Animal husbandry – Feeding device – Hopper and trough
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-08
2001-02-06
Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3643)
Animal husbandry
Feeding device
Hopper and trough
C119S054000, C119S056100, C119S051500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182607
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an animal feeder and more particularly to a feeder having a drum feed transport device which is operated by an animal whereby to transfer feed from a hopper to a feed trough and further wherein the feed collecting and discharge compartment is formed as a separate removable unit.
BACKGROUND ART
Various animal feeders are known wherein feed is placed in a hopper and transferred to a feed trough below the hopper by an animal actuating a bar or other mechanism which is actuatable by the nose or the head of the animal. As the animal strikes or displaces the bar or other similar mechanism, in a certain direction, feed is released into the feed trough. Examples of such feeders are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,246,678 and 5,275,130.
A disadvantage of prior art animal feeders of the above-reference type is that they comprise complex mechanisms which often encounter mechanical break down or get jammed by the feed, rendering the feeder, or sections thereof, inoperative. Their mechanisms are also difficult to repair and most of these repairs must be done on site. Also, many of these mechanisms are provided with adjustable slot openings through which feed is released. Depending on the size of the feed grains it is necessary to adjust these slots. Accordingly, if the type of feed is changed, the feeder needs to be re-adjusted. This procedure disturbs the animals feeding at regular time intervals. Prior art feeders are also difficult to clean and not perfectly sanitary.
Another disadvantage of the prior art feeders is that the feed release mechanism which is actuated by the animals also requires adjustment depending on the size of the animals feeding. For example, a forty pound pig will hit the feed release bars with more power than will do a small pig of half that size. Also, smaller pigs cannot make long actuating head strokes. Still further, farm feed is now being provided in very fine dry particle size and is very slick and can easily flow out of the hopper trough small openings and accordingly can trickle continuously in the feed trough through the discharge slot, if not perfectly closed. The discharge mechanisms also often jam by the accumulation of feed or larger feed particles.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is therefore a feature of the present invention to provide an animal feeder which substantially overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide an animal feeder wherein feed is discharged from a feed hopper to a feed trough through a drum having feed transport cavities capable of accepting feed having grains of different sizes.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide an animal feeder provided with feed discharge drums capable of discharging feed from a feed hopper to a feed trough and constructed such as to prevent feed from seeping from the hopper to the trough without actuating the discharge drum to predetermined positions.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide an animal feeder having a feed hopper provided with a removable feed collecting and discharge compartment making it easy to clean the feeder and to repair the feed collecting and discharge compartment, if necessary.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide feed discharge drums having opposed feed transport cavities with said cavities having feed arresting means to obstruct the free flow of feed through the cavity during the displacement of the drum to its discharge position.
According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the present invention provides an animal feeder which comprises a feed hopper for the containment of animal feed. The feed hopper has inclined guide walls for directing feed towards one or more feed discharge drums in a lower section thereof. Each feed discharge drum is secured on a central support axle for rotational displacement thereon. The drum has a circumferential side wall. A portion of the circumferential side wall extends into a feed collecting compartment in the lower section of the feed hopper between opposed straight end walls of the feed collecting compartment. An inclined lower guide wall is secured between the opposed straight end walls and has a straight lower edge in frictional contact across the circumferential side wall for directing feed thereagainst. One or more feed transport cavities are provided in the circumferential side wall and displaceable by rotational displacement of the drum on the central support axle to position one of the feed transport cavities above the straight lower edge of the inclined lower guide wall sufficiently to receive the feed therein. A feed trough is spaced below the lower section of the hopper. Drum actuatable means is secured to the drum and depends at least towards the feed trough for actuation by an animal feeding from the trough whereby to discharge feed from the hopper to the trough via the transport cavities. Stopper means is provided to restrict the rotational displacement of the drum. Feed arresting means co-operate with the feed transport cavities to obstruct the flow of feed during the displacement of the drum to its discharge position.
According to a still further broad aspect of the present invention there is provided an animal feeder which comprises a feed hopper for the containment of animal feed. The feed hopper has inclined guide walls for directing feed towards a removable feed collecting and discharge compartment in a lower section thereof. Feed discharge drums are provided in the removable compartment and have one or more feed transport cavities in a circumferential side wall thereof. The cavities are displaceable by rotational displacement of the drum on a support axle whereby to position one or more of the feed transport cavities to a feed receiving position to receive feed therein from the hopper. A feed trough is spaced below the hopper. Drum actuatable means is secured to the drum and depends at least towards the feed trough for actuation by an animal feeding from the trough to discharge feed from the hopper to the trough via the transport cavities. Stopper means restricts the rotational displacement of the drum. Feed arresting means co-operate with the feed transport cavities to obstruct the flow of feed during the displacement of the drum to its discharge position.
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Dumas Gilles
Leclerc Bruno
Lemelin Raymond
Carone Michael J.
Carter & Schnedler, P.A.
French III Fredrick T.
Les Industries G. Dumas Inc.
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