A METHOD OF FILLING FEEDING PANS AS WELL AS A FEEDING SYSTEM

Abstract

A feeding system for freely moving poultry or other small animals, comprising a feeding pan (1) having an outer distribution cone (7), wherein an overlying horizontal transport channel (5) for feed is provided above the distribution cone (7), wherein a passage for regular feeding (10) out of the transport channel (5) is provided, and wherein the feed, when passing there through, passes through the opening (11) at the top of the distribution cone (7) to the inner side of the distribution cone (7). Advantageously, and prior to the passage for regular feeding (10) in the direction of movement of the feed, there is a passage for initial feeding (9) out of the transport channel (5), arranged such that the feed passes out of the initial feeding passage and impinges on separate chutes (14, 15) externally on the distribution cone (7), a dividing line (18, 38) between the two chutes (14, 15) being provided in the distribution cone (7).

Claims

1.-11. (canceled)

12. A method of filling one or more feeding pans, comprising: conveying feed to a first feeding pan of the one or more feeding pans from an overlying horizontal transport channel, wherein the feed is transported in a direction of transport along the horizontal transport channel to one of the other one or more feeding pans, conveying the feed either to an external side of a distribution cone of each of the feeding pans out through a passage for initial feeding in the transport channel, or out through a passage for regular feeding in the transport channel and through an opening in the top of the distribution cone to the inner side of the distribution cone, wherein the feed in the transport channel in the direction of transport passes the passage for initial feeding before the feed reaches the passage for regular feeding, wherein the feed passes out through the passage for initial feeding with a speed component in the longitudinal direction of the transport channel corresponding to a feed speed of the feed in the transport channel and a speed component corresponding to free fall, as it is received by an upright dividing line, and wherein as a result of the speed component in the longitudinal direction of the transport channel, the feed is sent in separate flows of material along chute faces on the external face of the distribution cone and is distributed by skidding along respective chute faces to the periphery of the feeding pan.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the feed is distributed along the chute faces until the feed covers at least part of a farmhouse floor outside the periphery of the feeding pan along a portion of the periphery, so that the farmhouse floor is covered with feed along at least 6 twelfths of the periphery of the feeding pan.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the feed is divided into two flows of material by an additional dividing line disposed in continuation of an upright dividing line between two chute faces.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein at least part of the additional dividing line and upright dividing line are disposed below the passage for initial feeding.

16. A feeding system for freely moving poultry or other small animals, comprising: a feeding pan having an outer distribution cone with a central raised part, an opening in the central raised part, and a skirt configured to fit into the feeding pan within and below an upper edge of a raised rim associated with the feeding pan; an overlying horizontal transport channel for feed provided above the distribution cone having a passage for regular feeding being provided such that the feed when passing there through passes through the opening at the top of the distribution cone to the inner side of the distribution cone; a passage for initial feeding prior to the passage for regular feeding in the direction of movement of the feed, arranged such that the feed passes out of the initial feeding passage and impinges on separate chute faces on the external face of the distribution cone; and an upright dividing line between the two chutes positioned in the distribution cone.

17. The feeding system according to claim 16, wherein the chute faces are inclined from the upper part of the distribution cone from the upright dividing line and down toward the rim of the feeding pan, and wherein the inclined chute faces comprise at least 3 twelfths of the circumference.

18. The feeding system according to claim 17, wherein a screen element for screening the passage for the initial feeding is provided above the extent of the chute faces at the upper part of the distribution cone, wherein the screen element further comprises a detachable attachment for the pipe of the transport channel, an attachment for the distribution cone, and a detachable attachment for a locking ring fixed against rotation relative to the transport channel.

19. The feeding system according to claim 18, wherein the locking ring is in rotatable engagement with the screen element, but axially fixed relative to it, and the locking ring further comprises a radial engagement face cooperating with a radially extending projection on the upper part of the distribution cone, so that the locking ring does not affect the distribution cone upon rotation of the pipe of the transport channel in an angular interval, and so that upon rotation of the pipe of the transport channel in a further angular interval, the locking ring will carry the distribution cone along in the rotation at the engagement of the radial engagement face with the radially extending projection on the distribution cone.

