WO2025176950A1 - Facility for determining the sex of chicks - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a facility for determining the sex of chicks, the facility comprising several identical and parallel processing lines (10), each processing line (10) comprising at least two successive conveyors (16, 17) defining a same direction of movement, the first (16) of these conveyors, in the direction of movement, being referred to as the conveyor (16) for carrying along the chicks and comprising at least one first device (19) for applying a stimulus to a chick in order to prompt the chick to voluntarily deploy its wings, the second (17) of the conveyors, in the direction of movement, being referred to as conveyor (17) for determining the sex of chicks and comprising at least one second device (19) for applying a stimulus to a chick in order to prompt the chick to voluntarily deploy its wings, said facility comprising, at each sex determination conveyor (17): - at least one imaging device (22, 23) for capturing one or more images of the wings of the chick, and - a central unit (U) configured to process the images acquired by said at least one imaging device (22, 23) in order to analyze the configuration of the feathers at the end of at least one of the wings of the chick and determine from this configuration whether it is a male or female chick or if the sex is indeterminate.

Description

Description

Title: Facility for determining the sex of chicks

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to an installation and a method for automatically determining the sex of a chick.

Prior art

[0002] Chick sexing is an important step in the poultry industry, allowing male chicks to be distinguished from females as soon as they hatch.

[0003] Such early differentiation of chicks is necessary to optimize their rearing by adapting management practices to each group of same-sex chicks, which helps to improve the efficiency and profitability of poultry farms.

[0004] It is well known that experienced operators are able to discern subtle details, allowing them to distinguish male chicks from females within the first hours of the chicks' life.

[0005] Among the methods for sexing a chick, it is common to observe the feathers at the ends of the wings of a chick, preferably less than one day old, or even two days old, for reliability reasons.

[0006] The sexing of the chick by the wings is in fact linked to a different arrangement of the feathers at the ends of the wings in the female and in the male.

[0007] As illustrated in Figures I (female) and 2 (male), at the end of a chick's wings, two rows of feathers can be observed, the primary remiges and the primary covert feathers.

[0008] While in the male, the primary covert feathers are longer, or substantially the same size, as the primary remiges, in the female, the tip of the primary covert feathers is always shorter than the tip of the primary remiges.

[0009] This method of determining the sex of a chick is relatively quick and non-invasive.

[0010] However, when it comes to differentiating several thousand chicks per hour, every day, with a small margin of error, as is practiced in intensive laying hen farming, these operations can prove tedious for qualified operators.

[0011] Furthermore, it is currently difficult to find a large number of workers specialized in this field, which makes this necessary step relatively expensive. [0012] Methods for automatic sexing of chicks are also known in the state of the art.

[0013] Patent FR 2 892 599 B1 in the name of the present applicant thus discloses an automatic chick sexing system using a camera to acquire images of the wingtips of a chick exposed to blue light and to identify, by analyzing these images, the characteristic arrangements of the feathers of the male or the female.

[0014] In order to ensure individual control of each chick, the latter are positioned in cups arranged in a line, with their wings kept apart by resting them on the edge of their respective cup.

[0015] Although giving good results, the wings being stable and therefore easily imaged, this method of automatic sexing of chicks can still be improved.

[0016] Indeed, this machine is relatively bulky and complex in terms of its maintenance.

[0017] Furthermore, this machine does not allow high processing rates, which are however sought after today in intensive poultry farming.

[0018] Also known from patent application EP 1 092 347 A1 is a method for determining the sex of a chick in which the chick is made to lose its balance to cause it to voluntarily spread its wings, then at least one wing thus spread is illuminated and said at least one wing thus spread is photographed in order to determine the sex of this chick.

[0019] Chick imbalance may result from various stimuli, such as being encouraged to jump, shaking the chick, or placing the chick near a source of acoustic shock or heat, or moving the chick across a vibrating surface.

[0020] However, and according to the teaching of this document, once the wings of the chick are deployed, they physically interact with one or more supports in order to stabilize them in the deployed position during the illumination of their ends and the capture of images.

[0021] This physical interaction with rigid objects occurs while the chick is moving rapidly through the chick sexing device, increasing the risk of potentially fatal injuries to the chick. [0022] Furthermore, it is found that the method which involves vibrating a conveyor belt on which the chick is transported, in order to cause it to spread its wings, requires high vibration frequencies.

[0023] Therefore, the animal is subjected not only to vibrations throughout its movement on the conveyor belt, but also to high levels of mechanical noise.

[0024] The animal's well-being is seriously affected.

[0025] There is therefore a pressing need for an installation and a method for the automatic determination of the sex of a chick, the original design of which makes it possible to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art set out above.

Subject of the invention

[0026] The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing an installation and a method for the automatic determination of the sex of a chick, simple in their design and in their operating mode, making it possible to ensure the well-being of the animal and to preserve its health.

[0027] Another object of the present invention is such an installation and such a method for automatically determining the sex of a chick allowing extremely rapid processing rates, and by way of illustration, greater than 70,000 chicks per hour.

[0028] Another object of the present invention is such an installation and such a method for automatically determining the sex of a chick guaranteeing a highest resolution rate in determining the sex of the chick and increased reliability.

Statement of the invention

[0029] To this end, the invention relates to an installation for determining the sex of chicks, the installation comprising several identical and parallel processing lines, each processing line comprising at least two successive conveyors, defining the same direction of movement, the first of these conveyors, in the direction of movement, called the chick training conveyor, comprising at least a first device for applying a stimulus to a chick in order to cause this chick to voluntarily spread its wings, the second of these conveyors, in the direction of movement, called the chick sex determination conveyor, comprising at least a second device for applying a stimulus to a chick in order to cause this chick to voluntarily spread its wings, said installation comprising at the level of each sex determination conveyor:

- at least one imaging device for capturing one or more images of the chick's wings, and

- a central unit configured to process the images acquired by said at least one imaging device in order to analyze the configuration of the feathers at the end of at least one of the chick's wings and determine from this configuration whether it is a male or female chick or whether the sex is undetermined.

[0030] Advantageously, such an installation is both compact and allows very high processing rates.

[0031] According to a particular embodiment of this installation, it comprises at least four treatment lines and even better, six treatment lines, said treatment lines being identical and arranged in parallel.

[0032] According to another particular embodiment of this installation, each processing line of this installation comprises another conveyor called a conveyor for longitudinal or substantially longitudinal chick queuing, defining a direction of movement identical to the direction of movement of the conveyors for training the chicks and for determining the sex of the chicks, the conveyor for longitudinal or substantially longitudinal chick queuing comprising at least a third device for applying a stimulus to said chick so as to cause the chick to voluntarily spread its wings, the conveyor for longitudinal or substantially longitudinal chick queuing having a downstream end opening onto the upstream end of the conveyor for training the chicks.

