GB2050309A - Methods of handling livestock - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to methods of handling small livestock, in particular poultry, and involves the use of a container having a number of separately- openable compartments. In carrying out the method, the containers are conveyed by a primary transporter, such as a lorry, to a position adjacent to a building handling the small livestock. Each container is conveyed from the primary transporter into or to the close vicinity of the building by the use of a secondary transporter, such as a forklift truck. A quantity of the small livestock is then placed in the compartments of the container, and the containers are carried back to a primary transporter by a secondary transporter. The containers are then conveyed by said primary transporter to the factory in which the small livestock is to be processed. The containers are then carried to a position in the vicinity of a processing line, at which the livestock is removed from the compartments of the containers and placed on the processing line. Preferably, the containers each comprise a frame and a plurality of drawers to which there is access to the livestock therein through the open top thereof, and in the loading of the containers with livestock, each drawer is filled and closed in turn.

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to methods of handling livestock This invention is concerned with improvements relating to methods of handling livestock, particularly for the conveying of small livestock from geographically spaced buildings in which the small livestock is housed, to a factory in which the livestock is to be processed. The invention has been devised particularly for use in relation to the handling of poultry such as chickens, turkeys and the like.

It is however to be appreciated that the invention may be used to advantage in the handling of other small livestock.

Since the early 1950's, the intensive production of poultry has expanded considerably. For example in the U.K. approximately twenty five million chickens and probably one million turkeys were produced.

The growth of the industry has resulted in the establishment of large processing plants capable of handling substantial numbers of poultry per week.

Thus, whereas in the early 1950's a factory capable of killing twenty to thirty thousand chickens per week was considered large, today factories killing up to five hundred thousand chickens per week are in existence.

The development of such large processing units has made desirable the development of efficient means of transporting large numbers of live poultry.

A traditional method of transporting all forms of poultry was to cath them in the building in which they were housed and to carry them by hand to the nearest roadway where a vehicle awaited them. At the vehicle they were loaded into wooden crates through a small aperture at the top. Atraditional crate was three feet long by two feet wide, and of a height appropriate to the species of poultry being carried. The crates were then stacked onto the vehicle and secured into position, and the vehicle travelled to the point of unloading. At the point of unloading the crates were unloaded by hand from the vehicle. The birds were then individually removed through the small door of the crates, and hung on the poultry slaughterhouse processing lines.

This system is still widely used in the smaller poultry slaughterhouses, but is becoming increasingly unpopular for a number of reasons. Firstly it is necessary to carry the birds to the crates, which is a labour intensive operation. Secondly, it is necessary that the crates be carried to and loaded by hand onto the vehicle. This is physically demanding work and because of the violent movements which result (i.e.

crates being dropped etc.) the birds are subject to damage by bruising or broken limbs. Thirdly, it is difficult to place the birds into and remove them from the crates without damaging them as they pass through the top hatch. Fourthly, the crates have to be individually man-handled and then washed at the factory.

In the early 1960's, the larger processing plants started to develop alternative means of transport, the most commonly adopted method being to use a special vehicle on which the crates were fixed in position. It was therefore only necessary to carry the birds to the vehicles and place them in the crates through doors on the side of the vehicle. At the factory, the birds were again removed from the crates through the same doors, and hung on the processing lines.

This system offered the advantage that it eliminated the individual handling of the crates both at the farm and the factory, and it made it possible to automate the cleaning of the total vehicle. However, it was still necessary to carry the birds by hand to the vehicle and to lift them up to the top crates on the vehicle, and at the factory it was necessary to have special facilities so that either the total vehicle was lowered or raised for unloading, or alternatively so that the processing line could be raised or lowered to the height of the vehicle. The birds were still also subject to damage during loading and unloading through the relatively small end apertures of the crates.

There is therefore a demand for a means which is appropriate to the handling of large numbers of live poultry, in reducing the amount of physical work involved in the handling of live poultry, in improving the methods of handling so as to reduce the amount of damage sustained by the birds, and in providing improved working conditions for those involved in the various operations.

According to this invention there is provided a method of transporting small livestock from buildings in geographically spaced locations in which the livestock is housed, to a factory in which the livestock is to be processed, involving the use of containers having a number of separately-openable compartments, and the following steps:: (a) a plurality of the containers are conveyed by a primary transporter to a position adjacent to a building handling the small livestock; (b) each conveyor is conveyed from the primary transporter into or to the close vicinity of the building by the use of a secondary transporter; (c) a quantity of the small livestock is placed in the compartments of the containers; (d) the container is then carried back to the said primary transporter or a similar primary transporter by the or a similar secondary transporter; (e) the containers are conveyed by said primary transporter to the factory in which the small livestock is to be processed.

