Hand-held tool for docking tails of animals - has manual lever driving electrically-heated blade through tail

摘要

The a.c. mains supply is fed via a switch (0) and transformer in the tool grip to a rigid wire loop (6) which has a convex right-angled bend at its outer end. When the current flows through the wire, it heats up a sharpened section (7) around the convex bend. The operator guides the tool until the animal's tail is between the bend and the tongue (9) of a lever (3, 5, 9). The lever is then pivoted (1) against the grip, causing the switch (10) to operate and the loop to pass through a slot (8) in the lever tongue, cutting off the tail as it does so. As well as aiding the cutting action, the heat cauterises the wound on the tail stump, making infection less likely.