NL2027617A

NL2027617A - “Animal feeder”

Info

Publication number: NL2027617A
Application number: NL2027617A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Romeu Guardia Gener
Original assignee: Rotecna Sa
Priority date: 2020-02-25
Filing date: 2021-02-23
Publication date: 2021-09-28
Also published as: DE202021100751U1; NL2027617B1; ES1244914Y; DK202100016U3; ES1244914U

Abstract

The present invention relates to an animal feeder (1) which comprises a hopper (2) with a lower chute (2a) for the outlet of the feed, a feeder plate (3) that collects the feed that falls due to gravity and regulating means for regulating the feed supplied. The regulating means comprise a distribution support (7) provided with an upper tubular portion (7a) tightly coupled to the lower chute (2a) of the hopper (2) and a lower portion (7b) divided into two extensions, as leg loops (8), each one arranged in such a way that it opens onto a respective feeder plate (3); and two sliding spouts (9), each one telescopically coupled to a leg loop (8), each provided with a lower discharge outlet (9a) for the feed, and each sliding spout (9) being independently operated between an upper position and a lower position to regulate the effective height of the lower discharge outlet (9a) with respect to the area of the feeder plate arranged immediately beneath it.

Description

DESCRIPTION “Animal feeder” Technical field of the invention The invention relates to an animal feeder, especially suitable for pigs. Background of the invention At present, multiple variants of pig feeders are known which basically consist of a container configured as a hopper, generally having a prismatic or frustoconical shape, provided with a lower chute for the outlet of the feed or grain used to feed the animals, and a feeder plate arranged in the lower portion thereof that collects the feed that falls due to gravity from inside the hopper.

Usually, conventional feeders further comprise means for regulating the amount or dose of feed supplied, which enable regular amounts of feed to be discharged onto the feeder plate at the request of the animal. Occasionally, the feeders comprise an operating element, such as a lever or push button that causes a distribution tray placed beneath it or in the lower chute of the hopper to shake.

By way of example, patent ES2319247, of the same holder as the present invention, discloses an animal feeder hopper which comprises regulating means provided with a distribution tray arranged beneath the lower chute of the hopper, on which an amount of feed that falls freely due to gravity through said chute is accumulated. In this case, the distribution tray is hingedly joined to a support body coupled to the hopper, and furthermore, said tray has a pendular lever for the operation thereof that protrudes beneath it, which can be easily operated by an animal. To this end, when an animal in search of feed pushes the pendular lever, the distribution tray suddenly moves from the normal resting position thereof, so that the feed accumulated on said tray falls due to gravity towards the feeder plate, at the same time that more feed is discharged from the lower chute of the hopper that occupies the free space of the moved feed, thus leaving a new dose of feed accumulated on the distribution tray.

It should be noted that sometimes it is necessary to modify the amounts of

-2- feed supplied in order to adjust them, among other factors, to the type of animal, to the growth or fattening phase of the animal, or even to completely prevent the discharge of feed when fasting periods for certain animals, such as pigs, are established.

In order to regulate the amount of feed that is released each time the distribution tray is operated by the animal by means of the pendular lever, hoppers which also have means for regulating the distance that separates the distribution tray from the lower chute of the hopper are known. The greater the distance, the greater the amount of feed that can accumulate on the distribution tray.

Patent ES2341148, of the same applicant as the present application, discloses an alternative solution for regulating the amount of feed supplied. In this solution, the feeder is equipped with a regulating device which comprises a tubular body with a cross section similar to that of the lower chute of the hopper, able to telescopically couple to the same, which enables the height thereof to be adjusted. In this way, the feed falls freely due to gravity towards the feeder plate, an amount of said feed in turn being stored in the interior space of the tubular body, which can be progressively discharged as the animal eats the feed deposited on the feeder plate. The telescopic movement of the tubular body enables the separation distance between the lower discharge chute thereof and the feeder plate to be regulated, thus varying the effective length of the hopper. Consequently, the greater said separation distance, the greater the feed regime supplied on the feeder plate.