Preferably, subsequent to the step (e), (f) a tertiary transporter carries the containers to a position in the vicinity of a processing line; and (g) the livestock is removed from the compartments of the containers and placed on the processing line.

Preferably the containers each comprise a frame and a plurality of drawers to which there is access to livestock therein through the open top thereof, and in the loading of the containers with livestock, each drawer is filled and closed in turn.

Thus, the tertiary transporter may convey the containers from the primary transporter to an unloading platform, at which the drawers may be pushed out from the shell, conveniently automatical ly onto a moving conveyor belt which conveys the drawers along a first part of the first flow parth in front of the personnel employed to empty the drawers.The personnel may then lift the poultry from the drawers and hang them on a processing line which passes in front of them over the open topped drawers in one easy movement, in particular, one which does not involve the personnel having to move bodily, for example turning through 1800. The empty drawers may then be conveyed along a second part of the first flow path through a washing station, at which the drawers are washed, and returned to be re-assembled with the frame or with the frame of a similar container at the assembly station. The containers may then be returned to the or a similar transporter, to be conveyed in due course to another building housing small livestock.

Most advantageously, the primary transporter is a lorry ortrailerwhich may be attached to a lorry.

However, it is envisaged that the primary transporter may be a railway wagon. Most conveniently the secondary transporter is a fork lift truck or modified fork lift truck or the like, as is the tertiary transporter.

Alternatively, the container, may be positioned at an unloading station, and is moved vertically to present to an operative at the unloading station and who is responsible for the unloading of the livestock from the drawers, each of the superposed drawers in turn.

In this manner, an operative standing alongside the containers, and preferably facing a direction extending at right angles to the direction of movement of the drawers between open and closed positions, may remove the small livestock from each drawer in turn and place the livestock on the processing line.

Preferably the container is initially moved to a highermost position, and the operative unloads the livestock from the lowermost drawer, and is lowered in steps to present to the operative successively higher drawers.

Where the container is one of the kind comprising two tiers of drawers located side by side, the drawers of each tier moving from their closed to their open positions in the same direction, the operative may unload the livestockfrom the drawer of one tier whilst standing in front of the drawers of the other tier, and subsequent to the unloading of the livestock may close the drawer, occupy a position in front of the first said tier, opening and unloading therefrom one of the drawers of said other tier.

Preferably, the processing line also extends in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the drawers between the open and closed positions. In this manner, two or more containers positioned side by side at the unloading station may be moved vertically, and their contents removed and placed on said processing line simultaneously.

In this manner, it is also possible to position at the unloading station two or more superposed containers, mechanism being provided to lift all the containers at the loading station to highermost positions, and to lower all the containers so that, initially successively higher drawers of the lowermost container or containers, and then successively higher drawers of the next superposed container or containers are presented to the operative for unloading.

Preferably, in carrying out said method, containers are used which comprise a part which may be moved between an open and closed position and which, when the drawer is in its closed position and said part is in its open position, permits access to the interior of the drawer.

Thus, in carrying out said method of handling small livestock, subsequent to unloading of each drawer, the operative causes said part to adopt its open position, and closes the drawer. Preferably, the container is then conveyed to a washing station, at which water is directed to the interior of the drawer, to wash detritus therefrom, by passage of a jet of water through the opening afforded by virtue of the said part being in its open position.

Preferably, the method forms part of an overall system of handling of small livestock, in which a bank of similar containers is transported to the processing factory, and is retained as a bank during removal from the lorry or trailer and transported to the unloading station, advantageously being retained as a bank during transport through the washing station, and transported back to the lorry or trailer, or a similar lorry or trailer.

Advantageously, transport of the bank of containers to the unloading station and through the washing station is effected by the use of a vehicle having a platform, capable of controlled vertical movement, such as a scissor-lift truck.

By the above invention, the container may be delivered to or into a poultry house, the drawers opened, allowing ready access to the interior of the drawers through the open tops thereof, and the drawers may be loaded with poultry. The container may then be conveyed back to an awaiting lorry. In this manner, the amount of walking with the poultry required by the personnel involved in the operation is reduced, and damage to the poultry, either by dropping then into a large container, or by inserting them into a containerthrough a relatively small opening, is reduced.

