CA1237348A - Fish feeding systems - Google Patents
Fish feeding systemsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1237348A CA1237348A CA000486509A CA486509A CA1237348A CA 1237348 A CA1237348 A CA 1237348A CA 000486509 A CA000486509 A CA 000486509A CA 486509 A CA486509 A CA 486509A CA 1237348 A CA1237348 A CA 1237348A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- food
- bin
- roller
- carriage
- track
- 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
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 claims abstract description 95
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 37
- 241000251468 Actinopterygii Species 0.000 claims description 23
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000002604 ultrasonography Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003306 harvesting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007373 indentation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005192 partition Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001556 precipitation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000011514 reflex Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005507 spraying Methods 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 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
- A01K61/00—Culture of aquatic animals
- A01K61/80—Feeding devices
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A40/00—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production
- Y02A40/80—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production in fisheries management
- Y02A40/81—Aquaculture, e.g. of fish
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Marine Sciences & Fisheries (AREA)
- Zoology (AREA)
- Animal Husbandry (AREA)
- Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
- Meat, Egg Or Seafood Products (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A food distribution system to provide food to a plurality of locations in a single pass. The system has a track extending over the location. A carriage moves along the track. There are food bins on the carriage.
The carriage is driven along the track to distribute food from each bin. There are controls for the drive and the distribution so that food can be distributed to one or more of the locations in a predetermined pattern.
A food distribution system to provide food to a plurality of locations in a single pass. The system has a track extending over the location. A carriage moves along the track. There are food bins on the carriage.
The carriage is driven along the track to distribute food from each bin. There are controls for the drive and the distribution so that food can be distributed to one or more of the locations in a predetermined pattern.
Description
~37~
This invention relates to a food distribution system to provide food to a plurality of locations in a single pass. In a preferred embodiment the food distri-bution system is for use as a fish feeding system and the locations are fish tanks.
Fish farms play an increasing roll in the har-vesting oE fish. The fish are kept in large tan~s where they grow.
There are very many types of feeders for these tanks. These feeders range from the most simple 'on demand' type gravity feeders to automated, computerized, highly sophisticated systems.
In spite of the wide range of mechanical designs available manual feeding, which is a simple spraying over the surface of dry, semi-dry or moist food, remains the most popular method of fish feeding in fish farms. There are a number of reasons for this. Feeders have to cotnply with many requirements and to work in harsh indoor our outdoor conditions and thus to contend with high moisture, wind, precipitation and low tem-perature. There are different types of feed in terms of moisture content and the size and shape of particles of the feed the feeders are handling. Feed moisture content is particularly important as caking and bridging, par-ticularly when food is moist, is a problem.
~3~3~1~
There are wide ranges of daily doses. The doses range from 0, when the tank is empty or when it is desired to starve the fish for a limited period, to several kilograms per day at a reasonable accuracy of each dose. The number of feeding sessions per each daily dose might fluctuate from three to thirty. The food has to be spread over a very large surface area reasonably slowly. It is important that the fish have sufficient time to take the food before the current washes it away.
The equipment must be reliable, easy to service and must be inexpensive.
The majority of existing feeders are sta-tionary, located over the water surface, and distribute food straight underneath or have means to spread it over a limited area. This means that a fish farm requires a number of feeders at least equal to the number of tanks.
In most cases large tanks are used and two feeders per tank are installed.
There are many disadvantages in this. A large number of feeders means multiple loading and servicing points. There are expensive automation schemes, com~
munication lines, relays and the like equipment. There is also inevitably low electrical reliability because of the number of units and contacts involvedO Another disadvantage of the existing feeders is that the food is distributed rather too fast and over a limited area which ~373~
causes the fish to experience stress during feeding which in turn affects the growth rate.
Furthermore the food discharging operation is not reliable for existing types of foods. Rotation disks, vibrators and pneumatic pistons are used but, with so many feeders at any one farm, the loading operations and service are time consuming and the reliability leaves a great deal to be desired.
