GB2362797A

GB2362797A - Livestock spin feeder

Info

Publication number: GB2362797A
Application number: GB0111130A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ernest Roger Collinson
Original assignee: Collinson & Co Ltd E
Current assignee: Collinson & Co Ltd E
Priority date: 2000-05-09
Filing date: 2001-05-08
Publication date: 2001-12-05
Also published as: GB0111130D0

Abstract

A livestock feeding apparatus comprising a spin feeder incorporating a feed storage means (10) and a rotary feed distribution system (5). In order to avoid the need for multiple feeders, the spin feeder is mounted on a track (18), and means is provided for moving it along the track to allow feed delivery to take place at discrete positions along the track or more preferably whilst the spin feeder is moving along the track. The spin feeder incorporates weighing means (14) and control means to enable a prescribed amount of feed to be distributed at each location or over a prescribed distance. Movement of the feeder along the track is monitored by an incremental sensor that interacts with markers along the track. Where feed is delivered on the move, a micro processor adjusts the speed of traverse to ensure that the desired quantity of feed is delivered over a prescribed distance. A further sensor is provided to signal a datum position of the feeder.

Description

1 Title: Livestock Spin Feed

DESCRIPTION

2362797 The present invention relates to livestock feeding and in particular to so called "spin feeders".

A spin feeder distributes feed by virtue of feed being dispensed onto a spinning disk which imparts centrifugal forces to the feed. The feed is broadcast evenly over a large circular area. Spin feeders are particularly useful for feeding poultry as the feed is scattered over an area of ground and allows the birds to forage for feed in a natural way. They are often used as an alternative to conveyor feeding systems.

Our existing spin feeder has a conical hopper which receives the feed to be dispensed and which leads to a neck which opens onto a spin plate. A shaft extends through the neck of the hopper and carries the spin plate at its lower end. The shaft and hence the spin plate is rotated by an electric motor. The shaft carries a vertical spiral to urge feed towards the neck when the shaft is rotating. The diameter of the spin plate and its velocity determines the broadcast area, whilst the run time determines the volume of feed dispensed.

In one embodiment a free-standing spin feeder is provided with wheels to enable it to be moved manually to any desired location. Feed delivery occurs when the unit is stationary. However, in most applications a plurality of spin feeders are provided at fixed locations and feed is delivered to them by a conveying system from a larger feed store.

Operation of the feeders may be automated in a number of ways to suit individual ..

2 1. 0..:

1 W applications or the operation can be completely manually controlled. The fixed feeders are not readily suited to flexible penning arrangements and the need for several feeders in a typical installation and extensive runs for the feed conveyors increases the cost of installation. The present invention aims to provide a solution.

Furthermore, the fixed nature of the feeders and the feed delivery systems does not readily permit the delivery of a different feed composition at each feed location other than by purging the feed delivery line. EP0933022 discloses a movable feed delivery hopper for feeding pigs M which several different feed constituents are delivered to a feed station and desired pro-portions are dispensed into a feed hopper. The feed hopper is movably mounted on a track whereby feed can be dispensed from the hopper into one or more of a plurality of feed troughs to which the hopper can be moved in turn. By this means different feed compositions can be introduced into the troughs.

The present invention aims to provide a feeding system which permits more flexible feed distribution options whilst retaining the advantages of the spin delivery system. Another aim is to provide a means of controlling the position of the feeder- A yet flirther aim is to provide a means of monitoring and controlling the quantity of feed delivered.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a livestock feeding system comprising a spin feeder incorporating a feed storage means and a rotaxy feed distribution system, and characterised by guide means and drive means by which the spin feeder is moved between at least two feed delivery positions.

The ability to move a single spin feeder under powered control avoids the need for C a plurality of spin feeders and gives rise to numerous delivery options whilst avoiding the 3 need for manually moving a single wheeled feeder. The system is envisaged as an alternative to the multiple feeder installations.

The spin feeder may have in built steering and guidance means. In one embodiment the spin feeder is guided for movement along a track.

More particularly, a feed filling station is provided. The filling station may be at one of the feed delivery stations, but more usually will be a separate location. The feed filling station can be at any convenient location and avoids the need for an extensive feed conveyor system which is required with multiple fixed spin feeder systems. Conveniently, the feed filling station is at one end of the track.

