US 5,355,833 A · Computer aided feed distribution equipment for young animals · patentgrep

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Abstract

The equipment includes a set of feed distribution stations each furnished with a mixer supplied with milk powder, water, milk from a tank and various additives from a set of measuring pumps whose number of rotations is controlled by computer system depending on the feed mix to be composed. The measuring pumps are primed by the additive supply tanks. There are as many tanks as additives to dispense. The set of measuring pumps at each feeding station withdraws the selectively programmed quantity from each tank depending on the mix to be constituted. Each animal that is present at a station and that is identified, is credited with a volume of feed that is around 500 grams, whose composition depends on the animal's previous intake, on the weight newly recorded, and on other criteria. The station mixes the feed on demand while the animal is ingesting it. There always remains a certain volume of feed in the mixer after the departure of the animal. This volume is subtracted from the animal's credit so as to precisely calculate the animal's feed intake.

Claims42

Dependent claims

A feeding apparatus for feeding animals comprising:

at least one feeding station, each feeding station including means for mixing feed components into an individualized feed portion according to at least one feed distribution signal;
sensor set for generating a plurality of sensor signals, the plurality of sensor signals including an environmental temperature signal and at least one other sensor signal corresponding to an environment of the feeding apparatus;
at least one monitor, each monitor corresponding to a respective feeding station of the at least one feeding station, each monitor generating at least one monitor signal, the at least one monitor signal representing animal data corresponding to a particular animal present in the feeding station and corresponding to the monitor which is generating the at least one monitor signal;
and
a processor generating the at least one feed distribution signal for each feeding station of the at least one feeding station, the at least one feed distribution signal corresponding to each feeding station being generated based on the plurality of sensor signals and the at least one monitor signal corresponding to the feeding station for which the at least one feed distribution signal is generated.

2 more elements

A feeding apparatus for feeding animals comprising:

at least one feeding station;
sensor set for generating at least one sensor signal, the at least one sensor signal corresponding to an environment of the feeding apparatus;
at least one monitor, each monitor corresponding to a respective feeding station of the at least one feeding station, each monitor generating at least one monitor signal, the at least one monitor signal representing animal data corresponding to a particular animal present in the feeding station and corresponding to the monitor which is generating the at least one monitor signal, the animal data including the weight of the particular animal;
and
a processor generating at least one feed distribution signal for each feeding station of the at least one feeding station, the at least one feed distribution signal corresponding to each feeding station being generated based on the at least one sensor signal and the at least one monitor signal corresponding to the feeding station for which the at least one feed distribution signal is generated,
wherein each feeding station of the at least one feeding station includes means for mixing feed components into an individualized feed portion for the particular animal present in the feeding station, proportions of the feed components mixed into the individualized feed portion being based on the at least one feed distribution signal corresponding to the feeding station, and wherein the processor includes:
means for recording the weight of the particular animal present in the corresponding feeding station;
means for determining a frequency of stay of the particular animal present in the corresponding feeding station;
means for recording the proportions of the feed components mixed for the particular animal;
and
means for determining criteria relating to assessing a maximization of growth for each recorded mix of proportions of the feed components, the criteria including at least one of a comparison of a yield in weight between each stay in the feeding station and the frequency of stay.

8 more elements

A feeding apparatus for feeding animals comprising:

at least one feeding station, each feeding station including means for mixing an individualized feed portion;
sensor set for generating at least one sensor signal, the at least one sensor signal corresponding to an environment of the feeding apparatus;
at least one monitor, each monitor corresponding to a respective feeding station of the at least one feeding station, each monitor generating at least one monitor signal, the at least one monitor signal representing animal data corresponding to a particular animal present in the feeding station and corresponding to the monitor which is generating the at least one monitor signal;
and
a processor generating at least one feed distribution signal for each feeding station of the at least one feeding station, the at least one feed distribution signal corresponding to each feeding station being based on the at least one sensor signal and the at least one monitor signal corresponding to the feeding station for which the at least one feed distribution signal is generated, the processor including (1) means for recording a weight of the particular animal present in the corresponding feeding station;
(2) means for recording the proportions of the feed components mixed for the particular animal;
and (3) means for determining criteria relating to assessing a maximization of growth for each recorded mix of proportion of the feed components, the criteria including at least one of a comparison of a yield in weight between each stay in the feeding station and a frequency of stay, wherein the particular animal is one animal of a group of animals using the feeding apparatus, the processor further including:
individualizing means for (i) operating the means for recording the weight, (ii) operating the means for recording the proportions and (iii) operating the means for determining the criteria, for each animal in the group of animals;
and
means for averaging the criteria corresponding to each animal in the group of animals over the group of animals to determine an averaged criteria for the group of animals.

7 more elements

A feeding apparatus for feeding animals comprising:

at least one feeding station, each feeding station including means for mixing feed components into an individualized feed portion according to at least one feed distribution signal;
sensor set for generating at least one sensor signal, the at least one sensor signal corresponding to an environment of the feeding apparatus;
at least one monitor, each monitor corresponding to a respective feeding station of the at least one feeding station, each monitor generating a plurality of monitor signals, the plurality of monitor signals including an animal weight signal, an animal identification signal and at least one other monitor signal representing animal data corresponding to a particular animal present in the feeding station and corresponding to the monitor which is generating the at least one monitor signal;
and
a processor generating the at least one feed distribution signal for each feeding station of the at least one feeding station, the at least one feed distribution signal corresponding to each feeding station being generated based on the at least one sensor signal and the plurality of monitor signals corresponding to the feeding station for which the at least one feed distribution signal is generated.

2 more elements

A feeding apparatus for feeding animals comprising:

at least one feeding station, each feeding station including means for mixing feed components;
sensor set for generating at least one sensor signal, the at least one sensor signal corresponding to an environment of the feeding apparatus;
at least one monitor, each monitor corresponding to a respective feeding station of the at least one feeding station, each monitor generating at least one monitor signal, the at least one monitor signal representing animal data corresponding to a particular animal present in the feeding station and corresponding to the monitor which is generating the at least one monitor signal;
and
a processor generating at least one feed distribution signal for each feeding station of the at least one feeding station, the at least one feed distribution signal corresponding to each feeding station being based on the at least one sensor signal and the at least one monitor signal corresponding to the feeding station for which the at least one feed distribution signal is generated, wherein the means for mixing includes:
a precision scale;
a container disposed on the precision scale, the container having a drain;
a feeding hose connected at one end to the drain;
and
a nipple connected to another end of the feeding hose.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.