Patents Assigned to CTB IP, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6712193
    Abstract: An intermediate discharge assembly to remove granular material from a conveyor belt used in an enclosed roller belt conveyor assembly. The intermediate discharge assembly includes a first pair of leading and trailing pulleys, a second pair of leading and trailing pulleys and a plow. The first pair of leading and trailing pulleys supports the conveyor belt in a substantially concave manner. The second pair of leading and trailing pulleys supports the conveyor belt in a substantially flat manner. The plow is positioned between the first and second pairs of leading and trailing pulleys. The plow is operable to remove the granular material from the conveyor belt when the second pair of leading and trailing pulleys supports the conveyor belt and the plow is positioned atop the conveyor belt, such that the granular material is removed from the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: CTB IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Dingeldein, Stephen M. Ginter
  • Patent number: 6705251
    Abstract: A method is provided for raising poultry, such as chickens, for food production. In a first preferred embodiment, the method includes the steps of: providing a facility for housing the poultry, providing at least one light-absorbing ventilation fan associated with the facility for ventilating the facility, exposing an interior of the facility to natural light cycles of an outside environment for a first period and regulating light cycles of the interior for a second period, thereby mimicking daylight duration variation representative of seasonal changes for stimulating sexual development of the poultry. In a second preferred embodiment, the method includes the steps of: providing a facility for housing the poultry, providing at least one light-absorbing ventilation fan associated with the facility for ventilating the facility, limiting exposure of an interior of the facility to light to produce a brown-out effect therein for enhancing physical development of the poultry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: CTB IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad W. Lorton, Curtis R. Wenger
  • Patent number: 6655320
    Abstract: A method is provided for raising poultry, such as chickens, for food production. In a first preferred embodiment, the method includes the steps of: providing a facility for housing the poultry, providing at least one light-absorbing ventilation fan associated with the facility for ventilating the facility, exposing an interior of the facility to natural light cycles of an outside environment for a first period and regulating light cycles of the interior for a second period, thereby mimicking daylight duration variation representative of seasonal changes for stimulating sexual development of the poultry. In a second preferred embodiment, the method includes the steps of: providing a facility for housing the poultry, providing at least one light-absorbing ventilation fan associated with the facility for ventilating the facility, limiting exposure of an interior of the facility to light to produce a brown-out effect therein for enhancing physical development of the poultry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: CTB IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad W. Lorton, Curtis R. Wenger
  • Patent number: 6571732
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel feeder that is used to attract agricultural animals to the feeder to enhance the animals' feeding behavior by providing a non-reflective feeder that is integrally formed with a plurality of reflective particles that attract the attention of the animals. Once the animals notice the reflective particles, the animals are drawn toward the feeder, thus encouraging them to find and eat the food in the feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: CTB IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Susan S. Hight, Lionel L. Kreger
  • Patent number: 6571990
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjustably directing granular material through a container. The apparatus includes a converging transition portion defining an input opening that converges to an output opening having a first transverse opening dimension (x1). The apparatus further includes an elongated chimney portion coupled to the converging transition portion and having a second transverse opening dimension (x2), where the first transverse opening dimension (x1) is smaller than the second transverse opening dimension (x2). This configuration reduces the outlet pressure created in the converging transition portion as the granular material passes through the container to minimize bridging of the granular material within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: CTB IP, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles R. Bird
  • Patent number: 6523667
    Abstract: An intermediate discharge assembly to remove granular material from a conveyor belt used in an enclosed roller belt conveyor assembly. The intermediate discharge assembly includes a first pair of leading and trailing pulleys, a second pair of leading and trailing pulleys and a plow. The first pair of leading and trailing pulleys supports the conveyor belt in a substantially concave manner. The second pair of leading and trailing pulleys supports the conveyor belt in a substantially flat manner. The plow is positioned between the first and second pairs of leading and trailing pulleys. The plow is operable to remove the granular material from the conveyor belt when the second pair of leading and trailing pulleys supports the conveyor belt and the plow is positioned atop the conveyor belt, such that the granular material is removed from the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: CTB IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Dingeldein, Stephen M. Ginter
  • Patent number: D460839
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: CTB IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Lionel Leslie Kreger, Theodore John Cole, James Kraft
  • Patent number: D465230
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: CTB IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Lionel Leslie Kreger, Theodore John Cole, Charles R. Bird
  • Patent number: D491320
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: CTB IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore J. Cole, Lionel L. Kreger, James R. Kraft, Philip Wilfong