Vaccination system for delivering vaccine to avian pullets, and associated methods, devices, and assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10350041-B2
Application number	US-201414543086-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2014
Priority date	Nov 25, 2013
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

A vaccination system for delivering a vaccine substance to avian pullets is provided. Such a system includes a vaccine delivery assembly configured to perform a vaccine delivery procedure for delivering a vaccine substance to the avian pullets. A plurality of positioning devices is provided, with each positioning device receiving an avian pullet for presentation to the vaccine delivery assembly. Each positioning device is transported to individually mate with the vaccine delivery assembly to deliver the vaccine substance during the vaccine delivery procedure. Associated methods, devices, and assemblies are also provided.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A vaccination system for delivering a vaccine substance to avian pullets, comprising:
a vaccine delivery assembly configured to perform a vaccine delivery procedure for delivering a plurality of vaccine substances to an avian pullet, the vaccine delivery assembly having a plurality of delivery devices such that the vaccine delivery assembly is configured to concurrently deliver different vaccines to a plurality of targets of the avian pullet;
a plurality of positioning devices, each positioning device being configured to be automatically and individually transported to the vaccine delivery assembly, and each positioning device being adapted to receive an avian pullet and to present the avian pullet to the vaccine delivery assembly for the vaccine delivery procedure at a single position, each positioning device being configured to expose the targets and to entirely support and restrain the avian pullet, without human operator assistance, in a posture resembling its flight form in which the wings of the avian pullet are held together and vertical above the back of the avian pullet;
a transport assembly having the positioning devices operably engaged therewith, the transport assembly being configured to transport the positioning devices to the vaccine delivery assembly such that the delivery devices are positioned to deliver the vaccines to the targets of the avian pullet.

2. A vaccination system according to claim 1 , wherein the vaccine delivery assembly comprises a wing web injection device configured to deliver a vaccine substance to at least one wing web of the avian pullet, and wherein each positioning device comprises a wing mount configured to restrain the wings of the avian pullet together and vertical above the back thereof, to position the wings for interaction with the wing web injection device.

3. A vaccination system according to claim 1 , further comprising a weighing device configured to weigh an avian pullet when positioned within one of the positioning devices, and a weight indicator display in communication with the weighing device to receive weighing information taken thereby, the weight indicator display being configured to provide a visual indicator related to a categorization of the avian birds based on predetermined thresholds.

4. A vaccination system according to claim 1 , wherein the transport assembly comprises a rotatable mounting arrangement configured to rotate about a vertical axis and to transport the positioning devices to the vaccine delivery assembly.

5. A vaccination system according to claim 4 , further comprising a release assembly configured to facilitate automatic release of the avian pullet from the positioning device after undergoing the vaccine delivery procedure, the release assembly comprising a cam arrangement operably engaged with the transport assembly and having a circuitous wire form, wherein each positioning device includes a pronged displacement device configured to follow the circuitous wire form and to interact with the cam arrangement for pivoting the positioning device to facilitate release of the avian pullet therefrom.

6. A vaccination system according to claim 1 , further comprising a subcutaneous injection device configured to deliver a vaccine substance to an inguinal fold of the avian pullet, and wherein each positioning device comprises a leg support having a pair of leg support members configured to expose the inguinal fold of the avian pullet to facilitate subcutaneous injection thereof by the subcutaneous injection device.

7. A vaccination system according to claim 1 , further comprising a spray delivery device configured to deliver a vaccine substance to a facial region of the avian pullet, the spray delivery device having a spray device actuator and being configured to be carried proximate to the facial area of the avian pullet.

8. A vaccination system according to claim 1 , wherein the positioning devices each comprise a breast support, a wing mount, a pair of leg mounts, and a leg support cooperating to present the avian pullet for undergoing the vaccine delivery procedure.

9. A method of delivering a vaccine substance to avian pullets, the method comprising:
positioning an avian pullet in one of a plurality of positioning devices, each positioning device being configured to expose a plurality of targets of the avian pullet and to entirely support and restrain the avian pullet without human operator assistance;
transporting the positioning device proximate to a vaccine delivery assembly at a vaccination position, the vaccine delivery assembly having a plurality of delivery devices such that the vaccine delivery assembly is configured to concurrently deliver different vaccines to the targets of the avian pullet at said vaccination position;
presenting the avian pullet in the respective positioning device to the vaccine delivery assembly at the vaccination position in a posture resembling its flight form in which the wings of the avian pullet are held together and vertical above the back of the avian pullet; and
delivering a vaccine substance to the avian pullet during a vaccine delivery procedure administered by the vaccine delivery assembly.

10. A method according to claim 9 , further comprising the step of weighing the avian pullet using a weighing device while the avian pullet it positioned within the positioning device, and further comprising the step of displaying information based on predetermined thresholds and related to the weight of a respective avian pullet via a weight indicator display.

11. A method according to claim 9 , wherein transporting the positioning device proximate to a vaccine delivery assembly comprises transporting the positioning device proximate to the vaccine delivery assembly using a transport assembly, the positioning devices being operably engaged with the transport assembly.

12. A method according to claim 11 , wherein transporting the positioning device proximate to the vaccine delivery assembly using a transport assembly further comprises transporting the positioning device proximate to the vaccine delivery assembly using a transport assembly having a conveyor assembly.

13. A method according to claim 11 , wherein transporting the positioning device proximate to the vaccine delivery assembly using a transport assembly further comprises transporting the positioning device proximate to the vaccine delivery assembly using a transport assembly having a rotatable mounting arrangement.

14. A method according to claim 11 , further comprising the step of automatically releasing the avian pullet from the positioning device after undergoing the vaccine delivery procedure.

15. A method according to claim 11 , further comprising the step of actuating movement of the vaccine delivery assembly to a respective positioning device prior to the vaccine delivery procedure.

Assignees

• Zoetis Services Llc

Inventors

• Samson William Douglas
• Trivella Marco Giovanni
• Niemczura Sr Raymond John
• Kennedy Daniel Lee
• Eichenberger David Andrew
• Carr William Bryan
• Due Steven Allan

Classifications

• A61D3/00 Primary

  Arrangements for supporting or fettering animals for veterinary purposes · CPC title

• A61D7/00 Primary

  Devices or methods for introducing solid, liquid, or gaseous remedies or other materials into or onto the bodies of animals (for reproduction or fertilisation A61D19/00 {; devices for implanting pellets, radon seeds or the like A61M37/0069}) · CPC title

• B65G15/00

  Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to which tractive effort is transmitted by means other than endless driving elements of similar configuration (having load-conveying surfaces formed by interconnected longitudinal links B65G17/06) · CPC title

• A61D1/02

  Trocars or cannulas for teats (milking catheters A01J3/00); Vaccination appliances · CPC title

• B65G2201/02

  Articles · CPC title