Back to results
US 12,622,412 B2Granted
Overhead animal feed loading, transporting and mixing system
OwnerAlbert Posthumus, Ben Posthumusinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
According to embodiments disclosed herein, there is provided a system for loading, mixing and transporting feed. The system includes a scoop assembly and a mixing tub that are movable overhead a series of storage bays. The scoop assembly may retrieve commodities from the storage bays and load measured quantities of the commodities into the mixing tub.
Claims20
A feed preparation system comprising:
- a primary carriage movable along a track overhead a plurality of commodity bays;
- a secondary carriage supported by the primary carriage;
- a scoop array comprising a plurality of scoops, the scoop array supported by the secondary carriage;
- and
- a first load measurement mechanism disposed between the primary carriage and the secondary carriage and configured to measure a weight associated with the secondary carriage;
- and
- a tub hanging from the primary carriage and configured to receive a scooped commodity from the plurality of scoops of the scoop array.
4 more elements
A feed preparation system comprising:
- at least one carriage movable along an overhead track disposed overhead a plurality of commodity bays;
- a scoop array hanging downwardly from the at least one carriage via a lift mechanism, the scoop array comprising two or more scoops;
- and
- a tub hanging from a carriage of the at least one carriage and configured to receive a scooped commodity from the scoop array,
- wherein the lift mechanism is movable towards and away from the tub, the scoops configured to be independently lowered toward and raised from the commodity bay to scoop a commodity from the commodity bay.
2 more elements
A method of preparing a pre-mixed feed, the method comprising:
- moving a scoop array comprising a plurality of scoops to a first commodity bay;
- lowering the scoop array to the first commodity bay;
- closing a first scoop of the plurality of scoops to scoop a first commodity stored in the first commodity bay;
- measuring the weight of the scooped first commodity held by the first scoop;
- raising the scoop array from the first commodity bay;
- moving the scoop array to a second commodity bay;
- lowering the scoop array to the second commodity bay;
- closing a second scoop of the plurality of scoops to scoop a second commodity stored in the second commodity bay;
- measuring the weight of the scooped second commodity held by the second scoop;
- raising the scoop array from the second commodity bay;
- moving the scoop array to a third commodity bay;
- lowering the scoop array to the third commodity bay;
- closing a third scoop of the plurality of scoops to scoop a third commodity stored in the third commodity bay;
- measuring the weight of the scooped third commodity held by the third scoop;
- raising the scoop array from the third commodity bay;
- moving the scoop array to a mixer and opening the first scoop, the second scoop, and the third scoop to deposit the scooped first commodity, the scooped second commodity, and the scooped third commodity in the mixer;
- mixing the first commodity, the second commodity, and the third commodity deposited in the mixer to create a pre-mixed feed.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.