Abstract:
An animal ear tag applicator has first and second jaws moveable radially towards each other by a pair of pivotally connected handles. The jaws are biased to an open position and the first jaw with its male tag engaging pin is forced to move to an open position independently of the handles once the male ear tag has fully engaged with the animal&#39;s ear. The pin is angled forwardly so that with the radial movement of the first jaw the pin is at substantially 90° as the animal&#39;s ear is engaged and the pin is able to move beyond the 90° position before the first jaw opens. In one embodiment, the pin is pivoted on the first jaw to reduce the likelihood of the male and female tags jamming in the applicator.

Description:
This application is filed under 35 U.S.C. §371 as a national stage application of PCT/NZ97/00155, “Ear Tag Applicator”, filed Nov. 13, 1997, now pending. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an ear tag applicator for the application of ear tags to animals such as cattle and the like for identification. 
     A number of ear tag applicators are already well-known in the art and disclosed in various patent specifications. When considering those that relate to applicators for the placement of two-piece ear tags, a variety of methods have been sought for releasing the ear tag once applied. The simplest versions are plier type applicators in which the handles are biased away from each other so that the jaws pivot to an open position as the handles similarly pivot away from each other to release the ear tag. If the animal should move while this is taking place, damage can be caused to the animal&#39;s ear. With the handles requiring manual closing, the biasing means cannot open the jaws of the applicator until the user releases pressure on the handles and this creates some delay. 
     To overcome this problem, various applicators for two-piece ear tags have provided pins engaging the male portion of the tag which can release from the male tag. Such mechanisms are not always reliable and there is a tendency for the pin to become locked into engagement with the male tag once it has engaged with the female tag when the animal pulls away jamming the jaws of the applicator. 
     The present invention will be particularly described with respect to two piece ear tags which will be referred to as comprising a male and a female tag for simplicity, although these together form part of a single tag. However, it is to be appreciated that the present invention could be readily used with a single piece ear tag where the animal&#39;s ear provides the resistance to the tag pulling out. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an animal ear tag applicator which will overcome some of the disadvantages of the prior art or at least provide the public with a useful choice. 
     STATEMENTS OF INVENTION 
     Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in an animal ear tag applicator comprising: 
     a first jaw portion to engage a portion of an animal ear tag; 
     a second jaw portion; 
     first and second handle portions to move said first and second jaw portions such that movement of said first handle portion with respect to said second handle portion drives the first and second jaw portions towards each other to engage said portion of said ear tag with an animal&#39;s ear; 
     biasing means to bias said jaw portions to an open position; and 
     wherein said first jaw portions can move under the action of the biasing means to an open position independently of said handle portions but only after the portion of the ear tag has fully engaged with the animal&#39;s ear. 
     Preferably said first jaw portion is provided with an elongate engagement means to engage within a cavity of said portion of said ear tag. 
     Preferably said elongate engagement means is adapted to move outwardly from said first jaw portion in response to a force transverse to said elongate engagement means. 
     Preferably said elongate engagement means is pivotally connected to said first jaw portion or has some flexibility to allow at least partial rotation of said elongate engagement means outwardly from said applicator. 
     Preferably said first jaw portion is disconnected from corresponding motion with said handle portions only after said portion of the ear tag has fully engaged with the animal&#39;s ear such that said first jaw portion may rotate about a common pivot axis to said open position independently of said handle portions. 
     Further aspects of this invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The description will now be provided with reference to the drawings in which: 
     FIG.  1 : shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the applicator; 
     FIG.  2 : shows an exploded view of the parts of the apparatus in FIG. 1; 
     FIG.  3 : shows a cross-sectional elevation through the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2; 
     FIG.  4 : shows perspective view of a further embodiment of an applicator; 
     FIG.  5 : shows a cross-sectional view through the embodiment of FIG. 4; 
     FIGS.  6 A &amp;  6 B: show respectively side and end cross sectional views of the jaw/pin assembly of FIGS. 4 and 5; 
     FIG.  7 : shows an exploded view of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 to  6 ; 
     FIG.  8 : shows the embodiment of FIGS. 4 to  7  with its pin pivoted outwardly; 
     FIG.  9 : shows the embodiment of FIGS. 4 to  8  in its jaw-closed position with an ear tag in place; 
     FIG.  10 : shows the applicator of FIG. 9 before the jaws have closed; and 
     FIG.  11 : shows the applicator of FIGS. 9 and 10 after the pin has released from the tag. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 to  3  of drawings, the applicator  1  is shown with a first jaw  2  and a second jaw  3  which may respectively engage first and second or male and female parts  50 ,  51  of a two piece ear tag or alternatively a single piece tag (not shown). Upon the jaws  2 ,  3 , being moved towards each other, the portions of the ear tag can be engaged on opposed sides of the animal&#39;s ear to retain the tag in the animal&#39;s ear. 
