Animal identification band generator apparatus and method

• US 7,908,174 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2005
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEXX Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: IDEXX Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Starko, Dan G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frenel; Vanel
• Application Number:
  US11/305,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20070137587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,914 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104.1, 705/26, 340/573.1, 119/859
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/00 Marking of animals marking poultry or other birds A01K35/00
• 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: A01K 27/006 with light-emitting or ornamental devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/00 Other apparatus for animal husbandry
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

An animal tracking system integrated with a computerized animal management system operated by a microprocessor that maintains an animal information database of a plurality of animals within the custody of an animal handing facility, veterinary, pet kennel, or other pet care facility, includes an animal label driver that selectively generates an animal identification band having information associated with a selected one of the animals printed by a printer on a first surface with an attacher such as an opposing adhesive surface for attaching to the band in association with the animal. A method for generating an animal identification band by an animal management system is disclosed.

Claims

1. A pet animal tracking system for a pet-care facility that provides pet-care grooming and pet-sitting services integrated with a computerized pet animal management system, which pet animal tracking system generates animal identification bands for wearing by pet animals within the custody of the pet-care facility, comprising:

a pet animal management system operated by a microprocessor that maintains an animal information database of information associated with each of a plurality of pet animals within the custody of a pet-care facility;

an animal label driver operatively engaged to the pet animal management system for selectively generating an animal identification band for a selected one of the pet animals within the custody of the pet-care facility, the animal identification band wearable by the pet animal during its custody by the pet-care facility and disposable after use comprising a sheet having an information display surface;

an attacher for connecting the animal identification band to itself in association with the selected one of the pet animals;

a printer operated by the animal label driver to print at least an identification code associated with the selected one of the pet animals on the information display surface of the animal identification band so that each pet animal is distinguished from other of the pet animals,

whereby the animal identification band attaches in a selected position in association with the selected pet animal by the attacher.

2. The animal tracking system as recited in claim 1, wherein the animal identification band is separated at a selected length from a roll of media suitable for printing by the printer.

3. The animal tracking system as recited in claim 1, wherein a supply of the animal identification bands is continuous;

and further comprising a cutter to separate the animal identification band at a selected length.

4. The animal tracking system as recited in claim 1, wherein the animal information associated with the selected pet animal includes the identification code, an owner identifier associated with a person who owns the pet animal, and a services identifier that details animal care services to be provided by the pet-care facility, which animal information is printed by the printer on the animal identification band for tracking delivery of animal care services.

5. The animal tracking system as recited in claim 1, wherein the animal information database includes an animal type associated with each pet animal;

and the animal identification band is cut to a length based on the animal type for the selected pet animal.

6. The animal tracking system as recited in claim 1, wherein the attacher comprises an opposing side of the animal identification band having a releasable cover overlying an adhesive surface, whereby the animal identification band attaches by exposing a portion of the adhesive surface.

7. The animal tracking system as recited in claim 6, wherein the animal identification band forms a collar attached about a neck portion of the selected pet animal by adhering an uncovered portion of the adhesive surface to a portion of the releasable cover on the opposing side of the animal identification band.

8. The animal tracking system as recited in claim 1, wherein the attacher comprises a fastener and the animal identification band defines a plurality of holes in leading and trailing portions thereof, and joined together in a loop by the fastener extending through aligned holes.

9. The animal tracking system as recited in claim 1, wherein the animal information to be printed on the information display surface further comprises a name of the selected pet animal, information as to medicine to be communicated by the pet-care facility to the selected pet animal, and at least one activity for the selected pet animal.

10. The animal tracking system as recited in claim 9, wherein the activity comprises exercise information, grooming, and veterinary services, to be provided by the pet-care facility for the selected pet animal.

11. The animal tracking system as recited in claim 1, wherein the identification code comprises an encoded identifier that is readable by an electronic sensor for tracking the activities and services provided to the selected pet animal by the pet-care facility.

12. The animal tracking system as recited in claim 11, further comprising a communicator that communicates the identification of the encoded identifier detected by the electronic sensor to the animal information database to maintain a record of the activities and services.

13. The animal tracking system as recited in claim 1, wherein the information as to the selected pet animal is printed in sequential repeated blocks on the length of the animal identification band, whereby the animal information is readily observable.

14. A method of tracking a pet animal within the custody of a pet-care facility that provides pet-care grooming and pet-sitting services and having a computerized animal management system with an integrated animal tracking system that generates identification bands for pet animals within the custody of the pet-care facility, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an animal label driver for an animal management system operated by a microprocessor to maintain an animal information database of a plurality of pet animals within the custody of a pet-care facility;

(b) selectively printing by the animal label driver an animal identification band comprising an elongated sheet having an information display surface printed with at least an identification code from the animal information database associated with a selected one of the pet animals within the custody of the pet-care facility; and

(c) attaching the animal identification band to itself in a selected position in association with the selected pet animal for wearing as a collar during its custody by the pet-care facility and disposal after use.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising prior to step (b) the step of providing the animal identification band from a supply to a printer.

16. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein step (c) comprises attaching the animal identification band about a portion of the selected animal.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the step of attaching comprises connecting a fastener together to hold opposing end portions of the animal identification band together.

18. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the step of attaching comprises removing at least a portion of a releasable cover overlying an adhesive surface on the animal identification band and attaching the adhesive surface to a portion of the animal identification band.

19. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising the step of reading at least some of the information on the information display surface prior to delivery of services to the selected animal.

20. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising the step of using an electronic reader to read the identification code printed on the animal identification band, said reader communicates the identification code to the animal identification database.

21. A consumable for use with a printer in an animal tracking system integrated with a computerized animal management system, which animal tracking system generates an animal identification band for one of a plurality of pet animals within the custody of a pet-care facility that provides pet-care grooming and pet-sitting services, comprising an elongated sheet having an information display surface and an opposing side having a releasable cover overlying an adhesive surface, the consumable engaged by a printer operated by an animal label driver that communicates with the computerized animal management system for selectively generating an animal identification band by printing with the printer on the information display surface at least an identification code associated with a selected one of the pet animals within the custody of the pet-care facility, the animal management system operated by a microprocessor that maintains an animal information database of one or more pieces of information associated with each of a plurality of pet animals within the custody of the pet-care facility, whereby the animal identification band attaches to itself in association with the selected one of the pet animals during its custody by the pet-care facility and disposable after use by removing at least a portion of the cover sheet to expose a portion of the adhesive surface for attaching.