AU2006235761B1 - Shearing platform - Google Patents

Description

S&F Ref: 786213

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name and Address of Applicants: Australian Wool Innovation Ltd, Level 5, 16-20 Barrack Street, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Peter William Black, of Lot 4 Fisheries Road, Esperance, Western Australia, 6450, Australia Darryl James Cole, of 17 Crocus Way, Ferndale, Western Australia, 6148, Australia Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Peter William Black Darryl James Cole Stephen Alexander Harvey Dwayne Peter Maurice Black Noel David Murray Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Shearing platform Associated Provisional Application Details: [33] Country:

AU

[31] Appl'n No(s): 2005906188 [32] Application Date: 08 Nov 2005 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5845c 1 SHEARING PLATFORM Technical Field The present invention relates to the field of sheep shearing, and particularly relates to a shearing platform for supporting a sheep at an elevated position during shearing.

Background of the Invention Shearing of sheep, in the most part, has traditionally been a labour intensive and arduous task, and requiring high levels of physical strength of shearers in order to capture, manipulate and hold a sheep whilst the sheep is being shorn. In traditional shearing io methods the sheep and the shearer are at the same level, that is, the sheep is not raised off the ground on which the shearer is standing.

Shearers typically hold the sheep with one hand whilst bending over the animal and progressively removing the fleece with mechanically driven shearing devices or clippers.

This task places large strains upon the lower back of a shearer and, in particular when an Is animal unexpectedly moves, turns or rotates its body, the shearer is exposed to impact loads and damage of the lower spine. Such damage to the lumbar region not only results in pain to a shearer but can also result in physical disability leading to a reduction in sheep shorn over time, and hence a reduction of income to the shearer. In many cases this injury results in a shearer having to exit the industry.

In developing a better shearing process and position, raised shearing tables or platforms have been proposed in an attempt to reduce loads placed on a shearer's spine during the shearing process. However, such platforms, even when used in combination with specialised braces and straps to restrain the animal, have been found to be somewhat cumbersome and time consuming to use, resulting in excessive time in securing the animal and also resulting in agitation to the animal. Lifting the sheep to an elevated position and removing the sheep from that elevated position can add considerably to the overall shearing time on a per sheep basis.

A further problem with previously proposed platforms is that they make the shearing operation significantly more difficult for the shearer. In traditional methods when the sheep is on the ground the shearer is far better able to access all sides of the sheep so that the fleece can be removed as a single body of wool. By bending over the sheep, and pressing down on the flank of the sheep with one leg, the shearer is able to constrain the sheep at the same time as having ready access to all sides of the sheep.

Previously proposed elevated platforms have typically not enabled the same ready access [R:\L1R-LL1786213 Specifacation.doc:prw INC to both sides of the sheep, and manipulation and constraint of the sheep in selected positions on the platform has often proved problematic.

During shearing season, the time taken for a shearer to remove the fleece from a O single animal effectively indicates the efficiency and profitability of the process.

s Furthermore, accuracy and quality of shearing further influences the profitability and efficiency of a shearing station. Shearers who shear wool rapidly from the animal will typically often earn a higher income than those who are slower in removing the wool from the animal, assuming the quality of the shorn fleece is not compromised during Cc shearing. Previously proposed platforms have typically not been able to match or exceed N o the productivity of traditional shearing methods.

Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a shearing platform for supporting a sheep at an elevated position for shearing, said shearing platform comprising: an elongate central support element having a head end, a tail end, a near side edge and a far side edge; an elongate side support element having a head end, a tail end, an inner side edge and an outer side edge, said inner side edge of said side support element extending substantially parallel and adjacent to said far side edge of said central support element; a first hinge defining a first pivot axis extending substantially parallel and adjacent to each of said far side edge of said central support element and said inner side edge of said side support element, said first hinge pivotably connecting said side support element to said central support element; first drive means for pivotably driving said side support element relative to said central support element about said first pivot axis; a brisket/belly support element extending generally parallel and adjacent to said near side edge of said central support element, said brisket/belly support element having a support surface configured to support the brisket/belly region of a sheep with the legs of the sheep extending below said support surface; [R:\LIBLL]786213 Specification.doc:prw O a second hinge defining a second pivot axis extending substantially parallel and adjacent to said near side edge of said central support element, said second hinge pivotably connecting said brisket/belly support element to said central support element.

