Abstract: A broadcast feeder for projecting food aggregate or pellets directionally into an area up to, for example, sixty or more feet away from the feed container. The action is controlled to provide a predetermined quantity of aggregate at a predetermined time. The velocity of the feed as it exits the feeder is such that the area directly surrounding the feeder is free of feed particulate. A modular design affords the ability to operate as a self-contained unit with its own storage hopper or as a retrofit module added to existing conventional barrel type scatter type feeders. The projection of the feed is accomplished by propelling the feed pellets with a center intake centrifugal air blower assembly designed such that no special feed gates, baffles or chutes are required.

Abstract: A static feeder system for supplying feed aggregate to animals and birds. A constant and controlled amount of protein pellets, grain, seeds, etc., is supplied to multiple feed stations within an environmentally protected bulk container. A bulk container is used as the primary storage hopper and appropriate cut-outs are made on the base periphery of the container equal to the number of feed stations desired. A single piece of material is inserted to provide the sealed walls and the base shape for each feed station on the drum periphery. The base absorbs and distributes the bulk load from the hopper and funnels it to the drum base. The base component and the multiple funnel component moldings to form a two component assembly which provides internally protected feed pockets that control the quantity and shape of the emerging feed aggregate flowing from the bulk container.

Abstract: The system has one or more vision units each of which has a head with a primary prism, a primary objective lens, and zoom optics including a plurality of lenses which form an optical path through which the image of an object may pass onto an area array sensor. Also provided is a reseau plate having a plurality of reseaus formed in a given pattern and a light source for projecting the image of the reseaus through the optical path onto the sensor for use for correcting in real time, optical distortion of the image of the object passing through the optical path including the lenses of the zoom optics. The unit is capable of movement about two perpendicular axis. Servo control devices operated by a computer are employed for automatically adjusting the focus, aperture, magnification, axial position of the reseau plate in consonance with the focus adjustment, and movement of the head about its two axes. The system also contains a central control processing head and a manual controller for the vision units.