AN ANIMAL FEEDING ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

An animal feeding arrangement includes feed supply station (1), configured to house feed therein, a fence (2) that surrounds the feed supply station (1) and an area (3) adjacent to the feed supply station (1), a gate (4), arranged in the fence (2) and movable between an open state and a closed state, at least one autonomous mobile feed wagon (5), configured to receive feed from the feed supply station (1) and to deliver the feed to an animal feeding station (6) located outside said fence (2), and at least one feed loading device (7, 8), configured to load feed housed in the feed supply station (1) into the feed wagon (5). The feed wagon (5) includes a coupling device (9) configured to temporarily couple the feed wagon (5) to the feed loading device and enabling the feed wagon (5) to move the feed loading device.

Claims

1. An animal feeding arrangement comprising: a feed supply station (1) configured to house feed therein; a fence (2) that surrounds the feed supply station (1) and an area (3) adjacent to the feed supply station (1); a gate (4) arranged in the fence (2) and movable between an open state and a closed state; at least one feed loading device (7, 8); and at least one autonomous mobile feed wagon (5), the at least one autonomous mobile feed wagon (5) comprising a coupling device (9) configured to temporarily couple the at least one autonomous mobile feed wagon (5) to the least one feed loading device (7, 8), wherein, with the at least one autonomous mobile feed wagon (5) temporarily coupled to the least one feed loading device (7, 8) via the coupling device (9), the at least one autonomous mobile feed wagon (5) is enabled to move the least one feed loading device (7, 8) to the feed supply station (1), wherein, with the at least one autonomous mobile feed wagon (5) temporarily coupled to the least one feed loading device (7, 8) via the coupling device (9) and the least one feed loading device (7, 8) being located at the feed supply station (1), the at least one feed loading device (7, 8) is configured to load feed housed in the feed supply station (1) into the at least one autonomous mobile feed wagon (5) and the at least one autonomous mobile feed wagon (5) is configured to receive the feed from the at least one feed loading device (7, 8), and wherein the coupling device (9) is operative to disconnect the at least one feed loading device (7, 8) from the at least one autonomous mobile feed wagon (5), and with the least one feed loading device (7, 8) disconnected from the at least one autonomous mobile feed wagon (5), the at least one autonomous mobile feed wagon (5) is operative to move through the gate in the open state and then deliver the feed to an animal feeding station (6) located outside said fence (2).

2. The animal feeding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein, the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) comprises a first electric energy storage device (12), the least one feed loading device (7, 8) comprises a second electric energy storage device (13), and the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) and the least one feed loading device (7, 8) comprise means (14, 15) for transferring electric energy between the first electric energy storage device (12) of the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) and the second electric energy storage device (13) of the least one feed loading device (7, 8).

3. The animal feeding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein, the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) comprises an electric energy storage device (12), and the least one feed loading device (7, 8) comprises an electric motor (26), and the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) and the least one feed loading device (7, 8) comprise means (14, 15) for transferring electric energy from the electric energy storage device (12) of the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) to the electric motor (26) of the least one feed loading device (7, 8).

4. The animal feeding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein, the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) comprises a processing unit (19) configured to: decide that loading of the feed into the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) is to be performed, initiate coupling of the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) to the least one feed loading device (7, 8), control motion of the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) and the least one feed loading device (7, 8) such the least one feed loading device (7, 8) will be able of loading the feed into the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) while at the same time being coupled thereto, and disconnect the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) from the least one feed loading device (7, 8) before controlling the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) to leave the fenced area (3) through said gate (4).

5. The animal feeding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein, the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) comprises a container (16) configured to contain the feed, there is a mixer device (17) arranged in the container (16), the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) is provided with a position determination means (20) configured for enabling detection of passage of the feed wagon (5) through the gate (4), and the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) is provided with a processing unit (19) which is configured to inactivate the mixer device (17) as a response to a detection of a passage of the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) from the fenced area (3) through the gate (4) by means of the position determination means (20).