O In a preferred embodiment, said second pivot axis is fixed.

In the preferred embodiment, said shearing platform further comprises a second drive means for pivotably driving said central support element about said second pivot axis and a third drive means for pivotably driving said brisket/belly support element about said second pivot axis.

SPreferably, said brisket/belly support element comprises a forward portion for O to10 supporting the sheep's brisket between the sheep's front legs, a mid portion for supporting the sheep's belly, and a rear portion for supporting the sheep's crutch between the sheep's hind legs.

In a preferred form, a forward region of said support surface defined by said forward portion is convex and a mid region of said support surface defined by said mid is portion is concave.

Preferably, said rear portion is generally cylindrical.

Preferably, said shearing platform further comprises a releasable leg restraint mounted on said side support element towards said tail end of said side support element.

Preferably, said leg restraint is actuable between a restraining position and a releasing position by way of an actuator.

Preferably said shearing platform further comprises a fixed leg restraint mounted on said side support element towards said tail end of said side support element, said fixed leg restraint comprising an undulating elongate guide extending towards said inner side edge of said side support element.

Typically, said guide defines a series of laterally spaced recesses, each facing said side support element, for receiving a hind leg of the sheep.

Preferably, said shearing platform further comprises a headrest mounted on said central support element towards said head end of said central support element.

Preferably, said headrest is longitudinally displaceable.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of an example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a tail end perspective view of a shearing platform; Figure 2 is a head end perspective view of the shearing platform of Figure 1; [R:\LIBLL]786213 Spec i fication.doc:prw 4 INO Figure 3 is a plan view of the shearing platform of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a near side elevation view of the shearing platform of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a far side elevation view of the shearing platform of Figure 1; oFigure 6 is a tal end elevation view of the shearing platform of Figure 1; O Figure 6 is a hetail end elevation view of the shearing platform of Figure 1; SFigure 7 is a head end elevation view of the sheafing platform of Figure 1; Figure 8 is an isometric view of a drive mechanism for pivotably driving a support element of the shearing platform of Figure 1; Fve Figure 9 is a front elevation view of the drive mechanism of Figure 8; Cc, Figure 10 is a side elevation view of the drive mechanism of Figure 8; Ito Figure 1 a is a schematic isometric view of the shearing platform of Figure 1 in a first position; Figure 1 lb is a schematic tail end view of the shearing platform of Figure 1 in the first position; Figure 12a is a schematic isometric view of the shearing platform of Figure 1 in a Is second position; Figure 12b is a schematic tail end view of the shearing platform of Figure 1 in the second position; Figure 13a is a schematic isometric view of the shearing platform of Figure 1 in a third position; Figure 13b is a schematic tail end view of the shearing platform of Figure 1 in the third position; Figure 14a is a schematic isometric view of the shearing platform of Figure 1 in a fourth position; Figure 14b is a schematic tail end view of the shearing platform of Figure 1 in the fourth position; Figure 15a is a schematic isometric view of the shearing platform of Figure 1 in a fifth position; Figure 15b is a schematic tail end view of the shearing platform of Figure 1 in the fifth position Figure 16a is a schematic isometric view of the shearing platform of Figure 1 in a sixth position; Figure 16b is a schematic tail end view of the shearing platform of Figure 1 in the sixth position; Figure 17a is a schematic isometric view of the shearing platform of Figure 1 in a seventh position; [R:\LIBLLj786213 Specification.doc:prw SFigure 17b is a schematic tail end view of the shearing platform of Figure 1 in the Sseventh position; Figure 18a is a schematic isometric view of the shearing platform of Figure 1 in an O eighth position; Figure 18b is a schematic tail end view of the shearing platform of Figure 1 in the eighth position; Figure 19a is a schematic isometric view of the shearing platform of Figure 1 in a

INO

ninth position; C€ Figure 19b is a schematic tail end view of the shearing platform of Figure 1 in the ninth position; and Figure 20 is an end elevation view of an alternate shearing platform in a first position.

