Patent Description:
Bird breeding is an important field of agricultural technology. Birds, such as chicken or other poultry, are being bread and kept as useful animals. In order to safeguard the well-being of the animals and mitigate the risk of disease spread, fluids, such as vaccination fluids, are administered to the animals.

For enhanced efficiency, consistency, and correctness of administration of the fluid, it is desired for the administering of the fluid(s) to be performed in a semi-automated or fully automated manner. The automation of fluid administration procedures can also reduce the stress-level of the animals.

<CIT> discloses a system and a method for handling, grading and vaccinating living birds. The system may comprise one or several vaccination stations.

<CIT> discloses a positioning device for presenting an avian bird and a vaccination system.

<CIT> discloses an automatic system and method for injecting a substance into an animal.

It is a challenge to administer fluids, such as vaccination fluids, to birds in an efficient manner.

It is an object of the invention to provide enhanced systems and methods for positioning a fluid discharge opening for administering fluid(s) to a bird. It is in particular an object of the invention to provide systems and control methods for such systems that allow fluid(s), such as vaccination fluids, to be administered to a bird in an efficient manner. It is also an object of the invention to provide systems and control methods for such systems that allow fluid(s), such as vaccination fluids, to be administered to a bird while the bird is being retained and moved by a conveying mechanism.

According to embodiments of the invention, systems and methods are provided that are operative to position a fluid discharge opening relative to a bird for administering a fluid, such as a vaccination fluid, while the bird is being moved in a continuous manner by a conveying mechanism.

In some embodiments, image data acquisition may be performed to capture image data of the bird. The fluid discharge opening may be automatically positioned relative to the bird based on the captured image data. The image data acquisition and positioning of the fluid discharge opening relative to the bird may be performed while the bird is being moved in a continuous manner by the conveying mechanism.

In some embodiments, a fluid delivery device comprising the fluid discharge opening may be arranged on an applicator carrier. The applicator carrier may be moveably mounted on a support. The fluid discharge opening may be arranged on the applicator carrier such that it is displaceable relative thereto. The fluid discharge opening may be positioned or positionable through an opening of an abutment member. In operation, the abutment member may be pressed against a part of the bird's body for performing a vaccination, with the fluid discharge opening impinging onto the bird through the opening in the abutment member.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a system operative to administer fluid to a bird while the bird is retained on a conveying mechanism and transported by the conveying mechanism along a first direction. The system comprises a fluid discharge device comprising a fluid discharge opening operative to discharge at least one fluid to the bird, at least one actuator operative to effect a displacement of at least the fluid discharge opening, at least one control circuit operative to control the at least one actuator, and a data acquisition device operative to capture image data of the bird retained on the conveying mechanism. The at least one control circuit is operative to control the at least one actuator to adjust a position of the fluid discharge opening relative to the bird based on the image data for administering the fluid.

The system allows fluid(s) to be administered in an efficient manner while the bird is being moved by the conveying mechanism, without having to stop movement of the bird. By controlling the position of the fluid discharge opening based on the image data, different bird shapes and/or bird positions relative to the conveying mechanism can be taken into account in an automatic manner. Correct administration of the fluid(s) can be ensured.

The at least one control circuit may be operative to control the at least one actuator to adjust the position of the fluid discharge opening relative to the bird based on the image data for administering the fluid while the bird is being moved by the conveying mechanism.

The system may be a bird vaccination system.

The system may comprise a vaccination fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the fluid discharge opening.

The fluid discharge device may comprise a needle having a tip at which the fluid discharge opening is provided.

The at least one control circuit may be operative to adjust the position of the fluid discharge opening based on the image data such that the fluid discharge opening impinges on the bird at a target position identified based on the image data.

The at least one control circuit may be operative to determine a position of the bird relative to a retaining bracket on which the bird is retained and/or to determine physiological characteristics (such as size of the bird and/or size of the bird's breast), determine the target position of the fluid discharge opening based on the position of the bird relative to the retaining bracket and/or the physiological characteristics, and control the at least one actuator based on the position of the bird relative to the retaining bracket.

