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US 2003/0145796 A1Published application
Automatic feeding device
AssigneeEgebjerg Maskinfabrik A/S
InventorHenrik Rasmussen
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AssigneeEgebjerg Maskinfabrik A/S
InventorHenrik Rasmussen
Estimating the term…
There is disclosed a device (1) for automatic feeding of animals, preferably pigs. The device comprises a dispensing unit (2) over feed plate (4) below a hopper (13). In order to achieve a simple feeding device enabling precise regulation of an amount of feed for adjusting the device to animals of different sizes, the dispensing unit (2) comprises a tubular duct (7) the upper end of which having an area which is greater than the area of the outlet (12) of the hopper (13). In the hopper, a disc-shaped element (8) enabling outflow of feed (33) from the disc-shaped element to the inner (31) of the duct (7). Thus there will be no risk of humidity absorption from feed on the feed plate (4) to the feed in the hopper (13). The feed outflow occurs at an intermediate space (34) between the disc-shaped element and the hopper and in an intermediate space (10) between the disc-shaped element and the inner wall (11) of the duct when the animals exert a lateral pressure (35) on the dispensing unit (2). The dispensing unit (2) is suspended by a control rod (5) enabling reversal of the unit (2) to normal starting position (FIG. 8) after being subjected to a lateral pressure (FIG. 9).
An automatic feeding device (1) for feeding animals, preferably pigs, comprising a funnel-shaped feed hopper (13) having a lower outlet connected to a dispensing unit (2) to be actuated by noses of the animals when eating feed from a feed plate (4) below the dispensing unit, the device comprising a disc-shaped element (8) disposed transversely of the outlet of the hopper (13) and having an area substantially corresponding to the area of the outlet (12), characterised in that dispensing unit (2) furthermore comprises a tubular duct (7) with an upper end having an area larger than the area of the outlet of the hopper (13), and that a slot (10) is provided between the rim (9) of the disc-shaped element (8), which is disposed at the upper end of the duct, and the inner wall (11) of the duct, that the dispensing unit may be displaced vertically as it is mounted at a lower end of a control rod (5) which extends through the inner of the hopper (13) and which is fastened to the hopper (13) and to the dispensing unit (2).
A device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the tubular duct (7) has a downwardly narrowing area and is preferably made with an outer tube (47) and inner tube (49) which are spaced apart by ribs (48) formed on one (47) of the tubes.
A device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the disc-shaped element (8) of the dispensing unit (2) and the tubular duct (7) are made up of at least two injection moulded elements (41,42,43) that are snapped together.
A device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the dispensing unit has an annular recess (58) around its discharge opening (12) so that the inner duct is retracted in relation to the lower rim region around the discharge opening (12).
A device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the hopper (13) is mounted in a frame (16) provided with the feed plate (4) which is fastened to the frame (16).
A device according to any preceding, characterised in that the disc-shaped element (8) is connected with the control rod (5) via a conical adapter (40) mounted on the disc-shaped element (8) via a releasable connection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.