EP0148692A2 - Apparatus for the automatic treatment of animals, preferably birds - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to improvements to a method and an apparatus for the automatic treatment of animals which are the subject of the previous French patent application n <o> 7 923 018 and for which a European patent application has also been filed. under applicant number 80 401 277.1. The apparatus comprises support means such as a table (20) rotatably mounted relative to a frame (1), said support means comprising a plurality of spaced animal supports (30), each support (3) comprising means ( 32) for the suspension of an animal by its head with the head immobilized, at least one treatment assembly (34, 36, 37) in the vicinity of said support means, a drive means (37) for moving the means, preferably the table (20), in rotation so that each support is capable of passing first to a loading station (31) then to at least one processing station (38, 39) and finally to an unloading station , activator means (41) for moving the treatment assembly to its operating position and then for returning the treatment assembly to its non-operating position and release means for releasing an animal to the unloading station. The invention is applicable to the administration of a treatment substance to animals, in particular a medicament such as an antibiotic or a vaccine and in the case of the debeaking of birds, also comprises a station (39) for applying a powder or an ointment, in particular with a calming or healing action, essentially on the beak (s) of a volatile previously debeaked; or to cauterize the beak of a bird previously debeaked. The invention allows this treatment to be carried out at a very high rate.

Description

The present invention essentially relates to improvements to a method and an apparatus for the automatic treatment of animals, preferably birds, such as young chicks, turkey poults, guinea fowl. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the automatic treatment of animals according to which a substance can be automatically administered to an animal, in particular a medicament, such as an antibiotic, a vaccine or even an aqueous solution or water, and for the cauterization of volatiles.

The inventor of the present invention has already described in US Pat. No. 3,964,481 an apparatus for injecting vaccine into a manually supported chick, using a hypodermic syringe.

On the other hand, the present inventor has also discovered a method and an apparatus for automatically containing volatiles and preferably young chicks, said method and apparatus in a preferred embodiment being applied to debeaking said volatiles. This prior invention of the inventor is the subject of the French patent application filed under the number 79 23 018 on September 14 1979 and published under No. 2,464,700 and for which a European patent application was also filed on September 5, 1980 under No. 80401277-1, also published.

The presently claimed invention thus constitutes new and useful improvements to the applicant's last previous invention and, as mentioned previously, these improvements make it possible to automatically administer a substance to an animal, in particular a medicament such as an antibiotic, a vaccine or even water, in particular by the use of the restraint device which is the subject of the aforementioned published patent application filed under No. 79 230180

The present invention makes it possible to obtain the same advantages as those which are the subject of the aforementioned French patent application No. 79 23018, that is to say by allowing animals to be treated automatically at an extremely high rate and in complete safety. The present invention also makes it possible to automatically administer a substance to an animal, in particular a medicament such as an antibiotic, a vaccine or even an aqueous solution or water.

More specifically, according to the present invention, the method generally comprises the provision of means of support and / or support for the maintenance and / or support of the head of the animal essentially immobilized and the treatment of said animal maintained, characterized in that that it includes the provision of a treatment assembly in the vicinity of said means for maintaining and / or supporting the animal for the administration to said animal of at least one treatment substance such as a liquid and / or a powder or ointment, especially with a calming action or healing, in the vicinity, or at least at one place, of said head of the animal substantially immobilized, said administration assembly being movable between a nonoperative position and an operative position.

According to a specific embodiment, this method comprises the injection of one or more treatment liquids to said animal.

According to another characteristic, this method comprises pulling back the skin of the neck of the maintained animal and injecting said liquid under said skin of the neck pulled back subcutaneously

According to another specific embodiment, the treatment assembly comprises the administration or = application of a powder or an ointment, in particular with a calming or healing action, essentially on the beak (s) of the volatile previously debeaked, preferably by burning.

Furthermore, according to the method of the invention, each treatment substance is chosen from a medicament such as an antibiotic, a vaccine or other biological liquids, for example vitamin products, products promoting growth, and / or a powder or an ointment or ointment, in particular with a calming or healing action, and an aqueous solution or water.

According to yet another specific characteristic, the method comprises maintaining the rear of the immobilized animal against a rearward movement relative to the holding and / or support means. On the other hand, the treatment assembly may further comprise the application of drops, droplets or microdrops, or the spraying, of one or more treatment substances at the position of the nose and / or at least the position d 'an eye and / or the position of the mouth of the animal (in both cases of drops and spray).

Also, for the automatic treatment of animals at a high rate, the method according to the invention is characterized in that at least part of the holding means can be moved in an endless circuit, a plurality of holding means and / or support are provided spaced along the endless circuit, the processing assembly being in the vicinity of said endless circuit so that each holding means is caused to pass first to a loading station and then to the station and finally at an unloading station.

The present invention also relates to an apparatus for the automatic treatment of animals, having a chassis, comprising means for holding and / or supporting the head of the animal essentially immobilized and means for treating said maintained animal, characterized in that that the means for treating the maintained animal comprise an assembly for the administration to said animal of at least one treating substance such as a liquid and / or a powder or an ointment or ointment, in particular with a calming or healing action , in the vicinity, or at least one place, of the head of the animal substantially immobilized, said administration assembly being movable between a non-operating position and an operating position relative to the chassis

Preferably, the administration assembly comprises means for administering to at least one eye, to the nose, to the mouth or to another orifice of the animal, one or more several drops, droplets or microdrops of the above liquid; or to spray or spray the aforementioned liquid. Also, the administration assembly can comprise means for applying a powder or an ointment or ointment, in particular with a calming or healing action essentially on the beak (s) of a debeaked bird.

Advantageously, the spraying means comprise at least one distribution circuit by spraying of substance provided with a metering element for treatment substance.

According to a specific characteristic, the substance administration assembly comprises means for injecting liquid under the skin of an animal, comprising at least one hypoderric syringe.

According to another embodiment, the apparatus according to the invention comprises a suction device for pulling back the skin of the neck of a maintern animal, each hypodermic syringe being mounted so as to inject said treatment substance under the skin of the neck pulled back, in the operating position (subcutaneous infection).

According to a specific characteristic, said apparatus comprises a suction rupture element during the period of time when said suction is not necessary between two successive operations of administration by injection.

According to another embodiment, the apparatus according to the invention comprises a safety device preventing the administration of substance when no animal is kept in said holding and / or support means.

According to a specific characteristic, said safety device comprises a feeler means linked in displacement to the substance delivery assembly and a stop means relative to the feeler means interposed in the passage of the feeler means when no animal n 'is maintained.

In addition, for the automatic treatment of animals at a high rate, the apparatus according to the invention is further characterized in that at least part of the holding and / or support means can be moved in an endless circuit. , a plurality of holding and / or supporting means being spaced apart along the endless circuit so that the holding and / or supporting means is caused to pass first to a loading station, then at the processing station and finally at an unloading station.

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un appareil selon l'invention avec un circuit sans fin qui est dans l'exemple représenté constitué par une table déplaçable ici montée de manière rotative par rapport à un châssis, avec arrachement partiel du châssis pour montrer plus précisément le système d'entraînement pour déplacer le circuit sans fin et les moyens activeurs pour déplacer chaque assemblage de traitement.
• La figure 2 est une vue de dessus du circuit sans fin, l'assemblage d'injection n'étant pas représenté pour une meilleure compréhension.
• La figure 3 est une vue partielle de dessus du circuit sans fin montrant la station de débecquage dans le cas du traitement spécifique de volatiles.
• La figure 4 est une vue de dessous partielle du circuit sans fin.
• La figure 5 est une vue partielle de dessous du circuit sans fin près de la station de déchargement.
• La figure 6 est une vue de face d'un moyen de maintien et/ou de support d'un animal du circuit sans fin.
• La figure 6a présente une modification du mode de réalisation représenté à la figure 6 avec arrachements partiels.
• La figure 7 est une vue en coupe partielle du circuit sans fin montrant un volatile maintenu (comme animal préférentiel à traiter).
• La figure 8 représente une vue de face de l'assemblage de débecquage selon la flèche VIII de la figure 12₀
• La figure 9 représente un détail de l'assemblage de débecquage en position opératoire sur le bec du volatile.
• La figure 10 représente une vue de dessus du châssis de l'appareil selon la flèche X de la figure 1.
• La figure 11 représente les moyens activeurs selon la ligne XI-XI de la figure 10.
• La figure 11a est une vue de détail de la bielle de commande, en position descendue, du support mobile alors que ce dernier n'a pu descendre que partiellement, en ayant été bloqué soit par un dispositif de sécurité comprenant un palpeur rigide, soit par un élément extérieur ayant empêché ce mouvement de descente du support mobile.
• La figure '2 représente le dessus de l'assemblage de débecquage avec arrachement partiel selon la ligne de trace XII-XII de la figure 13.
• La figure 13 représente une vue en coupe longitudinale selon la ligne de trace XIII-XIII de la figure 12.
• La figure '- représente une vue analogue à celle de la figure 12 avec une coupe partielle selon la ligne de trace XIV-XIV de la figure 13, montrant un moyen permettant de modifier le mouvement de l'élément de débecquage pour modifier la forme du débecquage.
• La figure 15 est une vue en coupe partielle selon la ligne de trace XV-XV de la figure 10.
• Les figures 16 et 17 représentent deux modes de réalisation de l'élément de débecquage.
• Les figures 18, 18a,et 18b sont une vue en coupe partielle à la station d'administration d'une substance à un animal, de préférence un volatile, montrant plus particulièrement un dispositif de sécurité empêchant l'administration de substance lorsqu'aucun animal n'est supporté par le support en vis-à-vis (figure 18b), la position non opératoire étant représentée par la figure 18 et la position opératoire normale d'administration à la figure 18a.
• La figure 19 représente une vue latérale de la station d'administration de substance,telle qu'un liquide, par vaporisation, pulvérisation ou atomisation, ou d'un autre liquide par injection selon la flèche XIX de la figure 12, en position non opératoire.
• La figure 20 représente une vue analogue à celle de la figure 19 mais en position opératoire.
• La figure 20a représente une vue de détail agrandie d'une biellette de commande spécifique représentée à la figure 20.
• La figure 21 est une coupe selon la ligne de trace XXI-XXI de la figure 19.
• La figure 22 est une vue partielle selon la ligne de trace XXII-XXII de la figure 19, le dispositif de succion n'étant pas représenté.
• La figure 23 représente une vue partielle en coupe selon la ligne de trace XXIII-XXIII de la figure 10.
• La figure 24 représente une vue partielle en coupe selon la ligne de trace XXIV-XXIV de la figure 10.
• Les figures 25 à 27 représentant un assemblage d'administration de poudre,pommade ou onguent, notamment à action cicatrisante ou calmante sur le bec d'un volatile préalablement débecqué.
• Les figures 28 à 30 représentent un autre mode de réalisation de l'assemblage de débecquage; la figure 28 représentant la position non opératoire pour un débecquage horizontal, la figure 29 représentant la position opératoire du débecquage horizontal tandis que la figure 30 représente la position non opératoire du débecquage vertical.
• La figure 31 représente une vue en coupe partielle selon la ligne de trace XXXI-XXXI de la figure 29 montrant un premier assemblage de débecquage et un second assemblage de cautérisation.
• Les figures 32 à 36 représentent un mode de réalisation davantage préféré de l'assemblage d'administration de substance; la figure 33 éuant une vue en coupe selon la ligne de trace XXXIII-XXXIII de la figure 32, la figure 34 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne de trace XXXIV-XXXIV de la figure 32, la figure 35 représente une position intermédiaire pour laquelle la seringue n'est pas en position opératoire, tandis que la figure 36 représente la position opératoire de la seringue hypodermique.
• La figure 37 représente une vue en perspective des parties différentes constituant le support de seringue représenté aux figures 32 à 35.
• La figure 38 représente la position des éléments de dosage de substance etun autre mode de réalisation du dispositif de sécurité et en traits fantôme 2a position d'administration; et
• La figure 39 représente une vue partielle de dessus du dispositif de sécurité.

Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more clearly apparent in the light of the explanatory description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawings showing the more preferred embodiments for the treatment of animals at a high rate so that 'an endless circuit is provided but it will be understood from the above that the invention is not limited to the provision of an endless circuit, but on the contrary covers any processing device of the type described. In the drawings:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention with an endless circuit which is in the example shown consisting of a movable table here rotatably mounted relative to a chassis, with partial removal of the chassis to show more precisely the drive system for moving the endless circuit and the activating means for moving each processing assembly.
• Figure 2 is a top view of the endless circuit, the injection assembly not being shown for better understanding.
• Figure 3 is a partial top view of the endless circuit showing the debeaking station in the case of specific treatment of birds.
• Figure 4 is a partial bottom view of the endless circuit.
• Figure 5 is a partial bottom view of the endless circuit near the unloading station.
• Figure 6 is a front view of a means for holding and / or supporting an animal of the endless circuit.
• Figure 6a shows a modification of the embodiment shown in Figure 6 with partial cutaway.
• Figure 7 is a partial sectional view of the endless circuit showing a volatile maintained (as a preferred animal to be treated).
• Figure 8 shows a front view of the debeaking assembly according to arrow VIII of Figure 12 ₀
• Figure 9 shows a detail of the debeaking assembly in the operating position on the bird's beak.
• FIG. 10 represents a top view of the chassis of the device according to arrow X in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 11 represents the activating means along the line XI-XI of FIG. 10.
• FIG. 11a is a detail view of the control rod, in the lowered position, of the movable support when the latter has only been able to descend partially, having been blocked either by a safety device comprising a rigid feeler, or by an external element having prevented this movement of descent of the mobile support.
• Figure '2 shows the top of the debeaking assembly with partial cutaway along the trace line XII-XII of Figure 13.
• FIG. 13 represents a view in longitudinal section along the trace line XIII-XIII of FIG. 12.
• Figure '- shows a view similar to that of Figure 12 with a partial section along the trace line XIV-XIV of Figure 13, showing a means for modifying the movement of the debeaking element to modify the shape of the debeaking.
• FIG. 15 is a partial sectional view along the trace line XV-XV of FIG. 10.
• Figures 16 and 17 show two embodiments of the debeaking element.
• Figures 18, 18a, and 18b are a partial sectional view at the station of administration of a substance to an animal, preferably a bird, showing more particularly a safety device preventing the administration of substance when no animal is supported by the support vis-à-vis (Figure 18b), the non-operating position being shown in Figure 18 and the normal operating position d administration in Figure 18a.
• FIG. 19 represents a side view of the station for administering a substance, such as a liquid, by spraying, spraying or atomizing, or of another liquid by injection according to arrow XIX of FIG. 12, in the nonoperative position .
• Figure 20 shows a view similar to that of Figure 19 but in the operating position.
• FIG. 20a represents an enlarged detail view of a specific control rod shown in FIG. 20.
• Figure 21 is a section along the trace line XXI-XXI of Figure 19.
• Figure 22 is a partial view along the trace line XXII-XXII of Figure 19, the suction device is not shown.
• FIG. 23 represents a partial view in section along the trace line XXIII-XXIII of FIG. 10.
• FIG. 24 represents a partial sectional view along the trace line XXIV-XXIV of FIG. 10.
• FIGS. 25 to 27 representing an assembly for administering powder, ointment or ointment, in particular with a healing or calming action on the beak of a volatile previously debeaked.
• Figures 28 to 30 show another embodiment of the debeaking assembly; FIG. 28 representing the nonoperative position for horizontal debeaking, FIG. 29 representing the operating position of horizontal debeaking while FIG. 30 represents the nonoperative position of vertical debeaking.
• Figure 31 shows a partial sectional view along the trace line XXXI-XXXI of Figure 29 showing a first debeaking assembly and a second cauterization assembly.
• Figures 32 to 36 show a more preferred embodiment of the substance delivery assembly; Figure 33 being a sectional view along the trace line XXXIII-XXXIII of Figure 32, Figure 34 is a sectional view along the trace line XXXIV-XXXIV of Figure 32, Figure 35 shows an intermediate position for which the syringe is not in the operating position, while FIG. 36 represents the operating position of the hypodermic syringe.
• FIG. 37 represents a perspective view of the different parts constituting the syringe support shown in FIGS. 32 to 35.
• Figure 38 shows the position of the substance metering elements and another embodiment of the safety device and in phantom lines 2a administration position; and
• Figure 39 shows a partial top view of the safety device.

With reference to FIG. 1, the device according to the invention, as in the case of the prior French patent application No. 79 23018, comprises a chassis 1 mounted movable with respect to a pedestal 2 resting support On the ground. The apparatus comprises an endless circuit, for example a rotary table 20 on the frame 1, supported by a mandrel 22 forming the drive shaft of the rotary table 20, said shaft 22 being brought into rotation about the axis 24 by the motor 26 by a drive system 27 comprising a transmission 28 d variable speed drive.

The turntable 20 comprises eight notches to which are mounted holding and / or support means hereinafter called animal supports 30 for receiving animals at the loading station 31. Each animal support 30 preferably comprises means 32 for suspending an animal by its head with the head kept immobilized so that the remaining part of the animal's body is in space.

The apparatus further comprises at least a processing assembly (34, 36, 37) in the vicinity of the rotary table 20, movable between an operating position and a non-operating position so that each support 30 is able to pass through rotation of the table 20 in the station (35, 38, 39). For the treatment of animals, the treatment assembly comprises an assembly 36 for administering at least one treatment substance such as a liquid.

The apparatus according to the present invention also advantageously comprises an assembly 37 for administering at least one powder, or ointment or ointment, in particular with healing or calming action, at the administration station 39, essentially on the spout (s) (s) of a volatile previously debeaked (see Figures 25 to 27).

Also, in the case of treatment of volatiles as in the aforementioned French patent application no. 79 23018, the apparatus can also comprise one or more additional treatment assemblies which comprises one or more debeaking assemblies 34 at the debeaking station 35. In the example shown, the debeaking station 35 is arranged before the administration station of substance 38 but the order of this provision is not important and can be reversed. However, the ointment, powder or ointment administration station 39 is arranged after the debeaking station 35, or after the cauterization station when the latter is present as explained below.

