Sorter trainer gate assembly

Abstract

An apparatus and method for sorting animals includes a housing having a basket area and a measuring device. An entry gate is mounted to the housing and is moveable between open and closed positions. A sort gate is mounted to the housing and moveable between a first and a second position based on a measurement taken by the measuring device. A trainer gate is mounted to the housing and moveable through an operating position whereby the trainer gate contacts an animal in the basket area and urges the animal toward the sort gate. A programmable controller communicates with the measuring device, the entry gate, the sort gate and the trainer gate and controls actuation of the entry gate, the sort gate and the trainer gate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The skilled artisan will understand that the drawings, described below, are for illustration purposes only. The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings in any way.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a sorter trainer gate assembly according to the present teachings;

FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of a sort gate of the gate assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of an entry gate of the gate assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a pneumatic cylinder operable to actuate the sort gate of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a pneumatic cylinder operable to actuate the entry gate of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary schematic diagram illustrating the control system of the gate assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary pneumatic system configured for use in the gate assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the gate assembly of FIG. 1 shown with portions of the frame removed to illustrate a trainer gate assembly;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the trainer gate assembly of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the trainer gate of FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. 11 is a top view of the gate assembly of FIG. 1 illustrating the entry gate in an open position, the sort gate in a closed position and the trainer gate in a retracted position;

FIG. 12 is a top view of the gate assembly of FIG. 11 illustrating the entry gate in a closed position;

FIG. 13 is a top view of the gate assembly of FIG. 11 illustrating the entry gate in the closed position, the sort gate actuated to a first position (solid line) and a second position (phantom line) and the trainer gate in the retracted position;

FIG. 14 is a top view of the gate assembly of FIG. 11 illustrating the entry gate in the closed position, the sort gate actuated to the first position and the trainer gate in an actuated position; and

FIG. 15 is an exemplary flow chart illustrating steps for operating the sort gate of FIG. 1.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sorting animals comprising: a housing including a basket area having a measuring device;an entry gate mounted to the housing and moveable between open and closed positions;a sort gate mounted to the housing and moveable between a first and a second position based on a measurement taken by the measuring device;a trainer gate mounted to the housing and moveable through an operating position whereby the trainer gate contacts an animal in the basket area and urges the animal toward the sort gate; anda programmable controller communicating with the measuring device, the entry gate, the sort gate and the trainer gate and that controls actuation of the entry gate, the sort gate and the trainer gate.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the entry gate includes a pair of arms that are moveable between the open and closed positions by a first pneumatic cylinder.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the measuring device comprises a scale that measures a weight of an animal in the basket area.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the scale comprises a plurality of protrusions on an upper face thereof.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sort gate includes a frame pivotally mounted at first and second pivot joints, wherein the frame is movable about a pivot axis defined through the first and second pivot joints between the first and second positions.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a second pneumatic cylinder operably connected to the sort gate to impart rotational motion on the frame about the pivot axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the trainer gate is movable along an arcuate path between a first static position, through the operating position and a second static position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the trainer gate is movable about a trainer gate axis that is generally parallel to a floor of the basket area.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the trainer gate defines at least one roller rotatably mounted between lateral ends of the trainer gate, the at least one roller adapted to roll along an animal in the basket area during movement of the trainer gate through the operating position.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the trainer gate further comprises a third pneumatic cylinder operably coupled to and imparting motion onto a portion of the trainer gate.

11. An apparatus for sorting animals comprising: a housing including a basket area having a measuring device;a sort gate mounted to the housing and moveable between a first and a second position based on a measurement taken by the measuring device; anda trainer gate mounted to the housing and moveable about a trainer gate axis through an operating position that defines an arcuate path within the basket area whereby the trainer gate contacts an animal in the basket area and urges the animal toward the sort gate.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an entry gate mounted to the housing and moveable between open and closed positions.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a programmable controller communicating with the measuring device, the entry gate, the sort gate and the trainer gate and that controls actuation of the entry gate, the sort gate and the trainer gate.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: a first pneumatic cylinder operably coupled to the entry gate;a second pneumatic cylinder operably coupled to the sort gate;a third pneumatic cylinder operably coupled to the trainer gate; andsolenoid control unit that communicates with the programmable controller to regulate fluid delivered to the respective first, second and third pneumatic cylinders.

15. A method for sorting aggressive animals comprising: providing a housing including a basket area having a measuring device, the housing further including an entry gate, a sort gate and a trainer gate;opening the entry gate;determining whether an animal is on the measuring device;closing the entry gate based on the animal being on the measuring device;measuring the animal;determining if the animal measures within a threshold;opening the sort gate in either a first direction or a second direction based on the measurement determination; andextending a trainer gate that contacts the animal and urges the animal through the sort gate.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein measuring the animal comprises measuring a weight of an animal in the basket area.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein extending the trainer gate comprises moving the trainer gate in an operating position along an arcuate path through the basket area.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein extending the trainer gate comprises rotating the trainer gate about a trainer gate axis that is generally parallel to a floor of the basket area.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein extending the trainer gate comprises engaging the animal with at least one roller mounted between lateral ends of the trainer gate, the at least one roller adapted to roll along the animal during movement of the trainer gate through the operating position.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein opening the sort gate includes rotating a frame of the sort gate about a pivot axis defined substantially perpendicular to a floor of the basket area.