NZ582984A - Animal tag applicator comprising a linkage means and a control member to control the jaw positions - Google Patents

Abstract

An animal tag applicator (1) is disclosed. The applicator comprises a first jaw portion (3) and second jaw portion (7). There are first (2) and second (4) handle portions that are pivotally connected together such that movement together of the handle portions (2, 4) will cause the movement of the jaw portions (3, 7). The applicator also comprises biasing means such as springs (22, 25) which will cause the jaw portions (3, 7) to be in an open position. A linkage means (6) is provided between one of the handle portions (4) and one of the jaw portions (7). The linkage means (6) includes at least a pair of linkage members (15 and 17) pivoted together and movable from a first position to a second position once an over-centre position has been reached. In use, the user squeezes the handles (2, 4) together causing the jaws (3, 7) to close. On further movement of the handles (2, 4), the linkage members (15, 17) moves past the over the centre position and the jaws (3, 7) reopen.

Description

PATENTS FORM NO. 5 Our ref: MH508212NZPR NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION ANIMAL TAG APPLICATOR We, Tagam Limited a New Zealand company of c/o WHK Gosling Chapman, Division of WHK (NZ) Limited, Level 6, WHK Gosling Chapman Tower, 51-53 Shortland Street, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 301781376_1.DOC:MH:qaKW 301781367 MH508212NZPR 2 ANIMAL TAG APPLICATOR Background of the Invention The present invention relates to an animal tag applicator which enables the application of identification tags, typically ear tags, to animals such as cattle and the like.

The most basic form of applicator operates in a similar manner to that of pliers. Such basic applicators present a problem in that damage can be caused to the animal's ear if the animal 10 should move while tagging is taking place.

Various proposals have been put forward whereby, once the animal is tagged, the jaws of the applicator are immediately opened so that the animal can pull its ear away from the applicator without tearing occurring. Applicators may also include the ability for the applicator pin to be 15 pivoted forwardiy, which again assists in the animal's ear being released without damage. in providing for the automatic release of the applicator jaws following tagging, some form of triggering mechanism is required. Because of the large number of tagging operations which an applicator needs to perform, substantial wear can occur on the triggering mechanism, which can 20 result in its malfunctioning, in an earlier New Zealand patent no. 335702, of which the present applicant is the beneficial owner, and the complete specification of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by way of reference where appropriate, the automatic jaw opening mechanism is provided in the form of a rotating latch which is held by a catch until, at the appropriate time, the catch is released, enabling the applicator jaws to open. Although the latch and other 25 components may be of a hardened material, this latch/catch mechanism may still be the subject of wear over a considerable number of tagging operations.

Objects of the Invention It is an object of the present invention in at least one embodiment to provide an animal tag applicator which will overcome, or at least alleviate, at least some of the disadvantages of existing applicators, or at least will provide the public with a useful choice.

Received at IPONZ on 30 June 2011 301900785 MH5Q8212NZPR 3 Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an animal tag applicator including: a first jaw portion to engage an animal tag, or a part thereof; a second jaw portion; first and second handle portions pivotally connected together such that movement together of the first and second handle portions will cause the movement together of the first and second jaw portions; biasing means to bias said jaw portions to an open position; said first jaw portion being caused to move under the action of the biasing means to an open position independently of said handle portions but only after said animal tag, or a part thereof, has fully engaged with the animal's ear; a linkage means provided between one of said handle portions and one of said jaw 15 portions which, in a first position, enables the movement of said one jaw portion towards the other said jaw portion upon the movement of the handle portions together but, in a second position, enables the said one jaw portion to be released into its open position; wherein said linkage means includes at least a pair of linkage members pivoted together and moveable from said first position to said second position once an over-centre position has been 20 reached; and wherein a control means is moveable with the other said handle portion to be engageable with said linkage means, to move it from said first position to said over-centre position.

Preferably, the control means includes a transverse pin engageable with an upper surface of the 25 linkage means.

Preferably the first position is also an over-centre position.

