WO2003034815A1

WO2003034815A1 - Improvement to an identification device

Info

Publication number: WO2003034815A1
Application number: PCT/FR2002/003401
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frédéric BAUMONT; Alain Nepote
Original assignee: Reyflex
Priority date: 2001-10-25
Filing date: 2002-10-07
Publication date: 2003-05-01
Also published as: FR2831388B1; FR2831388A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an identification device (1) of the type that comprises a closed identification loop which is formed by a male element (5) and a female element (6), each of said elements including complementary connection means (10, 26) which co-operate with one another. The aforementioned male element (5) comprises a male shaft (8) while the female element (6) is provided with a hollow housing (9) in which said male shaft (8) is positioned and locked in place. The invention is characterised in that the end (16) of the male shaft (8) comprises a cutting end piece (15) and in that a tubular part (22) extends out from the basic body (18) of the female element (6) and forms a single piece therewith. The aforementioned tubular part, called the receiver tube, comprises a tubular wall (14) and an end wall (21) in order to form an internal cavity (20) and said tubular part is connected to the basic body (18) by means of a rupture area (19).

Description

IMPROVEMENT FOR IDENTIFICATION DEVICE

The present invention relates to an identification device, in particular for the identification of animals. It relates more particularly to an improvement for identification devices called identification loops.

The identification of animals, and in particular farm animals intended for consumption, has always been a problem of concern for man and in particular in our industrialized countries where it is necessary to know the origin, the place of breeding and the history of the animal, in particular, before it entered the consumption circuit. These problems appear more and more sensitive and important at present, and this, in particular because of the crisis known as of the "mad cow". In the livestock sector, the identification and traceability of animals has become a necessity. This need arose for obvious health reasons linked to the transport of animals as well as for reasons of fight against fraud in relation to the quality of the herds. To respond to this, the health directives of the states generally impose to associate with each animal official accompanying documents and material references fixed on the animal.

These material marks are called "identification loops" which are usually attached to the ears of the animal.

These identification loops generally consist of a male part comprising a flat and flexible label, connected to a barrel, and of a female part composed of a second flexible label, connected to a body having a latching orifice intended for to receive the barrel of the male part. To identify an animal, an identification number is written on the two tags on the loop, then, using suitable pliers, the two parts are fixed to each other on the animal's ear.

During this operation, the male part pierces the ear of the animal and automatically snaps into the corresponding part of the female part, the snap is generally designed to be tamper-proof, in order to prevent tampering of identification.

This identification loop system is simple and inexpensive, but has the drawback of not authenticating the animal on which it is applied in an irrefutable scientific manner.

The present invention proposes to solve the aforementioned drawbacks using simple, reliable, safe, effective and inexpensive means.

The identification loop, object of the present invention, aims to overcome this drawback by allowing an inviolable removal of animal flesh, simultaneously with the installation of the identification loop.

The sample is used on demand to establish the genetic map of the animal, which is unique for each living being and animal.

Thus, the identification device of the invention is of the type constituted by an identification loop formed by a male element and a female element which each comprise complementary coupling means intended to cooperate together, said male element comprising a barrel male, while the female element has a hollow housing inside which are intended to be positioned and to lock said male barrel, and is characterized in that the end of the male barrel comprises a cutting plug, and in that the basic body of the female element is extended in one piece, by a part tubular, constituted by a tubular wall and an end wall to form an internal cavity, said tubular part, called receptacle tube, being connected to the base body by a rupture zone.

According to additional characteristics, the cutter plug is independent and removable and is constituted by a cylindrical peripheral wall to form a tubular piece, one of its ends of which is intended to cooperate with the end of the male barrel, and the other end of which is in the form of a bowl with a sharp edge, intended to cut and receive a portion of the ear of the animal, the two ends being separated by a transverse obturation wall.

According to another characteristic, the receptacle tube comprises an internal cavity comprising an internal shoulder on which is intended to come to bear the cutting plug, while it comprises end bead.

The invention also relates to the method of implementing the identification device which is characterized in that, in the first laying phase, the male cutting plug pierces the ear of the animal, while, during this operation, said plug takes care of a piece of the ear. During this operation, the first notch of the male barrel bears on the end bead of the tube, which causes a relative movement between the body and the receptacle tube and thus their separation by rupture at the level of the rupture zone.

According to a characteristic of the process, at the end of the perforation, the male barrel engages in the corresponding housing of the female part, while the cutting plug penetrates into the internal cavity of the receptacle tube, until it either in abutment against the internal shoulder, while continuing to close the clamp, the snap ends, by cooperation of the notches of the male barrel with the notches corresponding to the female element, and the end bead of the tube abuts on a shoulder formed in the corresponding jaw, which causes a relative displacement between the body and the receptacle tube and thus their separation by rupture at the level of the rupture zone.

