WO1986002234A1

WO1986002234A1 - Process and device for apportioning fodder

Info

Publication number: WO1986002234A1
Application number: PCT/EP1985/000524
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yigal Dayagi; Sigismund FLÖTER; Willy Meyer
Original assignee: Alfa-Laval Agrar Gmbh
Priority date: 1984-10-20
Filing date: 1985-10-09
Publication date: 1986-04-24
Also published as: DE3438597A1; EP0232274A1

Abstract

A process for apportioning fodder to at least one animal, in which a specific quantity of fodder is determined according to the relevant needs of the animal, the weight of the quantity of fodder is measured, and this quantity of fodder is apportioned to the animal. For this purpose, the fodder is fed from at least one fodder container (1) into at least one dosing disc (2). The quantity of fodder envisaged for the animal is dispensed over the edge of the dosing disc in the direction of the animal. The weight of the particular quantity dispensed is determined, and dispensing of the fodder is suspended when the required quantity of fodder has been reached.

Description

METHOD. AND DEVICE FOR ALLOCATING ^' VO'N FUTTER

The invention relates to a method for allocating feed to at least one animal, according to its particular need a corresponding amount of the feed is determined, the weight of which is measured and allocated to the animal.

In addition, the invention relates to a device for the allocation of feed from a feed container to at least one animal, according to its particular need determining a corresponding amount of the feed, the weight of which on an aa. ge is measured and assigned to the animal by an allocation device.

Animals from which humans expect best performance are fed not only with roughage, but also with concentrate. This allocation of concentrate feed serves in particular to increase performance. Since the concentrate is expensive, each animal should only be allocated an amount of concentrate that corresponds to its performance.

The individual allocation of concentrated feed requires a considerable amount, especially with large livestock. borrowed time. In addition, it must be expected that the accuracy of the allocation depends strongly on human inadequacies, particularly in the dimension of the amount of feed to be allocated. For this reason, feed wagons have already been constructed which are driven through the barn. This carriage stops at each animal and allocates the amount of feed intended for this animal. The amount of feed allocated in each case is heavily dependent on the weighing devices used. As a rule, relatively imprecise scales are used, so that one- on the one hand, an * overfeeding of the animals must be expected. Such overfeeding can lead to animal death. On the other hand, the inaccurate allocation of concentrated feed means that the cost of feeding is in no economic relation to the use of the animals, so that animal husbandry is not worthwhile from the point of view of profit generation.

The object of the present invention is therefore to improve the method of the type mentioned in the introduction in such a way that an exact feed allocation is made possible.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the feed is given from at least one feed container to at least one metering disc, over the edge of which the amount intended for the animal is released in the direction of the animal, that the weight 'of the quantity released is determined and the Allocation of the feed is interrupted after reaching the intended amount.

With the aid of this method, the amount of feed to which each animal can be allocated can be quickly and very precisely assigned to each animal in a relatively short time. The amount of feed falling off the metering disc is relatively large per unit of time. Nevertheless, the dropping of the feed from the metering disc can be stopped very quickly when the intended amount of feed has been reached. To determine the amount of feed falling off the metering disc, it can be introduced into a weighing container and weighed with it. On the other hand, the amount of feed remaining in the feed container can be weighed and the amount of feed allocated can be determined from the weight loss. In both cases, the Feed slice dropping feed very quickly and directly to the animal to be cared for. This ensures that it receives the amount of feed it is entitled to without the risk of overfeeding.

In the case of the feeding devices used hitherto, the feed had to be allocated by operating personnel who drove with the feeding device to the individual animals. Depending on how quickly this operator performed the feed allocation, the animals were fed over a long or short period of time. In the case of a large herd of cattle in particular, the operator's labor was blocked for a relatively long period of time.

