EP2603072A1

EP2603072A1 - Device for identifying an animal and corresponding manufacturing device

Info

Publication number: EP2603072A1
Application number: EP11739068.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Johan Decaluwe; Jean-Jacques Hilpert
Original assignee: Allflex Europe SA
Current assignee: Allflex Europe SA
Priority date: 2010-08-09
Filing date: 2011-08-03
Publication date: 2013-06-19
Also published as: CN103068222A; CA2804961A1; FR2963536A1; BR112013002750A2; CN201974827U; US20130175347A1; AU2011288522A1; WO2012019956A1; FR2963536B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for identifying an animal bearing at least one identifier of said animal. According to the invention, such a device comprises at least one planar UHF antenna (141) and at least one planar electronic component (142) that extends in one and the same plane corresponding to a surface of a flexible film (14) secured to a planar element of said device.

Description

Device for identifying an animal and corresponding manufacturing device.

1. Field of the invention

The field of the invention is that of control and / or identification of animals.

More specifically, the invention relates to a new animal identification device, also called mark (or "tag" in English), comprising an electronic identification means.

Such identification devices are especially intended to be affixed to animals intended for consumption. Such animals may be cattle, sheep, pigs or goats or poultry or any other animal species.

2. Prior Art

The identification of livestock has been made obligatory in many countries to ensure the monitoring of livestock and guarantee the origin of animals intended especially for consumption.

Thus, to ensure traceability, an animal is conventionally identified by means of a mark, for example attached to its ear and formed of a male part and a female part designed to associate irreversibly.

Such a mark includes a marking surface, on which are mentioned data allowing the identification of the animal by printing, engraving, laser marking, or any other means known to those skilled in the art. Thus, conventionally, a mark carries an identification number making it possible to follow the animal throughout its existence.

Ear tags plastic, for example at least partially polyurethane, are currently the most used. Indeed, such marks have good properties in terms of flexibility, which makes it possible to hinder the animal as little as possible in its movements, and prevent it from being injured. The use of a deformable material prevents tearing of the ear of the animal, which may occur for example when the mark affixed to the ear the animal gets stuck in a fence, branches, etc.

Some of these brands incorporate electronic identification devices, such as RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) devices, as described for example in the European patent application EP 2 191 715 in the name of the same Applicant.

Generally, in RFID tags, the RFID device is completely encapsulated in the female part of the mark during the molding of this female part. The RFID component can also be shaped in the male part. These marks are usually toroidal in shape.

Unfortunately, a disadvantage of these toroidal shaped marks is that they are generally relatively bulky and likely to be deteriorated or corroded. Furthermore, besides a problem of comfort of the animal, the problem related to the volume and weight of these marks can also increase the duration of healing of the animal and / or impair the normal development of the ear.

In addition, the encapsulation of toroidal RFID devices is complex and expensive.

On the other hand, although the marks generally have good properties in terms of flexibility, these properties are however limited by the toroidal shape, which can sometimes generate, depending on the movements, wounds of the animal.

There is therefore a need for a compact electronic identification device and a new technique for simply and economically integrating an RFID device into a compact electronic identification device.

3. Presentation of the invention

The invention proposes a novel solution in the form of an identification device for an animal carrying at least one identifier of the animal.

According to the invention, such an identification device, or mark, comprises at least one UHF plane antenna and at least one plane electronic component, storing at least a first identification information, said antenna and said component extending on the same plane corresponding to a surface of a flexible film secured to a plane element of said device.

Thus, the invention proposes a new identification device or mark, whose volume is reduced thanks to the use of a UHF plane antenna and an electronic component integrated in a film secured to a plane element, that is, the UHF plane antenna and the electronic component are not superimposed, but lie next to one another on a surface of the flexible film.

This allows in particular that the film is wound on a coil, the thickness formed by the film and the elements it carries being sufficiently low, for example of the order of 0.1 to 1 mm.

Indeed, an identification device according to the invention is in the form of a joining of planar elements. Thus, the volume relating to the integration of an electronic component is optimized with respect to conventional electronic components of toroidal shape. As the identification device according to the invention is relatively flat, the risks of corrosion are furthermore mitigated.

In addition to the aspect related to compactness, the solution according to the invention is particularly advantageous in that it makes it possible to reduce the cost of an identification device because UHF planar antennas have reduced costs and the solidarization of the planar element to the film is simplified. Such a UHF antenna (300 to 3000 MHz) also makes it possible to overcome the saturation of the VHF frequency band (30 to 300 MHz) dedicated to fixed or mobile radio and television applications, while ensuring a good quality of transmission, for applications to animal identification.

