FEED DISPENSING SYSTEM

Abstract: An animal feed dispensing system for dealing out feed to cattle, preferably slaughter pigs, in which a feed conveyer (3) is adapted to convey feed from a feed container (2) to feed dispensing means (4) comprising a feed discharge tube through which the feed is to be dealt out to the cattle. To permit that feed dispensing systems having feed boxes (29) and associated dosing tubes (13, 14) may be utilized, without necessitating comprehensive reconstruction work, in order to grant cattle free access to feed, the feed discharge tube (15) is a tube (15) which is connected to dosing tubes (13, 14) for feed boxes and which is arranged to be opened by the cattle to grant them access to the feed therein.

Description: Feed dispensing system. This invention relates to an animal feed dispensing syste for dealing out feed to cattle, preferably slaughter pigs, in which a feed conveyer is adapted to convey feed from a feed co tainer to feed dispensing means comprising a feed discharge tube through which the feed is dealt out to the cattle. Prior-art feed dispensing systems with feed boxes are not designed to grant the cattle free access to the feed. The object of the present invention therefore is to adapt the existant systems based on the feed box principle in such manner, by simple means, that they grant the cattle free acces to the feed. According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the feed dispensing system has been given the characte¬ ristic features appearing from the appended claim 1. The animal feed dispensing system of the invention makes it possible, by the use of ingeniously simple means, to con¬ vert feed box systems into systems that grant cattle free access to feed whenever they want to feed. The invention is elucidated more in detail below, refe- iβnce being had to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an animal feed dispen¬ sing system according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of a feed dispensing means being part of the feed dispensing system shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of parts comprised in the feed dispensing means shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a lower part of the feed dispensing means; Figure 5 is a side view of a feed dispensing means inser¬ ted in an existant feed box; and Figure 6 is a longitudinal section, on a larger scale, of the lowermost part of the feed dispensing means. The animal feed dispensing system illustrated in the drawings is installed in a slughter pig shed in which the pigs are placed in a number of pens 1. The feed dispensing system comprises a feed container 2 which is supplied with feed by means of a conveyer (not shown) from a feed supply (not shown) The feed container 2 is connected to a feed conveyer 3 which is adapted to convey feed to a number of feed dispensing means 4, and said means 4 are adapted to dispense'feed to one feed point 5 per pen 1. The feed conveyer 3 comprises a conveyer tube 6 into which the feed container 2 opens. The conveyer tube 6 constitutes-a feed conveying passage 6 ~ a which extends from the feed container 2 past the pens 1 and back to the feed container 2. A mobile feed conveyer, e.g. conveyer chain 7 or some other suitable conveying means of a known type, is arranged in the feed convey ing passage 6a to convey feed through the feed conveying passa 6a to the various feed dispensing means 4. The conveyer chain 7 is driven by a drive assembly 8 which comprises an electric motor 9 and a drive wheel 10 cooperating with the electric motor 9 and constituting the drive means of the chain 7. The conveyer tube 6 has a discharge hole 11 (see Figure 5) for each feed dispensing means 4 and the latter has a tubular sleeve 12 which surrounds the conveyer tube 6 and is pivoted thereto. Disposed on the tubular sleeve 12 is a feed dosing tube 13, and a feed dosing tube 14 connecting thereonto is mounted in a telescopically movable manner on said tube 13. Feed is conveyed, substantially screened from the shed environment, in the conveyer tube 6 of the feed conveyer 3. To prolong said protective feed conveyance, each feed dispen¬ sing means 4 has a feed discharging means, preferably in the form of a feed discharge tube 15 which extends practically down to the feeding points 5, i.e. in the present instance to the bottom 17 of the feed trough 16 so that the outlet opening 18 of the feed discharge tube 15 will lie only at an insignificant distance A from said bottom 17. As a result, only a restricted feed portion 19 will be able to force its way out of the feed discharge tube 15 since said feed portion 19 forms a feed plug clogging the outlet opening 18 such that no further amount of feed can force its way out of the dis¬ charge tube 15. All the feed in the feed conveyer 3 and the feed dispensing means 4 is conveyed and thus lies substantiall enclosed and only the relatively small feed portion 19 is exposed on each occasion. When the pigs feed from the feed portion 19 said portion will decrease but will automatically be replenished inasmuch as a further amount of feed can force its way out of the feed discharge tube 15. The animal feed dispensing system illustrated