The apparatus also includes an unloading station 40 (see Figures 2, 4 and 5).

The apparatus also includes activating means 41 for moving the treatment assemblies 34, 36, 37 to their operating position when supports 30 arrive at stations 35, 38, 39 and thereafter to return the treatment assemblies 34 , 36, 37 in their non-operating position (shown in Figure 1).

The suspension means 32 of each support 30 (FIG. 6) comprise a front piece 50 constituting at least part of a helmet, fixed to said table 20 and consisting of a metal block with a recess 54 to receive at least part of the head of an animal. The recess 54 is preferably conical and shaped to comfortably receive the head of the animal to be treated. The front piece 50 is removable and replaceable to allow the substitution of various shapes.

In the case of volatile processing, the front piece 50 also has an opening 56 at the top of the recess 54 just wide enough to admit the end of the beak of the volatile.

Each of the supports 30 further comprises a control element 62 constituted for example by a rod, disposed in the passage of an animal which is loaded in said support 30 and for this purpose it extends horizontally through the recess 54, and is folded to extend into the recess. Another configuration for the control element 62 is to extend straight through the notch 21 below the front piece 5Q as shown at 62 ′ in FIG. 6a, in which case said control element acts against the neck of the animal rather than between its jaws or between its beaks when it is a bird.

The suspension means 32 of each support 30 also advantageously comprise a pair of retaining devices 66 mounted on said table 20 to hold the head of an animal in the recess 54. The retaining devices 66 are in the embodiment shown, constituted by the free ends of a spring 70 for example a serpentine (Figures 3 to 5), and are formed to extend across opposite edges of the animal's neck and then upward, along and against the back of the head. The first parts that extend across the neck are curved to conform to the neck and approach each other at 68 as a support for the lower jaw, where the retainers are folded up to form vertical parts 69 curving at their free end to conform to the head of the animal.

The spring 70 is wound around the disc 71, which is mounted on the bottom wall of the table 20 on the upright 72 which extends across the slot 73 of the disc to allow a radial adjustment (from the axis 24) for vary the size of the restraint devices 66 according to the breed and / or the strain of the animal. From disc 71, the devices retaining 66 pass between the discs 76 and 78 of the element 74, on the opposite edges of an eccentric cam 80 in the form of a bar fixed between the discs. The disks 76 and 78 and the cam 80 are mounted to pivot around the axis 81 on a shaft 82 which is fixed in the table 20 to open and close the retaining devices 66.

To control this opening and closing, arms 84 and 85 fixed to the element 74 extend in a general opposite direction from the shaft 82, and the arm 86 extends from the upright 88 to constitute a stop for stop with respect to the arm 84 (FIG. 4), preventing a rotation to the right of the cam 80 (from the point of view of FIG. 4, looking from the side below the table 20), which thus maintains the retaining device 66 cuvert against the force of the spring 70. The upright 88 is mounted on the table 20 to pivot around the axis 89, and comprises fixed thereon above the table 20, one end of the rod 62. When the arms ε- and 86 are arranged one against the other to keep the retaining devices open, the rod 62 has pivoted somewhat towards the outside of the front piece 50. A spring 90 pushes the upright 88 in this position.

An inward movement of the control element 62 causes the upright 88 to pivot, moving the arm 86 away from the arm 8- to release the latter and allow the spring 7C to close the retaining devices 66, by rotating the cam 80 until it is aligned and balanced between the retainers 66 (Figure 4). To indicate whether the retainers 66 are open or closed (and from there whether an animal is loaded between them or not), a hollow post 94 is mounted on the table 20 with its opening 96 positioned to be blocked by the arm 84, which enters the slot 97 of the upright when the retaining devices are open. The upright 94 thus also acts as a stopper vis-à _- vis the arm 84 to protect the elastic limit of the retaining device 66, and further acts as a stopper vis-à-vis the arm 86 to its locking position (Figure 7).

Finally, to achieve the release of the animals, a release element constituted for example by a cam 98, is mounted on the drive shaft 22 at the unloading station 40 and is advantageously arranged in the passage of the turned end 99 down the arm 85, so as to pivot the arm 85, and from there the cam (80) to the left, that is to say clockwise (seen as above, from the under the table) to the open position, for which the spring 90 causes the arm 86 to pivot in turn to be placed against the arm 84, by locking the mechanism in the open position. It is thus clear that the aforementioned structure constitutes a connection which, with the release element 98 together form the release or release means mentioned above to cause the support 30 to release its animal when it arrives at the unloading station 40 .

In the case of volatile processing, the debeaking assembly 34 is then present (see FIG. 8) and comprises a debeaking element 110 with an open end formed to fit around the end of the beak of the volatile. Although the end 111 is shown in FIG. 9 with a circular section, it can have other shapes, depending on whether one wishes to treat one beak or both beaks and according to the degree and form of debeaking desired. This form can be conical shape shown in Figure 16 which is particularly suitable for debeaking the two spouts simultaneously or the semi-conical shape shown in Figure 17 which is specifically adapted for debeaking the upper spout (in the position shown) or the lower spout (in reverse position). The debeaking assembly 34 also includes means 112 for heating the debeaking element 110 to burn the spout. The heating means 112 may be adjustable and may include a nozzle 114 connected by the tube 116 to a source of butane or another gas to supply a flame to the debeaker element 110, typically above 700 ° C. The debeaking assembly 34 further preferably comprises means 113 for removing the hot air around the nozzle 114 to protect the appliance from overheating and for removing the combustion products from debeaking. According to another embodiment, the debeaking element 110 is electrically heated as shown, and explained below, with reference to Figures 28-30. Advantageously, said means 113 for removing the hot air comprises an outlet duct 118, opposite the nozzle 114 which is supplied with a stream of fresh air by the duct 115 connected to a larger tube 117. A fan means 119 blows air into the tube 117. The debeaking element 110 extends between the nozzle 114 and the outlet duct 118 and is fixed, either rigidly or elastically, vertically to the tube 117. It should be noted that the free end of the conduit 118 is disposed in a place sufficiently spaced from the debeaking element 110 so as to avoid cooling the debeaking element 110 and especially the end 111 which carries out debeaking.

The drive system 27 driven by the motor 26 and acting on the drive shaft 22 includes as it can be seen from FIG. 10 a main shaft 120 having at one end a toothed wheel 121 cooperating with an endless screw 122 on an axis 123 of a pulley 124 at variable speed supporting a belt 125 activated by a pulley 126 also at variable speed fixed on the arm 127 of the motor 26.

The other end of the main shaft 120 is connected by a rigid coupling 128 to a secondary shaft 129 comprising a worm screw 130 cooperating with a toothed wheel 131 fixed to the shaft 22 for driving the rotary table 20 Naturally, the main and secondary shafts 120, 129 are rotatably mounted using several bearings 132 relative to the frame.

At least part of the processing assemblies 34, 36, 37 is linked or mounted on a movable support 13L, the latter being guided near an end 134a by the drive axis 22 to rotate and slide freely relative to the drive axis 22. The movable support 134 is mounted to slide freely around an operating shaft 136 of the movable support .134 which is mounted through an orifice 137 passing through it at a location preferably arranged opposite from the end 134a of the mobile support 134. It can be seen that the mobile support 134 is mounted to slide freely around the operating shaft 136 by means of two bearings, one of which is a bearing 133 disposed at the lower end of the mobile support 134 forms a support stop a compression spring 138 disposed in the orifice 137, ledi = spring 138 being fixed moreover, to a ring 139 rigidly mounted on the operating shaft 136.

The operating shaft 136 is also connected to the activator means 41 described below. The activating means 41 comprise a wheel 140 rigidly mounted on the secondary shaft 129, constituting a double cam, each face comprising a cam path such as the cam path 141 shown in FIGS. 1, 10 and 11, the other path of cam 142 being shown only in FIG. 10. The cam track 141 carries a roller 143 fixed to a lever 144 which is articulated rotating at one end on an axis 145 rotatably mounted on a bearing 146, the other end supporting a vertical connecting rod 147 mounted articulated in a rotary manner by a ball joint 190 on the lever 144, the other end of the vertical connecting rod 147 being connected to the operating shaft 136, by a ball joint 191, by a yoke 148 passing through a door 149 made in the chassis 1. A control rod 150 is fixed to one end of the axis 145, and at its other free end supports a drive rod 151 with which it is articulated by a ball joint 192. The other end of the link 151 is arti abutment rotatably on the vertical rod 147 by a ball joint 193. It can thus be seen that the lever 144, the control rod 150, the drive rod 151 and the vertical rod 147 substantially form an articulated parallelogram which is deformable in space .

It should be noted that preferably the drive link 151 is made in two parts 151a and 151b which are threaded and connected using a sleeve 152 also threaded so as to vary the length of the drive link 151 as well as the rotation of the mobile support 134. Likewise, the yoke 148 and the vertical connecting rod 147 are preferably threaded, as shown, so as to vary their total length and thus allow adjustment of the vertical movement of the mobile support 134.