[0033] According to yet another particular embodiment of this installation, the first, second and third devices for applying a stimulus to the chick are chosen from the group comprising a device for unbalancing a chick and causing it to voluntarily spread its wings, a device for vibrating a conveyor belt of a corresponding belt conveyor, a stroboscopic light source, an inclined conveyor, a device for sending a flow of air onto a chick and combinations of these elements.

[0034] According to yet another particular embodiment of this installation, the longitudinal or substantially longitudinal of chicks, being a belt conveyor comprising a conveyor belt, it has edges placed on either side of this conveyor belt, which are configured to delimit the passage of abreast on the conveyor belt to a single chick.

[0035] Preferably, the edges are shaped so that the straight cross-section of the assembly formed by the conveyor belt and the edges has a substantially U or V shape.

[0036] According to yet another particular embodiment of this installation,

- the conveyor for longitudinal or substantially longitudinal queuing of chicks is configured to transport the chicks at a first transport speed Vf,

- the chick training conveyor is configured for chicks at a second transport speed V2,

- the second transport speed V2 being strictly greater, i.e. greater than and not equal to, the first transport speed Vf, the difference between the transport speeds of these two conveyors being determined so that a chick arriving at the upstream end of the chick training conveyor with its head directed, or substantially directed, in the direction of movement of this conveyor, or towards the downstream end of this conveyor, has its body turned over so that it continues its transport on the chick training conveyor with its back directed towards, or substantially directed towards, the downstream end of this conveyor.

[0037] According to yet another particular embodiment of this installation, the ratio V _x /V between the speeds of these two conveyors is greater than or equal to 2, even better greater than or equal to 4 and even more preferably, greater than or equal to 5.

[0038] According to yet another particular embodiment of this installation, each conveyor which comprises a device for unbalancing a chick and causing it to voluntarily spread its wings, comprises a conveyor belt for transporting the chicks, the device for unbalancing a chick and causing it to voluntarily spread its wings comprising at least one rotary cam placed under the conveyor belt of its corresponding conveyor, each cam being driven in rotation about an axis placed transversely, or substantially transversely, relative to the direction of movement defined by said conveyor belt, said cam being shaped to enter periodically in contact with said conveyor belt and thus lift a part of it during this contact.

[0039] According to yet another particular embodiment of this installation, each rotary cam comprises at least one active profile zone, said active profile zones coming into contact with said conveyor belt one after the other during the rotation of the corresponding cam, said active profile zone(s) of said cam being shaped to ensure that the latter remains out of contact with this conveyor belt during at least part of its rotation.

[0040] According to yet another particular embodiment of this installation, the device for unbalancing a chick and causing it to voluntarily spread its wings comprises two rotating cams, the two cams being spaced apart from each other and shaped to move the part of the conveyor belt placed between said two cams between a free, or non-contact, trough-shaped configuration and a raised flat, or substantially flat, configuration so that the chick follows at least partially a rectilinear or substantially rectilinear trajectory.

[0041] According to yet another particular embodiment of this installation, for the conveyor for placing chicks in a longitudinal or substantially longitudinal queue, the rotation speed of each cam of this conveyor is determined relative to the transport speed V of the chicks on this conveyor, the rotation speed in rpm of each cam being 30 to 35 times faster than the transport speed V in m/min so as to spatially separate chicks in contact.

[0042] According to yet another particular embodiment of this installation, it comprises another conveyor, called a feed conveyor, which is intended to receive the chicks in bulk at its inlet, the feed conveyor having a downstream end opening onto the upstream ends of the chick drive conveyors, or of the conveyors for longitudinal or substantially longitudinal queuing of chicks when this installation comprises such conveyors, said installation comprising a distribution device comprising a plurality of diverters for shifting chicks transversely to the direction of movement of the chicks on the feed conveyor, this plurality of diverters being arranged to distribute the chicks at the downstream end of the feed conveyor between the different upstream ends of the corresponding conveyors. [0043] According to yet another particular embodiment of this installation, the distribution device is configured to distribute the chicks in a substantially uniform manner at the downstream end of the feed conveyor between the different upstream ends of the corresponding conveyors.

[0044] According to yet another particular embodiment of this installation, the feed conveyor comprising a transport belt defining a direction of movement, the plurality of diverters is placed above this transport belt, a portion of this plurality of diverters extending along the direction of movement.

[0045] According to yet another particular embodiment of this installation, said plurality of diverters comprises one or more first diverters placed upstream of second diverters along the direction of movement of the chicks, this or these first diverters each forming a chicane configured to spatially separate chicks moving on the conveyor belt. [0046] According to yet another particular embodiment of this installation, at least some of the second diverters comprise an elongated body such as a stake, extending perpendicular to the direction of movement.

[0047] According to yet another particular embodiment of this installation, it comprises at the outlet of each of its processing lines, defined by the downstream end of the last of the conveyors of the corresponding processing line, the latter being a conveyor comprising a conveyor belt for transporting the chicks, a chick switching device comprising:

- an entry port having an opening to allow access to the switching device of a chick transported by the conveyor,

- a first evacuation means and a second evacuation means each having an inlet and an outlet, the opening of the inlet port opening onto said inlets of the first and second evacuation means,

- the first means of evacuation being configured so that in operation, a chick transported by the conveyor naturally enters the entrance of the first means of evacuation,

- a deflection device configured to send a jet, such as a jet of gas or liquid, onto a chick moving downstream of the opening of the inlet port in order to deflect this chick towards the inlet of the second evacuation means, in response to a control signal addressed by a central unit,

- said central unit being configured to emit control signals said deflection device based on at least one characteristic of the chick.

[0048] The invention also relates to an installation for automatically determining the sex of a chick, comprising:

- a belt conveyor comprising a conveyor belt, preferably flexible, under tension for freely transporting said chick, said conveyor belt defining a direction of movement,

- a device for unbalancing the chick and causing it to voluntarily spread its wings when moving along at least part of said conveyor belt,

- at least one light source to illuminate the chick's wings when they are spread out,

- at least one imaging device for capturing one or more images of the chick's wings thus illuminated,

- a central unit configured to process the images acquired by said at least one imaging device in order to isolate on at least some of these images the end of at least one of the wings of said chick, analyze the configuration of the feathers at said at least one end and determine from this configuration whether it is a male or female chick or whether the sex is undetermined.

According to the invention, said device for unbalancing the chick and causing it to voluntarily spread its wings comprises at least one rotating cam placed under said conveyor belt, each cam being driven in rotation around an axis placed transversely, or substantially transversely, relative to said direction of movement, said cam being shaped to periodically come into contact with said conveyor belt and thus lift a part of it during this contact.

