WO1997024999A1 - Metering and filling device, in particular for the artificial insemination of poultry - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic metering and filling machine, in particular for handling amounts of animal semen and filling a receptacle having any diameter and made of any material (e.g., straws, glass or plastic catheters, all kinds of bottles, etc.). The device is mainly designed for the artificial insemination of poultry species such as turkeys, but nevertheless has a wide variety of possible applications. When a numerically controlled peristaltic cassette (12) is used (as described, in particular, in European Patent no. 811 042 142 to MALBEC), the device substantially enables small volumes of fluid to be dispensed with maximum accuracy and, e.g., very high artificial insemination rates. The device is particularly suitable for use in farms and research laboratories for accurately and quickly metering any fluid.

Description

DOSING AND FILLING DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FOR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION OF POULTRY SPECIES.

The present invention relates to an automatic dosing and filling machine, in particular of animal semen volumes, inside all packaging elements (by way of nonlimiting examples: cannulas, flakes, catheters, tubes, bottles, etc.). ) regardless of their diameter and the material with which they were made. This device is more particularly, but not only, suitable for insemination of poultry species, such as turkeys for example.

The materials traditionally intended for the artificial insemination of poultry species in particular, obey different criteria taking into account the anatomical, physiological and economic specificities of these species. Among these criteria, four of them are essential when it comes to industrial applications. These absolutely essential criteria are as follows: 1 ° - distribute with as much precision as possible, in particular small volumes of pure or diluted sperm;

2 ° - support very high rates of artificial insemination (carrying out several hundred inseminations per hour, by way of non-limiting example, between 500 and 800 inseminations per hour, in turkeys, depending on the number of inseminators ); 3 ° - reduce or even eliminate the risks of horizontal transmission (that is to say from female to female) of contaminating agents (for example Mycoplasmas, or Salmonella). 4 ° - allow simple and rapid disinfection.

The structure of automatic dosing and filling machines on the market today does not allow all of these requirements to be met simultaneously. If these materials all meet the last two specificities mentioned above, it is different for the first two. These materials are in fact designed according to a principle of dose distribution using either a syringe or an air vacuum system. However, the use of a syringe generally limits the speed at which the doses will be dispensed, and the use of an air vacuum system does not make it possible to arrive at a precise dosage of the liquid substance intended to be introduced inside a cannula for example. Consequently, these materials, whatever their qualities, are either very precise and not very fast, or on the contrary not very precise and very fast. In addition, most of these materials are generally quite heavy and sometimes need to be associated in addition with a compressor, which does not facilitate the task of inseminators moving in the midst of animals or poultry farms for example.

There are also known "the artificial insemination flake filling machine, in particular for poultry farming" described by the applicants of this patent, in patents Nos. 2,500,296 and 2,513,110. The invention has numerous advantages by compared to said machine currently used and marketed.

In fact, the current machine uses a piston pump, unlike the invention, which uses a peristaltic cassette (described in particular in European Patent no 811 042 142 filed by SOCIETE MALBEC) controlled by a digital control. The invention makes it possible to remedy this fact, in particular to all the drawbacks mentioned in connection with the existing equipment. The current machine uses for dosing and filling the cannulas or any packaging elements of any liquid, a clamping device of a pipe by three separate elements. On the other hand, the invention has, among other things, the advantage of having a compact system based on a peristaltic cassette containing preferably a flexible pipe and rollers (see patent n ^β 811 042 142 cited above). The pressure exerted by said rollers on the pipe makes it possible to deliver a dose. This principle therefore replaces the radial gripping elements of the machine currently in use.

In addition, the central element of the existing machine having a fixed dimension, the adjustment of the dose is done by limiting the stroke of this central element, hence sometimes a certain lack of precision in the volume of the dose delivered. This adjustment is made by limiting the stroke of the central element by means of a screw and a key, which represents a certain loss of time for the operator. On the other hand, in the new machine which is the subject of this patent, the adjustment is made by pressing two push buttons of preferably, either in pulse mode (fraction of a dose for example) or on the contrary in continuous mode (passage of a dose from 40 microliters to 50 microliters for example). The dose is defined by a number of turns or fractions of turns of the peristaltic cassette. Said number of turns or fractions of turns of the peristaltic cassette being controlled by a position control loop, itself controlled by a microprocessor, the dose delivered is thus more precise.

