GB1278481A - Control systems for supplying feed to animals - Google Patents

Abstract

1278481 Control of animal feed SCIENTIFIC SYSTEMS Ltd 15 June 1970 [22 March 1969] 15160/69 Heading AIM A control system for supplying solid or liquid feed to animals comprises a housing having a plurality of single unit feeding stations (two rows of six stalls with mangers as described) each having an automatic variable feed dispenser, and a control box to control the dispensers wherein animal identification signals produced by selective operation of manually operable push-buttons 42, 45 (Fig. 2) and routed to a matrix of memory devices AA, AB. ., BA, CA.., in a translater 17 (Fig. 1) produce output signals appropriate to the animals feed requirements. Each memory device comprises a variable resistor 43 which is adjusted to represent the food requirement of an individual animal such that on depressing the push-button contacts 42, 45 appropriate to the coding of the animal the variable resistor is connected between the input line 40 and the output line 44. The operative first activates the memory device in the translator 17 appropriate to the animal which enters a feeding station. The master button 10 is then depressed, producing a pulse from the circuit 12 whose amplitude is reduced according to the memory device selected and which is routed through pole 1 of a 12 pole switch 19 (as shown, Fig. 1) through a timer 23 which produces an output pulse whose length depends upon the charge built up on a capacitor. This output signal then operates a relay 25 to energise a feed dispenser in a feeding station appropriate to pole 1 of switch 19. The animals enter the feeding stations sequentially and the feed is supplied sequentially to these stations by simultaneously routing the pulse from the circuit 12 through a delay 13 to an actuator 15 for rotating the rotary switch 19 to the next pole position. A second rotary switch 29 on the same switch shaft 16 may be operated in conjunction with a switch 30 to bi-pass the memory unit and timing circuit such that the relays 25 are held closed for an operativedetermined period in the event of a breakdown in the remaining circuitry. The animal feeding stations are arranged as described in two rows and bulbs 33, 34 connected through a further 12 pole switch 32 on the shaft 16 indicate the row in which feeding is about to be initiated. Changes in feed density are catered for by a timer control circuit 28, and the memory devices may be connected to an automatic milk recorder so that feed rations may vary automatically with milk output. The feed control may alternatively be a fluidic control such as air provided by an exhaust pump used for a vacuum milking machine in the same building. (For Figures see next page)