Systems and methods for transporting young fowl from a hatchery to a growout house
First Claim
1. A portable device for transporting fowl, comprising:
- a frame having a longitudinal axis, wherein the frame is adapted for placement in a vehicle for transporting the apparatus to a growout house;
at least one conveyor belt coupled to the frame and positioned generally horizontal relative to the frame, wherein the at least one conveyor belt has a top surface capable of supporting fowl;
at least one baffle coupled to the at least one conveyor belt;
at least one side wall;
a plurality of rollers coupled to the frame and positioned at each end of the conveyor belt transverse to the longitudinal axis of the frame for supporting the at least one conveyor belt; and
a plurality of wheels attached to the frame;
wherein the plurality of wheels facilitate placement of the portable device into the delivery vehicle and removal from the delivery vehicle for transporting young fowl.
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Accused Products
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.
85 Citations
57 Claims
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1. A portable device for transporting fowl, comprising:
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a frame having a longitudinal axis, wherein the frame is adapted for placement in a vehicle for transporting the apparatus to a growout house;
at least one conveyor belt coupled to the frame and positioned generally horizontal relative to the frame, wherein the at least one conveyor belt has a top surface capable of supporting fowl;
at least one baffle coupled to the at least one conveyor belt;
at least one side wall;
a plurality of rollers coupled to the frame and positioned at each end of the conveyor belt transverse to the longitudinal axis of the frame for supporting the at least one conveyor belt; and
a plurality of wheels attached to the frame;
wherein the plurality of wheels facilitate placement of the portable device into the delivery vehicle and removal from the delivery vehicle for transporting young fowl. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
a panel; and
a plurality of sides coupled to the panel;
wherein the loading slide is adapted for attachment to the frame.
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16. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising an unloading slide.
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17. The portable device of claim 16, wherein the unloading slide further comprises a slide having a directional guide positioned along a longitudinal axis of the slide for directing fowl toward watering devices located within a growout house.
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18. The portable device of claim 15, further comprising a storage system for storing the loading slide.
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19. The portable device of claim 15, further comprising a means for storing the loading slide.
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20. The portable device of claim 19, wherein the means for storing the loading slide comprises a storage compartment positioned on a back surface of the frame.
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21. The portable device of claim 19, wherein the means for storing the loading slide comprises a storage compartment positioned on a bottom surface of the frame.
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22. The portable device of claim 19, wherein the means for storing the loading slide comprises a storage compartment positioned on a top surface of the frame.
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23. The portable device of claim 16, further comprising an attachment mechanism for attaching the unloading slide to the portable device.
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24. The portable device of claim 16, further comprising a means for positioning the unloading slide proximate a conveyor belt.
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25. The portable device of claim 24, wherein the means for positioning the unloading slide proximate to a conveyor belt comprises a chain and sprocket.
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26. The portable device of claim 24, wherein the means for positioning the unloading slide proximate to a conveyor belt comprising a cable and pulley.
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27. The portable device of claim 24, wherein the means for positioning the unloading slide proximate a conveyor belt comprises at least one drive screw and at least one journal.
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28. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the conveyor belt further comprises at least two baffles positioned generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor belt and affixed to the conveyor belt so that when a first baffle is located above a first end roller, a second baffle is positioned above the second end roller located at an end of the frame opposite the first roller.
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29. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising at least one door coupled to the frame proximate to a roller and positioned generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the frame, wherein the at least one door is capable of containing the fowl on the top surface of one of the at least one conveyor belt.
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30. The portable device of claim 29, further comprising a solenoid coupled to the at least one door so that in a first position the solenoid maintains the at least one door in a generally closed position and in a second position the solenoid maintains the at least one door in a generally open position for allowing the fowl to be loaded or unloaded.
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31. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising a motor for driving the at least one conveyor belt.
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32. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising a means for driving the at least one conveyor belt along a path established by the plurality of rollers.
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33. The portable device of claim 32, wherein the means for driving the at least one conveyor belt comprises at least one hydraulic motor.
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34. The portable device of claim 32, wherein the means for driving the at least one conveyor belt comprises at least one electric motor.
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35. The portable device of claim 32, wherein the means for driving the at least one conveyor belt comprises a plurality of motors.
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36. The portable device of claim 32, wherein the means for driving the at least one conveyor belt comprises a single motor in communication with the at least one conveyor belt.
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37. The portable device of claim 36, further comprising:
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a shaft attached to each roller;
a bearing assembly attached to each shaft;
a sprocket attached to each bearing assembly and comprising an aperture for receiving a key;
a solenoid coupled to each sprocket;
a key coupled to each solenoid; and
a chain attached to each sprocket.
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38. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising at least one camera for monitoring the loading process or the unloading process.
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39. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising at least one battery positioned within the portable device for supplying power.
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40. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising a voltage converter for converting power supplied by an external power source.
