Abstract:
The present invention discloses a feeding apparatus connectable to several feeding ducts and includes a first turntable, a fixing plate and a second turntable under a storage bin. The bottom of the storage bin is fixed to the fixing plate, and has several discharge holes, and the first and second turntables can be rotated synchronously, and several outlet holes are built corresponding to the discharge holes. When the first and second turntable are rotated, the positions of the discharge holes and the outlet holes interlaced and superimposed intermittently, so that the feed stored in the storage bin can be dropped intermittently. With a feeding air current, the feed is delivered to the outside in a high speed from each feeding duct, such that each feeding duct can distribute the feed to several feeding points, and the feeding apparatus is particularly suitable for an aquatic farm with high-density breeding tanks.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a feeding apparatus used for aquaculture, and more particularly to a feeding apparatus capable of feeding several different feeding points simultaneously and measuring the quantity of feed. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    In general, traditional feeding methods adopted by the aquaculture industry perform a feeding manually by distributing and applying the feed to different feeding points. Since the breeding technology advances rapidly in recent years, each aquatic farm usually employs a high-density breeding tank for aquaculture, in hope of saving manpower resources by automated management and improving the competitiveness of the aquaculture industry. 
         [0005]    Theoretically, if several breeding tanks are used simultaneously for breeding the same species of aquatic product and the conditions such as water quality, temperature and feeding quantity are the same, then the growing conditions of an aquatic product in each breeding tank and the harvest timing should be the same. 
         [0006]    Therefore, the inventor of the present invention intends to design a feeding apparatus in compliance with the automated breeding and distribute the same quantity of feed to several breeding tanks simultaneously. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In view of the foregoing shortcomings of the prior art, the inventor of the present invention based on years of experience in the related field to conduct extensive researches and experiments, and finally developed a feeding apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0008]    Therefore, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a feeding apparatus comprising a first turntable, a fixing plate, and a second turntable under a storage bin, wherein the bottom of the storage bin is fixed to the fixing plate, and a plurality of discharge holes are disposed at the bottom of the storage bin, and the first and second turntables can be rotated synchronously, and a plurality of outlet holes are built corresponding to the discharge holes. When the first and second turntables are rotated, the feed stored in the storage bin can be dropped intermittently by interlacing and superimposing the positions of the discharge holes and outlet holes intermittently. With a feeding air current, the feed is delivered in a high speed through each feeding duct, so that the feeding ducts can distribute the feed to several feeding points, so as to achieve the effects of distributing and feeding the same quantity of feed to several breeding tanks or several feeding points simultaneously. 
         [0009]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each feeding duct can be rotated or fixed to a fixed position for the feeding, and the first and second preferred embodiments of the present invention are described as follows: 
         [0010]    In the first preferred embodiment, each feeding duct is rotated for the feeding, and each outlet hole of the second turntable includes a feeding duct disposed at the bottom of each outlet hole, and the center position of the storage bin has a fixed axle penetrating from top to bottom through the first turntable, the fixing plate, and the second turntable. 
         [0011]    The fixed axle includes a center hole along its axial direction, and the center hole is sealed at a depth corresponding to the height of the second turntable, and the fixed axle includes a plurality of axial through holes interconnected with the center hole and disposed at an external edge of the fixed axle and at a position equal to the height of the second turntable, so that after the high-speed airflow enters from the top of the center hole, the airflow flows into the through hole. 
         [0012]    A plurality of radial air holes are disposed at the center of the second turntable and at a position connected with the fixed axle and between each outlet hole and each through hole of the fixed axle, such that the outlet holes and the through holes are interconnected by the connection of the air holes. 
         [0013]    After the high-speed airflow enters into the fixed axle through the center hole, the airflow is passed through the through holes and the air holes sequentially, and blown out from the outlet holes of the second turntable, and the feed in the outlet holes is blown to the feeding ducts, and delivered to the feeding points through the feeding ducts. 
         [0014]    Since each feeding duct is fixed to the bottom of each outlet hole of the second turntable, therefore each feeding duct is moved accordingly when the second turntable is rotated, so as to achieve the purposes of performing the feeding by a rotation method and improving the efficiency of the feeding operation. 
         [0015]    In the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, each feeding duct is fixed to a position for the feeding, and the second turntable includes a fixed base and an air supply base under the second turntable, wherein the base has a plurality of penetrating holes corresponding to the outlet holes of the second turntable, and each penetrating hole is connected to a feeding duct, and the periphery of the base has a surrounding ventilating channel interconnected with each penetrating hole. 
         [0016]    The air supply base is disposed at the periphery of the base for sealing the ventilating channel, and the air supply base includes an air supply hole corresponding to the ventilating channel for inputting high-pressure air, such that the high-pressure air is entered from the air supply hole and the ventilating channel into each penetrating hole to produce a feeding air current. 