Optionally, said control means includes a cam means.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, an animal tag applicator is substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments and as illustrated in any one or more of the accompanying drawings 301781367 MH508212NZPR 4 Further aspects of this invention, which should be considered in aii its novel aspects, will become apparent from the following description.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1: shows a rear perspective view of one possible embodiment of the present invention and in its open position; Figure 2: shows a front perspective view of Figure 1; Figures 3, 4 and 5: show respectively side, underneath and end views of Figure 1; Figure 6: Figure 7: Figure 8: Figure 9: Figure 10: Figure 11: Figure 12: shows diagrammaticaliy a cross-sectional view of Figure 1; shows diagrammaticaliy a cross-sectional view of Figure 1 as a tagging operation is completed; shows diagrammaticaliy a cross-sectional view of Figure 1 following the completion of the tagging operation; shows diagrammaticaliy a cross-sectional view of a second possible embodiment of the invention and as a tagging operation is completed; shows the embodiment of Figure 9 but with an alternative control setting; shows diagrammaticaliy a cross-sectional view of a further possible embodiment of the invention, particularly for use with one-piece tags; and shows diagrammaticaliy a cross-sectional view of a still further possible embodiment of the invention, for use with two-piece tags.

Description of Possible Embodiments Referring to Figures 1 to 8, an animal tag applicator is referenced generally by arrow 1 and is shown with a first handle portion 2 which extends to a first jaw portion 3. A second handle portion 4 is pivoted at 5 with the handle portion 2 and a linkage 6, to be described in detail 30 below, connects the handle portion 4 with a second jaw portion 7. The jaw portion 7 is shown with a downwardly depending pin 8 which in use can accommodate in known manner a male tag of a two-piece tag (not shown). The pin 8 may typically have the ability to pivot forwardly in the direction indicated by arrow A, to facilitate loading of the male tag but also to facilitate the animal pulling away from the applicator 1 following the tagging operation. A biasing means 9 35 will typically bias the pin 8 into its downwardly directed position. Pin 8 (see Figure 3 for example) may typically be angled relative to the jaw 7 such that with the radial movement of the 301781367 MK508212NZPR jaw 7, the pin 8 will then be at a substantially 90° angle relative to the second jaw 3 as the male tag engages with the animal's ear, the pin 8 then moving beyond the substantially 90° position before the jaw 7 is released into its open position as will be described later. A shock absorbing means 10 may be provided between the top of the jaw 7 and the forward edge of the handle 5 portion 2 so as to absorb the impact of the jaw 7 on the handle portion 2 as the jaw 7 opens.

In this particular embodiment a spring loaded plate 11 may be pivoted upwardly, by depression of its end section 12, to enable a female tag to be positioned underneath the plate 11, ready to receive the male tag during the tagging operation. Abutments 13 are shown provided for the 10 respective handle portions 2 and 4. The abutments 13 may suitably be of a hard plastics or the like and are adapted to abut together when the handle portions 2 and 4 are closed together (see Figures 7 and 8 for example).

The linkage 6 may suitably include, as shown, (see for example Figure 6), a first linkage 15 15 pivotally connected at 16 to a second linkage 17. As seen particularly from Figure 1, the second linkage 17 may suitably include a pair of arms 18 between which the first linkage 15 can be sandwiched, with the pivot 16 extending through both arms 18 and with the linkage 15 between them. The arms 18 can be secured together at their forward ends by a pin or the like 19, also acting as a stop (as described below), and be pivotally mounted in position on the handle 20 portion 4 by means of pivot 20. The linkage 15 is connected at its forward end 21 with a spring 22, the other end of the spring 22 being connected at 23 with the handle portion 2.

The linkage arms 18 are each shown having a recess 24 which can accommodate an upper end of a biasing means 25, the opposite end of which 26 is shown positioned against an inner 25 surface of the handle portion 4 (see Figure 6 for example). The biasing means 22 and 25, which may be of any suitable type, are adapted so as to bias the linkage 6 into the position shown in Figure 6 and with the linkage members 15 and 17 extending away from one another, in which position the jaws 3 and 7 and the handle portions 2 and 4 are in their open position. In this position, the spring 25 and the spring 22 are holding the linkage 6 slightly over-centre 30 against stop 19. At this time, the male and female tags (not shown) will be loaded onto the applicator pin 8 and beneath the plate 11 respectively, and the applicator 1 positioned with the jaws 3 and 7 around an animal's ear. The user will then squeeze the handle portions 2 and 4 together so that the applicator pin 8 is in the position shown in Figure 7 and the male and female tags have engaged and are secured through the animal's ear. With the squeezing 35 together of the handle portions 2 and 4, a control member 28, suitably a transverse pin or the 301781367 MH508212NZPR 6 like, provided on the handle portion 2 has moved so as to engage with the upper, suitably arcuate, surface of the linkage 17, forcing the arms 18 downwardly as they pivot, from the initial over-centre position, about the pivot 16 relative to the linkage 15. When the linkages 15 and 17 reach a second over-centre position, with the handle portions 2 and 4 still compressed together, 5 the linkage 6 will trigger or "trip" due to the action of spring 22 so as to assume the position shown in Figure 8, resulting in the automatic opening of the jaw 7 relative to the jaw 3.

