APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DELIVERING DROPLETS OF FLUID ONTO POULTRY HATCHLINGS

Abstract

A dispensing apparatus (1) for delivering droplets of fluids such as liquids having a low viscosity or being soft gels onto poultry hatchlings that are present in movably mounted hatchling trays (19) comprising at least one reservoir (18), at least one pumping unit (9), connected to at least one reservoir (18), with at least one manifold (8) connected to at least one pumping unit (9), as well as a control unit. The apparatus comprises a plurality of optionally adjustable fluid atomizers (6) being connected by flexible connecting means (7) to at least one manifold (8), whereby the fluid atomizers (6) are detachably and/or slidably connected on at least one mounting rail (5), and that optionally different types of fluid atomizers (6) are distributed onto the mounting rail (5). Additionally, a method for delivering fluid droplets onto poultry hatchlings present in moving hatchling trays (19) is described.

Claims

1. A dispensing apparatus for delivering droplets of fluids, onto poultry hatchlings that are present in movably mounted hatchling trays comprising at least one reservoir, at least one pumping unit, each connected to the at least one reservoir, at least one manifold connected to the at least one pumping unit, as well as at least one control unit, wherein the apparatus further comprises a plurality of optionally adjustable fluid atomizers being connected by flexible connecting means to the at least one manifold, whereby the fluid atomizers are detachably and/or slidably connected with at least one mounting rail, and that optionally different types of fluid atomizers are distributed onto the mounting rail.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein that a distance between adjacent fluid atomizers on the at least one mounting rail is unevenly distributed on the mounting rail and that a distance between the fluid atomizers is smaller in a middle region of the mounting rail compared to edge regions thereof, the distance between two adjacent fluid atomizers located in the middle region preferably being between 20 to 60% of the distance of two adjacent fluid atomizers located in an edge region.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein different types of fluid atomizers are provided having flow openings with different diameter, or having an adjustable flow opening.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it comprises different types of fluid atomizers being provided on a single mounting rail.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it comprises two reservoirs, each provided with a throttle valve.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pumping unit is interposed between the reservoir and the manifold and that a switching pulse obtained from a proximity sensor actuates the pumping unit.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it comprises two pumping units, providing different pressure.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each pumping unit is a pneumatic pump, actuated to pump the fluid(s) from reservoir(s) to the fluid atomizers.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it comprises two manifolds, being connected with the same pumping unit or with different pumping units.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting rail is height adjustable connected to a supporting structure.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it contains two adjustable mounting rails on top or adjacent to each other.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it contains up to 28, fluid atomizers, whereby at least 4 fluid atomizers are provided on each mounting rail.

13. A method for delivering fluid droplets onto poultry hatchlings present in moving hatchling trays, wherein at least one fluid containing at least one active component, selected from the group consisting of probiotic agents, vaccines, antibiotics and a coloring agent is prepared, the prepared fluid is placed in at least one reservoir of a fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 1; the distance between the fluid atomizers is adjusted in accordance with at least one of the features: tray geometry, hatchling distribution in the trays, hatchling density in the tray and/or tray speed; the moving hatchling trays containing the poultry hatchlings are placed beneath the fluid atomizers of the apparatus; the at least one pumping unit is switched on and the at least one fluid is pumped with a pressure convenient for feeding the at least one fluid from the reservoir through the manifold to the fluid atomizers, distributing the fluid as colored droplets onto the poultry hatchlings.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the active component is selected from the group consisting of at least one probiotic agent, vaccine, antibiotic, flavoring, coloring agent, vitamin or mineral.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the fluid is either a soft gel having a viscosity of from 50 to 1000 cps, or a low viscosity liquid having a viscosity up to 50 cps, is distributed by the fluid atomizers or that two different fluids having different viscosities are applied by different types of fluid atomizers onto the poultry hatchlings

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein an application volume stream of individual soft gel droplets per mounting rail is up to 600 ml/min.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein two different fluids are intermittently fed to two different manifolds, whereby switching pulses emitted by a switch sensor actuate a throttle valve being provided in the reservoir intended for one of the two fluids and that the fluid selected is fed to the fluid atomizers being connected to the selected manifold.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein two different fluids are delivered at the same time.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the fluid atomizers are opened for a time, which corresponds to the time needed for forwarding the hatchling tray about a distance corresponding to the length of the hatchling tray.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] In the following the invention will be explained in more detail by way of exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. Therein:

[0031] FIG. 1 depicts a partial longitudinal section trough an overall view of a device for dispensing a fluid into trays for poultry hatchlings according to the invention;

