AID MEANS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF AN INFORMATION CARRIER FROM A PIGEON IN A REGISTRATION CLOCK AND SMALL RECIPIENT USED THEREBY

Abstract: Aid means for the introduction of an information carrier from a pigeon, in particular a pigeon ring (2), in a registration clock (1), characterized in that it contains a body (13) which can cooperate with a registration clock (1) and which is provided with a passage (14) for the information carrier which opens in a throw-in part (26) on the one hand and in an outlet opening (24) on the other hand, displacement means (16) to move the information carrier provided in this passage (14) through at least a part of the passage (14) and control means (17) to change the position of the control element (10) of a registration clock (1) carrying out the registration, which control means (17) are synchronized such with the displacement means (16) that the operation of the control element (10) takes place after the information carrier has been pushed out.

Description: Aid means for the introduction of an information carrier from a pigeon in a registration clock and small recipient used thereby. The present invention concerns an aid means for the introduction of an information carrier from a pigeon, in particular a pigeon ring, in a registration clock. When putting the pigeons taking part in a race in their baskets, they are provided with a data carrier, for example a ring which is usually made of rubber and onto which certain data are provided such as for example data regarding the pigeon, its owner, the flight and the organizer of the pigeon race. When the pigeon returns, this data carrier is removed from the animal and placed in a small recipient which is then put in a compartment of the registration clock, also called the verification clock. Such a registration clock usually contains a rotatable drum with compartments which can be placed one after the other in front of an insertion opening, a clock mechanism with time registration. This registration clock is provided with a button or lever with which the drum can be rotated one compartment further and whereby the time of the clock is simultaneously registered. The flight results can then be calculated by comparing the registered times, taking into account the coordinates of the dovecotes of the different pigeons. The insertion of the data carrier in the recipient and the subsequent insertion of this recipient in the registration clock, as well as the manipulation of the push button or lever to register the time is carried out entirely manually in most cases. Precious seconds can hereby be lost, especially as the pigeon fancier is nervous due to the thrill of the race. If several pigeons all come in practically at once, the rings of these pigeons have to be inserted one after the other in the registration clock. The waiting time for a second or following pigeon before its hour of arrival can be registered may increase due to the time required for the registration of a preceding pigeon. A known aid to diminish the time required for the insertion of a ring in the registration clock consists of a guide slot for the pot and the lid of the above- mentioned recipient. However, this aid only simplifies the insertion of the ring in the recipient and only offers a limited gain of time. Moreover, the ring may get stuck between the pot and the lid, which prevents the recipient from being closed. In some countries, the data carriers, for example the rings, are not put in recipients but directly in the registration clock, but in this case also two operations are required, namely the insertion in the registration clock and the manipulation of the button or lever for the registration. Both these operations may require relatively much time. The present invention aims an aid with which the above- mentioned and other disadvantages can be remedied and with which the introduction of the information carrier in a registration clock and the actual registration can be carried out easier and especially faster than without this aid. This aim is reached according to the invention in that this aid contains a body which can cooperate with a registration clock and which is provided with a passage for the information carrier which opens in a throw- in part on the one hand and in an outlet opening on the other hand, displacement means to move the information carrier provided in this passage through at least a part of the passage and control means to change the position of the control element of a registration clock carrying out the registration, which control means are synchronized such with the displacement means that the operation of the control element takes place after the information carrier has been pushed out. The aid preferably contains a frame onto which the body is fixed forming a space for positioning the registration clock, whereby the passage opens into this space, in particular opposite the insertion opening of a registration clock when such a clock is positioned in said space. The aid may contain a means to connect this registration clock to the frame. The displacement means preferably contain a push element which can be moved over a part of the