PARK ON LIFT TABLE FOR HANDLING BIRD

Abstract

A poultry processing park comprising at least one space (30a, 30b, 30c) for receiving the birds, provided with a rear wall (31, 32, 33) movable between a retracted position and an advanced position in a transverse direction (T) and intended in the advanced position to push the birds towards a front wall (11) perforated with said space, characterized in that said park comprises, in a longitudinal direction (L) perpendicular to a direction of movement of said wall, a first longitudinal entry end (E) provided with a first sliding door (21) for opening or closing said first end, a second longitudinal exit end (S) provided with a second sliding door (24) for opening or closing said second end, said first sliding door and second sliding door being independently operable, said park being arranged in a frame (10) mounted on a lifting device (70) forming a lifting table,said lifting device being movable between a low position for entry and exit of the birds from said park and a high position for handling said birds by one or more operators.

Description

Title of the invention: PARK ON A LIFTING TABLE FOR HANDLING BIRD Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of breeding birds such as web-footed birds and handling these birds, in particular for force-feeding operations for the production of foie gras. Prior art

[0002] It is known from documents FR2867353 A1 and FR2943216 A1 in the name of the applicant to produce collective cages for birds such as palmipeds comprising a rear wall movable between a retracted position and an advanced position intended in the advanced position to push the palmipeds towards an openwork front wall or a device for retaining the palmipeds which allows them to be handled by an operator and which in particular allows force-feeding operations to be carried out, the rear wall being returned to the retracted position when the palmipeds are left free in the cages. Technical problem

[0003] These known solutions work but are not suitable for farms where the birds are raised on the ground in a building or in the open air. Statement of the invention

[0004] In view of this situation, the present disclosure proposes a park for processing birds comprising at least one space for receiving birds provided with a rear wall movable between a retracted position and an advanced position in a transverse direction and intended in the advanced position to push the birds towards a perforated front wall of said space, said park comprising, in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to a direction of movement of said wall, a first longitudinal inlet end provided with a first sliding door for opening or closing said first end, a second longitudinal outlet end provided with a second sliding door for opening or closing said second end, said first sliding door and second sliding door being independently operable and, said park being arranged in a frame mounted on a lifting device forming a lifting table,said lifting device being movable between a low position for entry and exit of the birds from said park and a high position for handling said birds by one or more operators.

[0005] According to a preferred embodiment, said park comprises one or more intermediate sliding doors to separate in said longitudinal direction at least two bird reception spaces, each comprising a movable rear wall.

[0006] Advantageously, the sliding doors slide parallel to said transverse direction.

[0007] The sliding doors, which can be operated independently, each have an operating device with a first electric motor, pinion and rack.

[0008] The lifting device is a compass or jack device and comprises a support table.

[0009] According to a particular embodiment, the rear wall(s) movable between a retracted position and a forward position in a transverse direction are advantageously maneuvered by a connecting rod device and sliding system, said connecting rod comprising a first end mounted on a rotary axis driven by a second electric motor.

[0010] The park comprising several rear walls, the latter are maneuvered together by means of said rotary axis.

[0011] The park may include a remote control for operating said sliding doors.

[0012] The present disclosure further relates to a method of treating volatiles in by means of a park defined above which comprises positioning the park on the ground with the rear wall moved back and the exit door closed, opening the first sliding door to allow a fixed number of birds to enter said reception space, closing the first door, moving forward the rear wall, lifting the park using the lifting device to position the birds at handling height by one or more operators, handling the birds by said one or more operators then moving back the rear wall and returning the park to the ground and finally opening the exit door to allow the birds to leave.

[0013] The park comprising one or more intermediate sliding doors for separating, along said longitudinal direction, at least two spaces for receiving birds, each comprising a movable rear wall, the method may comprise, park on the ground, opening the entrance door and opening the intermediate door(s), a progressive entry of the birds into the reception spaces from the space adjoining the entrance door to the space adjoining the exit door, closing the intermediate doors once the intermediate spaces are filled, starting with the space adjoining the exit door and going up to the space adjoining the entrance door before closing the entrance door before the rear wall advances, lifting the park using the lifting device to position the birds at handling height by one or more operators, handling the birds by said one or more operators then,after handling the birds, moving back the rear walls and returning the park to the ground, opening the exit door then the intermediate door(s) from the space adjoining the exit door to the space adjoining the door, input for a gradual exit of the birds.