20. The feeding system according to claim 19, wherein the distribution cone is detachably connected with the feeding pan through flexible stays extending downwards from the internal side of the top of the feed cone around the opening in it, said flexible stays being downwardly provided with spearhead-shaped barbs adapted for snap engagement with a rim area of a through opening in an arched central area of the feeding pan shaped as a cone face.

21. The feeding system according to claim 20, wherein the central area of the feeding pan is raised above its rim so as to create an annular fillable feed store between the cone face of the central area and the distribution cone, said feed store being automatically emptied out toward the rim of the feeding pan when the animals eat from the feed there, said spearhead-shaped barbs being flexible in the radial direction so that the feeding pan is easily removable when the stays are affected in the radial direction.

22. The feeding system according to claim 19, wherein the transport channel comprises a pipe having a radial passage for feed out of the pipe for initial feeding and subsequently in the direction of transport a radial passage for feed out of the pipe for regular feeding, said pipe blocking the access from the feeding pan to the two radial passages upon its rotation relative to the feeding pan forwards toward the further angular interval.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The invention will now be explained more fully with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a 3d representation of an example of a feeding pan according to the invention,

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a section through a feeding pan corresponding to the one shown in FIG. 1,

[0021] FIG. 3 is a sectional view corresponding to the view in FIG. 2, but where an initial feeding has been initiated,

[0022] FIG. 4 shows a top plan view of the situation in FIG. 3,

[0023] FIG. 5 shows an exploded drawing in lateral view of the feeding pan of FIG. 1,

[0024] FIG. 6 the outer cone seen alone and from above,

[0025] FIG. 7 is a sectional view from the side corresponding to the view in FIG. 2, but now in a state with normal feeding,

[0026] FIG. 8 is a 3d representation of the screen part,

[0027] FIG. 9 is the same screen part as shown in FIG. 8, but seen from another angle,

[0028] FIG. 10 shows the locking ring in a 3d representation,

[0029] FIG. 11 is the locking ring shown in FIG. 10, but seen from another angle,

[0030] FIG. 12 is a lateral view of the pipe seen from the side, with concealed contours shown in dashed weakened line,

[0031] FIG. 13 shows the cone cut through, but in a 3d representation,

[0032] FIG. 14 shows the assembly of pipe, top and cone from the end in a first position,

[0033] FIG. 15 is the same elements as in FIG. 14, but now with the pipe and the ring rotated to a position for filling of the feeding pan,

[0034] FIG. 16 is the same elements as in FIG. 15, but now with the pipe and the ring rotated for initial feeding and covering of the area around the feeding pan with feed,

[0035] FIG. 17 shows a plurality of feeding pans on a length of pipe in the same position as shown in FIG. 15,

[0036] FIG. 18 shows the feeding pans of FIG. 17, but now in the same position as shown in FIG. 16,

[0037] FIG. 19 shows the feeding pans of FIG. 17, but now in the same position as indicated in FIG. 14, and

[0038] FIG. 20 shows the feeding pans rotated a distance together with the pipe to a washing position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] A feeding pan 1 for poultry or other freely moving small animals is shown in FIG. 1.

