GB2283897A - Animal feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

A feeder 1 for animals, comprises a hopper 2, an outlet 4 for dispensing feed, a feed tray 5, and a dispensing device 6 which depends from the hopper 2 and is operable by an animal to move a plate 7 from a position normally obstructing the outlet 4 to a position in which feed can flow through the outlet 4 to the tray 5. A mechanism for adjusting the size of the outlet is disclosed, consisting of overlapping metal plates 9, 10. <IMAGE>

Description

A FEEDER The invention relates to a feeder, particularly to a feeder for animals.

It is often necessary or desirable to enable animals such as pigs to feed themselves automatically in the field. This saves on labour, and time. However, prior feeders have not proved efficient and are liable to predation of the foods by rats, birds etc.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to mitigate these disadvantages.

According to the invention there is provided a feeder for animals, comprising a hopper for feed, an outlet for dispensing feed, a feed tray spaced from the outlet, and a dispensing device which depends from the hopper over the tray and is operable by an animal to move from a position normally obturating the outlet to a position in which feed can flow through the outlet to the tray.

The dispensing device may comprise an elongate member depending from the hopper through the outlet plate means extending transversely to the length of the elongate member internally of the hopper and being adapted to obturate and open the outlet, the elongate member being movable to tilt the plate means.

The elongate member may comprise a metal rod.

The outlet may be adjustable in size.

There may be relatively slidable overlapped plate means which define the outlet.

The plate means may be relatively slidable by means of inclined lever means.

There may be a plurality of depending dispensing means.

There may be two depending dispensing means disposed one either side of a screen device extending from the hopper.

The feeder may comprise support legs whereby the feeder may be free-standing.

Feeders embodying the invention are hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figs. 1A, 1B and 1C show schematically a first embodiment of feeder according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the feeders of Figs 1A to 1C; Fig. 3 is a schematic side elevational view of a second embodiment of feeder according to the invention; Fig. 4 is a plan view of two overlapped slidable plate means; Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the plates of Fig. 4, with operating means; Figs. 6 and 6A show an enlarged view of the outlet of the feeder of Fig. 3, Fig.

6A being a detail of Fig. 6; Fig. 7 shows a side elevational view of part of a third embodiment of feeder; Fig. 8 shows a schematic side view of the feeder of Fig. 8; Fig. 9 shows a plan view of the feeder of Figs. 7 and 8; Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of a dispensing device; Fig. 11 is a plan view of the dispensing device of Fig. 10; and Fig. 12 is a view of an actual feeder according to Figs. 7 to 11.

Referring to the drawings, in which like parts are indicated by like reference numerals there is shown a feeder 1 for animals, comprising a hopper 2 for feed 3, an outlet 4 for dispensing feed, a feed tray 5 spaced from the outlet 4, and a dispensing device 6 which depends from the hopper 2 over the tray 5 and is operable by an animal (not shown) to move from a position normally obturating the outlet 4 to a position in which feed can flow through the outlet 4 to the tray 5.

The hopper 2 is usually an inverted frusto-pyramidal vessel with the outlet 4 being in the form of a round hole with a square plate means 7 in the hopper 2 and positioned over the hole 4, the plate means 7 being part of the dispensing device 6, which includes an elongate member in the form of a depending metal rod. The plate means 7 is inside the hopper 2 and the rod 6 depends therefrom through the outlet 4 over a feed tray 5, which forms part of the feeder 1.

The rod 6 is freely tiltable and hangs by gravity through the outlet 4. The feed tray 5, as shown in Fig.12, is integral with the hopper 2 which is free-standing on legs 8 which support the tray 5. The rod 6 stops short of the tray 5, the legs not being shown in Figs. 1A to 1C.

In use, the hopper 2 is filled with animal feed 3 such as pellets, nuts or other granulate. The rod 6 is then moved gently from side to side so tilting it, and this allows the feed to pass under the plate means 7 where it is sandwiched between the bottom of the hopper 2 and the plate means 7. The natural friction of the feed holds it in position. Any subsequent movement of the dispensing device 6 when for example an animal such as a pig nuzzles the rod to tilt or rock it causes the plate means 7 to lift at one side and lower at the other, so pushing a small amount of feed through the outlet 4 into the feed tray 5 from where it is eaten by the pig. As only a small amount of feed passes into the feed tray 5, the pig, if it is hungry, will move the rod 6 as it eats, thereby "waggling" the rod, tilting the plate means 7 and thereby urging more food through the outlet 4.

