Livestock Sorting Gate Control via Entry Exit Count Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing livestock sorting systems face challenges in efficiently guiding animals to their destinations while minimizing the risk of injury and stress, particularly due to the need for quick and precise gate operation in automated systems.
Innovation Solution
A sorting system with a programmable control unit that activates movable sorting walls based on animal passage counts between entry and exit ports, ensuring that no animals are left in the path of movement by comparing count values and activating drive means only when both counts are equal, thus preventing potential injuries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated sorting systems move sorting gates quickly to improve efficiency, then productivity increases, but animals may be injured or stressed by sudden gate movements
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit checks counting data from both the access port and exit ports before activating the drive means to move the sorting wall. This preliminary verification ensures that no animals are present in the sorting compartment before gate movement occurs, preventing injuries while maintaining efficient automated operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors animal passage through the access port and exit ports using counting means, and uses this feedback information to control the sorting wall movement. The control unit compares the count values and only activates gate movement when the counts are equal, ensuring safe automated sorting
2Productivity
If sorting gates are closed quickly to improve processing speed, then productivity increases, but animals may become enclosed in the path of movement
Solution Approach 1:
Before activating the drive means to move the sorting wall, the control unit performs a preliminary check by comparing counting data from the access port and exit ports. This ensures that the sorting compartment is clear of animals, allowing quick gate movement without enclosing animals in the path
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual gate operation with an automated control system that uses electronic counting means and programmable logic to determine when gate movement is safe. This substitution of mechanical control with electronic monitoring enables faster, safer operation
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3A
AI summary
System (1) for sorting livestock, comprising a sorting compartment (40) surrounded by delimitations, an access port (3) to the sorting compartment and two or more exit ports (14a;14b;14c;14d) from the sorting compartment, and at least one movable sorting wall (11a;11b;11c), such as a sorting gate, wherein the entry port and the exit port each have at least one gate leaf which is movable between a closed position and one or more pass positions, also comprising first counting means for ascertaining a passage of an animal through the access port and second, third, etc. counting means for ascertaining a passage of an animal through a respective exit port, and a programmable control unit (15) to which the aforementioned counting means are operatively connected, wherein the system is also provided with first closing means (9a,9b) for holding the access port in a closed position, wherein the system further comprises drive means for moving the sorting wall from a position steering the livestock from the access port to a first exit port to a position steering the livestock from the access port to a second exit port, wherein the control unit is configured for activating the drive means for the sorting wall on the basis of a comparison of the data from the second counting means with the data from the first counting means.