Figure 21 is an end elevation view of the shearing platform of Figure 20 in a second position.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring to Figures 1 to 7, a shearing platform 1 includes three support elements, being a central support element 2, a side support element 3 and a brisket/belly support element 4.

The central support element 2 is elongate, and has a head end 5, tail end 6, near side edge 7 and far side edge 8. The central support element 2 is referred to as a table. The table 2 here defines a rectangular planar table support surface 9.

The side support element 3 is also elongate and has a head end 10, tail end 11, inner side edge 12 and outer side edge 13. The side support element 3 is here referred to as a wall. The wall 3 here defines a generally rectangular wall support surface 14.

The inner side edge 12 of the wall 3 extends substantially parallel and adjacent to the far side edge 8 of the table 2. The wall 3 is pivotably connected to the central support element 2 by way of a first hinge 15. The first hinge 15 defines a first pivot axis P1 extending substantially parallel and adjacent to the far side edge 8 of the table 2 and the inner side edge 15 of the wall 3. Here the first hinge 15 is in the general form of a piano hinge extending along and between the far side edge 8 of the table 2 and the inner side edge 15 of the wall 3.

The brisket/belly support element 4 extends generally parallel and adjacent to the near side edge 7 of the table 2. The brisket/belly support element 4 is here referred to as a shelf. The shelf4 has a shelf support surface 16 that is configured to support the [R:\LIBLL]786213 Speciflcation.doc:prw IDbrisket/belly region of a sheep with the legs of the sheep extending below the shelf Ssupport surface 16. Here the shelf4 is in the general form of a bicycle seat and is formed of forward, mid and rear portions 17, 18, 19.

O The forward portion 17 is relatively narrow and elongate and is configured to support the brisket of the sheep extending between the forward legs of the sheep. As best depicted in Figure 4, the forward region of the shelf support surface 16 defined by the forward portion 17 is generally concave, allowing for the convex nature of the brisket of the sheep.

SThe mid portion 18 of the shelf is broader than both the forward portion 17 and rear D 1to portion 19. As again best depicted in Figure 4, the mid region of the shelf support surface 16 defined by the mid portion 18 is generally convex. This tends to compress the belly of the sheep upwardly and thus generally flatten the side surfaces of the sheep, providing a flatter surface for shearing. Both the forward portion 17 and mid portion 18 may be lined with a rubber material for both the comfort of the sheep and to assist in preventing the is sheep from slipping off the shelf4.

The rear portion 19 is in the form of a cylinder and is configured to support the crutch of the sheep extending between the hind legs of the sheep. The rear portion 19 separates the hind legs and prevents the hindquarters of the sheep sliding sideways one way or the other.

With the legs of the sheep dangling below the shelf 4, the legs are not able to obtain any purchase in any attempt to flee, and the sheep typically tends to rest relatively dormantly on the shelf4. The arrangement also allows relatively simple release of the sheep once shearing has been completed, as will be discussed below.

The shelf4 is pivotably connected to the table 2 by way of a mounting arm 20 and a second hinge 21. The mounting arm 20 separates the shelf4 from the table 2, thereby providing a gap for the sheep's far side legs. The second hinge 21 defines a second pivot axis P2 extending substantially parallel and adjacent to the near side edge 7 of the table 2.

The second hinge 21 is in the general form of a piano hinge with concentric shafts centered on the second pivotable axis P2. The outer shaft is hollow and is fixed to the near side edge 7 of the table 2. The inner shaft is solid and is fixed to the mounting arm (and thus the shelf4).