[0014] Since the birds are web-footed, said manipulation is a force-feeding operation.

[0015] The park comprising a remote control for operating said sliding doors, an operation of said doors is carried out by an operator at least two meters away from said park. This makes it possible to keep the birds calm.

[0016] Thus, in the case of a force-feeding pen, the palmipeds enter the force-feeding pen through a first longitudinal end of said force-feeding pen, are received in the partitioned spaces and maintained in these partitioned spaces so as to allow their handling.

[0017] The park of the present disclosure simplifies operations and allows for easy separation of treated and untreated animals.

[0018] Since the birds are web-footed, said manipulation is a force-feeding operation.

[0019] The poultry treatment park of the present disclosure makes it possible to treat the birds in small groups, at human height and reducing the stress on the animals. This park is particularly suitable for force-feeding web-footed geese and ducks but also allows other handling such as vaccination or other care. Brief description of the drawings

[0020] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description below of non-limiting exemplary embodiments, and on analyzing the appended drawings, in which:

[0021] [Fig. 1] shows an example of a park of the present disclosure in front perspective;

[0022] [Fig.2] shows a detail of a mechanism for operating a wall;

[0023] [Fig.3] shows a detail of a sliding door operating mechanism;

[0024] [Fig.4] shows a schematic view of a lifting device;

[0025] [Fig.5] shows an example of a flowchart of a volatile processing process. Description of the embodiments

[0026] The following drawings and description contain elements which may not only serve to better understand the present invention, but also contribute to its definition, where appropriate.

[0027] Reference is now made to [Fig. 1] which represents an example of a park of the disclosure with three spaces 30a, 30b, 30c for receiving birds similar to collective cages. This park comprises a chassis 10 arranged on a lifting device 70 forming a lifting table.

[0028] The spaces for receiving the birds each comprise a rear wall 31, 32, 33 movable in a transverse direction T between a rear or retracted position for which the space allows the entry and exit of the birds and leaves them free to move. move and a forward or advanced position where the birds are supported against a retaining bar 11 or an openwork front face of said spaces, the rear wall and the retaining bar then forming means for restraining the birds, allowing in particular for web-footed birds such as geese or ducks to carry out a force-feeding operation.

[0029] The park designed on the basis of several modules juxtaposed in a longitudinal direction L and forming said spaces comprises between these spaces sliding doors 22, 23 for separating said spaces.

[0030] The spaces arranged at the longitudinal ends of the park each comprise a sliding door 21, 24 opening onto the exterior of the park to define an entrance E and an exit S of the park.

[0031] The aim is that the breeder can go and collect the free birds in an enclosure or a building to direct them towards the park whose entrance sliding door 21 and the intermediate sliding doors 22, 23 are open while the exit sliding door 24 remains closed.

[0032] This makes it possible to fill the park by starting with the entry of a first group of birds into the park up to space 30c at the end of the park then the closing of the intermediate sliding door of this space then the entry of a second group of birds into the park up to the middle space 30b, the closing of the sliding door of this space and finally the entry of a last group of birds into the park up to space 30c at the end of the park, the closing of the sliding door of this space closes the park. Once the park is filled, the rear walls are moved forward to engage the restraint of the palmipeds against the retaining bar 11 or an openwork front part of the spaces.

[0033] In the case where the operating motors of the sliding doors and the rear walls are controlled by a remote control 80, these operations are carried out with an operator at a distance from the park, the operator standing approximately two to three meters from the park, for example set back from the entrance to the park or behind the birds to guide them towards the entrance to the park.

[0034] Once the pen is closed and the poultry is held forward by the rear wall, the pen is raised to the height of the operator or operators who need to work on the poultry, for example in the case of web-footed birds for a force-feeding operation.

[0035] After the intervention, the chassis is lowered, the rear walls 31, 32, 33 are moved back and then the sliding doors except the first sliding door are opened to let the birds out.

[0036] The bird receiving spaces are sized to receive from one to six birds and the park may preferably include from one to four bird receiving spaces, a park of three spaces as shown constituting a good compromise. between the possible work rate and the weight to be lifted when the birds are in the spaces.

