IDENTIFICATION EAR TAG FOR ANIMALS, COMPRISING A PART INCORPORATING A PART OF A UHF IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM AND A PART CONFIGURED TO PRESS AND KEEP THE UHF PART APPLIED AGAINST AN EAR OF THE ANIMAL

Abstract

The invention includes an electronic animal tag of two pieces, one incorporating the UHF, and preferably RFID, electronic identification portion, the other incorporating means that will press the UHF portion against the ear of an animal and keep it pressed there throughout its lifetime.

Claims

1. An identification ear tag for animals, comprising: a male portion comprising a shaft with a tip configured to configured to pierce an animal ear and to fasten the tag to the ear; a female portion, intended to be fastened around the shaft, wherein: the male portion or the female portion incorporates one portion of a UHF identification system and the male portion or the female portion is configured to press the UHF portion against the ear of the animal during fastening of the tip, and to keep it pressed against the ear, without exterior intervention, no matter how the latter develops over time, once fastening has been carried out.

2. The identification ear tag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the UHF identification system is a radio-frequency identification (RFID) system.

3. The identification ear tag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the male portion or the female portion comprises at least one elastic compressing means for keeping the UHF portion pressed against the ear.

4. The identification ear tag as claimed in claim 3, wherein the female portion consists of a single plastic part of generally frustoconical shape in which at least one through-aperture that extends along the generatrix of the conical frustum is produced so as to form at least one conical-spring turn segment.

5. The identification ear tag (1) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the plastic part comprises three conical-spring turn segments that lie parallel to one another along the generatrix.

6. The identification ear tag as claimed in claim 4, wherein the material from which the part is made is chosen from polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or a combination thereof.

7. The identification ear tag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the male portion comprises a flat base that houses the UHF portion and to which is fastened the end of the shaft opposite the tip.

8. The identification ear tag as claimed in claim 7, wherein the flat base is made from two flat plastic parts that are joined together by adhesive bonding or welding, so as to define a seal-tight interior cavity inside of which the UHF portion is housed.

9. The identification ear tag as claimed in claim 8, comprising two ultrasonic-welding energy vectors or two O-rings arranged between the two flat parts, bounding therewith the seal-tight interior cavity.

10. The identification ear tag as claimed in claim 3, comprising, as elastic compressing means, a spring of generally flared shape, said spring being securely fastened to the base of the male portion and being arranged around the shaft.

11. The identification ear tag as claimed in claim 3, comprising, as elastic compressing means, a spring of generally toroidal shape, said spring being securely fastened to the shaft and being arranged therearound.

12. The identification ear tag as claimed in claim 3, comprising, as elastic compressing means, a helical spring, said spring being securely fastened to the base of the male portion and being arranged around the shaft.

13. The identification ear tag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the UHF portion incorporated into the male portion consists of a UHF send/receive spectrum antenna and of a microchip connected to the spectrum, said antenna and microchip being adhesively bonded to, etched into or welded to a film of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or being incorporated into an area configured to bear an electronic component of PCB type.

14. A herd radio-frequency identification system comprising a fixed reader/transmitter, configured to read/transmit radio-frequency signals to any of a plurality of identification ear tags as claimed in claim 1, each ear tag being fastened to an ear of a separate animal of the herd.

15. Method for reusing a portion of the identification ear tag as claimed in claim 1, comprising the following steps: removing the identification tag of a first animal; retrieving the male portion or the female portion incorporating the UHF identification portion; re-encoding the UHF identification portion in order to identify a second animal; fastening an identification tag to the second animal by means of a new female or male portion devoid of the UHF portion, and by means of the retrieved male or female portion with the re-encoded UHF portion, respectively.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] FIG. 1 is a view is a perspective view of an example of an electronic animal identification tag according to the invention in its assembled configuration, the female portion of the tag being in its rest position.

[0059] FIG. 2 is a side view of the tag in FIG. 1.

[0060] FIG. 2A is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ear tag in FIG. 2.

[0061] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the ear tag in FIGS. 1 to 2A.

[0062] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an example of the female part of the ear tag in FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0063] FIG. 5 is a front view of the female part in FIG. 4.

[0064] FIG. 6 is a rear view of the female part in FIG. 4.

[0065] FIG. 7 is a photographic reproduction of an electronic identification tag according to the invention as it is when fastened to an ear of a herd pig.

[0066] FIG. 8 is a photographic reproduction of an electronic identification tag according to the invention as it is when fastened to an ear of a herd pig.

[0067] FIG. 9 is a photographic reproduction of an electronic identification tag according to the invention as it is when fastened to an ear of a herd pig.

[0068] FIG. 10 is a top view of a testing alley in which received signal strength indicator measurements for animal-worn electronic identification tags both according to the invention and, for the sake of comparison, according to the prior art.

[0069] FIG. 11 is a side view of the testing alley in FIG. 10.

[0070] FIG. 12 illustrates a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a first variant spring shape for pressing the UHF identification portion, which portion is securely fastened to the male portion of an electronic identification tag according to the invention.