Moreover, the use of a flexible film carrying the electronic components necessary for the identification of the animal also makes it possible to increase the overall flexibility of the device.

Such a flexible film is a very thin element, which may in particular be a conventional material film carrying the antenna, or a sheet of paper, on which the antenna can be printed with a conductive ink. It is also characterized by a reduced weight, which leads to an overall reduction of the identification device and provides a solution to the problem of healing of the ear of the animal.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment, the planar element can protect the film carrying the UHF plane antenna and the plane electronic component. According to this embodiment, the UHF plane antenna and the electronic component do not appear visually outside the identification device.

Advantageously, the identification device comprises a male part and / or a female part comprising a marking medium, said planar element being secured to a first surface of said marking medium.

Thus, the electronic identification element can be integrated indifferently on the male part or the female part of the identification device. The male part and the female part assembled to each other irreversibly, form the identification device according to the invention.

Such an element must indeed be able to support a marking operation, according to a suitable technique (laser marking, printing, engraving, etc.).

Fixing the planar element can be done by any means to ensure a good resistance of the planar element to the device, especially at high temperature and / or in the presence of various weather: gluing, welding, clipping, embedding sealing, bending at least a portion of said element, etc.

Advantageously, the identifier of the animal is also marked on a second surface of said marking medium, using a second piece of information.

This second information may be identical or associated (for example via a mathematical function) with the first information stored in electronic form in the said at least one electronic component.

In this way, a mark can carry several times the same identifier, or several identifiers linked together so as to identify the same animal.

Thus, a "conventional" marking of the identifier (laser marking, printing, etching, etc.) can be performed on one side of the surface of the marking, and the other side may carry the flat element secured to the film carrying at least one UHF plane antenna and a flat electronic component, also marked with the identifier of the animal.

According to one embodiment, the flexible film is pierced with an opening in its center, the UHF plane antenna being substantially concentric with said opening.

Thus, in the case of the male part of the device, the drilling in the center allows the passage of a needle of a clamp performing the installation of the identification device on the animal.

The invention also relates to a device for manufacturing an identification device described above. Such an identification device comprises:

means for obtaining a film carrying at least one UHF plane antenna and at least one plane electronic component, from a coil carrying a strip consisting of a series of successive films, comprising: means for unwinding a portion said band corresponding to at least one film;

means for separating the film from the web;

means for inserting the film into a mold;

means for over-molding a planar element of the device, using the mold.

Thus, the flat UHF antenna and the flat electronic component carried by the film are encapsulated by overmoulding in the plane element, which allows protection and concealment of the identifier of the animal.

Such a flat encapsulation presents a simplified and optimized implementation.

According to another embodiment, the manufacturing device comprises means for piercing positioning lights of said film in a mold, said mold comprising corresponding holding means capable of engaging in said lights. Thus, according to this variant, such a manufacturing device allows a simple and precise manufacture of a manufacturing device described above. Indeed, the lights allow precise and inexpensive positioning of the film in the mold.

According to a first alternative, the holding means, conventionally called pins, tightened during the positioning of the film in the mold, deviate during overmolding. The advantage of this alternative is that the UHF plane antenna and the electronic component are completely protected and invisible from the outside of the identification device.

According to a second alternative, the tight holding means during positioning of the film in the mold do not deviate during overmolding. The advantage of this alternative is to increase the positioning accuracy of the film in the mold, but in return, sportions of the film remain unprotected and visible from outside the identification device.

According to another embodiment, the manufacturing device comprises: means for molding a wafer;

first means for securing said film to said wafer; second securing means of said wafer equipped with said film on said marking medium, the face bearing said film being in contact with said marking medium.

Thus, according to this variant, such a manufacturing device allows simple manufacture. Indeed, this identification device implements a molding and two successive solidarizations to an animal identification device which reduces the cost of manufacturing such a device.

All of these embodiments take advantage of the flatness of the electronic elements necessary for the identification of the animal and the flexibility of the film carrying them.

4. List of figures

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description of embodiments particulars, given as a simple illustrative and nonlimiting example, and the appended drawings, among which:

FIGS. 1A to 1C illustrate an example of a female part, of an identification device according to the invention;

FIGS. 2A to 2D illustrate an example of a male part of an identification device according to the invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a flexible film comprising at least one UHF plane antenna and a flat electronic component;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a first embodiment of the invention, applied to the female part of an identification device according to the invention;

FIGS. 5A to 5E illustrate a second embodiment of the invention, applied to the female part of an identification device according to the invention;

FIGS. 6A to 6D illustrate a third embodiment of the invention applied to the female part of an identification device according to the invention.

5. Description of an embodiment of the invention

5.1 General principle

The general principle of the invention is based on the use of flat and flexible electronic identification elements, in particular a UHF plane antenna, and their attachment to a plane element of the identification device.