     In this particular embodiment, movement of the first and second jaw portions  2 ,  3  is provided by manipulation of first and second handle portions  4  and  5  respectively. As the handle portions  4  and  5  are drawn towards each other, the jaw portions  2  and  3  are moved towards a closed position in which engagement of the ear tag can take place. In FIG. 1, the jaw portions  2  and  3  are shown in an open position. 
     Although the handle portions and jaw portions are provided as part of a pliers type arrangement, other configurations are possible. Other forms of handles may be provided with differing actions to drive the first and second jaws towards each other. However, the pliers type arrangement with the handles and jaws acting about a common pivot  6  is preferred for simplicity. 
     It can be seen that the first jaw portion  2  may be provided with an elongate engagement means  7  suitably in the form of a pin, which is provided to engage within a cavity of a male tag  50  and drive that tag towards the second jaw  3  and the female tag  51  retained by the retention means  8 . As shown particularly in the cross section in FIG. 3, retention means  8  may be in the form of a pivoting plate  8  and the female tag  51  may be placed in the cavity  9  underneath the plate  8  to be retained in place. If desired, suitable biasing means such as a spring  10  can be provided to place some pressure on the female tag  51  contained in the cavity  9  and retain the tag  51  in place. 
     As shown on FIG. 2, although the handle portions  4  and  5  and jaw portions  2  and  3  are provided with a common axis being the pivot axis  6 , at least one of the jaw portions  2 , is capable of independent movement relative to the handle portions towards the open position. In this particular example, it is the first jaw  2  which is provided as a separate portion to the driving handle portion  5 . 
     Referring to the cross section shown in FIG. 3, it can be seen that the lower jaw  3  is provided integral with the handle portion  4  so that these two provide a static relationship about the pivot axis  6 . The upper or first jaw portion  2  is connected to or is integral with a rotating latch  11  acting about the pivot axis  6 . It can be seen that as the second handle portion  5  is drawn towards the first handle portion  4 , an engagement means  12  pivoted at  14  provided on this second handle portion  5  engages the rotating latch  11  to drive the first jaw  2  towards a closed position. As the handle portion  4  approaches the closed position with the handle portion  5 , it can be seen that releasing means  13  which, in this form, is provided as a downwardly projecting portion from the handle portion  4 , can engage engagement means  12  and rotate the engagement means  12  about its own pivot axis  14  to a position where the engagement means  12  no longer engages rotating latch  11 . The first jaw  2  is then free to rotate about the pivot axis  6  independently of the handle portion  5 . 
     The catch or other engagement means  12  is shown biased by spring  52  into a position engaging with the latch  11 . The interrelationship of the projection  13 , the latch  11 , catch  12  and the movement of the pin  7  with the male tag  50  is such that only after the male tag  50  is fully engaged with the female tag  51  will the jaw  2  be released. 
     Biasing means are provided to bias the first jaw  2  towards the open position. Biasing means may be provided in a number of alternative forms. Generally, the biasing means may be provided as some form of spring and can comprise such configurations as a compression spring  15  between the first and second jaw portions, a tension spring  16  acting between the first jaw  2  and the handle portion  4  or a circular spring (not shown) acting around the pivot axis  6 . The particular form of biasing means can be varied as required. However, a tension spring  16  as shown may be preferred to reduce the complexity of the apparatus around the pivot axis  6  if a spring acting around that pivot  6  were used, and to leave the area between the jaws free as may be more difficult with a compression spring  15  as shown. 
     Another biasing means such as a compression spring  29  may be used to bias the handles  4 ,  5  into an open position as a user releases pressure on the handles. Again, the biasing means  29  may be provided in a variety of forms including a variety of springs. 