Note that the method of implementing the identification device includes the following steps:

a-prior to the installation of the loop, the cutting plug is placed at the end of the male barrel of the male element;

b-then, the two main parts of the loop are placed on the clamp, respectively the male part on the punch of the male jaw, and the female part in the bore of the corresponding female jaw;

c-then the clamp is gradually closed, that is to say, the loop is placed on the animal's ear;

d-in the first installation phase, the male cutting plug pierces the ear of the animal; during this operation, said plug takes care of a piece of the ear.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows with reference to the appended drawings which are given only by way of nonlimiting examples.

FIG. 1 represents a cow provided with the identification device according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows the actual installation of the identification loop using the pliers.

Figure 3 illustrates a clip with the two elements of the identification loop before the placement on the ear of the animal. Figure 4 is a side view in longitudinal section showing the three parts constituting the identification loop.

Figure 5 is a partial side view in longitudinal section showing the two elements of the loop before their use.

FIGS. 6 to 13 illustrate the different successive stages of the method for setting up the identification loop according to the invention.

According to the embodiment given by way of example, and bearing the general reference (1), the identification device is intended for the identification of an animal such as a cow (2). The latter is commonly called an identification loop and is attached to one of the ears

(3) of the animal, as illustrated in Figure 1 and Figure 2.

The positioning of said loop on the ear of the animal to be identified is done using a positioning clamp (4), as illustrated in FIG. 2 and in FIG. 3.

The loop is constituted in a manner known per se by two elements

(5, 6), namely, a first element called the male element (5) and a second element called the female element (6).

These two elements of the identification device (1) are intended to cooperate together to allow them to be hooked together and to the ear, by means of coupling means arranged on each of them. The two elements each have an identification wall or area (7) intended to support information or identification in the form of an ink or laser marking or in the form of an electronic label.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, and as the illustrations show, the coupling means consist of at least one projecting profile (8) called male barrel, disposed on the male element

(5) intended to cooperate with a hollow housing (9) of the female element

(6) whose profile is of complementary shape.

The male barrel (8) advantageously has a set of retaining notches (10) of frustoconical shape, arranged successively and peripherally, intended to cooperate with similar notches (26) produced in the housing (9).

According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 and following, the male barrel (8) advantageously comprises three retaining notches (10a, 10b, 10c) oriented identically. It goes without saying that the number of retaining notches could be different without departing from the scope of the invention. The retaining notches are portions of cones whose vertices are located towards the front, in order to create for each of them a bearing and locking surface (11a, 11b, lie), the operation of which will be explained below. description.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the female element (6) has a recessed housing (9) inside which are intended to be positioned and to lock the male barrel (8) with its assembly of retaining notches (10), each of the retaining notches (10a, 10b, 10c) having their front support surface (11a, 11b, lie) transverse against abutment surfaces (12a, 12b, 12c) complementary to the notches corresponding (26) of the female element (6). Note that the shape of the recessed housing (9) is complementary to the clearance near that of the projecting profile (8).

The female element (6), constituted by a base body (18), is extended by a tubular part (22) constituted by a tubular wall (14) and an end wall (21) to form an internal cavity ( 20). Said tubular part, called receptacle tube, is connected to the base body (18) of the female element proper by a rupture zone (19). This rupture zone is constituted by an annular necking in order to create a zone of reduced thickness, making it possible to separate the receiving tube (22) from the body of the female element by rupture of said rupture zone.

According to the invention, the identification device is advantageously made of plastic by an injection process, for example, the material used must be rigid but slightly elastic, so as to be able to make the projecting profile cooperate with its notches ( 10) and the hollow housing (9) by fitting, said fitting being effected by the elastic deformation of the hollow retaining profile of the female element. It goes without saying that the shape of the housing or the number of retaining notches of the projecting profile could be different, without however departing from the scope of protection of the invention. Likewise, the identification device could be obtained in materials other than plastics and be produced other than by injection.

According to the invention, the identification loop (1) consisting of the core element (5) and the corresponding female element (6) additionally comprises an additional element which we will call a cutter plug (15). The latter is an independent element intended to be removably disposed at the end (16) of the male barrel (8).

The cutting plug (15) is constituted by a cylindrical peripheral wall to constitute a tubular piece, one of its ends of which is intended to cooperate with the end (16) of the male barrel (8) and the other end of which is in the form of a bowl with a sharp edge, intended to cut and receive a portion of the ear of the animal, the two ends being separated by a transverse obturation wall (17). The set works as follows:

Prior to the installation of the loop (1), the cutting plug (15) is placed at the end (16) of the male barrel (8) of the male element (5), as illustrated in FIG. 6 .

