Patent ID: 8915214

Claim:
A control feeder for use in a feed system, the control feeder including a feed pan adapted to hold a determined amount of feed and a drop tube which opens into the feed pan; the drop tube being adapted and configured to be placed in communication with a feed delivery tube of the feed system; the control feeder further including a feed level sensor adapted to detect the level of feed within the drop tube; the feed level sensor comprising at least one light emitter and at least one light receiver; at least one of the light emitter and light receiver being positioned within the drop tube, the at least one light receiver being positioned to receive light from the at least one light emitter; the feed level sensor emitting a “start” signal when feed within the drop tube is detected to be at or below be a predetermined “empty” level and a “stop” signal when feed in the drop tube is detected to be at or above a predetermined “full” level.