Abstract
A feeding device is for cattle and small livestock, in which a loading and closing member is pivotably attached to the outer portion of a feed table. Further, a longitudinal elastic lip member is arranged to abut against an overlying building structure.
Claims
1. A feeding device for cattle and small livestock, the feeding device being suitable for standing alone or being connected to a wall in a livestock room, the feeding device comprising: a feeding table and a loading and closing member, the loading and closing member extending along an outer portion of the feeding table and being pivotably attached to the outer portion of the feeding table; the loading and closing member being pivotable between a horizontal position and a vertical position; and the loading and closing member forming a back wall for the feeding table in the vertical position.
2. The feeding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a longitudinal elastic lip member is attached to an outer portion of the loading and closing member.
3. The feeding device as claimed in claim 2, wherein, in the vertical position of the loading and closing member, the lip member is arranged to abut against an overlying building structure.
4. The feeding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a member in cloth form is attached, at one end portion, to the outer portion of the loading and closing member and is attached, at its other end portion, to a base.
5. The feeding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer portion of the loading and closing member is provided with a longitudinal alignment edge.
6. The feeding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feeding table is formed from concrete or as a metal structure.
7. The feeding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the loading and closing member comprises a frame structure.
8. The feeding device as claimed in claim 7, wherein an elastic material is extended over the frame structure.
9. The feeding device as claimed in claim 8, wherein, at a longitudinal end portion facing the feed table, the elastic material is provided with a transition portion covering a hinge portion.
10. The feeding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, at its idle side, the loading and closing member is provided with an attachment member for an actuator.
11. The feeding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the loading and closing member is formed from one or more sections.
12. The feeding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movement of the loading and closing member can be remote-controlled.
Description
[0023] In what follows, examples of preferred embodiments are described, which are visualized in the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0024] FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a free-standing feeding device;
[0025] FIG. 2 shows a loading and closing member in a horizontal position;
[0026] FIG. 3 shows a loading and closing member in a vertical position;
[0027] FIG. 4 shows a feeding device arranged along an outer wall;
[0028] FIG. 5 shows a loading and closing member with a cloth in the horizontal position;
[0029] FIG. 6 shows a loading and closing member with a cloth in the vertical position;
[0030] FIG. 7 shows a feeding device when fodder is being deposited on it from a fodder wagon running on wheels;
[0031] FIG. 8 shows a feeding device in the feeding position;
[0032] FIG. 9 shows the loading and closing member placed on a drive-through alley feed table; and
[0033] FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment of the loading and closing member.
[0034] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment in which the feeding device is a free-standing one. The feeding table 2 is a concrete structure with recesses for a hydraulic cylinder 6. The cylinder 6 is pivotably attached, at one end portion, to the inner portion 4 of the feeding table 2 and pivotably attached, at its other end portion, to an attachment member 7 on the idle side 8 of a loading and closing member 1. An eating front 5 prevents the animals from trampling on the feed table 2. By changing the stroke length of the cylinder 6, the loading and closing member 1 may rotate around the hinge portion 11 between a swung-down first position A and a swung-up second position B.
[0035] FIG. 2 shows the loading and closing member 1 in a swung-down first position A, ready to receive fodder. On its working side 20, the frame 8 of the loading and closing member is provided with a strong cloth 10 which, at one end portion, is provided with a transition portion 12 which prevents fodder and foreign bodies from falling onto the hinge portion 11.
[0036] FIG. 3 shows the loading and closing member 1 in a swung-up second position B.
[0037] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment in which the feeding device is arranged along an outer wall 15. Along the outer portion 9 of the loading and closing member 1, a longitudinal elastic lip member 14 is attached. In the swung-up position, the lip member 14 may form a tight connection between the loading and closing member 1 and the wall 15 so that the building becomes tight to wind and rain.
[0038] FIG. 5 shows how a flexible cloth 16 is attached, at one end portion, to the outer portion 9 of the loading and closing member 1 and is attached, at its other end portion, to the base 17. The cloth 16 has for its purpose to prevent snow and foreign bodies from landing within the working area of the feeding device.
[0039] FIG. 6 shows how a flexible cloth 16 is folded up when the loading and closing member 1 is in the horizontal position.
[0040] FIG. 7 shows a feeding wagon 25 running on wheels, feeding out fodder 26 onto the working side 8 of the loading and closing member 1. The end portion 9 also functions as an alignment edge for the wheels not to damage the loading and closing member 1.
[0041] FIG. 8 shows the loading and closing member 1 in a vertical position with fodder 26. By raising the loading and closing member 1 from a horizontal position into a vertical position, the fodder 26 will slide down along the working side 8 so that it becomes accessible to the animals. At the same time, a back wall is formed for the feeding table 2, preventing the animals from throwing the fodder off the feeding table. The length of the loading and closing member 1 from the hinge portion 11 to the outer portion 9 is so long that the animals cannot throw the fodder 26 over the outer portion 9 when the loading and closing member 1 is in the swung-up position.
[0042] FIG. 9 shows the loading and closing member 1 placed on a drive-through feeding alley, wherein, in the swung-down first position A, the loading and closing member 1 is resting against a base 19, typically a poured floor. In the swung-down first position A, a tractor and a fodder wagon 25 running on wheels (see FIG. 7) may run on the loading and closing member 1 during feeding. The figure shows the feeding table 2 placed on top of the base 19, and the base 19 includes a recess for a hydraulic cylinder 6, as indicated in FIGS. 1-8. The feed table 2 may constitute a portion of the base 19.
[0043] FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention, in which the loading and closing member 1 is L-shaped. The solution makes it possible for the loading and closing member 1 in the swung-down first position A to rest against the base 19 when the feed table 2 is higher than the base 19. It should be noted that all the abovementioned embodiments illustrate the invention, but do not restrict it, and persons skilled in the art may form many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the attached claims. In the claims, reference numbers in brackets are not to be considered as restrictive.
[0044] The use of the verb to comprise and its different forms does not exclude the presence of elements or steps that are not mentioned in the claims. The indefinite article a or an before an element does not exclude the presence of several such elements. The fact that some features are indicated in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these features cannot be used with advantage.