A releasable leg restraint 22 is mounted on the wall 3 towards the rear end 11 and outer longitudinal edge 13. The releasable leg restraint 22 is in the general form of an inverted j-hook and is actuable between a restraining position and a releasing position by way of a pneumatic actuator 23 mounted on the underside of the wall 3. In the restraining [R:\LIBLL1786213 Spccification.doc:prw INDposition, the releasable leg restraint is retracted, with the curved portion of the inverted jhook located adjacent to the wall support surface 14 so as to restrain the far side hind leg Sof the sheep. In the releasing position, the releasable leg restraint 22 is extended, leaving O a larger gap between the end of the curved portion of the inverted j-hook and the support s surface 14 of the wall 3, allowing the sheep's far side hind leg to be released.

A fixed leg restraint 24 is mounted adjacent the releasable leg restraint 22, towards the tail end 11 of the wall 3. The fixed leg restraint 24 is in the form of an undulating elongate guide, the underside of which defines a series of three laterally spaced recesses 25 each configured to receive and restrain a sheep's near side hind leg, as will be ID o0 discussed in further detail below.

A headrest 26 is slidably mounted on the table 2 towards the head end 5 for comfortably supporting the neck and head region of the sheep. The headrest 26 is longitudinally displaceable along the table 2 to allow for sheep of differing lengths.

The second pivot axis P2 is fixed by way of support posts 27 located at each Is opposing end of the shearing platform 1. The opposing ends of the second hinge 21 are mounted to the support base 27 by way of bushes. The table 2 and shelf 4 are each pivotable about the pivot axis P2. The first pivot axis P1 is not fixed, but moves with the table 2 in an arc as the table 2 pivots about the fixed second pivot axis P2. The wall 10 is pivotable about the first pivot axis P1.

The wall 3, table 2, and shelf4 are independently driven by first, second and third drive means 30, 31, 32 respectively. The first drive means 30 pivotably drives the wall 3 about the first pivot axis P1. The second drive means 31 pivotably drives the table 2 about the second pivot axis P2. The third drive means 32 pivotably drives the shelf4 about the second pivot axis P2. The first drive means 30 is mounted in a first frame 33 that is fixed in relation to the table 2 by the outer shaft of the second hinge 21. The first drive means 30 acts to rotate the shaft of the first hinge 15, which is fixed in relation to the wall 3.

The second drive means 31 is mounted in a second frame 34 which is fixed in relation to the adjacent support post 27. The second drive means acts to rotate the outer shaft of the second hinge 21. The third drive means 32 is also mounted in the second frame 34, outboard of the second drive means 31. The third drive means 32 acts to rotate the inner shaft of the second hinge 21, which inner shaft extends through and beyond the tail end of the outer shaft and the second drive means 31.

Each of the first, second and third drive means 30, 31, 32 is in the general form of a chain rack rotary actuator 35 as depicted in Figures 7 to 9. The chain rack rotary actuator [R:\LIBLLj786213 Specification.doc:prw has first and second ends 36, 37 which are each fixed in relation to the respective O frame 33, 34. The chain rack rotary actuator 35 includes a linear hydraulic actuator 38, the cylinder 39 of which extends from the chain rack rotary actuator first end 36. The rod O 40 of the linear hydraulic actuator 38 is fixed to the lower end of a channel 41. Within the 5 channel 41, one end of each of a pair of simplex chains 42 is fixed to the end of the e¢3 channel 41 adjacent the rod 40 by way ofa U bracket 43. Also, within the channel 41, one end of a duplex chain 44 is fixed to the opposing end of the channel 41 by way of a further bracket 45. The pair of simplex chains 42 and the duplex chain 44 are wrapped Cc partially about and fixed to a roller element 46. When viewed from the left side as in ID 10 Figure 10, the simplex chains 42 extend over the peripheral surface of the roller element 46 in a clockwise direction. The end of each simplex chain 42 is fixed to the peripheral surface of the roller element 46 by lugs 47. The duplex chain 44 extends under the peripheral surface of the roller element in a counter clockwise direction. The end of the duplex chain 44 is fixed to the peripheral surface of the roller element 46 by a lug 48.

