Patent Publication Number: US-2012037090-A1

Title: Automatic headgate

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. The Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a livestock headgate for use in a squeeze chute, calving pen, maternity pen, and the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to a livestock headgate which is capable of being self-triggered or remotely triggered. 
     2. The Relevant Technology 
     Headgates are commonly used to assist in the restraint of livestock. Headgates are often used in association with squeeze chutes or other type of pen where an animal may be contained for various purposes such as inspection, branding, tagging, doctoring, weighing, or the like. Typically, headgates include a pair yokes which slide from a fully-open position, which allows the animal passage through the headgate, and a closed position, which engages with an animal&#39;s neck so as to prevent the animal from passing through the headgate. More specifically, by locking around an animal&#39;s neck in order to hold the animal in place, the headgate enables a veterinarian or other animal worker to safely access the animal, while the animal is held in place. 
     One problem with conventional headgates, however, is that they are often unwieldy and difficult to use. For example, many headgates require multiple operators, generally with one operator positioned at the front of the headgate where the tripping mechanism which causes the headgate to open and close is located. One disadvantage of having an operator at the front of the headgate, however, is that the operator is typically visible to the animal, which may cause the animal to stress or hesitate before attempting to pass through the front of the headgate. 
     Another disadvantage conventional headgates is that they are generally manually tripped, meaning that a human operator must manually trigger the mechanism that causes the headgate to close around the animal&#39;s neck. One problem with these configurations is that it is often difficult to accurately trip the mechanism so that the headgate closes at the correct time. For example, if the headgate is tripped too early, the headgate may close before the animal&#39;s head has passed through the headgate, and the animal would not be properly confined. Alternatively, if the headgate is tripped too late, the headgate may close around the animal&#39;s midsection, resulting in harm to the animal or allowing the animal to escape. 
     The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A first aspect of the invention is a headgate including a pair of generally upright frame members with a hollow interior portion and a surface with a plurality of through slots formed therein, a pair of weight members disposed within the hollow interior portion of each of the upright frame members, a pair of stanchions operable to move from an open position to a closed position, a plurality of pivoting linkages connecting each of the weight members to one stanchion of the pair of stanchions via the plurality of through slots formed in the upright member, a release mechanism which simultaneously releases the weight members from a first position such that gravity causes the weight members to move from the first position to a second position located at a lower height than the first position, and a tripping mechanism which automatically detects the presence of an animal and causes the release mechanism to release the weight members. When the weight members are at a first position the pivoting linkages cause pair of stanchions to be in the open position where an opening is formed between the pair of stanchions which is sized and shaped so that the animal may pass there through, and wherein when the weight members are released the pivoting linkages cause the pair of stanchions to move from the open position to the closed position where the opening formed in the headgate between the pair of stanchions is sized and shaped so as to confine the animal about its neck. 
     A second aspect of the invention is a headgate including a frame assembly including a top cross piece, a bottom cross pieces, and a pair of generally upright frame members extending from the bottom cross piece to the top cross piece, the upright frame members having a hollow interior portion and a surface with a plurality of through slots formed therein, a pair of weight members disposed within the hollow interior portion of each of the upright frame members, a pair of stanchions operable to move from an open position to a closed position, a pair of roller guides, each disposed at the top of one of the pair of stanchions and which enable the pair of stanchions to be guided as the roller guides roll along the top cross piece, a plurality of pivoting linkages connecting each of the weight members to one stanchion of the pair of stanchions via the plurality of through slots formed in the upright member, a release mechanism which simultaneously releases the weight members from a first position such that gravity causes the weight members to move from the first position to a second position located at a lower height than the first position, and a tripping mechanism which automatically detects the presence of an animal and causes the release mechanism to release the weight members. When the weight members are at a first position the pivoting linkages cause pair of stanchions to be in the open position where an opening is formed between the pair of stanchions which is sized and shaped so that the animal may pass there through, and wherein when the weight members are released the pivoting linkages cause the pair of stanchions to move from the open position to the closed position where the opening formed in the headgate between the pair of stanchions is sized and shaped so as to confine the animal about its neck. 