passage, for example a pin. The control means may also contain a push element which is mounted such that it can be moved in relation to the frame, for example a pin. These push elements can be moved either manually or mechanically, for example by means of an electric motor, by an electromagnet, hydraulically or pneumatically. The invention is particularly advantageous when the data carriers are not put directly in the registration clock but, as is the case in many countries, when they are first put in a recipient consisting of a pot and a lid. In such cases, the aid also contains stop means to temporarily check a pot of a recipient in the passage, as well as supply means to bring a lid in the passage and place it on the pot, whereas at least the part of the passage between the above-mentioned stop means and the outlet forms a passage for the recipient. The stop means only have to stop the pot temporarily, namely until the data carrier has been put in the pot and the lid has been placed on this pot. Also, it must be possible to disconnect these stop means, or they must preferably be carried out such that the displacement means can move the recipient past these stop means . Said stop means may be formed of an elastic constriction of the passage, for example an elastic ring. Preferably, at least the part of the passage between the stop means and the outlet opening is practically vertical, so that the recipient, once it has gone past the stop means, can drop in the passage due to the gravitational force. The supply means for a lid may have a duct opening in the passage between the throw- in part and the above-mentioned stop means and, in this duct, moveable displacement means for the lid, whereby stop means are also provided in this duct to temporarily check a lid. These latter stop means may be similar to the above-mentioned stop means for a pot. The duct can be situated in the extension of the part of the passage situated between the stop means and the outlet, and the displacement means for the lid may coincide with the displacement means for the pot . The aid may contain a cartridge for pots and a cartridge for lids. The securing means may then be provided at the far end of a cartridge, which end sticks in a recess in the body and is provided with an opening which is part of the passage, of the duct respectively. The invention also concerns a recipient which is designed for the aid according to any of the last-mentioned embodiments . In order to better explain the characteristics of the invention, the following preferred embodiments of an aid for the insertion of a data carrier of a pigeon in a registration clock and of a recipient therefore are described as an example only without being limitative in any way, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: figure 1 shows a view in perspective of an aid according to the invention; figure 2 shows a view in perspective according to the arrow F2 in figure 1; figure 3 shows a section according to line III-III in figure 2; figure 4 shows the part indicated by F4 in figure 3 in detail; figure 5 shows a section according to line V-V in figure 2, but with reference to another position of the aid and drawn to a larger scale; figure 6 shows a view analogous to that in figure 1, but with reference to another embodiment of the invention. The aid which is represented in figures 1 to 5 forms an independent appliance which must be connected to a registration clock 1 or verification clock of the type whereby the data carriers, namely pigeon rings 2, first have to be put in a recipient 3 consisting of a round pot 4 and a round lid 5 before this recipient 3 is inserted in the registration clock 1. The design and operation of such a registration clock 1 are known and are only described here where necessary for the comprehension of the invention. Said registration clock 1 contains a housing 6 provided with an insertion opening 7 at the top which opens in a compartment 8 of a rotatable drum 9 whose perimeter is provided with a series of such compartments 8. By means of a push-in, springy control button 10 or lever, this drum 9 is rotated over one compartment 8, while the time indicated by the clock is registered for example electronically. The aid or appliance mainly consists of a frame 11 forming a space 12 at the bottom for the above-mentioned registration clock 1; a body 13 which is fixed to this frame 11 and which is provided with a passage 14 equipped with stop means 15 to temporarily stop a pot 4 and thus a recipient 3 ; displacement means formed by a push element 16 to push a recipient 3 past these stop means 15; supply means to provide a lid 5 on a retained pot 4 in the passage 14 and control means formed of a second push element 17 to operate the control button 10. The frame 11 contains a foot 18, two vertical legs 19 and an upper wall 20 between these legs 19. The space 12 is formed above the foot 18 between the legs 19, the distance of which coincides with the width of the housing 6 of the registration clock 1. A rib standing on this housing 6 on the one side edge and the hinge on the other side edge form stops 21 which make contact with the legs 19 when the registration clock 1 is pushed in the space 