Automated livestock feeder
OwnerJohn A. Wells, Kevin Cerainventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automated feeding system for feeding livestock in a plurality of pens and a method for using the feeding system. The feeding system includes a plurality of feeders with one feeder in each of a first subset of a plurality of pens. A single controller is used for operation of the feeders and a communication line/cable is provided between the controller and the feeders. The communication line/cable is releasably coupled to each feeder so that the feeders can be used in a first subset of pens after which they are uncoupled from the communication line/cable, moved to a second subset of pens and recoupled to the communication line/cable so that a single controller operates the feeders regardless of which pen they are positioned in.
Claims21
An automated feeding system for feeding livestock in a plurality of pens, said system comprising:
- a plurality of feeders, with one feeder in each of a first subset of said plurality of pens, each feeder including a hopper with an outlet opening at a lower end thereof, a dispenser coupled to said hopper at the lower end thereof beneath said outlet opening for dispensing a predetermined quantity of feed from said hopper, and an actuator coupled to said dispenser for actuating said dispenser to dispense feed;
- a single programmable controller for controlling the operation of said actuators;
- and
- communication means for communication from said controller to said actuators to operate said dispensers, said communicating means being operable to communicate with said actuators when said feeders are in said first subset of said plurality of pens and also when said feeders are in a second subset of said pens whereby said feeders can be used with said first subset of pens and then moved to said second subset of said pens and controlled by said single controller for operation of said actuators.
A method of feeding livestock confined within a plurality of pens, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a feeder for each pen of a first subset of said pens, each said feeder including a hopper with an outlet opening at a lower end thereof, a dispenser coupled to said hopper beneath said outlet opening for dispensing a predetermined quantity of feed from said hopper, and an actuator coupled to said dispenser for actuating said dispenser to dispense feed;
- providing a single programmable controller for controlling the operation of said actuators;
- providing communication means for communication from said controller to said actuators to actuate said dispensers, said communicating means being operable to communicate with said actuators when said feeders are in said first subset of said pens and also when said feeders are in a second subset of said pens;
- programming said controller for periodic feeding cycles in which said controller operates said actuators to dispense a predetermined quantity of feed into each pen of said first subset of said pens over a given time period;
- and
- after said given time period, moving said feeders from said first subset of said pens to said second subset of said pens to feed livestock therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.