     Once the engagement means  12  is disengaged from the rotating latch  11 , the first jaw portion  2  is free to rotate to the open position under the influence of the biasing means. In the configuration as shown, the first jaw portion  2  withdraws until contact is made with the bearing surface  17  on an adjacent end of the first handle portion  4 . This contact between the first jaw  2  and the bearing surface  17  defines the extent of rotation of the first jaw portion  2  towards the open position. However, to reduce shock in the handle portion  4  as a result of the first jaw portion  2  hitting the bearing surface  17 , shock absorbing means  18  may be provided to act between first jaw  2  and the bearing surface  17 . The use of some resilient material in this portion may be sufficient to reduce the shock through the apparatus as the apparatus reaches the open position. 
     In alternative forms, rotation of the rotating latch portion  11  with the first jaw portion  2  can be utilised to stop the first jaw portion  2  hitting the handle portion  4 . In such an embodiment, a second bearing surface on the engagement means  12  may be provided such as a further protrusion  19 . In this instance, when the handles approach the closed position and the engagement portion  12  is rotated from its initial engagement with the rotating latch  11 , the first jaw  2  will rotate until the rotating latch portion  11  bears on the second engaging portion  19 . Alternatively a projection on latch  11  to hit or drive the face of catch  12  may be used. This may be preferred in order to remove contact between the first jaw portion  2  and the handle portion  4  entirely. 
     Also referring to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the elongate engagement means or driving pin  7  may be provided at such a forward facing angle, A°, to the first jaw portion  2  so that, as the jaw portions rotate about the pivot axis  6  towards the closed position, the pin  7  may be substantially perpendicular to the lower jaw  3  when the tip  20  of the pin  7  has travelled almost to the plate  8 . This is so that the pin  7  is approximately perpendicular as the tip  20  of the male tag  50  contacts the animal&#39;s ear. This is the point at which the greatest strength is required in the pin  7  to commence the piercing of the ear. Further rotation to the fully closed position in which the male tag  50  fully engages the female tag  51  held in cavity  9 , rotates the pin  7  past the perpendicular to improve secure engagement of the two portions of the tag. It has been found that with the present geometry, an angle of approximately 18° to 20°, possibly slightly higher or lower, from perpendicular is a suitable angle between the pin  7  and the lower jaw  3  when pin  7  is in the fully closed position. The angle may vary according to the particular arrangement and the orientation about the pivot axis  6 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2, it may be desirable to provide the rotating latch  11  as one or more portions of hardened material such as the two portions shown in FIG. 2 which are themselves provided on the common pivot axis  6 . The use of hardened or hard material for the latch  11  may be beneficial particularly if the majority of the apparatus is made from such materials as plastic materials and these may wear in time. An alternative construction may make many of the components from metals and, particularly such a metal as aluminium to reduce weight. Similarly, the engagement means  12  may be provided from a hard material and in two portions as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     In one embodiment spring or biasing means may be used to both open the handles  4 ,  5  and relocate the catch  12  into a position to again contact latch  11  or these two steps may be performed by separate springs or other biasing means as previously described. 
     Thus it can be seen that the invention provides an applicator for animal ear tags which allows independent movement of at least one of the jaw portions under the influence of the biasing means once the jaws have reached closed position at which the male and female tags are fully engaged and the ear tag is fully inserted. This reduces the need to open the handle portions  4  and  5  to disengage the applicator from the ear tag. Also, there is no need to provide for the engaging portion  7  itself the ability to release the ear tag while the jaws are still in the closed position. 
     A further embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 4 to  11 , the same reference numbers as used previously being retained where appropriate. In this embodiment, the applicator  1 ′, is provided in much the same manner as the previous embodiment with the first jaw  2  being provided as a retractable jaw which is released from its direct rotational connection to the handles  4 ,  5  so that it can rotate to the open position independently of the handles  4 ,  5  under suitable biasing means. 
     In this embodiment however, the elongate pin  7  is mounted on a mounting block  22  which itself is pivotally mounted by a pivotal connection  23  to the first jaw  2 . As can be seen particularly in FIG. 8, this allows the elongate pin  7  to rotate outwardly from the first jaw  2  in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG.  4 . 
     Referring principally to FIGS. 5,  6  and  7 , it can be seen that the mounting block  22  is pivotally mounted so that the longitudinal axis of the elongate pin  7  passes behind the pivot axis  23 . In this manner, the longitudinal force along the elongate pin  7  during the tagging process helps to stabilise the elongate pin  7  in its proper position for insertion rather than encouraging It to rotate outwardly. As force is applied to the elongate pin  7 , it is supported by the pivot axis  23  and the lip  24  of the mounting block  22 . The lip  24  engages against the first jaw  2  so as to prevent counter-rotation of the elongate pin  7  from the position in which it drives the two piece ear tag together. 