12. A screw 22 with knob-shaped grip which is screwed through one of the legs 19 and which can be pressed against the housing 6 forms a locking means which can be activated and deactivated quickly to lock the registration clock 1 in the space 12. The body 13 is fixed to one of the legs 19. The passage 14 consists of a vertical lower part 23 which opens at the bottom in an outlet opening 24 and which is round, except right above the stop means 15, having a diameter which is somewhat larger than the diameter of a recipient 3, and of a top part 25 which is directed down as of the front side shown in figure 1 in an inclined manner and which has a rectangular section which is significantly larger than the largest section of a pigeon ring 2. This top part 25 is connected with its free end to the throw- in part 26 formed of a groove which is open at the top in the embodiment represented and which is fixed to the front side of the body 13 and inclines in the same direction as the part 25. This groove may possibly widen or it may be funnel-shaped towards the front . The above-mentioned stop means 15 consist of an elastic constriction of the lower part 23 of the passage 14. This constriction is caused by a rubber ring 27. The inner diameter of this ring 27 is somewhat smaller, for example 0.5 mm, than the largest outer diameter of a pot 4 , such that a pot 4 falling in the passage 14 will be stopped by this ring 27, but when a sufficiently large force is exerted, it can nevertheless be pushed through this elastically deforming ring 27. This rubber ring 27 has in fact been worked into the end of a cartridge 28 or loader for pots 4. This cartridge 28 consists of a longitudinal box with a lid which has been secured in a recess 29 in the body 13 with one end, for example by means of a little ball 30 mounted in a springy manner in the bottom of the recess 29 which fits in an excavation 31 in the bottom of the cartridge 28. The above-mentioned end is provided with an opening which, when said cartridge 28 is provided in the body 13, is part of the passage 14. In fact, this opening consists of a round opening 32 in the bottom and a round opening 33 in the lid, whose diameters are equal to the diameter of the rest of the lower part 23. The pots 4 are pushed towards the above-mentioned end in the cartridge 28 by a sliding wall 34 on the inside and a spring 35 between this wall 34 and the other end of the cartridge 28. The lower part 23 of the passage 14 is extended towards the top and past the connection of the top part 25 by a round duct 36 having the same diameter and thus also being vertically directed and which is part of the supply means for supplying a lid 5. Also in this duct 36 are provided stop means for a lid 5 which consist of an elastic constriction formed by a rubber ring 37. The largest outer diameter of the lid 5 is, as represented in detail in figure 4, somewhat larger, for example 0.5 mm, than the inner diameter of the ring 37, such that a lid 5 falling in the duct 36 is stopped by the ring 37, but can be pushed through it thanks to the deformation of the ring 37 when a sufficiently large force is exerted. This ring 37 is provided in the same manner as the ring 27 in a far end of a cartridge 38 which has been secured in a recess 39 in the body 13. Since the largest outer diameter of a pot 4 and the largest outer diameter of a lid 5 which is clasped on the pot 4 are practically equal, also the rings 27 and 37 are equal, and the cartridge 38 is identical to the cartridge 28 except for the height. The push element 16 can be moved in the duct 36 and in the lower part 23 of the passage 14. This push element 16 has the shape of a round rod or pen with a narrowing end 40 at the bottom. The diameter of the push element 16 is equal to the inner diameter of the rubber rings 27 and 37. The narrowed end fits in an opening 41 in a lid 5, which opening 41 is surrounded by a tubular edge 42 protruding outside the lower edge of the lid 5. The top end of the push element 16 is, between the top wall 20 and a grip 43 on the top end, surrounded by a spring 44 which pushes this push element 16 into its top position. The second push element 17 is parallel to the push element 16 and is guided by the top wall 20 and in the body 13, such that its lower end, which is covered with a rubber buffer 45, is situated opposite the control button 10 of a registration clock 1 placed in the space Its top end is fixed to the above-mentioned grip 43, so that the push elements 16 and 17 are mechanically connected to one another . Between the top wall 20 and this grip 43, also the push element 17 is surrounded by a spring 44. Moreover, the top part of the push element 17 is provided with a groove 46 in its longitudinal direction in which sticks the end of a pin 47 provided in the top wall 20 and forming a stop which limits the movement of the push element 17 and consequently also that of the push element 16 connected to it in both directions. The push element 17 is somewhat longer than the push element 16 connected to it by means of the grip 43, such that, when the two push elements 16 and 17 are pushed in their bottom position, against the action of the springs 44, the lower end of