Electronic method and system for tracking the carcass of a slaughtered animal through a processing plant

• US 6,231,435 B1
• Filed: 01/28/2000
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aginfolink Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: John Pilger
• Inventors: Pilger, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Little, Willis
• Application Number:
  US09/492,965
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 452/157, 452/150, 452/158, 452/198
• US Class Current: 452/157
• CPC Class Codes: A22B 5/0064 for classifying or grading carcasses; for measuring back fat
• CPC Class Codes: A22B 7/007 Means containing information relative to the carcass that can be attached to or are embedded in the conveying means

Abstract

An efficient integrated electronic method and system apparatus for tracking the carcass of a slaughtered animal through a processing plant so that quality assurance source verification data and performance tracking are provided for individual animals throughout the production cycle. The preferred embodiment includes a trolley, a unique trolley code, a hole pattern vision recognition system with an integrated data logger, an industrial tag reader, a unique animal code, an electronic identification transponder, an electronic identification transponder reader, an electronic identification transponder reader antenna, a reclamation barrel and a plastic funnel.

Claims

1. A method for tracking the carcass of a slaughtered animal through a processing plant comprising the steps of:

identifying a trolley with a hole pattern vision recognition system and an integrated data logger, such that the trolley provides a unique trolley code, and that code identifies a particular trolley;

identifying a carcass of a slaughtered animal with an electronic identification transponder, such that the electronic identification transponder provides a unique animal code when queried by an electronic identification transponder reader unit, and that unique animal code identifies a particular animal;

removing the electronic identification transponder from the carcass of said slaughtered animal;

dropping said electronic identification transponder into a reclamation barrel, the inside perimeter opening of said reclamation barrel having a plastic funnel including a electronic identification transponder reader antenna and an electronic identification transponder reader embedded and formed in a circular loop within said funnel;

reading the electronic identification transponder using the embedded electronic identification transponder reader antenna and the electronic identification transponder reader;

uploading the unique animal code from the animal electronic identification transponder reader to the integrated data logger;

storing the unique trolley code and the unique animal code as a pair.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step:

uploading the unique trolley code and the unique animal code from the data logger to a conventional modem.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step:

uploading the unique trolley code and the unique animal code from the data logger to a cellular modem.

4. A method for tracking the carcass of a slaughtered animal through a processing plant comprising the steps of:

identifying a trolley with a hole pattern vision recognition system and an integrated data logger, such that the trolley provides a unique trolley code, and that code identifies a particular trolley;

identifying a trolley with a radio frequency identification transponder reader unit, such that the trolley provides a unique trolley code, and that code identifies a particular trolley;

identifying each carcass of a slaughtered animal with an electronic identification transponder, such that the electronic identification transponder provides a unique animal code when queried by an electronic identification transponder reader unit, and that unique animal code identifies a particular animal;

removing the electronic identification transponder from the carcass of said slaughtered animal;

dropping said electronic identification transponder into a reclamation barrel, the inside perimeter opening of said reclamation barrel having a plastic funnel including an electronic identification transponder reader antenna and an electronic identification transponder reader embedded and formed in a circular loop within said funnel;

reading the electronic identification transponder using the embedded circular electronic identification transponder reader antenna and the electronic identification transponder reader;

uploading the unique animal code from the electronic identification transponder reader to the integrated data logger;

storing the unique trolley code and the unique animal code as a pair.

5. The method of claim 4 comprising the additional step:

uploading the unique trolley code and the unique animal code from the data logger to a conventional modem.

6. The method of claim 4 comprising the additional step:

uploading the unique trolley code and the unique animal code from the data logger to a cellular modem.

7. A method for tracking the carcass of a slaughtered animal through a processing plant comprising the steps of:

identifying a trolley with a radio frequency identification transponder reader unit, such that the trolley provides a unique trolley code, and that code identifies a particular trolley;

identifying the carcass of a slaughtered animal with an electronic identification transponder, such that the electronic identification transponder provides a unique animal code when queried by an electronic identification transponder reader unit, and that unique animal code identifies a particular animal;

removing the electronic identification transponder from the carcass of said slaughtered animal;

dropping said electronic identification transponder into a reclamation barrel, the inside perimeter opening of said reclamation barrel having a plastic funnel including an electronic identification transponder reader antenna and an electronic identification transponder reader embedded and formed in a circular loop within said funnel;

reading the electronic identification transponder using the embedded circular electronic identification transponder reader antenna and the electronic identification transponder reader;

uploading the unique animal code from the animal electronic identification transponder reader to the integrated data logger;

storing the unique trolley code and the unique animal code as a pair.

8. The method of claim 7 comprising the additional step:

uploading the unique trolley code and the unique animal code from the data logger to a conventional, modem.

9. The method of claim 7 comprising the additional step:

uploading the unique trolley code and the unique animal code from the data logger to a cellular modem.