Method and apparatus for tracking carcasses

• US 20020054940A1
• Filed: 11/01/2001
• Published: 05/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation (Cargill, Inc. (Agricultural Services Division))
• Original Assignee: Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation (Cargill, Inc. (Agricultural Services Division))
• Inventors: Grose, Darren J., Dolezal, Howard G. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,724,309 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/231
• 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 apparatus and method for identifying a carcass during meat production. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a band sized to fit around a limb of the carcass and a readable identification tag affixed to the band for remote identification of the carcass. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a block adapted to couple to a trolley carrying the carcass and a readable identification tag coupled to or embedded in the block. The readable identification tag may be used to read and write information relating to the carcass to a database.

Claims

1. An apparatus for identifying a carcass during meat production, the apparatus comprising:

a band sized to fit around a limb of the carcass; and

a readable identification tag coupled to the band for remote identification of the carcass.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the readable identification tag is an RFID tag.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the readable identification tag is a bar code identification for identification by a bar code reader.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor coupled to the band.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a biosensor coupled to the band, adapted to detect the presence of a specified biological organism.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a ferrous wire loop embedded in the band to facilitate detection by a metal detector.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the band is constructed from plastic that is capable of withstanding high temperatures during meat production.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the band is brightly colored to facilitate visual identification.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a sensor embedded in the band for detection of an ambient condition.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the band is shaped as a loop with an opening therein.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the band is formed in frustoconical shape.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the band is a plastic strip having a first end and a second end, the plastic strip formed into a ring sized to fit around the limb of the carcass by attaching the first end to the second end.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the readable identification tag is an RFID tag.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the readable identification tag is a bar code identification for identification by a bar code reader.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the band is a plastic strip having a first end and a second end, the plastic strip formed into a ring sized to fit around the gambrel by attaching the first end to the second end.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising a bar code identification on the band and a bar code reader positioned on the meat production line to read the bar code identification.

19. The system of claim 17 further comprising a visible number on the band.

20. The system of claim 17 further comprising a wireless temperature sensor embedded in the band.

21. The system of claim 17 further comprising a ferrous wire loop embedded in the band to facilitate detection by a metal detector.

13. An apparatus for identifying a carcass during meat production, the apparatus comprising:

a band sized to fit around a gambrel used to support the carcass; and

a readable identification tag coupled to the band for remote identification of the carcass.

17. A system for identifying a carcass during meat production along a meat production line, the system comprising:

a band sized to fit around a limb of the carcass, wherein the band contains an RFID tag; and

an RFID tag reader positioned along the meat production line to read the RFID tag.

22. A method for identifying a carcass during meat production, the method comprising:

attaching an RFID tag to a trolley carrying the carcass; and

reading identification information from the RFID tag with an RFID tag reader.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the RFID tag is adapted for reading and writing of data and further comprising writing carcass information to the RFID tag.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the carcass information includes a carcass weight and a carcass number.

25. The method of claim 22 further comprising storing information, relating to the carcass, in a database in association with the identification information.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising reading ear tag information stored on an ear tag on the carcass and storing the ear tag information in a database in association with the identification information.

27. The method of claim 23 further including the steps of:

removing the RFID tag from the limb of the carcass;

erasing the carcass identification information from the RFID tag, such that the RFID tag can be reused on a second carcass; and

verifying that the RFID tag is operational by performing a read function with the RFID tag reader.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of attaching the RFID tag to the second carcass.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the carcass information stored in the memory includes a carcass weight and a carcass number.

31. The apparatus of claim 29 further wherein the carcass information stored in the memory includes an ear-tag number.

29. An apparatus for labeling a carcass during meat production, the apparatus comprising:

a band sized to fit around a limb of the carcass, the band including a read-write capable RFID tag; and

a read-write capable RFID tag coupled to the band and adapted to allow remote reading by an RFID tag reader, the RFID tag including memory adapted to store carcass information.

32. An device for identifying a carcass hanging from a trolley, during meat production along a meat processing line, the device comprising:

a block adapted to couple to a frame of the trolley, the block including a base and two generally parallel arms defining a notch configured to surround the frame; and

a readable identification tag coupled to the band for remote identification of the carcass.

33. The device of claim 32 wherein the readable identification tag is an RFID tag.

34. The device of claim 32 wherein the RFID tag is embedded in the block.

35. The device of claim 33 further including a second RFID tag coupled to the band.

36. The device of claim 32 wherein the arms extend substantially the entire distance along a first and a second opposing edge of the base and are disposed generally perpendicular to the base.

37. The device of claim 36 wherein each of the arms includes a finger extending substantially the entire distance along the corresponding arm and extend generally parallel to the base, the fingers having an angled edge such that when the block contact the trolley frame, the opposing arms separate allowing the frame to mate with the notch.

38. The device of claim 33 wherein one of the arms includes a compartment for housing the RFID tag.

39. The device of claim 32 wherein the base defines a generally central opening adapted to accept an axle of the trolley.

40. The device of claim 32 wherein the block includes a barcode identification for identification by a bar code reader.

41. The device of claim 32 further comprising a temperature sensor or a humidity sensor coupled to the block.

42. The device of claim 32 further comprising a biosensor coupled to the block, the biosensor adapted to detect the presence of a specified biological organism.

43. The device of claim 32 further comprising a supplemental fastener for further coupling the block to the trolley.