the push element 16 is situated almost on the lower end of the passage 14 , whereas the lower end of the push element 17 has entirely pressed in the control button 10 of the registration clock 1. In its top position, the lower end of the push element 16 is situated above the ring 37 and a lid 5 which has possibly been stopped by it. The working of the above-described aid or appliance is simple and as follows. The pigeon fancier positions his registration clock 1 in the space 12, such that the stops 21 connect to the legs 19, and he locks it by screwing in the screw 22. The cartridges 28 and 38 are filled with pots 4, lids 5 respectively, such that one pot 4 is situated on the ring 27 and one lid 5 is situated on the ring 37, and these cartridges 28 and 38 are secured in the recesses 29 and 30 of the body 13. When a pigeon to be registered comes in, the pigeon fancier removes the pigeon ring 2 and throws it in the throw- in part 26, after which he immediately grasps the grip 43 and pushes both the push elements 16 and 17 simultaneously in as far as possible. The springs 44 are hereby pressed together. The distance is determined by the length of the groove 46. Due to the gravitational force, the pigeon ring 2 immediately falls in the pot 4, which is stopped on the ring 27. Due to its downward movement, the push element 16 first penetrates in the opening 41 of the lid 5 resting on the ring 37 in the duct 36, so that this lid 5 is centred on the push element 16, and subsequently pushes this lid 5 past the ring 37 until the lid 5 is clasped on the pot 4 which is stopped on the ring 27 in the passage 14. Thanks to the tubular edge 42, the pigeon ring 2, which is usually made of rubber, is first pushed entirely in the pot 4 insofar as this had not been done yet, thus avoiding that this pigeon ring 2 gets stuck between the lid 4 and the edges of the pot 4, which would prevent the recipient 3 from being closed entirely. Thanks to the further continuous downward movement of the push element 16, the entirely closed recipient 3 is subsequently pushed through the ring 27, after which this recipient 3 will further fall through the passage 14 and via the outlet opening 24 in the compartment 8 of the drum 9 beneath it due to the gravitational force. Should this recipient get stuck somewhere, it will nevertheless be pushed further by the push element 16. By the time this push element 16 reaches the outlet opening 24, the push element 17 has made contact with the control button 10 of the registration clock 1 and has pushed in this control button 10, such that, immediately after the recipient 3 has been pushed out of the passage 14 and inside the compartment 8, the control button 10 is pushed in thus far that it will order the time registration and the rotation of the drum 9 with one compartment 8. The push elements 16 and 17 are represented in this position in figure 5. In order to make sure that the recipient 3 will not hinder the rotation of the drum 9 and would correctly end up in the conical compartment 8 directed towards the axis of rotation of the drum 9, the pot 4 is bevelled on two opposite bottom edges. A following pigeon ring 2 is inserted in the registration clock 1 in the same manner. When the push element 16 goes back into its top position, a new pot 4 is first pushed in the passage 14, and subsequently a new lid 5 is pushed in the duct 36. When the cartridges 28 and 38 are empty, the pigeon fancier can remove these cartridges 28 and 38 and replace them by similar, filled cartridges. According to another embodiment of the invention which is represented in figure 6, the push elements 16 and 17 cannot be operated manually, but they are controlled automatically by an electric motor 48. This electric motor 48 is connected to the push element 16 by means of a transmission containing a gear wheel 49 in the example shown which is driven by the motor 48 and a toothed part 50 on the push element 16. The springs 44 have been omitted. The motor 48 may be connected to a sensor 51, for example a photocell, erected in or above the throw-in part 26 or at the beginning of the part 25 of the passage 14, which can detect a pigeon ring 2 passing by. As soon as a pigeon ring 2 is inserted, it is detected by the sensor 51, and the motor 48 is activated which will then move the two push elements 16 and 17 in the same manner as described above for the manual operation. The electric motor 48 can be replaced by one or two electromagnets whose core is connected to the push elements 16 and 17 or forms one of these push elements 16 and 17. One or both push elements can also be moved hydraulically or pneumatically. According to an embodiment, the displacement means may be directly pneumatic and the push element 16 may even be omitted. The lid 5 and the pot 4 can in this case be pressed past the stop means by means of compressed air. The cartridges 28 and 38 must not necessarily be longitudinal boxes. They may also be drum-shaped. The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments described above and represented in the accompanying drawings; on the contrary, such an aid can be made in all sorts of variants while still remaining within the scope of the invention.