The data acquisition device may comprise an image sensor.

The system may be operative to perform feature extraction based on image(s) of the bird captured by the image sensor.

The data acquisition device may comprise an infrared camera.

The data acquisition device may comprise a 3D camera system.

The data acquisition device may comprise a structured-light imaging system.

The data acquisition device may comprise a stereo-camera system.

The data acquisition device may comprise an interface to receive the image data. The at least one control circuit may be operatively coupled to the interface.

The at least one data acquisition device may comprise a projector operative to output a line of visible or infrared light and an image sensor operative to capture an image of the line projected onto the bird.

The image sensor may be operative to capture a series of frames while the conveying mechanism moves the bird across the line of visible or infrared light:
The at least one control circuit may be operative to control the at least one actuator based on several time-sequentially captured frames of the series of frames.

The line of visible or infrared light may be positioned upstream, relative to the first direction, of the fluid discharge device.

The data acquisition device or the at least one control circuit comprises at least one integrated circuit operative to compute surface contour data of the bird.

The at least one control circuit is operative to control the at least one actuator based on the surface contour data.

The surface contour data comprises 3D surface contour data or a point cloud.

The at least one control circuit may be operative to control the at least one actuator to adjust the position of the fluid discharge opening relative to the bird at least along the first direction, optionally both along the first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

The second direction may be a vertical direction.

The conveying mechanism may be operative to move the bird in the first direction at a transport speed.

The at least one control circuit may be operative to control the at least one actuator such that the fluid discharge opening may be displaced along the first direction at one or several first speeds different from the transport speed before the fluid discharge opening impinges on the bird.

The one or several first speeds may be dependent on the image data.

The at least one control circuit may be operative to control the at least one actuator such that the fluid discharge opening may be displaced along the first direction at a second speed that may be equal to the transport speed while the at least one fluid is being discharged via the fluid discharge opening.

The at least one control circuit may be operative to control the at least one actuator such that the fluid discharge opening reciprocates along the first direction.

The system may further comprise a support and an applicator carrier moveably mounted on the support.

The at least one actuator may be operative to displace the applicator carrier relative to the support to displace the fluid discharge opening.

The fluid delivery device may be mounted such that the fluid discharge opening may be displaceable relative to the applicator carrier.

The fluid delivery device may be displaceably mounted on the applicator carrier.

The fluid discharge opening may be arranged for pivoting and/or translatory movement relative to the applicator carrier.

The system may further comprise a suspension, in particular a cardanic suspension, between the fluid delivery device and the applicator carrier.

The system may further comprise an abutment member operative for abutment on the bird.

The abutment member may comprise an opening through which the fluid discharge opening may be positioned or positionable for performing a vaccination.

The abutment member and/or the applicator carrier may comprise a coupling mechanism for reversibly releasable attachment of the abutment member to the applicator carrier.

The abutment member may comprise at least one additional opening through which at least one additional fluid discharge opening may be positioned or positionable.

The system may further comprise one or several additional fluid discharge devices comprising one or several additional discharge openings for delivering one or several additional fluids to the bird.

The system may further comprise one or several additional replacement abutment members, each operative for reversibly releasable attachment on the applicator carrier.

The abutment member and at least one of the replacement abutment members may have different sizes and/or shapes.

The system may be operative to perform one or several of a breast vaccination, a wing vaccination, an eye vaccination, while the bird is being held on the conveying mechanism by its scapula-humeral joint.

A bird handling system for handling birds may comprise a conveying mechanism operative to transport a bird and the system for vaccinating the bird.

The conveying mechanism may comprise a retaining bracket operative to retain the bird.

The at least one control circuit may be operative to determine a position of the bird relative to the retaining bracket, to determine a target position of the fluid discharge opening based on the position of the bird relative to the retaining bracket, and to control the at least one actuator based on the position of the bird relative to the retaining bracket.

