ANIMAL BOX

Abstract: An animal box (1) comprises two box walls (2, 5), a restriction with a feeding device (4) and a rear gate (8) actuable by the animal. One of the box walls is divided in two parts (5, 6), at which the front part (6) closest to the feeding device, is arranged in angle with the second rear part (5) of the box wall, in such a way that an additional space is formed in the front part of the box and in that an front gate is arranged in this additional space, which gate is designed such that it opens out from the box after being actuated by the animal.

Description: Animal box The present invention relates to an animal box provided with two box walls which surround a restriction with a feeding device and a rear gate actuated by the animal. When loose-housing herds are to be feeded in animal boxes pro¬ vided with special feeding devices started by the presence of the animal it is especially important from the point of view of considering the health of the animal that the animal may eat undisturbed of other animals. One way of solving this problem is by providing the box with a rear gate or a door, which closes the entrance to the box behind the eating animal. This kind of gate may be closed mechanically. When the animal has actuated it or in an electrical way. During the time when the animal eats no other animal can enter the box. When the animal has stopped eating it must move backwards in order to come out from the box, at which the movement rearwards opens the rear gate. When other aninm.als see the gate open they try to enter the box at the same time as the animal which has just eaten tries to get out. At that conflicts arise which can result in damages in the concer¬ ned animals. These problems are especially pronounced when feeding hogs. According to the invention it is now suggested to design the animal box in a new way, which solves these problems. According to the invention it is suggested that one of the box walls is divided into two parts, at which the front part, closest to the feeding device, is arranged at an angle to the rear part of the box wall, in such a way that an additional space is formed in the front part of the box and in that a front gate is arranged in this additional space, which gate is designed such that it opens out from the box after being actuated by the animal. Animals which have eaten their ratio in peace, may due to the fact that an additional space is created in the box, where a front gate is arranged, easily leave the box by moving forwards. If two smaller animals try to get access to the feeding device at the same time a box according to the invention is especially advantageous. The animal which is pushed away from the feeding device may easily disappear out from the box. The front gate is with advantage arranged such that it comprises two gate parts arranged in such a way that they abut each other or a speciaal stopper in a closed position. Due to the fact that the gate consists of two parts an animal which is on its way out of the box cannot change its mind and move backwards, since the animal is then squeezed between the two gate parts. Neither is it possible for any animal which has succeeded in getting its nose between the gate parts to open the gate and enter the box from the wrong direction. The parts of the gates are preferably spring loaded in order to admit only an opening movement out from the box. Of course other devices may be used to achieve this function. If the front part of the box wall is arranged in an acute angle with an imaginable extension of the rear part and the front gate is arranged between a feeding device and a front part of the box wall there is obtained a space in the front part of the box which may easily be regarded as an exit of the animal, when it has closed its eating. The animal moves backwards some steps and may then leave the box obliquely forwards out of the same. The animal box is preferably provided with a means which is movable between two positions and is connected to the rear gate, which means in a manner known per se is forced away by the animal when the feeding starts and removes to its original position when the animal has closed its eating and starts to move backwards from the feeding device, at which the means in its original position is essentially parallel to the front part of the box wall. In this way there is created in the front part of the box something which Is felt by the animal as a passage out from the box. Two animal boxes of the kind described may preferably be arranged close to each other in such a way that the undivided box wall is common to them both. The boxes are then mirror inverted in such a way that the exit is situated at the right in one of the boxes and at the left in the other seen in the longitudinal direction of the boxes. It has been found that animals not readily lay down in front of the front gate and block the same when animal boxes of the kind described have been used. The invention is described further with reference to the attached drawing which shows essential characteristics of an animal box of the proposed kind. In the drawing there is shown an animal box 1 seen from above. The dimensions of the box are adjusted to feeding hogs but this kind of box may of course be used for all kinds of animals which are loose housed. On one side the box is surrounded by a box wall 2. At the front part 3 of the box there is a feeding device 4 which is not described further, which when the animal arrives at a feeding tray in a manner known per se gives the animal a certain amount of fodder. The box is also provided with a second wall 5, the front part 6 of which is arranged in an acute angle to an imaginable extension of the rear part 5. At that there is shaped in the front part of the box an additional space 7 mainly in the form of a triangle. In the box there is also a rear gate 8 which is movable between two positions. This rear gate 8 is by way of a draw bar (not shown) connected to a front means 9. When the animal enters the box and forces its way forwards towards the feeding device the means 9 is pushed forward to a position 9', at which the rear gate 8' is closed behind the animal. Between the f ont box wall 6 and the feeding device there are two gate parts 10, 11 which in a closed position abut each other. When the animal has eaten it moves backwards at which the means 9 retain its original position. In this position the means 1 is directed obliquely forwards in relation the feeding device and forms together with the box wall 6 something that can be felt like a passage out from the box. The animal may then leave the box through the gate in the front part 3 of the box. The spring loaded gate parts 10, 11 may only be opened in direction out from the box, which means that no animal can enter the box this way. When the means 9 retains its original position the gate 8 is opened and a new animal may enter the box and move forward to the feeding device 4. In this embodiment the additional space in the box has a form of a triangle but the space may of course, depending on the angles of the box wall, be shaped in some other way.

Claims: Claims 1. Animal box (1) comprising two box walls (2, 5), a restric¬ tion with a feeding device (4) and a rear gate (8) actuable by the animal, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that one of the box walls is divided in two parts (5, 6), at which the front part (6), closest to the feeding device, is arranged in an angle with the second rear part (5) of the box wall, in such a way that an additional space is formed in the front part of the box and in that a front gate Is arranged in this additional space, which gate is designed in such a way as to open out from the box after being actuated by the animal. 2. Animal box according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the gate consists of two gate parts arranged in such a way that they abut each other or a stopping means in a closed resting position. 3. Animal box according to claims 1-2, c h a r a c t e r - i z e d i n that the gate parts (10, 11) are spring loaded in order to allow only an opening movement out from the box. 4. Animal box according to claims 1-2, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d i n that the front part (6) of the box wall is arranged to form an acute angle with an imaginable extension of the rear part and in that the front gate is arranged between the feeding device and the front part of the box wall, in such a way that the animal when it has closed its eating leaves the box obliquely forwards out of the same. 5. Animal box according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that a means (9), which is movable between two positions and is connected with the rear gate (8), which means in a manner known per se is forced away by the animal when the feeding starts and removes to its original position when the animal has closed Its eating and moves backwards from the feeding device, at which the means (9) in its original position is essentially parallel with the front part of the box wall. 6. Animal box according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that one of the box walls (2) also forms a box wall in a second animal box, at which the front gates in both the boxes are mirror inverted in relation to each other.

Inventors: LUNDIN SOEREN, TENGSTEDT AXEL, LUNDIN, SOEREN, TENGSTEDT, AXEL
Applicants: ALFA LAVAL AGRI INT, ALFA-LAVAL AGRI INTERNATIONAL AB
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A01K1
IPC codes: A01K1