Regarding the priming function of the peristaltic cassette, when using the existing machine, it is possible to observe the loss of part of the semen intended to be conditioned inside a cannula for example , and contained inside the supply pipe. This loss is due to the configuration of the filling needle which is pluggable and not clip-on like that used in the invention. It therefore does not benefit from a mounting device as practical and as sophisticated as that of the invention. The withdrawal of the needle implies that the operator clamps the supply pipe, where a loss of the fluid to be conditioned, and the defusing of the peristaltic cassette. In addition, said pipe must be inserted manually by the operator between the three shutter elements of the cassette mentioned above, which frequently causes an elongation of the pipe, and therefore the variation in the volume of the dose delivered.

Unlike the machine currently in existence, the way in which the invention was designed, allows the operator to have perfect visibility of all the controls of the machine, which will facilitate the smooth running of operations. As regards the system for transferring the cannulas and / or any other packaging element, the invention again has an undeniable advantage compared to the machine currently marketed by the applicants in particular. Indeed, now, to transfer for example the cannulas from the filling station to the extraction station, it is no longer necessary to have recourse as before, to a barrel drive system, by friction and mechanical indexing. This system has the particular disadvantage of being expensive and moreover cumbersome. The configuration of the new machine, object of the invention, does not require a pusher as in the existing machine, to put it in the extraction position. The barrel allowing the transfer for example of the cannulas, to the filling and extraction stations, is in fact controlled by a rotary electromagnet having two positions filling station - extraction station).

The object of the invention is essentially to overcome the drawbacks described above, by proposing a new automatic device for dosing and filling cannulas or any other packaging elements (flakes, tubes, vials etc., whether they are glass or plastic and whatever their respective diameter) of animal semen for example. This light, portable and easy-to-use device consists on the one hand of a rotating peristaltic cassette (described in particular in European Patent n ^β 811 042 142) removable, recoverable or disposable, calibratable according to the viscosity of the animal seed for example, intended to be packaged inside cannulas in particular, self-centering machine with three rollers, with non-pulsating flow rate, controlled by a direct current motor without reduction gear and without brake, and controlled by a microcontroller, and other part, of a system allowing the distribution and the filling of the elements of conditioning of the dose of semen delivered by the peristaltic cassette.

The device according to the invention preferably consists of two blocks. One of these blocks constitutes an easily cleanable casing and impervious to projections and / or runoff likely to reach it. This box includes the commands and the operating logic of the device, i.e. the motorization system of the peristaltic cassette, the electronic circuits for controlling the peristaltic cassette, the power supply of the device, the electromechanical elements transfer and filling of the cannulas for example, and the electronic control circuits of these transfer and filling elements. The other block, called the transfer and positioning device for the packaging element, is however intended to allow the supply of cannulas, and / or any other packaging element, (whatever its diameter) and the transfer of these packaging elements, from the filling station to the extraction station. The device for transferring and positioning the packaging element is easily and quickly removable without any tools, and is cleanable in order to comply with the sanitary conditions of use. In addition, it can be adapted to the different configurations of the packaging elements intended for contain animal semen for example. The device according to the invention is therefore not limited to the use of cannulas, but is likely to relate to any packaging element whatever its diameter and its material. This dosing and filling device has multiple interests and characteristics. It has the particular advantage of allowing, despite a very high dosing and filling rate (by way of nonlimiting example, the dosing and filling rate can be greater than 2000 packaging elements, cannulas for example, per hour) delivery of very precise doses, whatever the liquid substances intended to be packaged and the viscosity of these substances. By way of nonlimiting example, this device makes it possible to precisely deliver doses which can vary between 35 and 100 microliters in increments of 1 microliter. In addition, the accuracy of the peristaltic cassette is greater than the variability of the liquid dispensed, in the case of animal semen, regardless of the type of diluent used and / or the dilution rate. The precision of the volume of the delivered dose depends on a position control loop controlling the rotation of the peristaltic cassette. This loop is controlled by a microcontroller. The dose obtained is proportional to the number of turns or fractions of turns made by the peristaltic cassette. The number of doses dispensed can be read on a digital display with light-emitting diodes. The adjustment of these doses is obtained by manual action preferably on two push buttons, on the one hand in a pulse mode, and on the other hand in a continuous mode at increasing speed. The priming of the peristaltic cassette (European patent n ^β 811 042 142) is obtained in a few seconds, without loss of seed, preferably by manual action, notably on a push button. The transfer of the cannulas, for example, from their housing, generally a hopper, to the filling station and then to the extraction station, is obtained by an inclined chute and a rotary barrel controlled by an electromagnet. The advantage of the rotary barrel lies essentially in the fact that it is not necessary to have recourse to a mechanical indexing system or any other position indexing system. The filling of each of the cannulas, for example, is obtained by a rectilinear displacement needle also controlled by an electromagnet. This needle is located at one end of a pipe connected to the peristaltic cassette (Patent n ° 811 042 142) and is housed in a removable block to avoid in particular any contact between the needle and the operator's fingers, during assembly and disassembly operations of the needle block. The operator can easily and without any tools, mount it on its support then dismantle it. Neither the assembly of the needle block, nor its disassembly defuses the peristaltic cassette. One of the ends of the needle is preferably rounded so as not to be injurious to the user during the assembly, disassembly and priming operations. The number of packaging elements filled is automatically indicated on a digital display with light-emitting diodes. This metering and filling device also has the advantage of being ambidextrous.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, by way of nonlimiting example and with regard to the attached photographs in which:

- Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the invention, - FIG. 2 shows a front view without the device for transferring and positioning the packaging element, shown in FIG. 1,

- Fig. 3 is a view of the peristaltic cassette (European patent cited above for example) shown in FIG. 1,

- Fig. 4 shows another perspective view of the invention shown in FIG. 1,

- Figs. 5a and 5b respectively represent a front view and a side view of the device for transferring and positioning the packaging element shown in FIG. 1,

- Fig. 6 is a view of the device for transferring and positioning the packaging element shown in FIG. 1, but in the direction of travel of the packaging elements, cannulas for example,

- Fig. 7 represents a top view of the control members and of the operating logic of the invention,

- Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of these same members of FIG. 8.

The machine shown comprises, as shown in FIG. 1, preferably two blocks: a block that is sealed against projections and runoff (1) and a block known as a device for transferring and positioning the packaging element, (2) for example, but not exclusively, cannulas.

On the front face (3) of the sealed block (1) against projections and runoff, there is an on / off switch (4); a priming button (5) of a peristaltic cassette (12) (European Patent cited above for example); a calibration button (6) of said peristaltic cassette (12); the two dose adjustment buttons (7) and (8), the digital display (9) on the one hand of the calibration value of the cassette (12) (European Patent cited above) as a function of the viscosity of the fluid to be dosed, and on the other hand, the volume of the dose to be delivered; the digital display (10) of the number, for example, of cannulas filled; the clip-on base (11) of the peristaltic cassette (12) (described by the aforementioned European patent); the clip base (13) of the needle block (14), into which the filling needle (19) is therefore inserted; the fixing support (15) of the device for transferring and positioning the conditioning element (2), preferably equipped with a counterweight (40) returning to position; the drive means (16) of the barrel (35) of the device for transferring and positioning the conditioning element (2); the drive means (17) of the disentangling roller (32) of the device for transferring and positioning the conditioning element (2); the guide for positioning (18) of the needle block (14); the inductive sensor (20) for controlling the conditioning elements cycle, for example the cannulas (transfer from the cannula to the filling station, determination of the volume of sperm in particular to be conditioned in the cannula, filling of the said cannula).

The peristaltic cassette (12) (described in particular by the aforementioned European patent) is used in association with a pipe preferably made of flexible plastic (31), crimped inside said cassette (12). One end of this pipe (31) is immersed in the tank (43) containing the animal semen for example, intended to be conditioned inside the cannula in particular, while at the other end will be inserted l 'filling needle (19). This container (43) is preferably placed as shown in FIG. 1, but not exclusively, on the upper face of the invention. The accuracy of the dose delivered depends on the inside diameter, but also on the outside diameter of the pipe (31), the material with which it was made and its hardness. These parameters varying from one cassette (12) (cassette described in particular in the aforementioned European Patent) to the other, each of them is calibrated in debit. Thus, each cassette (12) is assigned a calibration value corresponding to a dimensionless number included in a bounded interval 40 - 180 (values quoted only for illustration and not limitation) corresponding to the different cases of adjustment. of the cassette (12) (cassette described in the aforementioned European Patent, filed by the company MALBEC) as a function of the viscosity of the product to be dosed. The metering and filling device can be equipped with several peristaltic cassettes (12) as part of a punctual or permanent multi-filling operation. It will suffice to consequently adapt the configuration of the device.

In the block sealed against projections and runoff (1) are housed a printed circuit (21) for controlling the peristaltic cassette (12); a printed circuit (22) for displaying the doses and the calibration; a printed circuit supply and control (23) of the device; a printed circuit (24) for displaying the number of filled cannulas or any other packaging element; a drive motor (25) controlled by pulse width modulation to obtain a variable speed (such a motor as well as its control, are well known in the art and therefore do not need to be described in more detail ) and an incremental encoder (26) for positioning the peristaltic cassette (12); a gearmotor (27) for driving the disentangling roller (32) of the device for transferring and positioning the conditioning element (2); an electromagnet (28) for driving a barrel (35) of the device for transferring and positioning the conditioning element (2); an electromagnet (29) for driving the filling needle (19); a position loop for delivering precisely the volume of liquid desired by the inseminator. This position loop is controlled by a microcontroller. For each of the delivered doses, the loop compares the number of coding steps taken with the number of theoretical coding steps. The absence of a mechanical reducer between the motor (25) and the peristaltic cassette (12) overcomes problems of efficiency, inertia, play and wear, which are detrimental to precise positioning.

