IP Library Granted Patent US 11,753,690
Granted Patent B2
US 11,753,690 · App. 17/468,579 · Granted Sep 12, 2023

Hide sorting systems and methods

Inventors: Robert Horst Hein (Kansas City, MO); Kenneth Graham Press (Kansas City, MO)
Assignee: National Beef Packing Company, LLC
C14B17/005B07C5/16B07C5/34B07C5/38B65G57/00B65G57/02C14B1/14C14C1/06C14C3/00C14C3/06C14C15/00G05B19/4189G06Q30/0621G05B2219/39106
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,753,690
App. No.
17/468,579
Granted
Sep 12, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems for sorting hides are provided. In particular, one or more embodiments comprise a tanning control system that enhances the traceability of hides by capturing and utilizing data related to the unloading, tanning, sorting, and packaging of hides. Furthermore, one or more embodiments enable the tanning control system to improve efficiency by sorting hides based, at least in part, on data generated during prior tanning processes. Additionally, one or more embodiments facilitate the tanning control system in customizing the sorting and packaging of hides based, at least in part, on one or more hide characteristics and/or customer specifications.

Claims (42)

1. A method of improving traceability in hide sorting comprising:

accessing hide supplier information associated with a plurality of hides;

determining a hide characteristic of a hide of the plurality of hides;

sorting, based on the hide supplier information and the hide characteristic, the hide to a pallet; and

storing, in a tanning system database, a pallet identifier of the pallet associated with the hide supplier information and the hide characteristic.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein accessing the hide supplier information associated with the plurality of hides comprises accessing a hide supplier information file over a network using a computer readable code.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the computer readable code comprises a barcode or a QR code.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hide supplier information comprises at least one of a plant identifier, a transport vehicle identifier, a transport container identifier, or a slaughter date of the plurality of hides.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the hide characteristic of the hide of the plurality of hides comprises determining a characteristic of the plurality of hides.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein determining the characteristic of the plurality of hides comprises identifying prior tannery process information associated with the plurality of hides.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the hide characteristic of the hide of the plurality of hides comprises measuring the hide characteristic.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the hide characteristic comprises one of weight, thickness, length, width, or surface area.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein sorting, based on the hide supplier information and the hide characteristic, the hide to the pallet comprises:

determining the pallet is compatible with the hide; and

stacking the hide on the pallet.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein determining the pallet is compatible with the hide comprises comparing the hide supplier information and the hide characteristic with one or more characteristics associated with the pallet.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein stacking the hide on the pallet comprises moving the hide from a measuring device to a stacking site using a conveyor.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing, in the tanning system database, a device identifier for a device used to sort the hide to the pallet, wherein the device identifier is associated with the pallet identifier in the tanning system database.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising marking the pallet with an indication of the pallet identifier and an indication of the hide characteristic, wherein the hide characteristic is one of hide type or weight.

14. A method of improving traceability in hide sorting comprising:

accessing hide supplier information associated with a plurality of hides;

identifying a device identifier of a device used on the plurality of hides;

determining a hide characteristic of a hide of the plurality of hides;

sorting, based on the hide supplier information and the hide characteristic, the hide to a pallet; and

storing, in a tanning system database, a pallet identifier of the pallet associated with the hide supplier information, the device identifier, and the hide characteristic.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the hide characteristic comprises a hide type.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the hide supplier information comprises a plant identifier.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein identifying the device identifier of the device used on the plurality of hides comprises accessing, from a tanning system database, prior tannery process information associated with the plurality of hides.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

identifying a customer specification that requires one or more hides having the hide characteristic;

determining a specified thickness indicated by the customer specification; and

splitting the hide to the specified thickness.

19. A hide sorting system comprising:

one or more computing devices; and

a non-transitory storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more computing devices, cause the system to:

access hide supplier information associated with a plurality of hides;

determine a hide characteristic of a hide of the plurality of hides;

sort, based on the hide supplier information and the hide characteristic, the hide to a pallet; and

store, in a tanning system database, a pallet identifier of the pallet associated with the hide supplier information and the hide characteristic.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause the system to:

determine the pallet is compatible with the hide; and

stack the hide on the pallet.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 22, 2025
From: NATIONAL BEEF PACKING COMPANY, LLC
To: COBANK, ACB
Reel/Frame 072645/0740 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 7, 2021
From: HEIN, ROBERT HORST; PRESS, KENNETH GRAHAM; GLEESON, SHAUN FRANCIS
To: NATIONAL BEEF PACKING COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 057404/0193 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 17002706 · Aug 25, 2020
Continuation 16216872 · Dec 11, 2018
Continuation 15390704 · Dec 26, 2016
Continuation 14724547 · May 28, 2015
Provisional Application 62003998 · May 28, 2014
Related Publication 20210404026A1 · Dec 30, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,264,372