Another object of the present invention is therefore to be able to allocate the feed quickly and nevertheless precisely.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that a metering disc is arranged in the conveying direction of the feed to be allocated between the feed container and the allocating device, the level of which extends essentially transversely to the conveying direction of the feed and which is located between the balance and the Feed container extending shaft is arranged, which has a smaller cross-section in the feed direction of the feed above the metering disc as a discharge spout and a higher cross-section than its height for the passage of the feed to be metered. - _

In this way, the metering disc is given the largest possible cross-section from which the feed is scraped off into the shaft. The larger this cross section, the greater the amount of feed that can be released into the shaft at a comparatively low stripping speed. The lower this stripping speed, the more precisely the amount of feed that is stripped by the metering disc can be metered. At a low wiping speed, the dosing process can be stopped quickly when the amount of feed to be allocated has been reached. This prevents further feed from falling off the metering disc even after the amount of feed to be allocated has been reached.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the outlet funnel has a central axis which is directed approximately towards a center of the metering disc and a lower filling opening facing the metering disc, the distance of which from the metering disc opposite the outlet funnel is one of the consistency of the particular one to be metered Feed-dependent, desired filling level of the metering disc corresponds. This arrangement ensures that the feed emerging from the discharge hopper backs up on the metering disc at a height which prevents the feed from accidentally falling onto the balance over the edge of the metering disc. Even when shaken, the feed stays on for as long Metering lie w until it stripped in a _PRE-b amount enes on their edge towards the weighing approx.

Further details of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings in which a bevor¬ ferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of beispiels¬ ^'.

The drawings show:

1: a schematic side view of a feeding device,

2: another side view of the feeding device,

3: a plan view of the webs covered by a feed slide on the metering disc,

4: a side view of a feed pusher designed as a brush,

Fig. 5: an enlarged view of a. Feed pusher,

6: an enlarged view of the closure flaps of a weighing container in a side view,

7: an enlarged view of the closure flaps of a weighing container in a top view,

8: a plan view of a closure flap half corresponding to the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7, 9: a schematic representation of a feeding device equipped with a plurality of feed containers and

Fig. ₀ : a side view of a screw feeder.

The method according to the invention is expediently carried out using a device shown in the drawings. This essentially consists of a feed container 1, a metering disc 2, a weighing container 3 and a metering device 4. The metering disc 2 is arranged in the direction of a longitudinal axis 5 extending through the feed container 1 below the feed container 1, so that one is in the feed container 1 located feed 6 slips through the feed container 1 in the direction of the ^• metering disc 2. In the falling direction of this chuck 6, the weighing container 3 is suspended from a holder 7 below the metering disc 2. The weighing container 3 is closed at its lower end facing away from the metering disc 2 by discharge flaps 8. These discharge flaps 8 are pivotally mounted about axes 9. Lifting magnets 10 are articulated to the discharge flaps 8 and are attached to the weighing container 3. Using these solenoids 1o the Austragklappen 8 may be pivoted and thus the weigh bin ^'3 in the direction of the outlet tube 11, 12 are opened which are disposed in the direction of emerging from the feed unit 1 chuck 6 below the weighing container. 3

The feed container 1 has at its upper end facing away from the metering disc 2 a fill opening 13 through which the feed 6 is filled into the feed container 1. Below the filling - - Opening 13 of the feed container 1 initially has perpendicular walls 14 which, depending on the design of the feed container 1, can either be flat or curved, depending on whether the feed container 1 has a cylindrical or rectangular cross section. Depending on the capacity of the feed container 1, the walls 14 form, after an initially vertical course, a more or less large piece below the filling opening, an outlet funnel 15 through which the feed 6 is directed in the direction of the metering disc 2. At its end opposite the filling opening 13, the feed container 1 has a filling opening 16 which is considerably smaller than the filling opening 13 with regard to the formation of the discharge funnel 15. The filling opening 16 is dimensioned in such a way that a quantity of feed 6 corresponding to the respective metering speed can exit through it onto the metering disc 2.

The filling opening 16 is arranged so high in the direction of the filling opening 13 above the metering disc 2 that, depending on the consistency of the feed 6 stored in the feed container 1, it does not have an edge 17 formed by the metering disc due to its own weight towards the! ^Λ can pass 7iegebehälter third

The metering disc 2 is fastened to the outlet funnel 15 at a distance 18 determined in this way with the aid of a holder 19. This holder 19 can be designed as a linkage connected to the discharge funnel 15 on the one hand and to the metering disc 2 on the other hand. This Ge rod is aligned so that the metering disc 2 spans a plane that extends approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 5. On this ensures that the entire feed 6 present in the feed container 1 falls from the discharge funnel 15 onto the metering disc 2.

