FEED DISPENSER

Abstract

The invention relates to a feed dispenser for horses which comprises a main housing (1), having a loading opening (2) and a discharge opening (3), and an actuation element (7) for a horse, wherein an endless screw (4) rotatable in a drive direction about its longitudinal axis is provided in the main housing (1) and is drive-connected via a driver (5), which runs freely counter to the drive direction, to the actuation element, which is movable counter to the force of a return spring (6) between an idle position and an actuation position. In order to design a feed dispenser of the described kind so that chunky animal feed can be used, regardless of its shape or size, without having to be pre-processed in advance, it is proposed that the endless screw (4) has a peripheral screw blade (20) forming cutting faces (19) for comminuting chunky material, and/or that the main housing (1) has an auxiliary cutter.

Claims

1. A feed dispenser for horses comprising a housing having an intake port and an output port and an actuating element for a horse, an auger rotatable in the housing about its longitudinal axis and drivingly connected to the actuating element that can be displaced opposite the force of a return spring between a rest position and an actuated position via a coupling that freewheels in a drive direction, wherein the auger has a rotating blade and the housing has an auxiliary edge, the blade and/or the cutting edge forming cutting edges for comminuting feed.

2. The feed dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the coupling is a screw-thread drive that converts longitudinally axial movement into rotation of the auger about the longitudinal axis and on which a biasing element braced against a return spring bears longitudinally axially.

3. The feed dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the biasing element has a lever rotatable about a lever axis running transversely to the longitudinal axis of the auger and driven by the actuating element.

4. The feed dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the coupling is rotationally fixed to a guide rail extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the auger and is rotatable about the longitudinal axis against the force of a return spring, the transverse rod carrying the actuating element offset from the longitudinal axis of the auger.

5. The feed dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a discharge section and a loading section rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the auger relative to the discharge section between a use position and a loading position, a storage container for the animal feed being releasably attached to the loading section.

6. A feed dispenser comprising: an elongated tubular housing extending along an axis and having an intake end formed with a radially open intake port having an edge and an output end having a radially open output port; an auger rotatable in a direction in the housing about the axis and extending between the intake and outlet ports and having a helical blade, at least one of the edges being formed as a cutting edge; an actuating element shiftable transversely of the axis outside the housing between a rest position and an actuated position; a spring urging the element into the rest position; and a rotary freewheel coupling connecting the element to the auger so as to load the spring on movement of the actuating element from the rest position and the actuated position and to rotate the auger in the direction on movement of the actuating member by the spring from the actuated position into the rest position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] In the drawing, the subject matter of the invention is illustrated by way of example. Therein:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic side sectional view of a first embodiment of a feed dispenser in accordance with the present invention,

[0018] FIG. 2 is a large-scale detail view of a second embodiment of an actuating element and coupling according to the invention, and

[0019] FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 2 of actuating elements according to the invention and of a coupling of a third embodiment.

WAYS OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0020] A feed dispenser according to the invention has a housing 1 with an intake port 2 and an output port 3. The housing 1 holds an auger 4 rotatable about its longitudinal axis in a drive direction and is connected via a one-way coupling 5 that freewheels opposite the drive direction, to an actuating element 7 movable opposite the force of a return spring 6 between a rest position and an actuated position. FIGS. 1 to 3 show the operating elements 7 in their rest position.

[0021] Here the coupling 5 can be rotated, for example pivotally, and has a drive rod 9 that fits in an auger tube shaft 8 and has guide spiral guide surfaces 10 extending around the longitudinal axis and engaging stops of a freewheel 11 carried on the auger 4 and fitting with these guide surfaces. The stops are formed, for example, by a rotary part 12 of the freewheel 11 fitted around the drive rod 9. The coupling 5 forms a screw-thread drive in order to convert straight-line axial movement into rotation of the auger 4 about the longitudinal axis of the auger 4, and a traction element 13 acts on the screw-thread drive in order to initiate the straight-line axial and longitudinal movement, the traction element 13 acting oppositely to the return spring 6, and including, for example, a cable 15.

[0022] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the traction element 13 is a pull rod that is connected to the actuating element 7 by a lever 17 pivotal about an axis extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the auger 4 and for example formed by a pivot pin 16.

[0023] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment where the coupling 5 is rotationally fixed to rotatable transverse rods 18 extending transversely oppositely relative to the axis from the auger 4, rotationally oppositely biased by respective return springs 6, and carrying respective elements 7 offset from the longitudinal axis of the auger 4.

[0024] In order to comminute conveyed piece goods, the auger 4 has a blade 20 forming a helical cutting edge 19.

[0025] The housing 1 of a feed dispenser according to the invention can for example have a discharge section 21 carried on a mount rod 22 or grate of the housing 1. For easy refill, the housing 1 can also have a load section 23 rotatable relative to the discharge section 23 about the axis between a use position shown in FIG. 1 and a refilling position (not shown in greater detail). A container 24 for the animal feed is releasably attached to the intake port 2 of the loading section 23.