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US 12,642,251 B1Granted
Automated chicken feeder including a vertically slidable door for a plurality of feed access ports
OwnerAndrew Velardiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automated chicken feeder is equipped with a motor actuated door and a photocell control system. The feeder door is designed to open during the day, allowing chickens to access the feed, and close at night to prevent rodents from stealing the feed. The photocell serves as a sensor to detect the ambient light levels and triggers the motorized door accordingly. The automatic chicken feeder provides a convenient and efficient solution for poultry farmers, minimizing manual labor and maintaining the integrity of the chicken feed.
Claims8
An automated chicken feeder for containing and dispensing chicken feed, said automated chicken feeder comprising:
- a feed hopper having an open top, and a bottom;
- a feed hopper top configurable between an open configuration wherein feed may be loaded into said feed hopper, and a closed configuration;
- said feed hopper defining a plurality of feed access ports disposed in proximity to the bottom of said feed hopper;
- a feed access door disposed on the exterior of said feed hopper and vertically slidable within a pair of opposing tracks between a closed configuration in covering relation with each of said plurality of feed access ports, and an open configuration wherein each of said plurality of feed access ports is exposed;
- said feed access door including at least one boss member projecting therefrom in proximity to at least one of said pair of tracks to prevent the feed access door from binding;
- a weatherproof control housing connected to said feed hopper and disposed above said plurality of feed access ports;
- a control module disposed within said weatherproof control housing, said control module including a photocell, a battery power source, an electric motor, and control circuitry all in electrical communication and adapted to control said electric motor in response to signals received from said photocell;
- said electric motor mechanically connected to said access door;
- said control module responsive to signals received from said photocell to activate said electric motor to open said feed access door when said photocell detects a predetermined level of ambient light, and to close said feed access port door, under the influence of gravity, when said photocell does not detect said predetermined level of ambient light.
6 more elements
An automated chicken feeder for dispensing feed, said automated chicken feeder comprising:
- a feed hopper defining an internal volume;
- said feed hopper and including an openable top providing access to said internal volume to allow feed to be placed therein, and a bottom;
- said feed hopper defining at least one feed access port disposed in proximity to the bottom thereof;
- a first interior baffle disposed within said internal volume and projecting angularly downward from a position above said at least one feed access port and terminating in spaced relation with the bottom of said feed hopper, said first interior baffle has a lower peripheral edge defining at least one notch in alignment with said at least one feed access port;
- a second interior baffle disposed within said internal volume and projecting downward from a rear portion of said hopper to direct feed toward said at least one feed access port;
- a feed access door disposed on the exterior of said feed hopper, said feed access door being vertically slidable between a closed configuration in covering relation with said at least one feed access port, and an open configuration;
- said feed access door slidable within a pair of opposing slots defined by a pair of tracks connected to the front of said feed hopper;
- said feed access door including at least one boss member projecting therefrom in proximity to at least one of said pair of tracks to prevent the feed access door from binding due to misalignment;
- a weatherproof control housing connected to said feed hopper;
- a control module disposed within said weatherproof control housing, said control module including a photocell, a battery power source, and an electric motor;
- said electric motor mechanically connected to said feed access door;
- and
- said control module responsive to signals received from said photocell to activate said electric motor, whereby said feed access door automatically positions said access door to said open configuration when said photocell detects a predetermined level of ambient light, and closes said access door when said photocell detects ambient light level below said predetermined level.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.