US3561404A

US3561404A - Sweep shuttle animal feeder

Info

Publication number: US3561404A
Application number: US829933A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert G Ferris; Allen K Gillette
Original assignee: Starline Inc
Current assignee: J-STAR INDUSTRIES Inc A CORP OF WISCONSIN; Starline Inc
Priority date: 1969-06-03
Filing date: 1969-06-03
Publication date: 1971-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 1988-02-09

Abstract

SWEEP SHUTTLE ANIMAL FEEDER OF THE TYPE HAVING A FEED TROUGH WHICH RECIPROCATES ABOVE A FEED BUNK THAT IS ABOUT TWICE THE LENGTH OF THE TROUGH SO THAT FEED DEPOSITED IN THE RECIPROCATING TROUGH FROM A FEED SUPPLY STATION ABOVE THE MIDPOINT OF THE BUNK MAY BE DROPPED FROM THE TROUGH ALONG THE BUNK BY THE ACTION OF TWO SETS OF SWEEP MEANS THAT ARE PIVOTED ABOVE THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF THE TROUGH WITH A SET ON EACH SIDE OF THE FEED SUPPLY STATION TO SELECTIVELY CONTROL RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE DEPOSITED FEED AND THE TROUGH. The sweep means of the set through which the leading end of the trough is passing at any given time pass over feed in the trough while the sweep means of the set through which the trailing end of the trough is passing at any given time arrest feed in the trough so it drops off the trailing end. Improved means for selectively controlling relative movement between deposited feed and the trough includes: 1. Sweep means in which a solid sweep panel occupies an angle of about 30* to 35* with respect to the trough floor as it is arresting deposited feed; 2. Sweep means which includes both a solid sweep panel for arresting the movement of free flowing material and associated sweep tine means for arresting the movement of dense material which the panel may not penetrate; and 3. Means for elevating selected sweep panels of each set as the trough passes under the selected panels so that the panels contact feed only when they are arresting it to be dropped off the trailing end of the trough.

Description

United States Patent Robert G. Ferris Harvard, 111.;

Allen K. Gillette, Belvidere, Ill. [21] Appl. No. 829,933

[72] inventors [22] Filed June 3, 1969 [45] Patented Feb. 9, 1971 [73] Assignee Starline Inc.

a corporation of Delaware [54] SWEEP SHUTTLE ANIMAL FEEDER 11 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

23 .25 40 0 1- Tim-m Primary Examiner-Aldrich F Medbery Attorney-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord ABSTRACT: A sweep shuttle animal feeder of the type having a feed trough which reciprocates above a feed bunk that is about twice the length of the trough so that feed deposited in the reciprocating trough from a feed supply station above the midpoint of the bunk may be dropped from the trough along the bunk by the action of two sets of sweep means that are pivoted above the path of travel of the trough with a set on each side of the feed supply station to selectively control relative movement between the deposited feed and the trough. The sweep means of the set through which the leading end of 'tlie'tffighis passing at anygiven Erma pass over feed in the trough while the sweep means of the set through which the trailing end of the trough is passing at any given time arrest feed in the trough so it drops off the trailing end. Improved means for selectively controlling relative movement between deposited feed and the trough includes:

11 Sweepmeans in which a solid sweep panel occupies an angle of about 30 to 35 with respect to the trough floor asit is arresting deposited feed;

2. Sweep means which includes both a solid sweep panel for arresting the movement of free flowing material and associated sweep tine means for arresting the movement of dense material which the panel may not penetrate; and

3. Means for elevating selected sweep panels of each set as the trough passes under the selected panels so that the panels contact feed only when they are arresting it to be dropped off the trailing end of the trough.

PATENTEUFEB-samn SHEET 1 UF4 PATENTEU FEB 91am sum 2 or 4 SWEEP SHUTTLE ANIMAL FEEDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A Any device for filling animalfeed bunks such as those used for cattle feeding must be capable .of' handling material the characteristics of which vary widely both because of differences in the types of feed and because of seasonal variations in them. Thus, for example,'a sweep shuttle feeder which is satisfactory for handling relatively loose granular feed may be relatively unsatisfactory for distributing haylage which can deposit in the feed trough in a dense mass which may not be penetrated by the solid, panellike sweep members of prior art shuttle feeders. I y