There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of two methods of handling livestock, in particular poultry, which are preferred embodiments ofthis invention and which have been selected for the purposes of illustrating the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a container which is used in the method which is the first embodiment of this invention, part of locking mechanism of the container having been omitted for clarity, the container being shown lifted by a fork-lift truck; Figure 2 is a scrap perspective view of said container, illustrating the locking mechanism at the forward end of the container.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view taken Figure 2, parts having been omitted for clarity of illustration; Figures 4 and 5 are schematic views illustrating the effect of locking blocks of the locking mechanism on movement thereof from its unlocked to its locked condition; Figure 6 is a schematic side elevation illustrating the inter-linkage between the forward and rearward locking devices of the locking mechanism; Figures 7 and 8 are respectively end elevation and side sectional views of an abutment of the lorry upon which the container seats, illustrating manual override mechanism of the locking device.

Figure 9 is a front perspective view of the fork lift truck, modified for use in conjunction with the container.

Figure 10 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating part of the method of transporting poultry which is the first embodiment of this invention.

Figure 1 7 is a schematic perspective view of a container which is used in the method which is the second embodiment of this invention; Figure 12 is an enlarged perspective view showing the front end of a drawer of the container; Figure 13 is an enlarged perspective view showing part of a locking device of the container; Figure 14 is a side elevation showing the two locking devices (one at each end) of the container, and inter-connecting linkage mechanism; Figure 15 is a longitudinal sectional view of a drawer of the container, showing a door thereof in a open position; Figure 16 i a front perspective view showing part of a modified fork-lift truck, similar to that illustrated in Figure 9, suitable for use in lifting the container used in the second embodiment of this invention; and Figure 17 is a view illustrating the unloading of a bank of containers at the processing factory.

The container 4 which is used in the first embodiment of this invention (Figure 1 ) comprises a shell, constituted by a frame 6 of open-work construction (other than for a cover 7) which provides support for sixteen drawers 8 in four tiers of four drawers each, two tiers being arranged side by side and two tiers being arranged end to end. The container is of a size which allows it to be conveyed close to, and advantageously into, a building in which the poultry are housed. The frame 6 comprises a number of upright elements 12, secured to and extending between which are sixteen longitudinal struts 14.

Each strut 14 carries, on an inner side thereof, a number of rollers 16 which extend into longitudinal channels 22 provided in the side faces of the drawers, (see Figures 3 and 4). Extending within the channels 22 on the inner sides of the drawers are members 23, so arranged as to reduce the height of the channels over a majority, central part of their lengths (best seen in Figures 4 and 5). The drawers may thus be moved on the rollers relative to the frame between open positions in which there is ready access to the interior of the drawer through the open top thereof, and closed positions.

The upright elements includefourforemostele- ments 12a, 12b, 1 2c and 12d and a bridge piece 24 (Figure 1) extends between the elements 12b and 1 2c at the upper regions thereof, a slot 26 of inverted U-shape extending into a lower portion of the bridge piece.

The container comprises locking mechanism operative to lock and unlock all sixteen drawers simultaneously, said locking mechanism comprising two locking devices, one at a forward end of the container and which operates in relation to the eight drawers at said foremost end, and one at the rearward end and which operates in relation to the eight drawers at said rearmost end, linkage mechanism (shown in Figure 6) being provided to ensure simultaneous operation of both said devices.

Provided in the eight struts 14 which extend from the foremost upright elements 12b and 12c (denoted in the drawings for convenience as 14b and 1 4c respectively) and at each end thereof is a slot 28 (Figures 2 and 3). Extending through the slots 28 of each pair of struts 14b, 14c is a cross piece 30 which is incorporate at its outer ends, with two locking blocks 32. The depth of each cross piece in relation to the depth of the two slots with which it is mounted is such as to allow limited vertical movement of the cross piece 30, effectively to move the locking blocks between the position illustrated in Figure 4 and the position illustrated in Figure 5.

The four cross pieces at each end of the container are secured to a vertical bar 34, which for convenience may be supported in slots (not shown) in the framework, allowing the vertical bar 34, and hence the four cross pieces, to be moved vertically in unison.

Mounted on a front face of the bar 34, for limited sliding movement relative thereto, is a slide bar 36, to an outer face of which is secured an engagement element 38, providing a downwardly-facing recess 39 of inverted U-shape. A spring 42 acting between the bar 34 and slide bar 36 urges the bar 34 into a higher position into engagement with a stop (not shown).

The container used in the first embodiment of this invention is adapted to be lifted and transported by a modified fork lift truck (see Figure 9). This modified fork lift truck is provided at the front thereof, with a mounting plate 52 on which there is located an upwardly directed hooked member 54, and a cylindrical support bar 56 beneath the mounting plate, the length of the support bar 56 being slightly greater than the width of the container.