Claims: Claims . 1. Aid means for the introduction of an information carrier from a pigeon, in particular a pigeon ring (2) , in a registration clock (1) , characterized in that it contains a body (13) which can cooperate with a registration clock (1) and which is provided with a passage (14) for the information carrier which opens in a throw-in part (26) on the one hand and in an outlet opening (24) on the other hand, displacement means (16) to move the information carrier provided in this passage (14) through at least a part of the passage (14) and control means (17) to change the position of the control element (10) of a registration clock (1) carrying out the registration, which control means (17) are synchronized such with the displacement means (16) that the operation of the control element (10) takes place after the information carrier has been pushed out. 2. Aid according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains a frame (11) onto which the body (13) is fixed forming a space (12) for positioning a registration clock (1) , whereby the passage (14) opens into this space (12) , in particular opposite the insertion opening (7) of a registration clock (1) when such a registration clock (1) is positioned in said space (12) . 3. Aid according to claim 2, characterized in that it contains a means (22) to connect this registration clock (1) to the frame (11) . 4. Aid according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the displacement means contain a push element (16) which can be moved over a part of the passage (14) . 5. Aid according to claim 4, characterized in that the control means also contain a push element (17) which is mounted such that it can be moved in relation to the frame (11) . 6. Aid according to claim 4 or 5 , characterized in that one or both push elements (16, 17) can be moved by means of an electric motor (48) or by another electric means such as an electromagnet, or in that they can be moved hydraulically or pneumatically. 7. Aid according to any of claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the two push elements (16, 17) are mechanically connected to one another. 8. Aid according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it contains stop means (27) to temporarily check a pot (4) of a recipient (3) in the passage (14) , as well as supply means to bring a lid (5) in the passage (14) and place it on the pot (4) , whereas at least the part of the passage (14) between the above- mentioned stop means (27) and the outlet opening (24) lets the recipient (3) through. 9. Aid according to claim 8, characterized in that these stop means (27) are such that the displacement means (16) can move the recipient (3) past these stop means (27) . 10. Aid according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the stop means (27) are formed of an elastic constriction of the passage (14) . 11. Aid according to claim 10, characterized in that the elastic constriction is formed of an elastic ring (27) . 12. Aid according to any of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that at least the part of the passage (14) situated between the stop means (27) and the outlet opening (24) is practically vertical, so that the recipient (3) , once it has gone past the stop means (27) , can drop in the passage (14) due to the gravitational force. 13. Aid according to any of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the supply means for a lid (5) contain a duct (36) opening in the passage (14) between the throw-in part (26) and the above-mentioned stop means (27) and, in this duct, moveable displacement means for the lid (5) , whereby stop means (37) are also provided in this duct (36) to temporarily check a lid (5) . 14. Aid according to claim 13, characterized in that these latter stop means (37) are similar to the above- mentioned stop means (27) for a pot (4) . 15. Aid according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the duct (36) is situated in the extension of the part of the passage (14) situated between the stop means (27) and the outlet opening (24) , and in that the displacement means (16) for the lid (5) coincide with the displacement means for the pot (4) . 16. Aid according to any of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that it contains a cartridge (28) for pots (4) and a cartridge (38) for lids (5) . 17. Aid according to claim 16, characterized in that the securing means (27, 37) are provided at the far end of a cartridge (28, 38) , which end sticks in a recess (29, 39) in the body (13) and is provided with an opening which is part of the passage (14) , of the duct (36) respectively. 18. Recipient for the aid according to any of the preceding claims. 19. Recipient according to claim 18, characterized in that it consists of a pot (4) and a lid (5) and in that the (lid 5) is provided with an edge (42) on the inside protruding outside the side edge of the lid (5) . 20. Recipient according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the pot (4) is bevelled on two opposite bottom sides .

Inventors: DE CROOCK PATRICK, DE CROOCK, PATRICK
Applicants: CROOCK PATRICK DE, DE CROOCK, PATRICK
Application year: 1998
Main classification: G07C1
IPC codes: G07C1