A space corresponding to the distance 18 is provided between the metering disc 2 and the filling opening 16, in which a feed slide is rotatably mounted about a central axis 20. This feed slide can be designed as a brush 21 which, with its bristles 22, rubs on the metering disc 2 when rotating about the central axis 20. In each case two brushes 21 are fastened opposite one another in the region of the edge 17 on an arm 23 which in turn is firmly connected to the central axis 20. However, it is also conceivable to arrange the brushes 21 differently from one another on the metering disc 2. Finally, it is also possible to provide only one or more than two brushes on the metering disc 2.

The metering disc 2 is provided in the region of its edge 17 with an elevation 24 pointing in the direction of the discharge funnel 15; the feed 6 must be pushed by the brushes 21 via this elevation 24 so that it can fall into the weighing container 3. The brushes 21 sweep over the metering disc 2 in a region which adjoins the elevation 24 in the direction of the central axis 20.

The arm 23 is arranged within the space corresponding to the distance 18 such that it runs at a height of this space corresponding to approximately half the distance 18. In this way it is ensured that an approximately always uniform flow of the feed 6 is conveyed out of the discharge funnel 15 over the edge 17. In the direction of the weighing container 3, a drive motor 25 is attached below the metering disc 2, which can be designed as a geared motor. This geared motor has an output shaft which is connected to the arm 23. This output shaft can extend through the central axis 20 so that the arm 23 can be connected directly to the output shaft.

In addition, a holder 26 is fastened to an underside of the metering disc 2 facing the weighing container 3, on which the weighing container 3 is suspended. This holder 26 can be designed in the form of a double angle, one leg of which is fastened to the underside of the metering disc 2, while the weighing container 3 is suspended from an lower leg 27 projecting into the weighing container 3 via an elastic connection 28. A yoke 29 extends between the two legs of this double angle and runs approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis 5. This yoke 29 has moved so far from the center of the metering disc 2 towards its edge 17 that a bending moment can form in the lower leg 27 under the influence of the weight introduced into the lower leg 27 by the weighing container 3. The elastic connection 28 is articulated approximately at a point on the lower leg 27 which lies in the course of the longitudinal axis 5, so that the weighing container 3 hangs approximately centrally below the outlet funnel 15 and thus the metering disc 2.

The lower leg 27 is formed by a bending rod, the bending of which is measured by strain gauges. In this way, the bee supply of the lower leg 27 can be measured under the influence of the weight which is introduced from the weighing container 3 into the lower leg 27. The increase in this bending moment under the influence of the chuck 6 entering the weighing container 3 is a measure of the amount of chuck present in the weighing container 3.

Depending on the number of outlet tubes 11, 12, 3 discharge flaps 8 are provided at the lower end of the weighing container. A discharge flap 8 is assigned to each discharge tube 11, 12. In the region of the ends 30, 31 of the discharge pipes 11, 12 facing the discharge flaps 8, these are separated from one another by a flexible partition wall 32. This extends from a common line of the tubes 11, 12 in which they meet, in the direction of a common tip line 33 which the discharge flaps 8 form in the region of their edges facing the outlet tubes 11, 12. In the area of this tip line 33. The edges of the discharge flaps 8 collide when they are closed, the discharge flaps being essentially designed as flat plates which run approximately plane-parallel from side walls 34, 35 of the weighing container 3. These plates are Provide in the conveying direction of the feed to be distributed on their mutually opposite lateral boundaries with boundary walls 58, 59, each running in the direction of the tip line 33 and impinging their edges 6o, 61 on one another in a vertical plane running through the tip line 33 two cooperating discharge flaps 8 each along the tip line 33 in i have base edges 62. Both edges 6o, 61 and base edges 62 u

are provided with flexible seals that act upon one another in the closed state of the fill opening 37. These flexible seals prevent individual grains from being caught by the edges 6o, 61 and the base edges 62 when the opening 37 is closed and from being pinched between the flaps 8. Such grains prevent a sufficient seal between the edges 6o, 61 and the. Base edges 62 are achieved with the consequence that feed flowing into the discharge line 38 leaves the discharge 38 uncontrollably via the edges 60, 61 or base edges 62 which do not close tightly. The seals can consist, for example, of a bristle edge 63, which is attached to both the edges 6o, 61 and. extends the base edges 62. However, it is also possible to use other flexible seals, for example rubber beads.