In order to facilitate possible maintenance operations, the printed circuit boards (21) (23) are easily removable. Indeed , they are fixed by manual locking card guides which do not require the use of tools. The machine is wired using manually pluggable connectors. No tools are necessary for the plugging or unplugging operations. As seen in FIG. 1, the device according to the invention also comprises a device for transferring and positioning the packaging element (2) which is preferably removable in order to facilitate its cleaning, having regard to the sanitary standards which should be observed. The device for transferring and positioning the packaging element (2), for example, but not exclusively, cannulas, comprises a fastening slide (30) of a hopper (42) for feeding the cannulas for example; a disentangling roller (32) of said cannulas as shown in FIG. 5a, in order to avoid any phenomenon of stuffing of the cannulas or of any other packaging element; a transfer chute (33), for example cannulas (Fig. 6), from the interior of the hopper (42) to the filling station (34); a transfer barrel (35) (Fig. 5a and 6) in particular cannulas from the filling station to the extraction station (36); an orifice (37) for supporting a system for gripping the cannulas or any other conditioning element (FIGS. 5a and 6); preferably a transparent protective cover (38), of the zone for transferring the packaging elements; a locking system (39) of the device for transferring and positioning the conditioning element (2) on the block that is sealed against projections and runoff (1). After dismantling said transfer and positioning device for the conditioning element (2), the untangling roller (32) is driven by automatic engagement without manual action. It is not necessary to position the untangling roller facing its drive means (17). Furthermore, the inductive sensor (20) for controlling the cycle described above has a rest base (42) on the fixing slide (30) of the device for transferring and positioning the conditioning element (2) when said device is disassembled. It follows from the above description and from the operating elements which have been described that, in general, the operator proceeds as follows:

It introduces one or more cannulas or any other element for conditioning animal semen in particular, inside the hopper (42) or any another reservoir of conditioning elements then place the liquid reservoir (43) in the desired location, press the on / off switch (4), then the calibration button (6) to calibrate the machine according to of the peristaltic cassette (12) (described by the company MALBEC, in particular in the aforementioned European Patent) and of the viscosity of the product. The machine calibration corresponds to the following formula: machine calibration = calibration of the peristaltic cassette (12) (dimensionless number for example between 40 and 180 x a correction coefficient, 1.05 for example corresponding to the viscosity of the liquid to be dosed). This number can be displayed using the dose adjustment buttons (7) and (8). Once the calibration has been saved, the user can adjust the dose using said buttons (7) and (8) in a range which can vary from 35 to 100 microliters for example (this is a purely illustrative example and this fact is not limiting). At each power-up, the machine stores in memory and by default, the previously programmed calibration and dosage values. Then, it possibly positions the filling needle (19) above the reservoir, and performs the priming of the peristaltic cassette (12) by pressing the priming button (5). Once priming has been carried out, the operator replaces the needle block (14) on the clipping base (13) using the positioning guide (18) and starts the dosing and filling cycle by positioning the cannula extraction system for example, in the support orifice (37). Said cycle therefore starts as soon as the operator moves back the gripping system (40) of the cannulas or any other conditioning element. The filling of the cannula for example, and its transfer from the filling station (34) to the extraction station (36), are carried out automatically by the invention. Each filling element filled, a cannula for example, the display (10) increments by one. The filled cannula can be directly used to inseminate the turkey, especially if it is part of an insemination operation. The liquid is ready to use, whatever the type of application concerned (analyzes, mixtures for example) and the packaging element used. The dimensions indicated are only for information.

They are therefore not limiting. The invention is also not limited to the embodiments shown and described in detail, because various modifications can be made without departing from its scope.