[0049] Advantageously, the original design of this installation for automatically determining the sex of a chick guarantees free movement of the chick, in a less noisy and less stressful environment, which contributes to its well-being.

[0050] This installation advantageously allows high automatic processing rates typically greater than 70,000 chicks per hour, or even greater than 90,000 chicks per hour.

[0051] The expression "freely transporting said chick" means that the latter is transported without constraint, being carried only by the conveyor belt as it moves along the conveyor. Thus, when the chick is balancing, it is generally in contact only with this belt, through its legs.

Similarly, when the chick spreads its wings under the effect of a stimulus causing its imbalance, there are no external supports, such as ramps placed laterally to the conveyor belt, for these spread wings to rest on.

[0052] Each rotary cam therefore makes it possible to temporarily, or even momentarily, lift a part of the conveyor belt when it comes into contact with it, to form an elevation, advantageously localized, of this conveyor belt, such as a hump or depending on the number and the respective positioning of at least two cams, a plate raised relative to the rest of the external surface of the conveyor belt. The configuration of the rest of the surface of the conveyor belt placed at a distance from said at least one rotary cam remains unchanged.

[0053] Of course, depending on the spacing between two adjacent rotating cams, it is possible that the surface of the conveyor belt placed between two areas of this belt in direct contact with these rotating cams is itself raised.

[0054] Advantageously, the inventors have found that the formation or disappearance of this or these temporary elevations makes it possible to unbalance the chick, causing it to spread its wings. This objective is achieved while guaranteeing transport without stress for the animal and without danger to its health.

[0055] The stimulus causing the chick's wings to open thus results from an imbalance in the latter caused by a localized change in the configuration of the conveyor belt, and in particular by the generation of an elevation such as a bump or a raised plateau, or even by the disappearance of this elevation.

Preferably, the height of this elevation is between f0 mm and 35 mm, preferably between 35 mm and 30 mm, and even more preferably between 17 mm and 25 mm relative to the rest of the external surface of the conveyor belt.

[0056] By adjusting the number of cams used and the frequency of rotation of the latter, the chick's wings are kept deployed. over a period of time sufficient for illumination and capture of a plurality of images thereof.

[0057] According to an embodiment of this installation for automatically determining the sex of a chick, each cam comprises at least one active profile zone, said active profile zones coming into contact with said conveyor belt one after the other during the rotation of the corresponding cam when there are several of them, said active profile zone(s) of said cam being shaped to ensure that the latter remains out of contact with this conveyor belt during at least part of its rotation.

Advantageously, each active profile zone can also be equipped with ball bearings to reduce friction with said rotating conveyor belt.

[0058] According to another embodiment of this installation for automatically determining the sex of a chick, each cam comprises at least one rounded active profile zone, such as semi-cylindrical.

Preferably, the cam(s) are shaped to lift the conveyor belt portion by a height of between f 7 mm and 25 mm.

This cam may also comprise two active profile zones, alternately coming into contact with said conveyor belt. For example, the cam may comprise a body containing the axle and the bearings and a cage, this cage comprising a front branch and a rear branch connected to the body by arms, each of these branches having a rounded profile.

[0059] According to yet another embodiment of this installation for automatically determining the sex of a chick, it comprises two rotating cams, placed under said conveyor belt while being spaced from each other along the direction of movement defined by said conveyor, each of these cams being driven in rotation about an axis placed transversely, or substantially transversely, relative to said direction of movement, each cam being shaped to periodically come into contact with said conveyor belt and thus lift a part of it during this contact so as to cause said chick to voluntarily spread its wings when the latter is in said part of the conveyor belt thus lifted.

[0060] According to yet another embodiment of this installation for automatically determining the sex of a chick, said cams placed under the same conveyor belt being identical, said installation is configured to operate them synchronously in order to lift at the same time, or even simultaneously, a part of the conveyor belt.

Alternatively, said installation can still be configured to operate these identical rotating cams, placed under the same conveyor belt, asynchronously.

[0061] According to yet another embodiment of this installation for automatically determining the sex of a chick, said cams, placed under the same conveyor belt, are different, said installation being configured to operate them synchronously.

Alternatively, said installation can be configured to operate these rotating cams asynchronously.

[0062] According to yet another embodiment of this installation for automatically determining the sex of a chick, the frame of said belt conveyor is configured so that said conveyor belt is driven in a trough shape to automatically center said chick during its transport. Thus, when the portion of the conveyor belt descends after having been lifted by the cam(s), this portion resumes its trough shape, which makes it possible to recenter the chick on the conveyor belt and to prevent the latter from physically interacting with the edges of the conveyor.

[0063] According to yet another embodiment of this installation for automatically determining the sex of a chick, said first cam and said second cam are spaced from each other and shaped to move the part of the conveyor belt placed between said cams between a free, or non-contact, trough-shaped configuration and a raised flat, or substantially flat, configuration, so that said chick follows at least partially a rectilinear or substantially rectilinear trajectory.

These rotating cams can thus be arranged so that the flexible conveyor belt is stretched between them.

Advantageously, it has been observed that such a configuration of the portion of conveyor belt placed between the cams ensures optimal acquisition of images of the chick, in particular of the tips of its wings, the chick then moving substantially horizontally, i.e. at a constant, or substantially constant, elevation under the camera(s). It is then observed that the captured images are perfectly clear. [0064] According to yet another embodiment of this installation for automatically determining the sex of a chick, each cam is configured to, during its rotation, lift a part of said conveyor belt and transmit an impulse to said chick placed on said part of conveyor belt in order to propel the latter into the air above said conveyor belt.

In an advantageous embodiment, it is possible to ensure that the chick takes off as little as possible following the lifting of the conveyor belt by the cam(s), or even simply cushions the change in configuration of the conveyor belt with its legs.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, it may be sought to ensure that the chick is suspended above the external surface of the conveyor belt.

The said rotating cams of the installation are then configured to cause the chick to be lifted above the part of the conveyor belt thus lifted.

Here, "sustainment" means that the chick adapts to the variation in height of the conveyor belt thus raised by compensating with its legs and opening its wings to try to balance itself in this constant imbalance. It then gives the impression of moving forward on the conveyor at a substantially constant height, which remains higher than the lowest level of the conveyor belt thus raised.

[0065] According to yet another embodiment of this installation for automatically determining the sex of a chick, said conveyor is horizontal.

[0066] According to yet another embodiment of this installation for automatically determining the sex of a chick, said or at least one of the light sources is configured to emit a blue light.

Advantageously, said or at least one of the light sources is configured to emit violet light at a wavelength between 380 nm and 420 nm, and even better, violet light at a wavelength centered on 405 nm.