The retaining bracket may be operative to retain the bird by its scapula-humeral joint.

The system may be operative to administer fluid to at least <NUM>, at least <NUM>, at least <NUM>, at least <NUM>, at least <NUM>, or at least <NUM> birds per hour.

The system may be operative to vaccinate at least <NUM>, at least <NUM>, at least <NUM>, at least <NUM>, at least <NUM>, or at least <NUM> birds per hour.

According to another embodiment, there is provided a method of controlling at least one actuator of a system. The system comprises a fluid discharge device comprising a fluid discharge opening for discharging at least one fluid to the bird, and at least one actuator operative to effect a displacement of at least the fluid discharge opening. The method may comprise receiving, by at least one control circuit, image data of the bird from a data acquisition device, and controlling, by the at least one control circuit, the at least one actuator to position the fluid discharge opening relative to the bird based on the image data prior to performing a vaccination and while the bird is being moved by the conveying mechanism.

The fluid may be a therapeutic fluid or a non-therapeutic fluid.

The method may be performed prior to vaccinating the bird.

The method may terminate with positioning the fluid discharge opening prior to vaccinating the bird. , a vaccination step as such may not form part of the method.

The method may comprise performing the vaccination.

Additional optional features that may be implemented in the method correspond to the optional features disclosed in association with the claimed system.

The method may be performed automatically using the system according to an embodiment.

According to another embodiment, there is provided a system for administering a fluid, such as a vaccination fluid, to a bird while the bird is retained on a conveying mechanism and moved by the conveying mechanism along a first direction. The system may comprise a support, an applicator carrier moveably mounted on the support, a fluid discharge device mounted on the applicator carrier and comprising a fluid discharge opening for discharging at least one fluid to the bird, at least one actuator operative to effect a displacement of the applicator carrier, and at least one control circuit operative to control the at least one actuator.

The at least one control circuit allows the actuator to be controlled in a versatile manner, responsive to a position and/or size of the bird.

The at least one actuator may be operative to effect a displacement of the applicator carrier along the first direction for administering the fluid while the bird is being moved by the conveying mechanism.

The fluid delivery device may be mounted on the applicator carrier such that the fluid discharge opening is displaceable relative to the applicator carrier.

The fluid delivery device may be mounted on the applicator carrier such that the fluid discharge opening is displaceable relative to the applicator carrier along the first direction and/or along a second direction transverse to the first direction.

The fluid delivery device may be mounted on the applicator carrier such that the fluid discharge opening is pivotable and/or displaceable in a translatory manner relative to the applicator carrier.

The at least one control circuit may be operative to control a position of the fluid discharge opening relative to the bird based on three-dimensional surface contour data of the bird.

The system may further comprise a data acquisition device for acquisition of the three-dimensional surface contour data of the bird.

The system may further comprise an abutment member operative for abutment on the bird, the abutment member comprising an opening through which the fluid discharge opening may be positioned or positionable for performing a vaccination.

The abutment member may comprise at least one additional opening through which at least one additional fluid discharge device may be positionable for performing a vaccination.

The system may further comprise one or several additional fluid discharge devices mounted on the applicator carrier and comprising one or several additional fluid discharge openings for delivering one or several additional fluids to the bird.

The at least one control circuit may be operative to control the at least one actuator such that the applicator carrier is displaced along the first direction at a transport speed that corresponds to a transport speed of the conveying mechanism while the at least one fluid is being discharged via the fluid discharge opening.

The system may be operative to perform at least one of a breast vaccination, a wing vaccination, an eye vaccination while the bird is being held on the conveying mechanism by its scapula-humeral joint.

A bird handling system for handling birds may comprise a conveying mechanism operative to transport a bird and the system for administering a fluid operative to be positioned adjacent the conveying mechanism for administering the fluid to the bird, e.g., for vaccinating the bird.