Furthermore, the aforementioned regulating device comprises a vertical inner rod integrally joined by the lower portion thereof to said tubular body, and operating means on the rod which can be accessed by a user from the upper outer portion of the hopper, said rod being able to be vertically moved by said operating means, thus dragging the tubular body when moving.

In this case, the means for operating the vertical rod comprise a sliding part integrally joined to the upper end of the vertical rod and mounted with the ability to slide in an upward or downward direction on a guide bar firmly secured to the

23. hopper, the sliding part being provided with a projection; and a rotating cam that can be manually operated by means of a lever-like control, and the cam being adapted to be secured at the upper end of the hopper, for example on a lid thereof, and so that the rotation axis thereof is preferably horizontal, being further provided with an eccentric groove in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the cam. In turn, the projection of the sliding part is inserted in the groove of the rotating cam, so that rotating it in one direction around the axis thereof causes the sliding part to raise, while rotating in the opposite direction causes the sliding part to descend. Consequently, by rotating the control, it is possible to raise or lower the rod, and therefore the telescopic tubular body, depending on whether said control is rotated in one direction or the other.

Usually, farms have several enclosures or compartments designed to group animals according to their feeding requirements, for example, depending on the type of animal, their weight, their growth phase, among other factors.

Utility model ES1203886 relates to a single hopper with double feed outlet provided with two pendular-operation distribution trays each arranged in one of the outlets, so that each distribution tray can be independently adjusted in height in order to willingly adjust the amount of feed supplied by each outlet that opens onto a corresponding feeder plate. This enables the same hopper to feed two groups of livestock that require different feeding regimes.

However, it would be desirable to have an alternative solution to the hoppers that use two pendular-operation distribution trays described above, which enables the amount of feed or grain supplied on respective feeder plates of the hopper to be independently regulated in a simpler and more effective manner.

It would also be of interest that said solution ensures that the animal can properly access the feed dispensed. It is undesirable that gaps, interstices or empty spaces that animals are unable to access be created between the discharge chutes and the walls of the respective feeder plates.

Description of the invention

-4- With the aim of providing a solution to the problems described above, an animal feeder is disclosed, especially suitable for pigs, which comprises a hopper with a lower chute for the outlet of the feed or grain used to feed the animals, a feeder plate arranged in the lower portion thereof that collects the feed that falls due to gravity from inside the hopper, and regulating means for regulating the feed supplied, characterised in that said regulating means comprise - a distribution support provided with an upper tubular portion tightly coupled to the lower chute of the hopper, and a lower portion divided into two essentially vertical extensions, as leg loops, each one arranged in such a way that it opens onto a respective feeder plate; and - two sliding spouts, each one telescopically coupled to a leg loop, each provided with a lower discharge outlet for the feed, and each sliding spout being independently operated, so that the telescopic movement of each sliding spout, between an upper maximum open position and a lower minimum open or closed position, enables the effective height of the lower discharge outlet to be adjusted with respect to the area of the feeder plate arranged immediately beneath it. Thanks to the arrangement of the distribution support and the two telescopic sliding spouts, it is possible to independently regulate the amount of feed supplied in different areas of the feeder plate in a simpler and more efficient way than the devices known in the state of the art that used pendular-operation distribution trays.

The greater the separation distance between the outlet mouth of a sliding spout and the associated area of the feeder plate, the greater the feed regime supplied on said area of the feeder plate.

Preferably, the feeder plate is configured so that the feed found in the areas immediately beneath each sliding spout is not mixed. For this purpose, it is provided that there is a separator partition in the feeder plate, arranged between the sliding spouts. The partition can be factory-made or, preferably, removable, so that if it is removed, the feeder can be used to feed animals in one same room, ideally selecting one same position for the two movable spouts.

-5- In an embodiment of interest, the upper portion of the distribution support has an essentially circular cross section similar to that of the lower chute of the hopper, and the two leg loops of the distribution support are configured in such a way that the projection of the cross sections thereof practically occupies the entire cross-sectional area of the upper portion of the distribution support.