[0067] According to yet another embodiment of this installation for automatically determining the sex of a chick, each imaging device is a matrix camera for detecting at least the visible light reflected by said chick when it is illuminated by said at least one light source. [0068] Preferably, said conveyor comprising two rotary cams and two matrix cameras spaced along said conveyor, the field of vision of a first of said cameras covers a first zone of the conveyor belt, at least a majority of which is placed downstream of the first rotary cam, the “downstream” position being considered relative to the direction of transport of the chick along said conveyor, and the field of vision of a second camera covers a second zone of the conveyor belt covering or not a part of said first zone of conveyor belt, a portion of said second zone of the conveyor belt thus imaged being placed downstream of the second rotary cam.

It is thus possible to carry out individual tracking of each chick until it leaves the conveyor and consequently, to guarantee monitoring of the appropriate treatment of each chick.

At least the first camera thus covers a majority of the part of the conveyor belt located between the portions of the conveyor belt in contact with the rotating cams.

[0069] According to yet another embodiment of this installation for automatically determining the sex of a chick, said conveyor comprises in its output zone, a chick ejection device configured to send the latter towards a first processing conveyor or towards a second processing conveyor separate from the first, depending on the sex of the chick identified during the processing of said images.

[0070] Preferably, the field of vision of the second camera also covers said exit zone of said conveyor to ensure individual monitoring of the chick at least until its arrival, or passage, at the level of the ejection device.

[0071] According to yet another embodiment of this installation for automatically determining the sex of a chick, it comprises at least two belt conveyors arranged parallel to each other to process several chicks at a time, each conveyor being equipped with one or more rotary cams placed under the conveyor belt of the corresponding conveyor, each cam being driven in rotation about an axis placed transversely, or substantially transversely, relative to the direction of movement defined by the corresponding conveyor, each cam being shaped to periodically come into contact with the conveyor belt of the corresponding conveyor and thus lift a part of it during this contact. [0072] According to yet another embodiment of this installation for automatically determining the sex of a chick, it comprises n rectilinear belt conveyors arranged in series, n being greater than or equal to 2, the output of each conveyor thus opening onto the input of the immediately following conveyor, all of these conveyors defining a transport path, each conveyor comprising one or more rotary cams placed under the conveyor belt of the corresponding conveyor, each cam being driven in rotation about an axis placed transversely, or substantially transversely, relative to the direction of movement defined by the corresponding conveyor, each cam being shaped to periodically come into contact with the conveyor belt of the corresponding conveyor and thus lift a part of it during this contact, only the conveyor placed furthest downstream, comprising said at least one imaging device and said at least one light source, said conveyor(s) placed upstream of the latter making it possible to prepare said chick for the determination of his sex on the conveyor placed furthest downstream.

It is advantageously noted that such a phase of learning the chick by its passage on one or more so-called learning conveyors, ensures a spontaneous reaction of the chick, and therefore a faster deployment of its wings, on the conveyor placed furthest downstream at the critical moment of carrying out the illumination and image capture operations in order to determine its sex. [0073] The present invention also relates to a method for the automatic determination of the sex of a chick in which the following steps are carried out:

- moving a chick on a belt conveyor comprising a tensioned conveyor belt, said conveyor defining a direction of movement of the chick,

- momentarily lifting at least part of this conveyor belt on which the chick is transported freely to generate at least one elevation of this conveyor belt such as a bump or a raised plateau relative to the rest of the conveyor belt, in order to unbalance said chick and cause the voluntary deployment of its wings, this elevation comprising at least the portion of the belt with which said chick is directly in contact,

- illuminate at least one wing thus deployed of said chick, and

- detecting at least part of the light reflected by said at least one wing thus illuminated,

- process the images thus acquired in order to isolate on at least some of these images the end of at least one of the wings of said chick, analyze the configuration of the feathers at said at least one end and determine from this configuration whether it is a male or female chick or whether the sex is undetermined.

[0074] Preferably, this conveyor belt is flexible.

[0075] According to an embodiment of this method for automatically determining the sex of a chick, said at least one part of the conveyor belt is lifted by one or more rotary cams placed under said conveyor belt, each cam being driven in rotation about an axis placed transversely, or substantially transversely, relative to said direction of movement, each cam being shaped to periodically come into contact with said conveyor belt and thus lift a part of it during this contact.

[0076] According to another embodiment of this method for automatically determining the sex of a chick, said at least one part of the conveyor belt being lifted by two rotating cams placed under said conveyor belt, the operations of the first cam and the second cam are synchronized.

Alternatively, said at least one portion of conveyor belt being lifted by two rotating cams placed under said conveyor belt, the operations of the first cam and the second cam are asynchronous. The cams may or may not be identical.

[0077] According to yet another embodiment of this method for automatically determining the sex of a chick, the chassis of the belt conveyor being configured so that said conveyor belt is driven in a trough shape in order to automatically center said chick during its transport, a part of said conveyor belt is lifted to make it pass from a first configuration called free, in the shape of a trough, to a second configuration called flat or substantially flat, in which said part of the conveyor belt is flat or substantially flat.

[0078] According to yet another embodiment of this method for automatically determining the sex of a chick, the or each part of the conveyor belt thus raised has an elevation of between 8 mm and f 6 mm relative to the rest of the external surface of said conveyor belt. [0079] According to another embodiment of this method for automatically determining the sex of a chick, the rotation frequency of the rotary cam(s) placed under the conveyor belt of a rectilinear belt conveyor is adjusted, for a given running speed of this conveyor belt in order to obtain maximum spontaneous deployment of the chick's wings.

Brief description of the drawings

[0080] Other advantages, aims and particular characteristics of the present invention will emerge from the description which follows, given, for explanatory and in no way limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1

[0081] [Fig. 1] shows views of the wingtip of a female chick;

Fig. 2

[0082] [Fig. 2] shows views of the wingtip of a male chick;

Fig. 3

[0083] [Fig. 3] is a partial schematic representation of an installation for automatically determining the sex of a chick according to a particular embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4

[0084] [Fig. 4] is another partial view of the automatic chick sex determination installation of Fig. 3, the conveyor belt is partially shown to better show the rotating cams;

Fig. 5

[0085] [Fig. 5] is a partial, sectional view of only the conveyors of the chick sex determination facility of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6

[0086] [Fig. 6] is a partial top view of the automatic chick sex determination installation of Fig. 3, showing the exit area of this installation, the conveyor belt is partially shown to better show the rotating cams;

Fig. 7

[0087] [Fig. 7] is a view of the downstream end of the automatic chick sex determination facility of Fig. 3, showing the chick routing and discharge device;

Fig. 8 [0088] [Fig. 8] is a partial and enlarged view of the switching device illustrated in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9

[0089] [Fig. 9] is a partial and partially exploded view of the part of the switching device illustrated in Fig. 7;

Fig. 10

[0090] [Fig. 10] is a partial top view of the downstream end of the automatic chick sexing system of Fig. 3, showing the chick switching device;

Fig. 11

[0091] [Fig. 11] is a partial representation of a chick transport assembly according to another particular embodiment of the present invention;

Description of the embodiments

[0092] The drawings and the description below contain, for the most part, elements of a certain character. They may therefore not only serve to better understand the present invention, but also contribute to its definition, where appropriate.