In addition,.it is found that in the seasons when haylage contains large quantities of lignin, the lignin can form a gummy layer on the floor of thefeed trough which is capable of causing balls of haylage to form under the leading edge of a panel sweep; and the combination of the sticky trough floor and the compact masses of haylage can actually cause damage to. the sweeps, the trough floor .or other parts of the mechanism because of its high frictional resistance to movement relative to the trough floor; I g

Finally, it is found thatin handling certain types of light, granular feed the sweeps fail to ride freely over the feed in'the, trough when they should, and thus some feed may be pushed back and forth without being discharged. Under theseconditions there may be feed material in the central area of the SUMMARY or THE INVENTION The sweep means of a sweep shuttle feeder may be regarded broadly as means for selectively controlling relative movement between deposited feed and the feed trough. The present application discloses and'claims improved means for-effecting such selective control of relative movement between the deposited feed and the trough. In particular, the improved means of the present disclosure is directed toward eliminating or ameliorating each of the heretofore discussed problems.

First. it has been learned that bymountingisweep tines in cooperative relationship with the sweep panels, but permitting the tines to'pivot independently of the panels, the panels and the tines cooperate in arresting material of various types so that it may drop off the trailing end of the trough. Thus, if a mass of haylage in the trough is sufficiently dense that it is difficult for the panels to penetrate it, so that they tend to slide over the top or penetrate only a short' distance when they should be penetrating the material allthe way to the trough floor, the tines dig into the, material and cooperate with the panelsin arresting the movement of thematerial so that it may drop off the trailing end of the feed trough. 7

Further, careful field observation of the operation of sweep shuttle feeders handling high lignin haylage has proved that the angle of the sweep panel members relative to the floor, of the trough when they are in a position to discharge feed should be between 30 and 40 with reference to the trough floor. An

with such means being inoperative to elevate the selected sweep panels when the trailing end of the trough is moving through the set whichiincludes' the selected sweep panels. Preferably this action is produced by a simple inclined cam plate which is mounted upon the wall of the feed trough and cooperates with a pivoted cam follower having a finger that rides along the inclined cam and thus is moved into engagement with the sweep panel member so as to lift it and provide a space between the panel member and the trough floor. On the returnmovement of the feed trough with the trailing end of the trough passing through the set of sweep means which includes a selected sweep panel the cam follower is moved away from the selected sweep panel so as not to affect it as it is arresting the material in the trough.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic sideelevational view of a trough illustrated in solid lines at one end of its path of travel angle which exceeds 40 provides a sufficient vertical ,com-

ponent of force to cause excessive friction and overloading of the shuttle feeder drive. At an angle as high as 45 the sweeps may actually be forced past a perpendicular position relative to the trough floor by springing of the floor or bending of the and in broken lines at the other end of its path of travel FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially as indicated along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view on an enlarged scale showing one end of the feed trough and two of the sweep means of one set of sweep means; FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of a sweep means;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentaryplan view showing the structure illustrated in FIG. 4 from above;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of a sweep means shaft and stop;

FIG. 7 isan end elevational view taken as indicated along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

' FIG. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view illustrating a selected sweep panel member in solid lines in its normal position resting on the trough floor and in broken lines in the position which it occupies when moved by the elevating means so as to pass over a small quantity of feed inthe trough;

FIG. 9 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view illustrating the apparatus of the present invention at the midpoint of its path of travel and moving in the direction indicated by the arrow;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the position occupied by a sweep means at the left hand side of FIG. 9

when the feed trough is moving in the direction of the arrow;.

and

I FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 illustrating the same sweep'means in a position which it may occupy in the handling of haylage as the trough is moving in the direction of the ar- DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and referring first to FIGS. 1 to 3, the present structure includes a feed bunk B; supporting means indicated generally at 15; a feed trough indicated generally at 16 which is mounted for reciprocating movement on the supporting means above the feed bunk; a set of sweep means 17 and a set of sweep means 18 which are on opposite sides of a feed supply station 19; and drive means 20 for reciprocating the feed trough.