also compri ses a control device 20 which is adapted to cause the feed conveyer 3 to replenish the feed dispensing means 4 such that there always is sufficient feed available therein and as a consequence, sufficient feed available at each feeding point 5. As a result, the pigs will obtain a free apportionment of feed, i.e. they can feed according to need and without expo¬ sure to the shed environment of a larger amount than the feed portion 19 available on each occasion at each feeding point. For determination of the feed portion 19 available on each occasion at the feeding points 5, the feed discharge tube 15 is telescopicallyconnected to the feed dosing tube 14. The feed discharge tube 15 is anchored to a stall or pen parti¬ tioning member in the form of a stall or pen partitioning tube 21 via a holder 22 (see Figure 3) . Said holder grasps the feed discharge tube 15 which can be loosened by loosening a tightened nut 23. After loosening of the feed discharge tube 15, said tube can be moved upwards for increasing the distance A to the bottom 17 of the feed trough 16, or downwards for reducing said distance A. By increasing the distance A, a larger feed portion 19 will on each occasion be available at the feeding points 5 and by reducing the distance A a small feed portion will on each occasion be available at the feeding points 5. As an alternative thereof or in combination there¬ with the distance A of the feed discharge tube 15 to the botto 17 of the feed trough 16 can be altered by setting the feed discharge tube 15 at different distances from the stall or pen partitioning tube 21. This is realised in the present instance in that the holder 22 is provided with an elongated hole 24 in which a clasp 25 penetrates., said clasp gripping the stall or en partitioning tube 21. By loosening the clasp 25 the holder 22 can be moved and thus the feed discharge tube 15 can pivot about the conveyer tube 6 whereby the distance of the feed dis charge tube 15 to the bottom of the feed trough 16 is altered. These possibilities of adjustment permit determining the desir feed portion on each occasion at each feeding point 5 in depen dence on the number of pigs in the pen and/or in dependence on other factors. It is also possible to prevent the pigs spreadi too much feed from the feed trough when there are too large amounts of feed in said trough. For these purposes, the dis- charge tube 15 (see Figure 3) , may in addition or instead, be provided at the lower end with a closure device 39 of ^ another design. Said closure device 39, which is diagramma^ tically shown also in Figures 1 and 2, is described more in detail below. As a further alternative of or in combination with said devices, the amount of feed penetrating at the feeding points 5 can also be controlled with the aid of throttling and/or extension means 26 (see Figure 4 - the throttling and/or extension means 26 are preferably detachable) and/or with the aid of means (not shown) which are adapted to receive discharged feed and/or means (not shown) which are adapted to prevent spreading of discharged feed. The feed-receiving means may have the shape of a cup situated beneath the out- let opening 18 and movably mounted n the discharge tube 15 to permit varying the distance thereof to said outlet ope¬ ning 18. The means preventing spreading of the feed may have the form of an annular member situated beneath the outlet opening 18 and arranged so as to permit being applied against the bottom 17 of the feed trough 16. Said annular member is capable of preventing too high an extent of lateral sliding of the feed. The cattle themselves can prevent feed from getting stuc in the feed dispensing means 4. To realize this, the discharg tube 15 is movably arranged so that the cattle can manage to shake said tube. To bring about this movability of the dis¬ charge tube 15, the latter at the lower end projects with clearance through a ϋ-shaped holder 27 disposed on a tube 28 at the feed trough 16. Use can be made of the device described above to grant the cattle free access to the feed at feed dispensing devices comprising feed dosing tubes 13, 14 for dosing feed into feed boxes 29. These feed boxes 29 may optionally remain in posi¬ tion (see Figure 5) and in such a case the discharge tube 15 may project downwards through the outlet openings 30 of said devices after the closure doors 31 thereof have been opened. The feed boxes 29 may be made inoperative permanently or temporarily in that the discharge tube 15 is connected to the dosing tubes 13, 14 and optionally be disconnected again, whenever the need arises. The discharge tubes 15 may be ancho¬ red by means of holders 32 in the feed boxes 29. It is shown in Figure 5 by dash and dot lines how the feed dosing tube 13 can be swung upwards to shut off the supply of feed to such a feeding point 32 where no discharge of feed shall take place. In the foregoing description the feed discharge tube 15 has thus been closed by the feed portion 19 forming the feed plug, and as the cattle feed from said feed portion 19, this portion will decrease and allow more feed to escape from the discharge tube 15. Upon application of this principle, the feed portion 19 will, however, get