AU5737998A

AU5737998A - Electronically identifiable ear tag

Info

Publication number: AU5737998A
Application number: AU57379/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Helmut Ruppert
Original assignee: Diehl Ident GmbH
Current assignee: Diehl Ident GmbH
Priority date: 1997-04-08
Filing date: 1998-03-05
Publication date: 1999-07-29
Also published as: EP0870429A2; EP0870429A3; DE19715473C2; NZ330006A; DE19715473A1

Description

AUSTRALIA

P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2 Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

FOR A STANDARD

PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention Title: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT DIEHL IDENT GMBH Helmut Ruppert, Lindenweg 8, 47906 Kempen deutscher Staatsangeh6riger Germany CALLINAN LAWRIE, 711 High Street, Kew, Victoria 3101, Australia "Electronically Identifiable Ear Tag" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:- 17/2/98JS9712.11,1 DIEHL IDENT GMBH 90478 Nuremberg Electronically identifiable ear tag The invention concerns an ear tag for animals as set forth in the classifying portion of claim 1.

An ear tag of that kind is known from EP-A-0 219 186. It essentially comprises a three-limbed plastic portion whose limbs meet in a star-like configuration and of which two limbs are welded together flat in mutually superposed relationship, with the inclusion of a transponder, while the third limb has a plug-in hole for receiving a retaining pin which locks with a barb-like configuration and which was previously passed through the outside ear flap of the animal. The result of this is that the part of the ear tag which contains the transponder hangs freely down on the ear relatively far from the fixing point and can therefore be easily bitten off by other animals or can become caught up in shrubbery or bushes so that there is at any rate a considerable risk of its being lost. As the transponder is welded in position, it can be removed from the ear tag again so that it can be re-used, only after the ear tag has been released from the ear and even then only with a considerable amount of trouble. Multiple use in that way is a desirable aim in particular in relation to young calves which are intended for slaughter and whose life span reaches only a few months, so that in the next rearing season the recovered transponders can be issued to breeders again after central registration of their identity numbers. In addition, it is not readily possible for the transponders which are to be re-used to be reliably welded in position between the limbs of new ear tags, on site (that is to say at the breeding establishment). Re-use of the ear tag itself which has been removed in its entirety from an animal prior to or after the animal being slaughtered and which is still fitted with a transponder is not permitted for reasons of hygiene.

In consideration of those factors the object of the present invention is that of providing an ear tag of the general kind set forth, which can be more reliably fixed to the ear flap of an animal and from which the transponder can be easily recovered for simple reuse elsewhere, in spite of affording a high level of safeguard against being lost.

In accordance with the invention that object is essentially achieved in that the ear tag of the general kind set forth is also designed as set forth in the characterising portion of the main claim.

In accordance with that design configuration an ear tag which in itself is essentially made up in the form of a three-portion plastic strip, after a free limb is folded in, as a remaining two-limbed clip, is fitted in the manner of a conventional metal clip directly around the edge of the ear flap of the animal to be marked. Before that, for that purpose, an outer limb is folded together with the central limb, with the inclusion of the transponder, and connected thereto in forcelocking relationship or positively locking relationship and at any event reversibly (in the sense of affording the possibility of being re-opened). The transponder can be removed again therefrom without removal of the ear tag itself after pivoting open the third limb (which does not act directly as an ear clip).

Additional alternatives and developments and further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the further claims and, also having regard to the information in the accompanying Abstract, from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the structure according to the invention, which is shown diagrammatically in somewhat abstracted form in the drawing but approximately true to scale, being restricted to what is essential. In the drawing: Figure 1 is a plan view showing a three-portion ear tag designed in accordance with the invention, with a bar transponder inserted between two of its limbs, in the pivoted-open condition, and Figure 2 is a perspective view in the pivoted-open condition of a three-portion ear tag which is also designed in accordance with the invention, but now with a disc-type transponder.

The three-portion ear tag 11 illustrated in the drawing in the pivoted-open position essentially comprises an elongate plastic strip 12 with two desired-bend locations 13 defined by a material weakening effect, to delimit a central limb 14 between a closure limb 15 and a fixing limb 16. The central limb 14 is longer than the closure limb and is of approximately the same length as the fixing limb 16. As a result of the closure pivotal movement indicated at 17.15 a bending operation is effected about the axis of the bend location 13.15, which axis is oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal extent of the strip 12, in order to enclose a transponder 18 between those two limbs 14 15. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the transponder is a bar transponder 18.1 in which a ferrite bar as a carrier for the magnetic antenna coil and the identity chip connected thereto is enclosed in an elongate capsule for example of glass, as is described in greater detail for example in European patent specification No 0 531 426, for an example of manufacture thereof. For the purposes of fixing the bar transponder 18.1 in position in the ear tag 11, the transponder preferably being oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal extent of the strip 12 to prevent the limbs 14, 15 being of excessive longitudinal extent, a suitably dimensioned elongate recess 19 can be provided in at least one of the surfaces of the limbs 14 or 15, which surfaces face towards each other in the condition of the limbs in which they are folded together. The recess 19 can be provided in at least one of said surfaces by being shaped therein or by being worked therein.

