Abstract:
An apparatus for feeding animals with a feedstuff, in particular with a liquid feedstuff from an automatic feeder, wherein the feedstuff is suppliable optionally via a component ( 7.1  to  7.3 ) of an output device ( 1.1, 1.2 ), wherein the component ( 7.1  to  7.3 ) and/or the output device ( 1.1, 1.2 ) include means for temperature control.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to an apparatus for feeding animals with a feedstuff, in particular with a liquid feedstuff, the constituents of which or which is guided or processable in at least one component and is suppliable to an output device. 
         [0002]    Automatic feeders are known and on the market in a large number of forms and embodiments. Reference is made here in particular to DE 296 06 172.7 U or DE 296 03 702.8 U. 
         [0003]    In these automatic feeders, a feedstuff for, for example, calves is mixed up usually from milk powder and then supplied to a point of use via a corresponding supply line. This point of use may be a bowl, but in particular also a teat. 
         [0004]    This in particular liquid feedstuff does not generally pass immediately to the point of use from the automatic feeder, but only when it is required, i.e. when for example a calf wishes to drink. This means that this feed has to be left in the automatic feeder even for relatively long periods of time, in which case its temperature can drop in winter and rise in summer. Both of these can be undesired, and therefore for example DE 196 04 199 and DE 198 45 186 propose heating the container, in which the feedstuff is prepared, in the automatic feeder. However, this heating is insufficient, since feedstuff which is not temperature-controlled is already present in the component and also in the output device. In other words, colder feedstuff is located in the component, or output device, in the winter and possibly too warm feedstuff is located there in the summer. Especially young animals perceive this as unpleasant. 
         [0005]    It is the object of the present invention to develop an apparatus of the abovementioned type, in which the unpleasant temperature differences are eliminated. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The object is achieved by an apparatus of the abovementioned type, in which the component and/or the output device is/are temperature-controllable. 
         [0007]    Firstly, it is of course possible to provide the component and/or output device with a heating device, to irradiate it/them with heat or to temperature-control materials in the component and/or in the output device by corresponding irradiation or by chemical or physical processes, or to stimulate these materials to change temperature. Primarily and preferably, the components and/or output device itself are intended to be configured in a temperature-controllable manner, i.e. no additional heating devices or insulation devices are intended to be necessary. 
         [0008]    The invention relates firstly to the component, specifically any kind of component, regardless of how it is configured. As a rule, the component should be tubular, but the invention is not limited thereto. No limits are intended to be placed on the output device, either. Generally, it is a teat, but the output device may also be in the form of a bowl. It is also conceivable to provide the teat directly on the automatic feeder, with the result that no component would be necessary; on the other hand it is also conceivable to configure the component itself as a teat, such that in this case the component is the output device. As mentioned, many possibilities which are intended to be encompassed by the invention are conceivable here. 
         [0009]    Temperature-control should be understood as meaning both cooling and heating. Primarily in summer months, it may be necessary to cool the feedstuff, and in winter it is more likely to need to be heated. 
         [0010]    For the purpose of cooling and/or heating, the components and/or output device may be provided in a first embodiment with recesses in which a temperature-control medium is conveyed. It is appropriate here to provide these recesses in the component and/or output device itself. For example, these may be corresponding channels or capillaries. This is important primarily for a coolant. 
         [0011]    It is also conceivable to integrate particles into a corresponding plastics material or to produce the plastics material from a material which reacts to particular radiation. Here, there are for example metal nanoparticles or carbon nanotubes which are integrated in the plastics material and react to ultrasound or other radiation with heat or change temperature and emit this change to the environment. 
         [0012]    However, it is primarily envisaged for the component and/or the output device itself to be configured as a resistance heater. In the case of a resistance heater, heat is generated in that current is passed through a conductive material, suitable for the purpose, having high electrical resistance, and as a result the material heats up. For example, a suitable electrically conductive material can be introduced into that plastics material from which for example the output device or the component is produced. As a result, the latter itself becomes a resistance heater. Electrically conductive materials may be for example metal meshes, conductive particles, nano-carbon material, for example carbon nanotubes, metal particles etc. What is primarily important here is that a short-circuit between two conductive plastics materials, which would preclude resistance heating of subsequent regions, does not occur too early. In other words, the resistance heater integrated into the output device or the component must be configured such that it heats as far as possible the entire teat or the entire resistance line. Thus, a supply for current without an undesired early return is required. 
         [0013]    In a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the component is configured in a tubular manner and has a connection piece on which the teat is pushed. According to the invention, a resistance heater, which is in the form of a tube coil, is intended to be integrated in the tubular component. As a result, the component itself is heated and transmits the heat to the teat or the liquid present in the teat via the connection piece, or an additional tongue that engages in the teat. Instead of or in addition to this resistance heater, the component can also be surrounded by a tube coil, which conveys a heat transfer medium in itself. 
