WO2003038132A1

WO2003038132A1 - Hide identification system

Info

Publication number: WO2003038132A1
Application number: PCT/AU2002/001476
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gary Forbes Burridge
Original assignee: Northern Co-Operative Meat Company Ltd
Priority date: 2001-11-02
Filing date: 2002-11-01
Publication date: 2003-05-08
Also published as: AUPR866001A0

Abstract

A method for tracking a hide, the method including: (a) assigning a unique identifying code (15) such as a sequence of alpha and/or numeric characters (18) to the hide; (b) forming a pattern of holes (19) through the hide corresponding to the unique identifying code (15), such as by means of a rotary punch assembly (21); (c) processing the hide, for example tanning, dying or drying, with its identifying code (15) formed in the hide through at least one treatment operation; (d) reading the pattern of holes (19), for example by use of an optical recognition scanner, in the processed hide to determine the unique identifying code (15); and optionally (e) recording designated data, such as grain size and weight, grain side grades and defects such as brands, scratches, infestations, grain strain damage, etc, relating to the processed hide against the unique identifying code (15).

Description

HIDE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present application relates to identifying, tracking and assigning values to animal hides and skins. BACKGROUND ART

Animals skins, pelts and hides will be referred to throughout simply as "hides".

Over many decades raw hides, wet-blues, and even leather to an extent, were considered by most in the tanning industry as a commodity simply for trading. Today the

emphasis has switched to product specific articles, just-in-time inventory management and supply chain arrangements. Leading tanners are today focussing their business on specific

customers and specific products. Gone are the days of medium and large tanners sourcing raw stock by price only, producing a wide variety of articles and colours, and then seeking potential customers for that merchandise. Today, the leading tanners are concentrating their

business such that amongst the 10 largest international shoe leather tanners, 80% of their production will be under long term contracts to as few as 5% of their customers.

Furthermore, the fastest growing sector of the tanning industry has been leather for the automotive industry. This, by itself, has necessitated the need for a whole new approach to the manufacturing process. The automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) require and insist on total quality management of the leather which must be supported by the

tanners' guarantees and warranties that the leather itself will virtually outlast the life of the

car, without any problems such as colour fading, dye transference, and so forth. As part of this, OEMs insist on total traceabihty and control at every step of the process, from slaughter through to the cutting and sewing of the final product. Similarly, the larger brand name shoe companies are today also insisting on similar

standards for their supplier factories. For example, leather must be warranted that it is

technically correct, and that it was produced in an "environmentally friendly" facility, and

that the quality will be consistent and give uniform cutting coefficients for the shoe for which

it has been designed and prepared.

In the past, payment for a hide was based either on its green weight or on a negotiated

per hide price. A major disadvantage of these systems of payment is that producers of

premium quality hides do not receive any financial incentive and producers are not

financially rewarded for better care of hides in the elimination of controllable defects such as

brands, wire and lantana scratches, lice, mites and other parasitic damage, grain strain from

rough handling of the animals, etc.

It would be an advantage to be able to track a hide through the tanning process, grade the hide in its wet-blue condition and provide the producer with payment corresponding to

the quality of the wet-blue hide.

Systems of tracking animal carcases have been proposed in the past. However, these

.usually rely on a label such as a bar code fixed to portions of the animal carcase and to the .

hide. This sort of labelling is not suitable for portions of a carcase such as a hide which have

to undergo further processing as the labels can be lost during the tanning process.

It has also been known to stamp an identifying number on a hide with ink or dye.

Once a hide has passed through the tanning process, the identifying number is often illegible.

Embossing a number onto the hide has also been attempted in the past, however after the

tanning process the number is also often illegible. It would be an advantage to overcome the defects of the prior identifying systems and

to provide a method of identifying a hide which is not rendered illegible through the tanning

process.

