CA1195192A - Automatic animal feeding device - Google Patents
Automatic animal feeding deviceInfo
- Publication number
- CA1195192A CA1195192A CA000445277A CA445277A CA1195192A CA 1195192 A CA1195192 A CA 1195192A CA 000445277 A CA000445277 A CA 000445277A CA 445277 A CA445277 A CA 445277A CA 1195192 A CA1195192 A CA 1195192A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- feed
- housing
- automatic
- animal feeder
- reservoir
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 241001465754 Metazoa Species 0.000 title claims abstract description 29
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 claims description 8
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 241000283086 Equidae Species 0.000 description 4
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000006378 damage Effects 0.000 description 2
- 244000144993 groups of animals Species 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 208000027418 Wounds and injury Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000003213 activating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001276 controlling effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000037213 diet Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000005911 diet Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000000428 dust Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001747 exhibiting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000036541 health Effects 0.000 description 1
- 208000014674 injury Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 235000012054 meals Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002689 soil Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
- A01K5/00—Feeding devices for stock or game ; Feeding wagons; Feeding stacks
- A01K5/02—Automatic devices
- A01K5/0291—Automatic devices with timing mechanisms, e.g. pet feeders
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Birds (AREA)
- Animal Husbandry (AREA)
- Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
- Feeding And Watering For Cattle Raising And Animal Husbandry (AREA)
Abstract
AUTOMATIC ANIMAL FEEDING DEVICE
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An automatic animal feeder comprising a housing defining a feeding reservoir therein. An inlet opening is provided for receiving feed in the reservoir. An outlet opening is associated with a discharge device which is motor driven for conveying feed to a remote discharge outlet. An automatic timer controls a drive for operating the discharge device at predetermined time intervals and for predetermined time periods to thereby control the quantity of feed discharged at the remote discharge outlet during each of the time intervals.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An automatic animal feeder comprising a housing defining a feeding reservoir therein. An inlet opening is provided for receiving feed in the reservoir. An outlet opening is associated with a discharge device which is motor driven for conveying feed to a remote discharge outlet. An automatic timer controls a drive for operating the discharge device at predetermined time intervals and for predetermined time periods to thereby control the quantity of feed discharged at the remote discharge outlet during each of the time intervals.
Description
~9~
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of Invention The present invention relates to an automatic animal feeder and wherein predetermined quantity of feed can be automatically delivered at predetermined time intervals.
(b) Description of Prior Art Various animal feeders are known. However, the majority of these feeder devices comprise a container having feed therein with manually operable gate mechanism whereby to release predetermined quantities or the entire feed stored in the housing. Such devices are also mainly for feeding large quantities of animals at a single feed station. When it is necessary to feed individual animals separated from one another by enclosures, it is necessary that a person feeds each animal individually~ This is a time consuming process and also makes it difficultg if next to impossible, to feed all of the animals at substantially the same time whereby to establish-a common regular diet for such animals. Further, adding to the time consuming operation, is the necessity for providing different feeds to different animals~
SUMMARY OF ~HE INVENTION
It is a feature of the present invention to provide an automatic animal feeder which is automatically operable to feed individual or individual groups of animals at predetermined times.
Another feature of the present invention i5 to provide an automatic animal feeder capable of feeding a 3~ predetermined quantity of ~eed at predetermined times.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of Invention The present invention relates to an automatic animal feeder and wherein predetermined quantity of feed can be automatically delivered at predetermined time intervals.
(b) Description of Prior Art Various animal feeders are known. However, the majority of these feeder devices comprise a container having feed therein with manually operable gate mechanism whereby to release predetermined quantities or the entire feed stored in the housing. Such devices are also mainly for feeding large quantities of animals at a single feed station. When it is necessary to feed individual animals separated from one another by enclosures, it is necessary that a person feeds each animal individually~ This is a time consuming process and also makes it difficultg if next to impossible, to feed all of the animals at substantially the same time whereby to establish-a common regular diet for such animals. Further, adding to the time consuming operation, is the necessity for providing different feeds to different animals~
SUMMARY OF ~HE INVENTION
It is a feature of the present invention to provide an automatic animal feeder which is automatically operable to feed individual or individual groups of animals at predetermined times.
Another feature of the present invention i5 to provide an automatic animal feeder capable of feeding a 3~ predetermined quantity of ~eed at predetermined times.
- 2 - ~I$
9~
Another feature of the present invention is to provide an automatic animal feeder capable of housing fee~ for several meals and wherein the feed is discharged by an automatic discharge device which is activated at predetermined times and capable of operating during a predetermined period of time~
According to a broad aspect of the present invention there is provided an automatic animal feeder comprising a housing defining an enclosed feed reservoir~
An inlet opening is provided for receiving feed in the reservoir. The reservoir also has an outlet opening and a discharge screw conveyor is located in a cylindrical tube and rotatably driven by a motor. The tube has an opening in a sidewall thereof and a sleeve couples the housing outlet opening with the sidewall opening for communicating ~eed in the reservoir directlv on a restricted portion of the conveyor screw whereby the conveyor screw arrests the discharge of feed when idle.