         [0014]    According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the component and/or output device can consist of two plastics regions which are substantially insulated from one another but are interconnected or merge into one another in an end region. This ensures that the current flows from an introduction point to this end region and then back in the other plastics region to a second power connection. 
         [0015]    It is also conceivable to produce a main body of the teat or in particular a component in a tubular manner from a plurality of layers, wherein at least one outer layer and at least one inner layer are conductive and are separated from one another by at least one intermediate layer made of insulating material. In this case, the at least two electrically conductive layers are radially connected. The radial connection preferably takes place such that as large a part as possible of the output device or of the component is heated. This takes place preferably in that the live connection of two layers connected to different poles of a power source takes place at the greatest possible distance from this power source. 
         [0016]    It is also conceivable for both the component and the output device to be produced as a whole from a conductive material. A groove or other recesses is/are then introduced into this conductive material during or after production. This recess is then filled with an insulating material and a conductor is in turn introduced into this insulating material, said conductor being connected to the conductive main body. This subsequently introduced conductive material should preferably be fitted in such that as far as possible the entire component or the entire output device is heated when current flows. 
         [0017]    The return does not otherwise always have to take place in the component or the output device itself. The component and/or output device may be produced overall from a conductive material. In this case, a separate return line is then connected to the main body. The manner in which this return line is configured is intended to be of secondary importance, for example it may be a simple shielded copper cable. 
         [0018]    In particular in the case of the component, it may be conceivable for distances to be bridged which signify an excessively long current path. Dangerously high voltages are necessary to heat such long components. For this reason, it may be advisable to subdivide a longer component into sections which each then have the corresponding return line at their end. In this case, it is also envisaged to configure the sections as a parallel circuit. 
         [0019]    As a result of the setting of the voltage strength or current strength, a corresponding desired temperature can be achieved in the component and/or the output device. This can otherwise also take place in an automated manner, depending on the measurement of the outside temperature. Reference is made at this point to the fact that temperature measuring devices may be provided. These may be used for example to compare the measured temperature with the desired temperature. In this case, both temperature measuring devices in the interior of the component and/or the output device, that is to say directly in contact with the feedstuff, and temperature measuring devices which are fitted in the vicinity of the component or of the output device may be envisaged. 
         [0020]    Furthermore, those embodiments of the invention in which the temperature measuring devices for measuring the outside temperature are arranged at a distance from the component or the output device are also intended to be encompassed by the invention. Such an arrangement may, without structural complexity, serve for example to heat the feedstuff when the temperature drops below a particular preset outside temperature. 
         [0021]    Those embodiments which are either coolable or heatable are also intended to be encompassed by the invention. For example, such an apparatus may have capillaries which are filled with a liquid which can be heated or cooled by corresponding devices that are not intended to be defined in more detail. It may also be envisaged to equip an apparatus with capillaries for the cooling function and with conductive material to which a current is intended to be applied for the heating function. 
         [0022]    Irrespective of the choice of devices selected for temperature-control, be these capillaries, other tube devices, conductive plastics materials, metal meshes or other devices, it may be envisaged to configure these in a manner not extending in a straight line in the axial direction but rather in a meandering manner. As a result, it is possible for the component or the output device to be heated or cooled in as uniform a manner as possible. 
         [0023]    The invention allows not only targeted re-temperature-control of the feedstock as required, but allows errors to be established by the observation of the current flow. If, for example, the apparatus according to the invention is damaged by mice, rats, the animals to be fed or by other causes, this has effects on the current flow or the voltage in the apparatus according to the invention. A device which is not intended to be described in more detail can monitor the current flow or the voltage and establish deviations beyond a preset limit value or other irregularities, record these and optionally initiate measures, for example sending information to the animal owner, via a further device. 
         [0024]    It is furthermore possible to use the apparatus according to the invention in order to detect whether an animal has not drunk for some time. This is possible for example in that the resistance heater is configured such that, in addition to a heating function, it also has a function of detecting a drinking animal via the detection of a change in resistance. Since the animal comes into contact with the output device with its mouth while drinking, the current flow in an output device equipped with electrically conductive material inevitably changes. 
         [0025]    Furthermore, it is also possible to monitor the temperature of the animal and also the ambient temperature via the monitoring of the resistance heater. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]    Further advantages, features and details of the invention can be gathered from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawing; in which: 
           [0027]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of a teat according to the invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  shows a front view of the teat according to  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the teat according to  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0030]      FIGS. 4 to 6  show perspective views of exemplary embodiments of in each case a part of a component according to the invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  shows a side view of a further exemplary embodiment of a teat; 
           [0032]      FIG. 8  shows a rear view of the teat according to  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 9  shows a longitudinal section through a further exemplary embodiment of a teat on a component according to the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0034]    According to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , an output device for a feedstuff, in this case a teat  1 . 1 , consists of a main body  2  which is composed substantially of two plastics shells  2 . 1  and  2 . 2 . These two plastics shells are interconnected at the tip of the teat by a cap  3  which has an extraction opening  4 . 
