Dispenser
AssigneeFarmweld Inc.
InventorsRyan Jansen, Jonathan Wakefield, Francis Brummer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dispenser for animal feed or other granular material in which the material is dispensed as a mound, includes a dispenser body with a container having an outlet for discharging material by gravity feed onto a surface, a shelf or other moveable member beneath the outlet that travels vertically relative to the container to vary the gap between the container outlet and the surface, and an actuator to permit adjustment of the moveable member. The actuator uses frictional force to retain the moveable member in a selected position, which can be adjusted by overcoming the frictional force.
Claims25
A dispenser for granular material comprising:
- a dispenser body comprising a container for said material, having an outlet for discharging said material by gravity feed,
- a shelf beneath said outlet wherein said shelf is mounted to said dispenser body for travel vertically relative to the container, said shelf being positioned to receive material from said outlet in the form of a mound,
- a linkage arm coupled to said shelf for adjusting the vertical position of said shelf, said linkage arm being moveably engaged to the dispenser body for travel between a first position wherein the shelf is elevated and a second position wherein the shelf is lowered, wherein elevating said shelf reduces the space between said outlet and said shelf and lowering said shelf increases said space,
- an actuator mounted to said dispenser body for rotation about an axis of rotation and coupled to said linkage arm whereby rotation of said actuator in a first direction displaces said linkage arm to said first position and rotation in an opposed second direction displaces said linkage arm to said second position, and
- at least one friction member in contact with said actuator configured to apply a frictional force against said actuator to restrict rotation of the actuator whereby the shelf is retained in a selected vertical position by frictional force,
- whereby the frictional engagement of the actuator applies a constant countervailing force against rotation thereof and prevents slippage of said shelf.
An assembly for mounting to a dispenser to control the outflow of granular material from said dispenser, said dispenser comprising a dispenser body including a container for said material having an outlet for discharging said material by gravity feed, and a shelf beneath said outlet wherein said shelf is mounted to said dispenser body for travel vertically relative to the container, said shelf being positioned to receive said material from said outlet in the form of a mound, said assembly comprising:
- a linkage arm coupled to said shelf for adjusting the vertical position of said shelf, said linkage arm being engaged to the dispenser body for travel between a first position wherein the shelf is elevated and a second position wherein the shelf is lowered, wherein elevating said shelf reduces the space between said outlet and said shelf and lowering said shelf increases said space,
- an actuator for mounting to said dispenser body for rotation about an axis of rotation and coupled to said linkage arm whereby rotation of said actuator in a first direction displaces said linkage arm to said first position and rotation in an opposed second direction displaces said linkage arm to said second position, and
- at least one friction member in contact with said actuator configured to apply a frictional force against said actuator to restrict rotation of the actuator, whereby the shelf is retained in a selected vertical position by frictional force,
- whereby the frictional engagement of the actuator applies a constant countervailing force against rotation thereof and prevents slippage of said shelf.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.