These side walls 34, 35 run in a funnel shape from a filling opening 36 of the weighing container 3 provided in the area of the metering disk 2 in the direction of a filling opening 37 of the weighing container 3 which is closed by the discharge flaps 8. The planes spanned by the flat plates of the discharge flaps 8 form in the closed state The discharge flaps 8 were in the form of a discharge funnel 38 which adjoins the funnel formed by the weighing container 3 in the direction of the discharge tube 11, 12. The formed by the discharge flaps 8 11 th side walls of this discharge hopper 38 run parallel to the side walls 34, 35 of the weighing container 3 at a distance from each bearing block 39. These bearing blocks 39 are fixedly connected to the discharge flaps 8 on the one hand and pivotable in the axes 9 on the other hand stored. It is conceivable to provide a common axis 9 for both bearing blocks 39, around which the discharge flaps 8 are each pivoted in opposite directions, in order to open the weighing container 3 in the direction of the respectively associated discharge tube 11, 12.

The lifting magnets 10, which are provided for moving the discharge flaps 8, are also articulated to these bearing blocks 39. The lifting magnets 10 are articulated outside the axes 9 in the direction of the plates forming the discharge flaps 8. Since the magnets are arranged in the direction of the side walls 34, 35 forming the weighing container 3, their movements run in the direction of these side walls 34, 35. The closer the lifting magnets 10 are articulated to the axes 9, the larger the opening - Movement movements of the discharge flaps 8 even with small movements of the solenoids 1o.

In order to ensure that the partition wall 32 extends in the direction of the tip line 33, there is a guide 40 between the partition wall 32 on the one hand and the common axis 9, about which the two discharge flaps 8 are pivotably mounted. Since this axis 9, in the case of symmetrically designed discharge flaps 8, must lie on a center line extending through the discharge funnel 38, it is ensured that the partition wall 32 aligned with this axis 9 exactly separates the one outlet pipe 11 from the other outlet pipe 12, so that, depending on the opening, one of the two discharge flaps 8 - u - the entire amount of feed lying in the discharge hopper 38 flows exclusively in the direction of the outlet pipe 11, 12, to which the opened discharge flap 8 is assigned.

The elastic connection 28 is fastened to a cross strut 40 which extends transversely through the weighing container 3 and is fastened to the mutually facing inner sides of the side walls 34, 35. The aim here is that at the beginning of the weighing process the cross strut 4o runs in a plane that is plane-parallel to the plane spanned by the metering disc 2. In addition, it is desirable that the elastic connection be connected to the cross strut 4o in the region of its center, which is approximately exactly half the length of the cross strut 4o between those points at which the cross strut 4o with the side walls 34, 35 is connected.

The metering disc 2 is arranged in the filling opening 36 of the weighing container 3. The filling opening 36 has a cross-section which is larger by a constant distance 41 than the cross-section of the metering disc 2 when the weighing container 3 hangs in its idle position so that its center line is approximately on the longitudinal axis 5 runs. This distance 41 is dimensioned so large that a sufficient amount of feed 6 can pass through it when stripped from the edge 17. Depending on the size of the amount of feed 6 to be allocated per unit of time, this distance must be dimensioned .41. In this way, the metering disc 2 is arranged between the filling opening 16 and the filling opening 36 in such a way that it comes out of the filling opening 16 - - Leaving feed 6 in the filling opening 36. The filling opening 16 and the filling opening 36 form a shaft, the cross section of which is small above the metering disc 2 and so large in its area that the feed stripped from the metering disc 2 can enter the weighing container 3 through the distance 41 .