In the other cam path 142 is disposed a roller 153 fixed to one end of a lever 154 which is fixed to the other end of the axis 145 so as to rotate the axis 145 which horizontally displaces the rod d drive 151, due to the vertical position of the control rod 150. The cam track 141 drives the lever 144 which acts vertically on the vertical rod 147 so as to raise or lower the mobile support 134 during the rotation of the wheel 140 The cam path 142 rotates the movable support 134 horizontally and allows it to describe the desired arc by virtue of the presence of the ball joints 190 to 193.

With reference to FIG. 12, the debeaking assembly 34 comprises three parts 160, 161, 162. The part 160 comprises, as shown in FIG. 13, two guide elements 163, 164 passing through orifices 165, 166, respectively , made through the mobile support 134. The guide element 163 is long enough to abut at its free end against the rotary table 20 when the mobile support 134 is lowered, its free end being provided with a screw 167 to vary its total length. The part 161 comprises a finger 168 provided with a screw 169 securing the part 162 to the part 161. The part 162 comprises a spring clip 170 for attaching a spring 171 between the part 162 and the clip 172 fixed to the movable support 134 Openings 173, 174, 175 are made respectively at parts 160, 161, 162 to allow passage to the air tube 117 and to the gas pipe 116. However, the gas pipe 116 and the air pipe 117 are fixed to the part 162 by a pinching means 176.

As shown in FIG. 14, the part 161 can be secured to the part 160 using a screw 177 capable of penetrating a hole provided in the part 160.

It can also be noted that the part 161 comprises at its lower side an additional screw 178 (shown in FIG. 13) bearing on the mobile support 134 when the screw 167 does not already abut against the rotary table 20. Furthermore, as can be see it from Figures 12 and 13, the finger 168 protrudes into a recess 180 made in the part 160, the dimension of the recess 180 being predetermined to allow the parts 162 and 161 to be pivoted within defined limits when the screw 177 does not engage in the part 160. In such a case, since the air tube 117 pivots with the part 162 and the debeaking element is fixed to the air tube 117, this will allow the 'debeaking element to pivot to perform debeaking. In the case where the screw 177 engages in the part 160, the parts 162 and 161 are fixed to the part 160 and do not pivot. In this case, the debeaking element 110 is lowered only vertically to debeak the upper spout.

Referring to Figure 15, there is shown in more detail the mechanism for lowering or lifting the chassis 1 relative to the support leg 2. This mechanism comprises a crank 181 comprising a worm 182 so as to raise or lower the chassis 1 by relative to the support leg 2. The chassis 1 advantageously comprises a locking means 183 shown in FIG. 1 for locking the chassis 1 in a determined position.

The assembly 36 for administering at least one substance to animals comprises a part mounted on the turntable 20 and another part linked or mounted on the movable support 134 as can be seen more precisely in FIGS. 19 to 21. According to a characteristic of said substance administration assembly 36, this comprises means for administering to at least one eye, to the nose, to the mouth or to another orifice of the animal one or more drops, droplets or micro-drops the above liquid substance; or to vaporize or atomize said substance, advantageously comprising a syringe 200 of the type for administration of drops or spray. The means for administering drops or spraying further comprise at least one passage 58, 60 produced in the front piece 50 and extending from the recess 54 to the outside of the front piece 50, said passage 58 , 60 fitted with its filter 59, 61 opening into the recess 54 either at the position of one eye (passage 58 shown in FIGS. 19 and 20), or at the position of a nose scar, or both (as shown in Figures 6, 6a), a syringe of the aforementioned type with drops or spray being mounted to supply the substance to said animal through said passage 58 or 60 in the operating position, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 19 and 20. Each syringe is integral with the movable support 134 and advantageously includes, like the syringe 200, a syringe body 201 and a syringe piston 202 which can abut when the movable support 134 moves against the front piece 50. The syringe body 201 is provided of a pipe 203 opening e n face of a filter 59 mounted above the passage 58 so as to communicate, preferably in a fluid-tight manner, with the latter. On the other hand, the syringe body 201 also comprises a supply line 204 communicating with a metering element similar to the metering element 360, FIG. 18, which will be de writes further. This dosage element is itself connected to a reservoir of substance to be administered, for example a drug such as an antibiotic, a vaccine or other biological products, for example products containing vitamins or products promoting growth or an aqueous solution or even water, each reservoir being arranged above the metering elements to allow feeding by gravity.

It can thus be seen that said means for administering drops or spraying comprise at least one distribution circuit by drops or spraying or spraying (204-201-202-203-58-59) provided with a substance dosing element. treatment.

To administer a substance by the mouth of an animal, the means for administering drops or spraying advantageously comprise a passage 63 produced in the control element 62 which is thus constituted by a hollow rod provided with an orifice 64 d administration in substance at the level of the recess 54 opposite the mouth of an animal and an orifice 210 for supplying substance, provided with a filter 65, and produced in the upright 88 in continuity with the passage 63 of the rod 62.

The substance administration assembly 36 also advantageously comprises means for injecting liquid under the animal's skin, comprising at least one hypodermic syringe 206, 207, 208 linked or mounted on the mobile support 134 (FIGS. 19 to 21). The assembly 36 for administration of substance by injection comprises a plate 211 mounted at one end 221 a around the drive axis 22 so that the plate 211 can rotate freely in rotation relative to the drive axis 22 but without the possibility of going down or up. This plate 211 is also provided with an opening 212 through which the operating shaft 136 passes to force the rotation of the plate 211 since the operating shaft 136 is connected to the activating means 41 previously described.

At the end 211b of the plate 211 is fixed a yoke 214 substantially arranged in a vertical position and comprising at its free end an oscillating support 216 mounted so as to oscillate freely relative to the yoke 214 by means of an intermediate axis 215 arranged substantially horizontally with respect to the yoke 214.

To this oscillating support 216 are fixed two sliding rods 218 for the syringe holder 219 supporting the syringes 206 to 208.

The syringe support is actuated in sliding movement relative to the sliding rods 218 by a telescopic control rod 220 shown in detail in FIG. 20a, passing through an orifice 221 provided in the oscillating support 216.

With reference to FIG. 20a, this link 220 therefore comprises a first part 220a which slides elastically in a second part 220b which is partly hollow and which retains it, as well as a return spring 222.

The end of the control rod 220 furthest from the syringe support 219 is articulated at 223 on a cam support 224 fixed to the mobile support 134. This cam support 224 comprises a cam 225 cooperating by means of a roller 226 rotating about an axis 227 disposed substantially horizontally on a rod 228 support for the roller whose lower end is rigidly connected to the end of the oscillating support 216 opposite the orifice 221 with respect to the axis 215. The roller 226 is constantly pushed against the cam profile 230 of the cam 225 using the tension spring 231 mounted on a spring support 232 fixed itself to the clevis 214.

The syringes 206 to 208 do not include a piston but communicate using the supply lines 235, 236 and 237 respectively, with a metering element for treatment substance such as 360, shown in FIG. 18, the operation of which will be explained below, each metering element is naturally connected to a suitable substance reservoir, not shown, in the same manner as for the syringe 200.

At the lower ends of the sliding rods 218 is mounted a suction device 240 for pulling back the skin of the neck of an animal held in the support 30 and it can be seen that each hypodermic syringe 206, 208 is mounted so as to inject the said treatment substance under said backward skin of the neck, in the operating position shown in FIG. 20 (subcutaneous injection),

The suction device 240 comprises a perforated nozzle 241 provided with a perforated surface having one or more orifices 242, extending vertically downward by a sufficient distance to allow a rearward drawing of a predetermined area of the skin of the animal's neck, in the operating position shown in Figure 20. It can be seen in Figure 21 that the perforated surface 241 has a cross section forming a V so as to be able to bear on and surround the neck of the animal. The upper surface 241a of the perforated surface 241 comes to the end of its travel in abutment against the retaining devices 66.

The suction device 240 is connected to a suction pipe 244 which rises in the frame 1 as can be seen in FIG. 10 in which it is fixed using a holding piece 245 where the suction pipe 244 is divided into two secondary suction pipes 246 and 247.

The secondary piping 246 is connected to a vacuum pump not shown while the other secondary suction piping 247 comprises an opening 248 which can be brought into communication with the atmosphere by means of a suction rupture element 250 during a period of time when said suction is not necessary between two successive operations of administration by injection.

This suction rupture element 250 is seen more clearly in FIG. 24 and comprises a disc 251 forming a cam fixed on the main shaft 120 and it can be seen in this figure 24 that this disc forming cam 251 is not completely circular but a part of it has been cut so as to provide a predetermined free angle α providing a rotation time of the main shaft 120 proportional to said period of time when said suction is not necessary between two successive operations of administration by injection. In fact, when the cam disc 251 is active and is applied in a fluid-tight manner against the opening 248 of the secondary pipe 247 a suction occurs through suction piping 244.

The aforementioned holding and / or support means also comprise means 300 for holding the rear of said animal immobilized rearward relative to the turntable 20 at each processing assembly station to maintain the body of the animal preferably substantially vertical in the operating position as shown in Figure 20.