In the use of the fork lift truck to lift the container, the truck is driven towards the container so that the hooked member 54 enters the space between the two upright elements 1 2b and 1 2c somewhat below the bridge piece 24. The mounting plate abuts against the foremost upright elements, and the support bar 56 engages bearing blocks 44 secured to the foremost upright elements. The fork lift truck is then slowly lifted, and the hooked member 54 moves behind the bridge piece 24, allowing the container as a whole to be lifted by truck.

However, prior to such engagement of the bridge piece 24 by the hooked member 54, said hooked seats in the recess 39 of the engagement element 38, lifting the slide bar 36 and, by virtue of the tension spring 42, lifting the vertical bar 34. The four cross pieces 30 are thus lifted simultaneously, moving within the slots 28 provided in the longitudinal struts, and when the locking blocks 32 are in the position shown in Figure 5, any further upward movement of the engagement element 38 caused by the hooked member 54 merely stretches the tension spring 42. Subsequently, the hooked member engages the bridge piece to lift the container.

With the cross piece 30 and the locking blocks 32 thereof in the positions shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, movement of the eight drawers at the foremost end of the container from their closed towards their open positions is prevented by interengagement between the locking blocks 32 and the members 23 within the innermost of the channels 22. Thus, the bar 34, cross pieces 30 and locking blocks 32 constitute a locking device which is operative, in consequence of the lifting of container by the fork-lift truck, to prevent movement of the eight drawers at said foward end of the container from their closed to their open positions.

It will however be appreciated that when the fork lift truck is disengaged from the bridge piece 24 and engagement element 38, this locking device will be returned by gravity to its unlocked condition.

However, the container used in the first embodiment of this invention is specifically designed for use in conjunction with a lorry or trailer which is provided, on the base thereof, with an abutment 62 of inverted V-shape (Figure 7). In use, when the fork lift truck lowers the container onto the base of the lorry, the abutment 62 enters the central space between the rows of drawers and provides a stop which prevents downward movement of an extension piece 35 of the vertical bar 34 from its locking position. Thus, as the container is lowered onto the lorry, the abutment 62 takes over the function of retaining the locking device in its locked condition.

There is however provided, in association with the abutments 62, manually operable release means 64 which may be operated to allow the locking device to adopt the unlocked condition, despite the container being in its correct position on the lorry, should this be required (for example in the event that it is necessary to unload the drawers from the lorry by hand).

Thus, the exension 35 of the vertical bar 34 enters a recess in the abutment 62 and seats against a pin 65, which is urged by a spring 66 into the position shown in Figure 8, in which it extends across the opening and restrains downward movement of the extensions 35, as aforesaid. However, by grasping of a knob 68, the pin 65 may be retracted to release the locking bar for downward movement, and consequent, movement of the locking device in its unlocked condition.

The locking mechanism to this point has merely been described in relation to eight drawers at the foremost end of the container, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. However, a similar combination of vertical bar 34, cross pieces 30 and locking blocks 32 is provided at the farmost end of the container. To enable this locking device to be operated simultaneously with the first described locking device there is provided a linkage mechanism (shown in Figure 6) which is operative to transmit vertically upward, locking movement of the bar 34 at the foremost end of the container to the vertical bar 34 at the rearmost end of the container.

The linkage mechanism comprises two cross-rods 72, extending the full length of the container, and connected at their opposite ends to T-pieces 74, each of which is mounted on a fixed pivot 75. The central arm of each T-piece is provided with a slot 76, into which a pin extending horizontally from the bar 34 projects. Thus, as may be seen from Figure 6, on upward movement of the bar 34 situated to the left hand side of the drawing, (this being the foremost vertical bar 34) the pin thereof which extends into the slot 76 will cause the left hand T-piece 74 to pivot in a clockwise direction about its pivot pin, causing the two rods 72 to moe in directions which cause the T-pieces 74 on the right hand side to pivot in an anti-clockwise direction about its pivot pin, producing similar vertical upward movement of the bar 34 on the right hand side.

Since the bar 34 of the locking device at the rearmost end of the container will similarly tend to fall under gravity to its lower, unlocked position, when the knob 68 at the foremost end of the container is operated to effect unlocking of the foremost locking device, the rearmost locking device will simultaneously adopt its unlocked condition.

Additional to the container comprising a locking device at the rearmost end, (comprising vertical bar 34, cross pieces 30 and locking blocks 32) if desired said device provides the facility for lifting the container from said rearmost end, such facility conveniently being provided by a further slide bar 36 and engagement element 38, and bridge piece 24.