[0032] FIG. 2 depicts part of the distributing unit in an enlarged view comprising the mounting rail as well as the fluid atomizers being detachably mounted on the mounting rail;

[0033] FIG. 3 depicts a detailed view of the distributing unit of FIG. 2, wherein a fluid atomizer integrally provided with a fixing clip is detached from the mounting rail and a fixing clip;

[0034] FIG. 4 depicts an enlarged view of an embodiment of the manifold according to the present invention; and

[0035] FIG. 5 depicts a second embodiment of the device for dispensing a fluid into trays for poultry hatchlings according to the invention, which device is developed for providing fluid(s) from two different reservoirs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] FIG. 1 illustrates schematically an apparatus for dispensing a fluid especially a soft gel into trays for poultry hatchlings generally denoted by 1, which apparatus 1 comprising a control unit 17; a throttle valve 11; a pumping unit 9; a supply duct 22 connecting the throttle valve 11 with the pumping unit 9; a manifold 8; fluid atomizers 6 attached to the manifold 8; flexible connecting means 7 connecting the manifold 8 and the fluid atomizers 6; a supporting device 2, comprising two bases 3 and two supporting bars 4.

[0037] The supporting bars 4 are preferably adjustable in length and are composed of telescopic rods, for example. Optionally, the mounting rail 5 is directly connected to the supporting bar 4 on which the control unit 17 is mounted. Thus only one base 3 and one supporting bar 4 is required.

[0038] Moreover the mounting rail 5 bears a plurality, especially 12 to 28 fluid atomizers 6 which can be fixed at different heights on the supporting device 2. Alternatively the height of the supporting device 2 can by adjusted by pneumatically adjustable bars. Furthermore it is possible to provide two mounting rails 5 which may be arranged in different heights of the supporting bars 4 or also facing to different sides of the apparatus.

[0039] The fluid atomizers 6 can be slid and are release-ably fixed to the mounting rail 5, as described in FIGS. 2 and 3. Each fluid atomizer 6 is connected with the flexible connecting means 7, preferably being a hose, which is in turn connected with the manifold 8. The manifold 8 distributes fluid into the connecting means 7 and further into the fluid atomizers 6. For distributing the soft gel or a liquid, as preferred over a hatchling tray 19, not shown in FIG. 1, the fluid atomizers 6 are in a position for distributing fluid in droplet form, feed by pressure into the hatchling tray and therefor onto the poultry hatchlings housed in the tray, which tray is moved under the mounting rail 5. For providing the pressure necessary for distributing the fluid from a reservoir, not shown in the FIG. 1, to the manifold 8 and then into the fluid atomizers 6, the pumping unit 9 is arranged between the reservoir and the manifold 8.

[0040] The pumping unit 9, the proximity sensor 10, as well as the connecting mean 22 being connected with the throttle valve 11 are conducted in a control unit 17, which contains only usual components, necessary for operating the apparatus, such as a power supply, a flow regulator, a pressure gauge or so on, which parts are therefore not described in detail.

[0041] To ensure that the fluid drops out of the fluid atomizers 6 only at the time of the passage of a hatchling tray, the device is furthermore equipped with a proximity sensor 10. If the proximity sensor 10 detects the arrival of hatchling tray, it sends a signal to the pumping unit 10 which switches on, as well as a signal to a throttle valve 11 being arranged in the reservoir. After receipt of the signal from the proximity sensor 10, the throttle valve 11 opens and fluid, such as soft gel or a low viscosity liquid will be pumped through the apparatus and into the fluid atomizers 6 and drops over the hatchlings, the drops then being consumed by the poultry hatchling. When the proximity sensor 10 detects the tailing end of a hatchling tray, it sends a further signal to the throttle valve 11 as well as to the pumping unit 9, where after the throttle valve closes and the pumping unit 9 switches off.

[0042] For avoiding any submerging of the throttle valve 11 into the fluid being contained in the reservoir, the throttle valve 11 can be equipped with a float, not shown in the figure. Furthermore the working pressure of the pumping unit 9 can be adjusted for being able to deliver higher amounts of fluid(s) onto the hatchlings, or also for being able to pump soft gels with different, especially higher viscosities such as for example soft gels having a viscosity of about 200 cps.