in touch with the feeding point 5, which implies that said feed portion 19 will become moist if there is any water at the feeding point 5. As a result, the feed por tion 19 will clog the discharge tube 15 at the lower end so that the discharge of feed is prevented. This problem is eliminated with the aid of the closure device 39 which allows feed to reach the feeding point 5 only when the cattle want to feed, that is by actuation of the closure device 39 by the cattle themselves. Thus, the cattle themselves are capable of discharging restricted feed amounts at a time, whereby clogging of the discharge tube 15 and/or the outlet opening 18 thereof is prevented. The closure device 39 which is only hinted at in Figure 1 and is schematically shown in Figure 2, is illustrated more in detail in Figure 3 and preferably in Figure 6. The closure device 39 in the embodiment illustrated includes a movably arranged door 40 which is adapted wholly or partly to close the outlet opening 18 of the feed discharge tube 15 and can be actuated by the cattle so as to swing back and forth in relation to the opening 18 for discharge of feed amounts in dependence on the extent to which the door 40 is opened. The door 40 i secured, preferably welded or riveted, to the feed discharge tube 15 by means of a holder 41 and pivoted- to said holder 41 by means of a hinge 42. The extent to which.the door 40 can be opened, the distance B, is controlled by an adjusting mechanism comprising a U-shaped member 43 welded to the underside of the door 40, and an adjusting screw 44 'disposed on the U-shaped member 43, said adjusting screw bea¬ ring against the feed discharge tube 15 and varying, when ._«-. screwed inwards or outwards, the distance B for discharge of the desired feed portion in relation to e.g. the consistency, composition, moisture content etc. of the feed. The control device 20 controls the operation of the feed conveyer 3 by controlling the operation of its drive assembly 8. This control may take place in dependence on various parameters. For example, the control device comprises an automatic unit 32 having a timer 33, a time relay 34 and a sensing device 35 which has two sensing means 36, 37 placed on different levels in the last one of the dispensing means 4 (as seen in the conveying direction of the feed conveyer 3, according to the arrow C in Figure 1) . In this case the sen- sing means 36, 37 are disposed in the feed dosing tube 13; however, they may be disposed at some other point of the dispensing means 4. The timer 33 of the control device 20 starts the feed conveyer 3 at given times and the time of operation of the conveyer 3 is determined by the time relay 34 and/or the sensing device 35 in the last one of the dis¬ pensing means 4 and/or by the sensing device 38 in the feed conveyer 3 between the last dispensing means 4 and the feed container 2. Thus, the feed conveyer 3 can be caused to start the feed conveyance in the various feed dispensing means at given times and this conveyance may proceed for a couple of minutes at a time. Said function may be complemented with the aid of the sensing device 35 and/or 38. If the feed level in the last dispensing means 4 thus reaches the upper sensing means 36 the operation is stopped or if the sensing device 38 indicates that feed is carried back to the feed container 2 (which happens if all dispensing means 4 are full of feed) . When the feed level in the last dispensing means 4 has fallen to the sensing means 37 the feed conveyer 3 is started again and may remain in operation for a period of time determined by the time relay 34, or the operation of the feed conveyer 3 can be stopped when the feed level reaches the upper sensing means 36 and/or the sensing device 38 indicates that feed is carried back to the feed container 2. The feed conveyer 3 can also be started with the aid of the sensing means 37 and stoppe by the sensing means 38, or the feed conveyer 3 can be started and stopped with the aid of the sensing means 36, 37 without any other control units or in combination with some special- control unit. By means of a control device 20 of the above- mentioned or similar kind there is realized that the cattle are always granted free access to feed at their feeding points. The control device may also control a feed supplying device (not shown) for supply of feed to the feed container 2 in dependence on the amount of feed available at the time in the feed container 2. It is thus ensured that feed is always available in the feed container 2 when the feed conveyer 3 is operating. The invention is not restricted to the embodiment describ above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Thus, the invention may be varied within the scope of the appended claim and the feed container may consist of more than one unit; there may exist more than one dispensing means 4 per stall or pen; each dispensing means 4 may comprise more than one discharge tube 15, and said discharge tubes 15 may be of a type other than those illustrated. The animal feed dispensing system according to the inven¬ tion is particulary suited for dealing out feed to slaughter pigs, but can also be utilized for feeding other kinds of cattle.