Said holding means 300 of the rear of the animal are actuated by the actuating means 41 by a connection using levers and rods or rods hinged together by a wheel 320 mounted on the drive shaft 120, and they will be explained in more detail below.

Thus, the means 300 for holding the rear of the animal comprise a positioning element 301 generally in the form of a U on which is fixed, at the free ends of the U, an elastomer membrane 302 provided with a recess 303 for the positioning of the back of the animal.

The positioning element 301 is supported by two control rods 304 and 305 rising into the chassis 1 passing through an opening 306 of the chassis 1 and being fixed to a spacer plate 307 appearing in FIGS. 10 and 23.

Said spacer piece 307 is itself supported while being articulated in a rotary manner by a ball joint with a vertical connecting rod 308. The upper end of the vertical connecting rod 308 comprises a horizontal extension constituting a horizontal connecting rod 309 which is articulated in a rotary manner by another ball joint on the free end of a control lever 310 articulated at the other end 310a on a bearing 311 fixed to the chassis 1. The control lever 310 comprises a roller 314 at a location remote from the axis d hinge 312 of the end 310a of the control lever 310 relative to the bearing 311. This roller 314 is arranged in a cam path 316 of a wheel 320 forming a cam fixed to the main shaft 120. This path forming a cam 316 is intended to provide an upward or downward movement and a rotation analogous to those provided by the cam track 141 and 142 of the wheel 140 previously described for the movable support 134.

As shown in FIG. 22, the positioning element 301 can laterally support a prepositioning arm 322 in the case where the animals treated are volatiles to be debeaked, said prepositioning arm 322 thus extending laterally to the debeaking station. previously described so as to preposition said birds during debeaking. Said prepositioning arm 322 also extends vertically downwards and with an inclined surface 326 relative to the vertical so as to avoid rearward movements of said birds during the passage of said birds from the debeaking station to the station. substance administration. At the free end 323 of the prepositioning arm 322 are mounted elastomeric membranes 324 provided with a recess 325 to comfortably hold the rear of the animal.

In addition, the elastomeric membrane 302 may comprise a notch 330 allowing the passage and the free pivoting of the sliding rods 218 supporting the syringe holder 219 in the space 331 appearing at the interior of the U-shaped positioning member 301.

The apparatus according to the present invention also advantageously comprises a safety device 340 shown more precisely in FIG. 18 to prevent the administration of substance when no animal is supported on a support opposite the assembly of administration.

This safety device 340 in the embodiment shown comprises a feeler 341 connected in displacement to the movable support 134 and thus to the substance delivery assembly, and a stop means relative to the feeler interposed in the passage of said feeler when no animal is supported on the support opposite the substance administration assembly, said stop means being constituted by the arm 84 interposed in the opening 96 as shown in Figure 5.

Said probe 341 can be constituted either by a vertical stop screwed on the mobile support 134, or preferably by a vertical rod screwed on the mobile support 134 as shown in FIG. 18 and comprising a cam element 355 slidably mounted on the rod 342, having an elongated part 355a at its free end, and provided with a through orifice 356 ending in said elongated part 355a with an upper internal section 356a allowing the sliding head 357 ^to slide therefrom from the vertical rod 342. The element 355 _D is pushed back permanently against the shoulder 357 of the vertical rod 342 using a return spring 558. Said cam element 355 has a double profile Lncliné 343, 344 joining to form a vertex 345.

Against these inclined cam profiles 343 and 344 is continuously pushed a roller 346 of a cam follower 347 disposed substantially horizontally in an orifice 359 of a support bearing 348 mounted around the shaft 22 and fixed on a vertical support 349. The cam follower 347 slides linearly horizontally relative to the vertical support 349 which is itself fixed on the plate 211 previously described to rotate with it.

The cam follower 347 carries at its free end 347a a movable stop means 350 resting on a flange 348a of the bearing 348. Said movable stop means 350 is pushed permanently against the cam element 355 of the probe 341 to the using a return spring 500.

The movable stop means 350 has an upper surface 352 disposed substantially horizontally and is provided with a through hole 353 disposed substantially vertically.

The injection or spray metering elements of the substance delivery assembly are attached to the movable support 134. A metering element 360 is shown in Figure 18 and comprises a body 361 whose lower end is provided with a piston 362 which is disposed substantially above the movable stop means 350 so that when the movable support 134 descends, said piston 362 is in contact with the upper surface 352 of the movable stop means 350 if the probe 341 can descend freely through the opening 96 of the turntable 20 when an animal is present, as shown in Figure 18a so that the piston 362 is actuated towards the inside of the body 361 to send a dose of substance predetermined by the substance supply line 235 for example; or if no animal is present, the piston 362 descends freely in the orifice 353 due to the rearward movement of the cam follower 347 actuated by the inclined cam profile 343, as shown in FIG. 18b.

It can be noted that at the unloading station 40, the animals can be counted using any counting device known per se and which has therefore not been shown.

Another way of counting animals is to provide a counting device 400 on the movable support 134 comprising a flexible strip 401 which can be pushed back in contact with the head of the animal, against a suitable detector, for example an electromagnetic 402, as shown in FIG. 20, and by emitting a signal which acts on a counter to add a unit.

Finally, the rotary table 20 is surrounded by an elastomeric membrane 410 inclined as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 so as to form a soft forward stop means of the front part of the animal in particular of its members, and constituting thus means for holding the front of the animal immobilized against a forward movement.

Finally, it can be noted that the activating means 41 are such that the treatment assemblies 34, 36, 37 are moved through their complete cycle the same number of times as the number of supports 30 provided on the table 20 for each complete rotation of the table 20.

We will now describe the operation of the apparatus according to the present invention described above.

In operation, an operator loads an animal, which may preferably be a volatile animal, into each support 30 when it reaches the station 31 by exerting pressure on the rear of the animal against the control element 62 or 62 ' to close the re devices _- held 66, as previously described, and force (using the conical surface of the recess 54) the spout to close and to be introduced into the orifice 56 of the front piece 50.

In the case of volatile processing, at least one debeaking station 35 is preferably present. As the table 20 moves in rotation and a loaded volatile approaches the debeaking station 35, the mobile support 134 is brought by the activating means 41 previously described to descend to the table 20 and thus bring the debeaking assembly 34 also to descend and pivot outwards towards the support 30, whether an animal is present or not, at the debeaking station 35. When the guide element 163 abuts against the table 20, the downward movement of part 160 of the debeaking assembly ceases. However, as described in the aforementioned French patent application No. 79 23018, when the screw 177 does not engage with the part 160, the continued downward movement of the movable support 134 causes the parts 162 and 161 to pivot towards the bottom under the effect of the spring 171, this causing the air tube 117 and the gas duct 116 to pivot, thus also causing a horizontal pivoting of the debeaker element 110 of a predetermined rotation until it receives and bears against the end of the beak of the volatile protruding through the orifice 56. During the operation, the flow positive air from the duct 115 in the exhaust duct 118 induced in the air flow near the front piece 50, in the tube 118, removing the excess of hot air to avoid overheating of the volatile or parts which it touches, cooling the front part 50, and also removing the products of combustion when the spout is burnt.

If you only want to debeak the upper beak of the volatile, as described in the inventor's previous French patent application No. 79 23018, the screw 177 is engaged in the part 160 to secure the parts 162 and 161 with the part 160. Thus, a vertical downward movement of the part 160 caused by a downward movement of the movable support 134 will only effect a vertical downward movement of the debeaking element 110 on the upper spout to be debeaked by burning.

When debeaking is finished, after a predetermined period of time provided by the cam tracks of the wheel 140 of the activating means 41, the movable support 134 begins to rise and begins to rotate the parts 161 and 162 by acting on the screw 178 and when the screw 177 is not engaged with the part 160, the debeaking element 110 is removed horizontally from the volatile, and the continuation of the upward movement of the mobile support 134 also brings about an upward movement of the debeaking assembly 34, the latter moving rapidly upwards to its starting position.

Likewise, whether or not an animal is present at debeaking station 35, another animal may or may not be at the liquid administration station 38. Since at least part of the treatment assembly 36 is linked to the movable support 134, the aforementioned movement of the movable support 134 displaces said linked part of the assembly 36 from administration of substance from its non-operating position shown in FIG. 19 to its operating position shown in FIG. 20 under the effect of the lowering of the cam support 224 and of the control rod 220 relative to the oscillating support 216 and the neck rods _- smoothening 218 with a corresponding forward pivoting of the oscillating support 216 caused by the rod 228 supporting the roller 225 pressed against the cam.

In addition, because of the profile of the cam track 316, the means 300 for holding the rear of the animal also descend and the elastomeric membrane 302 descends behind the neck of the animal and gradually inclines the rear of the animal to keep said animal substantially immobilized in a vertical position. Since said animal 280 is also pushed against the elastomeric membrane 410, said animal 280 can practically not move or make disordered movements.

It should be noted that preferably the holding means 300 comprise a prepositioning arm 322 so that the animal 280 is prepositioned by the elastomeric membrane 324 at the preceding station which may be a debeaking station in the case of the debeaking of volatile birds.