[0043] In the illustration according to FIG. 2, the reference numerals of FIG. 1 have essentially been retained, wherein only those parts of the device which differ from FIG. 1 or were not described thus far are described. In FIG. 2, an enlarged view of the mounting rail 5, as well as the fluid atomizers 6 being detachably mounted on a round bar 12 being part of the mounting rail 5 is shown. The round bar 12 is an inseparable part of the mounting rail 5 whereby an L-shaped sheet 13 is provided under the round bar 12 for avoiding an unintentional pivoting of the fluid atomizers 6 being clamped on the round bar 12. The fluid atomizers 6 are provided with a clamping part 14 being clearly shown in FIG. 3. The clamping part 14 has two clamping members made of resilient plastics, which clamping members are able to partially surround the round bar 12 and therefore to hold the fluid atomizers 6 in position. With such clamping members it is however possible to slide each fluid atomizer 6 on the round bar 12 and also to remove it from the round bar 12. Of course it is also possible to clamp additional fluid atomizers 6 onto the round bar 12 and therefore to adapt the device 1 to different sizes of hatchling trays.

[0044] It is understood that another design of the mounting rail 5 can be used as long as the fluid atomizers can be positioned along the mounting rail 5, and also removed therefrom. One further example is to use magnetic coupling to flexibly connect of the atomizers 6 onto the mounting rail 5. Furthermore additional fluid atomizers 6 can be attached onto the mounting rail 5 or also on the round bar 12 for ensuring that more fluid can be provided or also two different fluids can be administered at the same time.

[0045] The fluid atomizers 6 can be of conventional design and especially one can also choose any kind of valve which can be adapted for delivering fluids, such as soft gels or liquids, for example is it possible to use pressure-actuated valves, flow valves, but also check valves. If check valves are used, it is possible to lock or additionally open individual valves whereby a further adjustment to different conditions such as different sizes of hatchling trays, different number of poultry hatchlings in each tray or also different feeding speed of the trays, can be accommodated.

[0046] In FIG. 4 an enlarged view of an embodiment of the manifold 8 is shown. The manifold 8 consist of a hollow container 15 which is for example connected via a quick coupling 16 with a pipe connecting the manifold 8 to the pumping unit 9. At the outer periphery of the hollow container 15 a number of quick couplings 16 corresponding to the number of hoses 7 is provided. The quick couplings 16 can act as flow valves for adjusting the amount of fluid to be provided to the fluid atomizers 6. Such an embodiment allows to perform maintenance on the apparatus without long interruption time of the apparatus and especially nearly all parts can be exchanged separately.

[0047] In FIG. 5 a second embodiment of the apparatus for dispensing a fluid into trays 19 for poultry hatchlings is shown. In the illustration according to FIG. 5, the reference numerals of FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 have essentially been retained from FIG. 1, wherein only those parts of the device which differ therefrom will be described. The operation of the apparatus 1, according to FIG. 5 is the same as described in connection with FIG. 1. The only difference is that the manifold 8, the pressure unit 9, the control unit 17, the throttle valve 11 as well as the reservoir 18 are provided in duplicate. The proximity sensor 10 switches both parts if the device 1. Each manifold 8 is connected via hoses 7 with, for example, one half of the fluid atomizers 6. With such a device 1 it is possible to distribute two different fluids containing for example two different active components, such as vaccines, antibiotics, vitamins, nutrients or so on at the same time. The fluid can be of different color, can show different viscosities or can be provided with a different through flow for adapting the device 1 to different requirements.

[0048] According to the invention, it is also possible to feed two different fluids intermittently to the two different manifolds 8, whereby switch pulses emitted by the control unit actuate the respective throttle valve 11.

[0049] The apparatus 1 according to FIG. 5 can be adapted such that two mounting rails 5 are provided, which mounting rails 5 can be arranged at both sides of the supporting bars 4 or also at the same side thereof but in different heights thereof. Both mounting rails 5 can also be connected to the supporting bar 4 of the control unit 17.

[0050] Furthermore in FIG. 5 is shown schematically a hatchling tray 19 which is moved in the direction of the arrow 20. As long as the tray 19 is under the mounting rail 5 fluid will be distributed through the fluid atomizers 6 and drops, as indicated with arrows 21, into the tray 19, in which the poultry hatchlings are housed. At the moment where a sensor, not shown in the Fig., detects the trailing end of the hatchling tray 19, a signal will be sent to a control unit, not shown, which stops immediately the pumping unit 9 and therefore delivery of fluid to the fluid atomizers 6. If in turn the proximity sensor 10 detects the leading edge of the next hatchling tray 19 arriving, it will send a signal to the control unit 17 which will actuate the pump 9 and start delivery of fluid the fluid atomizers 6.

[0051] It is understood that further embodiments are also within the scope of the invention such as for example a variant containing only one reservoir 18, one control unit 17 and one pumping unit 9 but two manifolds 8 and two mounting rails 5. With such a device 1 it will be possible to adjust the amount of fluid distributed to the size or the number of the tray(s) 19 and to the number of poultry hatchlings contained therein.