Then, the two main parts (5, 6) of the loop (1) are placed on the corresponding jaws (40, 41) of the positioning clamp (4), in their respective locations, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 7.

We then proceed to the progressive closing (F) of the clamp (3), that is to say the fitting of the loop (1) on the ear (3) of the animal (2), as shown Figures 8 to 11.

In the first installation phase, the male cutting plug (15) pierces the ear of the animal (Figure 8). During this operation, said plug (15) is responsible for a piece (30) of the ear (3), as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

At the end of the perforation, the male barrel (8) begins to engage in the corresponding housing (9) of the female part (6), as illustrated in FIG. 9.

During this operation, the cutter plug (15), which is always positioned at the end of the male barrel (8) comes into the internal cavity (20) of the receptacle tube until it is in abutment against the internal shoulder (23), and thus act as a tight plug for the receptacle tube, as shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11. After rupture, the movement of the tube (22a) is limited by the shoulder (25) of the female jaw (41).

Then, while continuing to close the clamp, the locking ends, by cooperation of the notches (10) of the male barrel (5) with the notches corresponding (26) of the female element (6). During this operation, the first notch (10c) of the male barrel bears on the end bead (24) of the tube (22), which causes a relative movement between the body (18) and the receptacle tube (22) and thus their separation by rupture at the level of the rupture zone (19), as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

After opening the installation clamp (4), the situation is as follows, see Figure 13:

The male and female elements (5, 6) with their labels (7) are placed on the ear (3) of the animal, the receptacle tube (22) containing the ear piece (30), closed by the plug cutter (15) is detached from the loop.

Thanks to the sample of flesh constituted by the ear piece, it is possible by a subsequent comparative DNA analysis to verify that the sample taken later on the animal identified by a marking (M) determined corresponds well to the sample sample (30) made when installing the loop (1), which was kept in a tube with the same marking (M).

It has been understood that the receptacle tube (22) constitutes with the female part (6) a single piece.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown by way of examples, but it also includes all the technical equivalents and their combinations.

Claims

1. Identification device (1), of the type constituted by an identification loop formed by a male element (5) and a female element (6) which each comprise complementary coupling means (10, 26) intended for cooperate together, said male element (5) comprising a male barrel (8), while the female element (6) has a hollow housing (9) inside which is intended to be positioned and to lock said barrel male (8), characterized in that the end (16) of the male barrel comprises a cutting plug (15), and in that the basic body (18) of the female element (6) is extended in one piece by a tubular part (22), constituted by a tubular wall (14) and an end wall (21) to form an internal cavity (20), said tubular part, called receptacle tube, being connected to the base body (18 ) by a rupture zone (19).

2. Identification device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cutter plug (15) is independent and removable and is constituted by a cylindrical peripheral wall to form a tubular part one of its ends of which is intended to cooperate with the end (16) of the male barrel (8), the other end of which is in the form of a bowl with a sharp edge, intended to cut and receive a portion of the ear of the animal, two ends being separated by a transverse closure wall (17).

3. Identification device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the receptacle tube (22) comprises an internal cavity (20) comprising an internal shoulder on which is intended to bear the cutting plug (15).

4. Identification device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the receptacle tube (22) comprises an end bead (24).

5. Method of implementing the identification device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the first installation phase, the male cutting plug (15) pierces the ear of the animal, while, during this operation, said plug (15) takes care of a piece (30) of the ear (3), while the receptacle tube (22), after being plugged by the cutting plug, is separated from the female element (6) by rupture of the rupture zone (19).

6. Method of implementing the identification device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that, at the end of the perforation, the male barrel (8) engages in the corresponding housing (9) of the female part (6), while the cutter plug (15) enters the internal cavity (20) of the receptacle tube until it abuts against the internal shoulder (23).

7. Method of implementing the identification device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that, while continuing to close the clamp, the snap-fastening ends, by cooperation of the notches (10) of the male barrel ( 5) with the corresponding notches (26) of the female element (6); during this operation, the first notch (10c) of the male barrel bears on the end bead (24) of the tube (22), which causes a relative movement between the body (18) and the receptacle tube (22) and thus, their separation by rupture at the level of the rupture zone (19).

8. Method for implementing the identification device (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

a-before installing the loop (1), the cutter plug (15) is placed at the end (16) of the male barrel (8) of the male element (5);

b-then, the two main parts (5, 6) of the loop (1) are placed on the corresponding jaws (40, 41) of the positioning clamp (4) in their respective locations.

c-we then proceed to the progressive closure (F) of the clamp (3), that is to say the fitting of the loop (1) on the ear (3) of the animal (2);

d-in the first installation phase, the male cutting plug (15) pierces the ear of the animal (Figures 8). During this operation, said plug (15) is responsible for a piece (30) of the ear (3).