Preferably, each leg loop of the distribution support has a D-shaped cross section, which defines a straight side wall and an essentially semi-circular peripheral wall, both leg loops further being symmetrically arranged with the respective straight side walls thereof facing each other and joined at the top by means of an essentially horizontal diametrical portion of the distribution support, which determines a minimum separation distance between both leg loops. In correspondence with this shape, each telescopic sliding spout also has a D-shaped cross section similar to that of the respective leg loop for ensuring the proper movement of the sliding spouts with respect to the respective leg loops with the correct clearance.

According to this embodiment, the partition that separates two areas in the feeder plate is located between the straight walls of the sliding spouts.

Therefore, the opposing portions of the sliding spouts and the separator partition will be arranged in parallel, thus preventing spaces or gaps from forming between the respective opposing surfaces that are difficult for animals to access.

This particular D-shaped configuration of the sliding spouts is an optimal embodiment compared to other possible embodiments, for example compared to an alternative arrangement wherein the two sliding spouts have a circular cross section and the separator partition is oriented tangent to the sliding spouts, since in this case the formation of corners or spaces of difficult access in the areas close to the point of tangency would be inevitable, which would make it significantly difficult for the animal to properly access the feed in these areas.

According to another feature of a variant of interest of the feeder, the bottom

-6- of the feeder plate comprises an elevation arranged beneath the lower discharge outlets of the sliding spouts, provided to prevent the feed directly discharged on said elevation from being soaked with liquids that could be supplied to the periphery of the feeder plate.

Advantageously, the regulating means comprise two essentially vertical internal rods, each respectively linked to a sliding spout for the independent operation thereof, each rod being integrally joined at the lower end thereof to the respective sliding spout, and coupled at the upper end thereof to operating means configured to ensure the vertical movement thereof, thus dragging the respective sliding spout thereof when moving. According to a preferred embodiment, the means for operating each rod comprise a rotating cam with an eccentric rotation shaft that can be manually operated by means of a lever-like control, said control being accessible from the upper portion of the hopper, and said rotating cam being connected by means of transmission means to the upper end of the rod, so that when the control is rotated in one direction or the other, it is possible to raise or lower the rod, and therefore the respective telescopic sliding spout.

Advantageously, the eccentric rotation shafts of both cams are coaxial, and are assembled in one same support for housing the cams that is secured on the upper portion of the hopper, both lever controls thus being symmetrically arranged on one side and the other of said support.

Brief description of the drawings The accompanying drawings illustrate, by way of non-limiting example, a preferred embodiment of an animal feeder according to the invention. In said drawings: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of the feeder according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a cross section of the feeder of Figure 1, showing a position of use of the regulating means wherein one of the telescopic sliding spouts is in the minimum open or closed position thereof, while the other is in the maximum open position thereof;

-7- - Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the lower area of the feeder of Figure 2, according to a vertical cross-sectional plane, to better show the regulating means; - Figure 4 is an elevation view of the distribution support that can be securely coupled to the lower chute of the hopper of the feeder; - Figure 5 is a plan view of the distribution support of Figure 4; - Figure 6a is a cross-sectional perspective view of the regulating means, showing a position of use wherein the two telescopic sliding spouts are in the minimum open or closed position thereof; - Figure 6b is an analogous view to Figure 8a, showing another position of use according to Figures 2 and 3, wherein one of the telescopic sliding spouts is in the minimum open or closed position thereof, while the other is in the maximum open position thereof; - Figure 7a is a perspective view of the upper portion of the hopper, showing the two lever controls for the independent operation of the respective telescopic sliding supports, wherein both controls are rotated in an angular position wherein the two telescopic sliding spouts are in the minimum open or closed position thereof, as shown in Figure 6a; and - Figure 7b is an analogous view to Figure 7a, showing the two controls in an angular position wherein one of the telescopic sliding spouts is in the minimum open or closed position thereof, while the other is in the maximum open position thereof, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 6b.

Detailed description of the drawings Figures 1 and 2 show an animal feeder 1, especially suitable for pigs, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which comprises a hopper 2 with a lower chute 2a for the outlet of the feed or grain used to feed the animals, and a feeder plate 3 arranged in the lower portion thereof to collect the feed that falls due to gravity from inside the hopper 2.