To provide for re-openable latching of the closure limb 15 which is folded together with the central limb 14, the closure limb 15 has at its end a profiling in the form of an arcuate holding portion the configuration of which is adapted to the internal contour 21 of a rib 22 which is curved in a horseshoe-shaped configuration and which rises out of the plane of the central limb 14, in the direction of the opening of the transponder recess 19. After being pivoted about the bend location 13.15, the closure limb 15 is fixed on the central limb 14 by the end arcuate holding portion 20 radially engaging in forcelocking relationship into the internal contour 21 of the rib 22 and possibly also being held in positively locking latching relationship therein by virtue of the interaction of undercut configurations. To prevent longitudinal displacement of the limbs 14, 15 relative to each other, which could result in release of the arcuate holding portion that is to say to provide for secure engagement into the internal contour 21 of the rib, the arcuate holding portion 20 is prevented from moving away relative to the rib 22 in the longitudinal direction of the strip 12 by virtue of the fact that, in the folded-together condition, a projection 23 engages transversely with respect to the surface of the strip 12 into a holding recess 24 on the adjacent limb (14 or 15 respectively).

Additional fixing of the limbs 15 14 which are folded together with the transponder 18 enclosed therebetween, in relation to the holding projection 23, is effected by a retaining pin or peg 25 which, with its barb-shaped tip 26 (see Figure engages through and engages in positively locking relationship behind two plug holes 27 which, when the limbs 14 15 are pivoted together, are disposed in mutually axially aligned superposed relationship. The hole 27 which is in opposite relationship to the engagement of the retaining pin or peg that is to say at the exit side, is surrounded on the outside by a bead-shaped or hood-shaped raised portion 28 so that the tip 26 of the retaining pin or peg 25 does not project unprotectedly into the open where it could be the cause of mechanical damage or physical injury.

When on the other hand the fixing limb 16 is folded about its bend location 13.16, with the inclusion of the ear flap, and also laid in position over the closure limb 15 which is already disposed above and latched to the central limb 14, in order then to fit the pin or peg 25 through the aligned holes 27, that arrangement provides an additional covering for securely enclosing the transponder 18 in the ear tag 11 although removing it again is made more difficult as a result because the cover limb 16 firstly has to be lifted off or cut away.

For, if these ear tags 11 are used for example in relation to young calves to be slaughtered and which are fitted therewith only for a few months, then, as mentioned in the opening part of this specification, it is desirable to recover the transponders 18 again in order to re-issue them to the producers of calves intended for slaughter, for the next breeding generation (with up-dating of the associated databank information). In that respect it would be undesirable for the flap of the ear of the animal to be trapped between the closure limb 15 and the fixing limb 16, with the edge of the ear flap being embraced at the bend location 13.6 of the ear tag 11 and having the retaining pin or peg 25 engaging therebehind. For such a situation of use therefore it is more desirable, as indicated by the pivoting movement 17.6 shown in Figure 1, for the ear flap of the animal to be identified by this ear tag 11 to be trapped directly between the fixing limb 16 and the central limb 14, that is to say opposite the latched closure limb 15. The transponder 18 can then be recovered by a procedure whereby, prior to or after the slaughtering process at any event after definitive identification of the animal to be slaughtered the closure as between the arcuate holding portion 20 and the arcuate rib 22 is simply torn or broken open and the bar transponder 18.1 is shaken out of its recess 19 which has now been opened, into a collecting container, or simply into the hollow of the hand. In no case does the ear tag 11 itself, which in any case cannot be re-used, have to be entirely removed from the animal again, in order to recover the transponder 18.1.

For physical reasons the range of the passive bar transponder is not very great. In order to be able to interrogate the ear tag 11 even from a relatively great distance by means of a high-frequency reading device, a disc-type transponder 18.2 is desirably used in place of the bar transponder 18.1. The transponder 18.2 comprises a core-less flat antenna coil with an identity chip connected directly thereto, cast into a flat annular enclosure of plastic material. Now, in place of the bar transponder 18.1 which is fitted into a recess 19 (Figure 1), the disc-type transponder 18.2 is disposed coaxially with respect to the holes 27 for the retaining pin or peg 25, in a flat position between the central and closure limbs 14/15, where it is held by the pin or peg 25 in such a way that it cannot slide out laterally, when the tag 11 is fitted to the ear. The latching effect therefore occurs behind the narrow plug hole 27 in the plastic limb 15 and not in the larger through hole of the disc-type transponder 18.2.