     A third aspect of the invention is a headgate including a pair of generally upright frame members with a hollow interior portion and a surface with a plurality of through slots formed therein, a pair of weight members disposed within the hollow interior portion of each of the upright frame members, a pair of stanchions operable to move from an open position to a closed position, a plurality of pivoting linkages connecting each of the weight members to one stanchion of the pair of stanchions via the plurality of through slots formed in the upright member, a holding means which holds the weight members at a first position, a release mechanism which simultaneously releases the weight members from the first position held by the holding means such that gravity causes the weight members to move from the first position to a second position located at a lower height than the first position, and a tripping mechanism which automatically detects the presence of an animal and causes the release mechanism to release the weight members. When the weight members are at a first position the pivoting linkages cause pair of stanchions to be in the open position where an opening is formed between the pair of stanchions which is sized and shaped so that the animal may pass there through, and wherein when the weight members are released the pivoting linkages cause the pair of stanchions to move from the open position to the closed position where the opening formed in the headgate between the pair of stanchions is sized and shaped so as to confine the animal about its neck. 
     As described more fully below, one advantage of the described aspects of the invention is that the headgate is capable of automatically closing around the neck of an animal, without requiring a human operator to trigger the closing mechanism. This provides advantages over the current art by reducing the stress to the animal and improving the safety of operating the headgate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       To further clarify the above and other advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows an illustrative example of a front view of an automatic headgate; 
         FIG. 2A  shows an illustrative example of a front view of the automatic headgate in an open position; 
         FIG. 2B  shows an illustrative example a front view of the automatic headgate in a closed position; 
         FIG. 3  shows an illustrative example of a isometric view of a frame which may incorporate the headgate in one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 4 to 5  are illustrative examples of closer views of the ratchet of the headgate; 
         FIG. 6  shows an illustrative example of a top view of a ratchet and solenoid unit of the automatic headgate; 
         FIG. 7  shows an illustrative example of a front view of the headgate illustrating a tripping mechanism of the invention according to one embodiment; 
         FIGS. 8A-8C  shows an illustrative example of a top view of the headgate illustrating a tripping mechanism of the invention according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  shows an illustrative example of another isometric view of the headgate according to another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 10  shows an illustrative example of an embodiment of the invention integrated with a livestock chute; 
         FIG. 11  shows an illustrative example of a flow chart illustrating a method of the invention; and 
         FIG. 12  shows an illustrative example of a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of the invention which is integrated with a livestock chute. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the invention relate to an animal headgate restraining device, which as shown in  FIGS. 1-12 , comprises a headgate  100 , including frame assembly  110  which provides a support and basic structure for the components of the headgate  100 . In order to simplify the description of the headgate  100 ,  FIG. 1  illustrates the basic components of the frame assembly  110 , with several additional parts removed so as to simplify the description of the functional elements of the invention. The frame assembly  110  includes a base  101  which forms a platform for supporting a number of uprights, including a left-hand (LH) front upright  104  and a right-hand (RH) front upright  103 . As described herein, the designations of right-hand and left-hand are determined from the perspective of an animal restrained in the headgate  100 . 
     As is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the base  101  forms the bottom support for the LH front upright  104  and the RH front upright  103 . The LH front upright  104  and RH front upright  103  extend from the base  101  in the +z direction. The LH front upright  104  and the RH front upright  103  are connected by a guide member  112  and a top front cross piece  109 . Both the LH front upright  104  and the RH front upright  103  are hollow members with an opening formed therein where weighting members  150  and  151  are disposed. The LH front upright  104  and the RH front upright  103  also have two slots  130   a - 130   d  formed therein which allow the weighting members  150  and  151  to be exposed and connected to a pair of stanchions  160  and  165  via a series of pivoting linkages  125   a - 125   d.    
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the headgate open and closes as the weighting members  150  and  151  are moved between an elevated position and a released position. More specifically, when the headgate  100  is in the open position, as shown in  FIG. 2A , the weighting members  150  and  151  are held at an elevated position A, illustrated by the height of the connection between the pivoting linkages  125   a  and  125   d  to the weighting members  150  and  151 , respectively. 
     When the release mechanism  180  is triggered by a tripping mechanism, as described more fully below, the release mechanism  180  causes the weighting members  150  and  151  to be released from the elevated position A within the LH front upright  104  and the RH front upright  103 . As shown in  FIG. 2B , the weighting members  150  and  151  are released from the elevated position, gravity causes the weighting members  150  and  151  to fall a distance h to a released position B within the LH front upright and  104  and RH front upright  103 , although the change in position may also be assisted by automatic and/or manual power. When the weighting members  150  and  151  move from the elevated position A to the released position B, the pivoting linkages  125   a - 125   d  pivot, causing the stanchion  160  to move away from the RH front upright  103  and the stanchion  165  to move away from the LH front upright  104 . Thus the stanchions  160  and  165  are moved to a closed position as a pair of guide brackets  172   a - 172   b  connected to the stanchions  160  and  165  slide along the guide member  112  by means of a pair of rollers (not shown) disposed within the brackets  172   a - 172   b  which rotate along a surface of the guide member  112 . 
