Aligning chicks in single file separately for counting - by teflon coated vibratory chute and conveyor delivering to packing station

摘要

Device for bringing live chickens into a single row, so that they can be counted, comprises a vibratory chute with flow guide plates, followed by a conveyor formed by two parallel belts. Together the belts are aligned in a 'V' and run at the same speed. The conveyor maintains the spacing and accelerates the chickens through a counter to the taking off point. The vibratory chute consists of a rectangular trough, open at the inlet side and tapering at the delivery end to a narrow outlet. Close to the inlet a first flow guide plate subtends to one side to which it is attached, an angle of for pref. 120 degrees. It extends across the chute to close to the other wall and to the connecting point of a second guide plate, inclined similarly but leaving a slightly wider gas between its free end and the first wall. From there, a wall extends to the outlet, which as wide as the first guide plate outlet. The inner surfaces of the chute are clad with Teflon. Along the edges of the belts close to the top of the 'V' a strip of soft material such as synthetic foam is attached. The chickens are counted and the boxes are thus all loaded with the correct number of chicks. 1,500 chicks can be handled per hour and loaded in numbers which can be varied at choice into boxes, without any errors.