However, since the two locking devices are interlinked an unlocking restraining element (being afforded by the extension 35 of the vertical bar 34, co-operative with the abutment 62) is provided at one end only of the container.

The container used in the first embodiment of this invention is adapted to be stacked vertically on top of another, similar container. Thus, on the top of the container illustrated in Figure 1, there is provided an abutment 82, which is similar in construction and operation to the abutment 62 provided on the base of the lorry. Thus, if two or more containers one on top of the other, the locking mechanism of the upper container will automatically be retained in in its locked condition by virtue of the abutment 82 of the container upon which it is superposed, said abutment 82 however similarly being provided with release mechanism which may be manually operated to allow the locking mechanism of said uppermost container to be released, should this be desired.

Thus, in the use of the container above described, whilst the container is elevated by the fork lift truck, and on the lorry, trailer or similar primary transporter, the drawers will be retained in their locked positions. However, when the container has been placed on the floor of the poultry house, or on the unloading platform at the processing factory, the drawers may easily be opened and closed for the loading of poultry through the open tops of the drawers. Conveniently, each drawer is approximately 48" x 32" x 11". Thus, between 20 and 30 birds may be held in each drawer, and since the container comprises 16 drawers, between 320 and 480 birds may be transported in each container. A lorry and trailer may carry up to 16 containers allowing a total load of up to 7,680 birds to be carried by each such lorry and trailer.

The method of transporting poultry which is the first embodiment of this invention most advantageously involves the use of the container described in detail above. It will be appreciated that, in operating the method, various modifications may be applied to the container, without departing from the principles of the method itself.

As is schematically illustrated in Figure 1, a lorry with a number of such containers stacked thereon will travel to a poultry house, the containers being unloaded from the lorry by a modified fork lift truck, and conveyed to or into the poultry house. Upon setting the container down on the floor of the poultry house, the locking mechanism automatically adopts its unlocked condition.

The operators will then open the top most drawer, and load chickens therein. As each drawer is filled, the drawer will be closed, the cover 7 preventing exit of the poultry through the open top. The next drawer below will be opened, similarly filled, and closed, the base of the drawer above preventing exit of the poultry through the open top. When all the drawers of the container are filled with poultry, the fork lift truck will convey the loaded container back to the lorry, and deposit the container thereon, the locking mechanism being operated automatically to prevent accidental opening of the drawers by virtue of being so lifted by the fork lift truck, and being retained locked whilst residing on the lorry.

When the lorry is fully laden, it will convey the containers to the factory, at which the lorry will stop at a convenient place.

A similarly modified fork lift truck will lift the containers from the lorry (retaining, whilst supporting the container, the locking mechanism locked) and deposit them at an unloading station (80, Figure 10) at which the locking mechanism automatically adopts its unlocked condition. The containers are conveyed serially from the unloading station to a stage 82, at which the drawers are automatically pushed out of the frame onto a conveyor belt, constituting parts of a first flow path 84. At this point, operatives standing alongside the conveyor belt lift the poultry from the drawers and hang them on a processing line, indicated schematically at 86. The drawers are then automatically fed along a further part of the flow path through a washing station 88, at which they are washed, and from which they are fed to an assembly station 90.The container shells have in the meantime been conveyed from the unloading station along a different flow path to a washing station 92, and hence to the assembly station 90. At the station 90, at which the drawers are reassembled with the shell of the same or a different container.

The empty container is then returned to the lorry, to await despatch to a further poultry collection point. By the use of the method described above, the following advantages may be gained: 1. At the farm (a) there is a reduction in labour requirements due to the removal of the necessity for birds to be carried in small handfuls from the poultry house to the vehicle; (b) there is a reduction in damage to the birds which are loaded into an open-topped container which is free from obstruction, such as narrow door openings; (c) the working conditions for the personnel are generally improved in that they are not continuously walking from a warm poultry house into the prevailing ambient conditions.

2. At the processing plant (a) the birds are removed from the open-topped container thereby sustaining less damage; (b) the job of lifting the poultry from the opentopped container to the processing line is physically less demanding due to the improved relationship between the container and the processing line; (c) because it is not necessary to move lorries and trailers into and out of the unloading area, it is possible to provide improved working conditions for those engaged in the operation there being only a small conveyor aperture into and out of the work area; (d) it is no longer necessary for the personnel to reach into a container, often at the length of their arm.

