MXPA97003892A - Food device, particularly for cer - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automatic feeding device which comprises a feeding container by which the food is brought to the device, a separate section, suspended in a flexible manner, and a food dosing device which is activatable by the movements of the flexible suspended section and which is located between a lower part of the container and a flexible suspended section, wherein the dosing device comprises a food carrying plate and a pushing body laterally movable to carry out the successive thrust of the food that is on the carrier plate and fill with food a free space of the carrier plate created during the return movement of the thrust body, wherein the flexible suspended section is suspended flexibly from within an outlet of the container by a suspension that has a suspension bar, where the thrust body is p It is provided on the suspension bar, and wherein the carrier plate has an annular projection which transports the food and which is placed below the push body so that the food is pushed onto an edge of the carrier plate by lateral movements of the body of empu

Description

FEEDING DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FOR PIGS Description of the invention The present invention relates to an automatic feeding device, in particular for pigs and of the kind which comprises a vertical tubular feed container, preferably connected to a tubular conveyor , through which the food is brought to the device and where the pigs can act on the lower part of the tube with their horns or snouts in order to obtain food. Such automatic feeding devices are known, for example, from W093 / 13652, French patent 2 660 155 and DE 26 52 788. It is common for these feeding devices that a hanging tube such as tai or the lower part of such tube can be used. fold sideways in order to provide food. It is obvious that the tube is strongly prone to fatigue fracture due to repeated lateral flexions, which is further aggravated by the fact that the treatment by the pigs is particularly rough. By means of the invention, a construction is described in which the lower part of the tube is provided in the form of a suspended section in a flexibly separate manner and wherein an activated dosing device is provided between this section and the lower part of the fixed part of the tube. by the flexing section in order to supply feed through an outlet after the activation of the flxxionable section. In this construction, the REF: 24742 fatigue fracture of the tube is avoided, because it is retained against bending. In addition, the automatic feeding device is easier to use by the pigs, since they only need to act on a flexionable section and it is not required to bend the tube as such. One embodiment of the invention is particular in that the section, preferably in the form of a funnel-shaped unit, with a suspension rod, is suspended flexibly at the outlet, and because the rod has a spherical element, in particular a ball resting on a corresponding depression in the suspension and on which suspension rod rests a ball-shaped distribution body and under the distribution body a circumferential ring is arranged which carries the food and in such a way that the feed is driven over the edge of the carrier ring due to the movements of the distribution body. Another embodiment is particular in that the suspension rod for the flexible section has its free end suspended in a spherical bearing, wherein the underside of the upper part is concave, in particular as a spherical surface and rests on a protuberance with a corresponding convex surface on a plate which carries the food and thus the food is driven on the edges of the carrier plate due to the movements of the upper part of the spherical bearing. It will be noted that the support surfaces need not be spherical but can also be cylindrical. When the flexionable section is tubular, preferably funnel-shaped, the food portion will predominantly pass through it, but there is nothing to prevent the flexing section from being a fixed element where the food slides out. By providing a cylindrical ring displaceable vertically at the outlet of the tube, the discharge of the food portion can be adjusted in a simple manner. In a mode wherein the automatic feeding device comprises at least one drinking water valve, the duct or channel is formed in such a way that the water of the valve flows to and below the outlet of the automatic feeding device. The water that is spilled when the pigs drink runs from here to down through the exit of the food, whereby the pigs drink water simultaneously with their food. Since the pigs lick the channel and leave it clean, there is no risk of dangerous growth of bacteria in the leftovers of the food. The control of the quantity of food at an inspection level, where the feed is advanced on a tubular conveyor can be obtained since the discharge tube of the tubular conveyor is constituted as a plug tube which can be submerged more or less to the food container, whereby the amount of food in it can be controlled. The discharge flow can be further controlled since the automatic feeding device comprises means for adjusting the distance between the discharge of the automatic feeding device and the bottom of the duct or channel; The shorter the distance, the smaller the flow of food and vice versa. In one embodiment, the dosing device is equipped for the discharge of a particular funnel-shaped feed container held on a feed duct or channel. The invention will be described in greater detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a feeding site seen directly from the front, Figure 2 shows a cross section through a dosing device for the automatic feeding device, Figure 3 shows a cross section through a different mode of the automatic feeding device according to the invention, Figure 4 shows a cross section through a particular mode for a duct or channel, the figure 5 shows the duct or channel seen from above, Figure 6 shows another embodiment of the automatic feeding device according to the invention and Figure 7 shows a cross section through a dosing device for the automatic feeding device with a section fixed flexionable.