         [0017]    If the feed in the storage bin is rotated by the first and second turntables and dropped into the outlet holes of the second turntable, and the second turntable is rotated continuously until the outlet holes and the penetrating holes are superimposed with each other, the air supply base will input the feeding air current of the base ventilating channel to deliver the feed dropped from the outlet holed into the penetrating hole to the feeding ducts, and then the feed will be delivered to fixed locations by the extension of the feeding ducts. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a structure in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of interlacing each outlet hole and each discharge hole in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2A  is another schematic view of interlacing each outlet hole and each discharge hole in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention: 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of superimposing each outlet hole and each discharge hole in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a structure with a transmission method in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a structure in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 1  for a feeding apparatus of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the feeding apparatus comprises a first turntable  20 , a fixing plate  30  and a second turntable  40  disposed under a storage bin  10 . 
         [0026]    The storage bin  10  in a cylindrical shape is fixed at a position for containing the feed, and the bottom of the storage bin  10  has a plurality of discharge holes a 1  penetrating from top to bottom. In this embodiment, a fixed portion  11  is disposed on a lateral side of the storage bin  10  for hanging and fixing the storage bin  10 . 
         [0027]    The first turntable  20  is disposed under the storage bin  10  and has a plurality of outlet holes b 1  corresponding to the discharge holes a 1  of the storage bin  10  respectively, and the first turntable  20  can be rotated with respect to the storage bin  10 . During the rotation, the outlet holes b 1  are interlaced or superimposed intermittently with the discharge holes a 1  of the storage bin  10 . If the outlet holes b 1  are superimposed with the discharge holes a 1 , the feed in the storage bin  10  will be dropped from the discharge holes a 1  into the outlet holes b 1 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , cross-sectional views of the first turntable  20  and the second turntable  40  in a rotation status are used for illustrations, and the fixing plate  30  is installed under the first turntable  20  and in a fixed status together with the storage bin  10 . The fixing plate  30  also includes a plurality of discharge holes a 2 , and the positions of the discharge holes a 2  on the fixing plate  30  are interlaced with the positions of the discharge holes a 1  on the storage bin  10 . In other words, when the feed in the storage bin  10  is dropped from the discharge holes a 1  into the outlet holes b 1 , the positions of the discharge holes b 2  on the fixing plate  30  are interlaced with the positions of the outlet holes b 1  (also see  FIG. 2A ), such that the feed temporarily remains in the outlet holes b 1  of the first turntable  20 , until the first turntable  20  continues to rotate to superimpose the outlet holes b 1  with the discharge holes a 2  on the fixing plate  30 , so that the feed will be dropped through the discharge holes a 2  of the fixing plate  30 . 
         [0029]    The second turntable  40  is installed under the fixing plate  30  and rotated with the first turntable  20  synchronously, and the second turntable  40  includes a plurality of outlet holes b 2  corresponding to the discharge holes a 2  of the fixing plate  30 , and the positions of the outlet holes b 2  of the second turntable  40  are the same as the positions of the outlet holes b 1  of the first turntable  20 . If the first and second turntables  20 ,  40  are rotated synchronously, the outlet holes b 1 , b 2  of the first and second turntable  20 ,  40  will be superimposed with the discharge holes a 2  of the fixing plate  30  simultaneously, and the feed passing through the discharge holes a 2  of the fixing plate  30  will be dropped into the outlet hole b 2  of the second turntable  40  and discharged to the outside through the outlet holes b 2 . 
         [0030]    In this embodiment, a feeding duct  50  is installed to the bottom of each outlet hole b 2  of the second turntable  40 , and a fixed axle  60  is installed at the center position of the storage bin  10  and penetrates through the first turntable  20 , the fixing plate  30  and the second turntable  40  sequentially from top to bottom, and the fixed axle  60  is fixed to the storage bin  10  and the fixing plate  30 , so that the first turntable  20  and the second turntable  40  can be rotated with respect to the fixed axle  60 . 
         [0031]    The fixed axle  60  has a center hole  61  disposed in its axial direction, and the top of the center hole  61  is provided for inputting a high-speed airflow and sealed at a depth equal to the height of the second turntable  40 , and a plurality of radial through holes  62  interconnected with the center hole  61  and disposed on an external edge of the fixed axle  60  and at a position equal to the height of the second turntable  40 , such that after the high-speed airflow enters from the top of the center hole  61 , the airflow is passed laterally to the through holes  62 . 
         [0032]    A plurality of radial air holes  41  are disposed at positions where the center of the second turntable  40  is connected with the fixed axle  60  and between each outlet hole b 2  and each through hole  62  of the fixed axle  60 , so that the outlet holes b 2  and the through holes  62  are interconnected through the connection of the air holes  41 . 
