Patent ID: 8800492

Claim:
A feeder apparatus comprising: a frame; a tray mounted on the frame for receiving feed; a hopper mounted on the frame and defining an interior for holding a quantity of feed, the hopper having an upper end and a lower end positioned above the tray, the hopper having a dispensing opening in the lower end to dispense feed into the tray; a feed flow control assembly configured to control a flow of feed from the hopper to the tray, the control assembly extending from the tray into the lower end of the hopper, the control assembly including a closing member configured for at least partially restricting movement of feed through the dispensing opening, the closing member being mounted on the tray and being positioned in the interior of the hopper above the dispensing opening to define a gap between the closing member and the dispensing opening; wherein the hopper is mounted on the frame in a manner that permits adjustment of the proximity of the hopper to the tray to adjust a size of the gap between the closing member and the dispensing opening to control flow of feed through the gap.