According to another embodiment, there is provided a method of controlling operation of at least one actuator of a system, the system comprising a applicator carrier, a fluid discharge device mounted on the applicator carrier and comprising a fluid discharge opening for discharging at least one fluid to the bird, and at least one actuator. The method may comprise receiving, by at least one control circuit, information on a bird that is being moved in a first direction by a conveying mechanism and controlling, by the at least one control circuit, the at least one actuator to effect a displacement of the applicator carrier along the first direction for administering the fluid while the bird is being moved by the conveying mechanism.

Various effects and advantages are attained by the invention. The systems and methods allow a fluid discharge opening to be positioned for administering a fluid to a bird while the bird is being retained on and moved by a conveying mechanism. By controlling the position of a fluid discharge opening responsive to, e.g., image data that is indicative of the position of the bird on a retaining member and/or the size of the bird that is being moved by the conveying mechanism, the fluid may be administered with high accuracy and in an efficient manner, all without having to stop movement of the conveying mechanism.

Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings in which identical or similar reference numerals designate identical or similar components.

While embodiments are described in association with positioning a fluid discharge opening for bird vaccination, the systems and methods may be used for administering a variety of different fluids to a bird.

<FIG> is a schematic view of a bird handling system <NUM>. The bird handling system <NUM> comprises a conveying mechanism <NUM> and a bird vaccination system <NUM>. The bird vaccination system <NUM> is operative to be positioned adjacent the conveying mechanism <NUM>. The conveying mechanism <NUM> is operative to move a bird <NUM> in a first direction <NUM> past the bird vaccination system <NUM>.

The conveying mechanism <NUM> may comprise a retaining member <NUM>. The retaining member <NUM> may be operative to retain the bird <NUM>. Plural retaining members <NUM> may be provided on a conveyor, each operative to receive a bird. The conveying mechanism <NUM> may have an insertion section at which birds may be manually positioned in the retaining members <NUM>. The conveying mechanism <NUM> may allow at least three, at least five, at least seven, at least nine human operators to concurrently place birds into retaining members <NUM>. The retaining members <NUM> may be reversibly releasable engageable with and/or disengageable from a conveyor of the conveying mechanism <NUM>, or may be securely mounted on the conveyor. The retaining members <NUM> may comprise one or several movable components for engaging and releasing a bird.

The bird vaccination system <NUM> comprises a support <NUM>. The support <NUM> may have castors and/or rollers <NUM> that allow the support <NUM> to be positioned adjacent the conveying mechanism <NUM>. The bird vaccination system <NUM> comprises an applicator carrier <NUM>. The applicator carrier <NUM> carries one or several fluid discharge device(s) having fluid discharge opening(s) <NUM>. The fluid discharge opening(s) <NUM> may be provided on needles or other injection elements that are operative to pierce a skin of the bird <NUM> for performing a subcutaneous, intramuscular, or other administration of vaccine or other fluids. The fluid discharge opening(s) <NUM> may be positioned or positionable in or through an opening <NUM> of an abutment member <NUM>. In operation, the abutment member <NUM> may be pressed against the bird <NUM>, allowing the fluid to be discharged to the bird via the fluid discharge opening(s) <NUM>.

The actuator carrier <NUM> with the fluid delivery device(s) arranged thereon and the abutment member <NUM> may implement a vaccination head <NUM>. The vaccination head <NUM> may be positionable relative to the support <NUM> for performing the vaccination.

The bird vaccination system <NUM> comprises an actuator <NUM>. The actuator <NUM> may be operative to displace the applicator carrier <NUM>. The actuator <NUM> may comprise a drive <NUM>, which may include one or several motors. The actuator <NUM> may comprise a linkage <NUM> coupled between the drive <NUM> and the applicator carrier <NUM>. The linkage <NUM> may comprise one, two or more than two lever arms. One, two or more than two lever arms of the linkage may be pivotably attached to the applicator carrier. The actuator <NUM> may comprise a robot, e.g., a two-axis robot or a three-axis robot.