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41. An apparatus for transporting fowl, comprising:
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a vehicle capable of passing through an entrance to a growout house, comprising;
a cab;
a climate-controlled storage compartment coupled to the vehicle rearward of the cab and adapted to a portable device;
the portable device, comprising;
a frame having a longitudinal axis, wherein.the frame is adapted for placement in the vehicle for transporting the apparatus to a growout house;
at least one conveyor belt coupled to the frame and positioned generally horizontal relative to the frame, wherein the at least one conveyor belt has a top surface capable of supporting fowl;
at least one baffle coupled to the at least one conveyor belt;
at least one side wall;
a plurality of rollers coupled to the frame and positioned at each end of the conveyor belt transverse to the longitudinal axis of the frame for supporting the at least one conveyor belt; and
a plurality of wheels attached to the frame;
wherein the plurality of wheels facilitate placement of the portable device into the delivery vehicle and removal from the delivery vehicle for transporting young fowl. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
at least one bell crank coupled to the climate-controlled storage compartment;
at least one crank rod coupled to the at least one bell crank;
at least one bell crank rod coupled to the at least one bell crank;
at least one pivot brake crank arm coupled to the at least one crank rod; and
at least one brake pad coupled to the at least one pivot brake crank arm for contacting the portable device.
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47. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising at least one camera for monitoring the loading process or the unloading process.
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48. A method for transporting fowl, comprising:
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loading fowl from a hatchery into a portable device for transporting fowl from the hatchery to a growout house, wherein the portable device comprises;
a frame having a longitudinal axis, wherein the frame is adapted for placement in a vehicle for transporting the apparatus to a growout house;
at least one conveyor belt coupled to the frame and positioned generally horizontal relative to the frame, wherein the at least one conveyor belt has a top surface capable of supporting fowl;
at least one baffle coupled to the at least one conveyor belt;
at least one side wall;
a plurality of rollers coupled to the frame and positioned at each end of the conveyor belt transverse to the longitudinal axis of the frame for supporting the at least one conveyor belt; and
a plurality of wheels attached to the frame;
wherein the plurality of wheels facilitate placement of the portable device into the delivery vehicle and removal from the delivery vehicle for transporting young fowl;
loading the portable device onto a vehicle;
transporting the fowl from the hatchery to the growout house; and
releasing the fowl within the growout house. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A method of storing fowl within a hatchery, comprising:
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loading fowl from the hatchery into a portable device, the portable device comprising;
a frame having a longitudinal axis, wherein the frame is adapted for placement in a vehicle for transporting the apparatus to a growout house;
at least one conveyor belt coupled to the frame and positioned generally horizontal relative to the frame, wherein the at least one conveyor belt has a top surface capable of supporting fowl;
at least one baffle coupled to the at least one conveyor belt;
at least one side wall;
a plurality of rollers coupled to the frame and positioned at each end of the conveyor belt transverse to the longitudinal axis of the frame for supporting the at least one conveyor belt; and
a plurality of wheels attached to the frame;
wherein the plurality of wheels facilitate placement of the portable device into the delivery vehicle and removal from the delivery vehicle for transporting young fowl; and
storing the portable device.
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56. A portable device for transporting fowl, comprising:
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a frame having a longitudinal axis, wherein the frame is adapted for placement in a vehicle for transporting the apparatus to a growout house;
at least one conveyor belt coupled to the frame and positioned generally horizontal relative to the frame, wherein the at least one conveyor belt has a top surface capable of supporting fowl;
at least one baffle coupled to the at least one conveyor belt;
at least one side wall;
a plurality of rollers coupled to the frame and positioned at each end of the conveyor belt transverse to the longitudinal axis of the frame for supporting the at least one conveyor belt;
a plurality of wheels attached to the frame;
wherein the plurality of wheels facilitate placement of the portable device into the delivery vehicle and removal from the delivery vehicle for transporting young fowl;
at least one motor coupled to the at least one conveyor belt for driving the at least one conveyor belt along a path established by the plurality of rollers;
at least one motor coupled to at least one wheel for rotating the wheel;
at least one door coupled to the frame proximate to each conveyor belt, wherein the door is coupled with a solenoid capable of opening and closing the door;
a control module for controlling operation of the at least one door, the at least one motor coupled to the at least one wheel, and the at least one motor coupled to that at least one conveyor belt;
a battery system;
a fitting for connecting to an external power source; and
a voltage converter for converting power supplied by an external power source.
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57. An portable device for transporting fowl, comprising:
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a frame having a longitudinal axis, wherein the frame is adapted for placement in a vehicle for transporting the apparatus to a growout house;
at least one conveyor belt coupled to the frame and positioned generally horizontal relative to the frame, wherein the at least one conveyor belt has a top surface capable of supporting fowl;
at least one door coupled to each end of the frame proximate to each conveyor belt and positioned generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the frame for containing fowl on the top surface of each conveyor belt;
at least one side wall;
a plurality of rollers coupled to the frame and positioned at each end of the conveyor belt transverse to the longitudinal axis of the frame for supporting the at least one conveyor belt; and
a plurality of wheels attached to the frame;
wherein the plurality of wheels facilitate placement of the portable device into the delivery vehicle and removal from the delivery vehicle for transporting young fowl.
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Specification