Attempts have been made to prove the automatic or mechanical feeding of fish. Examples of patents demonstrating the prior art include United States patents 4,372,252 to Lowry; 4,492,182 to Wensman; 3,523,520 to Evans; 3,526,210 to Burton; 3,786,784 to Dils;
3,477,407 to Loudon; 4,237,820 to Muller; 3,934,038 to Kerr; 2,941,505 to Middlen, 3,113,556 to Jarvis;
742,414 to Hale; 3,587,827 to Schoen; 3,916,833 to Serfling; and 3,913,528 to Rutten.
However it mus~ be noted that applicants' experience is that very few of these devices have attained commercial acceptance.
The present invention seeks to provide a food distribution system free of many of the disadvantages of the prior art. Accordingly the present invention is a food distribution system to provide food to a plurality of locations in a single pass, the system comprising a track extending over the location; a carriage to move ~L~3t73~
along the track; a plurality of elongated food bins on the carriage, drive means to drive the carriage along the track; distribution means to move food from each bin on an elongated front; drive means for the distribu-tion means; control means for the drive and distribution means; whereby food can be distributed to one or more of the locations in a predetermined pattern.
In a preferred embodiment the system is a fish feeding system and the locations are fish tanks.
Aspects of the invention are illustrated, merely by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating a track embodiment of the present invention;
lS Figure 2 is a schematic view illustrating a monorail embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a detail of a carriage illustrating the action of a flat longitudinal food distribution cylinder;
Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 in Figure 3;
Figure 5 illustrates the food distribution area, diagrammati~ally;
Figure 6 is a detail similar to Figure 4 but a food distribution cylinder has compartments;
Figure 7 illustrates the operation of an augur ~L~3~3a~3 type distribution means mostly for mince type food;
Figures 8 to 10 illustrate alternative distri-bution means, namely horizontal conveyor belt, vibrating surface, and piston type; and Figure 11 illustrates the use of a protective enclosure with the system.
The drawings show a food distribution system to provide food to a plurality of locations. In the illustrated embodiment the system is a fish feeding system having a plurality of tanks 2 containing fish.
A virtue of the system is that it can provide food to a plurality of tanks 2 in a single pass. The system comprises a track extending over the location. The track comprises, in Figure 1, spaced apart rails 4 positioned over the tanks 2. There are wheels 6 on a carriage to contact the rails 4. The carriage comprises a simple rectangular frame 8. Food bins 12 are mounted on the carriage. The food bins 12 are simple containers able to receive the food. It is particularly desirable that there be a plurality of food bins 12 on the carriage so that differing foods can be fed to differing tanks, depending on a feeding pattern determined by the farmer.
It is also desirable that the bins be elongated and able to extend across the full width of a tank.
There are drive means to drive the carriage along the track. As illustrated in Figure 1 the drive ~3~73a~
means comprises a carriage electric motor 14 driving the leading wheels 6 through a simple, known drive mechanism that need not be described in detail.
There are control means for the carriage electric mo-tor 14. Such control means, as shown in Figure 1, may comprise a maintained limit switch 102 which is activated by a trip at the end of pass of the carriage and stops motor 14 when the carriage is in a shelter. Switch 102 also activates time programmable devices which trigger the system for the next feeding session.
Each bin 12 has distribution means to move food from the bin. Such means are described in more detail in the ensuing figures. There are drive means to the distribution means. As shown in Figure 3 the drive means comprise an electric motor 16 having a drive shaft 17 engaging with gear wheel 18 mounted on driven shaft 20.
The driven shaft 20 is attached to, and rotates, the food distribution means. The motor and drive means are in casing 22.
There are control means for the distribution drive means. Such control means, as shown in Figure 1, may comprise simple limit switches 26 activated by trips 24. The motors 16 turn, rotating the food distribution means.
It is envisaged ~hat, according to one embodi-~3t73~3 ment, the electric motors 14 and 16 are battery driven, with batteries chargeable by a solar panel 110 while the carriage rests in the shelter.
Figure 2 differs from the embodiment of Figure l by the fact that the track is a monorail 30 with the carriage suspended from -the monorail track 30 through upstanding chassis members 32. As is usual for monorail there is a driven wheel 34, driven by electric motor 36.