When it has had enough to eat, the pig moves away and no more feed is dispensed, until the pig returns or another one comes to feed. It will be understood that the rod 6 is tiltable in any direction over 3600, so the pig can approach from any side for feeding. As the hopper 2 is covered, and the outlet is small, and normally closed, there is nothing to entice birds, rats or other vermin, so the feed is protected. Also, a pig will usually clear up the tray, so again leading to a lack of enticement for vermin.

It will be understood that there may be different lengths and diameters of rod and size of outlet depending on the feed being dispensed.

The embodiment 20 shown in Figs. 3 to 6 is similar to the first embodiment, the difference being that the outlet 4 is adjustable in size by two slidable overlapping plate means 9, 10 which have a triangular shaped rebate which together define a diamond shaped outlet 4 though which the rod 6 passes. In Fig. 4 the plate means, usually planar metal with an up-turned finger grip, are slidable towards and away from one another to adjust the size of the outlet.

In Figs. 3, 5 and 6, the plate means 9, 10 are each connected with inclined, cross levers 11, 12 which are secured to the plates by bolts 13 and are held tightly to the hopper by a "pinch" bar. To enlarge the outlet, the levers are forced as by a hammer blow on lever 11 at 14 to move, and to decrease the size of the outlet 4, the lever 12 is forced by for example a hammer blow at its end 15 (as with lever 11) to force the plate means 9 and 10 towards one another.

The rod 6 has a cross-piece 16, which is a push up stop bar and prevents the dispensing means 6 being raised too far by a pig, so obviating uncontrolled flow of feed.

Referring now to Figs. 7 to 12, the feeder 30 shown is again similar to the other embodiments, saving that in this case, there are two outlets 4 and two dispenser devices 6, with a screen device 17 in the form of a metal sheet between the two dispensers, the metal sheet being welded between two support legs of the feeder in Figs. 7 to 9, whilst being omitted in Fig. 12. The feed tray 5 is also split into two parts by the metal sheet and the tray is supported on a cross-piece 18 or brace at which the legs 8 are secured as by welding.

There is thus provided a rigid, free-standing, feeder, which allows the animals to feed from both sides of the screen.

There are also the following advantages of any of the feeders illustrated: (i) The hopper can be fitted in a fence line and used from both sides of the fence. The hopper can be partitioned as described.

(ii) Because the pigs can feed from both sides, when the hopper is put in an open paddock the pigs can get food quicker because of the double dispensers, thus allowing one hopper to feed more pigs, i.e. reducing the amount of hoppers required for the farmer. Also installation in a fence line described reduces the total required by half.

(iii) The extended feet on the floor plan make it less likely to topple over, with the legs suitably being in each corner for safety.

(iv) The hopper can be hung on a gate or bolted to a wall.

(v) Feed does not flow through and out of the hopper, the screen where used overcomes this.

(vi) All feeders are usable from any side, and feeding is automatically controlled by the pig, though it will be understood that the feeder is suitable for other animals too, such as sheep or cattle.

Claims (10)

1. A feeder for animals, comprising a hopper for feed, an outlet for dispensing feed, a feed tray spaced from the outlet, and a dispensing device which depends from the hopper over the tray and is operable by an animal to move from a position normally obturating the outlet to a position in which feed can flow through the outlet to the tray.

2. A feeder according to Claim 1, the dispensing device comprising an elongate member depending from the hopper through the outlet, plate means extending transversely to the length of the elongate member internally of the hopper and being adapted to obturate and open the outlet, the elongate member being movable to tilt the plate means.

3. A feeder according to Claim 2, the elongate member comprising a metal rod.

4. A feeder according to any preceding claim, the outlet being adjustable in size.

5. A feeder according to Claim 4, there being relatively slidable overlapped plate means which define the outlet.

6. A feeder according to Claim 5, the plate means being relatively slidable by means of inclined lever means.

7. A feeder according to any preceding claim, comprising a plurality of depending dispensing means.

8. A feeder according to Claim 7, there being two depending dispensing means disposed one either side of a screen device extending from the hopper.

9. A feeder according to any preceding claim, comprising support legs whereby the feeder is free-standing.

10. A feeder for animals, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.