     It can be seen that the mounting block  22  is provided with a cammed surface  25  which acts against a resilient member  26  to further stabilise the mounting block  22 . However, upon application of a lateral force to rotate the elongate engagement means  7  outwardly, the surface  25  can move against the resilient member  26  to allow such outward rotation. The member  26  biases the mounting block  22  into the pin insertion position, however, once overcome and the member  26  lies adjacent alternate surfaces of the mounting block  22 , it can bias the mounting block  22  such that the elongate pin  7  is directed outwardly from the first jaw  2  and generally parallel with the overall direction of the first jaw  2 , as shown in FIG.  8 . 
     The manner in which the resilient member  26  acts against the cammed surface  25  of the mounting block  22  allows the mounting block  22  to rotate partially toward the outward direction in the direction of the arrow x and still be biased to its stable position as shown in FIG. 5 should that be all the rotation required to free pin  7  from the male tag  50 . 
     In an alternative embodiment rather than being pivotal the mounting for the pin  7 , or the pin itself, could be at least partially flexible to again permit a forward rotation flowing of the pin  7  facilitating its release from the male tag  50 . 
     In providing a combination of an independently retractable upper jaw  2  and a pivotally or flexibly mounted elongate pin  7 , this preferred embodiment reduces the likelihood of the ear tags  50 ,  51  jamming in the applicator  1 ′; causing damage to an animal&#39;s ear should it try to move away during the tagging process. The two separate modes of release coact together. 
     The retractable upper jaw  2  as described in the first embodiment, may still have a tendency to jam should the animal pull away during the tagging process. With a fixed elongate pin  7 , the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to  3  can have trouble releasing the elongate pin  7  from the male tag  50  as the pin  7  is jammed against the sides of the cavity in the male tag  50  in which it sits. 
     In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 to  11  with the independent retraction of the first jaw  2 , even minimal movement of the elongate pin  7  in the direction of arrow X limits the force that an animal pulling on the ear tag by moving its ear  53 , shown in FIG. 9 in outline, can exert on the pin  7  to jam it in the male tag  50  and inhibit retraction. Full pivotal movement of the pin  7  to a horizontal position may not be necessary to improve the performance; even minimal movement to allow some lateral force to be accommodated may reduce the likelihood of jamming. Although this preferred form refers to pivotal movement of the elongate engagement means  7 , as mentioned previously some form of lateral flexibility or movement may be all that is required to limit the force that the ear tag can apply against the pin  7 . 
     Similarly, when considering the outward rotation of the elongate pin  7  about the pivot  23 , this may occur simultaneously with some retraction of the first jaw  2  which may accommodate the slight increase in depth the pin  7  reaches within the male tag  50  during the start of the rotation. 
     Referring particularly to FIG. 7 the latch  11  of FIGS. 1 to  3  has been replaced by an integral latch  30  provided at the pivoting end of the jaw  2 . The latch  30  fits between the bifurcated end  31  of the handle  5 . The latch  30  includes a recess  39  into which a discrete member  33  of a hard material can be inserted to provide the surface engaged by the tip  38  on the catch  34 . The catch  34  is biased into that engagement by a spring  36  mounted between a projection  37  on handle  5  and a recess  35  in the catch  34 . In the position shown in FIG. 5, the end of the projection  13  has just engaged the surface  40  of the catch  34  to start its pivoting and its release of the latch  30 . At the time of that release the pin  7  will have moved further downwardly from the position shown in FIG. 5 to ensure full engagement of the male tag  50  with the female tag  51 . 
     Referring particularly to FIGS.  6 A,.  6 B it will be seen that the tip  25  can abut the edge  28  of the jaw  2  when the pin  7  has been moved to its fully horizontal position. Also, while the resistance to the movement of the tip  25  passed the tip  27  of the member  26  may rely on the resilience of the member  26  and its pivoting about pivot pin  42 , it is envisaged that a biasing means such as a spring may be used with member  26  which in some embodiments may therefore not itself be resilient. 
     A resilient stop  49  is shown provided for the end of the handle  4  to provide an abutment against the handle  5 . 
     Therefore, it can be seen that in this further embodiment, not only are two modes of release of the ear tag provided but the different modes assist each other to reduce the risk of jamming in either mode. 
     Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to specific components or integers of the invention having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. 
     Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof it is to be understood that modifications or improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.