GB2276112A - Livestock tag applicator and tag formation - Google Patents

Abstract

A tag applicator for livestock comprises a body 10 to accommodate a strip of tags 42 and two jaws, one fixed to the lower end of the body and another 23 on the end of a pivotted member 11 which is actuated by lever 19. Tags are fed along the body to abut a stop 14 and guide 13 adjacent the lower jaw. Operation of lever 19 forces a top part of a tag into a lower tag part by means of jaw 23. Spring 17 returns the lever to its normal position. The tag strip may have a backing tape 39 holding the tags together which is removed via a slot (20 Fig. 2) as the tags are urged forwards. The tags may be of a hinged single piece type (Fig 11) or be of a two part construction (Fig. 12). <IMAGE>

Description

LIVESTOCK TAG APPLICATOR AND TAG FORMATION TO MATCH The invention relates to a livestock tag applicator. Livestock tag applicators comprise mechanical action pliers with hand grips for one handed operation, and jaws into which the tag (one or two piece) is located. When mouth of tag is over part of animal to be tagged, hand grips are squeezed and tag is clinched or locked onto the animal permanently for identification and other data. Spring opens jaws for next tag.

Singer tag applications are slow, they have to be reloaded every animal.

Tags more easily mislaid prior to loading increased risk of tags falling into dirty pens prior to loading, increasing risk of infection when tagged.

Tags cannot be read in applicator.

Risk of injury to operator as standing amongst animals whilst trying to reload applicator.

Risk of injury to operator while trying to retrieve lost tags on ground.

Difficult to apply tags in consecutive order.

Animals escape while reloading.

Animals distressed for longer time.

Operator distressed for longer time.

Tag in gun faces at wrong angle to animal.

It is the object of the invention to provide an improved tag application system that is simple and reliable and fast to operate in adverse conditions.

According to the present invention there is provided a hand held plier like tool consisting of a shaped body, into which the tags (identification and data devices) are installed, either singly, on a tape, bonded together, on a cup, magazine, strip or cartridge.

The body has an opening at its tail, into which the strip of tags is installed head first.

At the other end lever operated jaw with which to.fasten the tags. In between are the means by which tape can be parted from tags, tape can act as brake, and means by which tags are guided and stopped and pulled, protected & lubricated.

The body is pressed from flat mild steel to incorporate all the details to follow including basically an open ended triangular section tube with one side cut away the full length to half height. On the same side at the jaw end is a semi spherical recess and welded or pressed into the body the end guide and stop. On the other side is the critically positioned threaded hole for bolt, the body could also be made from other materials esp alloy and plastic. Towards the jaw on the bolt side is a cut-away section with lip remaining.

The handle/top jaw are shaped in mild steel to allow return spring in handle, stops, hole for connecting bolt and specially shaped head ground to shape.

This part could also be made of other materials including plastic/nylon and alloy.

The top jaw is at 90" to lever or thereabouts the formation of tags are closely packed in alignment and either self connected or are bonded or stuck, or enclosed or trapped by tape or strip or wrapped which may be reinforced polyester or similar or plastic and has head/backbone/tail or any or all. Shrink or vacuum packing as individuals together also suitable.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective, applicator side into which animals ear or whatever would be inserted.

Figure 2 shows in perspective, lever/jaw mechanism and esp tape exit/lock and stop/guide and clinching recess.

Figure 3 shows insert for use with smaller tags (or if tag separator and tag stop as shown were fitted would also have own threaded hole so that lever could be swopped.

Figure 4 shows guides and stops for tags depending on tag type used.

Figure 5 Face view of jaws - open. Including stop beyond jaws for spring loaded applications.

Figure 6 Face view of jaws - closed including tag separator where fitted.

Figure 7 shows angers of top jaw face.

Figure 8 shows box section body for two piece tags in strips.

Figure 9 shows open box side into which animals ear would go.

Figure 10 shows profile to push strips along inside box.

Figure 11 one piece tags on a tape incorporating head/backbone/tail.

Figure 12 two piece tags on a tape incorporating head/backbone/tail.

Figure 13 male or female strip - one of two. Incorporating head/backbone/tail or perhaps backbone only (which is separated) on tagging (by cutting edge on tool) and becomes part of tags, in this case strip may be spring loaded, or driven by corrugated edge (46) Figure 13.

