Poultry Cradle Shank Guide for Toe Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for restraining poultry during processing, such as sexing, inoculation, and beak or claw treatment, often result in birds struggling due to inadequate restraint, particularly when handling larger birds or performing tasks that require precise control over hock joints and toes.
Innovation Solution
The use of poultry cradles equipped with a torso support, head support, head clamp, shank clamp, and shank guide that restrain the shanks and heads of birds, providing additional control over hock joints and toes, and allowing for atraumatic restraint without puncturing the skin, with the shank guide and clamp spaced to improve control in larger birds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional manual restraint methods are used, then the device complexity is low, but the bird struggles significantly and control over hock joints and toes is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The restraint mechanism is divided into multiple independent components: head clamp, torso support, shank clamp, and shank guide. Each component targets a specific body part of the bird, allowing independent adjustment and control. This segmentation enables precise control over hock joints and toes through the shank guide and shank clamp while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The shank guide acts as an intermediary element between the shank clamp and the bird's hock joint. It provides additional control over the hock joint and toe position without requiring direct manipulation by the operator. This intermediary component translates the restraint force from the shank clamp into controlled positioning of the hock joint, solving the control problem while adding only one structural element.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the shank guide and shank clamp are spaced closer together, then the device complexity is reduced, but control over the shank of larger birds is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The distance between the shank guide and shank clamp is made adjustable rather than fixed, allowing the restraint system to adapt to birds of different sizes. For larger birds like ducks and turkeys, the components can be spaced farther apart (4mm or more) to provide adequate control over the shank, while for smaller birds they can be positioned closer together. This dynamic configuration enables the same device to handle a wide range of bird sizes effectively.
3Reliability
If head restraint only is used, then the device complexity is low, but the bird exhibits significant struggling behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The restraint system merges multiple restraint functions into a single integrated device. The head clamp restrains the head, the torso support stabilizes the body, the shank clamp secures the lower leg, and the shank guide controls the hock joint. By combining these functions into one unified restraint system, the bird's struggling is significantly reduced as all major movement points are controlled simultaneously, while the overall device remains manageable through integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the restraint system apply different types of restraint forces tailored to the specific anatomical features of each body part. The head clamp applies localized pressure to the head, the torso support provides distributed support across the body, the shank clamp secures the shank, and the shank guide controls the hock joint area. This localized approach to restraint ensures maximum effectiveness at each contact point while maintaining overall system reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Poultry cradles and methods of restraining birds are disclosed. Each poultry cradle may include a torso support, one or more shank clamps, one or more optional shank guides, and a head support. Restraining the shanks of birds using separate shank clamps and optional shank guides can provide additional control over the shanks and, therefore, the toes, of the restrained birds.