A fill level measuring device 42 can extend through the feed container 1 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 5 or parallel thereto. This fill level measuring device 42 can be designed, for example, as an electrical measuring device which measures the changes in capacity which occur under the influence of the removal of feed in the emptying feed container. Such a fill level measuring device 42 shows the respective fill level up to which the feed 6 is located within the feed container 1. If this fill level drops too far, the fill level measuring device 42 emits a signal which can be used to control various processes. For example, a corresponding signal can be used to refill the feed container 1 from a larger supply of feed 6. If this feed supply is stored at a certain point, a unit consisting of the feed container 1, the metering disc 2 and the weighing container 3 and the allocation device 4 can be moved to this feed supply in order to independently fill the feed container 1 there. As soon as the fill level measuring device 42 indicates that the feed container 1 is filled, the feed 6 can continue to flow from a corresponding fill station and the entire assembly can be moved back to the animals to be fed in order to allocate the feed. Instead of a capacitive measurement of the level, there is also a magnetic one Measurement possible in which changes in a magnetic field are measured.

Finally, it is also conceivable to provide an allotment container 43 for an additional feed within the feed container 1. This allotment container 43 can be small in terms of a comparatively small amount of the additional feed with respect to the amount of the feed 6 to be allocated. Accordingly, the additional feed is dosed with the aid of a separate control member 44.

The control element 44 can be designed as a worm drive 45, which is connected to a drive motor 47 via a coupling 46. The drive 45 is Schnecken¬ i ^e i ^nem conveying pipe 48 rotatably supports ge. A filler neck 49 opens into the delivery pipe 48 and connects the delivery pipe 48 to the feeder container 43.

On a side opposite the filler neck 49, the delivery pipe 48 is connected via an inlet pipe 5o to the weighing container 3, into which it opens. The allocated by the worm drive 45 amounts of supplementary feed passes through the Zulauf¬ tube 5o third in the weighing container there is ^"it zu¬ together with the lining 6 weighed together and allocated to achieve the desired total weight over the emptying aperture 37 animals. To prevent That a remaining amount of additional feed in the feed pipe 48 also flows unintentionally into the feed pipe 50 when the drive motor 47 is not in operation, the feed pipe 48 is installed in an obliquely upward position from the drive motor 47 in the direction of the filler neck 49 this prevents the additional feed flows through the filler neck 49 owing to its own weight into the inlet pipe 50.

Finally, it is also conceivable that two or more different types of feed are output simultaneously, depending on the needs of the animals to be fed. For this purpose, a second feed container 51 is provided in addition to the feed container 1. This can be provided with its own second weighing container 53, into which the feed 6 flows in via a second metering disc 54. The second weighing container 53 is also provided with its own second allocation device 55. This has second outlet pipes 56, which can run parallel to the outlet pipes 11, 12. However, it is also conceivable that the outlet tube 11, 12 and the second outlet tube 56 are oriented towards a common point. Finally, it is conceivable that the second feed container 52 with the feed container 1 has a common metering disc 2, which is arranged in the filling opening 36 of a common weighing container 3. In this case, a quantity of feed consisting of two different types of feed is weighed in the weighing container 3. The mixing ratio of the two types of feed depends on the ratio of the cross sections which the filling openings 16 of the two feed containers 1, 52 have.

The feed container 1 is filled with feed 6 until the fill level measuring device 42 indicates that the feed container 1 is filled. Then the feed 6 can be removed from the feed container 1. The chucks 6 occurs from ^cer emptying aperture 16 in the direction of the metering disk 2, and forms on the Do- - iψ - sierscheibe 2 a cone. The running of the feed 6 from the metering disc 2 is prevented by the design of the edge 17 which is angled in the direction of the feed container 1.

The metering process begins by setting the brushes 21 into operation via the drive motor 25. These push the chuck ^* 6 stuck on the metering disc 2 over the edge 17 into the weighing container 3. Its filling opening 37 is closed with the aid of the discharge flaps 8, so that the chuck 6 stripped from the metering disc 2 is in the discharge funnel 38 collects. The amount of feed that accumulates there presses on the discharge flaps 8, so that these are loaded into their closed position.