[0040] The feeding pan 1 has a round base pan, and the sectional view in FIG. 2 shows that the pan 1 has a raised annular rim 2 and an arched central portion shaped as a cone face 3. The feed 4 is conveyed to the feeding pan from an overlying horizontal transport channel 5, in which the feed is transported in a direction of transport indicated by the arrow 6 and forwardly to successive feeding pans 1 along the transport channel 5. The feed 4 is conveyed to an external side 8 of a distribution cone 7 in the feeding pan, passing out through a passage for initial feeding 9 in the transport channel 5. This is illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, where the feeding pan is shown with initial feeding terminated with feed distributed in the pan along the entire rim, and a certain amount of feed on the floor. Alternatively, the feed 4 is conveyed out of the transport channel through a passage for regular feeding 10, as will be seen in FIG. 7. Here, the feed 4 passes on through an opening 11 in the top of the distribution cone 7 to the inner side of the distribution cone 7. As will be seen from FIG. 2, the feed 4 in the transport channel 5 must pass in the direction of transport 6 past the passage for initial feeding 9, before it reaches the passage for regular feeding 10 down through the opening 11. In the transport channel 5, the feed 4 has a speed of movement when the screw line-shaped auger 12 rotates, and, when moving out of the passage for initial feeding 9, the feed will thereby have a horizontal speed component and a vertical speed component. The horizontal speed component imparts an impulse to the feed in the direction of the arrow 6, and, according to the invention, this impulse is used for improved spreading of the feed on the outer side 8 of the distribution cone 7.

[0041] The transport channel 5 may be rotated about its longitudinal axis relative to the feeding pans 1 which are connected to it. In an angular position v2 shown in FIG. 16, the passage for initial feeding 9 will be open toward the external side 8 of the distribution cone, and at the same time the passage for regular feeding 10 will be closed. This will also be seen in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. If the transport channel is rotated to another angular position v1, shown in FIG. 15, relative to the feeding pans, the passage for regular feeding 10 is opened down to the opening 11 at the top of the distribution cone 7, and the passage for initial feeding 9 is closed. This is also illustrated in FIG. 7. The rotation of the transport channel takes place via a handle, which is shown in FIGS. 17-20, and which is connected with the pipe 13 of the transport channel and is arranged e.g. at the termination of a feeding system e.g. at the end wall of the farmhouse.

[0042] The vector speed component of the feed in the longitudinal direction 6 of the transport channel 5 corresponding to a feed speed and the speed component corresponding to free fall mean that the feed is received on chute faces 14, 15 externally on the distribution cone 7 and is distributed by skidding along the chute faces 14, 15 to the periphery of the feeding pan. The chute faces 14, 15 are defined by upright stop faces 16, 17 which merge into an upright dividing line 18. The horizontal speed component of the feed out of the initial feeding opening 9 means that the feed 4 impinges on the dividing line 18 and then continues along its respective chute face 14, 15. The purpose of this is that as great a part of the circumference of the feeding pan as possible is hit by the feed at the initial feeding. When the feeding pan has been filled all the way round its periphery, continued supply of feed 4 will mean that the feed 4 continues beyond the edge 2 and lands on the farmhouse floor, as will be seen in FIG. 3. Here, chicks or other small poultry walk about and are inclined by nature to search feed on the surface on which they walk. At the same time, the newly hatched poultry may be so small that it is not able to pick up feed from the feeding pan 1 within the rim 2 thereof, so that initial feeding directly on the floor is a prerequisite for the survival of the animals during the first days in the farmhouse. The poultry, however, grows so strongly that within a few days it has a size that allows it to reach the feed directly from the pan, and from then on feeding takes place as normal feeding, where the feed is conveyed through the opening at the top of the distribution cone and is spread to the rim area via the internal incorporated cone face of the pan.

[0043] The skid or chute faces 14, 15 and the stop faces 16, 17 must be arranged such that the feed 4 is distributed to as great a part of the periphery of the pan 1 as possible. It will be seen from FIG. 6 that 12 radially extending hampering plates 19 are provided at the bottom of the skirt of the distribution cone, the purpose of which is to hamper the poultry so that the animals do not use the pan 1 as a nest and resting place, resulting in non-access to the feed 4 for the other animals and pollution of the feed 4. It is desired that at least 6 out of 12 gaps between the hampering plates are filled with feed, or 6 twelfths of the periphery of the pan are filled. However, it is preferred that at least 8 twelfths or at least 11 twelfths of the periphery of the feeding pan receive feed, which is distributed along the chute faces 14, 15. The feed will accumulate along a portion of the rim 2, typically 3 twelfths of the rim, as will be seen in FIG. 4, until it runs out on the surrounding floor where it forms a pile, and only when this pile from the initial feeding opening in the pipe cannot receive more feed, is the initial feeding completed. Thus, the feed 4 is added until accumulation on the chute faces 14, 15 stops the supply, and the feed will then continue the transport forwards to the next feeding pan 1 arranged on the pipe 13 of the transport channel.