An outlet pipe is connected to an outlet of the cylindrical tube to discharge the feed at the remote discharge outlet of the tube when the conveyor is rotated. An automatic timer control means is provided for operating the motor at predetermined time intervals and for predetermined time periods to thereby control the quantity of feed discharged at said remote discharge outlet during each of the time intervals.
~ss~s~
BRIEF DES RIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embod.iment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the example thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGURE 1 is a front view, partly fragmented of the automatic animal feeder of the present invention, FIGURE 2 is a section view showing the discharge means and it.s drive, FIGURE 3 is a fragmented side view of the automatic animal feeder, and ~ 3~
S:~9~:
FIGURE 4 is a schematic view showing the control circuit and a multi feeder system.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, there is shown generally at 10 the automatic animal feeder of the present invention. The feeder comprises a housing 11 defining therein a reservoir 12 for containment of a predetermined quan~ity of feed material 13. The feed material is placed into the housing through an inlet opening 14 which is closable by a hinged cover 15.
A vertical slot opening 16 is provided in the front wall of the housing and is provided with a transparent window 17 thus, constituting a gauge whereby to visually de-termine the qua~ity of feed remaining in the reservoir 12.
The base of the reservoir 12 is conically tapered and is provided with a discharge opening 18.
A rotatable conveyor discharge screw 19 is secured adjacent the opening 18 and located within a cylindrical housing 20 having an opening 21 in the side wall thereof and coupled to the outlet 18 by a sleeve 22 whereby feed is directed directly onto a central portion of the conveyor screw 19. As shown in Figc 1, the conveyor screw 19 arrests the discharge of feed when idle. The screw is secured on a drive shaft 23 which is coupled to a drive motor 24 through a speed reducing coupling 25.
The outlet of the cylindrical tube 20 is connected to an outlet pipe 26 to which is coupled any suitable conveyor pipe~ such as 27 schematically illustrated in Figure 4, whereby to channel the feed 13 to an appropriate location or feed tray 2~3 located at a convenient position for ~ access by the animal(s~ bcing fed.
~9~
~s shown in Figures 1 and 4 an automatic timer control mechanism constituted by a time clock mechanism ~9 and a time regulating device 30 is provided to operate the motor 24 at predetermined time intervals and for predetermined time periods to thereby control the quantity of feed discharged through the outlet pipe 26 during each of the predetermined time intervals which are preset on the automatic timer control 29. This control device 29 is that commonly known in the art for regulating the power supply to lamps whereby to turn them on and off at pre-determined times in a day. This device 29 feeds the power supply to the electric motor 24 but via a time regulating device 30 which will maintain the power supply for preselected time periods onlyO With the particular embodiment herein described, the reservoir contains appro~imately ~0 pounds of feed. By operating the conveyor screw at a specific speed, for a specific period of time~ a predetermined quantity of feed is delivered. For example 9 a 35 second operation o the screw can deli~er 5 pounds of feed. Therefore, by regulating the time of operation of the motor 249 very pxecise quantity of feed can be delivered to the animal~
A typical application of the automatic feeder is to feed horses which are contained in their stalls and located side-by-side. Depending on the size and health conditions of the horse, a predetermined quantity of feed is fed to each individual horse. It is also important to feed all of the horses at the same time as t~e horses are usually in visual contact w;th neighbouring horses and if a horse was not fed1 this ~ a~s~
would result in the unfed horse exhibiting some madness causing damage to the stall and possible injury to the horse. ~lso, in such larye animal enclosures there may be contained several stalls and it can be seen that with the present invention all of these stalls can ~e equipped with a device 10 to deliver individual quantities and cornpositions of feed simultaneously to each stall, which was heretofore impossible with the prior art devices known.
The housing 11 can be constructed of stainless steel or plastics material to provide a sanitary enclo-sure and the reservoir 12 is properly sealed by the cover 15 whereby moisture, dust or other foreign matter cannot entar the enclosure to soil or contaminate the feed~ The housing 11 is also provided with attachment flanges 31 whereby to secure the housing against the wall or other support structure.
As shown in Figure 4, the automatic timer control 29 comprises a time cloc~ mechanism coupled to a 24 hour time dial 32. A plurality of presettable contact trip elements 33 are positioned about the dial throuyh a 24 hour period indicator. By presetting these trip elements at different times of the day, power from the electrical connector 34 will be supplied to the output line 35 which is connected to the time regulating device 30. This time regulating device 30 is provided with a dial 36 which is positioned to a preselected time period whereby to pass electrical power to its outlet line 37 for a predetermined period of time onlyD The outlet connection 37 is connected to the mot~r 24 to 35~
cause the operation thereof, as previously described.