The weight of the feed 6 entering the weighing container 3 is measured continuously. The measurement is carried out with the aid of the lower leg 27 designed as a bending beam. The strain gauges arranged in this bending beam emit an electrical voltage corresponding to the deflection of the bending beam. This tension is measured. After a predetermined voltage value has been exceeded, the drive motor 25 is switched off via a corresponding control element, so that the movement of the brushes 21 is stopped. In this way it is prevented that additional feed 6 is stripped from the metering disc 2 in the direction of the weighing container 3. At the same time, a switching pulse is triggered which actuates one of the two solenoids 1o. This opens the discharge flap 8 connected to it, so that the chuck 6 located in the weighing container 3 via the opened discharge flap 8 into one of the two discharge flaps 8. -. - Running tube 11, 12, which is assigned to the discharge flap 8, can emerge.

Corresponding to the emptying of the weighing container 3, the deflection of the lower leg 27 and thus the tension which is emitted by the strain gauges of the bending beam is reduced. As soon as the emptying of the weighing container 3 has been indicated in this way, the lifting magnet 1o, which kept the discharge flap 8 assigned to it open, now receives a switching pulse, so that the lifting magnet 1o now the filling opening 37 of the weighing container 3 with the aid of the this assigned discharge flap 8 closes. The device is now able to measure the amount of feed required in the weighing container 3 for a next animal and to allocate this animal. For this purpose, the corresponding animal can approach a stationary device for allocating the feed. However, it is also conceivable to move the entire device in the direction of the next animal.

The metering disc 2 is at rest with respect to the feed container 1. The movement of the feed pusher, for example the brush 21, can be controlled in accordance with the amount of feed to be wiped off from the metering disc 2 per unit of time. At high speeds, a larger amount of feed is stripped from the metering disc 2 per unit of time than at a low speed. The feed pusher is expediently moved at a comparatively high speed at the start of the feed allocation. The more the weight of the feed 6 filled into the weighing container 3 approximates the desired feed amount, the more the rotational - 9 - number reduced. The fine dosing to achieve an exact feed weight is then carried out at a very low speed. For example, it is conceivable to strip off 90% of the amount of feed to be allocated from the metering disc 2 at a comparatively high speed and to discharge only the remaining 10% from the metering disc 2 at a reduced speed. In order to achieve this speed control, the drive motor 25 is expediently equipped as a corresponding gear motor.

In addition, it is conceivable to separate the metering of the feed 6 from the feed container 1 into the weighing container 3 from the allocation of the feed 6 with the aid of the allocation device 4. For example, the feed 6 can be dosed at another place, so that the feed is not allocated until the entire device has been moved to another place. This temporal separation proves to be

- zo - particularly useful if the animals to be cared for impatiently wait for the feed 6 to be allocated. In this case, the feed 6 is dosed in the area of an already satisfied animal and the allocation is only made when the device has been moved to the animal to be cared for.

The arm 23, to which the feed pusher, for example the brushes 21, are fastened, should be designed to be flexible, so that the feed pusher constantly rests on the metering disc 2 with a desired pressure. In this way it is prevented that the feed 6 sticks to the metering disk 2, for example due to moisture or heat. When using brushes 21, the metering disc 2 is kept constantly clean. A flexurally elastic plastic is expediently used to form the arm 23.

Instead of using the drive motor 25 arranged below the metering disc 2, the arm 23 can be driven by means of a long drive shaft which extends through the entire feed container 1. In this case, a corresponding drive motor 25 is provided in the area of the filling opening 13. The long drive shaft has the advantage over the fastening of the drive motor 25 below the metering disk 2 that it is relatively flexible and rotationally elastic, so that the drive of the brushes 21 or the metering disk 2 is switched on relatively smoothly can be. - z \ -

The feed container 1, the metering disc 2 and the weighing container 3 and the allocation device 4 can be accommodated in a common housing 57. Both the metering disc 2 and the holder 7 carrying the weighing container 3 can be fastened to this housing 57. In this way, the lower leg 27 may have a greater length, with the aid of which a deflection that can be measured safely by bending can be measured.

The discharge flaps 8 can also be actuated with the aid of a servomotor mounted on the axis 9. This actuation of the discharge flaps 8 has the advantage that only one servomotor is required for the actuation of both discharge flaps. Depending on which of the two discharge flaps has to be actuated, the servomotor rotates in one or the other direction.