The supporting means 15 include hangers 21 which may be bolted to any supporting structure such as the rafters of a barn or, in the case of an outdoor feed bunk, a separate wooden framework which includes cross members W carried upon any desired supporting members which may be mounted on the sides of the feed bunk or in the ground alongside the feed bunk. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, at the lower ends of the hangers 21 are angle members 22 which support a pair of continuous, parallel rails 23 from'which the feed trough I6 is suspended for reciprocating movement. Mounted upon the rails 23 at intervals are brackets 24 which are mounted in pairs with the brackets of a pair being transversely aligned with one another with each pair of brackets serving to support a sweep means, indicated generally at 25 for the sweep means of the left-

hand set

17, and 26 for the sweep means of the right-hand set 18.

The feed trough 16 is a sheet metal structure which is generally U-shaped in cross section so that it has a bottom 27 and side walls 28 which terminate at their upper ends in outwardly extending flanges 29 beneath which are longitudinal structural members 30. The trough is preferably made in several sections of convenient lengths which are connected together by splice means 31.

The floor 27 of the trough is open at both ends, and longitudinal angle members 32 and inclined members 33 cooperate to support feed discharge chutes 34 at the two ends of the trough.

Trough mounting brackets 35 are secured to the flanges 29 at intervals and carry inwardly extending pins 36 on which are journaled grooved wheels 37 which ride on the tracks 23 to support the trough.

Both of the sweep means 25 and 26 are identical, so only one set of sweep means 25 will be described in detail. As best seen in FIG. 9 the sweep means of each 'of the

sets

17 and 18 are adapted to swing outwardly with respect to the feed supply station 19, so that the sweep means 25 and the sweep means 26 pivot in opposite directions with respect to the center line of the unit.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 to 7, the sweep means 25 includes a transverse shaft 38 which is pivotally mounted in the brackets 24, and keyed on one end of the shaft is an angle member 39 which is seen in FIG. 7 to be at an angle of 98 to a vertical diameter through the shaft 38 so that, as seen in FIGS. 2, 3, 8 and 11, when the sweep means is hanging free a finger 39a of the angle member rests upon a horizontal flange 23a of the track 23 to serve as a stop limiting pivotal movement of the shaft 38.

Pivotally mounted upon the shaft 38 is a sweep panel member, indicated generally at 40, which is formed of a pair of angle members 41 each of which has an aperture web 41a by means of which it is pivoted on the shaft, and a sweep panel 42 which is welded to the angle members 41 and has a rolled lower end 42a.

Sweep tine means comprises a pair of sweep tines 43 each of which is best seen in FIG. to constitute a substantially channel shaped member which engages a key 38a on the shaft 38 and is clamped by means of a bolt and but 44. Thus, the tine 43 pivots only with the shaft 38 and the stop 39 prevents the tines from swinging past a generally vertical position toward the feed supply means 19.

As best seen in FIG. 3, when the sweep means 25 is hanging free as seen at the left side of the drawing the upper edge 42b of the sweep panel 42 bears against the tines 43 so that the sweep panel member 40 occupies the position illustrated in the drawings.

FIGS. 9, and 11 illustrate rather schematically the cooperative action of the sweep panel 40 and the sweep tine means 43 in handling different types of material. In FIG. 9 the feed is a relatively granular material which is readily penetrated by the curled end 420 of the sweep panel 40; and in that situation the sweep panel functions substantially independently in arresting material so that it drops off the trailing end of the feed trough 16. FIGS. 10 and 11, on the other hand, indicate a condition such as may exist in extremely densely packed haylage where, as seen in FIG. 11, the sweep panel 40 may penetrate the material very slightly and merely arrest a rather thin layer of material near the top, while movement of the mass of material relative to the trough floor 27 is arrested by the action of the tine means 43 which are sufficiently pointed to dig into the mass and hold it. The conditions in FIG. 11 are somewhat exaggerated, as there would rarely be circumstances in which the feed discharged along the trough would be so dense that the sweep panel member could penetrate it as little as is shown in FIG. 11. However, FIG. l1

does illustrate the principle of cooperation which exists between the sweep panel member 40 and the sweep tine means 43.

