AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTING FEED FOR THE REARING OF ANIMALS IN FIXED HOUSING

Abstract: An electronic control system for distributing feed for the rearing of animals in fixed housing comprises at least one feed metering-loading device (2) and at least one supply trolley (1) which is movable between a station for the loading of the feed by the metering-loading device (2) and a plurality of feed discharge stations (4) corresponding to the positions of the animals to be fed. Programmable electronic control means (5) automatically cause, in dependence on instructions indicative of the actual needs of each of the animals to be fed and of the manner in which the rearing is to be organised, the loading of the feed from the metering-loading device (2) to the supply trolley (1) when the latter is at the loading station, the movement of the supply trolley (1) from the loading station to the discharge station (4) corresponding to the animal to be fed, the discharge of the feed from the supply trolley (1), and the return of the trolley to the loading station (2).

Description: DESCRIPTION An electronic control system for distributing feed for the rearing of animals in fixed housing. The present invention relates in general to the rearing of animals (cattle, pigs, sheep, etc.) in fixed housing, and more particularly concerns a system for the mechanised distribution of feed for such rearing. The object of the present invention is to enable an animal in a fixed housing to avail itself of feed when it feels the need to eat but in a manner consistent with its actual needs as predetermined by the farmer. According to the invention, this object is achieved by means of a system for distributing feed for the rearing of animals in fixed housing, as defined in the characterising part of Claim 1 and in the sub-claims. The system according to the invention enables all the data relating to each of the animals to be reared and to its physiological needs for optimal production to be put into a program and provides for the distribution of the feed to each animal at predetermined times and in a predetermined manner. The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the appended drawing provided purely by way of non-limiting example, which shows an electronic distribution control system according to the invention in diagrammatic form. Briefly, the system is composed of one or more electrically-operated motor-driven trolleys which are movable between one or more feed loading stations and a plurality of feed discharge stations corresponding to the positions of the animals to be fed, and a control unit with a programmable electronic processor for the automatic operation of the trolley or trolleys and of the loading stations in dependence on individual instructions for each animal and on instructions indicative of the manner in which the rearing is to be organised. In the example shown in the drawing, the system includes two pairs of electrically-operated supply trolleys associated with a pair of feed metering-loading devices 2 which are also electrically operated. Each metering-loading device is constituted by a hopper-like container whose base can be opened and closed electrically and which is in turn supplied from one or more feed silos. Each metering-loading device 2 is conveniently arranged to take four different types of feed and to discharge each type of feed separately or as a mixture of different types of feed through its openable base Each trolley 1 is constituted by an open-topped box on wheels having an electrically-openable bottom, in a manner also within the skill of an expert in the art. The supply trolleys 1 are movable along horizontal overhead rails 3 whose configuration is variable in dependence on the configuration of the rearing system, following paths which lead from each metering-loading device 2 to a plurality of feed discharge stations 4 corresponding to the positions of the animals to be fed. The rails 3 obviously extend above the positions 4 so as to enable the trolleys 1 to be stopped selectively above the respective troughs. Each supply trolley 1 is composed of an electronic part and a mechanical part. The mechanical part includes, as stated above, a wheeled box driven by a geared motor with an electromagnetic brake (not illustrated) . The mechanism for opening the bottom to discharge the feed is also constituted by a geared motor. The electronic part is composed of a card (not illustrated) for controlling the electrical components, connected by means of a cable to a programmable control processor 5. As will be seen below, the job of this magnetic card is to set the location to which the trolley 1 is to be moved and to arrange the operation of the electromagnetic parts for the feed loading and discharge -operations. Each metering-loading device 2 is likewise composed of a mechanical part for measuring out the feed in variably regulable quantities, and an electronic part. If four different types of feed are to be supplied, the metering is effected by means of electromechanical actuators (not illustrated) connected through a central electrical control (not illustrated) to the electronic control processor 5. The