[0071] FIG. 13 illustrates a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a second variant spring shape for pressing the UHF identification portion, which portion is securely fastened to the male portion of an electronic identification tag according to the invention.

[0072] FIG. 14 illustrates a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a third variant spring shape for pressing the UHF identification portion, which portion is securely fastened to the male portion of an electronic identification tag according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0073] As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 2A and 3, an RFID identification ear tag, i.e. a so-called electronic tag, which is generally designated by the reference 1, comprises a plastic male part 2 and a plastic female part 3, the latter being configured to be fastened to the male part.

[0074] The male part 2 comprises a flat base 20, of generally circular shape, and a shaft 21 that is securely fastened to the base 20.

[0075] In the illustrated example, the flat base 20 is made from two portions 22, 23 that are joined together by welding or adhesive bonding, so as to define a seal-tight cavity 24 therebetween.

[0076] Inside this seal-tight cavity 24 is housed one portion of an RFID identification system 10. This RFID portion comprises a UHF send/receive spectrum antenna and a microchip connected to the spectrum, said antenna and microchip being adhesively bonded to, etched into or welded to a film 11 made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This PET film 11 bearing the antenna and the microchip is therefore inserted between the two portions 22, 23 before they are joined together, which makes it possible to hold it in place, in particular by means of a plurality of holding pins 220 that are integrally formed by molding with the rest of portion 22 and that protrude toward and bear against the portion 23. As may be seen in FIG. 3, the PET film 11 takes the form of a thin disc pierced in its center for passage of the shaft 21.

[0077] As may be seen in FIG. 2A, the shaft 21 is securely fastened, by one of its ends, to the center of the portion 23 of the flat base 20.

[0078] The opposite end of the shaft is shaped into a tip 25 that is configured to pierce and to fasten the tag to the ear of an animal.

[0079] In order to perfect the seal-tightness of the cavity 24 and therefore to better protect the RFID portion inside, two ultrasonic-welding energy vectors 26, 27 are arranged between the two portions 22, 23 before they are joined together ultrasonic welding. In the case where the joining operation consists in fastening mechanically, it is advantageously possible to envision using O-rings instead of the energy vectors 26, 27.

[0080] In the illustrated example, the shaft 21 and the portions 22, 23 are made of polyamide (PA), and preferably machined polyamide. They may also be made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or of polypropylene (PP).

[0081] As regards the female part 3, it comprises a base 30 of generally frustoconical shape and a cylindrical end fitting 31 that is connected to the small diameter of the base 30.

[0082] Three through-apertures that lie parallel to one another and that each extend along the generatrix of the conical frustum 30 have been produced in the latter.

[0083] Each strip of plastic thus formed constitutes a conical-spring turn segment 32, 33, 34. The fundamental advantage of having a female part consisting of a single conical spring is that the axial height of the part may be small (with a lower weight), this being desirable for a tag to be fastened to an animal ear. When the geometry used comprises three turns 32, 33, 34, the conical spring may be compressed until it has a length close to the thickness of one turn 32, 33, 34.

[0084] In other words, the compression travel of the spring 30, when the turns 32, 33, 34 nest in one another, may be large. Typically, the difference between the height of the spring at rest and the minimum height may be about 6 mm.

[0085] As shown in FIGS. 2A and 6, the end fitting 31, which is hollow internally, comprises retaining lips 35, the function of which is to retain the tip 25 of the shaft 20 when the latter is inserted into the end fitting 31, this therefore allowing the female part 3 to be kept joined to the male part 2, regardless of the compressive stress experienced by the spring 30.

[0086] When dimensioning the female part 3 according to the invention, care is taken to ensure that the height of the spring 30 at rest leaves a free space E of a sufficient height to guarantee that, as soon as the electronic tag 1 has been fastened in place, the base 20, and therefore the RFID portion housed in the cavity 24, presses against the ear (O) of an animal.

[0087] As the animal grows, the spring 3 will get compressed by the turns 32, 33, 34, which begin to nest in one another, and will ensure a contact force is applied against a surface of the ear (O), this guaranteeing application of a force that will press the base 20 against the surface of the ear, opposite the surface making contact with the female part 3.

[0088] In the context of the invention, as the conical spring 30 may compress over a large height, it is guaranteed that a force will press the base 20 against the ear (O) even should the animal's ear (O) to which the electronic tag 1 is fastened experience a very substantial amount of growth.

[0089] By way of example, the minimum space E between the base 20 of the male part 2 and the base 20 of the female part 3, corresponding to a rest state of the conical spring 3, may be about 5 mm (FIG. 2A).

[0090] In contrast, the maximum available space between the base 20 of the male part 2 and the base 20 of the female part 3, corresponding to a state of maximum compression of the conical spring 3, may be about 12 mm.

[0091] To simultaneously fasten the male part 2 to the ear (O) of an animal using the tip 25 of the shaft 21 which pierces said ear, and join the male part 2 and female part 3, a suitable pair of pliers may be used.

