, comprising:

loading livestock into removable modules on a transport vehicle;

transporting said livestock to a processing destination;

removing said module from said vehicle;

unloading said livestock from said module; and

attaching empty modules on said vehicle.

36. The method defined in claim 35, further comprising:

tagging said livestock with an RFID prior to loading; and

obtaining information from said RFID after unloading.

37. The method defined in claim 35, further comprising:

tagging said removable modules with an RFID prior to loading; and

obtaining information from said RFID after loading.

38. The method defined in claim 35, further comprising:

tagging said transport vehicle with an RFID prior to loading; and

obtaining information from said RFID after loading.

39. The method defined in claim 35, further comprising:

tagging one or more of the elements of the unloading system with an RFID prior to loading; and

obtaining information from said RFID after loading.