Modular poultry automatic vaccine injection and spray apparatus

摘要

A modular poultry automatic injection and spraying apparatus (10) featuring a dual-sensor switch means (41) and a dual-action, fluid-actuated drive means (101) is disclosed. The apparatus has a casing construction (11) including an upper housing (12) mounted on a lower housing (13) such that the lower housing (13), which contains water-sensitive pneumatic logic circuitry (261), can be easily removed prior to cleaning. The casing construction (11) has the additional advantage of allowing substitute upper and lower housings (12, 13) to be interchanged during maintenance and repair. The dual sensor switch means (41) ensures that the injections are performed accurately and consistently. The dual-action, fluid-actuated drive means (101) allows for the simultaneous injection and spraying functions of the apparatus (10) obviating the need for an additional apparatus or separate compressed air signal. The apparatus (10) also features a compressed air flushing system which prevents the switch means (41) from clogging, and periodically flushes contaminants from the lower housing (13), using exhaust from an alarm means (71), which notifies an operator of a complete run. Additionally, a separation means (21) prevents chicks, y missed by the apparatus (10) due to operator error, from mixing with chicks already inoculated by the apparatus (10).