[0093] First of all, we note that the figures are not to scale.

[0094] Figures 3 to 9 schematically and partially illustrate an installation for automatically determining the sex of a chick according to a particular embodiment of the present invention.

[0095] This installation comprises several identical FO processing lines arranged in parallel in order to determine the sex of a plurality of chicks at the same time. The number of these processing lines 10 is not limited. It may, for example, be greater than or equal to 4 or greater than or equal to 6.

[0096] On the other hand, each processing line 10 of this installation comprises several conveyors, for example rectilinear ones, which are arranged in series. These are referred to as successive conveyors. The successive conveyors thus define a direction of movement, or axis of transport, of the chicks 11 to evacuation conveyors 12, 13 intended to transport each of the chicks of the same sex, after differentiation and separation of the latter according to their sex. The successive conveyors preferably define the same direction of movement.

[0097] On each processing line 10, a first conveyor 14, called a feed conveyor, can be placed upstream of the line, is configured to allow chicks placed in bulk at the entrance to this first conveyor 14 to be organized and placed in single file.

[0098] The output of this first conveyor 14 may lead to a second conveyor 15 called a separation conveyor, or a conveyor for placing the chicks in a longitudinal or substantially longitudinal line. Its transport speed is, for example, greater than the transport speed of the first conveyor 14 to ensure spatial separation of the chicks.

[0099] The output of this second conveyor 15 can lead to the input of a third conveyor 16 called “chick training” or chick training. The training conveyor 16 can be rectilinear, or an upstream conveyor.

[0100] A single learning conveyor 16 is shown here but the installation could include one or more other conveyors 16 called chick learning conveyors in order to reinforce the latter's learning.

[0101] The output of this third conveyor 16 leads to the input of a fourth conveyor 17 called “chick sex identification” or chick sex determination, or acquisition. This fourth conveyor 17 is for example a belt conveyor. It is configured to allow the actual capture of one or more images of at least one deployed wing of each chick transported by this conveyor via at least one imaging device. [0102] The output of this fourth conveyor 17 can lead to a sorting station 18, called a switching device, or ejection device, for the chicks according to their sex, previously identified by the capture of images and the processing of these images with an appropriate algorithm, with a view to their evacuation to processing stations adapted to the sex of the chick 11.

[0103] Each of these conveyors may be a belt conveyor comprising a flexible conveyor belt under tension. These conveyors are preferably horizontal.

[0104] The frames of the second, third and fourth belt conveyors 15-17 are configured so that their conveyor belt is driven in a trough shape to automatically center a chick during its transport. The chick 11 is free and only carried by its legs when it is balanced on the corresponding conveyor belt.

[0105] The chick training conveyor 16 comprises at least a first device for applying a stimulus to a chick in order to cause this chick to voluntarily spread its wings. [0106] The chick sex determination conveyor 17 comprises at least a second device for applying a stimulus to a chick to cause that chick to voluntarily spread its wings.

[0107] The chick training conveyor 16 and the chick sex determination conveyor 17 form a system for preparing and triggering the deployment of a chick's wings in response to a stimulus. [0108] The first and second devices for applying a stimulus to the chick are preferably identical.

[0109] The longitudinal or substantially longitudinal queuing conveyor 15 may comprise at least a third device for applying a stimulus to a chick in order to cause this chick to voluntarily spread its wings. The third device for applying a stimulus to a chick forms an upstream device for applying a stimulus to the chick.

[0110] The first, second and third devices for applying a stimulus to the chick are preferably identical.

[0111] The upstream conveyor 15 may be a belt conveyor comprising a conveyor belt. It may comprise edges 150 placed on either side of this conveyor belt, which are configured to delimit the passage of a single chick on the conveyor belt. The edges 150 are in this example shaped so that the straight cross-section of the assembly formed by the conveyor belt and the edges has a substantially U- or V-shaped shape.

[0112] In the illustrated example, the conveyors are belt conveyors comprising a conveyor belt and each device for applying a stimulus to the chick is a device for unbalancing the chick and causing it to voluntarily spread its wings is configured to, during operation, momentarily and in a cadenced manner raise at least a portion of the conveyor belt of the corresponding conveyor to generate, at each raising, at least one elevation such as a bump or a raised plateau, relative to the rest of the conveyor belt.

[0113] More particularly, each device for unbalancing the chick and causing it to voluntarily spread its wings comprises at least one rotating cam 19 placed under this conveyor belt.

[0114] Each chick sex determination conveyor 17 comprises a central unit configured to process the images acquired by said at least one imaging device in order to analyze the configuration of the feathers at the end of at least one of the chick's wings and determine from this configuration whether it is a male or female chick or whether the sex is undetermined. The central unit can be configured to isolate on at least some of these images the tip of at least one of the chick's wings

[0115] Devices for applying a stimulus to a chick to cause the chick to voluntarily spread its wings are, for example, rotary cams as described below.

[0116] The third and fourth conveyors 16, 17 each comprise, for example, two rotating cams 19, placed under their conveyor belt 20, being spaced from each other. These rotating cams 19 are driven in rotation around an axis 20 placed perpendicular to the direction of movement.

[0117] These rotary cams 19 are preferably identical and synchronized at each conveyor 16, 17. Each rotary cam 19 may comprise an active profile zone, for example of a semi-cylindrical shape, the rounded part being turned outwards. The configuration of the active profile zone of the cam ensures periodic contact, here at each revolution, with the conveyor belt 21 of the corresponding conveyor 16, 17.

[0118] Such contacting of the active profile zone of each rotary cam 19 thus makes it possible to temporarily lift a portion of this conveyor belt 21 so as to cause the chick 11 to voluntarily spread its wings, when the latter is on said portion of conveyor belt which is thus lifted.

[0119] This is indeed a temporary lifting of a portion of the conveyor belt 21, this lifting only existing during the time period during which the active profile zone of the rotating cam 19 is in contact with the conveyor belt 21.

[0120] When the active profile zone moves away from the conveyor belt 21, due to the rotation of the corresponding cam 19, the conveyor belt is no longer in contact with the rotating cam and therefore returns to its initial configuration, i.e. in the shape of a trough.