         [0033]    After the high-speed airflow is entered from the center hole  61  into fixed axle  60  and passed through the through holes  62  and the air holes  41 , the airflow is blown out from the outlet holes b 2  of the second turntable  40 , and the feed in the outlet holes b 2  is delivered to the feeding ducts  50  and finally to the feeding points through the feeding ducts  50 . 
         [0034]    Since each feeding duct  50  is fixed to the bottom of each outlet hole b 2  of the second turntable  40 , therefore each feeding duct  50  can be moved accordingly when the second turntable  40  is rotated, so as to achieve the feeding purpose by a rotation method and improve the efficiency of the feeding operation. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 4  for the first and second turntables  20 ,  40  of this embodiment, a groove  21  is disposed around the periphery of the first turntable  20  for embedding a timing belt for the transmission purpose, and the motor drives the timing belt to rotate the first and second turntables  20 ,  40  synchronously. The timing belt and motor are prior arts and thus will not be described here. 
         [0036]    In  FIG. 4 , this preferred embodiment also discloses a method of using a plurality of feeding ducts  50  for the construction in addition to the transmission method. Since each feeding duct  50  is rotated at the second turntable  40  synchronously, therefore a bearing  63  can be installed and extended downward from the fixed axle  60  to provide a good support for the feeding ducts  50 , and a plurality of support rods  64  with same number of feeding ducts  50  are installed around the bearing  63 , so that each support rod  64  supports each feeding duct  50  to enhance the strength of the feeding duct  50 . Since the bearing  63  is a rotating component, the feeding ducts  50  and support rods  64  can be driven to rotate the bearing  63  with respect to the fixed axle  60  when the first and second turntables  40  are rotated. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 5  for a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the movement relations among the storage bin  10 , the first turntable  20 , the fixing plate  30 , and the second turntable  40  are substantially the same as those of the previous embodiment, and thus will not be described further here, and the only differences are given below. 
         [0038]    In  FIG. 5 , a fixed base  70  and an air supply base  80  are disposed under the second turntable  40 , wherein a plurality of penetrating holes  71  corresponding to the outlet holes b 2  of the second turntable  40  are disposed on the base  70  and penetrate from top to bottom, and a feeding duct  50  is connected to the bottom of each penetrating hole  71 , so that each feeding duct  50  is fixed. In addition, a ventilating channel  72  is disposed around the periphery of the base  70  and interconnected with each penetrating hole  71 . 
         [0039]    The air supply base  80  is disposed at the periphery of the base  70  for sealing the ventilating channel, and the air supply base  80  includes an air supply hole  81  corresponding to the ventilating channel  72  for inputting high-pressure air, so that the high-pressure air enters from the air supply hole  81  and the ventilating channel  72  into each penetrating hole  71  to produce a feeding air current. 
         [0040]    After the first and second turntables  20 ,  40  are rotated synchronously to deliver the feed in the storage bin  10  from the bottom of the discharge hole a 1  through the outlet holes b 1  of the first turntable  20 , the discharge holes a 2  of the fixing plate  30 , and the outlet holes b 2  of the second turntable  40  sequentially, and the second turntable  40  continues to rotate until the outlet hole b 2  is superimposed with the penetrating hole  71 , the feed in the outlet hole b 2  will be dropped into the penetrating hole  71 . 
         [0041]    Now, the high-speed feeding air current is inputted from the air supply hole  81  of the air supply base  80  to the ventilating channel  72  of the base  70 , so that the feed in the penetrating hole  71  can be delivered to the feeding ducts  50  and finally to fixed locations by the extension of the feeding ducts  50 . 
         [0042]    Since a base  70  and an air supply base  80  in a fixed status are installed at the bottom of the second turntable  40 , therefore a motor  90  can be installed under the base  70  for the transmission purpose, and a transmission shaft  91  of the motor is extended upward and passed through the base  70 , the second turntable  40 , the fixing plate  30  and the first turntable  20 , and fixed with the first and second turntables  20 ,  40 , such that when the transmission shaft  91  of the motor  90  is rotated, the first and second turntables  20 ,  40  can be rotated synchronously. 
         [0043]    In this embodiment, a no-feed sensor  12  is installed at the bottom of the storage bin  10  for detecting whether or not the feed contained in the storage bin  10  is exhausted. The first turntable  20  includes a manual gate  22  corresponding to a lateral side of each outlet hole b 1  for opening or closing the outlet hole b 1 , so that the feed can be controlled to be delivered through each outlet hole b 1  for a feeding control purpose. 
         [0044]    Only some embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in the drawings, but it should be pointed out that many other modifications are conceivable within the scope of the following claims.