Another aspect of the invention provides a livestock feeding system comprising a spin feeder incorporating a feed storage means and a rotary feed distribution system, and characterised by guide means and drive means by which the spin feeder is moved to a desired feed delivery position from a feed filling station.

For most livestock feeding applications the livestock will be housed within a building and the track is arranged to ran along the length of the building or follow any desired path around the building. The livestock may be housed in discrete pens distributed in the building and the track is arranged to pass through the pens. The filling station is conveniently at one end of the building, although it could be at any other convenient position. The track is preferably an overhead track from which the feeder is suspended. A monorail track is preferred.

The feeder may incorporate a track drive mechanism which may comprise one or more driven wheels controlled by an electric motor. The motor which controls operation of the spin feeder may be used to control movement of the feeder along the track with the 4 provision of suitable gearing and/or selectable drive provisions unless track movement is always to be accompanied by feed delivery. Alternatively and more conveniently, a separate track drive motor is envisaged. The motor may be mains or battery powered. Alternatively, an endless loop drive system or winch type arrangement is employed utilising a drive motor and chain, cable or other suitable drive line to which the spin feeder is attached. Operation of the motor moves the driveline and thereby moves the spin feeder along the track. Wheels or other low friction guide means ensure smooth running along the track.

An electrical connection bus may be provided to convey power to the motor driving the spin disk. This may be part of the track system or a flexible cable may be provided to supply power to the spin plate drive motor and/or the feeder drive motor. Control of the feeding system can be manual or automated to varying degrees according to customer requirements. The spin feeder may incorporate one or more load cells which can be used to determine the quantity of feed loaded into the hopper and the quantity of feed delivered at each delivery position. Conveniently the spin feeder is provided with sensors which detect its position along the track by noting the position of indexing points on the track.

The indexing points may comprise apertures in the track and the sensor may comprise proximity sensors having a light emitter and a light receiver disposed on opposite sides of the track and aligned with the apertures and by which the apertures can be counted and hence the position of the feeder along the link determined. Delivery of feed rnay be arranged to occur when the feeder is stationary or during movement. The latter has the advanta e of providing an even distribution of feed along the path of the feeder and is 9 L:! distinct from the usual circular feed broadcast areas. This can be advantageous in a-voiding flocking. The ability to stop the feeder at any of a plurality of different positions along the livestock enclosure is particularly useful where flexible penning arrangements are C' employed, and where different feed delivery quantities and/or types of feed are required for different pens.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of delivering feed to livestock using a movably mounted spin feeder, the method comprising the steps of:

a) b) C) d) e) computing the quantity of feed in the feed hopper of the spin feeder based on the reading of a pre-calibrated load cell or the-like, prescribing the quantity of feed to be delivered and the distance, in terms of one or more position increments, over which delivery is to take place, computing the rate of traverse of the spin feeder to achieve delivery of the prescribed quantity of feed over the prescribed distance, moving the spin feeder to the position at which. delivery is to commence and commencing feed delivery at the computed rate of traverse, monitoring the feed weight at each position increment after commencement of delivery and re-computing the rate of traverse to achieve delivery over the remaining distance to be traversed and, if necessary, adjusting therate of traverse.

A micro processor control unit is used to control the speed of traverse by controlling an electronic speed controller of a variable speed electric drive motor. The micro processor stores calibration data for the load cells whereby the quantity of feed contained in the hopper can be calculated from the signal received from the load cells. The micro processor can also be programmed with the delivery rate for the spin speed of the 6 feeder. More usually this will be computed by carrying out a set-up routine by which the rate of feed delivery is deduced by measuring the change in weight of the hopper for a actual spin speed measured over a known period of time. Position sensors are used to determine the position of the feed hopper along a track by detecting incremental markers positioned along the track. Programming software enables the user to program in the quantity of feed to be delivered at one or more delivery positions, which 1 positions are programmed in terms of the notation attached to the incremental markers. This provides a feedback loop to ensure that the desired quantity of feed is delivered. It provides a means of compensating for any variation in spin speed and hence the fed delivery rate.