[0121] On each of the third and fourth conveyors 16, 17, the two rotary cams 19 are arranged to raise a portion of the conveyor belt 21, this raising having a straight longitudinal section of substantially trapezoidal shape (ascent, plateau, descent). This raising of a portion of the conveyor belt here has an elevation of between 17 and 25 mm. [0122] The purpose of the third conveyor 16 is to train the chick to deploy its wings more efficiently and impulsively when they encounter the same elevation on the fourth conveyor 17.

[0123] Advantageously, this ensures spontaneous deployment of the wings of the chick 11 at the time of carrying out the operations of illumination and capturing one or more images in order to determine its sex.

[0124] This installation may comprise light sources 25 which are placed on either side of the conveyor belt and above it to illuminate the wings of the chick thus deployed. These light sources 25 are configured to emit light, for example violet at a wavelength between 380 nm and 420 nm, and even better, violet light at a wavelength centered on 405 nm.

[0125] This installation may also comprise two matrix cameras 22, 23 placed above a downstream part of this fourth conveyor 17, being spaced from each other along this conveyor. These matrix cameras 22, 23 are part of the imaging device.

[0126] These matrix cameras 22, 23 are arranged so that the field of vision of a first 22 of these cameras covers a first zone of the conveyor belt 21 of which at least a majority is placed downstream of the first rotary cam 19, while the field of vision of the other matrix camera 23 covers a second zone of the conveyor belt 21 placed downstream of this first zone.

[0127] More precisely, this second zone of the conveyor belt 21 thus covered by the field of vision 24 of the second matrix camera 23 comprises both an end of this first zone of conveyor belt imaged by the first matrix camera 22 and a zone of the conveyor belt placed downstream of the second rotary cam 19 so that there is an overlap between these two zones of the conveyor belt 21 imaged.

[0128] In addition, the field of vision of the second matrix camera 23 covers the exit area of the fourth conveyor 17.

[0129] It is thus possible to ensure individual monitoring of each chick 11 from its entry onto the portion of the raised conveyor belt until its exit from the fourth conveyor 17.

[0130] At the exit zone of the fourth conveyor 17, an ejection device 18 can be placed, configured to send the outgoing chick 11 to a first 12 processing conveyor or to a second 13 processing conveyor. separate processing from the first, depending on the sex of the chick identified after processing of the images acquired by the matrix cameras 22, 23.

[0131] This ejection device here comprises one or more blowers (not shown), or devices for producing a jet of pressurized air, to direct, or steer, a chick 11 towards a pre-established exit path according to its sex.

[0132] Of course, the distance separating the second rotating cam 19 from this ejection device 18 is determined so that the algorithm for processing the captured images of the chick's wings has the time necessary to identify the sex of this chick 11.

[0133] Tests were carried out with the installation described above in order to demonstrate the good results obtained with it, in determining the sex of a chick 11.

[0134] According to a first embodiment, the rotating cams 19 placed under the conveyor belt 21 of a so-called “image acquisition” conveyor are configured to lift a portion of the corresponding conveyor belt by a maximum height of 33 mm relative to the rest of the external surface of this conveyor belt.

[0135] The rotation speed (revolutions per minute = rpm) of these rotating cams 19 is set at 1800 revolutions per minute. Alternatively, the rotation speed of these rotating cams 19 is set at 235 revolutions per minute or 336 revolutions per minute.

[0136] Each of these rotating cams 19 here has a single active profile zone having a semi-cylindrical shape.

[0137] In this mode of implementation, we advantageously observe a very low average error rate in identifying the sex of the chick.

[0138] According to another embodiment, the pair of rotary cams 19 placed under the conveyor belt of a first rectilinear belt conveyor called "chick learning" and the pair of rotary cams 19 placed under the conveyor belt 21 of a second rectilinear belt conveyor called "image acquisition" are identical and configured so that a first of the rotary cams of each pair, placed upstream of the corresponding conveyor, is configured to lift a portion of the corresponding conveyor belt by a height of approximately 25 mm relative to the rest of the external surface of this conveyor belt, while the other cam of the pair, placed downstream, is configured to lift a portion of the corresponding conveyor belt by a height of approximately 33 mm. [0139] In addition, the rotation speed (revolutions per minute = rpm) of the rotating cams 19 of the so-called “chick learning” conveyor is set at 1500 revolutions per minute while the rotation speed of the rotating cams 19 of the second so-called “image acquisition” conveyor is set at 2400 revolutions per minute. Alternatively, the rotation speed of the rotating cams 19 of the learning conveyor is of the order of 235 revolutions per minute and the rotation speed of the rotating cams 19 of the image acquisition conveyor is of the order of 235 revolutions per minute.

[0140] We also note in this mode of implementation, a very low average error rate on the identification of the sex of the chick.

[0141] According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the pair of rotary cams 19 placed under the conveyor belt of a first rectilinear belt conveyor called “chick learning” and the pair of rotary cams 19 placed under the conveyor belt 21 of a second rectilinear belt conveyor called “image acquisition” are identical and configured so that a first of the cams of each pair, placed upstream of the corresponding conveyor, is configured to lift a portion of the corresponding conveyor belt by a height of approximately 25 mm relative to the rest of the external surface of this conveyor belt, while the other cam of the pair, placed downstream, is configured to lift a portion of the corresponding conveyor belt by a height of approximately 17 mm.

[0142] Furthermore, the rotation speed (revolutions per minute = rpm) of the rotating cams 19 of the first conveyor is set at 1800 revolutions per minute while the rotation speed of the rotating cams 19 of the second conveyor is set at 3000 revolutions per minute.

[0143] Here again, in this mode of implementation, we observe a very low average error rate in identifying the sex of the chick.

[0144] It will be noted that the frequency of the rotating cams 19 on the second rectilinear conveyor called the image acquisition conveyor, or the capture of images of the deployed wings, is always higher than the frequency of the rotating cams on the first conveyor called the “learning” conveyor, because it is desired to cause the greatest imbalance in the capture zone of one or more images of the deployed wings of the chick.

[0145] According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the pair of rotating cams 19 placed under the conveyor belt of the belt conveyor known as the longitudinal or substantially longitudinal chick queue conveyor is identical to the pairs of rotating cams 19 placed under the conveyor belts of the so-called learning and image acquisition conveyors, and configured so that a first of the cams of each pair, placed upstream of the corresponding conveyor, is configured to lift a portion of the corresponding conveyor belt by a height of approximately 25 mm relative to the rest of the external surface of this conveyor belt, while the other cam of the pair, placed downstream, is configured to lift a portion of the corresponding conveyor belt by a height of approximately 17 mm.