Referring to the drawerings the application comprises two main components the body (10) and the lever operated jaw (11) in addition if smaller tags are to be used an insert (12) can be installed. These parts can be made from metals and or plastics being formed, pressed, moulded or cast.

A return spring (17) is placed within the lever walls before lever and body are connected by bolt (18) the position of which is important for successive operation. Adjustable stops (19) are incorporated on the lever control to limit jaw heads movement.

The body is shaped uniformly along its entire length, with open access for the part to be tagged at the end to which jaw is attached is a cut-out slit (20), this allows the backbone (46) of the strip of tags - normally adhesive tape to be partially removed prior to the application of tags (leaving bottom of tags only still in contact with the adhesive tape. A lip (22) supports tags along side where tape was.

The tape that has been removed is not only used to pull tags through the applicator till they reach the guide and stop. But the tape also acts as a brake for the remaining strip of tags as it is pushed back over the rounded braking edge (21) this secures complete strip in correct position, using click-over effect of stretching outer edges of tape until over centre.

At this time the leading tag is perfectly placed under jaw (11) and against guide and stop (13 & 14) and over clinching recess or hole/escape slit (15) as directed by type of tag in use.

When placed over the selected animals or birds' part to be tagged. The upper jaw (11) is pulled down by squeezing up on the lever of which it is part.

The face of the top jaw (123) is shaped to make contact with maximum width of the tag initially, until resistance is met, then as jaw closes minimum contact area is required (24), firstly to reduce friction - upper tag must slide across jaw face, secondly to concentrate pressure on centre of tag (cutting through any moisture or dirt that may cause jaw to slip off tag). Again, near completion maximum width of contact is required (25) to force clinching or locking process successfully without damage to tag.

The correct jaw face is made by grinding two flat or near flat surfaces at the angles reqd to achieve flat open and flat closed surfaces.

The line between the two angles running halfway between a line to opposite corners and a line centrally. The aforementioned line, on closing the haw, to close parallel to the bottom of the body throughout.

The lever operated jaw is shaped so that it does not interfere with the tag supply strip or with the tags next in line when operating.

Insert (12) for smaller tags, is a scale model of the body. Has its own stop/guide (13 & 14).

Cut out slit (20) and lip (22) and recess or exit slit (15) it is held in place by means of a mace projection to fit recess/hole (15) in body.

Groups of tags, bonded, on or in a clip, carefridge magazine or strip may be pushed through body by piston (16) same profile as body, this can be manually moved along use gravity or be spring loaded the piston may include a one way brake mechanism moving freely only towards the jaw.

A stop may be fitted (37) immediately beyond the top and bottom jaws in order to hold tags when jaws are fully open, when jaws are closed, back of jaw acts as stop.

A tag separater (38) can form part of the body. This runs from the body outer edge half way along and goes inside the body to leading edge very close to passing top jaw. It supports tag on strip next to one being applied so that top jaw can cut the tag being applied off the strip.

For two piece tags an optional body (26) can be fitted to the existing lever and top jaw.

This body is an open sided box section and has four slots, two at the top for top (male pinned) half, (27) strip of tags and two slots at bottom for bottom (female holed) half, (28) strip of tags.

The top and bottom strips slide along in these slots being pushed by spring loaded piston (16). The bottom half tag is pushed against stop (14) and over exit hole/recess (29).

The top half is pushed into under jaw (30) and is stopped by raised lip (33).

When animals part to be tagged is placed in jaws of applicator, lever is pulled and top jaws closes on top half tag, simultaneously cutting it from strip with sharp edge under top jaw (34) and end of slot (35) on body at the same time trapping it on the under jaw (30) - spring loaded upward parallel linkage.

As the under jaw continues down it cuts the bottom half tag off strip with underside blade (31) punching through slot in body (32). As this is happening the male top half tag and female bottom half tag are being connected.

On completion lever is released and animal leaves with tag.

Back of top jaw releases next tag top half when it is fully open. (Back acts as stop which application is in process) This allows both top and bottom tag halves to take up position.

The under jaw (30) has cut away end (34) so that down pointing pin of tag does not prevent it sliding onto under jaw.

In primary example with one piece metal tags on a tape consisting of head (39) backbone (48) tail (43) the complete strip acts as engine and brake also as packaging, protection, lubricant and support and guide.

