Abstract: A method of feeding a group of animals at a feeding location includes automatically determining an expected feed demand for the group of animals to be fed using a computer; automatically harvesting feed crop in a crop field using an autonomous, unmanned device; automatically loading the harvested feed crop into a storage space provided on the autonomous, unmanned device; automatically transporting the feed crop from the crop field to the feeding location by means of the autonomous, unmanned device; and automatically dosing harvested feed from the storage space of the autonomous; unmanned device to the animals at the feeding location. A completely automated method for determining a feed demand and then harvesting, transporting and dosing the harvested feed to the animals is thus realized. A system for performing the method of feeding a group of animals at a feeding location is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a feed-mixing wagon (1) for animal feed, comprising a frame with a drive, a container (4) with a continuous wall (5) with a feed-unload opening, a feed auger which is arranged in the container for mixing and cutting animal feed and comprising an auger shaft (8) and an auger body (10) which is arranged around it in a spiral which has several blades, wherein the blades comprise at least one blade (11) of a first, long type and at least one blade (12) of a second, short type, and wherein at least one blade of the short type is situated closer to the bottom (6) than at least one blade of the long type. As a result of the various blades in the described configuration, the cutting and mixing behaviour can be adjusted in an optimum way.

Abstract: A livestock feed wagon includes a moving frame, a feed container which is fitted on the frame for accommodating animal feed, in particular provided with feed mixer, and a movable arm construction having an operable gripper fitted thereto for grabbing an amount of animal feed. The arm construction is configured in such a way that the arm construction can pivot the gripper only in one plane from a first position for grabbing animal feed next to the livestock feed wagon to a second position for releasing the animal feed above the feed container. This makes it possible to provide a very simple and compact construction.

Abstract: A livestock feed wagon includes a frame, a feed container which is fitted on the frame, in particular provided with a feed mixer, a gripper construction having a movable arm construction and a gripper fitted thereon for grabbing an amount of animal feed from a pile of animal feed, and a weighing device. The weighing device is arranged and configured to weigh a grabbed amount of animal feed by determining a change in the weight of at least the feed container and the gripper construction with the grabbed amount of animal feed. As a result thereof, it is possible to determine both the total loaded weight in the feed container and the weight of a grabbed chunk of animal feed using the same weighing device, so that the chunk, if it is either too heavy or too light, can be returned prior being unloaded, if desired.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing and cutting animal feed including a container with a sidewall, a rotary mixing and cutting device positioned inside the container and arranged to be driven by a driving unit. At least one counter element is provided at the sidewall. The apparatus includes a positioning device for moving the counter element between a retracted position and an inserted position, and a control unit to control the positioning device of the counter element and arranged to determine an indication of the amount of instantaneous power consumed by the driving units for driving the rotary mixing and cutting device and to control positioning device based on the determined indication of the amount of instantaneous power.

Abstract: The invention provides a feed-mixing wagon (1) for animal feed, comprising a frame with a drive, a container (4) with a continuous wall (5) with a feed-unload opening, a feed auger which is arranged in the container for mixing and cutting animal feed and comprising an auger shaft (8) and an auger body (10) which is arranged around it in a spiral which has several blades, wherein the blades comprise at least one blade (11) of a first, long type and at least one blade (12) of a second, short type, and wherein at least one blade of the short type is situated closer to the bottom (6) than at least one blade of the long type. As a result of the various blades in the described configuration, the cutting and mixing behaviour can be adjusted in an optimum way.

Abstract: A vehicle system with a charging station and an autonomously movable, electrically powered vehicle dockable therewith, the vehicle system being mutually engageable at an inlet-side on the vehicle and an outlet-side on the charging station arranged to transport energy between the charging station and vehicle when engaged and further being provided with an inlet-side guiding member, an outlet-side guiding member, respectively, arranged to guide the inlet-side and outlet-side engagements from a non-charging position into a charging position upon engaging of the inlet- and outlet-sides when docking the vehicle to the charging station.

Abstract: A livestock feed wagon includes a moving frame, a feed container which is fitted on the frame for accommodating animal feed, in particular provided with feed mixer, and a movable arm construction having an operable gripper fitted thereto for grabbing an amount of animal feed. The arm construction is configured in such a way that the arm construction can pivot the gripper only in one plane from a first position for grabbing animal feed next to the livestock feed wagon to a second position for releasing the animal feed above the feed container. This makes it possible to provide a very simple and compact construction.

Abstract: A livestock feed wagon includes a frame, a feed container which is fitted on the frame, in particular provided with a feed mixer, a gripper construction having a movable arm construction and a gripper fitted thereon for grabbing an amount of animal feed from a pile of animal feed, and a weighing device. The weighing device is arranged and configured to weigh a grabbed amount of animal feed by determining a change in the weight of at least the feed container and the gripper construction with the grabbed amount of animal feed. As a result thereof, it is possible to determine both the total loaded weight in the feed container and the weight of a grabbed chunk of animal feed using the same weighing device, so that the chunk, if it is either too heavy or too light, can be returned prior being unloaded, if desired.

Abstract: Feed-mixing device comprising a container with a side wall having a dispensing opening which can be closed off with a slide in front of which a removing device is placed which, for example, comprises a roller with teeth. When the roller rotates, the teeth extend inside the side wall. On a first peripheral section of the roller, the teeth are placed in such a manner that they do not extend inside the side wall. Thus, the slide can be positioned in such a manner that it runs in a fluent and continuous manner with respect to the side wall, while the assembly still forms a compact arrangement.

