FR2845242A1 - Animal feed distribution system comprises hopper whose base is sealed by plate with central outlet, slide made up of two sections with triangular slot between allowing size of aperture to be controlled - Google Patents

Abstract

The animal feed distribution system comprises a hopper (1) whose base is sealed by a plate (2) with a central outlet (3). A slide (4) made up of two sections (41, 42) with a triangular slot between allows the size of the aperture to be controlled. A motorized carriage (5) below the hopper distributes the feed.

Description

The present invention relates to an automatic dispensing device

  of animal feed allowing to predefine the quantity of feed distributed during each session and, if necessary, to program in time the successive distribution sessions. The present invention is mainly, but not exclusively, intended for the breeding of animals, and its object is to simplify or even automate the daily distribution of food which, depending on the size of the holding and the number of 10 animals to feed, often represents an important task and

monopolizing for the breeder.

  Indeed, at present, food is still often

  distributed manually by the breeder who spreads the adequate ration in a feeder in which the animals can be used as the case may be in a controlled or uncontrolled manner.

  This requires a considerable investment in terms of time

  and organization because the animals must be fed several times a day, and because the rations to be distributed vary each time, both in quantity and in type of food and must moreover correspond to the species, the age and destination of animals.

  On the other hand, in animal husbandry, especially intended for producing meat, animals must be imperatively fed so as to meet strict criteria on the

  plan of the degree of fattening and the percentage of muscle.

  These animals must therefore follow appropriate diets, and it is imperative to be able to precisely control the quantity and the type of food which they ingest daily. Thus, the subject of the present invention is a device 30 making it possible in particular to make the task of distributing food less restrictive for a breeder, by means of automation means of distributing food capable of automatically controlling both the quantity delivered. and when

said distribution takes place.

  The device for distributing animal feed according to the present invention is essentially characterized in that it comprises a hopper for storing and delivering said feed, means making it possible to predefine the quantity of feed delivered during each dispensing session, and means to

  dump said food at selected or pre-programmed times.

  According to an additional characteristic of the device according to the invention, the hopper has at its base an orifice provided with an adjustable shutter making it possible to adapt the size of said orifice according to the quantity of food to be dispensed during a dispensing session . According to another additional characteristic of the device according to the invention, the shutter comprises two symmetrical elements defining a triangular opening on the orifice and capable of being separated or brought closer to one another so as to widen or reduce

the size of said opening.

  According to another additional characteristic, the hopper is placed above a carriage capable of sliding independently of the hopper, and whose movement back and forth, under the action of a motor means, allows according to the case of open or close the hole, and

  whether or not food is spilled.

  According to another additional characteristic of the device according to the invention, the motor means is programmable over time, so as to allow the moments when the food to be predefined.

must be spilled.

  According to another additional characteristic of the device 25 according to the invention, the carriage is connected to the motor means by means of an arm equipped with an elastic connection means

able to realize a depreciation.

  According to another additional characteristic of the device

  according to the invention, that it comprises means making it possible to avoid agglutination of the food in the hopper at the level of the orifice.

  According to another additional characteristic of the device according to the invention, the means making it possible to avoid agglutination consist of a rod articulated integrally by one of its ends to the carriage and passing through the orifice and the hopper, and being able to follow the movement of the carriage for

  facilitate the flow of food.

  The advantages and characteristics of the device according to

  the invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows and which relates to the appended drawing, which represents a mode of

non-limiting realization.

  In the accompanying drawing, the single figure represents a schematic perspective and exploded view of the device according to the invention. As shown, the automatic animal feed distribution device comprises a hopper 1 in which are stored the feed generally in the form of

  pellets or kibbles of variable shape and size.

  The hopper 1 preferably has a volume suitable for

  needs of the breeder, so that the capacity corresponds to the quantity of feed necessary for the number of animals to be fed over a given period of time.

  The device according to the invention further comprises means making it possible to precisely define the quantity of food spilled during each dispensing session, as well as programmable means capable of automatically initiating dispensing sessions at given times, predefined by the breeder or the

owner of animals.

  Thus, this device can be programmed for example on a

  day to regularly deliver food in predetermined quantity to the animals, without requiring each time the intervention of the breeder or the owner.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the hopper 1 for this purpose comprises at its base 2 an orifice 3 provided with a

adjustable shutter 4.

  The latter makes it possible, in a particularly advantageous manner, to adjust the size of the orifice 3 as a function of the desired feed flow rate, and to predefine and control the quantity of food

issued each time.

  As shown schematically, said shutter 4 comprises in this embodiment two symmetrical elements 40 and 41 35 juxtaposed, and articulated one at the other at one end of their junction line on a pivot 42 of vertical axis, so define a triangular opening of variable size,

  according to the angle of separation, above the orifice 3.

  Thus, if one wishes to distribute a small quantity of food, it will suffice to bring the two elements 40 and 41 closer to one another to narrow the opening and obtain a low flow rate. Conversely, to spill a larger quantity, or in the case of larger sized kibbles, we discard said

  two elements 40 and 41 in order to increase the flow.