Claims (6)

1. A livestock tag applicator and tag formation to match for the application of tags one and two piece, individually from a strip or tape onto which tags are applied.

This strip or tape consisting of a head (finger pull), backbone (to which tags are affixed and tail (43) section which keeps final tags in alignment on run up to tagging). Tags may also be fed by magazine, cartridge, clip, bonded or a combined grouping.

The body of applicator is also the handle and store for tags inside. It has the same internal profile as an open tag's external profile. The body protects the tags from damage, keeps them clean and in sequence and aligns them for the forthcoming application process. The tape or strip also acts as packaging/protection and lubricant.

The body has a full length opening to allow access for the part of the animal or bird to be tagged.

The body has on it's top jaw pivot side, special shaping a diagonal slit opening which allows the head of the tape of tags through (when the complete tape of tags is pushed head first into open tail end of applicator) as the head of tape is pulled through the diagonal slit.

The tape peels off the tags as they approach the jaws until when the first tag hits the guide and stop it is only fixed to the tape by its bottom.

The tap as it escapes through the diagonal slit is pushed back over the slits' bottom edge to lock the tag in the jaws (and all the others in the correct position).

Alphanumeric data can be take from the tag even when in the application position.

The bottom jaw is under the top jaw, it is part of the body, it aligns and stops the tag as it is pulled over the clinching recess or hole and exit (depending on the type).

The top jaw/lever is shaped and positioned on body in order to clinch tags correctly while allowing tape to exit freely without contact with jaw/lever after separation from tags and while bending tape over backwards to lock other tags in position.

The top jaw/ when operated by lever makes contact with top of tag in guide/stop position only, the others are protected by the body/handle.

The top face jaw is shaped to maintain maximum control of the tag throughout the clinching process with minimum friction - holding tag firmly in guide/stop position Ref: until tag is permanently secured and lever released. Even if animal where to pull away mid application. The tail of the strip aligns final tags for tagging.

2. Applicator and tag formation according to Claim 1 wherein said body has placed within it similar smaller copy. For use with smaller tags on small strip or tape, cartridge, magazine, bonded unit or combined group or tags and utilising existing lever/top jaw.

3. A livestock tag applicator and tag formation for the application of two piece tags in strip tape, magazine, bonded or any other group.

Body of applicator is open sided box section for access of taggable part of animal.

Two rows of slots inside top for top half tags and two rows of slots inside bottom for bottom half tags.

Strips are fed in from open end opposite to jaws. Both strips of tags have attachment points to front edge (open side) of box section. Male connector on top pointing down and female on bottom.

Tags on backbones (tape) with head/backbone/tail can be pulled by backbone or pushed manually or by spring via profile section as in diagram, this section with one way braking system to hold tags in position.

Bottom jaw (at end of bottom slots) to have stop and exit hole for pin or top tag half. The stop will prevent strip of tags going beyond application point and exit hole will allow tag, when applied to escape from applicator. Top jaw to be shaped for satisfactory pressure on tag during application. Spring loaded upwards under jaw on parallel telescopic linkage to carry top tag half vertically down onto bottom tag half. Under jaw to have outer lip to pervent top tag halves sliding beyond application point top jaw to have underside cutting edge to separate tag from strip against sharp edge of top slot end.

Top jaw and under jaw trap top half tag between them and carry it vertically onto lower tag half for locking, at the same time a sharp projection on underside of under jaw punches bottom tag half from strip - the projection punches through hole in bottom jaw. After tag is applied jaws are released, jaws open and next tag halves slide along into position.

4. A livestock tag applicator and tag formation according to Claims 12 & 3 including spring loaded action to force tags through body and tag stop on bottom jaw and stop fitted over and above top jaw. The backside of top jaw acts as tag stop when in application process. Top jaw and bottom jaw incorporate sharp edges and adjacent and corresponding holes to allow tags to be punched off or cut from strip.

Sharp edges and holes to be jaw pivot side further support and separation aid to be attached mid way along open side of body, to run along inside body to support tag next to one being cut off by top jaw as it closes.

5. A livestock tag applicator and tag formation according to any preceding claim substantially herein before described with reference to the accompanying diagramatic drawings.

6. A livestock tag applicator and tag formation substantially as herein before described.