Feeding apparatus with a pecking block
AssigneeBig Dutchman International GmbH
InventorHolger Brunnberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A feeding apparatus for poultry is disclosed, and comprises a feed source, a feed line formed at the feed source, a feed valve mechanism arranged in the feed line and which in a closed valve position blocks feed from passing through the feed line and in an open valve position allows feed to pass through the feed line. The feeding apparatus has a pecking block which is moveably mounted and mechanically coupled to the feed valve mechanism in such a way that the feed valve mechanism is closed when the pecking block is in a neutral position and the feed valve mechanism is open when the pecking block is in a deflected position due to pecking at the pecking block.
Claims20
A feeding apparatus for poultry comprising:
- a feed source;
- a feed line connected to the feed source;
- a feed valve mechanism arranged in the feed line and which in a closed valve position blocks feed from passing through the feed line and in an open valve position allows feed to pass through the feed line;
- a pendulum rod swingingly mounted in the feeding apparatus and mechanically coupled to the feed valve mechanism;
- wherein the feed source is disposed above the feed valve mechanism, and feed drops out of the feed source under the influence of gravity when the feed valve mechanism is in the open position,
- and
- a pecking block moveably mounted and mechanically coupled to the pendulum rod, wherein the feed valve mechanism is closed when the pecking block is in a neutral position and the feed valve mechanism is open when the pecking block is in a deflected position due to pecking at the pecking block,
- wherein the pendulum rod is swingingly mounted in a pendulum bearing arranged above the pecking block and below the feed valve mechanism.
A feeding apparatus for poultry, comprising:
- a feed source;
- a feed line in communication with the feed source and having an outlet opening;
- a feed valve mechanism disposed within the feed line and between the feed source and the outlet opening;
- a pendulum rod swingingly mounted in the feeding apparatus and mechanically coupled to the feed valve mechanism;
- an annular disc having a central through bore that is larger than a cross-sectional dimension of the pendulum rod and through which the pendulum rod extends;
- a pendulum bearing ring fixed to the pendulum rod and defining a pivot fulcrum disposed below the feed valve mechanism and about which the pendulum rod may swing;
- and
- a pecking block movably suspended from and operably coupled with the pendulum rod, wherein the feed valve mechanism is closed when the pecking block is in a neutral position and the feed valve mechanism is open when the pecking block is in a deflected position.
A method of dispensing feed, the method comprising the steps of:
- placing feed into a feed source;
- connecting a feed line to the feed source, the feed line having an outlet opening;
- placing a feed valve mechanism within the feed line and between the feed source and the outlet opening;
- fixedly mounting an annular disc having a central through bore within the feed line;
- fixing a pendulum bearing ring about a pendulum rod to define a pivot fulcrum about which the pendulum rod may swing;
- placing the pendulum rod within the feed line and through the central through bore of the annular disc, wherein the central through bore is larger than a cross-sectional dimension of the pendulum rod, whereby the pendulum rod extends through the central through bore of the annular disc and is swingingly supported by the annular disc below the feed valve mechanism;
- mechanically coupling the pendulum rod to the feed valve mechanism;
- and
- suspending a pecking block from the pendulum rod, wherein the valve mechanism is closed when the top pecking block is in a neutral position and the feed valve mechanism is open when the pecking block is in a deflected position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.