Abstract: An improved bird feeder utilizing a sectional roof assembly with an elastomeric material joining a fixed roof section to a second movable roof section. The elastomeric material serves as both an environmental seal and as a hinge to allow easy access to the seed storage area. A flow rate block intermediate the base and a movable wall of the feeder allows bird seed to flow from the interior of the feeder at a rate dependent on the position of the flow rate block.

Abstract: An automatic animal feeding system having a vertically adjustable inverted U-shaped cover disposed over a feed trough. Vertical adjustment of the cover provides for an advantageously settable feed discharge gap into the feed trough. The system comprises an automatically energized driving chain movable along the feed trough, which chain carries feed propelling paddles. The feeding apparatus is especially adapted for use in the feeding of wet ground corn to hogs, and provides substantially reduced probabilities of jamming due to feed build up, or of causing feed spoilage due to unwanted accumulation of feed in inaccessible areas.

Abstract: A feed gate arrangement is provided for the feeder units of automated poultry feed systems and the like, of the type having at least one feed conveyor with a moving feed carrier, such as an endless drag chain, conveyor belt, or similar structure. The feeder unit includes a housing through which the conveyor chain translates, and a mechanism to add fresh, make-up feed to the conveyor chain. The feed gate comprises a valve plate slidably mounted for vertical movement in an outlet trough of the housing, and meters the flow of feed onto the underpassing conveyor chain. The valve plate includes a laterally extending adjustment tab, which overlies an exterior surface of the housing, and is detachably anchored thereto at various vertical positions for adjusting the conveyor feed level from the exterior of the feeder unit.

Abstract: Apparatus for distributing feed to caged poultry and the like is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an elongated trough for receiving feed, and an open-topped tube conveyor disposed within the trough. A clip is provided for securing the tube conveyor in and to the trough. A tube shield extends from a trough wall down over the conveyor tube. A baffle extends downwardly from the tube shield over each feed-dispensing tube aperture to prevent observation of feed particle dispensing motion by the receiving poultry.

Abstract: A poultry feeder including a tubular feed drop adapted to be secured to a conveyor tube for discharging animal feed downwardly therethrough. A feed pan is spaced downwardly from the lower end of the feed drop. A hollow feed-flow control member is adjsutably mounted on the feed drop in telescopic relationship therewith and projectes downwardly therefrom. The feed-drop and control member have meshing opposed threads for supporting the control member on the feed-drop while enabling the elevation of the control member to be selectively adjusted in response to rotation thereof, whereby the feed-discharge gap between the lower end of the control member and the bottom wall of the pan can be infinitely adjusted over a selected range.

Abstract: An improved feeder apparatus for livestock which includes an enclosure for containing feed, at least one feeding trough positioned adjacent the enclosure and at least one slidable side door disposed over an opening in the enclosure for unloading feed into the trough. A pair of bars are attached to the enclosure adjacent the outwardly facing side of the slidable side door. The bars are positioned in close proximity to each other so that an elongated slot is formed therebetween parallel to the direction of slide of the door. The door includes an outwardly projecting threaded post which extends through the slot and a wing nut is threadedly connected to the post so that the wing nut can be tightened against the bars to lock the door in a selected position.

Abstract: An animal feeder is disclosed which comprises a feed trough and a hopper mounted above the trough for automatically feeding stored food into the feed trough as it is consumed by animals feeding therein. Flow of food from the hopper into the feed trough is controlled by an agitator or butt plate located within the trough and spaced a predetermined distance from the bottom of the trough. A wire grid extends from the butt plate upwardly into the hopper such that agitation or movement of the butt plate by animals feeding within the trough causes corresponding movement of the wire grid. To control the flow of food from the hopper into the trough, the butt plate is adjustable relative to the trough so as to vary the size of the opening through which the food must flow in order to become accessible to animals feeding in the trough. This adjustment is effected by a pivoted lever which is controlled from a handle located in the open top of the hopper.

Abstract: A feed trough attachment for converting a grain wagon into a portable cattle feeder. The trough is equipped with a pair of mounting arms which are bolted to the frame of the grain wagon to mount the trough below the gravity discharge outlet opening of the grain box.

Abstract: An animal feeder is provided which has a bin portion for storing feed and a trough portion. The two portions have mating ribs and grooves forming a fluted joint which when used with a suitable adhesive agent bonds the two portions together. Located in the lower end of the bin portion is a flow passageway communicating with the trough portion and having a dispensing opening through which the feed is dispensed into the trough portion. The flow of feed is controlled by a variable gate positioned so as to regulate the size of the dispensing opening. The size of the opening, distance of the top of the opening from the trough, and a vertical rib positioned within the trough portion which circumscribes the dispensing opening and acts as a dam, cooperate so as to limit the amount of undisturbed feed in the trough position. The feeder is designed to mate with a hanger therefor to allow simple and quick mounting of the feeder to a fixed structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for distributing measured amounts of particulate material. A feed source is connected to a material conduit which leads to a receptacle. A monitoring assembly maintains the desired level of material in the receptacle. In a particular application, the apparatus distributes measured amounts of animal feed from a feed source into a feed trough accessible to feeding materials.