Tension screws 49, 50 allow tensioning of the simplex chains 42 and duplex chain respectively.

The relevant shaft fixed to either the wall 3, table 2 or shelf4 is fixed to the roller element 46 and rotates around the central axis of the roller element 46 with the roller element 46. Upon extension of the linear hydraulic actuator 38, the channel 41 is displaced longitudinally (upwardly in the drawings) so as to create a tensile load in the duplex chain 44 rotating the roller element 46 (and shaft) in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 10. Conversely, retraction of the linear hydraulic actuator 38 draws the channel 41 in the opposing direction, creating a tensile load to the pair of simplex chains 42 and rotating the roller element 46 (and shaft) in a counter-clockwise direction.

Proximity switches 51 are mounted on an angle bracket 52 that is fixed in relation to the channel 41. The proximity switches 51 detect the state of extension of the linear hydraulic actuator 38 and communicate with a control system to assist in controlling pivotal driving of the various support elements of the shearing platform 1.

Whilst chain rack rotary actuators are utilised with the shearing platform described, any suitable form of actuator may be utilised as desired.

Operation of the shearing platform will now be described with reference to Figures 1 Ia to 19b. The position of the support surfaces 14, 9, 16, defined by the wall 3, table 2 and shelf 4 will be described in terms of angular positions when viewed from the tail end with the 0' being the 3 o'clock position on a clock face with angles increasing positively in the counter-clockwise direction. Angular position of the wall 3 will be described with [R:\LIBLL]786213 Specification.doc:prw IND reference to the first pivot axis P1 whilst the angular positions of the table 2 and shelf 4 will be described with reference to the second pivot axis P2.

Figures 1 la and 1 lb depict the starting first position, at which the wall 3 is at the O 450 position, the table 2 is at the -45' position and the shelf 4 is at the horizontal 1800 5 position. At the starting position, the sheep 100 is loaded onto the shearing platform 1, ¢€3 typically by way of a mechanical loading mechanism from above the wall 3. The sheep 100 is loaded on its back in the V-trough defined between the wall 3 and the table 2 with r- the sheep's head 101 resting on the headrest 26. The shearer will typically manually assist the sheep into position as it slides down the wall 3 into position. The position of the ID 10o headrest 26 is adjusted as necessary to comfortably support the sheep's head 101. The sheep's far hind leg is positioned in the releasable leg restraint 22 and the pneumatic actuator 23 is actuated by way of a control button mounted on the wall 3 adjacent the releasable leg restraint, to retract the releasable leg restraint 22 into the restraining position, thereby restraining the sheep's far side hind leg 102. The sheep's near side hind is leg 103 is restrained by the fixed leg restraint 24, by bending the leg as necessary and locating it within one of the recesses 25 of the fixed leg restraint 22, typically the central recess 25. The shearer stands on the near side of the platform 1, adjacent to the shelf4, and leans over the shelf4 to gain access to the sheep and may lean on the sheep for support and to manipulate the sheep as desired. In the first position depicted in Figures 1 la and 1 Ilb, the sheep's hind legs are inclined 300 to 400 beyond vertical away from the shearer, protecting the shearer from being kicked by the powerful hind legs of the sheep.

In the first position, the shearer is able to gain good access to a large proportion of the surface area of the sheep to be shorn, and particularly access to the hocks, crutch, belly, points, flanks, neck and topknot.

The shearing platform is then operated, typically by way of one or more footswitches. The table 2 and wall 3 are first moved in unison to the second position as depicted in Figures 12a and 12b. In the second position, the table 2 is located at the 300 position, the wall 3 is located at the 600 position and the shelf 4 remains at the 1800 position. This positioning is achieved by pivoting the table 2 through 15' about the second pivot axis P2. The releasable leg restraint 22 is released (by pressing a motor control button located on the wall 3 adjacent the releasable leg restraint 22. At the second position, further access is provided to the far side flanks of the sheep and the far side hind leg 102.