The above description of the prior art is not intended to be, nor should it be interpreted

as, an indication of the common general knowledge pertaining to the invention, but rather to

assist the person skilled in the art in understanding the developmental process which led to

the invention.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of placing an identifying code on an animal hide including forming a pattern of holes through the hide.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for tracking a

hide, said method including:

(a) assigning a unique identifying code to the hide;

(b) forming a pattern of holes through the hide corresponding to the unique identifying code;

(c) processing the hide with its identifying code formed therein through at least

one treatment operation; and

(d) reading the pattern of holes in the processed hide to determine the unique

identifying code.

In another aspect, the invention provides an apparatus for forming a pattern of holes

through a hide corresponding to a unique identifying code, the apparatus including:

(i) a platform for resting a portion of the hide thereon;

(ii) a conveyor for moving the platform through a step wise series of movements;

and (iii) a multiple hole former for forming the pattern of holes, wherein the multiple hole former is capable of selectively forming a unique pattern of holes corresponding to the unique identifying code by incrementally forming a component of the unique identifying code with each movement step of the platform. The multiple hole former includes a variety of hole forming means. For example, the multiple hole former may include a laser knife, rotating bit (drill) means, stamping means and the like. Preferably, the multiple hole former forms part of a punch assembly. The punch assembly may include a single, rapid operation punch. More preferably, the punch assembly includes multiple punches. Each of the punches may be adapted to punch out one or more particular characters. Alternatively, each of the punches may be adapted to punch out a component of a character, whereby together the multiple punches can form a large variety of characters, whether alphanumeric or otherwise. Each individual punch may be selected and presented to punch the pattern of holes corresponding to the unique identifying code. The punch assembly may include linearly arranged punches. The punch assembly may include irregularly arranged punches or the punches may be arranged in a curved or grid pattern. The punch assembly is preferably in the form of a rotary punch assembly having multiple individual punches, for example, set in a carousel such as a circular carousel. Each individual punch may be selected and presented to punch the pattern of holes corresponding to the unique identifying code.

The punch assembly may include a punch drive. The punch drive may be capable of forcing the multiple hole former through the hide to stamp out the required hole pattern.

The hide may be secured to the platform during the hole forming process. The platform may include a high friction surface which resists lateral displacement of the hide. Such a high friction surface may include hook or loop surface features. Preferably, however,

the hide is clamped to the platform proximal to the edge of the hide to be holed. The clamp

may include a heavy weight, optionally hinged, or a spring^' biased cam mechanism capable of

a range of clamping positions. The clamp is preferably adapted to accommodate a variety of

hide sizes, thicknesses and surface textures.

Preferably the apparatus is controlled by an associated computer. Preferably the

platform conveyor is operated to move the hide edge in steps through the hole forming

station, pausing for the formation of each component of the unique identifying code by the

multiple hole former. The multiple hole former may include an array of punches which are

presented and operated at the hole forming station by rotation of the rotary punch assembly to

thereby form the sequence of different selected unique identifying code components forming

the unique identifying code.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for

tracking a hide including:

(a) assigning an animal a unique body number;

(b) recording designated data for the animal against the unique body number;

(c) assigning to the hide of the animal a unique identifying code which is recorded

and associated with the unique body number;

(d) removing the hide from the animal and forming a pattern of holes through the

hide corresponding to the unique identifying code;

(e) processing the hide with its identifying code formed therein through at least

one treatment operation;

(f) thereafter reading the pattern of holes to determine the unique identifying

code; (g) recording further designated data relating to the processed hide against the

unique identifying code; and

(h) optionally repeating steps (e) to (g) for one or more further treatment

operations.

5 According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for

assigning a value to a hide including:

(a) assigning a unique identifying code to a hide;

(b) forming a pattern of holes through the hide corresponding to the unique

identifying code;

10 (c) processing said hide with its identifying code formed therein through at least

one treatment operation;

(d) reading the pattern of holes to determine the unique identifying code and recording designated data relating to the processed hide against the unique identifying code;

(e) thereafter assigning a value to said processed hide;

-15 (f) reading the pattern of holes in the processed hide to determine the unique

. identifying code; and

(g) correlating and recording the assigned value of the hide with the unique

identifying code.

