FR2791522A1 - Feeding dish for both young and mature fowls comprises dish with feed tube sliding in adjustment sleeve - Google Patents

Abstract

The feeding dish comprises a dish (1), a central seat (2) projecting into the dish bottom (4), a guide ring (5) and a grille (50) for holding the ring relative to the dish. An adjustment sleeve (8) slides in the ring and two separated longitudinal portions (30,31) with blind housings (34,35,36), integral with the sleeve side wall (32), forming a groove (33) allow adjustment of the distance between the sleeve lower edge (10) and the central seat. A feed tube (14) sliding in the sleeve delimits an annular space. An orifice in the tube provides communication to the tube inside and the annular space. Means (17), such as a hoist, displace the tube. A skirt (18) integral with the tube lower edge (19) forms a valve able to engage the central seat and the adjusting sleeve lower edge. Means (20) gravity feed the tube interior (23).

Description

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  The present invention relates to feeders which are more particularly suitable for feeding young poultry as well as more mature animals, such as chicks, chickens or the like, more particularly by means of solid food but

  having a fluid mass in the form, for example, of granules or the like.

  Such feeders are already known, for example those described in EP-A-0 105

  571, EP-A-0 421 553, EP-A-0 327 302, US-A-S 007 380, US-A-4 527 513, USA-4 552 095,

and FR-A-2,035,663.

  A manger like those described in the previous documents cited above

  above essentially comprises a bowl intended to retain and present the food, a feed tube extending from a conveyor to an end situated above the bowl, this end and the bowl being movable one relative to each other so

  define a passage through which food can flow into the bowl.

  It also includes at least one chick feeding orifice made in the wall of the feeding tube above its end and means making it possible to mask and uncover this orifice so as to allow a flow of the food, when the the chick feeding port is uncovered from the conveyor through an upper inner portion of the feeding tube to exit through the chick feeding port and then fall externally along the feeding tube to to an external zone of the bowl for consumption by relatively immature poultry and, as a variant, to allow a flow of food, when the chick feeding orifice is hidden, from the conveyor, through upper and therefore lower inner portions of the feed tube to pass beyond the end of the feed tube, the end and the bowl defining between e them the feeding port through which food can pass to the inner area of the bowl in view

  consumption by relatively ripe poultry.

  The means making it possible to mask and uncover the chick feeding orifice are essentially constituted by a collar which surrounds the feeding tube in a mobile manner, this collar making it possible to mask and discover alternately the opening of the orifice feeding of chicks in the feeding tube being connected

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  directly to the bowl to allow the feed tube to pass through it with a limited axial movement, so as to simultaneously bring about an uncovering of the opening and the closing of the feeding orifice or else the closing of this opening

and the release of the orifice.

  In addition, the collar comprises a screw cam consisting of a first screw cam element fixed on the collar and a second screw cam element capable of cooperating with the supply tube, so that a relative movement of the first and second screw cam elements causes a modification of the dimensions of the first supply port and a corresponding adjustment of the flow of food passing through the first port

feed.

  Such a feeder theoretically gives good results for feeding, in particular chicks, but does not allow its users to find the right settings between the collar, the feeding tube and the screw cam to obtain, in the bowl, level

  feed required for animals of different ages, from the youngest to the most mature.

  The object of the present invention is therefore to produce a feeder which overcomes the

  disadvantages of the feeders of the prior art described above.

  More specifically, the subject of the present invention is a feeder making it possible to feed animals such as hens, chicks or the like with a fluid food such as granules or the like, characterized in that it comprises: a bowl, a protruding central seat inwardly of the bowl around a first axis substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the bowl substantially in the middle, a substantially cylindrical guide ring around a second axis, means for holding the guide ring relative to the bowl so that it is located above the bowl and the second axis is substantially coincident with the first axis, a generally cylindrical regulating sleeve substantially cylindrical around a third axis, said sleeve being slidably mounted in said guide ring so that the third axis is substantially coincident with the first and second axes, the first end edge dudi t sleeve turned towards the central seat being shaped as a sealing seat, the other second end edge of the regulating sleeve being shaped as a shoulder collar capable of abutting on said guide ring, means for adjusting the distance between the first end edge of the regulating sleeve and the central seat,