Claims: Claims. ^ 1. An animal feed dispensing system for dealing out feed to cattle, preferably slughter pigs, in which a feed conveyer (3) is adapted to convey feed from a feed container (2) to feed dispensing means (4) comprising a feed discharge tube through which the feed is to be dealt out to the cattle, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the feed discharge tube is a tube (15) which is connected to dosing tubes (13, 14) for feed boxes and which is arranged to be opened to grant the access to the feed- therein. 2. A feed dispensing system as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the feed discharge tube (15) is telescopically connected to the dosing tubes (13, 14) and mounted via an openable container (22 or 32) to permit being set into optional positions in relation to the feeding point (5) of the cattle. 3. A feed dispensing system as claimedin claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the feed discharge tube (15) is closed with the aid of a closure device (39) which can be actuated by the cattle so as to release feed. 4. A feed dispensing system as claimedin claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i ze d i n that the extent (B) to which the closure device (39) can be opened is variable. 5. A feed dispensing system as claimed in claim 3 or 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the closure device (39) has a movably mounted door (40) which is adapted wholly or partly to shut the outlet opening (18) of the discharge tube (15) , said door being operable by the cattle so as to swing back and forth in relation to the outlet opening (18), and the extent to which said door can be opened being adjust- able by means of an adjusting device (43, 44) . 6. A feed dispensing system as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the feed discharge tube (15) is closed with the aid of a feed plug that closes an outlet opening (18) of the feed discharge tube (15) , a further supply of feed being capable of forcing its way out of the feed discharge tube (15) as the cattle feed from the feed portion (19) forming said plug. 7. A' feed dispensing system as claimed in claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that each feed discharge __, tube (15) is shiftable in relation to the feeding point (5) - and/or comprises means (26) for varying the feed portion 5 (19) available at the time at the feeding point (5) . 8. A feed dispensing system as claimed in claim 6 or 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the parts of the feed discharge tube (15) attainable by the cattle are movably arranged so as to permit being shaken by the cattle, where- 10 by feed is prevented from getting stuck within the feed discharge tube (15) . 9. A feed dispensing system as claimed in claim 7 and 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the discharge tube (15) projects with essential clearance into a holder (27) at the 15 feeding point (5) to permit being shaken by the cattle. 10. A feed dispensing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the feed discharge tube (15) is passed downwards through the bottom (17) of a feed trough (16) associated with the dosing 20 . tubes (13, 14) . 11. A feed dispensing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the feed discharge tube (15) comprises means (26) throttling the feed discharge and/or extending the feed discharge tube (15) 25 and/or means receiving discharged feed and/or means limiting the feed at the feeding point (5) , said receiving means and/or limiting means preferably being adjustable to permit varying its distance from the outlet opening (18) of the feed discharg tube (15) . 30 12. A feed dispensing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n by a contr device (20) which is adapted to start the feed conveyer (3) fo the conveyance of feed to the feed dispensing means (4) at giv times and/or in dependence on the amount of feed at certain 35 points of the feed conveyer (3) and/or the feed dispensing means (4) , and further characterised in that the control devic (20) is adapted to stop the feed conveyer (3) after the latter has been in operation for a given time and/or in dependence on the amount of feed at a certain point of the feed conveyer (3) and/or the feed dispensing means (4) , and in addition the control device (20) is optionally adapted to control a feet? supplying device for supply of feed to the feed container [2) in dependence on the amount of feed therein. 13. A feed dispensing system as claimed in claim 12, in which the feed conveyer (3) runs from the feed container (2) back to said container to convey feed from the feed container (2) to the feed dispensing means (4) , and further¬ more the feed conveyer (3) by running back to said feed con- tainer (2) carries back to said feed container (2) such feed as bypasses the feed dispensing means (4) , for instance because these means are full of feed, c h a r a c t e r i ¬ z e d i n that the control device (20) is adapted to stop the operation of the feed conveyer (3) in dependence on the amount of feed that, as seen in the direction of conveyance (C) of the feed conveyer (3) , is contained in the last feed dispensing means (4) or in the feed conveyer (3) between the last feed dispensing means (4) and the feed container (2) . 14. A feed dispensing system as claimed in claim 13, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the control device (20) is adapted to control the operation of the feed conveyer (3) in dependence on the amount of feed in the feed dosing tubes (13, 14) of the last one of the feed dispensing means (4).

Inventors: ANDERSSON RUNE SIGVARD, ANDERSSON, RUNE, SIGVARD
Applicants: ANDERSSON RUNE SIGVARD, ANDERSSON, RUNE, SIGVARD
Application year: 1985
Main classification: A01K5
IPC codes: A01K5