Method and device for attaching an ear tag

Abstract

To attach an ear tag ( 6, 10 ) to an ear ( 16 ) and to remove a sample ( 22 ) containing tissue of the ear therefrom, a mandrel ( 8 ), which is fastened to a mandrel region ( 6 ) of the ear tag, is brought by means of pliers ( 1 ) on a first movement path through the ear ( 16 ) into a hole ( 12 ) formed in a hole part ( 10 ) of the ear tag and anchored there, while the sample ( 22 ) is taken with the aid of a removal head ( 17 ) and is brought out of engagement with the hole ( 12 ) by interaction with the mandrel ( 8 ) with a movement component oriented transversely to the first movement path, before the mandrel ( 8 ) is anchored in said hole.

1 . A method for attaching an ear tag ( 6 ,  10 ) to an ear ( 16 ) and for severing a sample ( 22 ) containing tissue of the ear therefrom, wherein a mandrel ( 8 ), which is fixed to a mandrel region ( 6 ) of the ear tag, is brought by means of applicator pliers ( 1 ) on a first movement path through the ear ( 16 ) into a hole ( 12 ) formed in a hole pad ( 10 ) of the ear tag and anchored there, while the sample ( 22 ) is obtained with the aid of a removal head ( 17 ) and is brought out of engagement with the hole ( 12 ) by interaction with the mandrel ( 8 ) with a movement component oriented transversely with respect to the first movement path before the mandrel ( 8 ) is anchored in said hole. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that, on penetrating the ear ( 16 ), the mandrel ( 8 ) presses it with the region of the sample ( 22 ) against a container ( 17 ,  26 ) designed to accommodate the sample ( 22 ) and in doing so severs the sample ( 22 ). 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the severing action occurs by cutting. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2  or  3 , characterized in that the severing action occurs by tearing. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the mandrel ( 8 ) pushes the removal head ( 17 ) in front of it on its way to the hole ( 12 ), then pushes it through the ear ( 16 ) while removing the sample ( 22 ), and then pushes it against a device ( 26 ,  27 ) which deflects the sample to the side. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the removal head ( 17 ) is moved separately from the mandrel ( 8 ) on a path which is at an angle to the first movement path and then cuts this when the removal head ( 17 ) penetrates the ear ( 16 ). 
     
     
         7 . A device for carrying out the method according to one of  claims 1  to  6 , having a mandrel ( 8 ) fixed to a mandrel region ( 6 ) of the ear tag, which mandrel can be brought by means of applicator pliers ( 1 ) on a first movement path running through the ear ( 16 ) into a hole ( 12 ) formed in a hole part ( 10 ) of the ear tag and anchored there, and having a removal head ( 17 ) designed to remove the sample ( 22 ), characterized in that the removal head ( 17 ) is arranged and designed to interact with the mandrel ( 8 ) in such a way that, on moving the mandrel ( 8 ) to the anchoring position in the hole ( 12 ), the sample ( 22 ) runs in a second movement path which, at least in a transverse region arranged before the hole, has a movement component oriented transversely with respect to the first movement. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 7 , characterized by a severing device which has severing members ( 8 ,  17 ,  26 ) which interact for the purpose of severing, of which one ( 17 ,  26 ), in the region of the hole part ( 10 ), is located before the hole ( 12 ) in the movement path of the mandrel ( 8 ), and another ( 8 ) is moved in the movement path of the mandrel ( 8 ). 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 8 . characterized in that the severing members ( 8 ,  17 ,  26 ) are designed to interact in such a way that the transversely oriented movement component of the sample ( 22 ) is produced by the interaction. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 8  or  9 , characterized in that the mandrel ( 8 ) forms the moving severing member. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to one of  claims 8  to  10 , characterized hi that the fixed severing member forms a container ( 17 ,  26 ) designed to accommodate the sample. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the container forms the removal head ( 17 ). 
     
     
         13 . The device according to one of  claims 8  to  11 , characterized in that the mandrel ( 8 ) is designed with a surface which runs at an angle to its movement path. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 13 , characterized in that the surface is a conical surface. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to one of  claims 12  to  14 , characterized in that the removal head ( 17 ) has a cutter ( 19 ) which can be contacted by the mandrel ( 8 ). 
     
     
         16 . The device according to one of  claims 12  to  15 , characterized hi that the removal head ( 17 ) has a needle arrangement ( 24 ,  25 ) which can be contacted by the mandrel. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to one of  claims 12  to  16 , characterized in that the removal head ( 17 ) has a slot ( 23 ) oriented parallel to the movement path of the mandrel ( 8 ). 
     
     
         18 . The device according to one of  claims 7  to  9 , characterized in that the removal head ( 17 ) is arranged on the mandrel ( 8 ) before said mandrel in the direction of movement and that a device ( 26 ,  27 ) for deflecting the removal head ( 17 ) to the side is arranged in the region of the hole part ( 10 ). 
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the removal head ( 17 ) is guided in the second movement path, which is arranged at an angle to the first movement path in such a way that it cuts the first movement path at the point of penetration of the ear ( 16 ), wherein the removal head ( 17 ) works together with the mandrel ( 8 ) in such a way that it reaches the point of penetration at a time before the mandrel ( 8 ). 
     
     
         20 . A removal head of a device according to one of  claims 7  to  19 .