6. The animal feeding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein, the feed supply station (1) is subdivided into a first substation (1a) configured to house a first type of feed, and a second substation (1b) configured to house a second type of feed, and the at least one feed loading device comprises a first feed loading device (7) configured to load said first type of feed from said first substation (1a) into the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5), and a second feed loading device (8) configured to load said second type of feed from said second substation (1b), and at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) comprises a processing unit (19) configured to: control the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) to connect the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) to the first feed loading device (7) by means of said coupling device (9), control the motion of the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) and the first feed loading device (7) connected thereto such that the first feed loading device (7) will be able of loading feed into the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) from the first substation (1a) while at the same time being connected to the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5), disconnect the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) from the first feed loading device (7), control the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) to connect the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) to the second feed loading device (8) by means of said coupling device (9), control the motion of the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) and the second feed loading device (8) connected thereto such that the second feed loading device (8) will be able of loading feed into the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) from the second substation (1b) while at the same time being connected to the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5), and disconnect the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) from the second feed loading device (8).

7. The animal feeding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein, the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) comprises a container (16) configured to contain feed, and the least one feed loading device (7, 8) is configured to move feed from a level of a floor on which the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) is standing while being connected to the least one feed loading device (7, 8) up to a higher level at which the feed is loaded into the container (16).

8. The animal feeding arrangement according to claim 7, wherein, the least one feed loading device (7, 8) comprises: a first roll (21) and a second roll (22), and an endless belt (23) arranged around said first and second rolls (21, 22), wherein, when the least one feed loading device (7, 8) is connected to the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) by of said coupling device (9), the first roll (21) is at level of said floor, and the second roll (22) is at or above the level of an opening through which feed is loaded into the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5), and the endless belt (23) is configured to move around said first and second rolls (21, 22) such that feed arranged on said floor is gripped by the endless belt (23) at the level of the first roll (21) and moved by the endless belt (23) to the region of the second roll (22), where the feed is dropped into the container (16).

9. The animal feeding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein, the coupling device is a magnetic coupling device (9), and the outer surface on at least the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) is either flat in a region of the magnetic coupling device (9) or comprises a recess in the region of the magnetic coupling device (9).

10. The animal feeding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein, the coupling device comprises a pneumatic device by which the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) is connected to the least one feed loading device (7, 8), and the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) is either flat in a region of the pneumatic device or comprises a recess in the region of the pneumatic device.

11. An animal feeding arrangement comprising: a feed supply station (1) configured to house feed therein; a fence (2) that surrounds the feed supply station (1) and an area (3) adjacent to the feed supply station (1); a gate (4) arranged in the fence (2) and movable between an open state and a closed state; a feed loading device (7, 8); and an autonomous mobile feed wagon (5), the autonomous mobile feed wagon (5) comprising a coupling device (9) configured to temporarily couple the autonomous mobile feed wagon (5) to the feed loading device (7, 8), wherein, with the autonomous mobile feed wagon (5) temporarily coupled to the least one feed loading device (7, 8) via the coupling device (9), the mobile feed wagon (5) is enabled to move the feed loading device (7, 8), wherein, with the autonomous mobile feed wagon (5) temporarily coupled to the feed wagon (5) to the feed loading device (7, 8) via the coupling device (9), the feed loading device (7, 8) is configured to load feed into the feed wagon (5), and wherein the coupling device (9) is operative to disconnect the feed loading device (7, 8) from the autonomous mobile feed wagon (5), and with the feed loading device (7, 8) disconnected from the autonomous mobile feed wagon (5), the autonomous mobile feed wagon (5) is operative to move and then deliver the feed to an animal feeding station (6) located outside said fence (2).

12. The animal feeding arrangement according to claim 11, wherein, the autonomous feed wagon (5) comprises a first electric energy storage device (12), the feed loading device (7, 8) comprises a second electric energy storage device (13), and the autonomous feed wagon (5) and the feed loading device (7, 8) comprise means (14, 15) for transferring electric energy between the first electric energy storage device (12) of the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) and the second electric energy storage device (13) of the least one feed loading device (7, 8).

13. The animal feeding arrangement according to claim 11, wherein, the autonomous feed wagon (5) comprises an electric energy storage device (12), the least one feed loading device (7, 8) comprises an electric motor (26), and the autonomous feed wagon (5) and the feed loading device (7, 8) comprise means (14, 15) for transferring electric energy from the electric energy storage device (12) of the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) to the electric motor (26) of the least one feed loading device (7, 8).