Abstract: Feed-mixing device comprising a container with a side wall having a dispensing opening which can be closed off with a slide, in front of which a removing device is placed which, for example, comprises a roller with teeth. When the roller rotates, the teeth extend inside the side wall. On a first peripheral section of the roller, the teeth are placed in such a manner that they do not extend inside the side wall. Thus, the slide can be positioned in such a manner that it runs in a fluent and continuous manner with respect to the side wall, while the assembly still forms a compact arrangement.

Abstract: Feed-mixing device comprising a container with a side wall having a dispensing opening which can be closed off with a slide in front of which a removing device is placed which, for example, comprises a roller with teeth. When the roller rotates, the teeth extend inside the side wall. On a first peripheral section of the roller, the teeth are placed in such a manner that they do not extend inside the side wall. Thus, the slide can be positioned in such a manner that it runs in a fluent and continuous manner with respect to the side wall, while the assembly still forms a compact arrangement.

Abstract: A feed-mixing wagon for animal feed, including a frame with a drive, a container with a continuous wall with a feed-unload opening, a feed auger which is arranged in the container for mixing and cutting animal feed and including an auger shaft and an auger body which is arranged around it in a spiral which has several blades. The blades include at least one blade of a first, long type and at least one blade of a second, short type, and at least one blade of the short type is situated closer to the bottom than at least one blade of the long type. As a result of the various blades in the described configuration, the cutting and mixing behaviour can be adjusted in an optimum way.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for mixing and cutting animal feed comprising a container with a side wall, a rotary mixing and cutting device positioned inside the container and at least one counter element provided at the sidewall. The apparatus comprises at least one positioning device for moving the at least one counter element between a retracted position and an inserted position. The container comprises a control unit to control the positioning device of the at least one counter element. The control unit is arranged to control at least one positioning device for bringing at least one counter element in a pulsating modus, wherein the at least one counter element moves between the retracted and inserted position.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing and cutting animal feed comprising a container with a side wall, a rotary mixing and cutting device positioned inside the container and arranged to be driven by a driving unit. At least one counter element is provided at the sidewall. The apparatus comprises positioning device for moving the counter element between a retracted position and an inserted position, and a control unit to control the positioning device of the counter element and arranged to determine an indication of the amount of power consumed by the driving units for driving the rotary mixing and cutting device and to control positioning device based on the determined indication of the amount of power.

Abstract: A vehicle system with a charging station and an autonomously movable, electrically powered vehicle dockable therewith, the vehicle system being mutually engageable at an inlet-side on the vehicle and an outlet-side on the charging station arranged to transport energy between the charging station and vehicle when engaged and further being provided with an inlet-side guiding member, an outlet-side guiding member, respectively, arranged to guide the inlet-side and outlet-side engagements from a non-charging position into a charging position upon engaging of the inlet- and outlet-sides when docking the vehicle to the charging station.

Abstract: Feed-mixing device comprising a container with a side wall having a dispensing opening which can be closed off with a slide, in front of which a removing device is placed which, for example, comprises a roller with teeth. When the roller rotates, the teeth extend inside the side wall. On a first peripheral section of the roller, the teeth are placed in such a manner that they do not extend inside the side wall. Thus, the slide can be positioned in such a manner that it runs in a fluent and continuous manner with respect to the side wall, while the assembly still forms a compact arrangement.

Abstract: A method of feeding an animal in a feeding box including in no particular order, at least the actions of: a) registering the presence of the animal in the feeding box, b) closing the feeding box and locking the feeding box in such a way that access to the feeding box is impeded for an animal outside the feeding box, c) supplying feed to the animal in the feeding box in a chosen eating period of time. For an animal that does not leave the feeding box after an initially chosen eating period of time has elapsed, the initially chosen eating period of time beginning immediately after the performance of step b), within a first waiting time span chosen contiguously to said period of time, in which the animal is given the possibility of leaving the feeding box, step c) is repeated at least once.

Abstract: The invention provides a feed displacement device for picking up, displacing and dispensing material, in particular livestock feed, including a rail system and a trolley with a gripping device, which trolley is movable over the rail system, and is configured to pick up and dispense the material, wherein the rail system includes a fixed rail part and a displaceable rail part which is connectable to the latter, wherein the trolley is movable directly over the fixed and displaceable rail parts, and in such a manner that the trolley can cover a surface area for picking up the material from various positions. The trolley is easily positionable over an area where material, such as feed, is to be picked up. As a result thereof, no robot arm or the like has to swing out sideways and thus no unnecessarily large forces act thereon.

Abstract: A device is provided for dispensing feed to feed troughs for animals such as cows. In one embodiment, the feed troughs are separate from the frame. Furthermore, the frame may be provided with a number of storage boxes for storing a supply of feed. The storage box has an outlet. The feed can be removed from the storage box via the outlet. The device furthermore comprises a conveying device for conveying feed from the storage boxes to respective feed troughs. The conveying device comprises a receptacle or container for temporarily accommodating feed. This receptacle is movable along a guide provided on the frame. The receptacle is movable from a position downstream of the outlet of the storage box to positions upstream of the respective feed troughs. The guide comprises at least two tracks, which extend substantially parallel to one another. As a result, a stable guide for the receptacle can be provided along which the receptacle is movable.