Feed bucket for programmed delivery system

An overhead track construction is provided including clam-type buckets supported from the track for guided movement therealong. The track extends past predetermined feeding stations into which material contained within the buckets is to be released and each of the buckets includes latch structure for releasably retaining the bucket halves thereof in closed positions. Each of the feeding locations includes track mounted latch release structure inoperative to release the latches of the buckets moving therepast in one direction but operative to engage and release the latches of the buckets moving therepast in the opposite direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a clam-type bucket for movement along an overhead 
track and designed to contain a programmed amount and type of feed and 
further operable, at a predetermined location on the track, to discharge 
the load therein after passing the aforementioned predetermined location 
in one direction and then moving reversely past the predetermined location 
in the opposite direction. 
Description of Related Art 
Various different forms of material handling and delivering structures 
incorporating tracks and containers moveable along the tracks heretofore 
have been provided as well as various latch mechanisms for releasably 
retaining containers in the closed positions. Furthermore, various track 
delivery systems incorporating containers moveable therealong heretofore 
have included structures for tipping or opening the containers at specific 
locations therealong. 
Examples of these previously known devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 
837,811, 1,056,523, 1,113,738, 1,799,5434, 2,336,129, 2,586,005, 
2,615,424, 3,587,827, 3,605,698, 3,695,234 and 4,712,511. However, these 
previously known devices do not include the clam bucket construction of 
the instant invention in combination with the specific latch structure 
thereof for maintaining the clam bucket in the closed position or the 
track mounted latch trip operator which is inoperative to release the clam 
bucket latch when the clam bucket is moving in a forward direction, but 
which is operable to release the bucket latch when the bucket is moved in 
a reverse direction past a predetermined latch trip location on the track. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The feed delivery system of the instant invention includes a continuous 
track which passes through a feed mixing and proportioning loading station 
with a plurality of buckets simultaneously moveable along the track and 
including identification means thereon readable electronically at the 
loading station whereby each bucket that passes through the loading 
station may have a predetermined quantity and mix of feed dispensed 
thereinto while the bucket is in the closed position. 
The track includes a predetermined number of latch trip mounted locations 
spaced therealong and each latch trip location includes structure which is 
inoperative to release the latch on any bucket when the bucket moves 
therepast in a forward direction, but which is operable to release the 
latch of a bucket when a bucket moves reversely therepast. 
In this manner, specific animals in specific feeding locations disposed 
below the aforementioned latch trip locations may have the proper quantity 
and mix of food dispensed thereto. 
The main object of this invention is to provide a feed delivery system for 
animals, such as cows, which will be operative to dispense a precise 
amount and mix of feed at each cow feeding location spaced along an 
overhead track assembly. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a programmed feed delivery 
system in accordance with the preceding object and wherein the clam-type 
buckets thereof may be tightly closed against the leakage of feed 
therefrom immediately prior to moving into the bucket loading location. 
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a programmed feed 
delivery system including clam-type buckets which require very little 
lateral or vertical clearance when being shifted between the open and 
closed positions thereof. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a programmed feed delivery 
system wherein the locations of the latch trip operators thereof may be 
readily varied along the track. 
A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to 
provide a programmed feed delivery system in accordance with the preceding 
objects and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of 
simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be 
economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in 
operation. 
These together with other objects and advantages which will become 
subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation 
as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to 
the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals 
refer to like parts throughout.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 8 of the drawings, there may 
be seen an overhead track assembly referred to in general by the reference 
numeral 10. The track assembly 10 includes a suitably supported tubular 
track 12, see FIG. 4, provided with a longitudinal slot 14 in its lower 
periphery extending the full length of the track 12. A chain 16 extends 
through the track 12 and may be driven in any convenient manner by 
reversible drive means (not shown) housed within or adjacent a bucket 
filling station 18. 
Longitudinally spaced areas of the chain 16 include pairs of depending 
hangers 20 from which the opposite ends of a longitudinal central tubular 
bar 22 of a clam-type bucket assembly referred to in general by the 
reference numeral 24 is removably supported through the utilization of 
hanger brackets 26 and removable fasteners 28. 
At predetermined locations along the track 10 a plurality of latch trip 
operator support brackets 30 are clamp supported, each bracket 30 
pivotally supporting a latch trip operator arm 32 therefrom which may 
swing in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 from a depending 
substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position 
with no resistance. However, each bracket 30 further includes an abutment 
34 supported therefrom which limits swinging of the latch trip operator 32 
in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1. 
The clam-type bucket assemblies 24 each include a pair of substantially 
identical inner and outer clam bucket halves 34 and 36. The opposite ends 
of the halves 34 and 36 have pairs of mounting straps 38 and 40 supported 
therefrom having adjacent overlapped ends. The overlapped ends of the 
mounting straps 38 are provided with longitudinal slots 42 and the 
overlapped ends of the mounting straps 40 include lateral pins 44 
supported therefrom slidably received in the corresponding slots and 
provided with rollers 46 journaled thereon outwardly of the slots 42. In 
addition, each pair of corresponding bucket ends includes support straps 
48 and 50 which are downwardly and outwardly inclined and have their outer 
ends pivotally anchored relative to the corresponding ends of the mounting 
straps 38 and 40 through the utilization of pivot fasteners 52, the upper 
adjacent ends of the support strap 48 and 50 being secured together and to 
the corresponding ends of the tubular bar 22. 
Journaled centrally through the tubular bar 22 is an operating rod 52 whose 
opposite ends project outwardly from the tubular bar 22 and have C-shaped 
latches 54 supported therefrom through the utilization of fasteners 56, 
the upper end of one of the fasteners 56 including an eye 58, see FIG. 7. 