[0044] Then, the feed will cover the farmhouse floor outside the periphery of the feeding pan along the stated part thereof, while the inner rim of the pan is covered with feed as far as possible all the way round.

[0045] Thus, the feeding pan 1 of the feeding system comprises the outer distribution cone 7, which, with its skirt, fits into the feeding pan within and below the upper edge 20 of the raised rim 2 of the pan, so that feed 4, which is fed through the opening 11 of the distribution cone at the top thereof and is fed to its inner sides, will not flow over the edge 20 at any time. The chutes 14, 15 pass on their respective sides of the top of the distribution cone and the opening 11 therein, and their extent begins at an additional dividing line 38 disposed just below the passage for the initial feeding 9 and in continuation of the upright dividing line 18. The chutes 14, 15 are inclined with a skid angle suitable for the feed toward the bottom of the feeding pan, and comprises at least 3 twelfths of the circumference, preferably not less than 9 twelfths of the circumference of the distribution cone 7. This ensures that practically all parts of the rim 2 of the feeding pan are coated with feed 4 on its internal side. The 12 hampering plates 19 are equidistantly spaced and are of the same shape, 2 of them having a depressed upper rim 19.1, which may be instrumental in causing a larger area of the feeding pan rim to be coated with feed 4 during the initial feeding. A rim section between two hampering plates 19 then corresponds to 30 degrees of the total circumference of 360 degrees. 2 twelfths are the same as 60 degrees, 3 twelfths are the same as 90 degrees, and thus the relation between twelfths and degrees continues.

[0046] If the transport channel 5 is allowed to be disposed at an arbitrary height above the bottom of the feeding pan, the task of ensuring a suitable skid angle for the chute faces 14, 15 in order to fill the feeding pan along and outside the entire rim 2, is a trivial problem, but at the same time a relatively low overall mounting height is desired, so that the farmer can relatively easily move about in the farmhouse irrespective of the many transport channels 5 and associated pipes 13.

[0047] A screen element 21 for screening the passage 9 for the initial feeding is provided above the extent of the chutes 14, 15 at the top of the distribution cone. The screen element is seen best in FIG. 5, FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. The screen element 21 has a detachable attachment 22 for the pipe 13 of the transport channel 5. The attachment 22 comprises a slitted pipe 23 with an internal diameter essentially corresponding to the external diameter of the pipe 13 of the transport channel. The slit 24, which extends in the entire length of the slitted pipe 23, allows the slitted pipe 23 to be snapped around the pipe 13 of the transport channel, so that it fits tightly against the surface thereof. The slitted pipe 23 will have a wide slit in a central area of the attachment 22, so that the feed may pass therethrough and down into the opening 11, or down on the outer chute faces 15, 14 of the distribution cone. The screen element 21 extends downwards from the area around the wide slit, so that it is not possible to get a finger into the passage 9 for the initial feeding.

[0048] At downwardly facing edge parts along the slit 24, opposite the screen element 21, the slitted pipe 23 has gripping grooves 25 which cooperate with shape-complementary grooves 26 in the upper part of the distribution cone along the opening 11. The gripping grooves 25 may be slid into the shape-complementary grooves 26 in the distribution cone so as to form a tight-fitting attachment between the two parts. When the distribution cone 7 is slid into position and receives the grooves 25, this takes place by a mutual movement between distribution cone 7 and screen element 21 in parallel with the pipe 13. With the attachment 22 snapped around the pipe 13, the slit 24 will hereby be locked, so that the attachment 22 cannot be removed from the pipe 13 again once the distribution cone 7 has been mounted on it. This method of assembly is both simple and straightforward and can be made without the use of tools.

