Back to results
US 8,925,486 B2Granted
Indexed animal feeder
AssigneeGSI Group Corporation
InventorsJames M. Adermann, John Frankovich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An animal feeder is provided having a movable gate between a hopper portion and a trough portion of the feeder. An adjustment mechanism is positioned on the hopper wall above gate and is operable to adjust the position of the gate, and hence, the size of the opening between the hopper and trough. The adjustment mechanism allows for easy control of the size of the opening between the hopper and the trough.
Claims23
An animal feeder comprising:
- a hopper defined by a bottom surface, opposed end walls, and opposed hopper walls;
- at least one trough defined by a bottom surface, opposed end walls, a trough wall, and a portion of at least one hopper wall;
- said trough being in communication with said hopper via an opening defined, at least in part, by said hopper wall;
- a gate extending the length of the opening;
- said gate being movable to adjust the effective height of the opening;
- and
- at least one adjustment mechanism mounted to said hopper wall;
- said adjustment mechanism comprising:
- a control cam rotatably mounted to said one of said hopper walls;
- said control cam being rotatable about a pivot axis;
- said control cam comprising two or more position adjusting openings or notches spaced from the pivot axis for said control cam;
- a link extending between and connecting said control cam to said gate;
- said link being connected to said control cam at a first connection point on said control cam spaced from said pivot point of said control cam, such that rotation of said control cam is translated to vertical motion of said link;
- and
- a control rod extending from said control cam;
- said control rod being pivotally connected to said control cam at a second connection point, said second connection point being offset from said pivot axis of said control cam such that movement of said control rod rotates said control cam about said pivot axis;
- said control rod including a finger sized to engage a selected one of said adjustment position openings or notches.
14 more elements
An adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of a gate of a feeder;
- the adjustment mechanism comprising:
- a control cam having an axis of rotation and two or more position adjusting openings or notches spaced from the axis of rotation;
- a link extending from said cam;
- said link being rotatably connected at a first end to said cam at a first connection point on said cam spaced from said axis of rotation;
- said link having a second end adapted to be connected to the gate of said feeder;
- and
- a control rod extending from said cam;
- said control rod being pivotally connected to said cam at a second connection point, said second connection point being offset from said axis of rotation;
- said control rod having a finger sized to engage a selected one of said adjustment position openings or notches;
- said control rod operatively connected to said hopper wall at a point spaced from said control cam such that an end of said control rod spaced from said finger moves generally linearly as said cam is pivoted to maintain a set angular orientation of said control bar relative to a wall of the hopper when the adjustment mechanism is mounted in a feeder.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.