As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the feeder 1 is further provided with means for regulating the amount of feed supplied, which in the example comprise - a distribution support 7 provided with an upper tubular portion 7a tightly coupled to the lower chute 2a of the hopper 2, and a lower portion 7b

-8- divided into two essentially vertical extensions, as leg loops 8, each one arranged in such a way that it opens onto a respective feeder plate 3; and - two sliding spouts 9, each one telescopically coupled to a leg loop 8, each provided with a lower discharge outlet 9a for the feed, and each sliding spout 9 being independently operated, so that the telescopic movement of each sliding spout 9, between an upper maximum open position and a lower minimum open or closed position, enables the effective height of the lower discharge outlet 9a to be adjusted with respect to the area of the feeder plate 3 arranged immediately beneath it.

In this embodiment, the feeder plate 3 has a single bottom but it is compartmentalised by means of a separator partition 4. This partition 4 is vertically oriented and arranged between the sliding spouts 9 (see for example Figure 3). Likewise, the feeder 1 has on both sides of the hopper 2 a separator panel 5 and conventional anchoring means 6 for installing the feeder 1 on a wall {not shown) of the farm that separates two adjacent enclosures. Thus, each area of the feeder plate 3 on each side of the partition 4 is arranged inside a respective enclosure.

Figures 2, 3 and 6b show a position of use wherein one of the telescopic sliding spouts 9, the one on the left in the figures, is in the minimum open or closed position thereof, while the other is in the maximum open position thereof. Figure Ga shows the position wherein the two telescopic sliding spouts 9 are in the minimum open or closed position thereof. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the upper portion 7a of the distribution support 7 has an essentially circular cross section, similar to that of the lower chute 2a of the hopper 2, while the two leg loops 8 of the distribution support 7 are configured in such a way that the projection of the cross sections thereof practically uses the entire cross-sectional area of the upper portion 7a of the distribution support 7. In the embodiment shown, each leg loop 8 of the distribution support 7 has a D-shaped cross section, which defines a straight side wall 8a and an essentially

-9- semi-circular peripheral wall 8b (see Figure 5), both leg loops 8 further being symmetrically arranged with the respective straight side walls 8a thereof facing each other and joined at the top by means of an essentially horizontal diametrical portion 8c of the distribution support 7, which determines a minimum separation distance between both leg loops 8. Correspondingly, each telescopic sliding spout 9 also has a D-shaped cross section similar to that of the respective leg loop 8 for ensuring the proper movement of the sliding spouts 9 with respect to the respective leg loops 8 with the correct clearance. In the example, the bottom of the feeder plate 3 comprises an elevation 10 in the area immediately beneath the lower discharge outlets 9a of the sliding spouts 9, provided to prevent the feed directly discharged on said elevation 10 from being soaked with liquids that could be supplied to the periphery of the feeder plate 3. Furthermore, each sliding spout 9 comprises on the outer surface thereof a plurality of flaps 11 (see Figure 3) provided to facilitate the contact by striking that the animal makes on the respective sliding spout 9 in search of feed, thus causing vibrations of sufficient magnitude in the assembly of the entire hopper 2 so that the feed falls on the respective feeder plate 3.

As can be seen, for example, in Figures 2 and 3, the regulating means comprise two essentially vertical internal rods 12, each respectively linked to a sliding spout 9 for the independent operation thereof, each rod 12 being integrally joined at the lower end thereof to the respective sliding spout 9, and coupled at the upper end thereof to a known type of operating means, configured to ensure the vertical movement thereof, thus dragging the respective sliding spout 9 when moving. Referring now to Figures 7a and 7b, said means for operating each rod 12 comprise a rotating cam (not shown) with an eccentric rotation shaft 13 that can be manually operated by means of a lever-like control 14, said control 14 being accessible from the upper portion 2b of the hopper 2. Said cam is connected by means of transmission means (not shown) to the upper end of the rod 12, so that when the control 14 is rotated in one direction or the other, it is possible to raise or

-10 - lower the rod 12, and therefore the respective telescopic sliding spout 9.

Patent ES2341148 cited in the background section of the present application describes an example of said means for operating the rod 12 in greater detail.