Claims

Claims 1) Automatic device for metering and filling, in particular of animal semen volumes, inside any packaging element (by way of nonlimiting examples: cannulas, flakes, catheters, tubes, vials, etc.). whatever their respective diameter and the material with which they were manufactured, comprising a hopper or any other reservoir of cannulas (42), and a reservoir (43) containing the fluid to be metered and conditioned, in this case animal semen , characterized on the one hand in that it uses a compact system based on a peristaltic cassette (12) controlled by a digital control and on the other hand in that it preferably comprises two blocks; a block sealed against projections and runoff (1) grouping the commands and the operating logic of the device and a block called transfer device and positioning of the packaging element (2). 2 ") Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the front face (3) of the block sealed against projections and runoff (1) grouping the commands and the operating logic of the device, comprises an on / off switch (4) ; a priming button (5) of the peristaltic cassette (12); a calibration button (6) of said peristaltic cassette (12); the two buttons for adjusting the dose (7) and (8) to be delivered ; a digital display (9) of the calibration value of the peristaltic cassette (12) and the volume of the dose to be dispensed; a digital display (10) of the number of packaging elements filled, for example cannulas; clipping base (11) of the peristaltic cassette (12); the peristaltic cassette (12); clipping base (13) of the filling needle (19); the needle block (14), block in which is therefore inserted the filling needle (19); the fixing support (15) of the transfer device and positioning the packaging element (2); the means for driving the barrel (35) of said device for transferring and positioning the packaging element; the drive means (17) of the disentangling roller of the device for transferring and positioning the conditioning element (2); the guide for positioning (19) of the support of the block (14) of the filling needle (19); the inductive sensor (20) for controlling the conditioning element cycle, a cannula for example (transfer of the cannula, filling, dosing). 3 ^e ) Device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that are housed inside the block sealed against projections and runoff (1) a printed control circuit (21) of the peristaltic cassette (12); a printed circuit (22) for displaying the doses and the calibration; a printed circuit supply and control (23) of the device; a printed circuit (24) for displaying the number of filled conditioning elements, a direct current drive motor without reduction gear and without brake; an incremental encoder for positioning the peristaltic cassette (12); a gearmotor (27) for driving the disentangling roller (32) of the device for transferring and positioning the conditioning element (2); an electromagnet (28) for driving the barrel (35) of said device for transferring and positioning the conditioning element (2); an electromagnet (29) for driving the filling needle (19); a position loop. 4 °) Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the position loop is controlled by a microcontroller and compares for each of the doses delivered, the number of coding steps performed, to the number of theoretical coding steps. 5 ^e ) Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the printed circuit boards (21) and (23) are fixed by manual locking card guides. 6 ^e ) Device according to claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that the peristaltic cassette (12) is my table and removable without tools thanks to a clipping system. 7 °) Device according to claims 1, 2, 3 and 6, characterized in that the peristaltic cassette (12) is calibrating according to the viscosity of the fluid to be dosed and the characteristics of the supply pipe (31). 8 ^e ) Device according to claims 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7, characterized in that the peristaltic cassette (12) is controlled in position by a microcontroller. 9 ^* ) Device according to claims 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8, characterized in that the priming of the peristaltic cassette (12) is done by manual action on a push button (5) preferably. 10 ^e ) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transfer device and positioning of the packaging element (2) consists of a fixing slide (30) including a hopper (42) of cannula feeding; a disentangling roller for the packaging element, for example a cannula (32), a transfer chute (33) for example hopper cannulas (42) in particular, at the filling station (34) ; a barrel (35) for transferring said cannulas, for example, from the filling station (34) to the extraction station (36); a support orifice (37) of the system for gripping the cannulas and any packaging element; a protective cover preferably transparent (38) of the transfer area of the cannulas for example; a locking system (39) of the device for transferring and positioning the conditioning element (2) on the block that is sealed against projections and runoff (1). 11 ^e ) Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the device for transferring and positioning the conditioning element (2) is adaptable to the configuration of the conditioning mode used (in particular cannulas, tubes, catheters, vials, flakes ) and regardless of its diameter and the material with which they were made. 12 °) Device according to claims 10 and 11, characterized in that the fixing support (15) of the transfer and positioning device of the packaging element (2) is likely to be equipped with a counterweight (40 ) back in position. 13 °) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the assembly and disassembly of the block (14) in which the filling needle (19) is inserted does not defuse the peristaltic cassette (12). 14 ^e ) Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the inductive sensor (20) for controlling the cannula cycle for example (transfer - dosing and filling of the cannula) has a rest base (42) on the fixing slide ( 30) of the device for transferring and positioning the packaging element (2) in the disassembled position. 15 °) Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the number of filled packaging elements is indicated on a digital display with light emitting diodes (10). 16 ^e ) Device according to claim 3, characterized in that on the one hand the calibration value of the peristaltic cassette (12) and on the other hand the volume of the dose to be dispensed are indicated on a light-emitting diode display ( 9). 17 ^e ) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transfer - dosing and filling cycle of a packaging element, is controlled by the user when the filled cannula is removed. 18 ^e ) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is possible to associate with it several peristaltic cassettes (12) and not only a single one, for the purpose of one or more multi- filling.