Patent GB-378106-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in apparatus for automatically registering the number of eggs laid by ahen
IPC: A01K31/16
Filed: 1931-05-11
Abstract: 378,106. Egg-registering appliances. DOULL, G., Bellvue, Castletown, Caithness. May 11, 1931, No. 13923. Addition to 325,877, [Class 5 (i), Farmyard &c. appliances], and 343,554. [Classes 5 (i) and 5 (ii).] In apparatus for automatically registering the number of eggs laid by a hen as described in the Specification of the original patent No. 325,877 and in the Specification of the prior patent of addition No. 343,554, the operation of the registering instrument carried by the hen causes the dropping of a check or the like which is retained in the nest or in a device associated therewith. In order to indicate the particular egg laid by a hen the dropped checks are arranged in a collecting device in the order in which they are dropped and the eggs are arranged in the order in which they are laid. Further, the magnetic registering device disclosed in the prior Specifications is modified in that the reverse rotation of the registering or indicating. wheel is prevented magnetically. A hen enters one of the nests, Fig. 11, through the corresponding entrance passage 1, 2 and after laying passes through the passage and magnet compartment 5 to the exit 6. For pedigree breeding a separate magnet 4 is provided for each nest, whereas for ordinary registering one magnet and one passage 3 may be common to several nests. The nest proper 7, Fig. 13, is carried on a frame 8 pivoted at 9 and is supported by a link 11 from a pin on the exit door 14 which is pivoted at 15 and counterweighted at 16. An arm 17 on the counterweight co-operates with a member 18 connected to a wire entrance door 19 pivoted at 20. On a hen entering the nest, the door 19 is closed and the counterweight raised slightly, the notched portion 26 engaging a pin 27 on a lever 23 pivoted at 24. The egg, when laid, passes through a hole 10 in the nest into a member 25 moving the pin 27 out of engagement with the notch 26: the counterweight then moves upwards until the lever 23 is checked by engagement with a pin 29 on the counterweight which pin ultimately engages the stop 30 on the lever 23. The pin then passes through a recess 31 in the lever allowing the counterweight to rise further and open the door 14, the movement of the lever 23 being finally limited by a stop 32. A weight 33 may be connected to the lever 23 by a lost-motion device 35 so that the hen is imprisoned if the egg is below a predetermined weight. The position of suspension of the weight on the lever may be adjustable. The nest resets itself when the hen steps off the door 14 On the hen entering the nest the arm 17 only moves a short distance along the member 18 so that the hen may if it so desires leave the nest before laying : immediately an egg is laid the arm 17 moves further so that the door 19 cannot be opened by pressure from inside the nest. The eggs are transferred to a collecting channel 36 by means of levers 37, 39: the channel may be partly padded. The magnet 4 is pivoted to the side of the exit passage, a light spring forcing the poles of the magnet away from the wall. The magnet has no horizontal surfaces and may be diamond-shaped in cross section. The front of the nest is hinged at 42. The weighing mechanism may be omitted for pedigree breeding. Checks dropped by a registering device are collected at 48 and pass into a detachable frame 49. A registering device for pedigree breeding, Fig. 7, comprises a container open at its lower end. Cores 54, 55 of soft iron or other magnetic material are connected by side-plates in which is pivoted an armature 57. The core 54 is connected to a plate engaging indentations in the container. Checks 50 introduced through a spring-closed aperture 61 are contained between the core 54 and partition 60. The armature 57 comprises an aperture with which a spring 64 secured to the core 55 engages. A piece of wire or the like 65 connected to the armature passes through apertures 66 in the core 54 and partition 60. On movement of the armature one check falls and the fall of a second is prevented by the member 65 passing through the apertures 66. A pendulum 67 fixed to a cross member pivoted in the frames 56 passes through the aperture 63 and slots in the cores, retaining the armature in position. The open end of the capsule or container may be extended to project beyond the feathers of the hen, a rubber tube may be connected thereto, or a pivoted ruffling device 70 may be provided in the exit passage of the nest to permit the checks to be released freely. For non-pedigree breeding the capsule is sealed at the base and the spring 62 dispensed with. In a modification, Fig. 17, to the core 54 is fixed a tube 105 to contain the checks. A guide tube 107 steers the checks clear of the feathers. A spring 65 fixed to the armature 57 retains the second check in position when the lower one is released by movement of the armature. A cover 109 and a guard 111<1> protect the mechanism. The tube 107 may be of magnetic material. For non-pedigree breeding an armature 82, Fig. 9, is pivoted between cores 80, 81. The indicating wheel 89 is operated by a member 88 pivoted at 87. Reverse rotation is prevented magnetically by forming the core 81 in two parts joined at 91 and forming the wheel 89 of magnetic material. The core 81 is bulged at 92 to permit the movement of the T-shaped operating member 88, the lateral arms 93, 94 of which are disposed on the upper side of the plate 86, the actual operating arm being threaded through the bearing 87 to the lower side of plate 86. A spring 95 secured to the member 86 engages the arm 93 to keep the member 88 in position : a stop limits the movement of the member 88. A member 97 attached to the armature 82 loops around the arm 94 to move the operating member. A pendulum 98 carried by a cross member 99 pivoted in the side-plates passes over the spring 95 and under the member 97 to prevent the wheel jerking backwards. The end of the arm 94 is bent over with one edge in line with the arm 93 and the other edge in front thereof. In a modification, Fig. 19, a plate 86 fixed across the core 81 carries a pin 111 on which is pivoted the T-lever 88, 93, 94. A second lever pivoted on the pin 111 limits the oscillation of the armature. A wire 97 fixed to the armature 82 engages the end 94 of the T-lever, a second spring wire 98 fixed to the bottom of the core 81 engaging the other side of the end 94 : the operating arm 88 passes through an aperture 112 in the core 81 and engages the teeth of the wheel 89. The Provisional Specification also describes a modified form of nest, Fig. 3, wherein the nest proper 7 is carried on a frame 8 pivoted at 9, a member 10 rigidly attached to the frame 8 operating the entrance door 12 by engagement with the member 13 pivoted at 14 and rigidly attached to the door. A counterweight 15 pivoted at 16 bears against a pin 17 on the member 10 and a projection 18 thereon operates the exit door 19. A lever 29 pivoted at 30 rests on a pin 31 projecting from the egg platform 23 and is provided with abutments 32, 33 engaging the base 34 of the exit door 19. A stop 48 prevents transference of the egg to the collecting channel 38 until the hen has left the nest. A pin 35 adjustable as to position on the member 8 by a screw 37 engages a pin 36 on an arm of the egg platform 23 to ensure the operation of the nest in two distinct steps. A lever 43 pivoted at 44 locks the door 12 but may be operated by the hen before the laying of an egg by its standing on the pin 45 to release the door.