[0049] Further, around its terminating rim at the gripping grooves 25, the slitted pipe 23 of the screen element 21 has an outwardly directed flange 27, which serves as a detachable attachment for a locking ring 28, shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The locking ring 28 comprises a hook 29 which grips the flange 27 when the locking ring 28 is mounted in addition to the total system comprising the screen element 21 and the distribution cone 7. As the hook 29 grips the flange 27, it may be ensured that the locking ring 28 and the slitted pipe 23 cannot be displaced axially relative to each other, but may still be rotated relative to each other about their common longitudinal axis. The locking ring 28 moreover comprises an inwardly directed boss 30 which forms a shape-complementary fit with a recess or locking opening 31 in the pipe 13 of the transport channel. When the boss 30 is placed in the locking opening 31, the pipe 13 and the locking ring 28 will be fixed relative to each other, both in the axial direction and in terms of rotation. The boss 30 and the locking opening 31 are asymmetrical, so that the locking ring can only be mounted with the boss 30 in the locking opening 31 when the locking ring 28 is oriented correctly relative to the direction of transport 6. This ensures that the distribution cone 7 and the attachment 22 will always be seated correctly relative to the initial feeding and regular feeding openings of the pipe 13.

[0050] The locking ring 28 additionally has a radial engagement face 32 adapted to cooperate with a radially extending projection 33, shown in FIG. 13, on the upper part of the distribution cone 7, so that the locking ring 28 does not affect the distribution cone 7 by rotation of the transport channel 5 in an angular interval. Such angular positions are shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 and indicated by V1 and V2.

[0051] FIGS. 17 to 20 show part of a feed line in a 3d representation, where a plurality of feeding pans is shown in succession on a feed pipe. The angular intervals are illustrated in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18, where FIG. 17 shows the handle 39 and thereby the pipe in an angular position like the angular position shown in FIG. 15 corresponding to the setting of the system for normal feeding, and where FIG. 18 shows the handle and the angular rotation of the pipe like in FIG. 16, which corresponds to a setting of the system for initial feeding. In these angular positions, it will be seen that the pipe is rotated without the feeding pan being rotated as well. FIG. 19 shows an angular position of the pipe and the handle corresponding to the angular position shown in FIG. 14, and, finally, further rotation of the handle and the pipe is shown in FIG. 20. With this rotation of the transport channel 5 in the additional angular interval, the engagement face 32 of the locking ring will engage the radial projection 33 of the distribution cone, and the rotation of the pipe 13 of the distribution channel causes the distribution cone 7 and the rest of the feeding pan 1 to be rotated too. Hereby, it is possible to rotate all the feeding pans mounted on the pipe of a transport channel 5 to a position in which they are easy to clean, e.g. with the bottom of the pan 1 in a vertical position up from the farmhouse floor, as will be seen in FIG. 20. With this rotation of the pipe relative to the feeding pan, both openings out of the pipe will be blocked, and this also means that flushing of the feeding pan with water under pressure may be performed without water penetrating into the pipe, thereby protecting the internal area of the pipe from being soiled during the cleaning of the feeding pans.

[0052] The locking ring 28 is initially open, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. The ring 28 is made of a flexible material, so that it may be opened even more, as a lower locking tongue 40 may be pressed away from an upper locking tongue 41, so that the ring 28 is mountable on the pipe 13. The locking tongues 40, 41 have shape-complementary barbs 42, so that the locking tongues 40, 41 will cause the barbs to lockingly engage each other when the opening of the ring is pressed together. This may be done without tools.

