Feeder device

An apparatus for distributing measured amounts of animal feed comprising a conveyor, said conveyor having a material-moving mechanism and a discharge outlet, a feed receptacle positioned below said conveyor discharge outlet, said feed receptacle having a bottom, a feed conduit being mounted between said conveyor outlet and said feed receptacle bottom, said feed conduit having opposite open ends, one of said feed conduit ends being in communication with said conveyor outlet, the other of said feed conduit ends being in communication with said feed receptacle, said conveyor having means for driving said mechanism with an on condition in which said feed is caused to flow into said one feed conduit end and through said feed conduit and into said feed receptacle, said other feed conduit end being spaced from said feed receptacle bottom a distance by which said feed flow first fills said feed receptacle to a desired level and then fills said feed conduit, a feed monitor including a signal sender and a signal receiver, said signal sender and said signal receiver being selectively mounted on opposite sides of said feed conduit at a predetermined height, said signal sender directing a signal toward said signal receiver and through said feed conduit and said feed flow when said driving means is in said on condition, said conduit being of a material which allows said signal to pass through said conduit, said signal being uninterrupted by said feed flowing through said feed conduit, whereby said signal sender and said signal receiver are in signal communication, said signal being blocked when said feed conduit is filled with said feed above said predetermined height, said driving means having an off condition in which no feed is caused to flow into said one feed conduit end, said signal receiver being operatively connected to said driving means, said driving means being in said on condition when said signal sender and signal receiver are in signal communication, said driving means being in said off condition when said signal is blocked.

An apparatus comprising a conveyor, said conveyor having a material-moving mechanism and a discharge outlet, a conduit having opposite ends, one of said conduit ends being in communication with said discharge outlet, said conveyor having means for driving said mechanism with an on condition in which said particulate material is caused to flow into said one conduit end, thereby filling said conduit, a material monitor including a signal sender and a signal receiver, said signal sender and signal receiver being selectively mounted on opposite sides of said conduit at a predetermined height, said signal sender directing a signal toward said signal receiver and through said conduit and said particulate material flow when said driving means is in said on condition, said conduit being of a material which allows said signal to pass through said conduit, said signal being uninterrupted by said particulate material flowing through said conduit, whereby said signal sender and signal receiver are in signal communication, said signal being blocked when said conduit is filled with said particulate material above said predetermined height, said driving means having an off condition in which no particulate material is caused to flow into said one conduit end, said signal receiver being operatively connected to said driving means, said driving means being in said on condition when said signal sender and signal receiver are in signal communication, said driving means being in said off condition when said signal is blocked.