Since the suction device 240 is fixed to the lower ends of the sliding rods 218, the suction device also comes to be placed in the operating position shown in FIG. 20 in abutment on the retaining devices 66, while the suction is performed since the opening 248 of the secondary suction piping 247 is closed by the surface of the cam disc 251. This suction results in the rearward pulling of the skin of the neck not held between the retaining devices 66, against the perforated surface 241. Given the V-shaped configuration of the perforated surface 241, the continued suction pulls the skin enough to allow the insertion of at least one needle 260, 261, 262 of at least one hypodermic syringe 206, 207, 208 respectively supported by the syringe holder 219.

During this descent of the movable support 134, the needle 260, 261, 262 penetrates into the skin of the stretched neck of the animal (FIG. 20) because the feeler 341 penetrates into the opening 96 of the upright 94 since with a animal supported between the retaining devices 66 at the station 38, the opening 96 is not closed and allows the passage of the probe 341 and in this case as shown in FIG. 18a, the cam follower 347 has passed beyond from the top 345 of the feeler 341 so that the movable stop means has been moved in the direction of the feeler 341 so that the upper surface 352 of the stop means 350 is disposed in the displacement of the means 350 forming the metering pump so that the piston 362 will abut against the upper surface 362 and will be actuated in the body 361 and will send a dose of substance, preferably liquid, treatment in the corresponding syringe either spray 200 or injection 206, 207, 208 and from there either by spraying or subcutaneously in the stretched skin of the animal. As shown in FIG. 21, the length of the needles 260, 261, 262 is different for injecting drops of liquid at different depths. The penetration depth of the needle 260, 261 or 262 is adjustable by modifying either the needle or the position of the syringe 206, 207, 208, or the length of the connecting rod 220. The telescopic connecting rod 220 makes it possible to stop needle penetration to the predetermined depth during or even before injection. Simultaneously and also the contents of the syringe body 201 of the vaporization or atomization means 200 supplied by the aforementioned metering elements such as 360 are discharged since, as the support 134 continues to descend, the piston 202 of each atomization means or vaporization abuts the associated filter 59, 61 or 65 and said piston 202 penetrates inside the syringe body 201 and injects the liquid contained therein for example by the passage 58 into an orifice of the nose via the driving 203.

At the end of the spraying or atomization and injection operations, the suction is stopped since the opening 248 of the secondary suction pipe 247 is now open to the atmosphere because of the cut part 253 of angle α , of the cam disc 251, in particular causing automatic cleaning of the piping 244.

During the return to the non-operative starting position of the movable support 134, the springs such as 363 in FIG. 18, provided around the piston of each metering pump means, either vaporization means or injection means force the corresponding pistons outwardly by drawing substance from the reservoirs in said bodies.

This cycle-by-cycle exchange of substance between the reservoirs and the bodies of the means 360,200, forming a dosing pump for example, makes it possible to possibly promote a desirable mix between each tank if desired.

For better dosing accuracy, passages 58, 60, 210 and 63, and filters 59, 61 and 65 should be filled with the treatment substance (and will retain it by capillary action) before switching on the device. .

In the case of a rigid feeler means, if the retaining devices 66 are open, the passage of the feeler means is blocked by the arm 84 which causes the downward movement of the movable support 134 to stop (see FIG. 11a) and the metering elements mounted on the movable support 134 are not then actuated because the pistons 362 cannot abut against the table 20.

In the case of a telescopic feeler means as shown in FIGS. 18, 18a, 18b, if the retaining devices are open, the end 355a of the feeler means 341 is blocked by the arm 84 so that during the continuation of the movement towards the bottom of the movable support 134 the cam follower 347 will remain against the cam top 345 (FIG. 18b) due to the sliding of the vertical rod 342 in the part of the larger orifice 356a and the orifice 353 of the stop means displaceable 350 is disposed in the passage of the piston 362 so that said piston 352 can descend freely and will not be actuated thereby avoiding the administration of substance.

The device according to the present invention may further preferably comprise a treatment assembly 37 for administration or application of powder, or ointment or ointment, in particular with healing or calming action, essentially on the spout (s) in the case the treatment of birds previously subjected to debeaking.

This treatment, which takes place at station 39, facilitates healing and sedation of the pain caused by debeaking.

This station 39 for applying powder, ointment or ointment must, of course, be almost inevitably placed after the debeaking station or after the cauterization station explained below. In the example shown, this powder, ointment or ointment application station was placed after the vaccination station 38, but it can naturally be placed before.

The processing assembly 37 comprises, according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 25 to 27, a stirrup 420 arranged substantially vertically and fixed to the rotary plate 211. The lower part of these stirrups 420 is subdivided into two branches 422, 424 whose ends free support an axis 426 rotatably mounted relative to the branches 422, 424.

On this axis 426 is rigidly mounted a pivoting rod 428, at a point spaced from its upper 428a and lower 428b ends so as to allow displacement of said ends by rotation of the rod 428-axis 426 assembly relative to the branches 422-424 .

At the upper end 428a of the pivoting rod 428, is fixed one end of an elastic return means 430 constituted by a spring, the other end of which is fixed on the stirrup 420.

Furthermore, the movable support 134 comprises, opposite this pivoting rod 428, a cam 432 whose profile is arranged substantially vertically and comprises at its lower part a shoulder 434.

An adjustable cam follower means 436, for example constituted by a finger, is fixed on the pivoting rod 428 in an appropriate manner, that is to say generally between the upper part 428a of the pivoting rod 428 and the pivoting axis 426.

The pivoting rod 428 also comprises, preferably towards its lower part 428b, clamps 438, 440 serving to support, for example by elastic snap-fastening, a means of administration of powder, ointment or ointment 442, for example constituted by a tube comprising at its lower part a dispensing means 444 constituted for example by a felt in the case of the administration of a relatively fluid ointment. The free end of the felt 444 is conformed to the spout (s) of the volatile so as to be able to apply, for example, the abovementioned ointment over the entire surface of the spout (s) of the volatile 280.

It will be noted that the respective positions of the cam 432 with its shoulder 434 and of the cam follower means 436 are such that the cam follower means bears against the shoulder 434 in the non-operating position shown in FIG. 25 having thus caused pivoting to the mobile support 134 of the lower part 428b of the pivoting rod 428 and therefore the withdrawal of the ointment administration means 442 from the beak of the volatile 280, (FIG. 25).

Furthermore, during the downward movement of the mobile support 134, the cam follower means 436 approached the mobile support 134 by passing over the upper profile 433 of the cam 432 so that the pivoting rod 428 is found substantially in position. vertical as shown in FIG. 26. In this position, the means for administering powder, ointment or ointment is in the operating position, as can be seen in this FIG. 26.

It will be noted that this assembly for applying powder, ointment or ointment can very well be used in its essential constituents for carrying out the debeaking assembly 35 because it then suffices to replace the administration means 442 with the debeaking element to obtain a debeaking assembly.

This can preferably be done so that two treatment assemblies having the same essential components are obtained, which minimizes the total number of parts to be produced to make the apparatus of the present invention.

At the unloading station 40, the birds are automatically released and can be counted, as previously described. At the vaccination station 36, the animals can be counted using the flexible strip 401 pushed back by the head of the animal as shown in Figure 20 against the aforementioned detector 402 which adds a unit to a counter.

It is also possible to detect the movement of the stop means 350 and use it to add a unit to a counter.

Above all, the operation is simple and safe, and allows extremely controlled processing at an extremely high speed, for example, as fast as six thousand animals per hour, and preferably birds, such as chicks, turkey poults, guinea fowl.

It should be noted that, when the safety device comprises a rigid feeler, the spring 138 is compulsory in the movable support 134 around the operating shaft 136 as shown in Figures 11, 11a. In the case of the safety device 340 having a telescopic feeler 341, no spring 138 need not necessarily be placed in the movable support 134 around the operating shaft 136 because its presence makes it possible to provide additional security against a mechanical blocking of the support mobile 134 by one. external element.

With reference to FIGS. 28 to 30, another embodiment of the debeaking assembly 34 has been shown.

This debeaking assembly 34 is in fact an improvement on the basic structure of the ointment or ointment application assembly shown in FIGS. 25 to 27.

Thus, in this improvement, the plate 211 comprises a vertical part 501 oriented downwards provided with a horizontal arm 502 while the plate 211 also comprises an upper horizontal arm 504, the free end of said arms 502 and 504 being connected by a vertical rod 506 surrounded by a sheath sleeve 508 having a thread pitch at its upper part and two nuts 509 and 510 screwed onto said thread pitch part. On the other hand, a nut 511 is positioned between the arm 504 and the nuts 509, 510, a spring 512 being positioned between the nut 511 and the sleeve 508. The lower part of the sleeve 508 carries an element 514 in a substantially horizontal position and comprising an opening 515 in which is disposed a horizontal axis 516 constituting the axis of rotation disposed at the lower end of an element 518 vertical cam follower at the upper end of which is hinged an element 519 provided with a roller 520 along a cam profile 521 defined on the external part of an element 522 forming a substantially vertical cam linked by a horizontal part 522a to the movable support 134.

