FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an improved ear tag for identifying livestock and a method of manufacture thereof, and has particular relevance to ear tags intended to be applied to pigs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to identify livestock by attaching plastic tags to each animal’s ears, such tags being marked with visually discernible identification information, such as numbers or letters (for example sequential numbering), to allow individual animals to be uniquely identified.

Such tags, bearing specific information, in particular a country code (e.g. UK), a herd identification mark and a six-digit individual animal identification number, are often required to comply with legislation, wherein official ear tags for cattle, sheep and goats, pigs and deer must undergo an approval process before they can be sold and the suppliers must also be registered. Typically such identification information is applied to the plastic tags via the tag manufacturer (particularly where required to comply with legislation) using a suitable printing process, typically by laser marking wherein the substrate from which the tag is made reacts to laser light to change colour, or manually at the point of use using a permanent marker pen, particularly where the tag is for the farmers own use rather than to comply with legislation.

A problem with the use of such known ear tags, in particular when applied to pigs, is that the tags tend to become soiled and the identification information can then become difficult to read until the tag has been cleaned.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved ear tag which overcomes the abovementioned problem. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect provides a method to manufacture a livestock identification tag comprising the steps of providing a pre-formed, generally flat tag blank and applying selected indicia to the blank using an additive manufacturing process such that the indicia are raised above the surface of the blank.

A further aspect provides a method for the manufacture of livestock identification ear tags comprising the steps of selecting a plurality of tag blanks as substrates for production of said identification tags and applying selected indicia to each ear tag using a 3D printing apparatus, said 3D printing apparatus applying a plastic material onto the tag blanks to form said indicia such that said indicia are raised above the surface of the tag blanks.

The indicia may comprise, for example, numbers, letters, symbols and combinations thereof.

Methods of the present invention may comprise a pre-deposition phase to prepare a blank for the deposition of indicia.

The pre-deposition phase may, for example, comprise disrupting the surface of a blank onto which the indicia is to be deposited, the disruption being generally in the shape of the indicia to be deposited. It has been found that this type of preparation improves the bonding of the indicia onto the tag when it is subsequently deposited.

The pre-deposition phase may comprise using a 3D printing apparatus extrusion head to heat the blank in the shape of the indicia.

The extrusion head may be heated generally to the temperature to be used for extrusion of material for the indicia (but no extrusion occurs in the pre-deposition phase).

The method may comprise the step of cleaning the surface of the blank with a solvent before forming indicia thereon. The tag blank and the indicia may be formed from compatible thermoplastic materials to facilitate bonding of the indicia to the tag blank.

The tag blank may be formed from polyurethane.

The indica may be formed from polyurethane.

The method may comprise the step of coating the tag with a hydrophobic material.

3D printing apparatus may be operably interfaced with a computer, software being executed on said computer to thereby control the application of unique indicia on each tag by the 3D printing apparatus.

Multiple layers of a thermoplastic material may be deposited on the surface of a tag blank to form raised indicia.

A further aspect provides a livestock identification tag comprising a tag having indicia applied thereto in relief by additive manufacturing.

A further aspect provides a system for providing ear tags for identifying livestock comprising a plurality of plastic tag blanks, a 3D printing apparatus, a computer and software executable on said computer, said software being adapted to control the 3D printing apparatus to apply selected indicia on each tag blank such that said indicia are raised above the surface of the tag blanks.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a method for the manufacture of livestock identification ear tags comprising the steps of selecting a plurality of tag blanks as substrates for production of said identification tags and applying selected indicia to each ear tag using a 3D printing apparatus, said 3D printing apparatus applying a plastic material onto the tag blanks to form said indicia such that said indicia are raised above the surface of the tag blanks. The tag blanks may be made from polyurethane. The plastic material applied to the tag blanks via the 3D printing apparatus may also comprise polyurethane.

The plastic material applied to the tag blanks via the 3D printing apparatus may be mixed with a pigment.

In an embodiment a method comprises extruding said plastic material through a nozzle of the 3D printing apparatus to form said indicia on the tag blanks. Said plastic material may be extruded through said nozzle at a temperature of between 230°C and 240°C.

Methods may comprise applying a plurality of layers of said plastic material onto the tag blanks to form said indicia. The method may comprise depositing a bottom layer, at least one intermediate layer, and a top layer of said plastic material onto the tag blanks to form said indicia. In one embodiment the method may comprise extruding said bottom and top layers at a rate of 30 to 45 mm/second, and extruding said at least one intermediate layer at a rate of 60 to 80 mm/second.

The method may further include coating each tag with a hydrophobic material once said indicia have been applied to the tag blanks.

The method may further include cleaning the surface of each tag blank with a solvent before forming said indicia thereon.

Plastic material used to form said indicia may comprise a thermoplastic. Said plastic material may, for example, have a melting point of approximately 220°C and a glass transition temperature of -24°C.

3D printing apparatus used for methods may be operably interfaced with a computer, software being executed on said computer to thereby control the application of unique indicia on each tag by said 3D printing apparatus. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an ear tag for identifying livestock comprising a plastic tag blank having indicia applied thereto, wherein said indicia are raised above the surface of the tag blank.