     In one embodiment, when the weighting members  150  and  151  are released from the elevated position and fall the distance h to the released position B shown in  FIG. 2B , the weighting members  150  and  151  are stopped and supported when a portion of the weighting members  150  and  151  reaches the base  101 . More specifically, the base  101  supports the weight of the weighting members  150  and  151  when the weighting members  150  and  141  are in the released position B shown in  FIG. 2B . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , in some embodiments, the frame  110  of the headgate  100  may include additional structural components, including a LH back upright  205  and RH back upright  210  which both extend in the z direction from the base  101  and an additional base tube  250  which runs along the length of the base  101  in the x-direction. The LH back upright  205  is connected to the LH front upright  104  by a LH top connection plate  270 , while the RH front upright  103  is connected to the RH back upright  210  via a RH top connection plate  280 , which is shown in  FIG. 6 . The LH back upright  205  is connected to the RH back upright by a rear top cross piece  291 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . One advantage of the additional components of the frame  110  is that the headgate  100  may have increased structural support and durability. 
     In the embodiments described herein, the LH front upright  104 , RH front upright  103 , base  101 , LH back upright  205 , RH back upright  210 , LH top connection plate  270 , RH top connection plate  280 , rear top cross piece  291 , top front cross piece  102  and guide member  112 , are examples of non-moving elements of the frame  110  are made, by way of example only, of steel tubing, steel pipe or other suitable structural materials. The attachments between these components is made using any appropriate conventional means such as welding, bolting or pinning. 
     Furthermore, various other components of the system, including the ratchet  420 , the weighting members  150  and  151 , the stanchions  160  and  165 , the sliding bar  245  and  240 , and rotating top bar  230  (described more fully below) may also be made of steel tubing, steel plate, steel bar, steel pipe, or other suitable structural materials. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the release mechanism  180  includes a ratchet  420  and a handle  400 . The release mechanism  180  is linked to the weighting member  150  via a rotating arm  220  which is connected to a sliding plate  245  disposed on an outer edge of the LH front upright  104 . The sliding plate  245  connects to the weighting member  150  via a release connection slot  290  formed in the LH front upright  104 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , in this embodiment, the release connection slot  290  is formed on a different surface of the LH front upright  104  than the slots  130   a  and  130   b.    
     As described more fully below, when the release mechanism  180  is triggered, the ratchet  420  is released from a holding state, where the rotating arm  220  holds the sliding plate  245  in the position A shown in  FIG. 2A , and the rotating arm  220  rotates along with the ratchet  420 , causing the sliding plate  245  to slide along the LH front upright  104 , such that the weighting member connected to the sliding plate  245  moves from the position A shown in  FIG. 2A  to the position B shown in  FIG. 2B . As described above, by releasing the weighting member  150 , the pivoting linkages  125   a  and  125   b  pivot, causing the stanchion  165  to move to the closed position. 
     Returning to  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the release mechanism  180  has a rotating top bar  230  which is attached to the ratchet  420  and the handle  400 . The rotating top bar  230  extends through a hole (not shown) in the LH top connection plate  270  across the top of the headgate  100  and through a hole in the RH top connection plate  280 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the rotating top bar  230  is connected on the left-hand side of the headgate  100  to a sliding plate  240  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) via a RH rotating arm  300 . Thus, when the ratchet  420  is released from the holding position and is allowed to rotate, the rotating top bar  230  also rotates, simultaneously causing the rotating arm  220  and the RH rotating arm  300  to pivot. 
     As previously described, when the ratchet  420  is released from the holding position, the rotating top bar  230  and rotating arm  220  rotate, while the sliding plate  245  slides, due to the force of gravity acting on the weighting member  150 , causing the stanchion  165  moves to a closed position. Similarly, the weight and stored kinetic energy of the weighting member  151  in the RH front upright  103 , which is connected to the RH rotating arm  300  via sliding plate  240  through a release connection slot  295  formed in the RH front upright  10 , also urges the rotation of the rotating top bar  230 , and consequently the ratchet  420 . 
