Poultry Toe Guide and Cradle for Precise Claw Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Precise positioning of poultry toes and claws is difficult due to the size and activity levels of birds, and existing restraints primarily focus on beak and bill positioning, posing handling challenges and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A poultry toe and claw positioning system with a seat lift and toe guide mechanism that allows for precise alignment of forward-facing toes and claws, using capture channels and guide channels to securely position both shanks of a bird, incorporating a cradle for restraint and actuator-controlled movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual handling is used to position poultry toes and claws, then positioning can be performed, but it is difficult and potentially dangerous to the bird
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (the positioning system with capture channels and guide channels) that mediates between the operator and the bird's toes/claws. This intermediary mechanism allows positioning to occur through mechanical guidance rather than direct manual manipulation, reducing the risk of harm to the bird while maintaining positioning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The capture channels and guide channels are designed to automatically guide the toes and claws into the correct positions through their geometric configuration. The channels themselves perform the positioning function without requiring active manual manipulation, allowing the system to serve itself in achieving proper toe and claw alignment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing restraints are used to hold birds, then birds can be restrained, but the focus has been on beak and bill positioning rather than toes and claws
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning system is designed as a multi-functional restraint device that can position both the beak/bill and the toes/claws of poultry. The system incorporates multiple capture channels for different digits and guide channels for various orientations, making it universally applicable to different parts of the bird rather than being specialized for a single area.
Solution Approach 2:
The restraint system is segmented into multiple independent channels (capture channels for different toes, guide channels for different orientations) that can independently position different parts of the bird. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple positioning tasks simultaneously without interference between them.
3Productivity
If all forward-facing toes and claws are positioned simultaneously, then inspection time is reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple positioning functions into a single integrated mechanism. The capture channels and guide channels work together as a unified system to position all forward-facing toes and claws simultaneously in one operation, rather than requiring separate positioning steps for each toe or claw.
Solution Approach 2:
The capture channels are designed to preliminarily capture and pre-position the toes before the guide channels finalize the positioning. This preliminary action allows all toes to be captured and oriented correctly in advance, enabling simultaneous final positioning without requiring complex coordinated movements during the actual positioning phase.
Data Source
AI summary
Poultry toe and claw positioning systems and methods are described herein. The positioning systems and methods may be used to separate and precisely locate the forward-facing toes and claws of birds.