METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING FLUID DROPLETS ONTO AN OPEN AND STATIONARY TRAY

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for delivering droplets of fluids onto an open tray containing poultry, the tray being stationary. According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps: (a) a movable arm is moved over the tray in translation in a first direction, said arm supporting a first set of dispensing nozzles and a second set of dispensing nozzles, said nozzles of each set being arranged to cover the entire dimension of the tray in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; (b) initially, droplets of at least one first fluid are dispensed by spraying using the first set of dispensing nozzles; (c) and then at least one second fluid, distinct from said at least one first fluid to be sprayed, is dispensed by ejecting individual drops by means of the second set of dispensing nozzles.

Claims

1. A method for delivering droplets of fluid onto an open tray (15) containing birds, this tray (15) being fixed, characterized in that: a) a movable arm (16) is moved above this tray (15), in translation in a first direction, this arm carrying a first set of dispensing nozzles (18) and a second set of dispensing nozzles (19), said nozzles of each set being arranged to cover the entirety of the dimension of the tray (15) in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, b) first of all, droplets of at least one first fluid are dispensed by spraying by means of the first set of dispensing nozzles (18), said at least one first fluid being a non-therapeutic fluid such as a nutrient composition, c) then at least one second fluid is dispensed, distinct from said at least one fluid to be sprayed, by the ejection of individual drops by means of the second set of dispensing nozzles (19), said at least one second fluid being a non-therapeutic fluid such as a nutrient composition.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that steps b) and c) are accomplished in a single passage of the movable arm (16) above said tray (15), these sets of nozzles being arranged on said arm so as to generate a temporal offset between steps b) and c).

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the temporal offset between steps b) and c) is determined to guarantee the effective treatment of the birds by said at least one second fluid.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that step b) is accomplished when said arm moves from a first edge to a second edge of this tray (15), this second edge being opposite to the first edge, on an approach path extending along the first direction and step c) is accomplished when said arm moves from the second edge toward the first edge over a return path along the first direction.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that before step a) said movable arm is progressively accelerated until it reaches a constant or substantially constant movement speed vdepl and after passage of said arm above said tray said movable arm is progressively decelerated to avoid fluid losses.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said first fluid is a liquid to be sprayed and said second fluid is a gel such as a soft gel, or a fluid having a viscosity comprised between 50 and 200 cps at 20° C.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that in each of steps b) and c) a plurality of droplets is formed having a uniform or substantially uniform size.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that in step b) a fog of droplets is formed, at least 80% of these droplets having a size comprised between 145 microns and 230 microns.

9. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that in step c) a plurality of droplets is formed, at least 80% of these droplets having a size comprised between 900 microns and 1500 microns.

10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the flow rate of said nozzles and the movement speed of the movable arm (16) are checked to ensure a uniform or substantially uniform distribution of said droplets on the tray (15).

11. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two distinct first fluids are dispensed by spraying and/or at least two distinct second fluids by ejection of individual drops.

12. An apparatus for distributing droplets of fluids for the implementation of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it comprises: a working area intended to receive and support a tray (15), this tray (15) being received in a fixed manner, a single arm (16), movable in translation to move above this working area along a first direction, this arm (16) carrying a set of spray dispensing nozzles (18) and a set of tips (19), the dispensing nozzles and the tips being arranged so that the entirety of the dimension of the tray (15) in a second direction perpendicular to the first dimension is covered by this set of spray dispensing nozzles (18) and this set of tips (19), and in that this apparatus is configured to ensure a temporal offset between the distribution of at least one first fluid by means of said set of spray dispensing nozzles (18) and at least one second fluid by means of said set of tips (19).

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that it includes means for checking the movement speed of said movable arm (16).

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the set of dispensing nozzles (18) and the set of tips (19) are spaced from one another on said movable arm (16) in the first direction.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that this working area includes areas for staging the movable arm (16) extending on either side of a reception area of the tray (15), which is preferably adjustable to adapt to different trays (15).

16. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that said set of dispensing nozzles (18) comprises at least two subassemblies of nozzles each for spraying a distinct fluid and/or said set of tips (19) comprises at least two subassemblies of tips each for ejecting a distinct fluid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] Other advantages, aims and particular features of the present invention will be revealed by the description that follows, given for the purpose of explanation and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0054] FIG. 1 is a front view of an apparatus for mass treatment of chicks according to a particular embodiment of the present invention;

[0055] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0056] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0057] FIG. 4 is a perspective view and a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, a basket containing chicks being placed in its working area and awaiting treatment;

[0058] FIG. 5 is a transverse section view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, a basket containing chicks being placed in its working area and awaiting treatment; Description of one embodiment

[0059] The drawings and the description hereafter contain essentially elements of a certain character. They can therefore not only serve to allow better understanding of the present invention, but also contribute to its definition if necessary.

[0060] First of all, it is noted that the figures are not to scale.

[0061] FIGS. 1 to 5 illustrate schematically an apparatus for the mass treatment of chicks according to one particular embodiment of the present invention.