     As such, when the rotating top bar  230  is permitted to rotate with the release of the ratchet  420 , the RH rotating arm  300  connected to the rotating top bar  230  is able to pivot from the position A shown in  FIG. 2A  to the position B shown in  FIG. 2B , as the sliding plate  240  slides along the slots  130   c  and  130   d . In one embodiment, the RH rotating arm  300  has the same structure and performs a similar function as the rotating arm  220 , but is connected to the right-hand portion of the headgate  100 , whereas the rotating arm  220  is connected to the left-hand portion of the headgate  100 . Thus, the weighting member  151  drops, the pivoting linkages  125   c  and  125   d  pivot and the stanchion  160  is also moved the closed position. Thus, using the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the release mechanism  180  causes both stanchions  160  and  165  to close at the same time. 
       FIG. 4  is a close up illustration of the release mechanism  180  of one embodiment. As previously described, the release mechanism  180  includes a ratchet  420  and a handle  400  which are linked to the stanchions  160  and  165 . In this embodiment, the ratchet  420  is held by a release pin  490  shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , which is capable of extending through a hole  480  formed through the LH top connection plate  270  and a corresponding hole  470  in the ratchet  420  in order to hold the ratchet  420  in place. The release pin  490  is also capable of retracting so that the release pin  490  is removed from the hole  470  in the ratchet  420 , releasing the ratchet  420  and allowing the rotating top bar  230  to rotate in accordance with the urging force placed on the rotating top bar  230  by the weighting members  150  and  151  as described above. 
     In this embodiment, the extension and retraction of the release pin  490  is controlled by a solenoid unit  510 , which causes the release pin  490  to move in response to an electrical current is turned on. In addition to this embodiment, any number of devices may be used which are capable of converting an electrical signal received from the tripping mechanism described below into motion of the ratchet  420 , or more specifically, the weighting members  150  and  151 . 
     As is described more fully below, the solenoid unit  510  may be connected to various computer programs which are capable of controlling the timing of the extension and refraction of the release pin  490 . For example, in one embodiment, when the release pin  490  is moved so as to release the ratchet  420  from the open position shown in  FIG. 2A , the solenoid unit  510  may cause the release pin  490  to stay in a retracted position for a predetermined interval in order to ensure that the release pin  490  does not immediately reengage with the hole  470  formed in the ratchet  420 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates one embodiment of a tripping mechanism which may be used in association with embodiments of the invention. In this embodiment, several light emitting/receiving elements  705 ,  710 ,  715 ,  720 ,  725 , and  730  are positioned on the front of the frame  110 . In this embodiment, the light emitting/receiving elements  705  and  725  are disposed opposite to each other in order to create a beam of light  755  which extends horizontally across the front of the headgate  100 . The light emitting/receiving element  730  is disposed opposite to the light emitting/receiving element  710  so as to create a beam of light  750  that extends in the diagonal direction across the front of the headgate  100 . And the light emitting/receiving element  715  is disposed opposite to the light emitting/receiving element  720  so as to create another beam of light  760  which also extends in the diagonal direction across the front of the headgate  100 . 
     The light emitting/receiving elements  705 ,  710 ,  715 ,  720 ,  725 , and  730  are connected electronically to the solenoid unit  510 , such that when one or more of the beams of light  750 ,  755 , or  760 , is broken by an animal coming into the path of the beam of light  750 ,  755 , and  760 , an electronic signal is sent to the solenoid unit  510 , causing the release pin  490  to be retracted and releasing the ratchet  420  due to the urging of the weighting members  150  and  151 . As previously described, when the ratchet  420  is released by the pin  490  being retracted from the hole  470  in the ratchet  420 , the weighting members  150  and  151  drop the distance h shown in  FIG. 2B  and the headgate closes around the neck of the animal. 
     In one embodiment, the solenoid and tripping mechanism may be connected to a computer or processing unit (CPU)  600 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . In such embodiments, the CPU  600  may use logic or a program so as to control or delay the activation of the solenoid unit  510  once the tripping mechanism is tripped. For example, in the embodiment described above, the light emitting/receiving elements  705 ,  710 ,  715 ,  720 ,  725 , and  730 , which comprise one example of a tripping mechanism which may be used in association with the invention, may send an electronic signal to the CPU  600  indicating that the mechanism has been tripped. Then, the CPU  600  may use an electronic timer to delay the activation of the solenoid unit  510 , such that the ratchet  420  and weighting members  150  and  151  are not released for a predetermined period of time after the tripping mechanism is tripped. Such a delay may be advantageous in order to ensure that the headgate  100  is not closed before the neck portion of the animal is through the headgate  100 . 