job of the central control is to operate the actuators of the metering devices in dependence on the quantities programmed. The structural characteristics of the supply trolleys 1 and the metering-loading devices 2 are not shown in the drawing for brevity, since they are within the capabilities of an expert in the art. The processor 5 is provided with a keyboard 6 and possibly a monitor 7 with a printer 8. The keyboard 6 enables the programs for the organisation of the feed distribution to be typed in and the times and the manner in which the feed is to be distributed to be set. The data input to the processor 5 are individualised for each animal and may, for example, include the total quantity of feed per twenty-four hours r the number of feedings per twenty-four hours, the quantities and measurements of feed or feeds for each feeding, the minimum time interval between one feeding and another, the possible apportionment of the various types "of feed, etc. Moreover, the processor 5 is connected to a series of sensors 9 associated with the positions 4 of the animals to be fed, for providing, when activated, the information that the animal requires food. The sensors 9 may be constituted, for example, by optical or mechanical detectors arranged in the troughs of the positions 4. The system described with reference to the embodiment illustrated is able to provide for the feeding of more than 500 head of livestock, in the following manner. When the processor 5 receives a demand for food from a sensor 9, it processes the demand and, if it is found to correspond with the data programmed for that position, it activates the feeding cycle. The supply trolley 1 operatively associated with the position in question is then positioned beneath the respective metering-loading device 2 by means of which the programmed quantity of feed or feeds is discharged into the trolley 1. The trolley 1 is then moved along its rail 3 and stopped above the position 4, after which the quantity of feed or feeds is discharged to the respective trough. The cycle is repeated in the same way for the various positions 4, at the demand of the animals (after checking the acceptability of the demand) or at prefixed time intervals. The monitor 7 enables both the messages sent by the processor 5 to the user and the instructions which the user gives to the processor 5 to be displayed, whilst any printer 8 enables the organisation of the system to be facilitated by a written daily record of the behaviour of the feed distribution system. The system may also be provided with an autodiagnostic system, also managed by the processor 5, by means of which its functioning is stopped and a corresponding indication is provided to the operator in control of the system if a supply trolley 1 or a metering-loading device 2 breaks down. Finally, it should be noted that the processor 5 may be constituted by a peripheral unit connected to a central processing unit for organising several rearing systems. In this case, an interface card designed to make the system as insensitive as possible to any electromagnetic interference which may be present at the place of installation is arranged between the central processing unit and the peripheral unit.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A feed-distribution system for the rearing of animals in fixed housing, characterised in that it comprises: at least one electrically-operated feed metering-loading device (2) , at least one electrically-operated supply trolley (1) which is movable along a track (3) including a station for the loading of the feed by the metering-loading device (2) and a plurality of feed discharge stations corresponding to the positions (4) of the animals to be fed, programmable electronic means (5) for controlling the or each metering-loading device (2) and the or each supply trolley (1) so as automatically to cause, in dependence on instructions indicative of the actual needs of each of the animals to be fed and the manner in which the rearing is to be organised, the loading of the feed from the metering-loading device (2) into the supply trolley (1) when the latter is at the loading station, the movement of the supply trolley (1) from the loading station to the discharge station (4) corresponding to the animal to be fed, the discharge of the feed from the supply trolley (1) , and the return of the trolley to the loading station (2) , 2. A system according to Claim 1, characterised in that each metering-loading device (2) is arranged, by virtue of the electronic control means .(5) , to supply different types of feed to the supply trolley (1) either separately or mixed together. 3. A system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 , characterised in that means (9) for detecting a demand for food by the respective animal are associated with each discharge station (4) , the detector means (9) being operatively connected to the electronic control means (5) .

Inventors: ALBANO DOMENICO, PISSINIS MARIA ELENA, ALBANO, DOMENICO, PISSINIS, MARIA, ELENA
Applicants: ALBANO DOMENICO, PISSINIS MARIA ELENA, ALBANO, DOMENICO, PISSINIS, MARIA, ELENA
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A01K5
IPC codes: A01K5, A01K29