Technological Field:

The present invention relates to a chicken classification machine to be used for classifying and separating chickens grown in chicken farms according to their weight.

State of the Art:

Chickens are a type of poultry used for meat and eggs. Research shows that the first domesticated chicken appeared in China around 10,000 BC. There are many important parameters to be considered in chicken breeding. One of them is the weight of the chicken. In case they are same species, the physical development of each chicken is different from each other. For this reason, chickens are classified according to their weight. The amount of feed to be fed to chickens with different weights is different from each other. The productivity of chickens is high which are grown accordingly. The invention, which is the subject of the specification, describes a machine to classify chickens in poultry farms according to their weight.

In the state of the art, chickens are classified by manual weighing by farm workers. Manual measurement operations are slow, classification of all chickens in the farm causes waste of time and causes inefficient use of labor force.

In the state of the art, erroneous measurements and classifications are made because chickens are in motion while being weighed.

Consequently, a chicken classification machine is required in which the state of the art is exceeded, the disadvantages are eliminated.

Brief Description of the Invention: The invention is a chicken classification machine which exceeds the state of the art, eliminates the disadvantages and has some additional features.

The aim of the invention is to provide a chicken classification machine which weighs and separates chickens in an automated manner so as to divide chickens into four classes according to their weight.

Another aim of the invention is to obtain a chicken classification machine which measures the weight of chickens for three seconds to correct erroneous measurements caused by the movement of chickens and determines the final measurement result by averaging.

Another aim of the invention is to obtain a new chicken classification machine in which chickens, whose weight is measured, are pushed out of separate sections according to their classes.

Another aim of the invention is to obtain a new chicken classification machine, in which the data of chickens whose weight is measured can be transferred to digital media.

In order to fulfill all aims mentioned above and which will emerge from the detailed description below, the present invention is a chicken classification machine to be used for classifying and sorting chickens grown in poultry farms according to their weights, characterized in that; it comprises at least one weight measuring unit which has at least one scale which is movably configured at the base that measures the weights of the chickens and transmits the measurement data to the control card, at least one control unit which analyzes and stores the measured values in the weight measuring unit, and transmits a signal to the movement drive unit so as to remove the chicken in the appropriate direction according to the analysis results, at least one movement drive unit with four propulsive pistons that move the scale to move the chicken away from one of the A, B, C, D directions in line with the signal from the control unit. Description of the Figures:

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, thus the characteristics of the invention will be understood clearly. However, the aim of this is not to limit the invention with such certain embodiments. On the contrary, it is aimed to cover all alternatives, amendments and equivalents which may be contained in the field defined by the accompanying claims. It is to be understood that the details shown are only shown for the sake of illustrating the preferred embodiments of the present invention and presented for both illustrating the methods and for providing description of the rules of the invention and the conceptual features of the invention to be easily understood. In these figures;

Figure - 1 is a perspective view of the inventive chicken classification machine. Figure - 2 is a perspective view of the inner elements of the inventive chicken classification machine.

Figure-3 is the perspective view of the weighing movement of the inventive chicken classification machine.

The figures which enable to clarify this invention are enumerated as mentioned in the attached figure and they are given with their names herein below.

Description of the References: 1. Chicken classification machine

10. Control unit

11. Cover

12. Handle

13. Display 14. Start-stop button

15. Control card

20. Weight measuring unit

21. Scale

22. Side cover 221. Space

30. Movement drive unit

31. Propulsive piston A, B, C, D: Directions Description of the Invention:

In this detailed description, the inventive chicken classification machine (1) is described by means of examples only for clarifying the subject matter such that no limiting effect is created. In the description, a chicken classification machine (1) to be used for classifying and separating chickens grown in chicken farms according to their weight is disclosed.