[0146] In addition, the rotation speed (revolutions per minute = rpm) of the rotating cams 19 of the longitudinal queuing conveyor is set at 336 revolutions per minute.

[0147] The conveyors described above may be belt conveyors each comprising a tensioned conveyor belt for freely transporting the chicks. The conveyors described may be linear conveyors. The conveyors described may be rectilinear conveyors.

[0148] Figure 3 further illustrates a device according to the invention for spacing and placing chicks in a longitudinal or substantially longitudinal line during their transport. The device comprises a conveyor 15, called a separation conveyor, comprising a conveyor belt for transporting these chicks, and edges 150 placed on either side of this conveyor belt.

[0149] The banks 150 are configured to delimit the front passage on the conveyor belt to a single chick.

[0150] This conveyor 15 is configured to, during operation, momentarily and cadencedly lift at least part of the conveyor belt. Thus, the conveyor 15 generates, at each lifting, at least one elevation such as a hump or a raised plateau relative to the rest of the conveyor belt, in order to separate chicks in contact or forming a compact mass.

[0151] For this purpose, the conveyor 15 may comprise at least one rotary cam 19, as described previously.

[0152] The device for spacing and placing chicks in a longitudinal or substantially longitudinal line may also comprise another conveyor 16 arranged downstream of the separation conveyor 15. The downstream end of the separation conveyor 15 opens onto the upstream end of the other conveyor 16, the conveyors 15, 16 being conveyors arranged in a collinear manner and defining an identical direction of movement of the chicks. The conveyors 15, 16 are called respectively first 15 and second 16 conveyors.

[0153] The upstream end of the second conveyor 16 is placed under the downstream end of the first conveyor 15 so that a time interval separates the passage of the chick from the first conveyor 15 to the second conveyor 16.

[0154] The first conveyor 15 is configured to transport the chicks at a first transport speed VI, and the second conveyor 16 is configured to transport the chicks at a second transport speed V2. The second transport speed V2 is in one embodiment strictly greater than the first transport speed VI.

[0155] The difference between the transport speeds of the first and second conveyors is for example determined so that a chick arriving at the upstream end of the second conveyor 16 with its head directed, or substantially directed, in the direction of movement of the second conveyor 16, that is to say towards the downstream end of the second conveyor 16, sees its body turned over so that it continues its transport on the second conveyor 16 with its back directed towards, or substantially directed towards, the downstream end of the second conveyor 16.

[0156] The ratio V ₂ /Vx between the transport speeds of the first 15 and second 16 conveyors is for example greater than or equal to 2, even better greater than or equal to 4 and even more preferably, greater than or equal to 5.

[0157] Figures 7 to 10 show a switching device of the installation for automatically determining the sex of a chick according to a particular embodiment.

[0158] This switching device is placed at the output of the acquisition conveyor 17. It comprises:

- an entry port 30 comprising an opening to allow access to said switching device of a chick transported by the conveyor belt of the acquisition conveyor 17, this entry port being intended to be placed at the downstream end of this conveyor,

- a first evacuation slide 31 and a second evacuation slide 32 placed side by side, said first and second slides 31, 32 each having an upstream end, the upstream ends of these evacuation slides being intended to be placed at the outlet of the downstream end of this acquisition conveyor 17, - the first slide 31 having a width at its upstream end strictly greater than the width of the upstream end of the second slide 32 so that in operation, a chick transported freely by the acquisition conveyor 17 while being placed in the middle or substantially in the middle of the conveyor belt, naturally engages on the first slide 31 at the outlet of said conveyor,

- said inlet port 30 comprising a first deflection device 33 configured to send a jet of gas 330 onto a chick moving at the downstream end of said conveyor in order to deflect this chick towards the upstream end of the second slide 32, in response to a control signal sent by the central unit,

- this central unit being configured to transmit control signals to the deflection device 33 as a function of at least one identified characteristic of the chick.

[0159] Evacuation slides are means of evacuation.

[0160] For purely illustrative and non-limiting purposes, this characteristic of the chick may be the sex of the chick, the absence of determination of the sex of the chick, or a malformation or handicap of the chick.

[0161] Thus, for example, the first slide 31 may be intended to receive and evacuate female chicks while the second slide 32 is intended to receive and evacuate male chicks.

[0162] The switching device also comprises a second deflection device 34 configured to send a gas jet 340 onto a chick moving downstream of the opening of said inlet port 30, said second deflection device 34 being oriented so that the gas jet 340 thus emitted deflects this chick towards the inlet of the first slide 31. This may be the case when the chick arriving in the switching device is identified as being incorrectly placed on the conveyor belt of the acquisition conveyor 17.

[0163] Advantageously, the second slide 32 is defined by a separating piece 35 added to the first slide 31.

[0164] The first slide 31 may be defined by a removable block attached to the second slide 32, the block defining a communication path 35 towards the entrance of the second slide 32.

[0165] Figure 11 is a partial representation of a chick transport assembly according to another particular embodiment of the present invention. [0166] This device comprises a conveyor 30 comprising an inlet and an outlet, this outlet defining a transport width, the conveyor defining a direction of movement 31 of the chicks, this conveyor 30 being intended to receive a batch of chicks not ordered at its inlet. [0167] This device also comprises a distribution device comprising a plurality of deflectors 32, 33 for shifting these chicks transversely to the direction of movement of the chicks, this plurality of deflectors 32, 33 being arranged to distribute the chicks over the transport width at the outlet of the conveyor 30. [0168] This plurality of deflectors 32, 33 which is placed above this transport belt, comprises a first deflector 32 having the shape of a chicane having a V-shaped cross section, the tip being directed towards the inlet of the conveyor.

[0169] This first deflector 32 is placed upstream of a plurality of second deflectors 33 along the direction of movement 31 of the chicks. Each of these second deflectors 33 comprises an elongated body such as a stake, extending perpendicular to the direction of movement 31 to randomly distribute a chick between two movement paths.

