Patent ID: 6231435
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: A22B

Abstract:
A method for tracking the carcass of a slaughtered animal through a processing plant comprising the steps of:identifying a trolley with a hole pattern vision recognition system and an integrated data logger, such that the trolley provides a unique trolley code, and that code identifies a particular trolley;identifying a carcass of a slaughtered animal with an electronic identification transponder, such that the electronic identification transponder provides a unique animal code when queried by an electronic identification transponder reader unit, and that unique animal code identifies a particular animal;removing the electronic identification transponder from the carcass of said slaughtered animal;dropping said electronic identification transponder into a reclamation barrel, the inside perimeter opening of said reclamation barrel having a plastic funnel including a electronic identification transponder reader antenna and an electronic identification transponder reader embedded and formed in a circular loop within said funnel;reading the electronic identification transponder using the embedded electronic identification transponder reader antenna and the electronic identification transponder reader;uploading the unique animal code from the animal electronic identification transponder reader to the integrated data logger;storing the unique trolley code and the unique animal code as a pair.