The present invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic side view apparatus embodying the invention, and Figure 2 is a schematic end view looking in the direction of arrow A of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, an elongate track 16 is suspended by means (not illustrated) from a suitable support. The track comprises a generally C-shaped channel which is open to one side. Mounted alongside the channel are one or more cable trays 15. A spin feeder is suspended from the monorail track by two longitudinally spaced wheels 17 one of which is driven by a motor 13, convernently a variable speed motor provided with an electronic speed controller. Altematively the motor may be provided with an electronically controlled variable speed gearbox. The wheels are mounted on a camage 18 from wIiich a body 1 of the spin feeder unit depends. The body incorporates a feed supply hopper 10 with a feed delivery cone 2 leading to a neck which opens onto a spin plaIc 5. A feed delivery auger 9 extends into the hopper and is rotatably mounted with the spin plate 5 7 and is driven from a spinner motor 6 by way of a variable speed gearbox 7 which is mounted to the hopper by way of a mounting plate 4. The feed enters the feed supply hopper by way of a feed input chute 11. An access panel is provided at 3. Two load sensors 14 are provided between the wheels and the main body to enable the quantity of feed contained in the hopper to be determined. The reading of the two load cells is averaged to give the quantity-of feed in the hopper according to calibration data for the load cells. The load cells could be provided in any other convenient location. The track 16 has a lurality of apertures 19 disposed at predetermined intervals along the length of the track, t, typically 50Omm or so apart, and these are used in positioning the spin feeder along the track. A pair of aligned sensors (not illustrated) and disposed to opposite sides of the track in line with the apertures 19 facilitate counting of the apertures and thereby enable the position of the spin feeder to be determined and controlled automatically according to information programmed into a control processor.

In use the spin feeder is moved to a feed filling location (not illustrated) where a desired composition of feed can be delivered into the hopper by way of the feed chute 11. The feed is conveniently supplied from a conveying system. The load sensors can be used to determine when the required quantity of material has been loaded into the hopper. It is convenient if a separate sensor. is provided which is actuated when the feeder is at or approaching the feed filling station. The signal received from this sensor can be used as a check on the position of the feeder on the track. Preferably the sensor is set to trigger when the feeder is approaching the filling station and the signal is used as a trigger for redicing the speed of the feeder. When the position sensor is triggered the feeder stops. The presence of a signal from both sensors denotes that the feeder is at the filling station and 8 nowhere else and can therefore serve as a useful datum point. The spin feeder can then be moved to a desired location by operation of the motor 13. The position to which the feeder is to be moved will be equated to the number of apertures 19 which have to be passed to arrive at the desired location and this can be programmed into the computer controlling movement of the spin feeder. Once at the desired location the motor 6 can be operated to dispense a desired quantity of feed. This can be on a timed basis or can be computed on the basis of the decreasing load as measured by the load sensors 14. The spin feeder may then move on to another location to continue dispensing its contents or return to the filling station to be replenished with feed before moving on to the next dispensing location.

Such an arrangement has the advantage that only one spin feeder is required, any pens containing livestock can be flexibly positioned in the enclosure along which the track extends, and the system offers the ability to deliver different types of feed at each location by a suitable arrangement of feed tubes at the filling station.

In an alternative method of operation dispensing takes place whilst the spin feeder is moving along the track. This is particularly advantageous since it gives an even z> c distribution of feed through out the length of the livestock enclosure. Usually the spin feeder will be set to a fixed spin speed and the traverse speed is varied to ensure that the desired quantity of feed is dispensed. In a preferred method the quantity of feed to be dispensed over a prescribed distance which is represented by a prescribed nurnber of indexing marks, is programmed into a control unit and the weight of feed in the feed hopper measured at the commencement of delivery and periodically thereafter after prescribed distances travelled ( usually corresponding to the intervals of the indexing marks) and the speed adjusted appropriately for the remainmg incremental distances which 9 are to be traversed. For example, where 10kg of feed is to be dispensed between indexing stations 5 to 10, the controller computes that 2kg of feed will have to be dispensed over each interval and computes the traverse speed for the set spin speed to deliver that quantity using delivery data which has been entered for that spin speed. At the next incremental marker the remaining feed weight is measured and the data used by the processor to determine whether 2kg of feed has been delivered and if not the traverse speed adjusted up or down appropriately having regard to the number of increments which still have to be traversed. The computation is repeated for each successive incremental marker,and the speed of traverse adjusted as appropriate.

The feeder will most commonly be used to feed pigs or poultry housed in an enclosed building.

