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US 5,937,787 AGranted
Automatic feeder and control system
OwnerFrancis G. Kopisinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic feeder and control system is provided which transports feed material such as bird food and the like from a reservoir storage compartment and into a feed receptor station which can be substantially vertically above the reservoir storage compartment. An endless belt moves through a tube which generally connects the reservoir storage compartment and the feed receptor station. By the operation of a drive assembly, feed material within the reservoir storage compartment is moved by the endless belt into the feed receptor station.
Claims22
A feeder apparatus, comprising:
- a support assembly for the apparatus;
- a generally vertically oriented tube having an elongated open interior, said tube being supported by said support assembly;
- an endless belt positioned within said elongated open interior of the tube, said endless belt having at least one receptor member;
- a storage compartment for containing feed material;
- a drive assembly which drivingly engages said endless belt to convey said endless belt along a path which includes at least an elongated length portion of the tube, and said path passes along said storage compartment such that said endless belt carries a portion of the feed material;
- and
- a feed receptor station which is remote from said storage compartment and which is positioned to receive the feed material from said endless belt.
4 more elements
A feeder apparatus, comprising:
- a support assembly for the apparatus;
- a generally vertically oriented tube having an elongated open interior, said tube being supported by said support assembly;
- an endless belt positioned within said elongated open interior of the tube, said endless belt having at least one receptor member;
- a storage compartment for containing feed material;
- a drive assembly which drivingly engages said endless belt to convey said endless belt along a path which includes at least an elongated length portion of the tube, and said path passes along said storage compartment such that said endless belt carries a portion of the feed material;
- a feed receptor station which is remote from said storage compartment and which is positioned to receive the feed material from said endless belt;
- said endless belt has more than one receptor member which is generally cup-shaped, said endless belt includes a thin and flexible member which carries said receptor member, said endless belt is a metal band;
- and
- said receptor member is mounted such that an open mouth thereof is generally upwardly directed when the endless belt moves in an upward direction and is generally downwardly directed when the endless belt moves in a downward direction.
6 more elements
A feeder apparatus, comprising:
- a support assembly for the apparatus;
- a generally vertically oriented tube having an elongated open interior, said tube being supported by said support assembly;
- an endless belt positioned within said elongated open interior of the tube, said endless belt having at least one receptor member;
- a storage compartment for containing feed material;
- a drive assembly which drivingly engages said endless belt to convey said endless belt along a path which includes at least an elongated length portion of the tube, and said path passes along said storage compartment such that said endless belt carries a portion of the feed material;
- a feed receptor station which is remote from said storage compartment and which is positioned to receive the feed material from said endless belt;
- said drive assembly is mounted along the tube and includes a worm gear assembly which drivingly engages said endless belt;
- and
- an elongated divider is positioned within the tube and positioned inside the circuitous path of the endless belt, said elongated divider having a length which is less than that of the endless belt.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.