In this way, the identification device of the animal gains in particular in volume, flexibility and cost of manufacture.

Various embodiments of the invention are described below, applied to an identification device comprising a male part and a female part.

5.2 Device for identifying an animal

A) Flexible film secured to the female part

FIGS. 1A to 1C illustrate views (from above, from the side and a zoom of the side view, respectively) of the female part of an identification device, comprising a receiving button 15 (or head, or cap) comprising a cavity 13 for receiving the tip of the male part, and a substantially planar marking medium 12.

The identification electronic elements corresponding to a UHF plane antenna 141, and a plane electronic component 142 rest, or extend, on a flexible film 14 housed (dashed representation of FIG. 1A), according to a particular embodiment , within a plane element (not shown) of the female part. In other words, the UHF plane antenna and the electronic component are integrated in a film secured to a plane element, ie the UHF plane antenna and the electronic component extend over a plane element. the same plane corresponding substantially (there may be a layer of glue, for example, depending on the method of manufacture) on the surface of the flexible film. In other words, each of these elements is in contact with the flexible film, on which they are for example glued, drawn, etched, welded, ...

B) Flexible film secured to the male part

FIGS. 2A to 2C show views (from above, from side and zoom of the side view respectively) of the male part of an identification device, comprising a rod 21 extending from a support of marking 22 substantially plane and whose end ends with a point 23 for cooperating with the cavity 13 of the female part.

More precisely, according to a first example illustrated by FIGS. 2A (top view), 2B (side view), 2C (zoom of the side view), and 2D (three-dimensional view), the marking medium 22 of the part male has electronic identification elements corresponding to a UHF plane antenna 241, and a flat electronic component 242 resting on a flexible film 24 housed (dashed representation of Figure 2A), according to a particular embodiment, within a planar element (not shown) of the male part.

C) UHF plane antenna FIGS. 3A and 3B respectively represent two examples of configuration of UHF plane antennas, and their planar electronic components respectively positioned, containing an identifier of the animal.

More precisely, FIG. 3A represents a UHF plane antenna of rectangular shape, the "corners" of the rectangle being rounded. This type of antenna is particularly adapted to be solidari se se a female e animal identification device shown in Figures 1A to 1C.

Figure 3B shows a UHF plane antenna of rounded shape. This type of antenna is particularly adapted to be secured to a female part of an animal identification device shown in Figures 2A to 2D. In particular, when this type of antenna is used, the film, on which the UHF plane antenna of rounded shape and the corresponding electronic plane component rest, is pierced at its center in order to allow the passage of the end of a needle punch used to perform the installation of the male part of the identification device on the corresponding female part.

These antennas are conductive.

According to one embodiment, the UHF plane antenna and the planar electronic component are printed directly on a flexible plastic film or a sheet of paper.

According to another embodiment, the UHF plane antenna and the plane electronic component are cut from a copper foil and glued to the flexible film.

5.3 Device for manufacturing an identification device

All the embodiments take advantage of the flatness of the electronic elements necessary for the identification of the animal, arranged on a flexible film.

In FIGS. 4A to 6D, the manufacturing devices are shown in particular to manufacture the female part of the identification device detailed in FIGS. 1A to 1C, however such devices are also able to manufacture the male part of the detailed identification device. in Figures 2A to 2D, provided that the film on which the UHF planar antenna and the flat electronic component lie is drilled at its center to allow the passage of the end of a needle of a clamp used to perform the laying of the male part of the identification device on the corresponding female part.

A) First embodiment

A first embodiment of a device for manufacturing an identification device, detailed previously in FIGS. 1A to 2D, is shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

More specifically, the planar electronic elements, namely the UHF plane antenna 4111 and a plane electronic component 4112 are arranged on a film 41 1. A strip 41 consisting of a series of films 41 1, 414, and 415 is wound around a mandrel (or a spool). The films 41 1, 414 and 415 may be spaced from each other by portions of blank tape 413 and 412, facilitating processing.

According to this particular embodiment, the manufacturing device comprises means for obtaining at least one film from the film strip. These means of obtaining include means for unwinding (not shown) a portion of the strip corresponding to at least one film 411.

Indeed, these means for unwinding unroll the strip by rotation around the mandrel, so that the desired portion, carrying a film, is presented and inserted through insertion means (not shown) in overmoulding means of the manufacturing device (not shown) For example, drums placed on either side of the mold hold in position the band inside the mold. These drums exert a pressure on the blank portions 413 and 412 of the band followed on either side of the film 414 to be overmolded.