However, and in particular to the embodiment exemplified by the present invention, the eccentric rotation shafts 13 of both cams are coaxially arranged, and are assembled in one same support 15 for housing the cams that is secured on the upper portion 2b of the hopper 2, both lever controls 14 thus being symmetrically arranged on one side and the other of said support 15.

Figure 7a shows the two controls 14 rotated in an angular position wherein the two telescopic sliding spouts 9 are in the minimum open or closed position thereof (see Figure 6a); while Figure 7b shows the two controls 15 in an angular position wherein one of the telescopic sliding spouts 9 is in the minimum open or closed position thereof, while the other is in the maximum open position thereof (see Figures 2, 3 and 6b).

Claims

-11- CONCLUSIONS

An animal feeding device (1), especially suitable for pigs, comprising a hopper (2) with a lower chute (2a) for carrying out feed or grain used to feed the animals, a feeding plate (3) arranged in its lower portion collecting the feed falling by gravity from within the hopper (2), and control means for controlling the feed supplied, characterized in that the control means comprise: - a distributing support (7) provided with an upper tubular portion (7a) closely coupled to the lower chute (2a) of the hopper, and a lower portion (7b) divided into two substantially vertical extensions, as leg courses (8), each arranged to open onto a respective feeder plate (3); and — two sliding spouts (9), each telescopically coupled to a leg adapter (8), each having a lower feed outlet opening (9a) for the feed, and each sliding spout (9) being independently operable such that the telescoping movement of each sliding spout ( 9), between an upper maximum open position and a lower minimum open or closed position, makes it possible to adjust the effective height of the lower outlet opening (9a) relative to the surface of the feeder plate arranged immediately below it .

Animal feeding device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper part (7a) of the distributing support (7) has a substantially circular cross-section, similar to that of the lower chute (2a) of the hopper (2), and wherein the two leg courses (8) of the divider support (7) are arranged such that the projection of the cross-sections thereof covers substantially the entire cross-sectional area of the upper portion (7a) of the divider support (7).

Animal feeding device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that each leg section (8) of the divider support (7) has a D-shaped cross-section, which has a straight side wall (8a) and a substantially semi-circular circumferential wall (8b). wherein each leg course (8) is further arranged symmetrically with its respective straight side walls (8a) facing each other and meeting at the apex by a substantially horizontal diametrical portion (8c) of the divider support (7), which has a minimum separation distance between the two leg courses (8), whereby each telescopic sliding spout (9) has a corresponding D-shaped cross-section

-12- is similar to that of the respective leg adapters (8) to ensure proper movement of the sliding spouts (9) with respect to the respective leg adapters (8) with the correct clearance.

An animal feeding device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feeding plate (3) is arranged in such a way that feed present in the areas immediately below each sliding spout (9) does not mix, whereby for that effect a separation portion (4) in the feeder plate (3), which is arranged between the sliding spouts (9) if applicable adjacent to the straight side walls thereof.

An animal feeding device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom of the feeding plate (3) comprises an elevation (10) arranged immediately below the lower outlet openings (9a) of the sliding spouts (9) to prevent the feed that has been discharged directly on the platform (10) from being permeated with liquids that could be provided on the periphery of the feeder plate (3).

Animal feeding device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control means further comprise two substantially vertical, internal rods (12), each connected respectively to a sliding spout (9) for its independent operation, wherein each rod (12) is fully connected at its lower end to the respective sliding spout (9) and is coupled at its upper end to actuating means arranged to ensure its vertical movement, thus advancing the respective sliding spout (9) at movement.

Animal feeding device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the operating means for operating each rod (12) comprise a rotating cam with an eccentric rotation shaft (13) which can be operated manually by means of a lever-like control (14) wherein the control (14) is reachable from the upper portion (2b) of the hopper (2), and wherein the rotating cam is connected by transmission means to the upper end of the rod (12) so that when the control (14 ) is rotated in one direction or the other, it is possible to raise or lower the rod (12), and with it the respective telescopic sliding spout (9).

Animal feeding device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the eccentric rotation axes (13) of both cams are coaxial, and they are assembled in the same support (15) for housing the cams, which is fixed to the

-13- upper portion (2b) of the hopper (2), thus both lever controls (14) being arranged symmetrically on one side and on the other side of the support (15).