The actuator <NUM> may be operative such that a position of the applicator carrier <NUM> is changed when the actuator <NUM> is operated, while the orientation of the applicator carrier <NUM> may remain the same as the applicator carrier <NUM> is displaced under action of the actuator <NUM>. The actuator <NUM> may be operative to displace the applicator carrier <NUM> with the fluid discharge opening <NUM> provided thereon at least along the first direction <NUM>. The actuator <NUM> may be operative to displace the applicator carrier <NUM> with the fluid discharge opening <NUM> provided thereon along a second direction <NUM>, which may be a vertical direction. The actuator <NUM> may be operative to displace the applicator carrier <NUM> with the fluid discharge opening <NUM> provided thereon along a third direction <NUM>, which may be a horizontal direction transverse to the first direction <NUM>.

The bird vaccination system <NUM> comprises one or several control circuit(s) <NUM>. The control circuit(s) <NUM> may comprise one or several integrated circuit(s) (IC(s)) <NUM>'. The IC(s) <NUM>' may comprise any one or any combination of a processor, a controller, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or any combination of these or other integrated circuits. The control circuit(s) <NUM> may be operative to control the actuator <NUM>. The control circuit(s) <NUM> may be operative to control the actuator based on at least one image of the bird <NUM>.

For illustration, and as will be explained in more detail below, the control circuit(s) <NUM> may be operative to.

all while the bird <NUM> is continuously moving in the first direction <NUM> at a transport speed schematically indicated by arrow <NUM>. The control circuit(s) <NUM> may control the actuator <NUM> responsive to the image data such that the applicator carrier <NUM> transports at a varying speed that depends on the image data, to thereby position the fluid discharge opening <NUM> proximate the target position.

The bird vaccination system <NUM> may comprise a camera <NUM> for image data acquisition. The camera <NUM> may be operative to capture a 2D image, a 3D image (i.e., an image having depth information for each one of a plurality of pixels), and/or an infrared (IR) image. The camera <NUM> may comprise an image sensor <NUM>. The image sensor <NUM> may be coupled to the control circuit(s) <NUM> via an interface <NUM>. The interface <NUM> may be a data interface. The interface <NUM> may be a wired or wireless interface.

The camera <NUM> may be provided separately from the support <NUM> or may be mounted on the support. Providing the camera <NUM> separately from the support <NUM> provides enhanced versatility. Mounting the camera <NUM> on the support <NUM> provides enhanced convenience for the user.

The camera <NUM> is positioned generally upstream, along the first direction <NUM>, of the applicator carrier <NUM>. , the camera <NUM> and applicator carrier <NUM> are arranged such that the bird <NUM> passes the camera <NUM> before it passes the applicator carrier <NUM>.

The control circuit(s) <NUM> may be operative to control the actuator <NUM> responsive to the image data received at the interface <NUM> and/or received from the camera <NUM>. The camera <NUM> and/or control circuit(s) <NUM> may be operative to post-process captured image data. For illustration, 3D surface contour data may be derived from the image data captured by the image sensor <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a bird handling system comprising a camera <NUM> that is implemented as a structured-light 3D camera. The camera <NUM> may comprise a projector <NUM> operative to output structured light. The image sensor <NUM> captures one or several time-sequential frames showing the bird <NUM> while it is being illuminated by the structured light. The projector <NUM> may comprise a light source <NUM>, which may be a laser light source. The projector <NUM> may comprise optics <NUM> to generate the structured light. The optics <NUM> may comprise one or several scanners (such as galvanometer scanners), one or several aperture(s), one or several lens(es), and/or one or several beam splitter(s).

Alternatively, a stereo-camera may be used to captured 3D image data.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the projector <NUM> may output light in a triangular or fan shape <NUM> of visible or infrared light. A line <NUM> of the light may impinge on the bird <NUM>, causing the line <NUM> to curve in accordance with the surface contour of the bird <NUM>. Several image frames captured by the image sensor <NUM> in a time-sequential manner may show the bird <NUM> with the line <NUM> projected onto it, as the bird <NUM> is moved past the line <NUM> by the conveying mechanism <NUM>. The control circuit(s) <NUM> may control the actuator <NUM> in dependence on 3D image information derived from the time-sequential image frames.