14. The animal feeding arrangement according to claim 11, wherein, the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) comprises a processing unit (19) configured to: decide that loading of the autonomous feed wagon (5) is to be performed, initiate coupling, via the coupling device (9), of the autonomous feed wagon (5) to the least one feed loading device (7, 8), control motion of the autonomous feed wagon (5) and the feed loading device (7, 8) such that the feed loading device (7, 8) is configured to load feed into the autonomous feed wagon (5) while at the same time being coupled thereto, and disconnect the autonomous feed wagon (5) from the feed loading device (7, 8) before controlling the feed wagon (5) to leave the fenced area (3) through said gate (4).

15. The animal feeding arrangement according to claim 11, wherein, the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) comprises a container (16) configured to contain the feed, there is a mixer device (17) arranged in the container (16), the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) is provided with a position determination means (20) configured for enabling detection of passage of the feed wagon (5) through the gate (4), and the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) is provided with a processing unit (19) which is configured to inactivate the mixer device (17) as a response to a detection of a passage of the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) from the fenced area (3) through the gate (4) by means of the position determination means (20).

16. The animal feeding arrangement according to claim 11, wherein, the feed supply station (1) is subdivided into a first substation (1a) configured to house a first type of feed, and a second substation (1b) configured to house a second type of feed, the feed loading device (7, 8) comprises a first feed loading device (7) configured to load said first type of feed from said first substation (1a) into the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5), and a second feed loading device (8) configured to load said second type of feed from said second substation (1b), and the autonomous feed wagon (5) comprises a processing unit (19) configured to: control the autonomous feed wagon (5) to connect the autonomous feed wagon (5) to the first feed loading device (7) by said coupling device (9), control motion of the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) and the first feed loading device (7) connected thereto such that the first feed loading device (7) will load feed into the autonomous feed wagon (5) from the first substation (1a) while at the same time being connected to the autonomous feed wagon (5), disconnect the autonomous feed wagon (5) from the first feed loading device (7), control the autonomous feed wagon (5) to connect the autonomous feed wagon (5) to the second feed loading device (8) by said coupling device (9), control the motion of the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5) and the second feed loading device (8) connected thereto such that the second feed loading device (8) will load the feed into the autonomous feed wagon (5) from the second substation (1b) while at the same time being connected to the autonomous feed wagon (5), and disconnect the autonomous feed wagon (5) from the second feed loading device (8).

17. The animal feeding arrangement according to claim 11, wherein, the autonomous feed wagon (5) comprises a container (16) configured to contain the feed, the feed loading device (7, 8) is configured to move feed from a level of a floor on which the autonomous feed wagon (5) is standing while being connected to the feed loading device (7, 8) up to a higher level at which the feed is loaded into the container (16).

18. The animal feeding arrangement according to claim 17, wherein, a first roll (21) and a second roll (22), and an endless belt (23) arranged around said first and second rolls (21, 22), wherein, when the feed loading device (7, 8) is connected to the autonomous feed wagon (5) by said coupling device (9), the first (21) of said rolls is at level of said floor, and the second (22) of said rolls is at or above the level of an opening through which feed is loaded into the at least one autonomous feed wagon (5), and the endless belt (23) is configured to move around said first and second rolls (21, 22) such that feed arranged on said floor is gripped by the endless belt (23) at the level of the first roll (21) and moved by the endless belt (23) to the region of the second roll (22), where the feed is dropped into the container (16).

19. The animal feeding arrangement according to claim 11, wherein, the coupling device is a magnetic coupling device (9), and the outer surface on at least the autonomous feed wagon (5) is either flat n a region of the magnetic coupling device (9) or comprises a recess in the region of the magnetic coupling device (9).

20. The animal feeding arrangement according to claim 11, wherein, the coupling device comprises a pneumatic device by which the autonomous feed wagon (5) is connected to the feed loading device (7, 8), and the autonomous feed wagon (5) is either flat in a region of the pneumatic device or comprises a recess in the region of the pneumatic device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0055] An embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the annexed drawing, on which:

[0056] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an animal feeding arrangement according to one embodiment of the invention, as seen from above, and