In Figure 4~ there is also shown a controller device 3~3 capable of controlling a plurality of animal feeders 10. This controller can be connected directly to the time regulating device 30 of each feeder whereby to connect power thereto at preselected time intervals or else could cut-out one or more of these feeders by activating proper switches~ Thus, it is conceivable that various systems can be arranged for automatic operation and wherein the controller could selectively operate one or more or specific groups of animal feeder devices 10.
It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any obvious modifications of the preferred embodiment described herein, provided such modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.
~ 7 --
9~
Another feature of the present invention is to provide an automatic animal feeder capable of housing fee~ for several meals and wherein the feed is discharged by an automatic discharge device which is activated at predetermined times and capable of operating during a predetermined period of time~
According to a broad aspect of the present invention there is provided an automatic animal feeder comprising a housing defining an enclosed feed reservoir~
An inlet opening is provided for receiving feed in the reservoir. The reservoir also has an outlet opening and a discharge screw conveyor is located in a cylindrical tube and rotatably driven by a motor. The tube has an opening in a sidewall thereof and a sleeve couples the housing outlet opening with the sidewall opening for communicating ~eed in the reservoir directlv on a restricted portion of the conveyor screw whereby the conveyor screw arrests the discharge of feed when idle.
An outlet pipe is connected to an outlet of the cylindrical tube to discharge the feed at the remote discharge outlet of the tube when the conveyor is rotated. An automatic timer control means is provided for operating the motor at predetermined time intervals and for predetermined time periods to thereby control the quantity of feed discharged at said remote discharge outlet during each of the time intervals.
~ss~s~
BRIEF DES RIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embod.iment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the example thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGURE 1 is a front view, partly fragmented of the automatic animal feeder of the present invention, FIGURE 2 is a section view showing the discharge means and it.s drive, FIGURE 3 is a fragmented side view of the automatic animal feeder, and ~ 3~
S:~9~:
FIGURE 4 is a schematic view showing the control circuit and a multi feeder system.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, there is shown generally at 10 the automatic animal feeder of the present invention. The feeder comprises a housing 11 defining therein a reservoir 12 for containment of a predetermined quan~ity of feed material 13. The feed material is placed into the housing through an inlet opening 14 which is closable by a hinged cover 15.
A vertical slot opening 16 is provided in the front wall of the housing and is provided with a transparent window 17 thus, constituting a gauge whereby to visually de-termine the qua~ity of feed remaining in the reservoir 12.
The base of the reservoir 12 is conically tapered and is provided with a discharge opening 18.
A rotatable conveyor discharge screw 19 is secured adjacent the opening 18 and located within a cylindrical housing 20 having an opening 21 in the side wall thereof and coupled to the outlet 18 by a sleeve 22 whereby feed is directed directly onto a central portion of the conveyor screw 19. As shown in Figc 1, the conveyor screw 19 arrests the discharge of feed when idle. The screw is secured on a drive shaft 23 which is coupled to a drive motor 24 through a speed reducing coupling 25.
The outlet of the cylindrical tube 20 is connected to an outlet pipe 26 to which is coupled any suitable conveyor pipe~ such as 27 schematically illustrated in Figure 4, whereby to channel the feed 13 to an appropriate location or feed tray 2~3 located at a convenient position for ~ access by the animal(s~ bcing fed.
~9~
~s shown in Figures 1 and 4 an automatic timer control mechanism constituted by a time clock mechanism ~9 and a time regulating device 30 is provided to operate the motor 24 at predetermined time intervals and for predetermined time periods to thereby control the quantity of feed discharged through the outlet pipe 26 during each of the predetermined time intervals which are preset on the automatic timer control 29. This control device 29 is that commonly known in the art for regulating the power supply to lamps whereby to turn them on and off at pre-determined times in a day. This device 29 feeds the power supply to the electric motor 24 but via a time regulating device 30 which will maintain the power supply for preselected time periods onlyO With the particular embodiment herein described, the reservoir contains appro~imately ~0 pounds of feed. By operating the conveyor screw at a specific speed, for a specific period of time~ a predetermined quantity of feed is delivered. For example 9 a 35 second operation o the screw can deli~er 5 pounds of feed. Therefore, by regulating the time of operation of the motor 249 very pxecise quantity of feed can be delivered to the animal~
A typical application of the automatic feeder is to feed horses which are contained in their stalls and located side-by-side. Depending on the size and health conditions of the horse, a predetermined quantity of feed is fed to each individual horse. It is also important to feed all of the horses at the same time as t~e horses are usually in visual contact w;th neighbouring horses and if a horse was not fed1 this ~ a~s~
would result in the unfed horse exhibiting some madness causing damage to the stall and possible injury to the horse. ~lso, in such larye animal enclosures there may be contained several stalls and it can be seen that with the present invention all of these stalls can ~e equipped with a device 10 to deliver individual quantities and cornpositions of feed simultaneously to each stall, which was heretofore impossible with the prior art devices known.