[0062] This apparatus comprises a frame 10 provided with legs 11 including, at their free end, rollers 12 to provide movement of the latter. The apparatus can include from 2 to 4 rollers 12. Each of these rollers 12 can include a blocking member (not shown) to fix the apparatus in position.

[0063] This frame 10 includes, in its upper portion, a closed space delimited by walls 13 at least partially transparent to visualize the interior of this space. One of these walls 13 includes a movable flap 14 in vertical translation to allow access to this closed space, particularly for the introduction and the withdrawal of a basket 15 loaded with chicks, also for the cleaning and the maintenance of the apparatus. In addition to this physical barrier consisting of the movable flap 14, and if it is desired that the apparatus be able to remain open, this apparatus can include one or more protection elements (not shown) to detect the presence of an object intruding into the treatment area such as the hand or the arm of an operator. This or these protection elements are able to send detection signals to a central processing unit, which can stop a treatment in progress or even stop the triggering of treatment. By way of an example, this or these protection elements are infrared detectors. Of course, it is still possible that the frame 10 is bereft of a movable flap 14 of this type or even of protection elements of this type.

[0064] The interior of this closed space comprises a working area intended to receive and support an open basket 15, this basket 15 then being in a fixed position.

[0065] A movable arm 16 mounted on a longitudinal rail 17, defining a first direction, can move in translation along this rail 17 above the working area. The longitudinal rail 17 is integral with the upper end, or hood, of the frame 10.

[0066] This movable arm 16 carries a set of nozzles 18 and a set of dispensing tips 19, these nozzles and these tips being arranged on the movable arm 16 so that the entirety of the dimension of the basket 15, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction defined by the longitudinal rail 17, is integrally covered by the set of nozzles 18 and by the set of dispensing tips 19.

[0067] These nozzles and tips can be individually movable along the movable arm 16 to allow an adjustment of the coverage of different baskets.

[0068] Of course, this apparatus can include position sensors (not shown) to determine the exact positioning of the basket in the working area. It is then possible to automate the dispensing sequences of the fluids by automatic recognition of the type of basket 15 placed in the dispensing apparatus.

[0069] The set of nozzles 18 comprises spray dispensing nozzles while the other set includes dispensing tips 19, each of these tips comprising an orifice, each tip being configured to eject an individual drop of fluid through its orifice for a given fluid pressure.

[0070] While still being advantageously compact, this apparatus allows delivering in a short time interval, or quasi-simultaneously, two distinct fluids such as a spray and a gel for mass treating birds placed in an open basket 15.

[0071] This apparatus thus includes two reservoirs 20 which are placed in a support 21 at the height of the user, these reservoirs 20 being advantageously transparent for verifying the available fluid level in each of them.

[0072] Each fluid feeding circuit connecting a reservoir 20 to its set of nozzles and corresponding dispensing tips comprises a pumping unit (not shown), the pumping unit of the two feeding circuits possibly having different pumping powers depending on the fluid to be pumped in each of these feeding circuits.

[0073] The flow rates for feeding the nozzles and the tips as well as the speed of movement of the movable arm 16 are checked to guarantee a uniform and homogeneous distribution of the fluids dispensed on the open basket 15.

[0074] The set of nozzles 18 and the set of dispensing tips 19 are also arranged on the movable arm 16 to ensure a temporal offset between the distribution of the first fluid (evaporable fluid) and of the second fluid (gel).

[0075] The extended movable arm 16 comprising two lateral edges defining a front face and a rear face, considered in the translation movement direction of this arm in the first direction, the set of nozzles 18 is mounted on the front face of this movable arm 16 while the set of dispensing tips 19 is mounted on the rear face of this movable arm 16, thus being spaced from the set of nozzles 18 in the first direction.

[0076] It is thus ensured that the distribution by spraying, or even by fragmentation of the droplets of the first fluid for the first set of nozzles 18, always precedes the distribution of the drops of the second fluid by the set of dispensing tips 19. There thus exists no risk that the fog of droplets formed by spraying of the first fluid can prevent the adhesion of the drops of the second fluid on the feathers of the chicks, which could lead to a non-homogeneous treatment of the latter.

[0077] Preferably, the working area of the apparatus includes staging areas of the movable arm 16 extending on either side along the first direction of a reception area of the basket to allow a progressive acceleration and deceleration of the movable arm before and after passage of the movable arm above the basket 15.

[0078] Advantageously, it is desired in fact to seek not only to maintain a constant movement speed of the movable arm 16 above the basket 15, but also to avoid jerks in the movement of the arm which would likely cause fluid losses.

[0079] For this purpose, the apparatus includes means for checking the movement speed of the movable arm 16.

[0080] According to one embodiment of the present apparatus, the minimum distance d spatially separating the set of nozzles 18 from the set of dispensing tips 19, in the first direction, is comprised between 5 and 9 cm. The movement speed of the arm is comprised between 35 and 80 cm/second, preferably 55 cm/second.