<FIG> is a flow chart of a method <NUM>. The method <NUM> may be performed automatically by the bird vaccination system <NUM>.

At step <NUM>, image data acquisition is performed. Image data acquisition may comprise capturing 3D and/or IR image information. Image data acquisition may comprise capturing 3D surface contour information of the bird, using a structured-light 3D camera.

At step <NUM>, a target position is identified at which the fluid discharge opening is to impinge on the bird. Identifying the target position may comprise one or several of: determining, using the image data acquired at step <NUM>, a position of the bird <NUM> relative to a retaining bracket on which the bird <NUM> is retained and/or physiological characteristics of the bird <NUM>; and identifying the target position of the fluid discharge opening responsive to the position of the bird <NUM> relative to the retaining bracket <NUM> and/or the physiological characteristics of the bird <NUM>.

At step <NUM>, the actuator <NUM> may be controlled responsive to the target position identified at step <NUM>. Controlling the actuator <NUM> may comprise controlling the speed at which the applicator carrier <NUM> is displaced along the first direction <NUM>. Controlling the actuator <NUM> may comprise controlling a rotary speed of an output shaft of a motor of the actuator <NUM> and/or controlling a servo-drive responsive to the target position identified at step <NUM>.

The actuator <NUM> may be controlled in such a manner that,.

Steps <NUM>-<NUM> may be repeated in an iterative manner to successively administer fluid (e.g., vaccination fluid) to birds. The repetition rate may be fairly high to, e.g., accommodate vaccination of at least <NUM>, at least <NUM>, at least <NUM>, at least <NUM>, at least <NUM>, or at least <NUM> birds per hour.

<FIG> is schematic diagram illustrating operation of the bird vaccination system <NUM>. 3D image data or IR image data is processed to identify a target position <NUM> at which the fluid discharge opening <NUM> is to impinge on the bird <NUM>. The fluid delivery device <NUM> with the fluid discharge opening <NUM> is displaced to effect a relative displacement of the applicator carrier <NUM> relative to the bird <NUM> while the bird <NUM> itself is moved at a transport speed <NUM>. The actuator <NUM> is controlled responsive to the image data in such a manner that the fluid discharge opening <NUM> impinges on the bird <NUM> at the target position <NUM>.

The fluid delivery device <NUM> with the fluid discharge opening <NUM> may perform a reciprocating movement <NUM> along the first direction <NUM>, to return the fluid delivery device <NUM> to an initial position once a vaccination has been completed.

<FIG> is a schematic view of a time-dependent velocity of the applicator carrier <NUM>. The time-dependent velocity may be implemented to (a) correctly position the fluid discharge opening <NUM> relative to the bird <NUM> in a first time interval <NUM>, (b) displace the applicator carrier <NUM> with the fluid discharge opening <NUM> jointly with the bird in a second time interval <NUM>, and (c) return the applicator carrier <NUM> to an initial position in a third time interval <NUM> once fluid administration (e.g., a vaccination) has been completed.

The velocity profile in the first time interval <NUM> is dependent on the acquired image data. For illustration, the applicator carrier <NUM> with the fluid discharge opening <NUM> may need to be displaced faster or slower than the travel speed vt at which the bird is being moved, in order to ensure that the fluid discharge opening <NUM> is positioned in a manner that depends on the position and/or size of the bird, as reflected by the image data.

The velocity in the second time interval <NUM> may be substantially constant and equal to the travel speed vt at which the bird is being moved by the conveying mechanism <NUM>.

The velocity in the third time interval <NUM> may be independent of the image data and may cause the applicator carrier <NUM> to be returned to an initial position before a next operating cycle starts.

