IES86550B2 - Material dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A material dispensing apparatus (1) comprises a material hopper (2) having a material discharge outlet (3) at a lower end of the hopper (2). The hopper (2) is mounted on a track which may, for example, comprise a horizontal rail (4) mounted on an upright wall (5) which is engaged by a dispensing wheel (6) on the hopper (2) below the rail (4). The wall (5) is mounted behind an elongate feeding trough (7) in a milking parlour or the like. Driving the dispensing wheel (6) moves the hopper (2) along the rail (4) from one end of the trough (7) to the other while dispensing feed material from the hopper (2) discharge outlet (3) into the trough (7). <Figure 1>

Description

“Material Dispensing Apparatus” Introduction This invention relates to a material dispensing apparatus and in particular to a material dispensing apparatus for use in a feeding system for feeding livestock, such as cows in a milking parlour or the like.

In a milking parlour typically a number of cows are arranged side by side along an 10 elongate feeding trough and connected up to milking apparatus. To encourage the cows to enter the milking parlour for milking, it is usual to provide some feed in the trough. In this regard it is known to provide a number of spaced-apart feed hoppers above the trough and disposed along the feeding trough at feeding stations. Each feed hopper has means, for example, a feed screw, at a dispensing outlet of the hopper for dispensing feed material into the trough at each feeding station. An elongate filling auger is mounted above the hoppers at the feeding trough for delivering feed material from a storage bin to replenish the feed in each hopper as required. Unfortunately, such a system is relatively expensive to install, and the elongate filling auger in particular is somewhat prone to operating problems. Also it can be difficult to accurately measure the amount of feed material dispensed by each feed screw into the trough at the feeding stations as there tends to be some overspill, or leakage of feed into the trough immediately after the feed screw is stopped.

Another known system includes a feed hopper which is slidably mounted on a rail above the trough and can be manually moved along the trough from end to end, being positioned and stopped in turn at each feeding station to manually open an outlet of the hopper to dispense feed into the trough at the feeding station. While this is relatively cheap and reliable in operation, unfortunately the farmer has to operate the hopper which is time consuming. It is also difficult to accurately control the feed ration dispensed at each feeding station.

The present invention is directed towards overcoming these problems. -2Summary of the Invention According to the invention there is provided a material dispensing apparatus including: a material hopper having a material discharge outlet; a material dispenser mounted at the material discharge outlet; the material hopper being movable along a track; and drive means which is operable to move the hopper along the track.

In one embodiment of the invention the material dispenser is operable in response to movement of the hopper along the track to discharge material from the hopper.

In another embodiment of the invention the dispensing means is operably connected to the drive means. in a further embodiment of the invention the material dispenser comprises a dispensing wheel which is engagable with the track, said dispensing wheel being rotatably mounted below the material discharge outlet of the material hopper for rotation about a substantially vertical axis of rotation, said dispensing wheel having a flat upper side face for reception of material from the material discharge outlet.

In another embodiment of the invention at least one upstanding deflector plate is mounted above the dispensing wheel and cooperates with said flat upper side face to urge material outwardly of said dispensing wheel.

In another embodiment of the invention a chute is mounted about the dispensing wheel to direct material discharged from the dispensing wheel.

In another embodiment of the invention said dispensing wheel is vertically adjustable relative to the material discharge outlet for adjustment of the rate of discharge of material from the material hopper onto the dispensing wheel. -3In a further embodiment of the invention drive means is operably connected to the dispensing wheel. < I In a preferred embodiment, the dispensing wheel is mounted on a drive shaft 5 extending through the material discharge outlet of the material hopper to a drive motor mounted on the material hopper.

In another embodiment of the invention the drive motor is operated by a battery mounted on the material hopper. ι Conveniently there is provided a remote control operable to control operation of the drive means and thus movement of the material hopper along the itrack.

In another embodiment of the invention the track comprises a rail and an associated upright wall or panel beneath the rail, the material hopper hanging on and being movable along the rail and the dispensing wheel being engagable with said upright wall or panel. Thus, for example, when the dispensing wheel is driven it moves the material hopper along the rail, whilst dispensing material from the material hopper.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, In which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a material dispensing apparatus according to the invention, shown mounted in a milking parlour; Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the material dispensing apparatus; Fig. 3 is another detail underneath perspective view showing the dispensing apparatus; and Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view showing a material dispenser portion of the -4apparatus.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a material dispensing apparatus according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The apparatus 1 comprises a material hopper 2 having a material discharge outlet 3 at a lower end of the hopper 2. The hopper 2 is mounted on a track which in this case comprises a horizontal rail 4 mounted on an upright wall 5 which is engaged by a dispensing wheel 6 on the hopper 2 below the rail 4. In this case, the wall 5 is shown mounted behind an elongate feeding trough 7 in a milking parlour or the like. Driving the dispensing wheel 6 moves the hopper 2 along the rail 4 from one end of the trough 7 to the other while dispensing materiai from the hopper 2 into the trough 7.

The material hopper 2 has an upright rear wall 10 and side walls 11,12 and a front wall 13 which are inclined inwardly and downwardly towards the material discharge outlet 3. A pair of spaced-apart wheeis 15 is mounted by a bracket 16 on the rear wall 10 to engage and roll along the rail 4.