The C-shaped latches are supported from the operating rod 52 at the free 
ends of the upper arms thereof and the free ends of the lower arms thereof 
include depending abutment flanges 60 for purpose to be hereinafter more 
fully set forth. 
The left hand end of the bucket assembly 24 as illustrated in FIG. 1 
supports a bracket 64 from the corresponding support strap 50 and a 
vertical journaled sleeve 66 is mounted from the bracket 64 and pivotally 
mounts one end of a multi-angle latch trip 68 therefrom whose base end is 
loosely received through the eye 58. In addition, an expansion spring 70 
extends between and has its opposite ends anchored relative to the eye 58 
and the pivot fastener 52 pivotally supporting the support strap 48 to the 
mounting strap 38, the latch trip being engageable by the latch trip 
operator 32. Finally, the bucket half 34 includes electronically readable 
identification means 72 thereon which may be read at the bucket filling 
station 18 to determine the quantity and mix of feed to be discharged into 
the bucket assembly 24. 
In operation, the bucket assembly 24 moves along the track 10 in the 
direction of the arrow 74 in FIG. 1 past feeding stations to be occupied 
by particular cows to be fed, the cows either having electronic readable 
identification tags thereon or being trained or otherwise caused to enter 
respective feeding stations 76. 
When the feeding is to begin, the chain 16 is driven along the track 
intermittently such that each bucket assembly 24 enters and stops within 
the station 18 in position to have feed placed thereinto. The 
identification means 72 of each bucket 24 is read at the bucket filling 
station 18 and the appropriate quantity and mix of feed is placed within 
the bucket. 
After each of the bucket assemblies 24 has had the proper quantity and mix 
of feed placed therein, the chain 16 moves the bucket assemblies 24 
further along the track 10 and as each bucket assembly 24 passes the 
respective feeding station 76, movement of the chain 16 is stopped and the 
chain is then moved in a reverse direction. 
As a bucket assembly 24 first moves past the respective feeding station 76 
in the direction of the arrow 74 in FIG. 1, the latch trip 68 engages the 
approach side of the depending latch trip operator 32 and swings the 
latter in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 until the latch 
trip 68 moves beneath the latch trip operator 32 and the latter returns by 
gravity to the substantially vertical position thereof illustrated in FIG. 
1. Then, as the chain 16 is reversed in direction, the latch trip 68 again 
engages the lower end of the latch trip operator and swings it in a 
clockwise direction until the upper extended end 80 of the latch trip 
operator 32 engages the abutment 34 to terminate its swinging movement. 
Thereafter, continued movement of the bucket assembly 24 to the left as 
viewed in FIG. 1 of the drawings causes the latch trip operator 32 to 
swing the latch trip 68 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from 
above thereby rotating the latch 54 from the latched positions thereof 
illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7 to the unlatched position thereof 
illustrated in FIG. 4 whereby the roller 46 passes outwardly beyond the 
free end of the lower arm of the C-shaped latch 54 to enable the roller to 
drop downwardly along the flange 60 to the position thereof illustrated in 
FIG. 4, thereby enabling the weight of the feed within the bucket assembly 
24 to swing the bucket halves 34 and 36 to the open positions thereof 
illustrated in FIG. 4 and thus discharge the feed from the bucket assembly 
24 into the feed station 76. 
Inasmuch as the pivot connections between the support straps 48 and 50 and 
the bucket halves 34 and 36 and defined by the pivot fasteners 52 as shown 
in FIG. 4 are disposed outward of the lateral centers of gravity of the 
bucket halves 34 and 36, as soon as the feed within the bucket assembly 24 
is discharged therefrom, the bucket halves 34 and 36 swing back toward the 
closed positions thereof sufficient to raise the roller 46 to a level 
slightly above the free end of the lower arms of the latches 54 whereupon 
the expansion spring 70, exerting a pull on the eye 58, will cause the 
latches 54 to again cam latch the bucket halves 34 and 36 tightly in their 
closed positions illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. 
If the bucket assemblies 24 are properly spaced along the track 10 
according to the spacing between the feeding stations 76, all of the 
buckets 24 may be simultaneously opened as they simultaneously are 
reversed over the corresponding feeding stations 76. However, if such 
predetermined spacing is not provided, as each bucket assembly 24 having 
feed therein passes forwardly over and then reverses relative to the 
corresponding feeding station 76 that bucket 24 will have its load feed 
discharged therefrom. 
With the instant invention proper quantity and mix of feed may be dispensed 
into each bucket assembly at the bucket filling station 18 by conventional 
known structure through reading of the identification means 72 on each of 
the bucket assemblies 74. Thereafter, proper discharging of the proper 
quantity and mix of feed at each feeding station 76 is readily carried out 
merely by reverse movement of the chain 16 at the proper time, all of 
which may be automatically controlled. 
From a comparison of FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings it may be seen that the 
clam-type bucket assemblies 24 vary insignificantly in total height and 
width between open and closed positions. This enables the bucket 
assemblies 24 and the track 10 to be readily erected and utilized within a 
feed building which may have limited clearance because of supporting posts 
or beams. Further, if it is desired, immediately before entering the 
bucket filling station 18 the upper inclined edges 84 (see FIG. 6) of the 
bucket halves 34 and 36 may be engaged by yieldable abutments exerting 
downward pressure sufficient to even more tightly close the bucket halves 
34 and 36 relative to each other. As this occurs, the expansion spring 70 
will be operative to further rotate the latches 54 and tightly cam latch 
the bucket halves 34 and 36 into even more tightly closed positions. 
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the 
invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes readily will 
occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the 
invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described and, 
accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted 
to, falling within the scope of the invention.