Said indicia may comprise a plurality of layers of a plastic material applied to the tag blank via a 3D printing apparatus.

The tag blank and the indicia may be formed from compatible thermoplastic materials to facilitate bonding of the indicia to the tag blank.

In one embodiment said tag blank and said indicia may be formed from polyurethane.

The plastic material forming the indicia may incorporate one or more pigments to provide a colour contrast between the indicia and the tag blank.

The indicia may incorporate a fluorescent material.

The tag blank and indicia may be coated with a hydrophobic material.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for providing ear tags for identifying livestock comprising a plurality of plastic tag blanks, a 3D printing apparatus, a computer and software executable on said computer, said software being adapted to control the 3D printing apparatus to apply selected indicia on each tag blank such that said indicia are raised above the surface of the tag blanks. In one embodiment said 3D printing apparatus and computer may be adapted for applying said indicia to said plurality of tag blanks on site at livestock facilities.

Further aspects and embodiments are listed in the following numbered paragraphs.

1. A method for the manufacture of livestock identification ear tags comprising the steps of selecting a plurality of tag blanks as substrates for production of said identification tags and applying selected indicia to each ear tag using a 3D printing apparatus, said 3D printing apparatus applying a plastic material onto the tag blanks to form said indicia such that said indicia are raised above the surface of the tag blanks.

2. A method according to paragraph 1, wherein said tag blanks are made from polyurethane.

3. A method according to paragraph 2, wherein said plastic material deposited on the tag blanks via the 3D printing apparatus comprising polyurethane.

4. A method according to any of paragraphs 1 to 3, wherein said plastic material is mixed with a pigment.

5. A method according to any preceding paragraph, comprising extruding said plastic material through a nozzle of the 3D printing apparatus to form said indicia on the tag blanks.

6. A method according to 5, comprising extruding said plastic material through said nozzle at a temperature of between 230°C and 240°C.

7. A method according to any preceding paragraph, comprising applying a plurality of layers of said plastic material onto the tag blanks to form said indicia.

8. A method according to paragraph 7, comprising depositing a bottom layer, at least one intermediate layer, and a top layer of said plastic material onto the tag blanks to form said indicia.

9. A method according to paragraph 8, comprising extruding said bottom and top layers at a rate of 30 to 45 mm/second, and extruding said at least one intermediate layer at a rate of 60 to 80 mm/second.

10. A method according to any preceding paragraph, comprising coating each tag with a hydrophobic material once said indicia have been applied to the tag blanks. 11. A method according to any preceding paragraph, comprising cleaning the surface of each tag blank with a solvent before forming said indicia thereon.

12. A method according to any preceding paragraph, wherein said plastic material used to form said indicia comprises a thermoplastic.

13. A method according to paragraph 12, wherein said plastic material has a melting point of approximately 220°C.

14. A method according to any preceding paragraph, wherein said plastic material used to form said indicia has a glass transition temperature of -24°C.

15. A method according to any preceding paragraph, wherein said 3D printing apparatus is operably interfaced with a computer, software being executed on said computer to thereby control the application of unique indicia on each tag by said 3D printing apparatus.

16. An ear tag for identifying livestock comprising a plastic tag blank having indicia applied thereto, wherein said indicia are raised above the surface of the tag blank.

17. An ear tag according to paragraph 16, wherein said indicia comprise a plurality of layers of a plastic material applied to the tag blank via a 3D printing apparatus.

18. An ear tag according to paragraph 17, wherein said tag blank and said indicia are formed from compatible thermoplastic materials to facilitate bonding of the indicia to the tag blank.

19. An ear tag according to paragraph 18, wherein said tag blank and said indicia are formed from polyurethane.

20. An ear tag according to any of paragraphs 16 to 19, wherein the material forming said indicia incorporate one or more pigments to provide a colour contrast between the indicia and the tag blank. 21. An ear tag according to paragraph 20, wherein said indicia incorporate a fluorescent material.

22. An ear tag according to any of paragraphs 16 to 21 , wherein said tag blank and indicia are coated with a hydrophobic material.

23. A system for providing ear tags for identifying livestock comprising a plurality of plastic tag blanks, a 3D printing apparatus, a computer and software executable on said computer, said software being adapted to control the 3D printing apparatus to apply selected indicia on each tag blank such that said indicia are raised above the surface of the tag blanks.

24. A system according to paragraph 23, wherein said 3D printing apparatus and computer are adapted for applying said indicia to said plurality of tag blanks on site at livestock facilities.

Different aspects and embodiments of the invention may be used separately or together.

Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with the features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combination other than those explicitly set out in the claims. Each aspect can be carried out independently of the other aspects or in combination with one or more of the other aspects.

The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Example embodiments are shown and described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and implement the systems and processes herein described. It is important to understand that embodiments can be provided in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein. Accordingly, while embodiments can be modified in various ways and take on various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and described in detail below as examples. There is no intent to limit to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims should be included. Elements of the example embodiments are consistently denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings and detailed description where appropriate. The invention is not limited in the design and shape of the structures shown in the drawings.