When the pressure on the handle portions 2 and 4 is released, however, the bias created by the biasing means 25, will force the linkage 6 back to its original position, as shown in Figure 6 for 10 example, so that the applicator 1 is once again ready for the loading of the next male and female tags and the next tagging operation.

As will be seen in Figure 7, the applicator pin 8 has reached a particular depth relative to the jaw 3, which in use would relate to a suitable depth of engagement for a male tag with the female 15 tag.

It may, however, be necessary or desirable for that depth of engagement to be adjustable. Referring to Figures 9 and 10, it is seen in this alternative embodiment that an eccentric cam 28A, by its disposition relative to the linkage, may make such adjustment possible, it is seen 20 that in providing an eccentric cam 28A, the timing of its engagement with the upper surface of the linkage 17 may be controlled. This in turn may control the extent to which the pin 8 moves relative to the jaw 3 before the jaws 3 and 7 are automatically opened. It is envisaged that the cam 28A could, for example, be pre-set to have just a set number of positions or may be totally variable by rotation about the cam pivot.

Referring now to Figure 11, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, an applicator 1A may be particularly suitable for use with one piece tags and for this purpose is shown with a longer applicator pin 8 and suitably with a more acute angle relative to the jaw 7 in the jaw-closed position. Depending on the one piece tag being utilised, other options for the applicator 30 pin 8, and other components of the applicator 1 A, may be appropriate.

In the particular embodiment shown in Figure 11 an adjustable cam 28A is shown provided to control the depth of engagement of the pin 8, although a standard operating pin 28, such as that of Figure 7, may be utilised instead. Turning then to Figure 12, in a modification of Figure 11, 301781367 MH508212NZPR 7 the adjustment of the cam 28A has allowed the use of a shorter pin 8 with less engagement, and as suitable for a two-piece tag.

Where in the foregoing description, reference has been made to specific components or 5 integers of the invention having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that modifications and/or improvements may be 10 made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Received at IPONZ on 30 June 2011 301900785 MH5O0212NZPR

Claims (9)

Claims

1. An animal tag applicator including: a first jaw portion to engage an animal tag or a part thereof; a second jaw portion; first and second handle portions pivotally connected together such that movement together of the first and second handle portions will cause the movement together of the first and second jaw portions; biasing means to bias said jaw portions to an open position; said first jaw portion being caused to move under the action of the biasing means to an open position independently of said handle portions but only after said animal tag or a part thereof, has fully engaged with the animal's ear; a linkage means provided between one of said handle portions and one of said jaw portions which, in a first position, enables the movement of said one jaw portion towards the other said jaw portion upon the movement of the handle portions together but, in a second position, enables the said one jaw portion to be released into its open position; wherein said linkage means includes at least a pair of linkage members pivoted together and moveable from said first position to said second position once an over-centre position has been reached; and wherein a control means is moveable with the other said handle portion to be engageable with said linkage means, to move it from said first position to said over-centre position.

2. An animal tag applicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first position is also an over-centre position.

3. An animal tag applicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control means includes a transverse pin engageable with an upper surface of the linkage means.

4. An animal tag applicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control means includes a cam means. Received at IPONZ on 30 June 2011 301900785 MH5O0212NZPR 9

5. An animal tag applicator as claimed in claim 4 wherein said cam means is an eccentric cam, the disposition of which relative to the linkage means can control the engagement of the animal tag with the animal's ear.

6. An animal tag applicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said biasing means includes a spring means connected with an end of said linkage means to bias said first jaw portion into said open position.

7. An animal tag applicator as claimed in claim 6 wherein said spring means is connected at an opposite end with the other said handle portion to trigger said linkage means into said second position.

8. An animal tag applicator as claimed in claim 7 wherein a second spring means extends between said linkage means and said one handle portion, to bias said linkage means to return to its first position upon release of the handle portions.

9. An animal tag applicator substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 of the accompanying drawings.