       FIGS. 8A-8C  illustrate the tripping mechanism of another embodiment of the invention. In this configuration, which contains only the tripping mechanism as viewed from the top so as to clarify this portion of the invention, the tripping mechanism includes one or more radio frequency identification or “RFID” detectors  800  and  810  which would be disposed on the headgate  100  so as to detect an animal  850 . In this embodiment, the animal  850  has been previously tagged with an ear tag  820  or other tag, such as those often used in the art, which contains an RFID  830  which transmits a signal which may be detected by the RFID detectors  800  or  810 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8A , the animal approaches the headgate  100 , the headgate  100  is in open position, such that the animal  850  is able to pass through the headgate  100 . When the headgate is in open position, the animal  850  is naturally herded toward the open space at the front of the headgate  100 , as shown in  FIG. 8B . At the point where the RFID  830  on the ear tag  820  is detected by the detector  810 , however, a signal is sent to the solenoid unit  510  by the detector  810  and the headgate  100  is caused to close around the animal&#39;s neck. 
     In this embodiment, in addition to adding the delay logic described above, the CPU  600  may also detect and receive an identifier or other information from the RFID  830  on the ear tag  820 , which may then be used to receive information corresponding to the specific animal. Typically, such information would include a name or number identifying the specific animal  850 , the animal&#39;s age, weight, and in some instances, the animal&#39;s health. Advantageously, the detection of the RFID  830  may be used not only to trigger the closing of the headgate  100  so that the animal  650  may be safely and efficiently worked, but also may be used to automatically retrieve information via the CPU  600  related to the animal  650  which would be useful in monitoring and maintaining the animal. 
     Although two RFID detectors  800  and  810  are used in the configuration described above, the specific number of RFID detectors may be varied. Similarly, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7 , any number of light emitting units may be used. Furthermore, a variety of different configurations may be used as a tripping mechanism, including, but not limited to a photoelectric sensor which is capable of detecting the presence of the animal using a light transmitter, such as an infrared sensor and a detector. Alternatively, a tripping wire may be placed in a position so as to mechanically move when the animal passes through the headgate. In another embodiment, an inductance or conductance loop may be used, which is capable of detecting the change in an electro or magnetic field due to the presence of an animal. Further, a motion sensor may also be used or a scale or weight detector. 
     Additionally, any combination of these or other known detection mechanisms may be used. For example, the photoelectric sensor, light curtain, inductance/conductance loop, tripping wire, motion sensor described above or others known in the art may be used in association with a livestock scale, such that the CPU  600  does not cause the headgate  100  to close when a tripping signal is received from the photoelectric sensor or light curtain unless an object of at least a predetermined weight is determined to be on a scale disposed behind the headgate  100 . As such, as described below, the specific type and configuration of the tripping mechanism may be modified so as to be used in association with another piece of livestock equipment, such as a chute, a calving or other pen, or a livestock scale. 
     Further, in another embodiment, the photoelectric sensor, light curtain, inductance/conductance loop, tripping wire, motion sensor described above or others known in the art may be used in association with the RFID  830  of the animal&#39;s ear tag  820 , such that the CPU  600  does not cause the headgate  100  to close unless an RFID detector  800  or  810  also detects an RFID  830  in the headgate  100 . Thus, various different programs and types of computer logic may be implemented by the CPU  600  in order to ensure that the mechanism triggers properly. 
     Finally, although the sensors and detectors of the embodiments described herein are located on the front of the headgate  100 , the sensors and detectors may be located any number of locations on, within, or near the headgate  100  without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, in one embodiment, a sensor may be disposed on the opposite surface, or back surface, of the headgate  100  from the configuration illustrated in  FIGS. 8A-8C . In such an embodiment, the sensor may be coupled with delay logic such that a predetermined period of time between the triggering of the sensor and the tripping of the release mechanism of the headgate  100 . Thus, the specific location of the sensors may be varied depending on the specific configuration of the headgate  100 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the headgate  100  may include additional components without departing from the meaning or scope of the invention. For example, front corner covers  920  and  925  may be disposed around the RH front upright  103  and LH front upright and  104  so as to protect and cover the slots  130   a - 130   d  which expose the weighting members  150  and  151 . In addition, or in alternative to the front corner covers  920  and  925 , a front plate  915  may be used. 