Optionally, the following step (c) may be carried out between steps (c) and (d):

20 reading the pattern of holes to determine the unique identifying code. Steps (c) to (d) may

be optionally repeated for one or more further treatment operations.

The animal hide may be the hide of a mammal including a bovine, porcine, equine or

ovine, a reptile such as a crocodile, snake or lizard, avian such as poultry, fish or wild game

such as kangaroo, rabbit or hare. The unique identifying code may be a numerical code and the pattern of holes formed through the hide may also be the same numerical code enabling human reading of the numerical code. The pattern of holes formed through the hide may, however, be a machine recognisable pattern which correlates to the unique identifying code. A unique body number may be assigned to an animal before, during or after slaughter.

When referring through this specification to a "number", this is to be understood to include a string of characters such as numerals, letters, non-alphanumeric characters and machine

readable indicia. Accordingly, such indicia may be adapted to be read by human operators or by machine, for example, by optical character recognition means. Designated information may be entered into a data base against that body number such as grower or breeder, animal species, breed, dentition, sex, fat score, bruise score, weight, etc.

The hide is assigned a unique identifying code. The unique identifying code is placed on the hide by forming a pattern of holes through the hide corresponding to the unique identifying code e.g. by punching the holes. The hide may then pass through the processing and tanning process and at selected stages or at each stage in the processing and tanning process data may be entered into the data base relating to that hide. Such data may include the green size and weight, the fleshed weight, the wet-blue weight and the grain side grades. It may also include recording of defects such as brands, wire and lantana scratches, lice, mites and other parasitic damage, grain strain damage, etc. The hide has its unique identifying code formed therein through at least one treatment

operation. The treatment operation refers to treatments such as fleshing, dehairing, liming, bating, washing, pickling, degreasing, tanning, dyeing and drying.

At the end of the processing and tanning process, the hide may be valued and the value of the hide is correlated and recorded with the unique identifying code. The value of the hide is preferably assigned on the wet-blue hide. When referring to assignment of a "value", this is to be understood as including determining the wet-blue hide weight and also assigning a quality grade to the wet-blue hide from which a monetary "value" can be later determined. The above methods, apparatus and systems create for a tannery the ability of full and

total traceabihty from farm to the end article. By being able to individually code and identify every hide produced in a tanning plant, it is possible to attach to that hide, a history of the animal, its green weight, fleshed weight and wet-blue weight, together with one of a number of grain-side quality grades, in sides, done in wet-blue condition. For example, there may be eight grades or categories defined to allow potential customers to know at the time of purchase, which style of product that hide is best utilised for.

The present invention enables a tanning plant to prepare pallets of a specific size and quality which are consistent with its customers' needs. The present invention allows a tanner to keep a full history of each individual hide and each pallet, not just origin and physical characteristics, but also the full tanning details of each hide, including for example dates, procedures, process times and chemicals used. This is advantageous in being able to provide to the next user of the hide details of the origin and physical characteristics and tanning details. Also if there is an unforeseen problem, the tanner can quickly can identify and rectify that issue and identify and separate any hides that may have similar such issues including e.g. notifying customers who purchased hides from the same batch and perhaps recalling and replacing product already dispatched. In the automotive sector, this is particularly important.

A further advantage of the present invention is that the ability to identify and retain the hide data allows the tanner to pass significant and meaningful data back to its operators in the tannery and suppliers (e.g. abattoirs) and animal producers concerning the quality and yield of their hides vis a viz their animals. It is therefore possible to introduce payment schemes which value the hides produced according to their quality grade. Therefore, apart from rewarding suppliers of better qualities (and discounting those of poorer quality) it can provide an incentive and reward for better care of hides and the elimination of controllable defects such as brands, wire and lantana scratches, lice, mites and other parasitic damage, grain strain damage, etc.