[0037] [Fig. 2] represents more precisely the device for operating the rear walls and shows in particular the wall 31 and its operating system which comprises a connecting rod device 53 and a sliding system 54, 55, said connecting rod comprising a first end mounted on a rotary axis 52 driven by an electric motor 51. In the example shown, the rotary axis 52 is common to all the rear walls while each rear wall comprises its connecting rod device and sliding system 54, 55.

[0038] The rotary axis constitutes an axis of rotation for a first end of the connecting rod which comprises at its second end an axis on which a pad 54 is mounted free to rotate, said pad sliding in a stirrup 55, said pad and said stirrup forming said sliding system. When, with the wall rearward, the connecting rod moves in rotation around the axis 52 in an anticlockwise direction in [Fig. 2], it drives the pad 54 in translation upwards in the stirrup and pushes the wall forward. When the wall is advanced, the connecting rod moves in a clockwise direction, it lowers the pad downwards which brings the wall back towards the rear. A fixing plate 59 connected to the frame of the park reinforces the device at the level of each connecting rod.

[0039] [Fig. 3] represents the example of the sliding door 21 and its operating device which comprises an electric motor 41 provided at the output of the motor shaft with a pinion 401 which meshes with a rack 402 secured to the sliding door 21. The sliding door is guided by uprights of the frame and can slide for example in slides not shown. As a variant the sliding doors can also move vertically which would allow space to be saved towards the rear of the park. The other sliding doors are designed on the same model and each sliding door has its own motor in order to allow them to be operated independently.

[0040] The lifting device may be, as in [Fig.l], a device with uprights comprising a pair of uprights arranged in a scissor fashion, the lower end of two parallel uprights being connected to a jack device in order to move them and allow the park to be raised or lowered. [Fig.4] shows another embodiment of the lifting device 71 based on a vertical jack 70' between the two platforms 72, 73. In order to allow the park to descend to the ground, the jack may be embedded in the ground, with only the movable rod protruding from the ground.

[0041] [Fig.4] represents a flowchart applicable to operations of force-feeding web-footed birds but also to care operations on birds.

[0042] The method exemplified in [Fig.6] comprises, for a park comprising a single reception space, initially positioning the park on the ground with the rear wall moved back and the exit door 100 closed, opening the first sliding door 120 to allow a fixed number of birds to enter 130 into said reception space, the closing of the first door 150, an advancement of the rear wall 170, the lifting 190 of the park by means of the lifting device to position the birds at handling height by one or more operators, the handling 210 of the birds by said one or more operators to carry out the planned operation, the birds being held between the wall and a front bar 11 of the park, then a retreat of the rear wall and the return to the ground of the park 230 and finally the opening of the exit door 250 to let the birds out.

[0043] In the case where the park comprises, in a longitudinal direction, two spaces separated by an intermediate sliding door or three or more spaces separated by sliding doors 22, 23, each space comprising a movable rear wall 31, 32, 33, the method comprises a ground park, the opening 120 of the entrance door 21 and the opening 140 of the intermediate door(s) 22, 23, a progressive entry 160 of the birds into the reception spaces, the birds being guided towards the park, the birds moving from the space adjoining the entrance door to the space adjoining the exit door, the closing 200 of the intermediate doors once the intermediate spaces are filled, starting with the space adjoining the exit door and going up to the space adjoining the entrance door. Once this is done, the entrance door is closed 220. The rear wall is moved forward to keep the birds in.

[0044] It is then possible to carry out the necessary manipulations on the birds, for example the force-feeding of the birds when they are geese or ducks or care such as vaccination of the birds. The park being raised is at human height to allow the birds to be handled without the operators having to bend down.

[0045] The method comprises, after handling the birds 210, moving back the rear walls and returning the park 240 to the ground.

[0046] Ground park, the opening of the exit door is triggered, then of the intermediate door(s) 260, from the space adjoining the exit door to the space adjoining the entrance door for a progressive exit of the birds. Thus the birds enter through a first longitudinal end of the park and exit through a second longitudinal end of said park, which simplifies their management.

[0047] As seen above, in the case where the birds are web-footed, the handling may in particular be a force-feeding operation.

