Poultry Cradle Unloading With Staged Head-and-Leg Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
The release of poultry from cradles where both the heads and legs are restrained can be problematic, leading to challenges in safely unloading and positioning birds for different processing needs.
Innovation Solution
A poultry cradle unloading system with a head and leg release mechanism, where the head is released before the legs, and the cradle is angled to facilitate upright landing, allowing controlled placement in selected locations based on species, gender, weight, or count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If both head and legs are restrained in the cradle during transport, then the bird can be securely held and transported, but the release process becomes problematic and unsafe
Solution Approach 1:
The restraint system is divided into separate head restraint and leg restraint components that can be independently controlled and released. This segmentation allows the bird to be securely held during transport while enabling controlled, staged release to improve safety during unloading.
Solution Approach 2:
The head restraint is released before the leg restraint in a predetermined sequence. This preliminary action of releasing the head first allows the bird to assume a more natural posture before full release, reducing the harmful effects of sudden complete release.
2Ease of operation
If the bird is released without controlled orientation, then the release process is simple, but the bird may not land in an upright orientation causing safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The cradle is pre-oriented at a specific angle before release, and the head restraint is released first to allow the bird's head to lead the movement toward an upright position. This preliminary positioning and sequential release ensure the bird lands upright without requiring complex active control during the release moment.
Solution Approach 2:
The cradle orientation angle is optimized to a specific parameter range that naturally guides the bird into an upright landing position when released in the predetermined sequence. By adjusting this geometric parameter, the system achieves reliable upright landing while maintaining operational simplicity.
3Productivity
If all birds are placed in the same location, then the unloading process is simple, but birds requiring different processing cannot be separated
Solution Approach 1:
The unloading system is segmented into multiple discharge locations or chutes, each capable of receiving birds that meet specific criteria. This segmentation enables simultaneous separation of birds by species, gender, weight, or count without requiring complex sequential processing, thereby improving overall productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sorting system is designed with multi-functional capabilities to handle multiple sorting criteria (species, gender, weight, count) using a unified platform with multiple discharge points. This universal design allows the same system to accommodate different processing requirements without needing separate specialized systems for each criterion.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures safe and controlled unloading of poultry, enabling separation and placement based on specific criteria, enhancing processing efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
the cradle and/or bird retained in the cradle may be oriented such that the bird is held at an angle such that the head of the bird is located forward of the hock joints (relative to a vertical axis defined by the direction of gravity)
Data Source
AI summary
The poultry cradle unloading systems and methods described herein provide for the unloading of birds and, in some cases, placement of the birds in a selected location among two or more possible selected locations. The unloading may be accomplished in a manner that promotes safety for the birds by releasing the birds such that they are predisposed to landing in an upright orientation after release from a cradle. The unloading may involve releasing the head before releasing the legs of the bird. The cradle and/or bird retained in the cradle may be oriented such that the bird is held at an angle such that the head of the bird is located forward of the hock joints.