It should be noted that the lower end of the cam 522 comprises a shoulder 523 directed towards the outside on which the roller carries in the nonoperative position for horizontal debeaking as shown in FIG. 28. The cam follower element 518 is pushed back against the cam profile 521 under the action of a spring 525 having one end fixed on the cam follower 518 and the other end on the horizontal element 514. The horizontal element 514 carries a screw 527 screwed to the free end of the arm 502 with its head arranged downwards and its screw-threaded end cooperating with a notch 528 provided in the lower external part of the horizontal element 514, making it possible to adjust the working height of the or debeaking elements 529 and / or cauterization element 529 '.

On the other hand, a debeaking element 529 is fixed to the cam follower 518, so as to be adjustable to good height. Likewise, the debeaking element can be adjusted laterally by action on the axis of rotation of the cam follower 518 (FIG. 31). The debeaking element 529 is electrically heated as is then understood from the drawing of the electrical wires 530.

The free end 529a of the debeaking element 529 is conformed to the beak of the volatile 280 like the end 111 and can be replaced by another corm element shown in FIG. 30 to perform vertical debeaking.

Via line 532, the burned products are sucked.

It should also be noted that the cam follower element 518 carries an adjustment screw 534 making it possible to adjust the angular displacement of the cam follower 518 and thus that of the debeaking element 529.

Thus, from the non-operating position shown in FIG. 28, the downward movement of the movable support 134 forces the cam follower element 518 to move in rotation inward and the debeaking element 529 comes in abutment against the beak of the volatile 280 as shown in FIG. 29. The displacement of the free end 529a is thus substantially horizontal and therefore this debeaking is called horizontal debeaking and makes it possible to debeak by burning the upper and / or lower beak.

When it is only necessary to debeak the upper spout (by burning) one can employ a vertical debeaking allowed by the apparatus of the invention simply by screwing the nuts 509 and 510 on the threaded portion of the sleeve 508 as it appears clearly from the comparison of Figures 30 and 28.

FIG. 31 represents a debeaking assembly and a cautery assembly, said assemblies are here made with the same essential structural elements and therefore the elements of the cautery assembly similar to those of the debeaking assembly have the same numbers reference plus the sign. Thus, everything that has been said about the structure and operation of the debeaking assembly is applicable to the cautery assembly.

However, to carry out the cauterization, it may be necessary to modify the shape of the end 529a ′ of the cauterization element 529 ′ to adapt it to the particular debeaking carried out beforehand and this also applies to the heating temperature of the 'Cautery element 529'.

This structure of the debeaking assembly is also usable for carrying out an assembly of application of powder or ointment or ointment as previously described.

• Le support mobile 134 comprend une première came formée ici par une fente 551 , ayant le profil spécifique représenté à la figure 32, c'est-à-dire tout d'abord une partie verticale 551a, une partie inclinée vers l'intérieur 551b et une dernière partie verticale 551c. Le support mobile 134 comprend également une seconde came 552 aussi formée par une fente comprenant une partie 552a inférieure inclinée vers l'extérieur et une partie intermédiaire d'inclinaison différente 552b et une dernière partie essentiellement verticale 552c.

In Figures 32 to 39, there is shown the more preferred embodiment of a substance delivery assembly. More particularly in Figures 32, 33 and 35, 36, it can be seen that the substance administration assembly is as follows:

• The movable support 134 comprises a first cam formed here by a slot 551, having the specific profile shown in FIG. 32, that is to say first of all a vertical part 551a, a part inclined inwards 551b and a last vertical part 551c. The movable support 134 also comprises a second cam 552 also formed by a slot comprising a lower part 552a inclined towards the outside and an intermediate part of different inclination 552b and a last essentially vertical part 552c.

In the second slot 552 is placed a roller 554 whose axis is fixed on an oscillating support 556 itself articulated on the vertical yoke 214 of the plate 211. The oscillating support 556 is thus analogous to the oscillating element 216 of the embodiment shown in Figures 19 and 20. This oscillating support 556 thus carries two sliding rods 558 and 559 better shown in Figure 33. A syringe support 560 similar to the syringe support 219 of Figures 19 and 20 is slidably mounted on the sliding rods 558 and 559 and is controlled by a control rod 562 articulated by an eccentric 553 on an L-shaped lever 563 carrying at its other free end a roller 564 disposed in the first slot 551. The lever in the form of L 563 is also articulated at the base of the L to a projection 565 of the plate 211. The eccentric joint 553 makes it possible to adjust the depth of penetration of the needle in the vertical direction.

The structure of the syringe support 560 is better represented in FIG. 37 and in fact comprises three parts, a base part 560a sliding on the sliding rods 558 and 559, an intermediate part 560b and an external part 560c carrying at least one syringe hypodermic. The hypodermic syringe is locked on the external part 560c by a locking means 566. The external part 560c is secured to the intermediate part 560b by a securing means 567. An adjustment screw 568 is provided so as to precisely adjust the position of the elements 56Cb and 560c with respect to the basic element 560a, thereby precisely adjusting the depth of penetration, in the horizontal direction, of the needle 570 of the hypodermic syringe 572 under the skin of the neck of the animal 280 .

In addition, the lower ends of the sliding rods 558 and 559 carry the suction device 240 like that of FIGS. 19 and 20 with a nozzle per bore 241 provided with a perforated surface connected to the piping 244 as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. It can only be noted here that an adjustment screw 574 adjusts the position of the perforated nozzle 241 relative to the retaining device 66, so that the needle and nozzle assembly are adjustable independently and relatively to each other with respect to the animal kept.

Also, as in FIGS. 19 and 20, the apparatus comprises means 300 for holding the rear of the animal immobilized against a rearward movement relative to the endless circuit constituted by the turntable 20.

Here this means for holding the rear comprises, as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, an element 301 of generally U-shaped positioning on which is fixed, at the free ends of the U, an elastic piece 302 or flexible provided with a recess 303 for positioning the rear of the animal and a prepositioning arm 322.

Here the positioning element 301 is rotatably mounted at the base of the U on the external part of the yoke 214 of the plate 211 by means of an axis 576.

In addition, at a location spaced from the base of the U, the positioning element 301 is articulated on a holding rod 578 having its upper end also articulated on an arm 580 fixed to the oscillating support 556. The arm 580 carries one end d 'a spring 582, the other end of which is fixed to a screw 584 screwed onto the positioning element 301 so as to permanently pull the positioning element through the operating position. FIG. 32 represents the rest or non-operative position of the assembly since the movable support 134 is in the non-operative position.

It will be observed that the articulation points of the link 518 are provided so as to avoid any interference between the movements of the suction device and of the positioning element 301.

It can also be observed that the hypodermic syringe 572 does not have a piston but communicates by means of a supply line 586 to a metering element for treatment substance 588 itself connected by a supply line 590 to a tank of clean substance not shown. Naturally, each hypodermic syringe has a separate substance dosing element so as to generally supply a different substance and thus for example different vaccines can be administered by injection.

In this embodiment, the mobile support 134 carries the syringes 592 for administering drops or spraying which are completely similar to the syringes 200 shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. The syringe 592 naturally communicates via a supply line 593 to a substance dosing element similar to the substance dosing element 588 shown in FIG. 38, itself connected to a clean reservoir, not shown.

Thus, in this embodiment, the substance metering elements are fixedly mounted on the chassis of the device.

The security device of this more preferred embodiment will now be described.

The safety device here comprises a feeler means 600 constituted by a vertical rod similar in principle and in its operation with the feeler means previously shown in relation to the other embodiments. The medium probe 600 com takes a flange 609 and a spring 613 is disposed around the rod 600 being compressed between a pad 611 and the flange 609. This vertical rod passes through the movable support 134 while being guided by the latter and also through the plate 211 and through a slot 601 provided in the bottom of the chassis of the device. The upper part 600a of the feeler means carries an arcuate arm 602 substantially horizontal disposed in an opening 603 provided in a lever 604 articulated on the chassis of the apparatus using a pin 605 (Figure 38).

At a location 606 spaced from the axis 605 is articulated a control rod 607 itself articulated on a thrust rod 608.

The push rod 608 is itself articulated on an oscillating element 610 rotatably mounted by means of an axis 612 on a U-shaped element 614 fixed on the chassis (Figure 39).

The oscillating element 610 comprises several cavities like the cavity 616 shown in FIG. 38 in which are arranged pushers 618 having a free lower end 618a and an upper end in the shape of a head 618b. The oscillating element 610 is arranged so as to be capable when an animal is held and the feeler means 600 can freely lower through the orifice 96 of the rotary table 20, to actuate the pistons 591 of the metering elements 588 and on the other hand the being actuated by a projecting part of the lever moved in movement by the wheel 140 and having a downward and upward movement. The free end 144a of the lever 144 carries a buffer means 620 which, during the downward movement of the lever 144 pushes the pistons 618 of the oscillating element 610. The actuation position is shown in phantom lines. The buffer means 620 comprises an elas part catch-up tick for machining faults in parts or strokes.