A further advantage of the present invention relates to current developing preferences for organic foods. It is expected that there will also be a developing market for organic products such as hides and the present system will allow tanners to assure customers that particular hides came from organically produced animals. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Possible and preferred features of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an apparatus for stamping an identification code in the edge of a hide,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a section through the apparatus of Fig. 1 along the line A- A,

Fig. 4 is a view of the identification code applied as a pattern of holes in the edge of a hide, and

Fig. 5 is a flow chart of a process embodying the present invention involving tracking and assigning a value to a hide. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is operative to stamp the edge of a hide with a

sequence of numerals which constitute the identification code applied to the hide. The

stamping operation is performed under the control of an associated computer (not shown)

which assigns the identification code number and controls the apparatus to punch the pattern

of holes in the edge of the hide to form the numerals as shown in Fig. 4. It will be seen in

Fig. 4 that the identification code 15 can have more than one component, such as component

16 forming a prefix which can indicate the processing department (beef, veal, etc) and a main component 17 which can be the unique hide identification code number. It will be seen that

the numerals 18 are each composed of straight line segments 19 arranged in the manner of

digital LCD numeric displays on clock faces for example so that each digit from 0 to 9 can

be represented by a unique combination of the straight line segments. This can enable use of an apparatus in which there is a hole puncher having seven selectively operable punches arranged in the required configuration and each of which punches a respective straight line

segment. The particular permutation or combination of punches operated during each

punching process defines the selected digit.

In the apparatus of Figs. 1 to 3, there is provided a punching station 20 at which there is provided a rotary punch assembly 21. The assembly 21 has ten individual punches 22,

each of which is operative to punch holes in the edge of a hide representing a respective

numeral from 0 to 9. The punches 22 are arranged around and mounted by a rotary turret 23

which is selectively movable by the turret drive 24 which, under control of the associated computer, rotates the turret to present at the punching station 20 the selected punch 22 for

forming the selected pattern of holes to represent the particular digit. The individual punch 22 selected and presented at the punching station 20 is operated to punch the pattern of holes by the punch drive 25. The punch drive 25 can, for example, be an electrically operated (e.g.

solenoid operated) hammer or drive piston, or may, for example, comprise a pneumatically

or hydraulically operated drive piston.

In use of the illustrated apparatus, the selected part of the edge of a hide can be

introduced into the gap 30 at the punching station 20 so as to be located between the punch

22 and the anvil 31. If desired, the anvil 31 may be provided on a movable carriage 32

enabling the hide to be moved laterally (to the left and/or right in Fig. 2) while maintaining the edge of the hide in the gap 30. The carriage 32 may be selectively movable under the

control of the associated computer by the carriage drive 33. The carriage drive 33 may be

operated to move the hide edge in steps through the punching station, pausing for the

formation of each digit of the hide identification code number by the punches 22 which are

presented and operated at the punching station by rotation of the rotary punch assembly 21 to thereby form the sequence of different selected digits forming the hide identification code

number. If desired, the hide edge may be temporarily clamped when it is first introduced into

the gap 30 and held clamped as the carriage 32 is moved stepwise during the punching operation.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, an animal is presented for

processing. As the animal enters the processing department, it is automatically assigned a

unique body number. This body number is recorded in a computer data base. Designated

information is then recorded (at appropriate stages of processing the carcass) against the

unique body number including, for example, tail tag data, dentition, sex, fat score, bruise score, weight, etc. An automatic and computer controlled numbering system is linked

directly to the body number on the slaughter floor and held in a carcase database. The hide, preferably after removal, is punched (e.g. by the apparatus of Figs. 1 to 3) with a unique identifying code which may be the same as the body number, but may be different. It is

preferred that the unique identifying code is the same as the body number. However, it may

also contain further processing department information. The tail tag can remain attached to

the hide after the hide is removed so that the hide can be conveyed away from the carcass to a

5 remote point before being punched without losing the association between the hide and the animal carcass from which it has been removed. The green hide weight is recorded in the

computer data base.