[0053] The distribution cone 7 is detachably connected with the feeding pan 1 through flexible stays 34 (see FIG. 2), which extend downwards from the internal side of the top of the feed cone around the opening 11 therein, as will be seen e.g. in FIG. 2. At the bottom, the flexible stays 34 are provided with spearhead-shaped barbs 35, which are adapted for snap engagement with a rim area of a through opening 36 in a central area of the cone face 3 of the feeding pan 1. When the distribution cone 7 and the pan 1 are to be separated, this is relatively easy to do by pressing the spearhead-shaped barbs 35 radially together, which may easily be done with a suitable tool, which may e.g. consist of a pipe (not shown) with an internal conical rim at its one end. This method of separation and assembly is not destructive and may be carried out many times without causing any damage or noticeable wear to the parts, which contributes to ensuring long life and great flexibility of the system.

[0054] The central area of the feeding pan 1 is shaped as a cone face 3 and is thus raised above its rim 2, thereby creating an annular, fillable feed store 37 between the cone shape of the central area and the distribution cone 7, which will automatically be emptied out toward the rim 2 of the feeding pan when the animals eat from the feed there.

[0055] FIG. 2 and FIG. 12 show a pipe 13 for use as a transport channel 5 in a feeding system. The pipe 13 accommodates a screw line-shaped member 12 which, upon rotation, causes the feed to be fed forwards in the pipe 13, said pipe having a radial opening 9 for feed passage out of the pipe for initial feeding, there being subsequently in the direction of transport 6 a radial opening 10 for feed passage out of the pipe 13 for regular feeding. The pipe 13 may have any length corresponding to e.g. the length of a farmhouse system, and the pipe may additionally be composed of suitable lengths, as is well-known for long pipe members. The screw line-shaped member or auger or worm is also a well-known element and is here made of an elongate piece of flat iron. At an end of the pipe, there is provided a motor, e.g. an electric motor, which imparts a rotational movement to the auger, which movement will propagate to the entire auger in the entire length of the pipe. Hereby, the feed may be transported all the way and drop down into feeding pans, where they are mounted on the pipe.

[0056] The two openings 9, 10 are arranged at an axial distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the pipe, and they are moreover positioned at a mutual angle of rotation in the circumference of the pipe relative to each other, the shortest angle of rotation from the regular feeding opening to the initial feeding opening being opposite the direction of rotation of the screw line-shaped member in the pipe, when it is rotated for propulsion of the feed. This ensures that the feed in the pipe does not accumulate against the passage 9 for the initial feeding, when this is not in use. It is also well-known that openings of the type required for creating a passage for the feed will weaken the pipe, and therefore it is necessary to have a certain distance between them.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0057] 1 Feeding pan [0058] 2 Annular rim [0059] 3 Cone face [0060] 4 Feed [0061] 5 Overlying transport channel [0062] 6 Direction of transport [0063] 7 Distribution cone [0064] 8 External face of distribution cone [0065] 9 Passage for initial feeding [0066] 10 Passage for regular feeding [0067] 11 Opening in distribution cone top [0068] 12 Screw line-shaped member [0069] 13 Transport channel pipe [0070] 14 Chute face [0071] 15 Chute face [0072] 16 Stop face [0073] 17 Stop face [0074] 18 Upright dividing line [0075] 19 Hampering faces [0076] 20 Upper edge [0077] 21 Screen element [0078] 22 Attachment for pipe [0079] 23 Slitted pipe [0080] 24 Slit [0081] 25 Gripping grooves [0082] 26 Shape-complementary grooves [0083] 27 Flange [0084] 28 Locking ring [0085] 29 Hook [0086] 30 Boss [0087] 31 Locking opening [0088] 32 Radial engagement face [0089] 33 Radially extending projection [0090] 34 Flexible stays [0091] 35 Barbs [0092] 36 Opening [0093] 37 Fillable feed store [0094] 38 Additional dividing line [0095] 39 Handle [0096] 40 Lower locking tongue [0097] 41 Upper locking tongue [0098] 42 Barbs