At the third position, depicted in Figures 13a and 13b, the cental support element 2 is located at the -15' position, the wall 3 remains at the 60' position, and the shelf 4 [R:\LIBLL]786213 Specification.doc:prw IDremains at the 1800 position. At this position, the V-shaped trough is opened up by 15' SThe sheep's near side hind leg 103 may be manually manipulated by the shearer as desired to restrain it in any of the recesses 25 of the fixed leg restraint 24 as shearing and O movement of the shearing platform 1 progresses to provide the desired access around the s crutch and hind leg regions of the sheep 100. In the third position, further and better access is provided to the far side flank of the sheep 100.

In the fourth position depicted in Figures 14a and 14b, the table 2 is raised to the r- horizontal 0' position, the wall 3 is further elevated to the 750 position, and the shelf4 is Srotated up to the 900 position in readiness to support the brisket/belly of the sheep 100.

IND 10 In the fifth position depicted in Figures 15a and 15b, the sheep begins a transition to a position supported on the shelf4, with the table 2 being rotated upwards to the position whilst the wall is maintained in the 750 position. The shelf4 rotates in unison with the table 2 to the 105' position.

The table 2 and shelf 4 continue rotating in unison to the sixth position depicted n Figures 16a and 16b, with the table located at the 300 position and the shelf located at the 1200 position. The wall 3 remains in the 750 position by pivoting clockwise about the first pivot axis P1 as the table 2 rotates counter-clockwise about the second pivot axis P2.

The table 2 and shelf4 continue to rotate in the counter-clockwise direction to the seventh position depicted in Figures 17a and 17b with the table 2 located at the 450 position and the shelf4 located at the 1350 position. At this position, the sheep 100 is largely supported by the shelf4 and stabilised by the table 2. At the seventh position, the wall 4 which no longer provides any support to the sheep, is pivoted downwards to the 450 position, allowing for a fleece that has been shorn to fall freely from the shearing platform 1.

In the eighth position depicted in Figures 18a and 18b, the table 2 and wall 3 are in the same position, and the shelf4 is further rotated down to the 150' position.

In the ninth and final position depicted in Figures 19a and 19b, the shelf4 is further rotated down to the horizontal 1800 position. With the table 2 no longer providing any support to the sheep 100, it is pivoted downwardly to the -45' position, such that the table 2 and wall 3 form a single downwardly inclined surface allowing the shorn fleece to slide down and away from the shearing platform 1. Shearing of the far side of the sheep is completed in the ninth position, with the shearer leaning on the sheep as desired both for comfort and to assist in restraining the sheep.

Once the shearing process has been completed, the shearer simply taps the sheep on the flank, urging the sheep forward. In response, the sheep readily leaps forward from the [R:\LIBLL]78621 3 Spec i fication.doc:prw Sshelf4 and away from the shearing platform 1. The wall 3 is then raised back to the 450 position, as depicted in Figures 11 a and 11 b, in readiness for the next sheep to be delivered to the shearing platform 1.

0 Figures 20 and 21 depict an alternate embodiment of a shearing platform 200 s comprising a central support element 202, side support element 203, and brisket/belly support element 204. The central support element 202 is pivotably connected to the side support element 203 by way of a first hinge 215 defining the first pivot axis P 1. The brisket/belly support element 204 is in the general form of half of a wheel with two Cc opposing half-circular rims 216 joined by a gully 217 having a generally V-shaped ID 10 profile. The sheep's brisket and belly are supported in the gully 217 with the legs of the sheep extending over the front and rear ends of the brisket/belly support 204. The brisket/belly support element 204 is pivotably connected to the central support element 202 by way of a second hinge 221 defining a second pivot axis P2. In contrast to the first embodiment described above, here the first pivot axis P 1 is fixed by way of support struts 227 and the second axis P2 is displaceable in an arc about the first pivot axis PI, moving with the central support element 202. The central support element 202 and side support element 203 are pivotably driven about the first pivot axis P1 by way of linear hydraulic actuators 230, 231. The brisket/belly support element 204 is not actively driven, but pivots freely about the second pivot axis P2, typically under control of the shearer who typically stands adjacent the shearing platform 200 within a recess located at the edge of the brisket/belly support element 204.