     A ratchet cover plate  910  is also included in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 9 , which ensures that nothing is caught by the ratchet  420  or otherwise interferes with the rotation of the ratchet  420 . 
       FIG. 9  also illustrates the use of a RH cover  940  and a LH cover  930  and four yokes  950   a - 950   d  which act as a means for stopping the RH stanchion  160  and LH stanchion  165  when the stanchions are in closed position and also provide the ability to vary and modify the desired neck opening for confining the animal. The headgate  100  shown in  FIG. 9  also includes a connecting means  960  by which the headgate  100  may be connected to other livestock equipment, including, but not limited to corrals, pens, fences, scales, chutes, and the like. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an embodiment of the invention where the headgate  100  is integrated with a livestock chute  1050 , which includes a squeezing portion  1060 , wherein two panels move towards the animal after the animal is contained by the neck in the headgate  100 , in addition to a tailgate portion  1070 , which closes behind an animal after the animal enters the chute area  1050  in order to ensure that the animal continues through the headgate  100 . 
       FIG. 11  is a flow chart  1100  illustrating a method of operating the headgate  100  of the invention. At  1110 , the headgate  100  is placed in open position, as shown in  FIG. 2A . In one embodiment of the invention, the headgate  100  may be placed in open position from a closed or semi-closed position using the handle  400  shown in  FIG. 4 . Using the handle  400 , the ratchet  420  may be rotated in the clockwise direction, causing the LH top connection plate  270  to pivot and lift the weighting member  150  to be lifted to the elevated position via the sliding plate  245 . At the same time, the rotating top bar  230  is rotated in the clockwise direction, causing the RH top connection plate  280  to pivot and lift the weighting member  151  to the elevated position via the sliding plate  240 . After the weighting members  150  and  151  are returned to the elevated position, the solenoid unit  510  is reset and causes the weighting members  150  and  151  to be held in position via the ratchet  420 . 
     In another embodiment, a motor or other means may be used to return the headgate  100  to the open position, although there is generally less danger in using a human operator to open the headgate from a closed position since the headgate is generally either empty and being opened for the first time in preparation for working animals, or the animal is already confined by the headgate  100 . Thus, one aspect of the invention is the ability to automate the closing of the headgate  100 , during the time when the stress to the animal is the greatest. 
     After the headgate  100  has been placed in open position at  1110  and the operator has ensured that the tripping mechanism is reset and working properly via the CPU  600 , the operator may then move from the front or operational area of the headgate  100  where his or her presence would otherwise disturb the animal  850 . Then the animal  850  is corralled or herded into the headgate  100  at  1120  using any number of herding means currently known in the art. Once the animal enters the headgate at  1120 , the tripping mechanism is tripped by the animal  1130 . Then, the weighted members  150  and  151  are released in response to a signal being sent from the tripping mechanism at  1140 . As described above, the release of the weighted members  150  and  151  from the elevated position shown in  FIG. 2A  causes the headgate  100  to closes around the animal  850  at  1150 . 
     When the headgate  100  closes around the animal, the weight of the weighted members  150  and  151  urging the headgate  100  in the closed position in addition to a engaging pawl  440  on a release handle  430  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) may be used so as to lock the headgate in the closed position in order to ensure that the animal  850  cannot free itself from the headgate  100 . Because the ratchet  420  has angled teeth  450 , the ratchet  420  can rotate freely in the counter-clockwise position without fully engaging with the engaging pawl  440  of the release handle  430 . Alternatively, when the ratchet  420  is urged so as to rotate in the clockwise direction, the engaging pawl  440  fully engages with the teeth  450  and the ratchet  420  is prevented from rotating. 
     Once thus confined, operators may then work on the animal  850  at  1160  in order to perform various maintenance and veterinarian procedures, such as treating the animal for disease, tagging the animal, or the like. Then, as described above, the headgate  100  may be manually opened by using the ratchet handle  400  as described above, while also operating the release handle  430 , which releases the engaging pawl  440  and allows the ratchet  420  to rotate in the clockwise direction. 