A downwardly depending cylindrical neck 18 is provided at the material discharge outlet 3. A drive motor 20 is mounted on the inside face of the rear wall 10 of the hopper 2. A drive shaft 21 extends downwardly from the motor 20 and through the neck 18 at the material discharge outlet 3. The dispensing wheel 6 is mounted at a lower end of the drive shaft 21 beneath the neck 18.

An adjustment screw 23 at the lower end of the drive shaft 21 is operable to raise and lower the dispensing wheel 6 on the drive shaft 21. In this way, a gap 25 between a lower edge 26 of the neck 18 and a plate 27 resting on and forming a flat upper side face of the wheel 6 is adjustable to control the rate of discharge of feed material from the hopper 2 onto the dispensing wheel 6.

Four upstanding deflector plates 30 extend radially outwardly from a collar 31 which locates within the neck 18, sitting about the drive shaft 21. These deflector plates 30 are arranged in a cruciform configuration and cooperate with the plate 27 to cause material to be deflected off the plate 27 and dispensing wheel 6 as the dispensing wheel 6 rotates. It will be noted that complementary upright slots 32 are -5provided in the neck 18 to accommodate and receive the deflector plates 30 when they move up and down when the dispensing wheel 6 is adjusted on the drive shaft 21.

A discharge chute 35 is mounted on the hopper 2 and extends around an outer portion of the dispensing wheel 6, said chute 35 being open at its inner end facing the wall 5 to allow the dispensing wheel 6 engage against the surface of the wall 5 and allow feed material to drop down into the trough 7.

A battery 38 is mounted on a support frame 39 on a side wall 12 of the hopper 2 and is connected to the motor 20 for operation of the motor 20. In this regard, conveniently a remote control device may be provided so that the farmer when standing at the end of the trough 7 can switch the motor 20 on and off to move the hopper 2 along the track 4. Such control devices are well known and need not be further described here.

In use, the hopper 2 is located at one end of the trough 7. Typically in this rest position, the hopper 2 is located below a storage bin for feed material from which storage bin feed material can be dispensed into the hopper 2. Also, while in the rest position, the battery 38 may be conveniently connected up to a battery charger. To dispense feed into the trough 7 the farmer operates the control to switch on the motor 20 and drive the dispensing wheel 6. As the dispensing wheel 6 rotates and travels along the surface of the wall 5 it moves the hopper 2 along the rail 4 from one end of the trough 7 to the other. Feed material such as feed pellets is dispensed from the hopper 2 into the trough 7 as the hopper 2 moves along the rail 4. This feed material drops through the neck 18 at the material discharge outlet 3 and falls onto the plate 27. As the dispensing wheel 6 rotates, the plate 27 also rotates and the feed material engages against the deflector plates 30 which urge the material outwardly off the dispensing wheel 6, down through the chute 35 and into the trough 7. As soon as the dispensing wheel 6 stops rotating the feed material supply to the trough 7 is cut off.

Advantageously the invention provides apparatus with a single hopper and a single dispenser for accurate dispensing of feed material into a trough 7 for example. The hopper 2 can be refilled as required when it is returned to the rest station beneath -6the feed storage bin.

An electric motor for driving the dispensing wheel 6 could alternatively be connected to a standard mains power supply, however the provision of the battery on the hopper 2 avoids the need for loose cabling to the mains power supply.

While the embodiment shown describes the material dispensing apparatus mounted in a milking parlour, it will be appreciated that this material dispensing apparatus of the invention could be used in piggeries, poultry houses and the like in similar fashion. Where a wall 5 is not readily available, a panel or rail may be provided along which the dispensing wheel 6 travels to move the hopper 2 and dispense the material therefrom. Also, the wheels 15 carrying the hopper 2 on the rail 4 might be driven instead of or in addition to the dispensing wheel 6 to move the hopper 2 along the rail 4.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims (5)

1. -7Claims

1. A material dispensing apparatus including: 5 a material hopper having a material discharge outlet; a material dispenser mounted at the material discharge outlet; the material hopper being movable along a track; drive means which is operable to move the hopper along the track; the material dispenser being operable in response to movement of the hopper along the track to discharge material from the hopper.

2. The material dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the material dispenser comprises a dispensing wheel which is engagable with the track, said dispensing wheel being rotatably mounted below the material discharge outlet of the material hopper for rotation about a substantially vertical axis of 20 rotation, said dispensing wheel having a flat upper side face for reception of material from the material discharge outlet.

3. The material dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein at least one upstanding deflector plate is mounted above the dispensing wheel and 25 cooperates with said flat upper side face to urge material outwardly of said dispensing wheel, and preferably said dispensing wheel is vertically adjustable relative to the material discharge outlet for adjustment of the rate of discharge of material from the material hopper onto the dispensing wheel. 30

4. The material dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the drive means is operably connected to the dispensing wheel, the dispensing wheel is mounted on a drive shaft extending through the material discharge outlet of the material hopper to a drive motor mounted on the material hopper, and the track comprises a rail and an associated upright wall 35 or panel beneath the rail, the material hopper hanging on and being movable -8aiong the rail and the dispensing wheel being engagable with said upright wall or panel.

5. A material dispensing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with 5 reference to the accompanying drawings.