When the central support element 202 is in a lowered position and the brisket/belly support element 204 located with one rim 216 flush against the central support element 202, the sheep (not depicted) is supported in an inclined position by both the central support element 202 and the brisket/belly support element 204. The brisket/belly support element may then be pivoted manually by the shearer to an upright position as depicted in Figure 21 to raise the sheep into an upright position to enable access to the far side of the sheep. Movement of the second hinge 221 is limited to retain the brisket/belly support element 204 in the upright position.

[R:\LIBLL]786213 SpeciFication.doc:prw

Claims (13)

1. A shearing platform for supporting a sheep at an elevated position for O Cshearing, said shearing platform comprising: .)an elongate central support element having a head end, a tail end, a near side edge and a far side edge; an elongate side support element having a head end, a tail end, an inner side edge and an outer side edge, said inner side edge of said side support element extending substantially parallel and adjacent to said far side edge of said central support element; a first hinge defining a first pivot axis extending substantially parallel and 1o adjacent to each of said far side edge of said central support element and said inner side IND edge of said side support element, said first hinge pivotably connecting said side support element to said central support element; first drive means for pivotably driving said side support element relative to said central support element about said first pivot axis; a brisket/belly support element extending generally parallel and adjacent to said near side edge of said central support element, said brisket/belly support element having a support surface configured to support the brisket/belly region of a sheep with the legs of the sheep extending below said support surface; a second hinge defining a second pivot axis extending substantially parallel and adjacent to said near side edge of said central support element, said second hinge pivotably connecting said brisket/belly support element to said central support element.

2. The shearing platform of claim 1, wherein said second pivot axis is fixed.

3. The shearing platform of claim 2, further comprising a second drive means for pivotably driving said central support element about said second pivot axis and a third drive means for pivotably driving said brisket/belly support element about said second pivot axis.

4. The shearing platform of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said brisket/belly support element comprises a forward portion for supporting the sheep's brisket between the sheep's front legs, a mid portion for supporting the sheep's belly, and a rear portion for supporting the sheep's crutch between the sheep's hind legs.

The shearing platform of claim 4, wherein a forward region of said support surface defined by said forward portion is convex and a mid region of said support surface defined by said mid portion is concave.

6. The shearing platform of either of claims 4 and 5, wherein said rear portion is generally cylindrical. 596698:LZV NO

7. The shearing platform of any one of claims I to 6, further comprising a releasable leg restraint mounted on said side support element towards said tail end of said side support element. O

8. The shearing platform of claim 7, wherein said leg restraint is actuable s between a restraining position and a releasing position by way of an actuator.

9. The shearing platform of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a fixed leg restraint mounted on said side support element towards said tail end of said side INO support element, said fixed leg restraint comprising an undulating elongate guide extending towards said inner side edge of said side support element. o 1o

10. The shearing platform of claim 9, wherein said guide defines a series of laterally spaced recesses, each facing said side support element, for receiving a hind leg of the sheep.

11. The shearing platform of any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a headrest mounted on said central support element towards said head end of said central support element.

12. The shearing platform of claim 11, wherein said headrest is longitudinally displaceable.

13. A shearing platform substantially as hereinbefore substantially described with reference to Figures 1 to 10 of the accompanying drawings. Dated 31 October, 2006 Australian Wool Innovation Ltd Peter William Black Darryl James Cole Patent Attorneys for the Applicants/Nominated Persons SPRUSON FERGUSON [R:\LIBLL]786213 Specificationdoc:prw