The outlet tube 11, 12 can be designed elastically, for example as a hose. This can be made of a plastic. In this way it is achieved that the feed 6 to be allocated via the outlet tubes 11, 12 reaches the area of the animal to be supplied in each case.

A locking mechanism to be controlled can be provided within the feed container 1 or the discharge funnel 15 in order to control the amount of feed emerging from the filling opening 16 in the direction of the metering disc 2. As soon as the weight of the amount of feed to be metered is measured in the weighing container 3, it is not only the drive motor 25 which holds the brush 21 that can be drives, be shut down, but at the same time the locking mechanism is closed. In this way it is prevented that the entire weight of the feed 6 present in the feed container 1 penetrates onto the metering disc 2.

Instead of measuring the feed weight in a weighing container 3, the amount of feed 6 to be allocated can also be determined by determining the weight of the amount of feed removed from the feed container 1. For this purpose, the weight of the entire filled feed container 1 is first determined. While filling the feed 6 from the feed container 1, its weight is constantly measured. As soon as the difference between the initial weight of the feed container 1 and the weight constantly determined during the filling of the feed 6 corresponds to the weight of the feed quantity to be allocated, the dispensing of the feed 6 by the metering disc 2 is prevented. In a similar manner, the total weight of the structural unit consisting of the feed container 1, the metering disc 2 and the metering device 4 can also be determined and the weight loss occurring when the feed 6 is filled can be measured. This weight loss is a measure of the weight of the amount of feed allocated to a particular animal. The two measuring methods based on the measurement of weight loss have the advantage that they can do without a weighing container. The feed bar 6 runs unmittel¬ the metering device 4 to and from this in the direction of the ^τier to be supplied gelenkt.Anderer ^¬ hand, it is not possible to perform the dosage of the feed 6 separated in time from the allocation. - -

The amount of feed to be metered to each animal is determined on the basis of animal-specific characteristics. These animal-specific features can be entered into a program, according to which the feed 6 is allocated. This program is either defined separately for each allocation of feed 6. In this case, the animal-specific characteristic is taken from the animal each time it is fed. This decrease occurs either due to physical contact or through a wireless transmission. However, it is also conceivable to specify the amount of feed to be allocated in the program for several feed allocations and to change it only at greater intervals in accordance with the respective needs of the animal.

In addition, it is possible to provide the weighing container 3 with an automatic calibration device. This essentially consists of a weight of a predetermined size, which is connected to the weighing container 3 at predetermined time intervals. In this way, its tare weight is increased by the weight of a predetermined size. The measurement of the sum of the tare weight on the one hand and the weight of a given size on the other hand must result in a measurement display which corresponds to a given display. If this display does not reach a predetermined value, the entire measuring device is automatically calibrated. This calibration • is that the voltage ^'output by the bending rod is changed by a control member so long until the display of the sum of the two Ge match weights.

Claims

Claims:

1. A method for the allocation of feed to at least one animal, according to its respective need a corresponding amount of the feed is determined, its weight is measured and allocated to the animal, characterized in that the feed (6) from at least one feed container (1) to min ¬ at least a metering disc (2) is placed, over the edge (17) of which the amount intended for the animal is delivered to the animal in direction, that the weight of the amount given in each case is determined and the allocation of the feed (6) interrupted after reaching the intended amount.

^" ' zr-

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that the weight of a from the feed container (1), the metering disc (2) and the Zuteilvorrich¬ device (4) existing unit determines and during the allocation of the feed (6) whose weight loss is determined, the size of which is compared with the weight of a quantity of feed intended for the respective animal, after which the allocation of the feed (6) is prevented.

3. The method according to claim 1 and 2, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the amount of the metering disc (2) over its entire edge (17) in approximately equal proportions per unit length of the edge (17) stripped lining (6) weighed and the allocation of the feed (6) is interrupted when a predetermined weight is reached.

L,. Method according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the metering accuracy is predetermined by a speed at which the chuck (6) is stripped off the metering disc (2) against resistance and the chuck (6) by the metering disc (2) is stripped off in a predetermined working cycle of a feed pusher which, in accordance with the predefined dosing accuracy, is passed over the metering disc (2) faster with coarse metering than with fine metering.