The feeding site shown in Figure 1 fits the divider 2 between two pens. The feeding site comprises a duct 4 and centrally thereto is an automatic feeding device 6, which the pigs can activate by means of their snouts for a feed dosage to the duct. Either on one side or the other of the automatic feeding device a drinking water valve 8 is arranged, which can be similarly activated by the muzzle of the pigs in order to supply water. The automatic feeding device 6 comprises a container 10 for tubular feed, which is filled via the discharge tube 11 of a tubular conveyor which transports the food around the stables. At the lower end of this tubular container is equipped a dosing device which is shown on a larger scale in FIG. 2. The device comprises a flexibly carried activation device in the form of a funnel-shaped body 12, with a inner tubular sleeve 14 for a connecting bolt 16. The funnel 12 is carried by the bolt since the bushing 14 rests on the head of the bolt. The cap is connected to the funnel by means of radial pins 18, that is, the funnel is open, in such a way that the food can freely fall through it. The accumulation of food in the funnel dissolves quickly when the pigs act on it. In the upper part of the bolt there is an internal thread, in such a way that it can be screwed to a suspension rod 20. Above the connection bolt and resting on its end is a bell-shaped distribution body 22, in which the suspension rod fits into a hole. At the top, the suspension rod has a ball 24 which is supported by a corresponding depression in the dosing device. The suspension comprises a circumferential ring 26 and a central part 28 which are connected by beams 30 in such a way that the food can pass in an unobstructed manner. The movements in the dosing device will prevent or dissolve the accumulation of the food. Above the funnel 12 is a collar 32, on the lower side of which is bolted, by means of a rim 34, a guide ring and carrier 36. The collar 32 also acts as a cover shield, in such a way that the pigs can not reach the funnel 12 from above, but are forced to activate it from the sides. The ring 36 is connected to the flange by means of spokes 38. Furthermore, a ring 30 is fitted in the discharge hole which can be raised or lowered in order to adjust the size of the discharge slit. The ring can be adjusted by means of bolts that pass through oblong holes which allow vertical movement. The holes can be inclined, whereby a possibility of a finer adjustment is obtained. The food in the tubular container falls to the dosing device through the funnel-shaped connection 41 (figure 1) to the container and furthermore until it hits the outside of the distributor 22, it is flexed by it over the ring 36 where it will rest . When a pig activates the funnel 12 for flexionary, for example to the left in the figure, the lower edge of the distributor will propel the food onto the upper edge of the ring 36, whereby it falls into the funnel 12 and additionally to the conduit. In addition, the food will flow over the inner edge of the ring 36 when the distributor 22 moves to the left. When the pigs let go of the funnel 12, it oscillates back to its original position, by which the feed will be driven on the upper edge on the opposite side, where it falls to the funnel and to the channel. The pendulum movement loosens the possible accumulation of food in the dosing device, so that it falls freely to the duct. The quantity supplied can be controlled by means of the ring 40 also as in raising or lowering the ring 36, if necessary, in such a way that the distance between it and the distribution device 22 becomes larger or smaller. In addition, the funnel 12 can be raised or lowered. In Figure 3 a cross section is shown in another embodiment of the dosing device according to the invention, wherein the major difference compared to the previous example is the manner in which the funnel is suspended. As above, the funnel 12 has a central tubular bushing 14 carried by spokes 18 and the funnel is oscillated on a bolt taken through the bushing. The funnel can be flexed because it is suspended in a spherical bearing. A support surface is formed in an end piece 44 fitted to the upper end of the bolt by means of a nut. The lower side of the end piece is concave like a spherical surface and rests on a protuberance 46 with a corresponding convex spherical surface on another end piece which in this case is in the form of a plate or plate. The end piece 48 in the form of a plate is fitted to a collar 54 by means of an open ray structure 50 with a rim 52 similar to the previous example, in the same way there is the ring 40, the height of which is adjusted to control the discharge hole. The food in the tubular feed container is supported on the circular end piece 48 and the movable part 44 of the spherical bearing. When the funnel 12 is activated to flex, for example to the left in the drawings, the support part 44 with the edge 56 quite high, pushes the food on the edge of the plate 48, in such a way that it falls to the funnel and in addition to the conduit or channel. As the funnel oscillates on its return journey, the feed will be driven on the other edge of the plate 48. The movement will simultaneously clean the supporting surfaces, so that the feed does not accumulate. The difference between the two constructions is that the center of rotation for the funnel in the mode of Figure 2 is arranged in the tube, while the center of rotation in the mode shown in Figure 3 is arranged under the tube - the placement real is dependent on the radius of curvature of the spherical bearing. As shown in Figure 1, the dosing device or more precisely the lower edge of the funnel, is sufficiently high above the duct. In another embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the funnel has been lengthened, so that it ends somewhat above the lower part of the supply duct 4. In the example shown, the conduit is given a particular configuration, with a flat depression 58 below each drinking water valve, attached to a similarly flat and larger depression 60 below the discharge of the automatic feeding device. This ensures that the water that the pigs have not drunk, runs into the depression and along the passage to the major depression in which the food falls and the water joins the food. It has been shown that newly weaned piglets find it easier to learn to drink from a drinking water valve in this way. The proximity between the discharge of the automatic feeding device and the bottom of the duct or channel causes the pigs to lick the food and water instead of eating it from a pile, which is considered the best feeding method. A different embodiment of the invention is shown in figure 6 of the drawings, in which the dosing device 62 is adjusted to the discharge of a funnel-shaped feed container 64 which is supported by projections 66 on a channel 68 of feeding, in which case the projections may be wall elements. In figure 7 of the drawings, a modality is shown which corresponds to figure 2, with the difference that the funnel-shaped piece is replaced by a closed element 70, solid or hollow. Where the food in the embodiment shown in Figure 2 passes through the funnel 12 and is collected through the discharge, the food in this case slides on the outside of the closed element 70 and spreads out further still. In addition, the food runs through the snout of the pig, which is not the case with the funnel. The choice between the modalities depends on the desired effect. The invention herein provides an efficient and reliable automatic feeding device which is also useful for feeding by licking and which further increases the ability of newly weaned piglets to drink from a drinking water valve.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following

