System and method for recycling identification tags

A system for sorting electronic animal identification tags, comprising:

• a tag aligner that automatically and serially aligns a plurality of misaligned, unsorted electronic animal identification tags, the tag aligner having a vibratory bowl;
• a tag reader to read identification information stored on the unsorted tags aligned by the tag aligner;
• a tag sorter that receives the aligned but unsorted tags;
• and
• a controller coupled to the tag reader and to the sorter that receives the identification information from the tag reader and controls the sorter to sort the tags based on the identification information.

A system for sorting electronic animal identification tags, each of the tags having a transponder that transmits identification information stored on the tag, comprising:

• a tag aligner that automatically and serially aligns a plurality of misaligned, unsorted electronic identification tags, the tag aligner including a vibratory bowl having an outlet chute with a width sized for receiving a tag, the bowl vibrating to feed unsorted tags into the outlet chute to align the tags in the chute in series;
• a tag reader to electronically read the identification information stored on the unsorted tags aligned by the tag aligner;
• a tag sorter that receives the aligned but unsorted tags;
• and
• a controller coupled to the tag reader and the sorter that receives the identification information from the tag reader and controls the sorter to sort the tags based on the identification information.

A system for sorting electronic animal identification tags, each of the tags having a transponder that transmits identification information stored on the tag, comprising:

• a tag aligner that automatically and serially aligns a plurality of misaligned, unsorted electronic identification tags, the tag aligner including a vibratory bowl having an outlet chute with a width sized for receiving a tag, the bowl vibrating to feed unsorted tags into the outlet chute to align the tags in the chute in series;
• a tag reader to electronically read the identification information stored on the unsorted tags aligned by the tag aligner, the identification information including an identifier;
• a tag sorter that receives the aligned but unsorted tags;
• a controller coupled to the tag reader and the sorter that receives the identification information from the tag reader and controls the sorter to sort the tags based in the identification information, the controller being part of a first computer;
• and
• a second computer coupled to the first computer, the second computer having a database with a number field associated with the identifier stored on the identification tag and an owner field associated with the owner of the identification tag.

A method of recycling electronic identification tags, comprising the steps of:

• (a) supplying a plurality of electronic identification tags to multiple animal feeders;
• (b) attaching the identification tags to live animals for identification at a feeding location;
• (c) electronically reading an identification number from each identification tag attached to an animal and entering the animal's characteristics into a database record associated with the identification number;
• (d) moving the animals from the feeding location to a slaughter location;
• (e) matching the identification numbers on the identification tags to carcasses resulting from slaughtering the animals;
• (f) recovering the identification tags and delivering the tags to a sorting location;
• (g) cleaning and disinfecting the identification tags;
• (h) aligning the identification tags in a single-file order;
• (i) automatically reading the identification tags to obtain the identification numbers stored thereon;
• (j) determining a destination location for each identification tag;
• (k) automatically separating the identification tags into storage bins based on destination so that identification tags to be sent to one animal feeder are separated from identification tags to be sent to other animal feeders;
• (l) re-supplying the identification tags to the multiple animal feeders so that each animal feeder is supplied the same identification tags it was originally supplied in step (a);
• and
• (m) repeating steps (a) through (l) for successive groups of animals.

A method of recycling electronic identification tags, comprising the steps of:

• (a) supplying a plurality of electronic identification tags to multiple identified animal tag users;
• (b) attaching the identification tags to live animals for identification at a tag user location;
• (c) electronically reading an identification number from each identification tag attached to an animal and entering the animal's characteristics into a database record associated with the animal identification number;
• (d) moving the animals from an identified animal tag user's feeding location to a slaughter location;
• (e) matching the identification numbers on the identification tags to carcasses resulting from slaughtering of the identified animals;
• (f) recovering the identification tags and delivering the tags to a sorting location;
• (g) cleaning the identification tags;
• (h) aligning the identification tags in a single-file order;
• (i) automatically reading the identification tags to obtain the identification numbers stored therein;
• (j) determining a tag user identification destination for each identification tag;
• (k) automatically separating the identification tags based on tag user identification so that identification tags to be sent to one tag user are separated from identification tags to be sent to other tag users;
• (l) re-supplying the identification tags to the multiple animal tag users so that each tag user is supplied the same identification tags it was originally supplied in step (a);
• and
• (m) repeating steps (a) through (l) for successive groups of animal identification tags.