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  a fluid feed tube of general shape substantially cylindrical around a fourth axis, said feed tube being slidably mounted in the regulating sleeve so that the fourth axis is substantially coincident with the first, second and third axes , the outer section of the feed tube being smaller than the inner section of the regulating sleeve so as to delimit between them an annular space for the flow of the fluid food, at least one orifice being formed in the wall of the feed tube supply for placing the interior of this supply tube and the annular flow space in communication, controllable means for moving said supply tube along the fourth axis between at least two positions, a skirt integral with the first edge d end of the supply tube turned towards the central seat, said skirt being shaped to form a valve capable of cooperating with the seat ce ntral for a first so-called "low" position of said supply tube, and with the first end edge of the regulating sleeve for a second so-called "high" position of said supply tube 1, and means for feeding by gravity l inside said feed tube

fluid food.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the

  following description given with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of illustration but not at all

  in which: FIG. I represents, in schematic form, in a partially cut away view, an embodiment of a feeder according to the invention, the left part of the figure illustrating the feeder in its configuration making it possible to feed by example of chicks, the right part of this same figure illustrating the feeder in its configuration for feeding hens or the like, FIG. 2 represents, in a schematic sectional view, half of a part of the feeder according to the invention according to the embodiment according to Figure 1, Figure 3 shows, in a perspective view, a possible embodiment of one of the constituent elements of the feeder according to the invention in accordance with the embodiment according to the figures 1 and 2, in this case the element called "sleeve

  regulation "in this description,

  FIG. 4 represents a sectional view of the element represented in FIG. 3, this section being referenced IV-IV in this FIG. 3, FIGS. 5 and 6 represent two views of the element represented in FIGS. 3 and 4, making it possible to explain its operation when using the feeder according to the invention, and FIG. 7 represents, in schematic form making it possible to explain its operation, two different states of the feeder according to the invention in accordance with the mode of embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 6, the left part of the figure illustrating the feeder in its configuration making it possible to feed for example chicks and the right part of the figure illustrating the feeder in its configuration making it possible to feed

hens or the like.

  Figures I to 7 show a same embodiment of a manger according to the invention. Also, the same references designate the same elements there, whatever the figure on which they appear and, if elements are not specifically referenced in one of the figures, their reference can be easily found by referring to another figure. The Applicant also wishes to specify that FIGS. I to 7 represent an embodiment of the object according to the invention but that there may be other embodiments

  that meet the definition of this invention.

  It also specifies that, when, according to the definition of the invention, the object of the invention comprises "at least one" element having a given function, the mode of

  embodiment described may include several of these elements.

  It also specifies that, if the embodiment of the object according to the invention as

  that illustrated contains several elements with identical function and that if, in the description,

  It is not specified that the object according to this invention must necessarily include a particular number of these elements, the object of the invention could be defined as comprising "at

2s minus one "of these.

  This having been specified, the present invention relates to a feeder making it possible to feed poultry of all ages, from the youngest to the most mature, such as gallinaceae, hens, chicks or the like, with a solid food but presenting itself in fluid mass, granules or the like, which therefore has the distinction of flowing by gravitation

like a liquid fluid.

  It should also be noted that, in the present description, the term "hens" must be

  understood as a generic term to designate mature animals of the poultry genus, whatever their sex and breed, hens, roosters, turkeys, guinea fowl, etc., while the

  The term "chicks" refers to young animals of all the genera defined above.

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  The feeder according to the invention comprises, with reference to all of the attached figures, a bowl 1 and a central seat 2 projecting towards the inside of the bowl around a first axis 3 substantially perpendicular to the bottom 4 of the bowl I substantially in

his middle.

  It also includes a guide ring 5 substantially cylindrical around a second axis 7, means 6 for holding the guide ring 5 relative to the bowl I so that it is located above the bowl and the second axis 7 either

  substantially coincident with the first axis 3.

  A regulating sleeve 8 of generally substantially cylindrical shape around a third axis 9 is slidably mounted in the guide ring 5 so that the third axis 9 is substantially coincident with the first and second axes 3, 7. The first edge end 10 of this sleeve facing the central seat 2 is shaped as a sealing seat, the other second end edge 11 of the regulating sleeve being shaped as a shoulder flange 12 capable of abutting on the ring guide 5. Means 13 are provided for adjusting the distance between the first end edge 10 of the

  regulation sleeve 8 and the central seat 2.

  The feeder further comprises a feed tube 14 in fluid food of generally substantially cylindrical shape around a fourth axis 15. This feed tube is slidably mounted in the regulating sleeve 8 so that the fourth axis 15 is substantially coincides with the first, second and third axes 3, 7, 9, and its outer section is very slightly less than the inner section of the regulating sleeve 8 so as to delimit between them an annular space 16 of small thickness, at least one orifice 22 being produced in the wall of the supply tube 14 to communicate the interior

  23 of this feed tube and the annular space 16.