The hides are transported to the tannery. The hides are fleshed and placed into drums

for tanning. The hides are dried in a sammer. The hides are then assessed and against the

0 unique identifying code information such as its grade, quality and blue weight is recorded. - The grade and quality include its grain side grades. These criteria are used to assess the

value of the hide and payment value.

During the process further information may also be recorded including the green

weight, fleshed weight, processes used, chemicals used, process times, defects noted, etc.

5 . It is to be. understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be made to the features of the possible and preferred embodiment(s) of the invention as herein

• described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The

0 terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

Claims

1. A method for tracking a hide said method including:

(a) assigning a unique identifying code to the hide;

(b) forming a pattern of holes through the hide corresponding to the unique

identifying code;

one treatment operation; and

(d) reading the pattern of holes in the processed hide to determine the unique

identifying code.

2. A method according to claim 1, further including the following step:

(e) recording designated data relating to the processed hide against the unique

identifying code.

3. A method according to claim 2, further including the step of:

(f) using the designated data to assign a value to the processed hide.

4. A method according to claim 3, further including the step Of:

(g) associating and recording the assigned value of the hide with the unique

identifying code.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the following initial steps of:

(i) assigning an animal a unique body number;

(ii) recording designated data for the animal against the unique body number; and

(iii) recording and associating the unique body number with the unique identifying code.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein the designated data includes data relating to

tail tag data, dentition, sex, fat score, bruise score, weight and the like.

7. A method for tracking a hide including

(a) assigning an animal a unique body number;

(b) recording designated data for the animal against the unique body number;

and associated with the unique body number;

(d) removing the hide from the animal and forming a pattern of holes through the hide corresponding to the unique identifying code;

one treatment operation;

(f) thereafter reading the pattern of holes to determine the unique identifying code;

(g) recording further designated data relating to the processed hide against the

unique identifying code; and

(h) optionally repeating steps (e) to (g) for one or more further treatment

operations.

8. A method for assigning a value to a hide including:

(a) assigning a unique identifying code to a hide;

(b) forming a pattern of holes through the hide corresponding to the unique

identifying code;

(c) processing said hide with its identifying code formed therein through at least

one treatment operation;

(d) optionally thereafter reading the pattern of holes to determine the unique

identifying codes and recording designated data relating to the processed hide against the

unique identifying code; (e) thereafter assigning a value to said processed hide;

(f) reading the pattern of holes in the processed hide to determine the unique

identifying code; and

(g) correlating and recording the assigned value of the hide with the unique

identifying code.

9. An apparatus for forming a pattern of holes through a hide corresponding to a unique

identifying code, the apparatus including:

(i) a platform for resting a portion of the hide thereon;

(ii) a multiple hole former for forming the pattern of holes; and (iii) a conveyor for moving the platform or the multiple hole former relative to one

another,

wherein the multiple hole former is capable of selectively forming a unique pattern of

holes corresponding to the unique identifying code through the relative movement of the platform or the multiple hole former

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the multiple hole former is part of a punch

assembly.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the multiple hole former forms part of a rotary punch assembly having multiple individual punches.

12. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the operation of the apparatus is

controlled by an associated computer.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein each individual punch is selected and

presented to punch the pattern of holes corresponding to the unique identifying code.

14. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the conveyor moves the platform.

15. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the conveyor moves the platform through

a step wise series of movements.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the multiple hole former forms the unique pattern of holes by incrementally forming a component of the unique identifying

5 code with each movement step of the platform.

17. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the punch assembly includes a punch drive capable of forcing the multiple hole former through the hide to stamp out the required hole

pattern.

18. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the hide is clamped to the platform.

10 19. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the platform conveyor is operated to

move the hide edge in steps through the hole forming station, pausing for the formation of

each component of the unique identifying code by the multiple hole former which are

presented and operated at the hole forming station by rotation of the rotary punch assembly

to thereby form the sequence of different selected unique identifying code components

15 forming unique identifying code.

20. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the unique identifying code is used to

grade the hide in its wet-blue condition.