The motor 36 drives the carriage along the monorail 30.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4 the food bins 12 useful in the present invention have a front wall 38 and a rear wall 40, sloping downwardly to elongated roller 42, which comprises the food distribution means. There is an inner wall 44, including a pivotal joint 46 so that the lower portion 48 of wall 44 can be moved over the roller 42, by the handle 50, shown in Figure 3, attached to wall portion 48 at side wall 52 of the bin 12. By means of this handle 50, shown in Figure 4, the gap bet-ween the pivotal portion 48 and the roller 42 can be varied, to regulate the rate of food discharge.
In the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4 the food distribution means comprises roller 42 located in the base of each bin 12 and, as indicated above, attached to driven shaft 20. Figures 3 and 4 illustrated a par-ticularly simple, and preferred, method of distributing food in that the edge 54 of lower portion 48 of wall 44 ~3~
is located close to the uppermost point of the roller 42.
The rear wall 40 of the bin 12 contacts the roller 42 below and behind the uppermost point oE the roller 42.
The direction of rotation is shown by the arrow 56.
It is desirable to provide the rear wall 40 with a sealing means, for example, a flexible flap 58, to ensure a good seal against -the shaEt 42. The food can then pass between the space between the wall 48 and the roller 42. However as believed clear Erom Figure 4 the arrangement is such that when the roller 42 is not rotated the food remains in the bin 12, located by the sea] 58. When the roller 42 rotates the food is carried past the wall 48 to drop to the location.
As demonstrated in Figures 3 and 4 the roller 42 may be provided with small indentations 60 to assist in moving the food. Alternatively, and as shown in Figure 6, the roller 42 may be provided with projec-tions 62 to define compartments on the surface of the roller 42 to control the volume of food dropped.
Figure 5 simply indicates the mode of operation according to the present invention. At the start of a location, for e~ample the fish tanks as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the roller 42 starts to rotate as a micro switch 26 is tripped, moving food as shown in Figure 4, to drop it into the fish tank. At the end of the fish tank the trip switch is released, stopping rota-tion of the roller 42. ~ecause of the geome-try as illustrated in Figures 4 and 6, when the roller 42 stops rotating -there is no food supply.
Figure 7 illustrates an alternative method of distributing food from a bin 12. A driven shaft 64 is attached to an augur 66. There is a plurality of outlets 68 in the base of the bin 12. There are sealing means on the augur 66 adjacent each outlet 68. Such sealing means may simple comprise a rotating circular plate 70, attached to the augur. The arrangement in Figure 7 is that the augur 66 receives food from the bin above and moves the food towards outlets 68. The plates 70 on the augur 66 act -to prevent the food moving further along the augur 66 but divert the food through outlets 68.
Figure 8 illustrates further distribution means comprising a movable belt 72 spaced closely below a bin outlet 74. The belt is mounted on rollers 76, at least one of which is driven. When the food reaches the end 78 of the belt 72 it simply falls from the belt, under gra-vity, into the fish tank. It is desirable to provide a doctor edge 80 to remove clinging food from the belt 72.
Figure 9 illustrates a simple embodiment oE the inventionO The distribution means comprises a plate 82 spaced closely below each bin 12 to receive food. There is a vibrator 84 for each plate to shake food off the 3~
plate 82 to a location.
Figure 10 illustrates a distribution means comprising an elongate cylinder 86 formed in the base of a bin 12. The cylinder 86 is divided into compartments 88 by partitions 90. There is a piston 92 in each com-partment and an inlet 94 for each compartment 88 com-municates with the bin 82. An outlet 96 for each compartment 88 is provided in the base of the bin 12 so that the food may move to a location. The pistons 92 are provided with sealing flaps 98 extending from themO In the illustrated embodiment the pistons 92 are on one com-mon connecting rod 100. This rod 100 can be recipro-cated.
Thus retrac-tion of the pistons 92 allows food to enter a compartment 88 through the inlets 94.
Movement of a piston 92 forward, Erom left to right in Figure 10, forces the food from the outlet 96. At the same time the piston 92, and then the sealing member 98, seal off the inlet 94 to prevent food getting behind the piston 92. Food behind the piston would restrict i-ts reciprocation. When a compartment is empty the con-necting rod lOn is mo~ed back Erom right to left in Figure 10, so that the pistons are in the solid line position in Figure 10, the inlets 94 are cleared and the compartments 88 can fill with food ready for the ne~t cycle.
~ ~37~
Thus to operate the apparatus of the present invention the bins are filled with the appxopriate food and power is supplied to the drive motor 14 to drive the carriage along the track. As the carriage approaches each tank 2 a limit switch 26 is activated by a trip 24 to start the food supply. If it is not wished to send food to that tank then the trip 24 at the tank is removed.
The carriage makes a single pass over all the tanks, providing one or more foods or no food to each tank, depending entirely on the program decided upon by the farmer.
It will be appreciated that the mechanical trip system 24, 26, 102 illustra-ted in Figure 1 can be replaced by magnetic trips or the now common pho-toelectric trips 10 and sensors 11 shown in Figure 2.
Figure 11 shows a protective enclosure 104 for the system to receive the system when it is not moving on the track. Such an enclosure may include a refrigerator 106 to ensure that the food is kept fresh. The enclosure 104 has door 108 and may be provided with a solar panel 110 used to charge batteries.
A video camera 112 can be mounted on the carriage so that remote observation of the fish can be carried out. It is also desirable to provide the carriage with means to notify the presence o the system ~373~3 at a location, For example means to irritate the fish to alert them to the fact that they are to feed and thus create unconditioned reflexes. Such means may comprise ultrasound or a powerful light beam as shown diagram-mat.cally at 114.
This invention relates to a food distribution system to provide food to a plurality of locations in a single pass. In a preferred embodiment the food distri-bution system is for use as a fish feeding system and the locations are fish tanks.
Fish farms play an increasing roll in the har-vesting oE fish. The fish are kept in large tan~s where they grow.
There are very many types of feeders for these tanks. These feeders range from the most simple 'on demand' type gravity feeders to automated, computerized, highly sophisticated systems.
In spite of the wide range of mechanical designs available manual feeding, which is a simple spraying over the surface of dry, semi-dry or moist food, remains the most popular method of fish feeding in fish farms. There are a number of reasons for this. Feeders have to cotnply with many requirements and to work in harsh indoor our outdoor conditions and thus to contend with high moisture, wind, precipitation and low tem-perature. There are different types of feed in terms of moisture content and the size and shape of particles of the feed the feeders are handling. Feed moisture content is particularly important as caking and bridging, par-ticularly when food is moist, is a problem.
~3~3~1~
There are wide ranges of daily doses. The doses range from 0, when the tank is empty or when it is desired to starve the fish for a limited period, to several kilograms per day at a reasonable accuracy of each dose. The number of feeding sessions per each daily dose might fluctuate from three to thirty. The food has to be spread over a very large surface area reasonably slowly. It is important that the fish have sufficient time to take the food before the current washes it away.
The equipment must be reliable, easy to service and must be inexpensive.
The majority of existing feeders are sta-tionary, located over the water surface, and distribute food straight underneath or have means to spread it over a limited area. This means that a fish farm requires a number of feeders at least equal to the number of tanks.
In most cases large tanks are used and two feeders per tank are installed.
There are many disadvantages in this. A large number of feeders means multiple loading and servicing points. There are expensive automation schemes, com~
munication lines, relays and the like equipment. There is also inevitably low electrical reliability because of the number of units and contacts involvedO Another disadvantage of the existing feeders is that the food is distributed rather too fast and over a limited area which ~373~
causes the fish to experience stress during feeding which in turn affects the growth rate.
Furthermore the food discharging operation is not reliable for existing types of foods. Rotation disks, vibrators and pneumatic pistons are used but, with so many feeders at any one farm, the loading operations and service are time consuming and the reliability leaves a great deal to be desired.
Attempts have been made to prove the automatic or mechanical feeding of fish. Examples of patents demonstrating the prior art include United States patents 4,372,252 to Lowry; 4,492,182 to Wensman; 3,523,520 to Evans; 3,526,210 to Burton; 3,786,784 to Dils;
3,477,407 to Loudon; 4,237,820 to Muller; 3,934,038 to Kerr; 2,941,505 to Middlen, 3,113,556 to Jarvis;
742,414 to Hale; 3,587,827 to Schoen; 3,916,833 to Serfling; and 3,913,528 to Rutten.
However it mus~ be noted that applicants' experience is that very few of these devices have attained commercial acceptance.
The present invention seeks to provide a food distribution system free of many of the disadvantages of the prior art. Accordingly the present invention is a food distribution system to provide food to a plurality of locations in a single pass, the system comprising a track extending over the location; a carriage to move ~L~3t73~
along the track; a plurality of elongated food bins on the carriage, drive means to drive the carriage along the track; distribution means to move food from each bin on an elongated front; drive means for the distribu-tion means; control means for the drive and distribution means; whereby food can be distributed to one or more of the locations in a predetermined pattern.
In a preferred embodiment the system is a fish feeding system and the locations are fish tanks.
Aspects of the invention are illustrated, merely by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating a track embodiment of the present invention;
lS Figure 2 is a schematic view illustrating a monorail embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a detail of a carriage illustrating the action of a flat longitudinal food distribution cylinder;
Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 in Figure 3;
Figure 5 illustrates the food distribution area, diagrammati~ally;
Figure 6 is a detail similar to Figure 4 but a food distribution cylinder has compartments;
Figure 7 illustrates the operation of an augur ~L~3~3a~3 type distribution means mostly for mince type food;
Figures 8 to 10 illustrate alternative distri-bution means, namely horizontal conveyor belt, vibrating surface, and piston type; and Figure 11 illustrates the use of a protective enclosure with the system.
The drawings show a food distribution system to provide food to a plurality of locations. In the illustrated embodiment the system is a fish feeding system having a plurality of tanks 2 containing fish.
A virtue of the system is that it can provide food to a plurality of tanks 2 in a single pass. The system comprises a track extending over the location. The track comprises, in Figure 1, spaced apart rails 4 positioned over the tanks 2. There are wheels 6 on a carriage to contact the rails 4. The carriage comprises a simple rectangular frame 8. Food bins 12 are mounted on the carriage. The food bins 12 are simple containers able to receive the food. It is particularly desirable that there be a plurality of food bins 12 on the carriage so that differing foods can be fed to differing tanks, depending on a feeding pattern determined by the farmer.
It is also desirable that the bins be elongated and able to extend across the full width of a tank.
There are drive means to drive the carriage along the track. As illustrated in Figure 1 the drive ~3~73a~
means comprises a carriage electric motor 14 driving the leading wheels 6 through a simple, known drive mechanism that need not be described in detail.
There are control means for the carriage electric mo-tor 14. Such control means, as shown in Figure 1, may comprise a maintained limit switch 102 which is activated by a trip at the end of pass of the carriage and stops motor 14 when the carriage is in a shelter. Switch 102 also activates time programmable devices which trigger the system for the next feeding session.
Each bin 12 has distribution means to move food from the bin. Such means are described in more detail in the ensuing figures. There are drive means to the distribution means. As shown in Figure 3 the drive means comprise an electric motor 16 having a drive shaft 17 engaging with gear wheel 18 mounted on driven shaft 20.
The driven shaft 20 is attached to, and rotates, the food distribution means. The motor and drive means are in casing 22.
There are control means for the distribution drive means. Such control means, as shown in Figure 1, may comprise simple limit switches 26 activated by trips 24. The motors 16 turn, rotating the food distribution means.
It is envisaged ~hat, according to one embodi-~3t73~3 ment, the electric motors 14 and 16 are battery driven, with batteries chargeable by a solar panel 110 while the carriage rests in the shelter.
Figure 2 differs from the embodiment of Figure l by the fact that the track is a monorail 30 with the carriage suspended from -the monorail track 30 through upstanding chassis members 32. As is usual for monorail there is a driven wheel 34, driven by electric motor 36.
The motor 36 drives the carriage along the monorail 30.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4 the food bins 12 useful in the present invention have a front wall 38 and a rear wall 40, sloping downwardly to elongated roller 42, which comprises the food distribution means. There is an inner wall 44, including a pivotal joint 46 so that the lower portion 48 of wall 44 can be moved over the roller 42, by the handle 50, shown in Figure 3, attached to wall portion 48 at side wall 52 of the bin 12. By means of this handle 50, shown in Figure 4, the gap bet-ween the pivotal portion 48 and the roller 42 can be varied, to regulate the rate of food discharge.
In the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4 the food distribution means comprises roller 42 located in the base of each bin 12 and, as indicated above, attached to driven shaft 20. Figures 3 and 4 illustrated a par-ticularly simple, and preferred, method of distributing food in that the edge 54 of lower portion 48 of wall 44 ~3~
is located close to the uppermost point of the roller 42.
The rear wall 40 of the bin 12 contacts the roller 42 below and behind the uppermost point oE the roller 42.
The direction of rotation is shown by the arrow 56.
It is desirable to provide the rear wall 40 with a sealing means, for example, a flexible flap 58, to ensure a good seal against -the shaEt 42. The food can then pass between the space between the wall 48 and the roller 42. However as believed clear Erom Figure 4 the arrangement is such that when the roller 42 is not rotated the food remains in the bin 12, located by the sea] 58. When the roller 42 rotates the food is carried past the wall 48 to drop to the location.
As demonstrated in Figures 3 and 4 the roller 42 may be provided with small indentations 60 to assist in moving the food. Alternatively, and as shown in Figure 6, the roller 42 may be provided with projec-tions 62 to define compartments on the surface of the roller 42 to control the volume of food dropped.
Figure 5 simply indicates the mode of operation according to the present invention. At the start of a location, for e~ample the fish tanks as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the roller 42 starts to rotate as a micro switch 26 is tripped, moving food as shown in Figure 4, to drop it into the fish tank. At the end of the fish tank the trip switch is released, stopping rota-tion of the roller 42. ~ecause of the geome-try as illustrated in Figures 4 and 6, when the roller 42 stops rotating -there is no food supply.
Figure 7 illustrates an alternative method of distributing food from a bin 12. A driven shaft 64 is attached to an augur 66. There is a plurality of outlets 68 in the base of the bin 12. There are sealing means on the augur 66 adjacent each outlet 68. Such sealing means may simple comprise a rotating circular plate 70, attached to the augur. The arrangement in Figure 7 is that the augur 66 receives food from the bin above and moves the food towards outlets 68. The plates 70 on the augur 66 act -to prevent the food moving further along the augur 66 but divert the food through outlets 68.
Figure 8 illustrates further distribution means comprising a movable belt 72 spaced closely below a bin outlet 74. The belt is mounted on rollers 76, at least one of which is driven. When the food reaches the end 78 of the belt 72 it simply falls from the belt, under gra-vity, into the fish tank. It is desirable to provide a doctor edge 80 to remove clinging food from the belt 72.
Figure 9 illustrates a simple embodiment oE the inventionO The distribution means comprises a plate 82 spaced closely below each bin 12 to receive food. There is a vibrator 84 for each plate to shake food off the 3~
plate 82 to a location.
Figure 10 illustrates a distribution means comprising an elongate cylinder 86 formed in the base of a bin 12. The cylinder 86 is divided into compartments 88 by partitions 90. There is a piston 92 in each com-partment and an inlet 94 for each compartment 88 com-municates with the bin 82. An outlet 96 for each compartment 88 is provided in the base of the bin 12 so that the food may move to a location. The pistons 92 are provided with sealing flaps 98 extending from themO In the illustrated embodiment the pistons 92 are on one com-mon connecting rod 100. This rod 100 can be recipro-cated.
Thus retrac-tion of the pistons 92 allows food to enter a compartment 88 through the inlets 94.
Movement of a piston 92 forward, Erom left to right in Figure 10, forces the food from the outlet 96. At the same time the piston 92, and then the sealing member 98, seal off the inlet 94 to prevent food getting behind the piston 92. Food behind the piston would restrict i-ts reciprocation. When a compartment is empty the con-necting rod lOn is mo~ed back Erom right to left in Figure 10, so that the pistons are in the solid line position in Figure 10, the inlets 94 are cleared and the compartments 88 can fill with food ready for the ne~t cycle.
~ ~37~
Thus to operate the apparatus of the present invention the bins are filled with the appxopriate food and power is supplied to the drive motor 14 to drive the carriage along the track. As the carriage approaches each tank 2 a limit switch 26 is activated by a trip 24 to start the food supply. If it is not wished to send food to that tank then the trip 24 at the tank is removed.
The carriage makes a single pass over all the tanks, providing one or more foods or no food to each tank, depending entirely on the program decided upon by the farmer.
It will be appreciated that the mechanical trip system 24, 26, 102 illustra-ted in Figure 1 can be replaced by magnetic trips or the now common pho-toelectric trips 10 and sensors 11 shown in Figure 2.
Figure 11 shows a protective enclosure 104 for the system to receive the system when it is not moving on the track. Such an enclosure may include a refrigerator 106 to ensure that the food is kept fresh. The enclosure 104 has door 108 and may be provided with a solar panel 110 used to charge batteries.
A video camera 112 can be mounted on the carriage so that remote observation of the fish can be carried out. It is also desirable to provide the carriage with means to notify the presence o the system ~373~3 at a location, For example means to irritate the fish to alert them to the fact that they are to feed and thus create unconditioned reflexes. Such means may comprise ultrasound or a powerful light beam as shown diagram-mat.cally at 114.
Claims (23)
1. A food distribution system to provide food to a plurality of locations in a single pass, the system comprising:
a track extending over the location;
a carriage to move along the track;
a plurality of food bins on the carriage;
drive means to drive the carriage along the track;
distribution means to move food from each bin;
drive means for the distribution means;
control means for the drive means;
control means for the distribution means whereby food can be distributed to one or more of the locations in a predetermined pattern.
a track extending over the location;
a carriage to move along the track;
a plurality of food bins on the carriage;
drive means to drive the carriage along the track;
distribution means to move food from each bin;
drive means for the distribution means;
control means for the drive means;
control means for the distribution means whereby food can be distributed to one or more of the locations in a predetermined pattern.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the system is a fish feeding system and the locations are fish tanks.
3. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the track is a monorail with the carriage suspended from the monorail track.
4. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the track comprises two rails, positioned above the loca-tion and wheels on the carriage to contact the rail.
5. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the food bins include adjustable means to vary the clearance between the wall and the distribution means and thus regulate the rate of food discharge.
6. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the distribution means comprises an elongated roller located in the base of each bin.
7. A system as claimed in claim 6 in which the uppermost point of the elongated roller is located close to the edge of the lower adjustable portion of the bin wall at a discharging outlet creating a clearance through which food can pass to a location when the roller rotates whereby when the roller is not rotated the food tends to remain in the bin.
8. A system as claimed in claim 6 in which the bin wall opposite to the discharging outlet contacts the roller by means of a sealing arrangement whereby the said sealing arrangement holds the food in the bin and cleans the roller of residues of food which might adhere to the roller.
9. A system as claimed in claim 6 in which the roller is formed with projections to define compart-ments on the surface of the roller to control the volume of food.
10. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the distribution means comprises an augur in the base of each bin;
a plurality of outlets in the base of the bin;
sealing means on the augur adjacent each outlet;
whereby the augur receives food from the bin and moves the food towards multiple outlets, the sealing means on the augur acting to prevent the food moving further along the augur but diverting the food through the outlet.
a plurality of outlets in the base of the bin;
sealing means on the augur adjacent each outlet;
whereby the augur receives food from the bin and moves the food towards multiple outlets, the sealing means on the augur acting to prevent the food moving further along the augur but diverting the food through the outlet.
11. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the distribution means comprises a movable belt, spaced closely below each bin, movement of the belt transporting food to the end of the belt where the food falls from the belt to a location.
12. A system as claimed in claim 11 including a doctor edge to remove food from the belt.
13. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the distribution means comprises a plate spaced closely below each bin to receive food;
vibration means for each plate to shake food off the plate to a location.
vibration means for each plate to shake food off the plate to a location.
14. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the distribution means comprises a cylinder in the base of a bin;
means dividing the cylinder into a plurality of compartments;
a piston received in each compartment;
an inlet for each compartment communicating with the bin;
an outlet for each compartment from which food is provided to a location;
whereby movement of the piston forces food in a compartment from an outlet while covering the inlet of the same compartment;
retraction of the piston uncovering the inlet to allow more food into the compartment, ready to be moved from the outlet by the next stroke of the piston.
means dividing the cylinder into a plurality of compartments;
a piston received in each compartment;
an inlet for each compartment communicating with the bin;
an outlet for each compartment from which food is provided to a location;
whereby movement of the piston forces food in a compartment from an outlet while covering the inlet of the same compartment;
retraction of the piston uncovering the inlet to allow more food into the compartment, ready to be moved from the outlet by the next stroke of the piston.
15. A system as claimed in claim 14 in which the plurality of pistons are on one common connecting rod.
16. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the control means comprises switches for the drive and distribution means;
trips to contact the switches to operate the drive means and the distribution means.
trips to contact the switches to operate the drive means and the distribution means.
17. A system as claimed in claim 16 in which the trip comprises a mechanical abutment associated with a location.
18. A system as claimed in claim 16 in which the trip is magnetically or photo-electrically operated.
19. A system as claimed in claim 1 including a protective enclosure for the system, to receive the system when it is not moving on the track.
20. A system as claimed in claim 19 including a refrigerator and automatically operating door, to keep the food from spoiling.
21. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which a video camera is mounted on the carriage.
22. A system as claimed in claim 1 including means to notify the presence of the system at a location.
23. A system as claimed in claim 22 in which the means to notify is ultrasound or light.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000486509A CA1237348A (en) | 1985-07-09 | 1985-07-09 | Fish feeding systems |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000486509A CA1237348A (en) | 1985-07-09 | 1985-07-09 | Fish feeding systems |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1237348A true CA1237348A (en) | 1988-05-31 |
Family
ID=4130953
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000486509A Expired CA1237348A (en) | 1985-07-09 | 1985-07-09 | Fish feeding systems |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1237348A (en) |
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1989008980A1 (en) * | 1988-03-24 | 1989-10-05 | Alcatel Stk A/S | Feeding plant for fish |
| WO1992014356A2 (en) * | 1991-02-25 | 1992-09-03 | Jack Baczynski | Hatchery for raising and keeping crustaceans and fishes |
| AT501800A1 (en) * | 2005-04-28 | 2006-11-15 | Josef Schaider Privatstiftung | FEEDING DEVICE FOR ANIMALS |
| EP2263452A1 (en) * | 2009-06-16 | 2010-12-22 | TECNIPLAST S.p.A. | Automated system for controlled distribution of substances to animal containment devices in an animal housing facility |
| WO2013058701A1 (en) * | 2011-10-17 | 2013-04-25 | Tommy Lindvall | Transport container and an animal-keeping installation having such a transport container |
| WO2017166014A1 (en) * | 2016-03-28 | 2017-10-05 | 邢皓宇 | Fish feeder |
| WO2021204332A1 (en) * | 2020-04-09 | 2021-10-14 | automation & software Günther Tausch GmbH | Animal feeding device for automatic feeding |
-
1985
- 1985-07-09 CA CA000486509A patent/CA1237348A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1989008980A1 (en) * | 1988-03-24 | 1989-10-05 | Alcatel Stk A/S | Feeding plant for fish |
| WO1992014356A2 (en) * | 1991-02-25 | 1992-09-03 | Jack Baczynski | Hatchery for raising and keeping crustaceans and fishes |
| WO1992014356A3 (en) * | 1991-02-25 | 1992-11-12 | Jack Baczynski | Hatchery for raising and keeping crustaceans and fishes |
| AT501800A1 (en) * | 2005-04-28 | 2006-11-15 | Josef Schaider Privatstiftung | FEEDING DEVICE FOR ANIMALS |
| AT501800B1 (en) * | 2005-04-28 | 2007-05-15 | Josef Schaider Privatstiftung | FEEDING DEVICE FOR ANIMALS |
| EP2263452A1 (en) * | 2009-06-16 | 2010-12-22 | TECNIPLAST S.p.A. | Automated system for controlled distribution of substances to animal containment devices in an animal housing facility |
| US8499719B2 (en) | 2009-06-16 | 2013-08-06 | Tecniplast S.P.A. | Automated system for controlled distribution of substances to animal containment devices in an animal housing facility |
| WO2013058701A1 (en) * | 2011-10-17 | 2013-04-25 | Tommy Lindvall | Transport container and an animal-keeping installation having such a transport container |
| WO2017166014A1 (en) * | 2016-03-28 | 2017-10-05 | 邢皓宇 | Fish feeder |
| WO2021204332A1 (en) * | 2020-04-09 | 2021-10-14 | automation & software Günther Tausch GmbH | Animal feeding device for automatic feeding |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKEX | Expiry |