5. The method according to claim 1 to 4- characterized thereby, that the allocation of the feed (6) in its conveying direction is interrupted at any point between the feed container (1) and a feeder device (4) lying behind the metering disc (2) . - Z (r

6. Apparatus for the allocation of feed from a feed container to at least one animal, a quantity of the feed being determined according to its respective need, the weight of which is measured on a scale and allocated to the animal by an allocation device, according to claims 1 to

5, characterized in that a metering disc (2) is arranged in the conveying direction of the feed (6) to be allocated between the feed container (1) and the allocating device (4), the level of which is essentially transverse to the conveying direction of the feed (6 ) and which is arranged in a shaft extending between the scales and the feed container (17), which in the conveying direction of the feed (6) above the metering disc (2) as a discharge spout (15) has a smaller cross section and its height a d "is larger to be metered feed (6) cross-section for the passage _of.. as this has.

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that the outlet funnel (15) has an approximately towards a center of the metering disc (2) directed center axis and one of the metering disc (2) facing lower Ausfüllö opening (16), the removal ¬ tion of the discharge funnel (15) opposite dosing disc (2) corresponds to a desired filling level of the dosing disc (2) depending on the consistency of the feed (6) to be dosed.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 and 7, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that on the metering disc (2) has a feed (6) over its slightly upward towards the discharge funnel (15) angled edge

(17) pushing brush (21) in the direction of the metering disc (2) is elastically mounted, the Bristles (22) elastically apply a surface of the metering disc (2) facing them.

9. The device according to claim 6 to 8, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the brush has a to the center of the metering disc (2) extending flexible arm (23) which is arranged above the metering disc (2) at a height which is adjustable and approximately the height of the distance (18) -ent between the metering disc (2) and a filling opening (16) of the outlet funnel (15) facing it.

10. The device according to claim 6 to 9, characterized in that the metering device (4) is designed as a weighing container (3), in the Einfüll1Öffnung ^' (36) opens the shaft and which has a fill 1öff ung (37), which towards at least two outlet pipes (11,

12) open, extend the ^obligations' opposite each other in Rich¬ and opposite the emptying aperture (37) by a respective Aust agklappe (8) are verschlos¬ sen.

11. The device according to claim 6 to lo, characterized in that the discharge flap (8) is pivotally mounted about an axis (9) which extends at the height of the outlet opening (37) and closes the outlet opening (37) along edges to which bristles acted upon by it are attached for sealing.

12. The apparatus of claim 6 _. to 11, characterized in that the weighing container (3) is suspended from a holder (7) to which a bending rod provided with strain gauges is connected, to which the weighing container (3) is elastically coupled. is characterized in that the weighing container (3) has a calibration device which switches on automatically at predetermined time intervals and which is designed as a weight of a predetermined size which, when the calibration device is switched on, is connected to a previously determined tare weight of the weighing container (3), and the tare weight, on the one hand, and the weight of a predetermined size, on the other hand, form a sum that corresponds to a predetermined measurement display.

14. The apparatus according to claim 6 to 13, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that the dosage of the feed (6) is provided separately from its allocation in the animal in each case in the allocation of the feed (6) previous.

15. The apparatus according to claim 6 to 14, characterized in that a filling station is provided on a web to be traveled by the unit for filling the Futterbehäl¬ age (1), the function and control of the unit by the level of the feed container (1 ) measuring the level measuring device (42) is controlled.

16. The apparatus of claim 6 to 15, characterized in that the level measuring device (42) is seen the scales measuring the weight of the structural unit, the signal which is emitted when a predetermined total weight is undershot, a control unit directing the structural unit to the filling station.

17. The apparatus according to claim 6 to 16, characterized in that in the weighing container (3) a feed pipe provided for additional feed (5o) mün¬ det, which is connected via a Zutei1vorrichtung with "an additional feed container containing (43).

1G. Apparatus according to claim 6 to 17, characterized in that the metering device is designed as a worm drive (45) which is in Förder¬

19 Apparatus according to claim 6 to 17, characterized in that the allocation of the additional feed is provided after a weighing of the feed (6) until a total weight predetermined for the weighing container (3) is reached.