The retaining pin or peg 25 can be fixedly connected to the fixing limb 16 in the region of the free end thereof, for example it can be shaped or moulded thereon or secured therein; or the retaining pin or peg 25 is in the form of a separate press fastener or press stud which is pushed through the plug holes 27 (and the ear flap itself) until reaching a retaining position of engaging therebehind, only when the ear tag 11 is fitted to the ear of the animal to be identified. In the latter case, when fitting the ear tag 11, it is possible to decide by virtue of the direction of insertion of the retaining pin or peg 25 whether the closure limb 15 is to be covered beneath the ear flap or whether it is to be freely accessible from the outside. The latter is more desirable for recovery of the transponder 18.2 because then the tip 26 of the retaining pin or peg 25 only has to be planed off in order to be able to open the ear tag 11.

To provide for flat contact in respect of the disc-type transponder 18.2 the central, and closure limbs 14/15 which enclose it are suitably enlarged laterally, transversely to the longitudinal extent thereof. As in the enclosed condition of the disc-type transponder 18.2 diametrally opposite regions of the periphery thereof are radially engaged between the bend location 13.5 and the internal contour 21 of the rib, it is possible to omit an extension portion on the limb for the purposes of forming a holding projection (corresponding to 23 in Figure in the case of the disc-type transponder ear tag 11 as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 1 takes account of the fact that it may be desirable to provide on the outwardly disposed surface of the fixing limb 16 a marking zone for applying optically readable encoded information or information in clear text.

At any event in accordance with the invention therefore a plastic strip 12 which is of a three-portion nature as a result of two bend zones 13.5 and 13.6 which are displaced relative to each other becomes the transponder ear tag 11 which can be fitted in a clip-like configuration, in particular for livestock which is intended for slaughter, when an outer closure limb 15 is folded on to the central portion 14, with the interposition of a transponder 18, and is latched in position thereto. The oppositely disposed bend zone 13.16 then embraces the edge of the outer ear flap when the central limb 14 and the fixing limb 16 are pushed in a V-shape on to the ear and fixed to each other by means of a retaining pin or peg 25 through the ear and through mutually aligned holes 27 at the free ends of the limbs. To remove the transponder 18 in the abattoir it is only necessary for the outwardly disposed closure limb 15 to be lifted off the central limb 14 and the retaining pin or peg 25 again, without the necessity for the ear tag 11 which under some circumstances has possibly already grown into place in the ear, to be removed as a whole from the ear again.

Claims

1. An electronically identifiable ear tag, preferably for animals intended for slaughter, including two plastics material limbs which are adapted to be folded together with the inclusion of a passive high-frequency transponder, wherein said limbs on both sides of a common bend zone are the outer portion (or closure limb) and the central portion or central limb respectively, of a three- portion strip which, at its end opposite said common bend zone, is edged with an arcuate holding portion which is geometrically adapted to the internal contour of a holding rib provided on said central portion which is adjoined, opposite said outer portion, by a fixing limb by way of a further bend zone.

2. The ear tag according to claim 1, wherein said fixing limb is adapted to be connected to said central and outer portions, which are folded together with the inclusion of said transponder, by means of a retaining pin, with interposition of the ear of the animal to be identified, which pin engages in positively locking relationship through mutually aligned insertion holes in said central and outer portions which are in the position of being folded together.

3. The ear tag according to claim 2, wherein said retaining pin is fixedly connected to said fixing limb in the region of the free end thereof.

4. The ear tag according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said retaining pin is-adapted to be engaged in the manner of a separate press stud into mutually aligned insertion holes in said outer portion, central portion and fixing limb in the position of being folded together.

The ear tag according to claim 4, wherein an exposed exit of one of said insertion holes is surrounded by a bead-shaped raised portion.

6. The ear tag according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein 17/2/98JS9712.CLM,8 the exposed outside surface of said fixing limb is provided with a marking zone.

7. The ear tag according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a recess for receiving a bar transponder is provided between said holding rib and said bending zone of said outer portion or closure limb.

8. The ear tag according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein mutually corresponding projections and recesses are provided in front of the region of the opening of an arcuate holding rib in the surfaces, which face towards each other, of said central portion and said outer portion.

9. The ear tags according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein a disc- type transponder is arranged in coaxial relationship with said mutually aligned insertion holes in regions of said central and outer portions, said regions being enlarged transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction.

The ear tags according to claim 9, wherein said disc-type transponder is diametrally gripped between said arcuate rib and the adjacent bend zone.

11. An electronically identifiable ear tag, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 4th day of March, 1998 DIEHL IDENT GMBH By their Patent Attorneys: CALLINAN LAWRIE 4/3/98JS9712.CLM,9