         [0035]    As can be seen in particular from  FIG. 3 , the two plastics shells  2 . 1  and  2 . 2  are separated from one another by two slots  5 . 1  and  5 . 2  as far as the region of the cap  3 , wherein an insulating material, for example an insulating adhesive, is located in the slots  5 . 1  and  5 . 2 . 
         [0036]    The way in which the invention functions is as follows. 
         [0037]    The two plastics shells  2 . 1  and  2 . 2  and also the cap  3  consist of an electrically conductive material. A current is applied for example to the plastics shell  2 . 1  in an end region  6 . 1  of the teat  1 . 1 . Since the plastics shell  2 . 1  and  2 . 2  and also the cap  3  consist of electrically conductive plastics material, the current flows through the plastics shell  2 . 1  as far as the cap  3 , it being insulated from the plastics shell  2 . 2  by the insulating adhesive in the slots  5 . 1  and  5 . 2 . 
         [0038]    At the tip, the current is introduced into the cap  3  and now flows via the cap  3  into the plastics shell  2 . 2  and back to an end region  6 . 2  of this second plastics shell  2 . 2 . As a result of this current flow, resistance heating occurs such that the plastics shells  2 . 1  and  2 . 2  and also the cap  3  are heated. This heat can then be transmitted to the feedstuff which is extracted through the teat  1 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  shows a part of a component  7 . 1  which consists of a plurality of sections. Each section is composed of a plastics shell  8 . 1  and  8 . 2  which are in turn each separated from one another by an insulation region  9 . 1  and  9 . 2 . In this case, it is possible in the case of an only short component  7 . 1  to interconnect the two plastics shells  8 . 1  and  8 . 2  in any desired manner at an end opposite the current introduction point. To this end, for the sake of simplicity, the two plastics shells  8 . 1  and  8 . 2  at the end are short-circuited together. For example, an interruption of the two insulation regions  9 . 1  and  9 . 2  or any other desired electrical connection between the plastics shell  8 . 1  and the plastics shell  8 . 2  may be provided. 
         [0040]    If longer regions of a component are intended to be heated, it has been found to be advisable to already interconnect sections of the component between the two ends. This takes place preferably in a parallel circuit, such that uniform heating of the component is ensured. 
         [0041]    According to  FIG. 5 , it is also envisaged for a component  7 . 2  as a whole to consist, as a tubular structure, of an electrically conductive material. A return line  10  is then assigned to one end of this component  7 . 2 , said return line consisting for example of a cable, in particular a sheathed copper cable. 
         [0042]    In another exemplary embodiment of the invention according to  FIG. 6 , the component  7 . 3  is configured as a whole in a tubular manner, wherein a tube casing consists of a plurality of layers. For example, an outer layer  11  and an inner layer  12  can consist of an electrically conductive material, wherein the two layers  11  and  12  are separated from one another by an insulating layer  13 . Here, too, it is in turn conceivable for the two conductive layers  11  and  12  to be interconnected at one end or sectionally, in order that they can form a resistance heater in this way. 
         [0043]    In a further exemplary embodiment of the invention according to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a teat  1 . 2  is formed in a similar manner to the teat according to  FIGS. 1 to 3 . However, the main body  2  is in one piece as a whole. After it has been produced, one or preferably two grooves  14  are cut into this main body, an insulation material  15  being introduced into said grooves  14 . A respective tab  16  which was left when the groove  14  was cut is then introduced as a return line into this insulation material  15 . Of course, it is also conceivable for the tab  16  to be introduced separately into the groove  14  or the insulation material  15  and to be connected at its one free end to the main body  2 . 
         [0044]    In the case of the exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention for feeding animals, a commercially customary teat  1 . 0  is pushed onto a tubular component  7 . 4 . This tubular component  7 . 4  forms to this end a connection piece  18  which is adjoined by a flange  19 . The teat rests against this flange  19  in its use position. 
         [0045]    According to the invention, a resistance heater  17  can be integrated into this tubular component  7 . 4 , said resistance heater  17  consisting of a corresponding metal tube coil made of resistance wire or the like. The component  7 . 4  is heated by the resistance heater  17  and transmits its heat, via the flange  19  and the connection piece  18 , to the teat  1 . 0  or to the drinking liquid present in the teat. Transmission is further improved by a tongue  20  which is integrally connected to the component  7 . 4  and transmits the heat to the liquid in the teat  1 . 0 . 
         [0046]    Preferably, instead of—or else in addition to—the resistance heater  17 , the component  7 . 4  can also be surrounded by a tube coil  21  in which a heat transfer medium is conveyed. For example, this may be hot water. The heat is transmitted from the tube coil  21  to the component  7 . 4  by way of heat exchange.