Claims (10)

Claims

1. An automatic feeding device, in particular for pigs and of the kind which comprises a feeding container with at least one tubular discharge orifice and preferably connected to a tubular conveyor, by means of which the food is brought to the device, in where the pigs can act on the lower part of the tube with their snouts in order to effect the supply of the feed to the channel or conduit, the lower part of the tube is provided in the form of a suspended section in a flexed, separate manner, between which and the lower part of the fixed part of the tubb is provided with a device that doses the food, activated by the movements of the flexing section, characterized in that the dosing device comprises a food carrying plate and a laterally movable pushing body, such so that in response to the flexing of the flexionable section, a successive thrust of the food resting on the p Carrier lacquer and respectively a filling with feed of the free space of the carrier plate is available by the return movement of the thrust body or impeller.

2. An automatic feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible section is suspended in such a way that it is flexible in all lateral directions.

3. An automatic feeding device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the section, preferably in the form of a funnel-shaped unit with a suspension rod, is suspended flexibly at the outlet and because the rod is provided with a bell-shaped pusher or pusher body and under the thrust body an annular rim is arranged which carries the food, in such a way that the feed is driven on the edge of the carrier ring by the movements of the thrust body.

4. An automatic feeding device according to any of claims 1 - 3, characterized in that the suspension rod has a spherical element, preferably a ball that rests in a corresponding depression in the suspension and on which the suspension rod rests the body of push.

5. An automatic feeding device according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the suspension rod for the section has its free end suspended in a spherical bearing where the lower side of the upper part is concave, preferably formed as a spherical surface and it rests on an elevation with a corresponding convex surface on a plate which carries the food and in such a way that the food is driven on the edges of the carrier plate in response to the movements of the upper part in the spherical bearing .

6. An automatic feeding device according to any of claims 1 - 5, characterized in that a vertically displaceable cylindrical ring is adjusted to the outlet of the feed container near its mouth, in order to adjust the size of the outlet.

7. An automatic feeding device according to any of claims 1-7, characterized in that a discharge tube of a tubular conveyor which leads to the food container is constituted as a plug tube which can be more or less submerged to the container feeding, by which the amount of food in it can be controlled.

8. An automatic feeding device according to any of claims 1-7, characterized in that the dosing device is equipped to the discharge end of a funnel-shaped feed container held on a feed channel or conduit.

9. An automatic feeding device according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that the support surfaces are cylindrical.

10. An automatic feeding device according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that the flexibly section is a closed element which is solid or hollow and preferably spherical.