The terminology used herein to describe embodiments is not intended to limit the scope. The articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are singular in that they have a single referent, however the use of the singular form in the present document should not preclude the presence of more than one referent. In other words, elements referred to in the singular can number one or more, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, items, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, items, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein are to be interpreted as is customary in the art. It will be further understood that terms in common usage should also be interpreted as is customary in the relevant art and not in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Ear tags formed in accordance with the present invention and methods of manufacture will now be described, by way of example only. Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shows a perspective view of an ear tag generally indicated 1 formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As illustrated in Figure 1, an ear tag 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention comprises a tag blank 2, preferably formed from a polymeric material, more preferably a thermoplastic, each tag blank 2 defining a substrate to which is applied indicia 4, such as numbers and/or letters, adapted to uniquely identify an animal to which the ear tag is to be attached. As is conventional in the art, each tag blank incorporates an attachment means 6 to enable the tag to be secured to the ear of an animal, for example by means of a fastening pin passing through the ear.

The indicia 4 may comprise multiple layers of a plastic material applied to each tag blank by means of a 3D printing apparatus such that the indicia 4 are raised above the surface of the tag blanks 2, enabling the indicia to 4 be visually discernible even when the tag is soiled with mud or other contamination which would otherwise render the indicia unreadable.

Preferably the plastic material forming the indicia 4 is of the same type or a compatible type as used to form the tag blanks 2, such that the indicia 4 are strongly and reliably bonded to the tag blanks 2 during the 3D printing process. Preferably both the tag blanks 2 and the indicia 4 are formed from a flexible thermoplastic. In a preferred embodiment both the tag blanks 2 and the indicia 4 are formed from a thermoplastic polyurethane.

Preferably the tag blanks 2 are coloured with a suitable pigment, for example a yellow pigment, to improve visibility of the tags. The plastic material comprising the indicia 4 may incorporate a pigment, such as carbon black, to provide a colour contrast between the indicia 4 and the tag blanks 2. The plastic material comprising the indicia 4 may incorporate a fluorescent material. Each tag may be coated with a hydrophobic material once the indicia 4 have been applied thereto, in order to prevent mud and dirty water from sticking to the surface of the tag.

As discussed above, indicia 4 are preferably applied to each tag blank 2 by means of a 3D printing apparatus, whereby multiple layers of a thermoplastic material are deposited on the surface of each tag blank to form raised indicia on the tag blank.

An example method of forming the indicia 4 on each tag blank 2 will now be described in more detail.

Firstly the surface of the tag blank 2 is cleaned using a solvent, such as isopropanol, to remove any grease or oil residues therefrom. The tag blank 2 may be affixed to a printing bed of the 3D printing apparatus using adhesive or tape. The printing bed may be heated to pre-heat the tag blank 2. Selected indicia 4 are applied to the tag blank 2 in the form of multiple layers of a plastic material by extruding said plastic material through an extrusion nozzle of the 3D printing apparatus at a temperature of 230°C to 240°C. Top and bottom layers of the indicia 4 may be applied at an extrusion rate of 30 to 35 mm/second while one or more infill or intermediate layers may be applied at an extrusion rate of 60 to 80 mm/second. A cooling device, such as a cooling fan, may be used to facilitate solidification of each layer of the indicia, particularly after application of one or more initial layers.

A preferred plastic material for forming (3D printing) the indicia 4 comprises a flexible thermoplastic polyurethane filament providing an optimised and reliable bond with the flexible polyurethane tag blanks 2. Such filament preferably has a melting point of 220°C and a glass transition temperature of -24°C and a Shore hardness of 95 Shore A.

The 3D printing apparatus is preferably operably interfaced with a computer having software specially developed to control the 3D printing apparatus to apply selected indicia 4 to each of a plurality of tag blanks 2 to uniquely identify the animals to which the tags are attached and/or provide other information relating to the animal. The 3D printing apparatus and computer can be of a portable and low cost type to allow the indicia 4 to applied to the tag blanks 2 on site at livestock facilities.

Figures 2 to 4 show example tags 101, 201, 301 formed in accordance with the present invention.

Figures 5A to 5C illustrate steps in a method conducted in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 5A

In a first step, a blank tag 402 is provided. The tag 402 is a generally flat, flag- shape plate formed, in this embodiment, from a plastics material such as polyurethane.

Figure 5B

In a second step the blank 402 is prepared to receive indicia. A 3D printing extrusion head is heated up ready to extrude material. Prior to any material extrusion the heated head/pin is used to “draw” the shape of the indicia onto one side of the tag (indicated as reference numeral 410). This disrupts/prepares the surface of the tag so that subsequently when plastics material is extruded through the printing head it bonds more readily to the tag.

Figure 5C

The three-dimensional indicia 404 is then produced using one or more layers of material so that it is raised from the surface of the blank.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described herein but can be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.