Claims

Claims [Claim 1] Installation for determining the sex of chicks, the installation comprising several identical and mutually parallel processing lines (10), each processing line (10) comprising at least two successive conveyors (16, 17), defining the same direction of movement, the first (16) of these conveyors, in the direction of movement, called the chick drive conveyor (16), comprising at least a first device (19) for applying a stimulus to a chick in order to cause this chick to voluntarily spread its wings, the second (17) of these conveyors, in the direction of movement, called the chick sex determination conveyor (17), comprising at least a second device (19) for applying a stimulus to a chick in order to cause this chick to voluntarily spread its wings, said installation comprising at each sex determination conveyor (17): - at least one imaging device (22, 23) for capturing one or more images of the chick's wings, and - a central unit (U) configured to process the images acquired by said at least one imaging device (22, 23) in order to analyze the configuration of the feathers at the end of at least one of the chick's wings and determine from this configuration whether it is a male or female chick or whether the sex is undetermined. [Claim 2] Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least four treatment lines (10) and even better, six treatment lines (10), said treatment lines (10) being identical and arranged in parallel. [Claim 3] Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each processing line (10) of this installation comprises another conveyor (15) called a conveyor for longitudinal or substantially longitudinal queuing (15) of chicks, defining a direction of movement identical to the direction of movement of the conveyors for driving (16) the chicks and for determining the sex (17) of the chicks, the conveyor for longitudinal or substantially longitudinal queuing (15) of chicks comprising at least one third device (19) for applying a stimulus to said chick so as to cause the chick to voluntarily deploy its wings, the conveyor for placing the chicks in longitudinal or substantially longitudinal line (15) having a downstream end opening onto the upstream end of the conveyor for driving the chicks (16). [Claim 4] Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first, second and third devices (19) for applying a stimulus to the chick are chosen from the group comprising a device for unbalancing a chick and causing it to voluntarily spread its wings, a device for vibrating a conveyor belt of a corresponding belt conveyor, a stroboscopic light source, an inclined conveyor, a device for sending a flow of air onto a chick and combinations of these elements. [Claim 5] Installation according to claim 3, characterized in that the conveyor for placing chicks in longitudinal or substantially longitudinal queue (15), being a belt conveyor comprising a conveyor belt (21), it comprises edges (150) placed on either side of this conveyor belt (21), which are configured to delimit the passage of a single chick on the conveyor belt. [Claim 6] Installation according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the edges (150) are shaped so that the straight cross-section of the assembly formed by the conveyor belt (21) and the edges (150) has a substantially U or V shape. [Claim 7] Installation according to claim 3 or 5 or 6, characterized in that: - the longitudinal or substantially longitudinal chick queue conveyor (15) is configured to transport the chicks at a first transport speed VI, - the chick drive conveyor (16) is configured for the chicks at a second transport speed V2, - the second transport speed V2 being strictly greater than the first transport speed VI, the difference between the transport speeds of these two conveyors being determined so that a chick arriving at the upstream end of the chick drive conveyor with its head directed, or substantially directed, in the direction of movement of this conveyor, or towards the downstream end of this conveyor, has its body turned so that it continues its transport on the chick training conveyor with its back directed towards, or substantially directed towards, the downstream end of this conveyor. [Claim 8] Installation according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the ratio Vx/V between the speeds of these two conveyors is greater than or equal to 2, even better greater than or equal to 4 and even more preferably, greater than or equal to 5. [Claim 9] Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each conveyor which comprises a device (19) for unbalancing a chick and causing it to voluntarily spread its wings, comprises a conveyor belt (21) for transporting the chicks, the device (19) for unbalancing a chick and causing it to voluntarily spread its wings comprising at least one rotating cam (19) placed under the conveyor belt (21) of its corresponding conveyor, each cam being driven in rotation about an axis (20) placed transversely, or substantially transversely, relative to the direction of movement defined by said conveyor belt, said cam being shaped to periodically come into contact with said conveyor belt and thus lift a part of it during this contact. [Claim 10] Installation according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each rotary cam comprises at least one active profile zone, said active profile zones coming into contact with said conveyor belt one after the other during the rotation of the corresponding cam, said active profile zone(s) of said cam being shaped to ensure that the latter remains out of contact with this conveyor belt during at least part of its rotation. [Claim 11] Installation according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the device (19) for unbalancing a chick and causing it to voluntarily spread its wings comprises two rotating cams (19), the two cams being spaced from each other and shaped to move the part of the conveyor belt (21) placed between said two cams between a free configuration, or contactless, trough-shaped and a configuration raised flat, or substantially flat, so that the chick follows at least partially a straight or substantially straight path. [Claim 12] Installation according to claim 7 or 8 and any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that for the conveyor for longitudinal or substantially longitudinal queuing (15) of chicks, the rotation speed of each cam (19) of this conveyor is determined relative to the transport speed V of the chicks on this conveyor, the rotation speed in rpm of each cam being 30 to 35 times faster than the transport speed V in m/min so as to spatially separate chicks in contact. [Claim 13] Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises another conveyor (14), called the feed conveyor (14), which is intended to receive the chicks in bulk at its inlet, the feed conveyor (14) having a downstream end opening onto the upstream ends of the chick drive conveyors (16), or of the chick longitudinal or substantially longitudinal queue conveyors (15) when this installation comprises such conveyors, said installation comprising a distribution device comprising a plurality of diverters (40, 41) for shifting chicks transversely to the direction of movement of the chicks on the feed conveyor (14), this plurality of diverters (40, 41) being arranged to distribute the chicks at the downstream end of the feed conveyor (14) between the different upstream ends of the corresponding conveyors (15, 16). [Claim 14] Installation according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the distribution device is configured to distribute the chicks in a substantially uniform manner at the downstream end of the feed conveyor (14) between the different upstream ends of the corresponding conveyors (16). [Claim 15] Installation according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the feed conveyor (14) comprising a transport belt (21) defining a direction of movement, the plurality of deflectors (40, 41) is placed above this conveyor belt (21), a part of this plurality of deflectors extending along the direction of movement. [Claim 16] Installation according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said plurality of deflectors (40, 41) comprises one or more first deflectors (40) placed upstream of second deflectors (41) along the direction of movement of the chicks, this or these first deflectors (40) each forming a chicane configured to spatially separate chicks moving on the transport belt. [Claim 17] Installation according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least some of the second deflectors (41) comprise an elongated body such as a stake, extending perpendicular to the direction of movement. [Claim 18] Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at the outlet of each of its processing lines (10), defined by the downstream end of the last of the conveyors of the corresponding processing line, the latter being a conveyor comprising a conveyor belt (21) for transporting the chicks, a chick switching device (18) comprising: - an entry port (30) having an opening to allow access into the switching device (18) of a chick transported by the conveyor, - a first evacuation means (31) and a second evacuation means (32) each having an inlet and an outlet, the opening of the inlet port (30) opening onto said inlets of the first and second evacuation means, - the first evacuation means (31) being configured so that in operation, a chick transported by the conveyor naturally enters the entrance of the first evacuation means, - a deflection device (33) configured to send a jet (330), such as a jet of gas or liquid, onto a chick moving downstream of the opening of the inlet port in order to deflect this chick towards the inlet of the second evacuation means (32), in response to a control signal addressed by a central unit (U), - said central unit (U) being configured to transmit control signals to said deflection device (33) as a function of at least one characteristic of the chick.