As best seen at the right-hand side of FIG. 2 and in FIG. 8. the means for selectively moving material relative to the trough 16 also includes means, indicated generally at 45, for elevating a selected sweep panel member 40 when the leading end of the trough 16 is passing through the set (in this case the set 17) of sweep means which includes the selected sweep panel member. The elevating means 45 includes a cam device 46 which is fabricated from an angle member and mounted upon one of the longitudinal trough flanges 29 so that a web of said angle member which has an inclined cam face 47 projects into the path of a cam follower pin 48 which is pivotally mounted upon the shaft 38 by means of bifurcated arm means 49. As seen in FIG. 2 one end portion 48a of the pin 48 slides along the cam surface 47 while the other end portion 48b is aligned with one of the angle members 41 of the sweep panel 40. Thus, as the pin 48 rides up the cam surface 47 it is moved into contact with the sweep panel angle member 41 and elevates the latter as seen in the broken line position of FIG. 8. When the pin 48 is again clear of the cam member 46 by reason of continued movement of the trough 16 to the left as viewed in FIG. 8,- it pivots clear of thesweep panel angle member 41 so that the sweep panel member 40 is again supported by the floor 27 of the trough. Thus, a small amount of material such as that seen in FIG. 8, which is insufflcient to lift the sweep panel member 40, is permitted to pass beneath the elevated sweep panel member and be arrested when the sweep panel member is again resting on the floor 27 of the trough with the small quantity of material between the rolled end 420 of the panel member and the adjacent end of the trough.

It is apparent from air examination of FIG. 8 that as the trough moves in the direction opposite to that of the arrow in FIG. 8 the cam follower pin 48 rides up a reverse cam surface 47a which swings it away from the sweep panel member 40 so that it does not interfere with the operation of the sweep panel member in arresting feed so that the feed may drop off the trailing end of the trough.

As seen in FIGS. 1, 3, 8 and 9, the length of a sweep panel member 40 is such that when the rolled end 420 of the sweep panel 42 is supported upon the floor 27 of the trough the sweep member makes an angle of approximately 32 with respect to the floor 27 of the trough, so that, as heretofore described, the sweep panel 40 has a relatively large horizontal component of force and a relatively small vertical component of force in order to facilitate the handling of high lignin content haylage.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 9, the feed supply means 19 of the apparatus includes a hopperlike member from which feed is deposited upon the floor 27 of the feed trough 16. Since the drawings with respect to the feed supply means are substantially entirely diagrammatic, neither a feed supply source nor a gate for controlling the flow of feed from the hopper is illustrated in the drawings.

The means 20 for reciprocating the trough includes an electric motor 50 on the shaft of which is a drive pulley 51 which receives a drive belt 52 that is also trained around a large drive pulley 53. Power from the drive pulley 53 goes through reduction gearing (not shown) at the output end of which is a capstan 54. A drive cable 55 has its opposite ends resiliently connected to brackets 56 on the ends of the angle members 32, and the cable 55 is wrapped about the capstan for three or more turns so that when the capstan is rotated in one direction the cable 55 pulls the feed trough 16 one way, while when the capstan is rotated in the opposite direction it pulls the feed trough the other way. As seen in FIG. 3 the cushioning of the ends of the cable 55 is provided by compression springs 57 which surround the shanks of eye bolts 58 to which the cable ends are connected, with the springs 57 being pressed between the flanges 56 and flanged nuts 59 which are screwed onto the ends of the eye bolts.

axis as the sweep panel member.

Reversing of the drive for the feed trough-16 is accomplished in the conventional manner by limit switches at the two ends of the supporting means '15 which are contacted by switch actuating fingers (not shown) mounted on both ends of the trough 16. I

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the an.

We claim:

1. In a sweep shuttle animal feeder which has a supporting frame and track means, a feed bunk beneath said track means, a feed trough which is approximately half the length of said feed bunk reciprocable on said track means, said trough having a floor, a feed supply station above the midpoint of said feed bunk to deposit feed in the trough as the latter reciprocates, and means for selectively moving deposited feed relative to the trough floor comprising at leastone sweep means positioned at each side of said feed supply station and pivoted on a transverse pivot axis which is a predetermined distance above the trough floor, said sweep means being so related to the trough that as the latter moves along the feed bunk the sweep means positioned at the side of the feed supply station being traversed by the leading end of the trough passes over feed in the trough while the sweep means positioned at the side of the feed supply station being traversed by the trailing end of the trough arrests feed in the trough so that it drops off said trailing end, improved means for selectively moving feed relative to the trough comprising:

each of said sweep means comprises a sweep panel member which is longer than the distance from the transverse pivot axis to the trough floor; sweep tine means; and means mounting the sweep tine means for pivotal movement independently of said sweep panel member but in cooperative .relationship therewith, said" tine means digging into fibrous material which the panel member tends not to penetrate, whereby the panel member and the tine means cooperate in arresting material for discharge from the trailing end of the trough. 2. The improved means of claim lin which eachsweep' tine means is suspended between the associated sweep'panel member and the material floor; and

means for elevating selected sweep panels of each set of sweep means said so that when the sweep means passes over material in the trough the tine means is beneath the panel member. 3. The improved means of claim 2 in which the sweep tine means is shorter than the distance from its pivotal mounting means to the trough floor, and stop means is provided to prevent the sweep tine means from swinging toward the supply station beyond a plane substantially perpendicular to the trough floor.

4. The improved means of claim 1 in which the means pivotally mounting the sweep tine means 5. The improved means of claim 1 in which each of the sweep panel members is of sufiicient length that when the through is'beneath the panel member with the free end of the latter resting on the trough floor said panel member is positioned at an angle of approximately 30 to 40 with reference to said floor.

6. The improved means of claim 1 which includes means for elevating a sweep panel to provide a space between the end of said sweep panel and the trough floor while the trough passes beneath said sweep panel with its leading end traversing the is on the same pivot I side of the feed supply means at which said sweep panel is positioned, said elevatingmeans being inoperative to elevate said sweep panel when the trailing end of the trough is traversing said side of the feed supply means.

7. The improved means of claim 6 in which the elevating means includes a cammember which is mounted on the trough and has ap inclined cam surface, and acam follower operatively associated with each selected sweep panel, said cam follower being movable up said cam surface and being simultaneously eng'ageable with said selected sweep panel to elevate the latter when the leading end of the trough passes through the set of sweep means which includes the selected sweep panel, said cam follower being free of engagement with the selected sweep panel when the trailing end of the trough passes through said set of sweep means.

8. The improved means of claim 7 in which the cam follower comprises an arm pivoted on the shaft and extending downwardly adjacent the selected sweep panel, and a transverse pin on the free end of said arm, said pin moving up the inclined cam surface and being thereby caused to engage said selected sweep panel.

9. In a sweep shuttle animal feeder which has a supporting frame and track means, a feed bunk beneath said track means,

a feed through which is approximately half the length of said feed bunk reciprocable on said track means, said trough having a floor, a feed supply station above the midpoint of said feed bunk to deposit feed in the trough as the latter reciprocates, and means for selectively moving deposited feed relative to the trough floor comprising a set of sweep means positioned at each side of said feed supply station, each of said sets including a plurality of sweep means pivotally mounted on parallel transverse pivot axes spaced along said frame a predetermined disiance above the trough floor, said sweep means being so related to the trough that as the latter moves along the feed bunk the sweep means of the set positioned at the side of the feed supply station being traversed by the leading end of the trough pass over feed in the trough while the sweep means of the set positioned at the side of the feed supply station being traversed by the trailing end of the trough arrest feed in the trough so that it drops off said trailing end, improved means for selectively moving feed relative to the trough comprising:

each of said sweep means comprises a sweep panel member which is longer than the distance from the transverse pivot axis to the trough floor; and means for elevating selected sweep panels of each set of sweep means said elevating means including a cam member which is mountedon the trough and has an inclined cam surface, and a cam follower operatively associated with each selected sweep panel, said cam follower being movable up said cam surface and being simultaneously engageable with said selected sweep panel to elevate the latter when the leading end of the trough passes through the set of sweep means which includes the selected sweep panel, said cam follower being free of engagement with the selected sweep panel when the trailing end of the trough passes through said set of sweep means. 10. The improved means of claim 9 in which the selected sweep panel of each set is the sweep panel nearest the feed supply station.

