Method and apparatus for poultry colony storage and conveyance

US11540493B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Tyson Foods, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Doug Foreman · Springdale, US
• Stephen Brannan · Wesley, US
• James Ruff · Springdale, US
• David Lee Mantooth · Fayetteville, US
• Kevin W. Guernsey · Kenner, US
• Timothy J. DeRoche · Houma, US
• Brian R. Lee · Kenner, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 31, 2019
• Grant date: Jan 3, 2023
• Expiry date: Sep 18, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A01K31/18
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus and method for a colony system for growing poultry includes a rack system including vertically and horizontally oriented support members, where the support members can be beams that are structurally interconnected forming multiple vertically tiered channels through which a poultry basket can be conveyed, and where each channel formed by the support members has an entry end and an exit end. The system further includes an entry end pulley having multiple side-by-side entry end pulley grooves around an entry end circumference of the pulley. The system further includes an exit end pulley, and the exit end pulley has multiple side-by-side exit end pulley grooves around an exit end circumference of the exit end pulley, where the exit end pulley is rotatably mounted on an exit end bearing axle where the exit end bearing axle has opposing ends fixedly positioned.