     As previously described, a computer or processing unit may be used to delay the time between the tripping and the time when the weighted members  150  and  151  are released in the method described above in order to ensure that the animal is adequately through the headgate  100  when the headgate  100  is closed. 
     Further, the computer or processing unit, the tripping mechanism, and various other aspects of the invention may be powered by any number of power sources, including, but not limited by rechargeable power sources, battery power sources, generators, or solar power sources. 
     As described briefly below with reference to  FIG. 12 , in embodiments of the invention where the headgate  100  is integrated with the chute  1050  as shown in  FIG. 10 , additional logic and an additional tripping mechanism may be implemented so as to coordinate the various components of the integrated headgate  100  and chute  1050 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , the process begins at  1210  with the squeeze portion  1060  of the chute  1050  being released or opened so that the squeeze portion  1060  is placed in a state where it would not interfere with the passage of an animal  850  through the chute  1050 . Then, as described above with reference to  FIG. 11 , the headgate  100  is placed in an open position, as shown in  FIG. 2A . At this time, the operator ensures that all the detection mechanisms are functioning properly. 
     Then the tailgate portion of the chute  1070  is opened at  1230 , and the animal  850  is herded into the chute  1050  and headgate  100 . In one embodiment, where an additional chute tripping mechanism is used, preferably toward the front of the squeeze portion  1060  but before the tripping mechanism of the headgate  100  described above, the chute tripping mechanism is tripped by the animal  850  at  1250 . In response, the CPU  600  receives the tripping signal from the chute tripping mechanism and causes the tailgate  1070  portion of the chute  1050  to close at  1260 , ensuring that the animal  850  remains enclosed in the chute  1050  and continues to proceed through the chute  1050  and headgate  100 , rather than back through the tailgate portion  1070 . 
     As the animal  850  proceeds through the chute  1050  and the headgate  100 , the headgate tripping mechanism is tripped by the animal  850  at  1270 . As described above, the CPU  600  receives the tripping signal from the headgate tripping mechanism, and causes the weighted members  150  and  151  to be released in the LH front upright  104  and RH front upright  103 , and the headgate  100  closes around the animal&#39;s neck  1290 . In an alternative configuration, the headgate  100  and tailgate portion  1070  may be simultaneously closed. 
     After the headgate  100  is caused to close at  1290 , the CPU  600  uses additional logic and then causes the squeeze portion  1060  of the chute  1050  to be activated, and the squeeze portion  1060  squeezes the two panels together so as to enclose the animal  850 . 
     Once the headgate  100  and tailgate  1070  are closed and the squeeze portion  1060  has properly enclosed and restrained the animal  850 , the operator may then work the animal  850  at  1297 . After the animal  850  has been worked, the operator sends a request to the CPU  600  which causes the system to return to  1210 , and the squeeze portion  1060  of the chute  1050  is released and the headgate  100  is opened  1220 , allowing the animal  850  to exit the chute  1050  and headgate  100 . 
     In this embodiment, the CPU  600  may be programmed with logic, which ensures that the chute tripping mechanism and headgate tripping mechanism are not activated until the tailgate  1070  portion of the chute  1050  is opened and the system is reset in order to ensure that the chute  1050  and headgate  100  do not close on the animal  850  again as the animal  850  exits the chute  1050  and headgate  100 . Alternatively, the chute tripping mechanism and headgate tripping mechanism may not be reset until the operator expressly sends a command to the CPU  600  resetting the system, such as using a button located near the tailgate portion  1070  of the chute  1050 . As may be understood, any number of release or resetting mechanisms may be used. 
     The embodiments described herein may include the use of a special purpose or general-purpose computer including various computer hardware or software modules, as discussed in greater detail below. 
     Embodiments within the scope of the present invention also include computer-readable media for carrying or having computer-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other tangible medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of computer-executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. When information is transferred or provided over a network or another communications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to a computer, the computer properly views the connection as a computer-readable medium. Thus, any such connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media. 
     Computer-executable instructions comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing device to perform a certain function or group of functions. Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. 
     As used herein, the term “module” or “component” can refer to software objects or routines that execute on the computing system. The different components, modules, engines, and services described herein may be implemented as objects or processes that execute on the computing system (e.g., as separate threads). While the system and methods described herein are preferably implemented in software, implementations in hardware or a combination of software and hardware are also possible and contemplated. In this description, a “computing entity” may be any computing system as previously defined herein, or any module or combination of modulates running on a computing system. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.