It will of course be appreciated that each container may be provided, in addition to the locking mechanism which is retained operative by virtue of the mounting of the container on a lorry or trailer, or on a similar container, with additional manually operable locking mechanism which acts as a safety device in the event of failure of the primary locking device.

The container 106 which is used in the method which is the second embodiment of this invention (Figure 11) comprises a shell, constituted by a framework 108 of openwork construction, other than for a cover 107, the frame providing support for sixteen drawers 110 in four tiers of four drawers each, two tiers being arranged side by side and two tiers being arranged end to end.

The framework 108 comprises two rectangular end frames 112, two front vertical struts 114, and two corresponding vertical rear struts (not shown).

Connected in parallel relationship, between the vertical portions of the end frames, and between the front and rear struts, are sixteen elongate struts 116.

Mounted between frames 108 is an upwardly projecting alignment structure 120.

Each drawer 110 comprises side walls 130, connected together by transverse struts 131, an end wall (not shown) and afrontwall, providing a door 132.

The door 132 is pivotally mounted on pivot pins 136, which extend into elongate slots provided in the side edges of the door 132, allowing the door limited freedom for vertical movement. When the door is in its closed position (shown in Figure 12 and in dotted lines in Figure 15), a lip 134 thereof extends outwardly of the transverse strut 131, restraining inward movement of the door. However, by lifting the door a short distance vertically, sothatthe lip 134 clears the strut 131, the door can be moved inwardly by about 60 to an open position, shown in full lines in Figure 15, in which position it may be retained by a clip (not shown).

The container comprises locking mechanism, afforded by two locking devices 150, one at each end of the container within the space afforded by the vertical struts 114, and which may be moved between an operative, locked position in which it restrains movement of the eight drawers at one end of the container, and an inoperative, unlocked position in which said eight drawers may be opened by about two thirds their length, into engagement with a stop which prevents further opening movement of the drawers.

The side walls 130 of each drawer are provided with outwardly facing channels which receive rollers 126, secured to inwardly facing surfaces of the elongate struts 116. In this manner, movement of the drawers between their open and closed positions takes place relatively smoothly.

Each locking device 150 comprises a slide plate 154, which carried eight stop members 156, and located generally centrally in the space between the two vertical struts 14, a lifting plate 158. By vertical movement of the slide plate 154, the stop members 156 may be moved from the position shown in Figure 11, in which they are aligned with the channels 142 on the innermost sides of the eight drawers 110. When in these positions, the drawers may be opened, with the stop members 156 being accomodated within the channels 142 of the drawers.

By vertical movement of the slide plate 154, the stop members 156 may be displaced from their positions of alignment with the channels 142, in which positions the stop members prevent opening movement of the eight drawers at the forward end of the container.

Connected to and extending between the locking devices 150 is a connecting linkage mechanism 152, said linkage mechanism comprising an elongate bar 160 connected at its opposite ends to the lifting plates 158 of the two locking devices by a link member 162.

The elongate bar 160 is divided centrally into two parts 160a and 160b, a pivot pin 164 extending through the central and portion of the part 160b and through a bracket 166 secured to the central end portion ofthe part 160a. Extending upwardly from each part 160a and 160b adjacent the central end portion is a bracket 168, a spring bolt 170 urging the two brackets 168 together.

Extending downwardly towards a central portion of each of the parts 160a and 160b is a bolt 176which carries at its inner end a saddle 178, a compression spring 180 urging the saddle into engagement with an upper surface of the bar part.

The container which is the preferred embodiment of this invention is adapted to be lifted by a fork lift truck, the front end of which is shown in Figure 16.

The truck comprises a lifting hook 184, adapted to be inserted into the space between the two vertical struts 114 at either end of the container, into engagement with a bridge piece 124 of the framework. By lifting of the hook 184, the hook may engage behind the bridge piece 124, lifting the container and causing a cross bar 186 of the truck to engage abutment blocks 128, of the container.

However, immediately prior to engagement of the bridge piece 124 by the lifting hook 184, the lifting hook engages the lifting plate 158 causing vertical upward movement of the slide plate 154 at that end of the container approached by the fork lift truck. The elongate bar 160 at this stage operates as a onepiece bar, and the upward movement of the slide plate 154 at the one end of the container causes corresponding downward movement of the lifting plate at the opposite end of the container. Thus, at the one end the stop members 156 moves upwardly out of alignment with the channels 142, whilst at the opposite end the stop members 156 move downwardly out of alignment with the channels 142 of the drawers at the opposite end of the container.Thus, lifting of the container by the fork lift truck illustrated in Figure 16 is operative to cause both locking devices to effect locking of the drawers.