[0048] An improved version of the park includes a remote control system for operating said sliding doors, which allows the operator operating the doors to move away so as not to disturb the birds which thus enter and leave the park calmly.

[0049] The operator can, for example, move at least two meters away from the park.

[0050] The feeding park model of the present disclosure is ergonomic and res- animal pee.

[0051] The invention is not limited to the examples described above, only by way of example, but it encompasses all the variants that a person skilled in the art may envisage within the framework of the protection sought and in particular the number of reception spaces may be more or less large and these spaces may be designed for a variable number of birds.

Claims

Claims

1. A poultry processing park comprising at least one space (30a, 30b, 30c) for receiving the birds, provided with a rear wall (31, 32, 33) movable between a retracted position and an advanced position in a transverse direction (T) and intended in the advanced position to push the birds towards a front wall (11) perforated with said space, characterized in that said park comprises, in a longitudinal direction (L) perpendicular to a direction of movement of said wall, a first longitudinal entry end (E) provided with a first sliding door (21) for opening or closing said first end, a second longitudinal exit end (S) provided with a second sliding door (24) for opening or closing said second end, said first sliding door and second sliding door being operable independently,said park being arranged in a frame (10) mounted on a lifting device (70) forming a lifting table, said lifting device being movable between a low position for entry and exit of the birds from said park and a high position for handling said birds by one or more operators.

2. Park according to claim 1 for which said park comprises one or more intermediate sliding doors (22, 23) which can be operated independently, to separate in said longitudinal direction at least two spaces for receiving birds, each comprising a movable rear wall (31, 32, 33).

3. A park according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the sliding doors slide parallel to said transverse direction.

4. Park according to claim 3 for which the independently operable sliding doors each comprise an operating device with a first electric motor (41, 42, 43, 44), pinion (401) and rack (402).

5. Park according to any one of the preceding claims for which the lifting device (70) is a compass device (70) or jack (70') and comprises a support table (73).

6. Park according to any one of the preceding claims, for which the rear wall(s) (31, 32, 33) movable between a retracted position and a forward position in a transverse direction are maneuvered by a connecting rod device (53) and sliding system (54, 55), said connecting rod comprising a first end mounted on a rotary axis (52). driven by a second electric motor (51).

7. A park according to claim 6 comprising a plurality of rear walls wherein the rear walls (31, 32, 33) are maneuvered together by means of said rotary axis (52).

8. Park according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a remote control for operating said sliding doors.

9. Method for treating birds using a pen according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises positioning the pen on the ground with the rear wall moved back and the exit door closed (100), opening the first sliding door (120) to allow a fixed number of birds to enter (130) into said reception space, closing the first door (150), moving the rear wall forward (170), lifting (190) the pen using the lifting device to position the birds at handling height by one or more operators, handling (210) the birds by said one or more operators then moving the rear wall back and returning the pen to the ground (230) and finally opening the exit door (250) to allow the birds to exit.

10. Method according to claim 9 for which said park comprises one or more intermediate sliding doors (22, 23) for separating in said longitudinal direction at least two spaces for receiving birds each comprising a movable rear wall (31, 32, 33), for which the method comprises ground park, the opening (120) of the entrance door (21) and the opening (140) of the intermediate door(s) (22, 23), a progressive entry (160) of the birds into the reception spaces from the space adjoining the entrance door to the space adjoining the exit door, the closing of the intermediate doors (200) once the intermediate spaces are filled starting with the space adjoining the exit door and going up to the space adjoining the entrance door before closing the entrance door (220) before the advancement of the rear wall (170),lifting (190) the park by means of the lifting device to position the birds at handling height by one or more operators, handling (210) the birds by said one or more operators.,

11. Method according to claim 10 for which the method comprises, after handling the birds (210), moving back the rear walls and returning the park (240) to the ground, opening the exit door then the intermediate door(s) (260) from the space adjoining the exit door to the space adjoining the entrance door for a gradual exit of the birds (210). volatile.

12. Method according to any one of claims 9 to 11 for which the birds being web-footed, said manipulation is a force-feeding operation.

13. Method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, for which the park comprises a remote control for operating said sliding doors, an operation of said doors is carried out by an operator at least two meters away from said park.

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