  Of course, the setting also depends on the size of the food, and there is therefore a minimum flow setting for each food depending on the size thereof. Also, when using a mixture of food, care should be taken to ensure that these do not have too large a difference in size. Furthermore, in order to cause food to spill at programmed times at advance or punctually at times chosen by the breeder, the present device also includes a carriage 5, placed below said hopper 1, and capable of performing a back-and-forth movement below the latter under the action of a motor means, not shown, for positioning in turn 20 apart or vertically from said orifice 3 and respectively the

clear or obstruct it.

  Thus, apart from the food distribution sessions, the carriage 5 is stopped in a rest position directly below the orifice 3, by preventing the spillage of food, then, when it is desired to feed the animals , it suffices to move the carriage 5 to release the orifice 3, the opening of which has been previously adjusted according to the desired flow rate, and allow the

food spills.

  The motor is associated with a time-programmable control means, in order to cause said carriage 5 to move every hour.

chosen by the user.

  Engine operation can be scheduled for a day or a longer period, as required and

everyone's wishes.

  This thus makes it possible to automate in a particularly simple way the various operations of distribution of food, and

  avoid the presence of a person to perform this task.

  It will be noted that the carriage 5 and the motor, not shown, are linked to each other by means of an arm 6, itself mounted

  on the carriage 5 by means of an elastic connection, in this case a spring 7. This spring 7 is intended to absorb the stresses resulting from any difficulties in moving the carriage 5, in particular at closure, due to the presence 10 of food in the hole.

  Thus, when an agglomerate of food blocks the movement of the carriage 5, the spring 7 prevents the motor from mechanical forces

  risking in the long run to cause its deterioration.

  According to another characteristic, intended to limit as much as possible the complexity of the device and consequently its cost, said motor is of very simple design and is designed to operate in only two positions, in which the carriage 5 is brought to

  move either in one direction or in the other direction.

  However, for more sophisticated applications, it may well be envisaged to equip the device according to the invention with a motor capable of driving said carriage 5 so as to make it

  also adopt other, intermediate positions.

  In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the carriage 5 is also of the type capable of sliding on a system of 25 rails 8, which force the carriage 5 to always perform the same trajectory, and therefore contribute to optimizing the operation of the device. Furthermore, in the case of the spillage of food having a relatively large size, of the order of about 1 cm in diameter, approximately 30, one can sometimes observe the formation of a vote resulting

  of the agglomeration of the latter at the orifice 3.

  In order to overcome this drawback, the present device is advantageously provided with means making it possible to break this agglomerate, which consists of a rod 9 articulated on the carriage by one of its 35 ends by means of a ball joint 90, and passing through the orifice 3 as well as the hopper l in which it can move during movement

carriage 5.

  The movement of the rod 9 in the orifice 3 has the effect of facilitating the spillage of the food by unlocking it so that it flows without forming agglomerates which risk blocking the passage.

  As appears from the above description, the

  device according to the present invention greatly facilitates the task

  distribution of food to animals, especially livestock.

  Indeed, it makes it possible to automatically program and cause the various food distribution sessions likely to take place during a given period of time, avoiding repeated human interventions, and respecting food rations, thanks to to the implementation of simple, inexpensive means, the implementation of which remains within the reach of everyone. This device is also inexpensive in energy, since the engine only operates during short distribution periods, which makes it possible to envisage operation on rechargeable batteries,

in isolated places.

  In addition, such a device can be envisaged both for feeding a single animal and for feeding several, by simple adaptations of the volume of the hopper l and of the power of the

motor driving the carriage 5.

  So he can find an outlet as well as part

  smaller operating systems than larger structures 25 which require strong and reliable machinery.

  Although the invention has been described in connection with a few particular embodiments, it is understood that it is in no way limited thereto and that it is possible to make various modifications to it in form, materials and combinations of these. various elements, without departing from the frame and the spirit

of the invention.

Claims (6)

  1) Device for distributing animal feed, characterized in that it comprises a hopper (1) for storing and delivering said food, means (4) making it possible to predefine the quantity of food delivered during each session of 5 distribution, and means (5, 6) for discharging said   foods at selected or pre-programmed times.   2) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the hopper (1) has at its base (2) an orifice (3) provided with an adjustable shutter (4) making it possible to adapt the size of said orifice 10 (3) depending on the amount of food to distribute during a distribution session.   3) Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the shutter (4) comprises two symmetrical elements (40, 41) defining a triangular opening on the orifice (3) and capable of being separated or brought closer one of the other so as to expand or   reduce the size of said opening.   4) Device according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the hopper (1) is placed above a carriage (5) capable of sliding independently of the hopper (1), and 20 whose displacement in back and forth, under the action of a motor means, allows depending on the case to open or close the orifice (3), and the whether or not food is spilled.   ) Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the drive means is programmable over time, so as to allow the predefined times when the food is to be spilled. 6) Device according to claim 4 or claim 5,   characterized in that the carriage (5) is connected to the motor means by means of an arm (6) fitted with elastic connection means (7) capable of producing damping.   7) Device according to any one of claims 4 to 6,   characterized in that it comprises means (9) making it possible to avoid agglutination of food in the hopper (1) at the orifice (3).   8) Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the means for preventing agglutination consist of a rod 5 (9) articulated integrally by one of its ends to the carriage (5) and passing through the orifice (3) and hopper (1), and being able to follow the movement of the carriage (5) to   facilitate the flow of food.