[0057] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a feed wagon and a feed loading device according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058] FIG. 1 shows an animal feeding arrangement comprising a feed supply station 1, configured to house feed therein, a fence 2 that surrounds the feed supply station 1 and an area 3 adjacent to the feed supply station 1, a gate 4, arranged in the fence 2 and movable between an open state and a closed state, an autonomous mobile feed wagon 5, configured to receive feed from the feed supply station 1 and to deliver the feed to an animal feeding station 6 located outside the area 3 surrounded by said fence 2, and two feed loading devices 7, 8 configured to load feed housed in the feed supply station 1 into the feed wagon 5. It should be understood that an animal feeding station may be referred as any suitable device arranged to offer feed to the animals (trough, container, feed table etc.), and may be arranged to serve a group of animals or an individual animal. The animal feeding station may even be as simple as a dedicated area or floor on which feed is offered to the animals. The feed wagon 5 comprises a coupling device 9 configured to temporarily couple the feed wagon 5 to any of the feed loading devices 7, 8 and enabling the feed wagon 5 to move the feed loading device 7, 8 to which it is connected. Each feed loading device 7, 8 also comprises a coupling device 10 configured to interact with the coupling device 9 of the feed wagon 5 to establish a connection between the feed wagon 5 and the feed loading device 7, 8. In the embodiment shown, the coupling device 9 of the feed wagon 5 comprises an electro magnet. The coupling device 10 of the respective feed loading device 7, 8 may be a body of magnetic material, which can be affected by the electro magnet 9. The coupling devices 9, 10 could be reversed in the sense that the electro magnet, which is the active part in such a design, could be positioned in the feed loading device and the body of magnetic material could be positioned in the feed wagon 5.

[0059] The autonomous mobile feed wagon 5 comprises an engine 11, which could be any kind of suitable engine but which is an electrical engine in the embodiment shown. It also comprises an electric energy storage device 12, formed by an electric accumulator. The feed loading device also comprises an electric energy storage device 13. There are provided means 14, 15 configured to transfer electric energy between the electric energy storage device 12 of the feed wagon 5 and the electric energy storage device 13 of the feed loading device. The means 14, 15 configured to transfer electric energy may be of any suitable kind, but it is preferred that they do not comprise elements that project from the feed wagon 5 and from the feed loading device 7, 8, in particular not from the feed wagon 5, which is configured to move in areas frequented by animals. In the embodiment shown, the means 14, 15 comprise devices for inductive transmission of electric energy, i.e. wireless transfer of electric energy.

[0060] In the embodiment shown, the feed loading device comprises an electric motor 26 and the means 14, 15 for transferring electric energy between the electric energy storage devices 12, 13 are also configured to transfer electric energy from the electric energy storage device 12 of the feed wagon to the electric motor 26 of the feed loading device 7, 8.

[0061] The feed wagon 5 is also provided with a container 16 into which the feed loading devices 7, 8 are configured to load feed from an opening at the top of feed wagon 5. Inside the container 16, at the bottom thereof, the feed wagon 5 comprises a mixer device 17. The mixer device 17 comprises rotating knives. At the bottom of the container, below the mixer device 17, the feed wagon 5 comprises a feed-delivery device 18, shown schematically in FIG. 2. In the exemplifying embodiment, the feed delivery device 18 comprises an endless belt arranged in the bottom of the container 16, and an opening in a lateral side of the container 16. The endless belt is configured to transport feed out from the container 16 through said opening. As an alternative to the suggested endless belt, the feed delivery device 18 may comprise a rake or the like, by mean of which feed is transported out of the container 16. There are provided suitable drive means, such as an electric engine, for driving the feed delivery device 18.

[0062] The feed wagon 5 comprises a data processing unit 19 connected to and configured to control the operation of the electric motor 11 of the feed wagon 5 and the operation of the electric motor 16 of the feed loading device 7, 8 and also other drive means, such an electric motor that drives the feed delivery device 18 and/or the mixer device 17. The data processing unit 17 also controls the operation of coupling device 9, 10 and the operation of the means 14, 15 for transfer of electric energy. The data processing unit is configured to determine and/or to obtain the position of the feed wagon 5, the feed loading devices 7, 8, the feed supply station 1 and the animal feeding station and too control the motion of the feed wagon 5 on basis thereof. The feed wagon 5 may also be provided with a position determination means 20, which is configured to enable determination of the position of the feed-wagon, at least with regard to the essential parts of the arrangement with which the feed wagon is configure to interact, such as the feed supply station 1, the gate 4, the animal feeding station 6, the feed loading devices and the feed loading devices 7, 8. Preferably, the position determination means 20 comprises a transmitter (tag) connected to an RTLS (Real Time Location System) that, preferably is an Ultra Wide Band RTLS. The processing unit 19 is configured to control the different devices of the feed wagon 5 on basis of wagon position information from RTLS system to which the position determination means 20 is connected.