  The feeder also comprises controllable means represented diagrammatically by a pair of arrows 17, for example a hoist or the like, for moving the feed tube 14 along the fourth axis 15 between at least two positions, and a skirt 18 secured to the first edge end 19 of the supply tube 14 which is turned towards the central seat 2, this skirt being shaped to form a valve capable of cooperating with the central seat 2 for a first so-called "low" position of the supply tube, and with the first end edge 10 of the regulating sleeve 8 for a second so-called "high" position of the supply tube. The hoist 17 is mounted in cooperation

  with the second end 21 of the supply tube 14.

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  Finally, means 20 are provided for supplying the interior 23 of the tube by gravitation.

  supply 14 with fluid food.

  In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the means 13 for adjusting the distance between the first end edge 10 of the regulating sleeve 8 and the central seat 2 are constituted, as more particularly illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6, by at at least two longitudinal portions 30, 31 integral with the side wall 32 of the regulating sleeve 8 and forming two extra thicknesses on this side wall, these two longitudinal portions being separated from each other to form a groove 33 of a given width , the two longitudinal portions 30, 31 each comprising blind housings 34, 35, 36, ... opening onto the groove 33, these blind housings being advantageously positioned in staggered rows, and at least one lug 37 integral with the guide ring 5 of a thickness less than the width of the groove 33, this lug 37 being shaped

  to dive into this groove and into the blind housings 34-36 as will be described below

  after. In fact, it is advantageous for the manger to have two pairs of longitudinal portions 30, 3 I to form two diametrically opposite grooves 33, respectively.

  able to cooperate respectively with two lugs 37 integral with the guide ring 5.

  This embodiment, more particularly visible in FIG. 4, allows the forces exerted on the regulating sleeve 8 to be distributed more uniformly when the

manger.

  Preferably, the feeder then also includes stop means 40

  located at each end 41, 42 of the groove 33.

  In an advantageous embodiment, these abutment means 40 are respectively constituted by the flange 12 for a first end 41 of the groove 33 and, for the second end 42 of the groove, by a transverse allowance 43 made on the wall

  side 32 of the regulating sleeve 8.

  However, as more particularly visible in FIGS. 3 and 5, advantageously, the collar 12 closes the groove 33 at its first end 41 while the transverse allowance 43 is located at a distance from the second end 42 of the groove 33 at less equal to the section of the lug 37, so as to delimit an interval 60 to allow the release of the regulating sleeve 8 from the guide ring 5 as it will be

described below.

  Preferably, as illustrated in the figures, the guide ring 5, the supply tube 14 and the regulating sleeve 8 are of a generally cylindrical shape.

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  revolution, the central seat 2 and the skirt I 8 being of a generally conical shape of revolution, by specifying that the skirt is more particularly in the form of a frustoconical surface, the

  small base is integral with the first end 19 of the supply tube 14.

  As illustrated in the figures, the means 6 for holding the guide ring 5 relative to the bowl I so that it is located above the bowl and the second axis 7 is substantially coincident with the first axis 3 are formed by a shelf grid secured, advantageously removably, to the edge 67 of the bowl 1 and the guide ring 5, the space delimited between the shelves being determined so as to allow the

  whole chicks, but only the head and neck of the hens.

  As for the means 20 for supplying the interior 23 of the supply tube 14 with fluid food by gravity, they consist of a conduit 51, one end 52 of which is connected to a source of fluid food (not shown by simplification of the drawings) and the other end 53 of which is connected to the second end 21 of the supply tube 14, and by

  an Archimedes screw 54 rotatably mounted, in a manner known per se, in the duct 51.

  The feeder described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 is used and operates as follows. It is firstly specified that the mounting of such a feeder is carried out in the following manner. The grid and the bowl are separated from each other. The regulating sleeve 8 is slid into the guide ring 5 so that the lug 37 comes opposite the gap 60 delimited between the extra thickness 43 forming a stop and the lower end 42 of the groove 33. It is then subjected to the regulating sleeve a rotation about its axis 9 until the lower end 42 of the groove 33 comes opposite the lug 37, then the regulating sleeve is again slid by translation until , for example, the flange 12 comes to rest on the guide ring 5. The lug is then substantially at the end

upper 41 of groove 33.