Figure - 1 is a perspective view of the inventive ceiling suspension system (1). Accordingly, the chicken classification machine (1) consists of the following; a weight measuring unit (20) that measures the weight of the chickens in its middle section and releases the same from the side covers (22) located on its four side surfaces, a motion drive unit (30) that is located under the weight measuring unit (20) and drives the force applied during the release of the chickens and a control unit (10) at the top that monitors the operation of the motion drive unit (30), analyzes and stores the measurement data in the weight measuring unit (20). Control unit (10) is covered by means of a cover (11). There is a start-stop button (14) on the cover (11 ) that operates the chicken classification method (1 ). The cover (11) also comprises a handle (12) to lift the cover (11) and reach the control card (15) located in the lower part of the cover (11 ). There is a display (13) on the cover (11 ). Weight measurements and class data of chickens can be followed on the display (13). In the invention, there are spaces (221) for monitoring the weighed chickens in the weight measuring unit (20) in at least one of the side covers (22) located in the weight measuring unit (20).

In Figure 2; a perspective view of the inner elements of the inventive ceiling suspension system (1) is given. Accordingly, there is a control card (15) at the lower part of the cover (11 ) in the control unit (10) of the chicken classification machine (1 ). The control card (15) controls the operation of the elements of the invention and stores the weight measurement data. The stored data can be transmitted to digital media servers via USB memory sticks, wired connections and/or wireless connections. The control card (15) is configured accordingly. The control card (15) has an additional task. When the chickens are left on the weight measuring unit (20) to be classified, they fall onto the scale (21 ). Since the chickens on the scale (21 ) are in motion, they are measured for 3 seconds, it is released from the appropriate side cover (22) after the average of the 3-second measurements results are taken. Herein, 3-second averages of the measurements are calculated by means of the control card (15). Each of the side covers (22) is an outlet for a chicken class. There are 4 classes in total. These classes are determined according to the weight of the chickens. After determining which of the side covers (22) the chickens will come out of is determined by the control card (15), the propulsive pistons (31) located in the movement drive unit (30) operate and lift the scale (21 ) in the relevant direction. There are four propulsive pistons (31) in the movement drive unit (30). In Figure 2, only two of the propulsive pistons (31) are visible. The other two are not visible as they are behind the corner profiles. Each propulsive piston (31 ) lifts the scale (21 ) in one direction. The chicken on the scale (21 ) whose measurement has been completed leaves the chicken classification machine (1 ) through a suitable side cover (11 ) according to the lifting direction of the scale (21 ).

In Figure 3, a view showing the movement of the scale (21 ) in the weight measuring unit (20) of the inventive chicken classification machine (1) to classify the chickens is given. Accordingly, the scale (21 ) in the weight measuring unit (20) measures the chickens placed on the same for 3 seconds.

Classification determination is made by calculating the average of the measurement data received by the control card (15). After the classification determination is made, the relevant chicken is sent away from the side cover (22) located in the direction (A, B, C, D) of the relevant classification. The process of sending away is carried out when the propulsive pistons (31 ) in the movement drive unit (30) lift one side of the scale (21 ) into the air.

There are four propulsive pistons (31 ) used in the invention. The propulsive pistons (31 ) are preferably pneumatically driven. However, optionally hydraulically driven versions can also be used.

In the invention, the control card (15) in the control unit (10) can transmit the data stored on it to digital media servers via USB memory sticks, wired connections and/or wireless connections.

In the invention, A, B, C, D directions are the directions where chickens of different weights are separated. Classes of chickens separated according to these aspects can be large chicken, large-medium chicken, small-medium chicken, and small chicken.

A suitable feeding plan is applied to the separated chickens by means of the inventive chicken classification machine (1 ). Both the productivity of chickens is increased and the feeding plan of the enterprise can be applied appropriately.

The chicken classification method provided by the inventive chicken classification machine (1 ) comprises the following process steps;

• keeping the chicken placed in the weight measuring unit on the scale (21 ) for 3 seconds,

• averaging the weight measurement data taken for three seconds with a control card (15),

• assigning one of the four classes to the chicken according to the average measurement data of the control card (15),

• sending a signal to the propulsive pistons (31 ) in the movement drive unit (30) after the assignment by means of the control card (15),

• rising of one of the four propulsive pistons (31 ) after the signal coming from the control card (15), (the propulsive piston that will allow the chicken to exit in the direction appropriate to its class) and lifting of the one side of the scale (21 ),

• moving the scale (21 ) and transferring the chicken to the relevant class, which is any of the A, B, C, D directions.