11. The improved means of claim 9 in which the cam follower comprises an arm pivoted on the .shaft and extending downwardly adjacent the selected sweep panel, and a transverse pin on the free end of said arm, said pin moving up the

Claims

1. In a sweep shuttle animal feeder which has a supporting frame and track means, a feed bunk beneath said track means, a feed trough which is approximately half the length of said feed bunk reciprocable on said track means, said trough having a floor, a feed supply station above the midpoint of said feed bunk to deposit feed in the trough as the latter reciprocates, and means for selectively moving deposited feed relative to the trough floor comprising at least one sweep means positioned at each side of said feed supply station and pivoted on a transverse pivot axis which is a predetermined distance above the trough floor, said sweep means being so related to the trough that as the latter moves along the feed bunk the sweep means positioned at the side of the feed supply station being traversed by the leading end of the trough passes over feed in the trough while the sweep means positioned at the side of the feed supply statioN being traversed by the trailing end of the trough arrests feed in the trough so that it drops off said trailing end, improved means for selectively moving feed relative to the trough comprising: each of said sweep means comprises a sweep panel member which is longer than the distance from the transverse pivot axis to the trough floor; sweep tine means; and means mounting the sweep tine means for pivotal movement independently of said sweep panel member but in cooperative relationship therewith, said tine means digging into fibrous material which the panel member tends not to penetrate, whereby the panel member and the tine means cooperate in arresting material for discharge from the trailing end of the trough.

2. The improved means of claim 1 in which each sweep tine means is suspended between the associated sweep panel member and the material floor; and means for elevating selected sweep panels of each set of sweep means said so that when the sweep means passes over material in the trough the tine means is beneath the panel member.

3. The improved means of claim 2 in which the sweep tine means is shorter than the distance from its pivotal mounting means to the trough floor, and stop means is provided to prevent the sweep tine means from swinging toward the supply station beyond a plane substantially perpendicular to the trough floor.

4. The improved means of claim 1 in which the means pivotally mounting the sweep tine means is on the same pivot axis as the sweep panel member.

5. The improved means of claim 1 in which each of the sweep panel members is of sufficient length that when the through is beneath the panel member with the free end of the latter resting on the trough floor said panel member is positioned at an angle of approximately 30* to 40* with reference to said floor.

6. The improved means of claim 1 which includes means for elevating a sweep panel to provide a space between the end of said sweep panel and the trough floor while the trough passes beneath said sweep panel with its leading end traversing the side of the feed supply means at which said sweep panel is positioned, said elevating means being inoperative to elevate said sweep panel when the trailing end of the trough is traversing said side of the feed supply means.

7. The improved means of claim 6 in which the elevating means includes a cam member which is mounted on the trough and has an inclined cam surface, and a cam follower operatively associated with each selected sweep panel, said cam follower being movable up said cam surface and being simultaneously engageable with said selected sweep panel to elevate the latter when the leading end of the trough passes through the set of sweep means which includes the selected sweep panel, said cam follower being free of engagement with the selected sweep panel when the trailing end of the trough passes through said set of sweep means.

9. In a sweep shuttle animal feeder which has a supporting frame and track means, a feed bunk beneath said track means, a feed through which is approximately half the length of said feed bunk reciprocable on said track means, said trough having a floor, a feed supply station above the midpoint of said feed bunk to deposit feed in the trough as the latter reciprocates, and means for selectively moving deposited feed relative to the trough floor comprising a set of sweep means positioned at each side of said feed supply station, each of said sets including a plurality of sweep means pivotally mounted on parallel transverse pivot axes spaced along said frame a predetermined distance above the trough floor, said sweep means being so related to the trough tHat as the latter moves along the feed bunk the sweep means of the set positioned at the side of the feed supply station being traversed by the leading end of the trough pass over feed in the trough while the sweep means of the set positioned at the side of the feed supply station being traversed by the trailing end of the trough arrest feed in the trough so that it drops off said trailing end, improved means for selectively moving feed relative to the trough comprising: each of said sweep means comprises a sweep panel member which is longer than the distance from the transverse pivot axis to the trough floor; and means for elevating selected sweep panels of each set of sweep means said elevating means including a cam member which is mounted on the trough and has an inclined cam surface, and a cam follower operatively associated with each selected sweep panel, said cam follower being movable up said cam surface and being simultaneously engageable with said selected sweep panel to elevate the latter when the leading end of the trough passes through the set of sweep means which includes the selected sweep panel, said cam follower being free of engagement with the selected sweep panel when the trailing end of the trough passes through said set of sweep means.

10. The improved means of claim 9 in which the selected sweep panel of each set is the sweep panel nearest the feed supply station.

11. The improved means of claim 9 in which the cam follower comprises an arm pivoted on the shaft and extending downwardly adjacent the selected sweep panel, and a transverse pin on the free end of said arm, said pin moving up the inclined cam surface and being thereby caused to engage said selected sweep panel.