Patent ID: 8573829

Claim:
An animal feed mechanism for handling feed, the animal feed mechanism comprising: a first hopper for receiving the feed; a first funnel for receiving the feed from the first hopper, the first funnel being disposed underneath the first hopper and being smaller than the first hopper; a first agitator disposed for rotation within the first funnel; a first auger housing disposed underneath the first funnel for receiving the feed from the first funnel; a first screw conveyor comprising a first feed tube and a first auger, the first feed tube being connected to the first auger housing, the first auger extending through the first feed tube and into the first auger housing, the first auger being rotatable to urge the feed out from within the first auger housing and through the first feed tube; a valve being interposed between the first agitator and the first auger, the valve defining an adjustable restriction for transferring the feed from the first funnel to the first auger housing; a first motor coupled to the first auger to impart rotational energy that rotates the first auger within the first feed tube; and a transmission mounted to at least one of the first funnel and the first auger housing, the transmission coupling the first auger to the first agitator, the transmission transferring the rotational energy from the first auger to the first agitator to rotate the first agitator within the first funnel as the first auger rotates within the first feed tube; a second agitator disposed within the first funnel; a second screw conveyor comprising a second feed tube and a second auger, the second feed tube being connected to the first auger housing, the second auger extending through the second feed tube and into the first auger housing, the second auger being rotatable to urge the feed out from within the first auger housing and through the second feed tube; a first roller clutch coupled to the first auger, the first roller clutch and the first auger being disposed along a first rotational axis; and a second roller clutch coupled to the second auger, the second roller clutch and the second auger being disposed along a second rotational axis that is radially spaced apart from the first rotational axis, said first and second roller clutch for allowing the transmission of rotation to said first agitator and said second agitator if only one of said first auger or said second auger is rotating.