Abstract: A pre-fillable, throw-away bird feeder, including a tubular container having at least one bird feed emitting opening in the side wall thereof, a perch mounted on the container for movement between a generally horizontal bird roosting position, and a generally vertical position, and a closure for the opening mounted on the perch for closing the opening when the perch is in the vertical position.

Abstract: A multi-tiered feed device for animals including generally vertically spaced first and second feed stations. Each of the feed stations includes a pan and a top enclosure secured to the pan. A first feed conduit supplied with animal feed is provided and extends into the first feed station and is positioned over and above an aperture in the bottom of the pan. A second feed conduit is also provided which is positioned beneath the aperture and extends into the second feed station above the bottom of the pan and is connected to the first feed station. The feed stations are each mounted on their respective feed conduits. A multi-tiered cage completely surrounding the first and second feed stations is also provided which is divided into an upper and lower tier.

Abstract: A feeder for livestock and the like is disclosed. The feeder has a feed receiver body for receiving and storing a flow of feed from a conveyor. A drop tube means extends from the feed conveyor into the feed receiver body, and includes at least one wall mounted for vertical motion relative to a fixed wall. When the moveable wall is in a raised position, that moveable wall and the fixed wall define a vertically oriented opening through which feed can pass from the drop tube into the receiver body. By adjusting the position of the moveable wall, the amount of feed collected in the receiver can be correspondingly changed. When a stopper valve member is drawn away from a discharge opening, the feed pile collected in the receiver body is discharged from the receiver for livestock consumption. A stopper actuator includes a flexible member connected to the stopper valve, and a rotatable windup device connected to the flexible member.

Abstract: An improved animal feeder particularly suitable for hogs, cattle and the like which is characterized by an improved feed control construction which includes a novel threaded drive construction cooperating with an inclined plane connection to a movably mounted feed gate to save time and effort in adjusting the flow of feed to the feeder troughs when required.

Abstract: A pig nursery feeder is provided which has an overall box-shaped configuration and is made substantially of steel plates welded to one another. The upper section of the feeder which constitutes the major feed storage volume thereof, includes tapered lower side walls which converge to form a decreasing cross-sectional area in the downward direction. Feed openings are provided at the bottom of the lower section of the feeder. At an intermediate section at the upper part of the lower section, the side walls of the feeder converge outwardly so as to present an increasing cross-section expanded throat portion for promoting free flow of the feed into the lower portion and to the feeder openings. To accommodate adjustment of the openings, the slide panels are connected to hand operable cranks disposed at the top of the feeder so that the feeder opening adjustments can be made independently of the amount of feed in the feeder and independently of any separate tools.

Abstract: A feeder pan assembly is provided for use with poultry and the like. A hood includes a shell which extends into a pan to define an annular feeding area accessible to the poultry. A hood-pan interconnector includes a number of supports which are curved and inclined to slide over a corresponding number of ramps formed upon the shell. When the hood and interconnectors are relatively rotated, the interconnector supports slide over the ramps to raise or lower the pan. This pan position readjustment increases or decreases the amount of feed flowing into the feeder pan assembly feeding area.

Abstract: An open framework defining a pair of rows of stalls for livestock, a feeding hopper movable over the rows of stalls and having a pair of food material discharge openings each disposed to deliver food to the stalls of a different row. A pair of feeding conveyors in the hopper each feed material to a different one of the discharge openings and are independently driven and independently controlled by control elements causing the material to be discharged to predetermined ones only of the stalls. The framework includes longitudinal frame sections which provide gates to each of the stalls individually.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing animal foodstuffs particularly in granular, particulate, or like form. The apparatus is intended for use in conjunction with a conventional elongate feeding trough serving a plurality of feeding stations. The apparatus includes a foodstuffs receiver which is of elongate form, and which is equal in length to that length of the trough into which foodstuffs are to be dispensed. A dispensing head is arranged to be coupled to a foodstuffs supply, and is movable relative to the receiver along the length of the receiver. The head includes guides which guide the receiver through the head during relative movement between the two, and the head has a foodstuffs outlet whereby foodstuffs can pass from the supply through the head and into that portion of the receiver which is within the head at any given time.

Abstract: A plurality of feed pan assemblies are attached beneath a feed trough connected to a supply hopper, the trough having an internal conveyor for moving feed therealong. Each assembly includes a container suspended intermediate the trough and pan which are pre-filled with feed dispensed from the trough. The bottom of each container is closed by a gate during filling of the container, the gates being simultaneously opened by an actuator which provides simultaneously premeasured dispensing of feed into the desired number of feeder pans. Preferably, the gate is cone-shaped.