  Then, the supply tube 14 is introduced into the regulating sleeve 8 by passing its second end 21 through the first end edge 10 of the sleeve,

  until its second end 21 emerges from the second end 11 of the sleeve.

  The grid 50 is then associated with the edge 67 of the bowl, for example by snap-fastening, in order to obtain a structural configuration like that which is more particularly illustrated.

in figure 1.

  To enable the use of such a feeder for feeding animals such as chicks and chickens, the bowl resting on the ground, the tube g

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  supply 14 is, on the one hand mounted in cooperation with the hoist 17, and on the other hand connected to

  the outlet 53 of the conduit 51 bringing the food.

  When the feeder is intended to feed chicks, the hoist 17 is controlled to lower the feed tube 14 until the skirt 18 comes into contact with the central seat 2, left part of FIGS. 1 and 7. Depending on the size of the chicks, that is to say their age, the user will determine the level 61 of fluid feed 62 necessary for the correct feeding of the chicks concerned, knowing that, with this kind of feeder, the chicks can ride

  in the bowl, directly on the diaper surface, the food contained in the bowl.

  For this, they pass between the rays of the grid 50.

  To obtain this level 61, the user will position the regulating sleeve 8 so that its first end 10 has a predetermined position relative to the bottom 4 of the bowl. The means 13 described above make it possible to obtain a step-by-step movement of the regulating sleeve 8 and therefore the desired predetermined position of its first end 10. For the embodiment according to FIG. 1, there are nine possible positions by relative to the bottom 4 of the bowl 1. For the simplified embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6, the

  regulating sleeve can take six possible positions.

  To give the sleeve the desired determined position, if it is assumed that the lug 37 is initially positioned at the upper end 41 of the groove 33, the user translates the sleeve so that the lug describes the groove until it is opposite the blind housing 34-36 corresponding to the desired position for the sleeve. It then makes the sleeve rotate around its axis 9 to bring the lug

37 in the bottom of the housing.

  FIG. 5 represents the sleeve in its low position since the lug 37 is in contact with the flange 12, as well as the six possible positions for the lug 37, the line in broken lines 63 representing the relative path traveled by the lug passing through the six possible positions when the sleeve passes from its low position to its high position in

  passing successively through the six housings 34-36.

  Figure 6 shows the sleeve in a view at ninety degrees relative to the view according to Figure 5, but in an intermediate position between its low position and its high position, when the lug is for example in the housing blind 36 more

  particularly visible in Figure 5.

  In fact, the Applicant has produced a feeder like that illustrated in the figures in particular 3 and 5 and, in this configuration, it has obtained very good results when

  the pin 37 is in the housing referenced 34.

  In this position, the fluid food flows inside 23 of the feed tube 14 (left part of FIGS. 1 and 7), then passes through the orifice 22 to flow into the bowl I via the annular space 16 and below the end edge 10 of the sleeve 8, the arrows 64 illustrating the path traveled by the fluid food to arrive in the bowl. In known manner, the level 61 of the fluid food 62 in the bowl I is given by the position of the first end edge 10 of the sleeve 8. The user will therefore adapt the position of the

  sleeve according to the level 61 which it will wish to obtain, according to the age of the chicks to feed.

  It should be noted that, in this position, the skirt 18 is in contact with the central seat 2.

  If therefore the bowl is empty of food, the chicks cannot come to get caught under the skirt, nor to enter the annular space 16 given its very thin thickness On the other hand, if such a manger is intended for the feeding of more mature animals, therefore of larger size, such as hens, the user positions the regulating sleeve 8 as described above, then controls the hoist 17 to bring the skirt 18 into contact with the first end edge 10 of the sleeve (right part of Figures I and 7). In this configuration, the fluid food flows into the feed tube 14 to fill the bowl I passing through its lower end 19, between the skirt 18 and the central seat 2, the arrows 68 illustrating the path traveled by the food to arrive in the bowl I. The level 66 of fluid food 62 in the bowl 1 is given indirectly by the position of the lower end 65 of the skirt 18. As this skirt 18 is in contact with the edge of end 19 of the regulating sleeve 8, the position of the sleeve relative to the bowl

  determines the position of level 66 of the fluid food in the bowl.

  In this configuration, it should be noted that the surface of fluid food accessible to the hens is essentially concentrated at the periphery of the bowl, between the edge of the lower end 65 of the skirt and the edge 67 of the bowl, which allows the hens to feed properly, even if they can only pass their head and neck between the

grid shelves.