<FIG> shows exemplary surface contour data <NUM> of a bird derived from a series of image frames captured using a 3D line camera <NUM>. The surface contour data <NUM> may be a point cloud, with each point representing a point on a surface of the bird <NUM>. The surface contour data <NUM> may be used to identify a location of one or several of: a breast of the bird <NUM>, wings of the bird <NUM>, eyes of the bird <NUM>, for administering a fluid (e.g., a vaccination fluid).

<FIG> are partial views of the bird vaccination system. The vaccination head <NUM> is operative to be displaced by the actuator <NUM>. The vaccination head <NUM> comprises the applicator carrier <NUM> and the abutment member <NUM>. The abutment member <NUM> has one or several openings <NUM> through which the fluid discharge opening is positioned or positionable for administering fluid to the bird <NUM>.

The abutment member <NUM> and the fluid delivery device with the fluid discharge opening <NUM> may be actively pushed against the bird <NUM> when the applicator carrier <NUM> is positioned as desired for administering the fluid. The abutment member <NUM> may have a contoured surface <NUM> that is shaped to abuttingly receive a portion of the bird's body, such as breast, wing, or head of the bird <NUM>.

The abutment member <NUM> may be reversibly releasable attached to the applicator carrier <NUM>. The bird vaccination system <NUM> may comprise one or several additional abutment members that are all reversibly releasably attachable to the applicator carrier <NUM>. The different abutment members may correspond to different sizes, shapes, and/or body portions of the birds, depending on the birds that are being vaccinated (e.g., following grading of the birds) and/or depending on the part of the body to which fluid is to be administered (e.g., breast, wing, eye).

The abutment member <NUM> may be arranged so as to be displaceable relative to the applicator carrier <NUM>. The abutment member <NUM> may be displaceable relative to the applicator carrier <NUM> along at least a third direction <NUM> which is orthogonal to the first direction <NUM> (along which the bird <NUM> is being moved past the bird vaccination system <NUM>) and the second direction <NUM> (which is the vertical direction). The abutment member <NUM> and/or the applicator carrier <NUM> may comprise a linear guide mechanism <NUM> that may include tubular sections and rods matingly received in the tubular sections.

The bird vaccination system <NUM> may comprise one or several bias member(s) <NUM> that bias the abutment member <NUM> to a rest position. For fluid administration, the abutment member <NUM> must be displaced against the bias of the bias member(s) <NUM>.

A fluid delivery assembly <NUM> is mounted on the applicator carrier <NUM>. The fluid delivery assembly <NUM> may include one or several syringe barrel(s) and/or one or several needle(s) for administering fluid. The fluid delivery assembly <NUM> may be mounted on the applicator carrier <NUM> via a suspension <NUM>. The suspension <NUM> may allow the fluid discharge opening(s) <NUM> to pivot relative to the applicator carrier <NUM>, to better conform to the bird's body. The suspension <NUM> may allow the fluid discharge opening(s) <NUM> to pivot about a first pivot axis <NUM> and, optionally, about a second pivot axis. The suspension <NUM> may be a cardanic suspension.

The fluid delivery assembly <NUM> may include two or more than two fluid discharge openings (e.g., more than two needle tips). Each of the different fluid discharge openings may be operative to dispense a different one of several fluids.

The fluid delivery assembly <NUM> may comprise connectors <NUM> for receiving and/or dispensing fluid, such as vaccination fluid. Reservoirs for the fluid may be provided locally in the fluid delivery assembly <NUM> and/or separately from the vaccination head <NUM>. Different ones of the connectors <NUM> may be in fluid communication with different ones of the fluid discharge openings.

<FIG> are perspective views of the bird vaccination system <NUM>. The bird vaccination system <NUM> may comprise one or several locking mechanisms <NUM> for fixedly locking the bird vaccination system <NUM> in position proximate to the conveying mechanism <NUM>.