[0063] Accordingly, the processing unit 19 is configured to decide that loading of the feed wagon 5 is to be performed, initiate coupling of the feed wagon 5 to a feed loading device 7, 8, control the motion of the feed wagon 5 and the feed loading device 7, 8 such that the feed loading device 7, 8 will be able of loading feed into the feed wagon while at the same time being coupled thereto, and disconnect the feed wagon 5 from the feed loading device 7, 8 before controlling the feed wagon 5 to leave the fenced area 3 through said gate 4.

[0064] In the embodiment shown, the feed supply station 1 is subdivided by a wall into a first substation 1a configured to house a first type of feed, and a second substation 1b configured to house a second type of feed. The animal feeding arrangement comprises a first feed loading device 7 configured to load said first type of feed from said first substation 1a into the feed wagon 5, and a second feed loading device 8 configured to load said second type of feed from said second substation 1b. The processing unit 19 is configured to control the feed wagon 19 to connect the feed wagon 5 to the first feed loading device 7 by means of said coupling device 9, control the motion of the feed wagon 5 and the first feed loading device 7 connected thereto such that the first feed loading device 7 will be able of loading feed into the feed wagon 5 from the first substation 1a while at the same time being connected to the feed wagon 5 and then to disconnect the feed wagon 5 from the first feed loading device 7. Depending on which feed mixture that is reprogrammed to be delivered to the animal feeding station 6, the processing unit 19 may then control the feed wagon 5 to connect the feed wagon 5 to the second feed loading device 8 by means of said coupling device 9, control the motion of the feed wagon 5 and the second feed loading device 8 connected thereto such that the second feed loading device 8 will be able of loading feed into the feed wagon 5 from the second substation 1b while at the same time being connected to the feed wagon 5, and disconnect the feed wagon 5 from the second feed loading device 8. It should be mentioned that there may, of course, be further feed loading devices and feed sub-stations provided inside the fenced area 3. When feed loading has been finished, the processing unit 19 may be configured to trigger an opening of the gate such that the feed wagon 5 can exit through the gate 4 and move on to the animal feeding station 6, where the processing unit 19 is configured to control the delivery of feed from the feed wagon 5 to the animal feeding station 6 via control of the feed delivery device 18.

[0065] The feed wagon 5 is provided with at least one position determination means 20, preferably the transmitter, configured to enable detection of a passage of the feed wagon 5 through the gate 4 by means of an RTLS with which the transmitter interacts. The processing unit 19 is configured to inactivate the mixer device 17 as a response to said RTLS detecting a passage of the feed wagon 5 from the fenced area 3 through the gate 4.

[0066] The feed loading devices 7, 8 will now be described more in detail. The feed loading device 7, 8 comprises a first roll 21 and a second roll 22and an endless belt 23 arranged around said first and second rolls 21, 22. When the feed loading device 7, 8 is connected to the feed wagon 5 by means of said coupling devices 9, 10 , a first 21 of said rolls is at level of a floor on which the feed wagon 5 and feed loading device 7, 8 is standing. A second 22 of said rolls 21, 22 is at or above the level of an opening through which feed is loaded into the feed wagon 5, and the endless belt 23 is configured to move around said first and second rolls 21, 22 such that feed arranged on said floor is gripped by the endless belt at the level of the first roll 21 and moved by the endless belt 23 to the region of the second roll 22, where the feed is dropped into the container 16. The belt 23 is provided with protruding elements 34, such as ribs or the like, which extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the belt 23 and improves the ability of the belt 23 to bring feed with it. There is also provided a blade 25 at the lower end of the feed loading device 7, 8, which blade is inclined relative to the floor and which enables the feed loading device to push feed towards the endless belt 23 as the feed loading device 7, 8 is advanced towards and into a mass of feed arranged on the floor of the feed supply station 1. The electric motor 26 of the feed loading device is configured to drive at least one of the rolls 21, 22 for the purpose of driving endless belt 23. The processing unit 19 preferably controls the operation of the electric motor 26 of the feed loading device 7, 8.