Abstract: A metering unloader (101) for unloading a fluent material from a flow path (11) is disclosed. The flow path has a fluent material outlet (27). The metering unloader comprises an unloader body (103) having an outer cylindric wall (105) and an inner cylindric wall (107) spaced radially inwardly from the outer wall with the walls defining a chamber (126) therebetween. Means (117) is provided for rotating the unloader body about a vertical axis. Outer wall (105) has a fluent material inlet opening (119) such that with the fluent material inlet opening (119) in register with the flow path fluent material outlet (27), the fluent material will flow by gravity through the fluent material inlet opening (119) in the outer wall into the chamber (126). The inner wall (107) has a fluent material outlet opening (127) therein such that the fluent material in the chamber (126) will flow by gravity from the chamber to a fluent material discharge outlet (15).

Abstract: A poultry feeder conveyor control unit (63) of the present invention comprises a drop feeder adapted to be attached to an overhead feed conveyor (5). The feed conveyor has a conveyor element (11) moveable within a feed conduit (9) for conveying poultry feed in axial direction of the conveyor conduit, and a plurality of other poultry feeders (7) spaced at intervals along the path of the conveyor conduit. The control unit is positioned at a desired location along the length of the conveyor conduit. The control unit has an electric motor (75) having an output shaft (77) rotatable driven by the motor, and a paddle (79) carried by the output shaft. The motor is mounted within the control unit such that upon the feed in the feeder tube attaining a predetermined level, the paddle will engage the feed with the latter stopping rotation of the motor.

Abstract: A poultry feeder (10) comprising a generally vertically disposed feed tube (18) adapted to be installed on a generally horizontal feed conveyor tube (14) for receiving feed from the feed conveyor tube. The feed tube has an upper portion (26) fixed with respect to the feed conveyor tube and a lower portion (27) movable axially with respect to the upper portion between an extended position (as shown in FIG. 5) and a collapsed position (FIG. 6). A feed pan (23) is disposed below the bottom end of the feed tube for receiving feed.

Abstract: A feed conveying apparatus is disclosed for use in a poultry or livestock feeding system (503). The feed conveying apparatus has a housing (509) having a feed inlet (515) which receives feed from a feed supply (BFT) and a feed outlet (517). A feed conveyor (508) extends through the housing. The conveyor has a conveyor tube (511) with a feed auger (513) therein. The feed auger has a multiplicity of substantially equally spaced flights (62) and is driven within the conveyor tube for picking up feed from the housing and for conveying it through the conveyor tube. A regulator (521) is provided for regulating the amount of feed within the conveyor tube downstream from the housing to an amount less than will totally fill the conveyor tube so as to form a partial void (V) within the conveyor tube and to prevent overcompaction of the feed within the conveyor tube.

Abstract: An egg escalator (23) of the present invention transfers eggs from one level (L1) to another level (L2) and it comprises a first conveyor (25) having an upper reach (27) inclined at an angle and extending between the one level (L1) to the other level (L2). Eggs (E) rest on the upper reach of the first conveyor as they are conveyed from the one level to the other level. A second belt (29) is spaced generally above the upper reach of the first belt, and the second belt has a lower reach (31) spaced from the upper reach (27) of the first belt disposed so as to be substantially parallel to the upper reach of the first belt. The second belt has a multiplicity of elongate, flexible fingers (33) extending perpendicularly therefrom. The fingers are spaced at substantially equal intervals from one another along the second belt for accommodating an egg (E) between adjacent fingers.

Abstract: Apparatus of the present invention for batch drying crop in the shell comprises a bin having a generally cylindric bin wall, a conical upper drying floor carded by the bin wall, means floor for forming a substantially uniform layer of the crop to be dried on the upper surface of the upper drying floor, and selectively operable means for effecting the gravity discharge of the batch of crop from the upper drying floor. An inverted conical lower drying floor is carded by the bin below the upper drying floor for receiving the crop discharged from the upper drying floor. The lower drying floor has a hopper shaped crop supporting surface. Means is associated with the lower drying floor for forming a substantially uniform layer of crop on the lower drying floor upon the crop being gravity discharged from the upper drying floor. The lower drying floor further has a bottom outlet for the gravity discharge of the crop supported thereon.

Abstract: A grain dryer for providing a controlled drying process through a housing. The housing has a path for grain to be dried such that the grain is dried as the grain moves along the path. The grain dryer also has a fan and heater assembly for supplying heated air to the path for drying grain in the path. The grain dryer can control the flow of grain along said path and has sensors disposed in predetermined positions so as to detect different fault conditions. The sensors generating corresponding fault signals in response to the detection of fault conditions. The grain dryer also has a controller operatively connected to the sensors, the controller is responsive to fault signals to initiate a predetermined shutdown procedure upon receipt of any one of the fault signals. A memory is operatively connected to the controller for electronically recording and identifying information concerning shutdown procedures initiated by the controller. The grain dryer controller controls the start-up of in a predetermined manner.