FR2617280A1 - Metering system automatically controlled by microcomputer for automatically dispensing foodstuffs and liquid products intended for livestock - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system making it possible automatically to dispense, in battery farming, amounts of liquid foodstuffs which are individualised for each animal. It consists of a cylinder 2 in which a piston 1 is actuated by a jack 8. A stop 13 of variable length limits the top position of the piston 1 and creates a variation in the metering. A screw/nut system 3-4 causes this difference in length of the stop 13 and is driven by a stepper motor 5, itself controlled by a microcomputer. The data necessary for reversing the movement of the piston 1 are emitted by two sensors 10 and 11 specifying the arrival of the jack 8 at its end of travel. Filling of the cylinder 2 is controlled by opening the ball valves 6, and the delivery of the metered quantity obtained by lowering of the mobile block 7.

Description

 The present invention relates to a microcomputer-controlled dosing system for the automatic distribution of feed and liquid products intended for animal husbandry.

 Currently, in industrial farms, the distribution of liquid feed is done manually.

 As the rations vary for each animal according to different criteria, this distribution requires very qualified personnel and, despite this, the dosage remains entirely approximate.

 Inventory management is very difficult and any serious statistics impossible.

The invention aims to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a dispensing dispenser device of a new type, fully automatic, which meets the requirements of modern farming and which allows
- to remove all manual intervention,
- to program the optimal dose for each animal,
- adjust the food ration of sick animals,
- to obtain the assurance of a rigorous automatic dosing,
- to know at all times the state of stocks,
- to establish precise statistics on the consumption and yield index according to breeds, sex, starting weight, etc.

 This new device, of simple construction, particularly reliable, is managed by microcomputer from an ordinary software package easy to use.

 The system is designed for battery farming, the dose it delivers can vary from one animal to another.

 Figure 1 shows schematically in section the system in phase of delivery of a dose. FIG. 2 likewise represents the system in the filling phase.

 The ration is generated by the stroke of a piston (1) in a cylinder (2). The variable length stop (13) limits the high position of the piston creating a metering variation.

 The variation in length of the stop is ensured by a screw-nut system. The screw (3) is driven by a stepping motor (5) controlled by a microcomputer.

 The filling of the chamber (delimited by the piston in the cylinder) is authorized by the opening of the 3 ball valves (6).

 The delivery of the dose is obtained by lowering the cylinder head (7), simultaneously the ball valves close and the piston descends ejecting the liquid to the outside.

 As soon as the piston reaches the low position the cylinder head closes, the valves are then opened again, the piston rises and allows the filling of the next dose, the corresponding capacity of which has been fixed in the meantime by the microcomputer control on stop.

 The machine is ready for a new cycle.

 The piston and cylinder head are driven by two pneumatic cylinders (8) and (9), the compressed air supply of which is ensured by two 5/2 type distributors.

 The information necessary for the progress of the cycle is emitted on the one hand by a sensor (10) signaling the support of the piston on the stop and on the other hand by another sensor called pressure drop (11) specifying the arrival of the cylinder at the end of its travel.

 The screw under the action of the stop compresses a spring and simultaneously actuates a sensor (10) coming to bear on the frame. The piston is therefore stopped on a fixed support.

 The distributors and the stepper motor are controlled by the microcomputer using an electronic interface.

Claims (7)

 1) Metering system for the automatic distribution of feed and liquid products intended for breeding, characterized in that it comprises a cylinder (2) in which a piston (1) is actuated by a jack (8), a stop (13) of variable length, a screw-nut system (3-4), a stepping motor (5), ball valves (6) and a movable yoke (7), allowing the delivery of the dose.  2) System according to claim 1 characterized in that a screw-nut assembly (3-4) ensures the length of the stop (13) to delimit the high position of the piston (1) and create the dosage variation.  3) System according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the screw (3) defining the length of the stop (13) is driven by a stepping motor (5) itself controlled by micro: computer.  4) System according to claims 1, 2 and 3 characterized in that the so-called pressure drop sensor (11) allows the piston (1) to rise and the three ball valves (6) to open, which enables filling of the cylinder (2).  5) System according to the preceding claims taken as a whole characterized in that the sensor (10) signaling the support of the piston on the stop (13) actuates the cylinder (9).  6) System according to the preceding claims taken as a whole characterized in that the jack (9) controls the descent of the movable cylinder head (7).  7) System according to the preceding claims taken as a whole characterized in that simultaneously the ball valves (6) close, the piston (1) descends thus ejecting the dose.