[0092] FIGS. 7 to 9 show an electronic tag 1 fastened to an animal ear (O), with the spring 30 in a state of intermediate compression between its rest state and its state of maximum compression. By way of example, in this state of intermediate compression, the electronic tag 1 presses against either side of an ear (O) of thickness E1 of about 10 mm (FIG. 9).

[0093] The inventor has carried out performance trials on a plurality of electronic tags 1 that have just been described and which were attached to a certain number of pigs of different sizes and/or weights.

[0094] Firstly, it was observed that attachment of the tags 1 had not caused any redness or any infection, neither as regards the hole pierced by the tip 21 of the tag, nor as regards any irritations that might occur.

[0095] Furthermore, it was observed that 100% of the tags remained mechanically held, and that 100% of the RFID information transmitted by the tags 1 could be read with a manual reader.

[0096] Other variants and advantages of the invention may be utilized without however departing from the scope of the invention.

[0097] An electronic identification tag as has just been described may equally well be fastened to an ear of a pig, of a sheep, of a bovine or even of a goat or indeed of any other type of domestic animal.

[0098] An electronic identification tag according to the invention remains functional regardless of the growth of the animal that is provided with it. It is thus able to adapt to increases in animal-ear thickness, which is typically from 5 to 12 mm for pigs, and 5 to 10 mm for cattle, sheep and goats.

[0099] The Applicant has carried out trials to highlight the detection efficiency obtained with electronic tags according to the invention.

[0100] These trials consisted in measuring the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) transmitted by tags worn by a group of pigs (A).

[0101] FIGS. 10 and 11 show the environment in which the trials were carried out.

[0102] It is a question of an alley between the walls (M) of which some of the group of pigs (A) are wearing, on one of their ears, electronic identification tags according to the invention, and the rest of the group of pigs are wearing, on one of their ears, an electronic identification tag according to the prior art. It will be noted that this alley was not intentionally, specially fitted out for the trials.

[0103] Thus, metal parts, plastic parts and electrical hardware were all present in the alley. These components may have an impact on the behavior of the RF waves, but the impact was the same for all the identification tags tested.

[0104] More precisely, the identification tag according to the prior art was that sold by the company Luoyang Laipson Information Technology CO., Ltd, under the commercial reference UF202, which is capable of transmitting signals in the 860-960 mHz range.

[0105] A detection antenna 100 configured to detect UHF signals was suspended from the ceiling (P) of the alley.

[0106] More precisely, the detection antenna 100 was located at a height of 80 cm from the ground (S), when it was in a substantially horizontal position. The corridor moreover had a width (L) of about 1.5 m.

[0107] The antenna 100 had a configurable maximum power of 29 dBm.

[0108] The trials therefore consisted in making the pigs, each equipped with at least one electronic identification tag, run through the alley in the direction symbolized by the arrow in FIGS. 10 and 11, so as to allow the animals to be counted then, for each identified tag, the RSSI power level to be recorded for various inclinations, 90°/45°/0°, of the antenna 100 with respect to a vertical axis, as symbolized by the dashed and solid lines in FIG. 11, respectively.

[0109] The results obtained are collated in the table below.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE Inclination of the detection antenna 0° 0° 45° 90° % of tags Prior art 100 100 100 100 detected Invention 80 90 100 100 Average Prior art −68.7 −69.4 −69.6 −63.1 RSSI of the Invention −62.2 −59.7 −58.9 −54.7 tags in dBm

[0110] From this table, it may clearly be seen that: [0111] a configuration in which the detection antenna 100 is at 90° with respect to the ground seems to be the most favorable position because it is in this configuration that the RSSI is highest for a tag according to the invention; [0112] the average RSSI is higher for the tags according to the invention than for the tags according to the prior art. This tendency is also observed for animals wearing both an identification tag according to the prior art and an identification tag according to the invention.

[0113] Measurements were also carried out on pigs wearing an identification tag according to the invention, but with the flat base 20 intentionally detached from the ear of the animal. It was observed that, in a configuration in which the detection antenna 100 was vertical, these tags “detached” from the ear could not be detected by the antenna 100. Although in the examples illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9, the UHF identification portion was pressed into place by a spring that formed an integral portion of the female portion 3 of the identification tag according to the invention, it is quite possible to envision a spring with the pressing function being incorporated into or securely fastened to the male portion 2. Thus, for example, it is possible to employ: [0114] a spring 4 of generally flared shape, said spring being securely fastened to the base 20 of the male portion and being arranged around the shaft 21 (FIG. 12); [0115] a spring 5 of generally toroidal shape, said spring being securely fastened to the shaft 21 and being arranged therearound (FIG. 13); [0116] a helical spring 6, said spring being securely fastened to the base 20 of the male portion and being arranged around the shaft 21 (FIG. 14).

[0117] The invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described; features of the illustrated examples may in particular be combined with one another in unillustrated variants.

[0118] Other variants and improvements may be envisioned without however departing from the scope of the invention.