Thus, the sixteen drawers having been filled with small livestock, the container may be lifted from the floor of the building housing the poultry, and conveyed to a lorry or trailer waiting to transport the filled containers to the factory at which the poultry is to be processed, the drawers being retained locked against opening movement whilst the container is supported by the fork lift truck. The container may then be deposited on the lorry or trailer, as is more fully described above. However, as distinct from the construction used in the first embodiment of this invention, in the second embodiment, when the container is deposited on the lorry or trailer, the elongate bar 160 is allowed to centralise, under the action of the two springs 180 and saddles 178, with the stop members 156 in alignment with the channels 142, i.e. with the locking mechanism inoperative.

However, when the lorry or trailer has been loaded with a bank of containers, in two tiers of four containers side by side, each tier of containers may be clamped onto the lorry by engagement of clamping hooks with cross plates 174 secured to the slide plates 154. Downward movement of the cross plates 174 at each end of the containers cause corresponding downward movement of both slide plates 154 of each locking mechanism, causing the elongate bar to "break" about the pivot pin 164 against the action of the spring bolt 170. Thus, in this method of locking the drawers, the stop members on both sides of each container are displaced downwardly out of alignement with their associated channels 142.

The containers are placed on the lorry or trailer on a bed plate 190, provided with adjustable legs (not shown). On arrival at the factory, the legs of the bed plate may be lowered, adjusted to raise the bed plate 190, and the lorry or trailer may be driven away from the bank of containers which will remain supported on the bed plate.

When it is desired to unload the containers, a scissor lifttruck (Figure 17) is driven beneath the bed plate and the scissor lift truck elevated slightly, prior to raising of the legs of the bed plate 190. The scissor lift truck then drives into an unloading bay 196 located between unloading platforms 198. The bank of containers at this stage is orientated so that the containers extend across the unloading bay (from one unloading platform towards the other) with the superposed rows of containers extending lengthwise of the unloading bay.

The scissor lift truck is then operated to elevate the bank of containers to a highermost point, at which an operative standing on one of the unloading platforms 198 may open the lowermost drawer of the lowermost container.

Since the bank comprises eight containers in four columns of two, and each container comprises drawers which open in opposite directions, the unloading of each bank of the containers will normally be carried out by four operatives on each unloading platform, one being associated with the sixteen drawers on one side of each column of two containers.

With the bank in its highermost position, the operative will open the lowermost drawer of the lowermost container, standing in the position which would be occupied by opening of the other lowermost drawer of the container. The operative lifts the poultry from the said drawer, and hangs it on the processing line 200, which extends at right angles to the direction of movement of the drawers between their open and closed positions. This involves a turning movement of the operative through 90 . On completion of unloading one of the drawers, the operative will lift the door of that drawer so that the lip 134 thereof clears the transverse strut 131 and pivots the door through 60 , to the position shown in Figure 15.The operative then closes that drawer, moves into the position vacated by the drawer and opens the other lowermost drawer to unload it in a similar manner. Similarly, on completion of unloading, the operative will open the door 132 of that drawer.

When all operatives have cleared the lowermost drawers of the lowermost containers the scissor lift truck will operate to cause the bank of containers to descend by a distance equal to the height of one drawer, allowing the operatives to unload the second lowermost drawer of the container.

On completion of unloading all the containers of the bank, the drawers will be in their closed positions, and the doors 132 will be open (as shown in the lower drawers of Figure 17). The scissor lift truck then drives the bank of containers from the unloading bay 196 to a washing station, at which jets of water are directed towards the bank of containers from opposite sides, the water flowing into the containers through the openings afforded by the doors 132. The washing station may comprise eight pairs of inwardly directed water jets, cleansing of all the containers being completed by slow movement of the bank of containers through the washing station, or may involve the use of a horizontal array of water jets, with relative vertical movement of the array taking place relative to the bank of containers.

In either circumstance, water is directed into the drawers, generally in directions extending parallel to the direction of movement of the drawers between their open and closed positions, under high pressure water hitting the end wall of each drawer, and effectively clearing the floor of detritus. Flow of water through the apertures provided in the side walls of the drawers simultaneously effect washing of the framework of the container.

When so washed, the scissor lift truck may drive the bank of containers into a yard, at which the legs of the bed plate may be lowered, allowing the bank of containers to rest thereon, and removal of the scissor lift truck. Subsequently a lorry or trailer may reverse beneath the bed plate, the legs lowered and the lorry or trailer may convey the bank of containers to one or more further farms from which poultry is to be collected.