1

Claims

A livestock feeding apparatus comprising a spin feeder incorporating a feed storage means and a rotary feed distribution system, and characterised by guide means and drive means by which the spin feeder is i-noved between at least two feed delivery positions.

2.

A livestock feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the spin feeder is guided for movement along a track.

W 3. A livestock feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 and further compnsing a feed filling station.

C 4. A livestock feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 33 in which the filling station is at a separate location to the feed delivery positions.

5. A livestock feeding apparatus comprising a spin feeder incorporating a feed storage means and a rotary feed distribution system, and characterised by guide means and derive means by which the spin feeder is moved to a desired feed delivery position from a feed filling station.

6. A livestock feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the spin feeder is guided for movement along a track.

11 A livestock feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or 6 in which the track is an overhead track from the feeder is suspended.

8. A livestock feeding apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the spin feeder incorporates a track drive mechanism.

9. A livestock feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which the track drive mechanism comprises one or more driven wheels controlled by an electric motor.

10. A livestock feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which the motor which controls operation of the spin feeder is used to control movement of the feeder along the track.

11. A livestock feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which a separate track drive motor is provided.

12. A livestock feeding apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 in wbch an endless loop drive- system or winch type arrangement is employed to move the spin feeder.

13. A livestock feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which the spin feeder is provided with wheels or other low ffiction guide means to ensure smooth 12 running.

14. A livestock feeding apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and further comprising one or more load cells to determine the quantity of feed ZD loaded into the hopper and/or the quantity of feed delivered at each delivery position.

A livestock feeding apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 when appendent to claim 2 or 7 and further comprising at least one sensor which detects the spin feeder position along the track by noting the position of indexing points on the track.

16. A livestock feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 15 in which the indexing points comprise apertures in the track.

17. A livestock feedmg apparatus as claimed in claim 16 in which the sensors comprise a proximity sensor having a light emitter and a light receiver disposed on opposite sides of the track and aligned with the apertures and by which the apertures can be counted and hence the position of the feeder alone, the track determined.

18. A livestock feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 15, 16 or 17 and compinsing a further sensor which operates to signal a specific location of the spin feeder.

13 19. A livestock feeding apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims m which delivery of feed is arranged to occur when the feeder is stationary.

20. A livestock feeding apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which delivery of feed is arranged to occur during movement of the spin feeder.

21.

c) A livestock feeding apparatus as constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with referenceto and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

A method of delivering feed to livestock using a movably mounted spin feeder, the method comprising the steps ofcomputing the quantity of feed in the feed hopper of the spin feeder based on the reading of a precalibrated load cell or the like, b) prescribing the quantity of feed to be delivered and the distance, in terms of one or more position increments, over which delivery is to take place, computing the rate of traverse of the spin feeder to achieve delivery of the prescribed quantity of feed over the proscribed distance, moving the spin feeder to the position at which delivery is to zn 14 commence and commencing feed delivery at the computed rate of traverse.

c) monitoring the feed weight at each position increment after commencement of delivery and re-computing the rate of traverse W to achieve delivery over the remaining distance to be traversed and, if necessary, adjusting the rate of traverse.

2 3. A method as claimed in claim 22 in which a micro processor control unit is used to control the speed of traverse by controlling an electronic speed controller of a variable speed electric dn-,,,e motor.

24. A method as claimed in claim 22 in which a micro processor stores calibration data for the load cells whereby the quantity of feed contained in the hopper can be calculated from the sigmal received from the load cells.

25. A method as claimed in claim 22, in which a micro processor is programmed with the delivery rate for the spin speed of the feeder.

26. A method as claimed in claim 25 in which the rate of feed delivery is deduced by measuring the change in weight of the hopper for an actual spin speed measured over a knoAn period of time.

27. A method as claimed in claim 26 in which at least one position sensor is used to k determine the position of the feed hopper along a track by detecting incremental markers positioned along the track.

28. A method as claimed in claim 27 in which programming software enables the user to program in the quantity of feed to be delivered at one or more delivery positions, which positions are programmed in terms of the notation attached to the incremental markers.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28 in which a feedback loop ensures that the desired quantity of feed delivered compensates for any variation in spin speed and hence the fed delivery rate.

30. A method of delivery feed to livestock constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.