US4256569A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Arrangement to improve the optimization of the value of finished cuts in a livestock processing plant
Assignee: ITT Inc
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Filing: 1979-05-29
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Granted: 1981-03-17
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Expires: 1999-05-29
Abstract
Abstract An arrangement of this invention comprises a device to apply a different identification mark to each of a plurality of heads of livestock and to couple each of the identification marks to an optimization computer, each of the identification marks remaining with its associated one of the plurality of heads of livestock until the finished cuts are obtained; a scale to separately weigh each of the heads of livestock in sequence and to couple each of the resultant weights to the computer with each of the weights being correlated with the associated one of the identification marks; an automatic electronic grader to separately and automatically grade each of the heads of livestock in sequence and to couple each of the resultant grades to the computer with each of the grades being correlated with the associated one of the identification marks and the associated one of the weights; and a plurality of gate controlled sorting pens to sort the plurality of heads of livestock according to the weights and grades after passing through the scale and grader.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles H. Wallace
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:40
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01G; G01G19/00; G01G19/40; G01G19/413; G01G19/414; A; A01; A01K; A01K1/00; A01K1/0005; A01K1/0017; A01K1/0023; A01K29/00; B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; G01G17/00; G01G17/08; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/942
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
An arrangement to improve the optimization of the value of finished cuts obtained from each of a plurality of heads of livestock in a livestock processing plant comprising: first means to apply a different identification mark to each of said plurality of heads of livestock and to couple each of said marks to an optimization computer, each of said marks remaining with its associated one of said plurality of heads of livestock until said finished cuts are obtained; second means disposed adjacent said first means to separately weigh each of said heads of livestock in sequence and to couple each of the resultant weights to said computer, each of said weights being correlated with an associated one of said marks; and third means disposed adjacent said second means to separately and automatically grade each of said heads of livestock in sequence and to couple each of the resultant grades to said computer, each of said grades being correlated with an associated one of said marks and an associated one of said weights.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
An arrangement to improve the optimization of the value of finished cuts obtained from each of a plurality of heads of livestock in a livestock processing plant comprising: first means to apply a different identification mark to each of said plurality of heads of livestock and to couple each of said marks to an optimization computer, each of said marks remaining with its associated one of said plurality of heads of livestock until said finished cuts are obtained; second means disposed adjacent said first means to separately weigh each of said heads of livestock in sequence and to couple each of the resultant weights to said computer, each of said weights being correlated with an associated one of said marks; and third means disposed adjacent said second means to separately and automatically grade each of said heads of livestock in sequence and to couple each of the resultant grades to said computer, each of said grades being correlated with an associated one of said marks and an associated one of said weights.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said third means is supported on said second means to enable obtaining said weight and said grade of each of said plurality of heads of livestock substantially simultaneously.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said second and third means are disposed above ground, and entrance and exit inclined ramps are provided for said second and third means to enable each of said plurality of heads of livestock to enter and exit said second and third means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein each of said weights and each of said grades are obtained when each of said plurality of heads of livestock walk on and through said second and third means, respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said third means includes conveyor means to convey each of said plurality of heads of livestock through said third means and across said second means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said conveyor means includes floor conveyor moving at a predetermined rate, and two side conveyors moving at said given rate to restrain each of said plurality of heads of livestock from walking.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An arrangement according to claim 6, wherein said floor and side conveyors are stopped periodically for a predetermined length of time to enable obtaining a static weight for each of said plurality of heads of livestock.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
An arrangement according to claim 7, wherein said second and third means are disposed above ground, and said conveyor means further includes entrance and exit inclined conveyors to enable each of said plurality of heads of livestock to enter and exit said second and third means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
An arrangement according to claim 7, wherein at least one of said side conveyors are tiltable to restrain each of said plurality of heads of livestock from jumping up and down.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, further including an indexing restrainer disposed prior to said second and third means to ensure that each of said plurality of heads of livestock are processed by said second and third means separately and in sequence.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said first means is operated while each of said plurality of heads of livestock is disposed in said indexing restrainer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each of said weights is obtained when each of said plurality of heads of livestock passes over said second means, and each of said grades is obtained when each of said plurality of heads of livestock passes through said third means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, further including fourth means disposed adjacent said third means to sort said plurality of heads of livestock according to said weights and said grades.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
95 words
An arrangement according to claim 13, wherein said fourth means includes a plurality of gate controlled pens disposed adjacent a passageway for said plurality of heads of livestock leading from said third means, each of said pens being assigned a predetermined range of weights and at least one grade, and fifth means coupled to said second and third means and said plurality of gates to enable opening one of said plurality of gates at a time dependent on the weight and grade of each of said plurality of heads of livestock just weighed and graded.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
56 words
An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein said fifth means includes a digital readout for each of said second and third means, and sixth means to enable manually opening an appropriate one of said plurality of gates according to the weight and grade present on an associated one of said readouts to accomplish the desired sorting.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein said fifth means includes a digital readout for each of said second and third means, and sixth means responsive to the weight and grade present on an associated one of said readouts to automatically open an appropriate one of said plurality of gates to accomplish the desired sorting.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
An arrangement according to claim 14, further including a conveyor disposed in said passageway to carry said plurality of heads of livestock sequentially to said plurality of pens.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
An arrangement according to claim 13, wherein said third means is supported on said second means to enable obtaining said weight and said grade of each of said plurality of heads of livestock substantially simultaneously.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
An arrangement according to claim 18, wherein said second and third means are disposed above ground, and entrance and exit inclined ramps are provided for said second and third means to enable each of said plurality of heads of livestock to enter and exit said second and third means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
An arrangement according to claim 19, wherein each of said weights and each of said grades are obtained when each of said plurality of heads of livestock walk on and through said second and third means, respectively.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
An arrangement according to claim 18, wherein said third means includes conveyor means to convey each of said plurality of heads of livestock through said third means and across said second means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
An arrangement according to claim 21, wherein said conveyor means includes floor conveyor moving at a predetermined rate, and two side conveyors moving at said given rate to restrain each of said plurality of heads of livestock from walking.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
An arrangement according to claim 22, wherein said floor and side conveyors are stopped periodically for a predetermined length of time to enable obtaining a static weight for each of said plurality of heads of livestock.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
46 words
An arrangement according to claim 23, wherein said second and third means are disposed above ground, and said conveyor means further includes entrance and exit inclined conveyors to enable each of said plurality of heads of livestock to enter and exit said second and third means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
An arrangement according to claim 23, wherein at least one of said side conveyors are tiltable to restrain each of said plurality of heads of livestock from jumping up and down.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
42 words
An arrangement according to claim 13, further including an indexing restrainer disposed prior to said second and third means to ensure that each of said plurality of heads of livestock are processed by said second and third means separately and in sequence.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
An arrangement according to claim 26, wherein said first means is operated while each of said plurality of heads of livestock is disposed in said indexing restrainer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
48 words
An arrangement according to claim 13, wherein each of said weights is obtained when each of said plurality of heads of livestock passes over said second means, and each of said grades is obtained when each of said plurality of heads of livestock passes through said third means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-03-16 | 1984-09-15 | 1985-03-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-03-16 | 1988-09-15 | 1989-03-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-03-16 | 1992-09-15 | 1993-03-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |