DK201600433A1 - Feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

A feeding system (2) for feeding animals is disclosed. The feeding system (2) comprises a feeder (4) having a container (6) configured to receive and contain feed (36). The feeder (4) comprises a vertically displaceably mounted feeder plate (8).

Description

Feeder

Field of invention

The present invention relates to a feeding system for feeding animals. More particularly, the present invention relates to a mechanical animal feeding system that is capable of dispensing feed.

Prior art

It is known to apply various electrical animal feeding systems. These systems require an energy source either in the form of a battery or electrical connection to power cables. Therefore, these types of animal feeding systems are not suitable for use in deserted places such as forests. Moreover, these systems are typically associated with a large waste of feed, since the feed normally is spread on the ground where e.g. birds such as Eurasian jays find the feed. Accordingly, there is a need for an alternative animal feeding system that allows for a more targeted feeding e.g. for feeding roe deer or wild boar in a forest, without "wasting" the feed on birds.

Several mechanical animal feeding systems have been developed. One drawback of these animal feeding systems is that the feed is eaten by birds or that the animal feeding system is not strong enough to resist/tolerate impact from large animals such as wild boars.

Thus, there is a need for an alternative animal feeding system which reduces or even eliminates the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an animal feeding system that is strong enough to resist/tolerate impact from large animals such as wild boars and at the same time is capable of feeding large animals such as roe deer or wild boar without feeding birds.

Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention can be achieved by a feeding system as defined in claim 1. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent sub-claims, explained in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The feeding system according to the invention is a feeding system for feeding animals, wherein the feeding system comprises a feeder having a container configured to receive and contain feed, wherein the feeder is configured to be arranged in a distance above ground level, wherein the feeder comprises a vertically displaceably mounted feeder plate.

Hereby, it is possible to provide a feeding system that is strong enough to resist/tolerate impact from large animals such as wild boars and at the same time is capable of feeding large animals such as roe deer or wild boars without feeding birds.

The feeding system comprises a feeder having a container configured to receive and contain feed. The container may have any suitable geometry and size and be made of any suitable material including plastic, metal and wood. The container may be plastic drum having an open head. The container may be barrel-shaped.

The feeder is configured to be arranged in a distance above ground level. Hereby, the animal feeding system allows for a targeted feeding of roe deer or wild boars in a forest without "wasting" the feed on birds. The feeder may be arranged on any suitable arrangement configured to provide the feeder in a distance above ground level.

The feeder comprises a vertically displaceably mounted feeder plate. This feeder plate may have any suitable size and shape. The feeder plate is configured to receive feed from the container and allow feed to be dispensed to the ground upon displacement of the feeder plate. Hereby, a large animal such as a wild boar or a roe deer can displace a portion of the feeder plate by applying a force towards it. Feed will fall onto the ground upon such action, either due to the vibration or due to gravity if the feeder plate is inclined relative to horizontal.

The feeding system comprises very few parts and no parts that require service on a frequent basis. Accordingly, the feeding system is suitable for being used in cold areas, in rainy areas and in areas with large temperature fluctuations.

It may be an advantage that the feeder comprises a dispensing arrangement provided in the lower end of the feeder, wherein the feeder plate is moveably attached to the container, wherein the feeder comprises adjustment members configured to adjust the vertical position of the feeder plate with respect to the container.

Hereby, it is possible to adjust the dispensing rate (the time specific quantity of feed dispensed by the feeder) by adjusting the vertical position of the feeder plate with respect to the container.

Furthermore, by adjusting the vertical position of the feeder plate with respect to the container, it is possible to reduce the distance between the container and the feeder plate. Accordingly, birds can be prevented from having access the feed. Therefore, the feeder is capable of feeding large animals such as roe deer or wild boars without feeding birds.

It may be beneficial that the container comprises a bottom portion provided with an opening. Hereby, the feed in the container can be dispensed through the opening. The opening may have any suitable size and geometry. It may be an advantage that the opening is circular.

It may be advantageous that the bottom portion of the container is formed as a basically horizontal plate member. Hereby, it is possible to use the bottom portion of the container as a stop member that can be used to attach a plate structure arranged in the container to the bottom portion of the container.

It may be an advantage that the feeder comprises an upper plate configured to be arranged in the container on the top surface of the bottom portion. Hereby, it is possible to apply the upper plate as a mounting structure for attachment of a dispensing arrangement. If the container is made out of plastic, an upper plate made in a harder material (e.g. metal) will increase the strength of the feeder and allow for attachment of a large (heavy) dispensing arrangement.

It may be beneficial that the upper plate is provided with a plurality of holes configured to receive rods.

Hereby, it is possible to attach a dispensing arrangement to the container in an easy manner. Moreover, it is possible to attach the dispensing arrangement to the container by simple mechanical structures (treaded rods and corresponding nuts/threaded bores) that reduce or even eliminate the need for service.

It may be an advantage that the upper plate is provided with structures having an inner thread configured to receive a structure having a corresponding threaded geometry.

Hereby, it is possible to attach the dispensing arrangement to the container by using bolts or treaded rods. Accordingly, the need for service is reduced or even eliminated.

The structure may be a nut attached to the upper plate. Alternatively, the structure may be a hole formed as a threaded bore.

It may be advantageous that the feeder comprises an intermediate plate provided with an opening for providing access for feed to pass through the opening.

Hereby, the intermediate plate may be used to control the feed dispensing speed and to prevent birds from having access to the feed.

It may be an advantage that the intermediate plate is displaceably mounted to the upper plate.

In one embodiment according to the invention, the intermediate plate is displaceably mounted to the upper plate by means of threaded rods or bolts attached to the upper plate, wherein the intermediate plate is configured to be vertically displaced relative with respect to the upper plate by rotation of nuts (e.g. wing nuts).

It may be beneficial that the portion is configured to prevent water from accessing the feed, wherein the intermediate plate is arranged below the bottom portion of the container.

Hereby, the feed is protected from rain, snow, hailstone and sleet and the durability of the feed can be prolonged.

It may be an advantage that the intermediate plate comprises a portion configured to prevent water from accessing the feed, wherein this portion is provided at the periphery of the intermediate plate, wherein this portion is formed as a bend portion.

Hereby the feed is protected from rain, snow, hailstone and sleet in an easy manner. Water on the top surface of the intermediate plate will drip off the intermediate plate due to the bend portion.

It is an advantage that the width of the intermediate plate is larger than the width of the feeding plate.

It may be advantageous that the intermediate plate comprises one or more plate members provided with holes and rod members extending through the holes.

Hereby, it is possible to attach the intermediate plate to the upper plate in an easy and simple way that does not require service. Furthermore, the stability of the feeding system can be improved.

It may be beneficial that the intermediate plate comprises two basically parallel elongated plate members.

Hereby, it is possible to attach the intermediate plate to an upper plate arranged above the intermediate plate by inserting rod members or bolts through holes in the elongated plate members and through corresponding holes provided in a rectangular-shaped upper plate, wherein the holes in the rectangular-shaped upper plate are provided along one side of the rectangular-shaped upper plate.

It may be beneficial that the feeder plate is configured to be brought into an inclined position with respect to horizontal upon displacement of one portion of the feeder plate.

Hereby a large animal such as a wild boar or a roe deer can displace a portion of the feeder plate and hereby bring it into an inclined orientation with respect to horizontal. Accordingly, feed will fall onto the ground and be accessible to the animal. At the same time, birds will not be able to access the feed, and birds will not be capable of displacing a portion of the feeder plate in order to bring it into an inclined orientation with respect to horizontal.

It may be an advantage that the feeder plate is horizontally oriented when no external force is applied to the feeder plate. Hereby is achieved that no feed is dispensed as long as no external force is applied to the feeder plate.

It may be beneficial that the container is provided with an opening in the top portion of the container, wherein a cover member configured to close and cover the top portion of the container is attached to the top portion of the container.

Hereby, it is possible to fill feed into the container in a fast and easy manner simply be removing the cover member. When attached to the top portion of the container, the cover member will protect the container from rain, snow and hailstone.

It may be beneficial that the intermediate plate is ring-shaped and comprises two parallel plate members each provided with two holes configured to receive rod members for attaching the intermediate plate to the upper plate.

It may be advantageous that the feeding system comprises a stand for mounting the feeder.

Hereby the feeder can be arranged in a distance above ground level. Accordingly, the feeder can be targeted for feeding large animals such as roe deer or wild boars and facilitate their access to the feeding plate. It may be an advantage that the stand comprises three support legs.

Hereby it is possible to provide a stable stand in an easy manner.

Description of the Drawings

The invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below. The accompanying drawings are given by way of illustration only, and thus, they are not limitative of the present invention. In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a feeder system according to the invention;

Fig. 2A shows a schematic perspective cutaway top view of a feeder according to the invention;

Fig. 2B shows a perspective bottom view of the feeder shown in Fig. 2A;

Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a feeder according to the invention;

Fig. 4A shows a section of the lower portion of a container configured to contain feed;

Fig. 4B shows the container shown in Fig. 4A;

Fig. 4C shows the container 6 shown in Fig. 4A and in Fig. 4B in a configuration in which an intermediate plate is arranged under the bottom portion of the container;

Fig. 5A shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the lower portion of a feeder according to the invention in a configuration in which the lower feeding plate is horizontally orientated;

Fig. 5B shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the feeder shown in Fig. 5A in a configuration in which the lower feeding plate is inclined with respect to the horizontally direction and

Fig. 6 shows a schematic exploded view of a feeder according to the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

Referring now in detail to the drawings for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention, a feeder system 2 of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a feeder system 2 according to the invention. The feeder system 2 comprises a feeder 4 that is suspended on a stand 42 having three legs 28, 28', 28" and a top portion 34 arranged on the top or the legs 28, 28', 28". The feeder 4 comprises a basically cylindrical container 6 covered with a cover member 26 in the top portion. A C-shaped suspension device 30 is attached to the upper portion of the container 6. A chain 32 is attached to the suspension device 30 and the top portion 34. A feeding plate 8 is provided below the lower open portion of the container 6. The feeding plate 8 is configured to receive feed 36 from the container 6.

When the feeding plate 8 is displaced along the longitudinal axis X of the container 6 feed 36 is dispensed through the open end of the container 6.

The container is configured to receive feed 36 through the top portion of the container 6. By removing the cover member 26, it is possible to fill more feed into the container 6.

Fig. 2A illustrates a schematic perspective cutaway top view of a feeder 4 according to the invention, whereas Fig. 2B illustrates a perspective bottom view of the feeder 4 shown in Fig. 2A. The feeder 4 comprises a container 6 configured to contain feed. The container 6 has a bottom portion 12 provided with an opening 24. Feed can be dispensed through this opening 24. A dispensing arrangement is, however, provided in the lower end of the feeder 4 in order to ensure that the feeder 4 dispenses the feed in an appropriate manner.

The dispensing arrangement comprises an upper plate 14 having a rectangular shape. An opening is provided in the upper plate 14. Two threaded rods 16, 16' are provided in each of the four outer corners of the plate 14. The outermost rods 16' are attached by means of outer nuts 18', whereas the inner threads 16 are attached by means of inner nuts 18. As shown in Fig. 4A, the outer nuts 18' may be fixed to the upper side of the upper plate 14. The outer nuts 18' may be welded to the upper plate 14 if the upper plate is a metal plate. Alternatively, the outer nuts 18' may be glued to the upper plate or attached to the upper plate by other fastening means.

An intermediate plate 10 provided with two parallel elongated plate members 22, 22' is arranged below the bottom portion 12. The intermediate plate 10 is attached by means of the four threaded inner rods 16 and four corresponding nuts 20 attached to the inner rods 16 at the bottom side of the intermediate plate 10. The four threaded inner rods 16 extend through holes provided in the elongated plate members 22, 22' of the intermediate plate 10. A lower feeding plate 8 is arranged below the intermediate plate 10. The lower feeding plate 8 is moveably mounted with respect to the container 4 by means of the four outermost rods 16' and the four corresponding nuts 20' attached to the outermost rods 16'. The nuts 20' are screwed onto the distal portion of the outermost rods 16'. By rotation of the nuts 20, it is possible to displace the nuts 20' along the length of the outermost rods 16'. Hereby, the vertical position of the feeding plate 8 can be changed. Accordingly, it is possible to change the distance between the feeding plate 8 and the intermediate plate 10 simply by rotation of the nuts 20'. It is possible to apply nuts (not shown) that can be rotated without tools, e.g. wing nuts.

The two sets of threaded rods 16, 16' extend parallel to each other. The outermost rods 16' are slightly longer than the innermost rods 16, because the outermost rods 16' are used for suspension of the feeding plate 8.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a feeder 4 according to the invention. The feeder 4 comprises a container 6 filled with feed 36. The container 6 has a bottom portion 12 provided with an opening (not shown in Fig. 3). Feed 36 can be dispensed through this opening and fall down onto a feeding plate 8 arranged below the intermediate plate 10. The lower feeding plate 8 is moveably mounted to the outermost rods 16' by means of nuts 20'.

Since the nuts 20' are screwed onto the distal portion of the outermost rods 16', it is possible to displace the nuts 20' along the length of the outermost rods 16' by turning the nuts 20. Accordingly, the vertical position of the feeding plate 8 can be changed. Therefore, it is possible to change the distance D between the feeding plate 8 and the intermediate plate 10 simply by turning the nuts 20'. The nuts 20' may be replaced by wing nuts or other nuts that can be rotated without tools.

The feeder 4 comprises a dispensing arrangement provided in the lower end of the feeder 4 in order to ensure that the feeder 4 dispenses the feed 36, 36' in a controllable manner.

The dispensing arrangement comprises an upper plate 14 provided with an opening (not shown). Threaded rods 16, 16' are provided in the plate 14. The outermost rods 16' are attached by means of outer nuts 18' and the inner threads 16 are attached by means of inner nuts 18. In one embodiment according to the invention, the outer nuts 18' are welded or glued to the upper plate 14.

An intermediate plate 10 is arranged below the upper plate 12. The intermediate plate 10 is attached by means of threaded inner rods 16 and corresponding nuts 20 attached to the inner rods 16 at the bottom side of the intermediate plate 10. The threaded inner rods 16 extend through holes provided in the intermediate plate 10. The intermediate plate 10 is provided with a bend portion 38 configured to prevent water from accessing the feed 36. Water on the top surface of the intermediate plate 10 will drip off the intermediate plate 10 due to the bend portion 38.

It can be seen that the two sets of threaded rods 16, 16' extend parallel to each other and that the outermost rods 16' are slightly longer than the innermost rods 16 since the outermost rods 16' are used for suspension of the feeding plate 8.

By tilting the feeding plate 8, the feed 3636 from the feeding plate 8 will fall to the ground. Accordingly, when arranged in a forest, the feeder 4 can be used for feeding wild boars, roe deer and other animals capable of pushing the feeding plate 8 in order to tilt it.

Fig. 4 illustrates three schematic perspective cutaway top views of a feeder 4 according to the invention being assembled. Fig. 4A shows a section of the lower portion of a container 6 configured to contain feed. The container 6 has a bottom portion 12 provided with an opening 24 for allowing feed to be dispensed.

An upper plate 14 having a square periphery is arranged on the upper surface of the bottom portion 12 of the container 6. A nut 18' is provided in each corner of the upper plate 14. A hole 40 is provided in each corner region of the upper plate 14.

Fig. 4B shows the container 6 shown in Fig. 4A. The container 6 has a bottom portion 12 provided with an opening 24 for allowing feed to be dispensed through the opening 24. Four threaded inner rods 16 are attached to the nuts 18' fixed to the upper plate 14. Instead of threaded nuts 18', it is possible to provide the upper plate 14 with threaded bores configured to receive the threaded inner rods 16.

The threaded inner rods 16 are screwed into the nuts 18'. Four outer rods 16' have received corresponding nuts 18' arranged on the top surface of the upper plate 14.

Fig. 4C shows the container 6 shown in Fig. 4A and in Fig. 4B. In Fig. 4C, an intermediate plate 10 is arranged under the bottom portion 12 of the container 6. A feeding plate 8 is arranged below the intermediate plate 10. The feeding plate 8 is moveably mounted to the threaded rods and nuts attached thereto (see Fig. 2A, Fig. 2B and Fig. 3). The intermediate plate 10 is moveably mounted to the threaded rods and nuts attached thereto (see Fig. 2A, Fig. 2B and Fig. 3).

Fig. 5A illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of the lower portion of a feeder 4 according to the invention in a configuration in which the lower feeding plate 8 is horizontally orientated. Fig. 5B illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of the feeder 4 shown in Fig. 5A in a configuration in which the lower feeding plate 8 is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction.

In Fig. 5A, it can be seen that the feeder 4 comprises a container 6 filled with feed 36. The container 6 is provided with a bottom portion having an opening (see Fig. 6) configured to allow feed 36 to be dispensed. Feed 36 that passes through this opening will fall down onto the feeding plate 8 arranged below the intermediate plate 10.

In Fig. 5B, a force F is applied towards the feeding plate 8. Since the lower feeding plate 8 is moveably mounted to the outermost rods 16' by means of nuts 20', the right portion of the feeding plate 8 is moved upwards due to the applied force F. Therefore, the distance between the right portion of the feeding plate 8 and the intermediate plate 10 is reduced. Accordingly, a non-zero angle a is introduced between the feeding plate 8 and the horizontal direction. Thus, the feed 36' will fall down from the feeding plate 8.

Fig. 6 illustrates a schematic exploded view of a feeder 4 according to the invention. The feeder 4 comprises a container 6 having a bottom portion 12 provided with an opening 24 for allowing feed to be dispensed through the opening 24. Four holes 40" are provided in the bottom portion 12.

An upper plate 14 is arranged below the container 6. The upper plate 14 is square and has a centrally arranged square 24'. Four outer holes 40' and four inner holes 40 are provided in the upper plate 14. Four nuts 18' are attached to the upper surface of the upper plate 14. These nuts 18' are arranged and configured to allow threaded rods 16' to be inserted through the outer holes 40' in the upper plate 14 and to be screwed into the nuts 18'. Instead of threaded nuts 18', it is possible to provide the upper plate 14 with threaded bores configured to receive the threaded inner rods 16.

The upper plate 14 is intended to be arranged inside the container 6 above the bottom portion 12 of the container 6. The upper plate 14 may be inserted into the container 6 through the top portion of the container 6. In one embodiment according to the invention, the container 6 is provided with a cover member 26 covering the top portion of the container 6 (see Fig. 1).

Below the upper plate 14, an intermediate plate 10 is arranged. The intermediate plate 10'is provided with two parallel elongated plate members 22, 22'. The intermediate plate 10 is configured to be displaceably attached to the upper plate 14 by means of the four threaded inner rods 16 and four corresponding nuts 20 attached to the inner rods 16 at the bottom side of the intermediate plate 10, and four corresponding nuts (see Fig. 2A, Fig. 2B and Fig. 3) attached to the top portion of the inner rods 16 inserted through the holes 40. A circular feeding plate 8 is arranged below the intermediate plate 10. The feeding plate 8 is configured to be moveably mounted to threaded rods 16' and nuts 20' attached thereto. The threaded rods 16' are configured to be inserted through the outer holes 40' in the upper plate 14.

List of reference numerals 2 Feeding system 4 Feeder 6 Container 8 Plate 10 Plate 12 Bottom portion 14 Plate 16, 16' Threaded rod 18, 18' Nut 20, 20' Nut 22, 22' Elongated plate member 24, 24' Opening 26 Cover member 28, 28', 28" Leg 30 Suspension device 32 Attachment member 34 Top portion 36, 36' Feed 38 Bend portion (drip off structure) 40, 40', 40" Hole 42 Stand X Longitudinal axis a Angle F Force

Claims (15)

1. A feeding system (2) for feeding animals, wherein the feeding system (2) comprises a feeder (4) having a container (6) configured to receive and contain feed (36), wherein the feeder (4) is configured to be arranged in a distance above ground level, characterised in that the feeder (4) comprises a vertically displaceably mounted feeder plate (8).

2. A feeding system (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the feeder (4) comprises a dispensing arrangement provided in the lower end of the feeder (4), wherein the feeder plate (8) is moveably attached to the container (6), wherein the feeder (4) comprises adjustment members (20') configured to adjust the vertical position of the feeder plate (8) with respect to the container (6).

3. A feeding system (2) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the container (6) comprises a bottom portion (12) provided with an opening (24).

4. A feeding system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the feeder (4) comprises an upper plate (14) configured to be arranged in the container (6) on the top surface of the bottom portion (12).

5. A feeding system (2) according to claim 4, characterised in that the upper plate (14) is provided with a plurality of holes (40, 40') configured to receive rods (16, 16').

6. A feeding system (2) according to claim 5, characterised in that the upper plate (14) is provided with structures (18') having an inner thread configured to receive a structure (16, 16') having a corresponding threaded geometry.

7. A feeding system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the feeder (4) comprises an intermediate plate (10) provided with an opening for providing access for feed to pass through the opening.

8. A feeding system (2) according to claim 7, characterised in that the portion (38) is configured to prevent water from accessing the feed (36), wherein the intermediate plate (10) is arranged below the bottom portion (12) of the container (6).

9. A feeding system (2) according to claim 8, characterised in that the intermediate plate (10) comprises a portion (38) configured to prevent water from accessing the feed, wherein this portion is provided at the periphery of the intermediate plate (10), wherein this portion is formed as a bend portion (38).

10. A feeding system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the intermediate plate (10) comprises one or more plate members (22, 22') provided with holes and rod members (16) extending through the holes.

11. A feeding system (2) according to one of the preceding claims 8-10, characterised in that the intermediate plate (10) comprises two basically parallel elongated plate members (22, 22').

12. A feeding system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the feeder plate (8) is configured to be brought into an inclined position with respect to horizontal upon displacement of one portion of the feeder plate (8).

13. A feeding system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the container (6) is provided with an opening in the top portion of the container (6), wherein a cover member (26) configured to close and cover the top portion of the container (6) is attached to the top portion of the container (6).

14. A feeding system (2) according to one of the preceding claims 4-13, characterised in that the intermediate plate (10) is ring-shaped and comprises two parallel plate members each provided with two holes configured to receive rod members (16) for attaching the intermediate plate (10) to the upper plate (14).

15. A feeding system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the feeding system (2) comprises a stand (42) for mounting the feeder (4).