The means for obtaining this manufacturing device further comprise means for separating the film 411 from the strip. For example, each portion of the strip, blank or carrying a film, is separated from the next portion by punching zones 43. According to a variant, the device according to the invention comprises punches distinct from the mold. According to another variant, the mold intrinsically has on its periphery a membrane acting as a punch.

Such a manufacturing device, according to this embodiment may contain a chain of modules respectively containing means for unwinding, separation, insertion and overmolding of the films. Thus, such a device makes it possible to simultaneously deliver a series of planar elements overmolded respectively on flexible planar films each containing a UHF plane antenna and a plane electronic component in which the identifier of the animal is stored.

B) Second embodiment

A second embodiment of a device for manufacturing an identification device, detailed previously in FIGS. 1A to 2D, is represented in FIGS. 5A to 5E.

More specifically, the flat electronic elements, namely the UHF plane antenna and a flat electronic component, are arranged on a film 51. This film 51 is pierced by piercing means, in order to include film positioning slots 52 in the mold of the manufacturing device.

In a reciprocal manner, the mold contains holding means 53 and 54 corresponding to the lights. These holding means 53 and 54, for example pegs are able to engage in correspondence in the lights as shown in Figures 5B and 5C.

First alternative

According to a first alternative, the holding means, tight during the positioning of the film in the mold as shown in Figure 5D, deviate during overmolding as shown in Figure 5E. The advantage of this alternative is that the UHF plane antenna and the electronic component are completely protected and invisible from the outside of the identification device.

Second alternative

According to a second alternative, the tight holding means during the positioning of the film in the mold do not deviate (that is to say remain in the position of Figure 5D) during overmolding. The advantage of this alternative is to increase the positioning accuracy of the film in the mold, but in return, sportions of the film remain unprotected and visible from outside the identification device.

C) Third embodiment

A third embodiment of a device for manufacturing an identification device, detailed previously in FIGS. 1A to 2D, is shown in FIGS. 6A to 6D.

More specifically, according to this embodiment, a wafer 61, shown in FIG. 6A, is first manufactured by molding means of the manufacturing device according to this third embodiment.

The flat electronic elements, namely the UHF plane antenna and a flat electronic component are arranged on a film 62.

This film 62 is fixed by first securing means on the wafer 61. The entire film secured to the wafer forms the plane element 63, shown in Figure 6B.

These securing means may for example implement a bonding, welding or clipping operation of the film 62 on the wafer 61.

This planar element 63 may also be overmoulded in a suitable injection tooling.

The manufacturing device according to this embodiment further comprises second securing means (shown in FIG. 6D) of said wafer 61 equipped with said film 62, forming the planar element 63, on a marking medium 64 (shown in FIG. 6C) of the identification device to be manufactured.

According to this embodiment, the face of the plane element 63 carrying the film 62 is directly in contact with the marking medium 64. This arrangement makes it possible to protect the film carrying the electronic elements, these being included between the plate and the marking medium. According to a preferred variant of this embodiment, the planar element is placed at the rear of the marking medium. In other words, the plane element suspended from the animal's ear on the face of the marking medium that "looks" at the animal.

This preferred arrangement makes it possible to increase the protection of the planar element, and thereby the protection of the film carrying the electronic elements. Indeed, this arrangement on the rear face of the marking support, looking at the animal makes it possible to avoid frontal impacts with obstacles encountered by the animal.

Claims

1. Device for identifying an animal carrying at least one identifier of said animal, characterized in that it comprises at least one UHF plane antenna (141) and at least one electronic plane component (142), storing at least a first identification information, said antenna and said component extending on the same plane corresponding to a surface of a flexible film (14) secured to a plane element of said device.

2. Identification device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a male part and / or a female part comprising a marking medium, and in that said flat element is secured to a first surface of said marking medium. .

3. Identification device according to claim 2, characterized in that said identifier is also marked on a second surface of said marking medium, using information identical to an electronic information stored in said at least one electronic component. .

4. Identification device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said flexible film is pierced with an opening in its center, said UHF plane antenna being substantially concentric with said opening.

5. Device for manufacturing an identification device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said manufacturing device comprises:

means for obtaining a film carrying at least one UHF plane antenna and at least one plane electronic component, from a coil carrying a strip consisting of a series of successive films, comprising:

means for unwinding a portion of said strip corresponding to at least one film;

means for separating said film from said web; means for inserting said film into a mold;

overmolding means of a planar element of said identification device, using said mold.

6. Device for manufacturing an identification device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said manufacturing device comprises means for piercing positioning lights of said film in a mold, said mold comprising corresponding holding means, able to engage in said lights.

7. Device for manufacturing an identification device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said manufacturing device comprises:

means for molding a wafer;