Alfa-laval Agri Inc.

Ted H Townsend

Clinton L Moore

John T Machnicki

Arthur C Rogers, Iii

H Eugene Robbins, Jr

Kevin Rhodes

A simple, efficient, and rugged dairy parlor entry gate which is especially useful for identifying animals, minimizing the need for lead animals to back up as the gates swing open, and provides for indexing the animals into proper position. The entry gate preferably includes a pair of opposed stanchions defining therebetween a passageway, at least one and preferably a pair of gate members, and mounting structure for swingably carrying the gate members and mounting them in offset relationship. An antenna may be provided in each of the gate members so that the interrogation field generated thereby swings with the gate member. The gate also preferably includes a motive member for swinging the gate members between an open position allowing the passage of animals therebetween and a closed position which both inhibits the passage of animals into the parlor and indexes the last animal into a proper position.

Dairy parlor entry gate

An electronic identification system for identifying an animal moving through a portal structure is disclosed. A transponder worn on a rope or chain around the neck of the animal is energized by a multi-directional electromagnetic field generated by a double antenna loop in the portal structure. The transponder, when energized, will transmit identifying data back to the antenna loop after the electromagnetic field has been removed. That information will be processed by a microprocessor so that the animal can be identified. The antenna loop is secured within a flexible free-hanging curtain. The curtain is attached only at the top to the frame of the portal structure; the bottom of the curtain is free-hanging so that the curtain and antenna loop will not be damaged if the animal kicks the curtain. The system also includes two ultra-sonic transducers positioned at the entrance and exit of the portal. These two transducers are used to separately detect the presence of the animal in the portal structure and also to determine the direction of movement of the animal.

Growing community of inventors

Kansas City, MO, United States of America

Ted H Townsend