Claims (21)

1. A method oftransporting small livestock from buildings in geographically spaced locations in which the livestock is housed, to a factory in which the livestock is to be processed, involving the use of containers having a number of separately-openable compartments and the following steps: (a) a plurality of the containers are conveyed by a primary transporter to a position adjacent to a building handling the small livestock; (b) each conveyor is conveyed from the primary transporter into or to the close vicinity of the building by the use of a secondary transporter; (c) a quantity of the small livestock is placed in the compartments of the containers; (d) the container is then carried back to the said primary transporter or a similar primary transporter by the our a similar secondary transporter;; (e) the containers are conveyed by said primary transporter to the factory in which the small livestock is to be processed.

2. A method according to Claim 1 wherein subsequent to the step )e), (f) a tertiary transporter carries the containers to a position in the vicinity of a processing line; and (g) the livestock is removed from the compartments of the containers and placed on the processing line.

3. A method according to one of Claims 1 and 2 in which the containers each comprise a frame and a plurality of drawers to which there is access to livestock therein through the open top thereof, and in the loading of the containers with livestock, each drawer is filled and closed in turn.

4. A method according to Claim 3 wherein the containers each comprise locking mechanism adapted to be operated to lock all the drawers simultaneously.

5. A method according to Claim 4 wherein the locking mechanism is adapted for manual operation.

6. A method according to Claim 4 wherein the locking mechanism is adapted to be moved to lock all the drawers automatically by the picking up of the container and the carrying of the container by the secondary transporter.

7. A method according to any one of Claims 3 to 6, as appendantto Claim 2, wherein subsequent to the step (f), the containers or part thereof are moved from a position in the vicinity of the processing line to a position adjacent to the processing line.

8. A method according to any one of Claims 3 to 6 wherein the drawers are capable of wholly separative movement from the frame.

9. A method according to Claim 8 wherein subse quentto step (f), the drawers are removed from the container and conveyed along a first flow path, part of which passes adjacent to the processing line to an assembly station and at which part an operative unloads the livestock from the drawers and places them on the processing line, and the frame is conveyed along a second flow path to the assembly station, at which the drawers are re-assembled with the frame or with the frame of a similar container.

10. A method according to Claim 7 wherein, subsequent to step (f), the containers are moved vertically relative to an operative to present to the operative at the unloading station, and who is responsible for unloading of the livestock from the drawers and placing the livestock on the processing line, each of the superposed drawers in turn.

11. A method according to Claim 10 wherein the container is initially positioned in a relatively highermost position, and the operative unloads the livestock from the lowermost drawer, and the container is lowered in steps to present to the operative successively higher drawers.

12. A method according to Claim 11 wherein the container is so positioned at the unloading stations, that the processing line extends in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the drawers between their open and closed positions.

13. A method according to any one of Claims 11 and 12 wherein two or more superposed containers are transported simultaneously to said position in the vicinity of the procesing line, mechanism being provided to lift all the containers at the unloading station to highermost positions, and to lower all the containers so that, initially successively higher drawers of the lowermost container or containers, then successively higher drawers of the next superposed container or containers, are presented to the operative for unloading.

14. A method according to any one of Claims 10, 11, 12 and 13 wherein two or more containers side by side are transported simultaneously to said position in the vicinity of the processing line, and are moved vertically simultaneously to present to the operative or operatives each of the superposed drawers of the containers in turn.

15. A method according to one of Claims 13 and 14 wherein the containers are retained in a bank during movement thereof to said position in the vicinity of the processing line, subsequently to said position adjacent the processing line, and subsequently from said position in the vicinity of the processing line.

16. A method according to Claim 15 wherein the containers are retained as a bank during transport to a washing station, at which the containers are washed, and transported back to the primary transporter, or a similar primary transporter.

17. A method according to any one of Claims 10 to 16 wherein transport of the bank of containers to said position in the vicinity of the processing line, to said position adjacent to the processing line, from the vicinity of the processing line, and through the washing station is effected by the use of a vehicle having a platform capable of controlled movement.

18. A method according to Claim 17 wherein the vehicle is a scissor lift truck.

19. A method according to any one of Claims 10 to 18 wherein the drawers are capable of only limited opening movement relative to the frame.

20. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, for the transporting of poultry.

21. A method of transporting poultry from buildings in geographically spaced locations in which the poultry is housed, to a factory in which the poultry is to be processed, when carried out substantially as hereinbefore described; (a) with reference to Figures 1 to 10 of the accompanying drawings; or (a) with reference to Figures 11 to 17 of the accompanying drawings.