Controlled pan feeder system for poultry

In a feeder system for animals comprising an elongated feed conveyor means having spaced openings for dropping feed into a plurality of spaced pan assemblies located under said openings;

• said pan assemblies each having an adjustable feed regulating element movable vertically between said pan and conveyor means for regulating the level of the feed in the pan;
• tie means connected to each of said regulating elements;
• and
• actuator means operatively connected to said tie means for pulling and releasing said tie means to raise and lower said regulating elements;
• the improvement comprising:
• said actuator means including an actuator and an electrified anti-roost wire extending along and above said elongated feed conveyor means and movable lengthwise along said elongated feed conveyor means by said actuator;
• said anti-roost wire preventing said animals and the like from roosting on the elongated feed conveyor;
• said ties being cormected to said anti-roost wire whereby when said anti-roost wire is moved by said actuator, a pulling force is exerted on the tie means causing the regulating elements to be raised whereby said anti-roost wire serves the dual function of raising and lowering said regulating elements to regulate the level of the feed in the pan and the prevention of animals from roosting over the elongated feed conveyor.

A feeder pan assembly for animals comprising:

• a vertical feed drop tube having a passageway opening throughout its length and said opening at its upper end. provided for receiving feed and said opening at its lower end provided for dispensing feed;
• means for supporting said drop tube relative to a feed conveyor for receiving feed into its upper end from said conveyor;
• an elongated intermediate member having a passageway opening extending its entire length from its upper end to its lower end, said opening at its upper end receiving said drop tube and extending downwardly to surround at least a portion of and telescopicly adjustable over said drop tube;
• an elongated feed regulating skiff member having a passageway opening extending its entire length from its upper end to its lower end said skirt member surrounding at least a portion of and telescopingly movable in a vertical direction over said intermediate member;
• a pan mounted below said skirt member;
• adjustable interlocking means on said intermediate member and drop tube for adjustably supporting said intermediate member on said drop tube in different vertical positions;
• said skirt member and intermediate member having interlocking means whereby vertical adjustment of said intermediate member vertically adjusts the vertical position of the skirt member relative to said pan;
• said intermediate member including a cone-shaped feed deflector rigidly mounted on said intermediate member centrally of said passageway opening of said intermediate member and spaced inwardly from the wall of said passageway opening, said cone-shaped deflector having downwardly and outwardly flared walls defining a peak at the uppermost part thereof slanted downwardly to a base, said peak located substantially on the central axis of said drop tube, the downwardly and outwardly flared walls being shaped to cause feed dropped through said drop tube to slide down said walls and be deflected to the outer circumference of said pan.

A feeder pan assembly for animals comprising:

• a vertical feed drop tube having a psageway opening throughout its length and said opening at its upper end provided for receiving feed and said opening at its lower end provided for dispensing feed;
• means for supporting said drop tube relative to a feed conveyor for receiving feed into its upper end from said conveyor;
• an elongated intermediate member having a passageway opening extending its entire length from its upper end to its lower end, said opening at its upper end receiving said drop tube and extending downwardly to surround at least a portion of and telescopicly adjustable over said drop tube;
• an elongated feed regulating skirt member having a passageway opening extending its entire length from its upper end to its lower end, said skirt member surrounding at least a portion of and telescopingly movable in a vertical direction over said intermediate member;
• a pan mounted below said skirt member;.
• adjustable interlocking means on said intermediate member and drop tube for adjustably supporting said intermediate member on said drop tube in different vertical positions;
• said skirt member and intermediate member having interlocking means whereby vertical adjustment of said intermediate member vertically adjusts the vertical position of the skirt member relative to said pan;
• said intermediate member including a cone-shaped feed deflector rigidly mounted on said intermediate member centrally of said passageway opening of said intermediate member and spaced inwardly from the wall of said passageway opening, said cone-shaped deflector having downwardIV and outwardly flared walls defining a peak at the uppermost part thereof slanted downwardly to a. base, said peak located substantially on the central axis of said drop tube;
• and
• the cross-section of the exterior of said walls of said cone-shaped feed deflector taken through any vertical plane extending through said peak defining two symmetrical, concave, curvilinear surfaces.

A feeder pan assembly for animals comprising:

• a vertical feed drop tube having an opening throughout its length, said opening at its upper end provided for receiving feed, said opening at its lower end provided for dispensing feed;
• means for supporting said drop tube relative to a feed conveyor for receiving feed into its upper end from said conveyor;
• a pan located below said drop tube for receiving feed dropped through said drop tube;
• a cone-shaped deflector member having downwardly and outwardly flared walls defining a peak at the top thereof;
• said walls being shaped to cause feed dropped through said drop tube to slide down said walls and be deflected to the outer circumference of said pan;
• and
• support means for said cone-shaped deflector member for supporting said deflector member below said drop tube and above said pan, said support means maintaining said peak substantially on the central axis of said drop tube regardless of the vertical position of said deflector member relative to said drop tube.

A feeder pan assembly for animals comprising:

• a vertical feed drop tube having an opening throughout its length, said opening at its upper end provided for receiving feed, said opening at its lower end provided for dispensing feed;
• means for supporting said drop tube relative to a feed conveyor for receiving. feed into its upper end from said conveyor;
• a pan located below said drop tube for receiving feed dropped through said drop tube;
• a cone-shaped deflector member having downwardly and outwardly flared walls defining a peak at the top thereof;
• the cross-section of the exterior of said walls of said cone-shaped feed deflector taken through any vertical plane extending through said peak defining two symmetrical, concave, curvilinear surfaces;
• and
• support means for said cone-shaped deflector member for supporting said deflector member below said drop tube and above said pan, said support means maintaining said peak substantially on the central axis of said drop tube regardless of the vertical position of said deflector member relative to said drop tube.

A feeder pan assembly for animals and the like comprising;

• a vertical feed drop tube having an opening throughout its length, said opening at its upper end provided for receiving feed, said opening at its lower end provided for dispensing feed;
• means for supporting said drop tube relative to a feed conveyor for receiving feed into its upper end from said conveyor;
• a pan located below said drop tube for receiving feed dropped through said drop tube;
• a cone-shaped deflector member having downwardly and outwardly flared walls defining a peak at the top thereof;
• support means for said cone-shaped deflector member for supporting said deflector member below said drop tube and above said pan, said support means maintaining said peak substantially on the central axis of said drop tube regardless of the vertical position of said deflector member relative to said drop tube;
• said cone-shaped deflector member being mounted centrally in a passageway opening extending entirely through an elongated support member, said deflector member being supported by relatively thin support elements secured to the deflector and the inner walls of said opening of said elongated support member, said passageway opening of said elongated support member receiving the lower end of said drop tube;
• and
• means for adjustably supporting said elongated support member on said drop tube for adjustment to a number of vertical positions whereby the vertical position of said deflector member relative to said drop tube can be adjusted.