Claims (9)

  1. Feeder for feeding animals such as hens, chicks or the like with a fluid food such as granules or the like, characterized in that it comprises: a bowl (I), a central seat (2) projecting towards the inside the bowl around a first axis (3) substantially perpendicular to the bottom (4) of the bowl (1) substantially in the middle, a guide ring (5) substantially cylindrical around a second axis (7) , means (6) for holding the guide ring (5) relative to the bowl (1I) so that it is located above the bowl and the second axis (7) is substantially coincident with the first axis (3), a regulating sleeve (8) of generally cylindrical shape around a third axis (9), said sleeve being slidably mounted in said guide ring (5) so that the third axis (9) is substantially coincident with the first and second axes (3, 7), the first extr edge moth (10) of said sleeve turned towards the central seat (2) being shaped as a sealing seat, the other second end edge (11) of the regulating sleeve being shaped as a shoulder flange (12) capable of coming in abutment on said guide ring (5), means (13) for adjusting the distance between the first end edge (10) of the regulating sleeve (8) and the central seat (2), a tube supply (14) of fluid food of generally substantially cylindrical shape around a fourth axis (15), said supply tube being slidably mounted in the regulating sleeve (8) so that the fourth axis (15) is substantially coincident with the first, second and third axes (3, 7, 9), the external section of the supply tube (I4) being very slightly less than the internal section of the regulating sleeve (8) so as to delimit between them a space annular (16) of small thickness, at least one orifice (22) being produced in the wall of the supply tube (14) to communicate the interior (23) of this supply tube and the annular space (16), controllable means (17) for moving said supply tube (14) along the fourth axis (I 5) between at least two positions, Il 1 2791522 a skirt (18) integral with the first end edge (19) of the supply tube (14) which is turned towards the central seat (2), said skirt being shaped to form a valve capable of cooperating with the central seat (2) for a first so-called "low" position of said supply tube, and with the first end edge (I l) the regulating sleeve (8) for a second so-called "high" position of said supply tube, and means (20) for supplying the interior (23) of said tube by gravity   supply (14) of fluid food.   2. Feeder according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (13) for adjusting the distance between the first end edge (10) of the regulating sleeve (8) and the central seat (2) are constituted by at least two longitudinal portions (30, 3 1) integral with the side wall (32) of said control sleeve (8) and forming two thickenings on this side wall, these two longitudinal portions being separated from one another for forming a groove (33) of a given width, the two longitudinal portions (30, 31) each comprising blind housings (34, 35, 36, ...) opening onto said groove (33), these blind housings being positioned staggered, and a lug (37) integral with the guide ring (5) of a thickness less than the width of the groove (33), said lug (37) being shaped to plunge into said groove (33) and into said housing blind (34-36).   3. Feeder according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises   stop means (40) located at each end (41, 42) of said groove.   4. Feeder according to claim 3, characterized in that the stop means (40) located at each end of said groove are respectively constituted by said flange (12) for a first end (41) of the groove (33) and , for the second end (42) of the groove, by a transverse allowance (43) produced on the wall   side (32) of the regulating sleeve (8).   5. Feeder according to claim 4, characterized by said flange (12) closes said groove (33) at its first end (41) while the transverse allowance (43) is located at a distance from the second end (42) of said groove (33) at least equal to the section of said lug (37), so as to allow the release of the regulating sleeve (8) from the guide ring (5). 1 2 12 2791522   6. Feeder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the   guide ring (5), the feed tube (14) and the regulating sleeve (8) are of a generally cylindrical shape of revolution, the central seat (2) and the skirt (18) being of a shape general conical of revolution.   7. Feeder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that   the means (6) for holding the guide ring (5) relative to the bowl (1) so that it is located above the bowl and the second axis (7) is substantially coincident with the first axis ( 3) are constituted by a spoke grid (50) integral with said bowl (1) and the guide ring (5), the space between the spokes being determined so as to allow the chicks to pass in their entirety, but only head and neck of hens   8. Feeder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that   the means (20) for supplying the interior (23) of the fluid food supply tube (14) by gravity are constituted by a conduit (51), one end (52) of which is connected to a source of fluid food and of which the other end (53) is connected to the second end (21) of said supply tube (14), and an Archimedes screw (54) rotatably mounted in said conduit (51).   9. Feeder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that   the controllable means (17) for moving said supply tube (14) along the fourth axis (15) consist of a hoist mounted in cooperation with the second   end (21) of said supply tube (14).