It is clear that when no animal is maintained, the arm 84 closes the orifice 96, so that the feeler means 600 cannot descend freely and the arched arm 602 cannot pivot the lever 604 and the oscillating element 610 will not be moved so that the downward movement of the lever 144 will not cause a depression of the pistons 591 of the substance metering elements 588.

Considering FIG. 32 representing the non-operating position, FIG. 35 representing the intermediate position in which only the rear holding means and the suction device are in the operating position but not the syringe support, and FIG. 36 representing the operating position for both substance injection and substance vaporization, the operation of the substance administration assembly is clearly understandable. The movements are caused by the special profile of the slots 551 and 552. This operation is the same as that previously described with respect to Figures 19 and 20.

It will further be observed that in FIG. 34 is shown the unloading station comprising a housing 65C having a pivoting bottom 652 controlled for example by an electromagnetic control rod 654 lowering the bottom 652 when a predetermined number of animals are present in the housing 650. This makes it possible, in a manner known per se, to position a given number of animals in boxes after treatment thereof in order to then direct them to suitable places.

A mechanical means can be provided for cleaning the surface of the table 20 and the vertical part of the front piece 50 of the various deposits resulting from the various operations, such as debeaking residues, vaccine, ointment, etc.

Naturally, the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and illustrated, which have been given only by way of example. In particular, the invention includes all the means constituting technical equivalents as well as their combinations if these are carried out according to the spirit and implemented in the context of the claimed protection. It is thus clear that the invention relates to the treatment of live animals.

Claims (31)

1.- Process for the automatic treatment of animals and preferably birds, such as young chicks, turkey poults, guinea fowl, including the provision of means of support or restraint and / or support to maintain and / or support the head of the animal essentially immobilized and treating said animal thus maintained, characterized in that it comprises the provision of a treatment assembly in the vicinity of the means for maintaining and / or supporting the animal for the administration to said animal of at least one treatment substance, such as a liquid and / or a powder or an ointment or ointment, in particular with a healing or calming action, in the vicinity, or at at least one place, of said substantially immobilized head of the animal , said administration assembly being movable between a non-operating position and an operating position. 2.- Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the injection of one or more treatment liquids to said animal. 3.- Method according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises pulling back the skin of the neck of a maintained animal and injecting said liquid under said skin of the neck pulled back. 4.- Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the treatment assembly comprises the administration or application of a powder or an ointment or ointment, in particular with a healing (33) or calming action, essentially on the beak (s) of a bird previously debeaked. 5.- Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each treatment substance is chosen from a medicament, such as an antibiotic, a vaccine or other biological liquids, for example vitamin products, growth promoting products, and / or a powder or ointment or ointment, in particular with a healing or calming action (8), and an aqueous solution or water. 6.- Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises maintaining the rear of said animal immobilized against a rearward movement relative to the holding means and / or support. 7.- Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the treatment assembly comprises the application of drops, droplets or microdrops, or the spraying or atomization of one or more treating substances at the position of the nose and / or the position of at least one eye and / or the position of the animal's mouth. 8.- A method for the automatic treatment of animals according to claim 1, characterized in that at least part of the holding means and / or support is movable according to an endless circuit, a plurality of holding means and / or support being provided spaced along said endless circuit, the processing assembly being arranged in the vicinity of said endless circuit so that each holding and / or support means is caused to pass first to a then loading at the processing station and finally at an unloading station. 9.- Apparatus for automatically treating animals, preferably birds such as young chicks, guinea fowl, turkey poults, having a chassis, comprising means for holding and / or supporting the head of the animal essentially immobilized and means for treating said maintained animal, characterized in that said means for treating the maintained animal comprise an assembly for administering to said animal at least one treatment substance such as a liquid and / or a powder or an ointment or ointment, in particular with a calming or healing action, in the vicinity, or at least in one place, of said head of the animal substantially immobilized, said administration assembly being movable between a nonoperative position and a surgical position relative to the chassis . 18. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the aforementioned administration assembly comprises means for administering to at least one eye, nose, mouth or other orifice of the animal one or more drops, droplets or microdrops of the above liquid, or to vaporize, pulverize or atomize the above liquid. 11.- Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the aforementioned administration assembly comprises means for injecting liquid under the skin of said animal, comprising at least one hypodermic syringe. 12.- Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises a support movable relative to the chassis mounted so as to move from a non-operating position to an operating position or vice versa respectively and said assembly substance administration is at least partially linked to said mobile support to move with it. 13.- Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that it further comprises a suction device for pulling back the skin of the neck of an animal held in said support, each hypodermic syringe being mounted so as to inject the treatment substance under said skin of the neck pulled backwards, in the operating position subcutaneously. 14.- Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the aforementioned suction device comprises a perforated nozzle provided with a perforated surface extending vertically downwards from the surface of the neck by a sufficient distance to draw towards the back of a predetermined area of the skin of the animal's neck, in the operating position. 15.- Apparatus according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that it comprises a suction rupture element for a period of time when said suction is not necessary between two successive operations of administration by injection. 16.- Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 15, characterized in that the movable support is arranged above the holding means and / or support; and the latter is preferably a means of suspending the animal by its head so that the animal has the remaining part of its body in space, further comprising means for holding the rear of the animal immobilized against a backward movement and also preferably means for holding the front of the animal immobilized against a forward movement so as to preferably keep the body of the animal substantially vertical. 17.- Apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that the means for holding the rear of the animal are articulated relative to the frame and comes out linked to the administration assembly so as to be actuated during the movement of descent or ascent of the mobile support. 18.- Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 17, for the treatment of volatiles, characterized in that the treatment assembly further comprises means for applying a powder or an ointment or ointment, in particular with a calming or healing action essentially on the beak (s) of the volatile previously debeaked. 19.- Apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 18, characterized in that the aforementioned syringe does not include a piston but communicates with a metering element for the treatment substance itself connected to a reservoir of clean substance. 20.- Apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 19, characterized in that it further comprises a safety device to prevent the administration of substance when no animal is kept in said holding means and / or support. 21.- Apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that the security device comprises means probe linked in movement to the mobile support and thus to the substance delivery assembly, and a stop means relative to the probe means interposed in the passage of the probe means when no animal is maintained. 22.- Apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that the aforementioned substance metering element is fixed to the chassis above the movable support, the feeler means consists of a vertical rod passing through the through the movable support and having its free upper part shaped so as to be able to actuate said syringe metering element when an animal is held. 23.- Apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 22, characterized in that the injection means comprises a means for first of all positioning in the operating position the means for holding the rear of the animal and the means for pulling back the skin of the animal's neck and then moving the hypodermic syringe to the operating position. 24.- Apparatus according to claim 23, characterized in that the injection means comprises a connection of levers and rods hinged together and articulating the injection part of the administration assembly relative to the movable support and relative to the frame. 25.- Apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 24, characterized in that the syringe for applying drops or spraying is fixed on the support movable opposite the holding and / or support means. 26.- Apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 25, characterized in that the means for applying drops or spraying comprises at least one distribution circuit provided with a metering element for treatment substance. 27.- Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the means for holding and / or supporting the animal comprises a front piece constituting at least part of a helmet, and having a recess for receiving a part of the head d an animal, characterized in that the means for applying drops or spraying further comprises at least one passage made in the front piece and extending from the aforementioned recess to the outside of the front piece, said passage opening into said recess either at the position of one eye, or at the position of the nose, or both; and said passage communicating with the above-mentioned distribution circuit in the operating position for supplying said treatment substance to said animal through said passage. 28. Apparatus according to claim 27, in which the holding and / or support means comprise a pair of retaining devices for holding the head of an animal in said recess; a spring for pushing said retainers into a closed position against an animal; release means comprising a cam for forcing said retainers to separate to an open position to release said animal after treatment; and said holding and / or support means include a control element in the passage of an animal which is loaded in said support to activate said cam by means of a connection so as to allow said spring to close said retaining devices on an animal when the animal is pressed against the control element, characterized in that the means for applying drops or spraying further comprise a passage made in the control element which is thus constituted by a hollow rod provided with an administration orifice of substance at the level of the recess facing the mouth of the animal and of a treatment substance supply orifice communicating with the aforementioned distribution circuit in the operating position for supplying said treatment substance to said animal through said passage of the control element. 29.- Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 28 for the automatic treatment of animals at a high rate, characterized in that at least part of the holding means and / or support is movable selcn a circuit without end, a plurality of holding and / or support means being spaced apart along said endless circuit, so that the holding and / or support means is caused to pass first to a loading station , then to the processing station and finally to an unloading station. 30.- Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 29, for the treatment of birds, characterized in that it further comprises means for cauterizing essentially the (of) beak (s) of a volatile previously debeaked. 31.- Apparatus for automatically treating animals, preferably birds such as young chicks, guinea fowl, turkey poults, having a chassis, comprising means for holding and / or supporting the head of the animal essentially immobilized and means for treating said maintained animal comprising means for debeaking a volatile, characterized in that said treatment means further comprises means for cauterizing essentially the beak (s) of a volatile previously debeaked.

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