A housing <NUM> may be arranged on the support <NUM> for accommodating various electronic components, such as the control circuit(s) <NUM>, the interface (<NUM>), and, optionally, at least an image sensor <NUM> and/or a structured light projector <NUM> of the camera <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view of a bird handling system. The bird handling system comprises the conveying mechanism <NUM> and the bird vaccination system <NUM>. The conveying mechanism <NUM> comprises retaining brackets <NUM> that retain the bird while it is being transported by conveying mechanism <NUM>. Functional units such as weighting and/or grading units may be incorporated into the conveying mechanism <NUM>.

A computer of the conveying mechanism <NUM> may be communicatively coupled to the bird vaccination system <NUM>. Information on, e.g., the weight of one or several bird(s) may be communicated from the computer of the conveying mechanism <NUM> to the control circuit(s) <NUM> of the bird vaccination system for dosage adjustment or other purposes. Information on the vaccination may be communicated form the vaccination system <NUM> to the conveying mechanism <NUM> for use in, e.g., grading or determining the position at which a bird is to be released from the conveying mechanism <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a retaining bracket of the conveying mechanism <NUM>. The retaining bracket <NUM> may be configured and operative as described in, e.g., <CIT>. The retaining bracket <NUM> may comprise a main member <NUM> and two generally V-shaped members <NUM>, <NUM>. Each V-shaped member <NUM>, <NUM> has a vertex segment <NUM> operative to engage the bird by its scapula-humeral joint. The V-shaped members <NUM>, <NUM> may be displaceable relative to the main member <NUM> for receiving and/or releasing the bird. The retaining bracket <NUM> may have an engagement section <NUM> for engaging a conveyor of the conveying mechanism <NUM>.

Various effects and advantages are attained by the systems and methods according to embodiments. The systems and methods afford efficient positioning of the fluid discharge opening for administering fluid(s) to a bird. Fluid(s), such as vaccination fluids, can be administered to a bird in an efficient manner. Differences in bird position relative to its retaining bracket and/or differences in bird physiology may be taken into consideration when controlling an actuator for positioning the fluid discharge opening. The control of the actuator may be performed in a fully or at least partially automated manner, affording high throughput and fast process times.

While embodiments may use 3D surface contour information for performing control operations in a fluid administration system, the systems and methods may process IR images to determine how a fluid discharge opening is to be positioned.

While embodiments may use 3D surface contour information for performing control operations in a fluid administration system, the systems and methods may perform a feature extraction based on 2D or 3D images to determine how a fluid discharge opening is to be positioned.

Claim 1:
A bird vaccination system (<NUM>) operative to perform a vaccination of a bird (<NUM>) while the bird (<NUM>) is retained on a conveying mechanism (<NUM>) and transported by the conveying mechanism (<NUM>) along a first direction (<NUM>), the bird vaccination system (<NUM>) comprising:
a fluid discharge device (<NUM>; <NUM>) comprising a fluid discharge opening (<NUM>) operative to discharge at least one vaccination fluid to the bird (<NUM>);
at least one actuator (<NUM>) operative to effect a displacement of at least the fluid discharge opening (<NUM>);
at least one control circuit (<NUM>) operative to control the at least one actuator (<NUM>); and
a data acquisition device (<NUM>, <NUM>) operative to capture image data of the bird (<NUM>) retained on the conveying mechanism (<NUM>);
wherein the at least one control circuit (<NUM>) is operative to control the at least one actuator (<NUM>) to adjust a position of the fluid discharge opening (<NUM>) relative to the bird (<NUM>) based on the image data for performing the vaccination while the bird (<NUM>) is being moved by the conveying mechanism (<NUM>),
characterised in that
the data acquisition device (<NUM>, <NUM>) or the at least one control circuit (<NUM>) comprises at least one integrated circuit operative to compute surface contour data (<NUM>) of the bird (<NUM>), wherein the at least one control circuit (<NUM>) is operative to control the at least one actuator (<NUM>) based on the surface contour data (<NUM>), wherein the surface contour data (<NUM>) comprises 3D surface contour data and/or a point cloud.