The housing 11 can be constructed of stainless steel or plastics material to provide a sanitary enclo-sure and the reservoir 12 is properly sealed by the cover 15 whereby moisture, dust or other foreign matter cannot entar the enclosure to soil or contaminate the feed~ The housing 11 is also provided with attachment flanges 31 whereby to secure the housing against the wall or other support structure.
As shown in Figure 4, the automatic timer control 29 comprises a time cloc~ mechanism coupled to a 24 hour time dial 32. A plurality of presettable contact trip elements 33 are positioned about the dial throuyh a 24 hour period indicator. By presetting these trip elements at different times of the day, power from the electrical connector 34 will be supplied to the output line 35 which is connected to the time regulating device 30. This time regulating device 30 is provided with a dial 36 which is positioned to a preselected time period whereby to pass electrical power to its outlet line 37 for a predetermined period of time onlyD The outlet connection 37 is connected to the mot~r 24 to 35~
cause the operation thereof, as previously described.
In Figure 4~ there is also shown a controller device 3~3 capable of controlling a plurality of animal feeders 10. This controller can be connected directly to the time regulating device 30 of each feeder whereby to connect power thereto at preselected time intervals or else could cut-out one or more of these feeders by activating proper switches~ Thus, it is conceivable that various systems can be arranged for automatic operation and wherein the controller could selectively operate one or more or specific groups of animal feeder devices 10.
It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any obvious modifications of the preferred embodiment described herein, provided such modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.
~ 7 --
Claims (7)
1. An automatic animal feeder comprising a housing defining an enclosed feed reservoir, an inlet opening for receiving feed in said reservoir, an outlet opening, a discharge screw conveyor rotatably driven by a motor, said conveyor screw being located in a cylin-drical tube having an opening in a sidewall thereof, a sleeve coupling said housing outlet opening with said opening in said sidewall of said cylindrical tube housing of said conveyor screw for communicating feed in said reservoir directly on a restricted portion of said conveyor screw whereby said conveyor screw arrests the discharge of feed when idle, an outlet pipe connected to an outlet of said cylindrical tube to discharge said feed at said remote discharge outlet of said tube when said conveyor is rotated, and automatic timer control means for operating said motor at predetermined time intervals and for pre-determined time periods to thereby control the quantity of feed discharged at said remote discharge outlet during each of said time intervals.
2. An automatic animal feeder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said automatic timer control means comprises a time clock mechanism having a presettable contact trip mechanism to cause said motor to operate at different selected time intervals, and a time regulating device to control the period of operation of said motor at said time intervals.
3. An automatic animal feeder as claimed in
3. An automatic animal feeder as claimed in
claim 3 wherein said conveyor screw has a drive shaft, a speed reducing coupling interconnecting said drive shaft with an output shaft of said motor.
4. An automatic animal feeder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing has a hinged door for closing said inlet opening, and gauge means associated with said housing to determine the amount of feed stored in said housing.
5. An automatic animal feeder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing has a cone-shaped bottom wall, said outlet opening being located at the apex of said cone-shaped bottom wall.
6. An automatic animal feeder as claimed in claim 2 wherein there is provided a system comprising a plurality of said housing with feed reservoir, and a controller circuit for selectively operating one or more or specific groups of said automatic timer control means whereby feed is delivered by selected ones of said feeders.
7. An automatic animal feeder as claimed in claim 2 wherein said housing defining a feed reservoir is provided with attachment means to secure said housing at a desired position.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000445277A CA1195192A (en) | 1984-01-13 | 1984-01-13 | Automatic animal feeding device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000445277A CA1195192A (en) | 1984-01-13 | 1984-01-13 | Automatic animal feeding device |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1195192A true CA1195192A (en) | 1985-10-15 |
Family
ID=4126933
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000445277A Expired CA1195192A (en) | 1984-01-13 | 1984-01-13 | Automatic animal feeding device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1195192A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1195085A2 (en) * | 2000-10-04 | 2002-04-10 | Riccardo Riviera | Programmable dispenser for dispensing dry food, particularly for pets and the like |
-
1984
- 1984-01-13 CA CA000445277A patent/CA1195192A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1195085A2 (en) * | 2000-10-04 | 2002-04-10 | Riccardo Riviera | Programmable dispenser for dispensing dry food, particularly for pets and the like |
| EP1195085A3 (en) * | 2000-10-04 | 2002-10-23 | Riccardo Riviera | Programmable dispenser for dispensing dry food, particularly for pets and the like |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEC | Expiry (correction) | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |