Animal-controlled Supply Patents (Class 119/54)
  • Patent number: 6101975
    Abstract: Feed hopper for a sow has opening at bottom surrounded by a seat upon which a ball check is adapted to rest, thereby to seal the opening and prevent the discharge of feed therethrough. A sow can nudge upwardly the ball check, unsealing the opening and permitting the discharge of feed from the hopper. Vertically adjustable means limit upward movement of the ball check so as to limit the maximum extent to which the opening can be unsealed. A water button, operatively connected to a source of water, can be nudged by the sow to discharge water for her.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Inventors: Keith Berry, Brian Berry
  • Patent number: 5992349
    Abstract: The present invention provides an animal feeder comprising a hopper and a feed tray into which feed is gravity fed from the hopper. The hopper has an inverse funnel shape to prevent feed jams. The feeder is formed from two halves with a metering gate that meters the feed fed from the hopper to the tray. The metering gate has a limited swing with pegs mounted thereon to further agitate jammed feed inside the hopper as the animal feeds from the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Inventor: Thomas D. Sachs
  • Patent number: 5957082
    Abstract: A drum-shaped feed dispenser has a hollow body in the shape of a generally prolate spheroid with truncated longitudinal ends. The hollow body is made of a lightweight material such as plastic, and granular feed can be poured into the hollow body through one end. A circumferential band of the hollow body at the longitudinal center of the drum has an annual shape defining a central portion of the drum. The hollow body includes a plurality of longitudinal recessed channels extending from the end walls of the drum to the edges of the central portion. The end of each recessed channel adjacent the central portion of the drum is defined by a transverse side wall. A feed dispensing aperture through which the granular feed can pass is formed in at least one of the side walls. When an animal engages the drum to impart rotation, feed drops out of the apertures as they pass through the downward-facing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Horseballs, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sandra Budman, James Cotter
  • Patent number: 5906174
    Abstract: An apparatus for use with rotating feeder, having an animal activated feedwheel for spreading feed within a trough. A first stopper is connectable to, and extendable from, the feedwheel. The first stopper defines an orbit path when the feedwheel is rotated. A second stopper is connectable to and extendable from a stationary portion of the feeder and into the orbit path. When the first stopper engages the second stopper, the stoppers cooperate to limit rotation of the feedwheel to a single direction about the aperture axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Inventor: Lawrence Muldoon
  • Patent number: 5865139
    Abstract: A feeding device (1) for feeding hogs and pigs. The feeding device (1) consists of a tube (2) mounted on a frame (7) which is fixedly mounted on a base (3). The tube (2) is suspended in at least two members (5, 6); in a suspension member (5) and a guiding member (6). The tube (2) is suspended freely rotatably in the suspension member (5). The guiding member (6) may be displaced in vertical direction on the frame (7) and is provided on its inner side with an elastic, flexible annular body (10). The elastic flexible, annular body (10) of the guiding member (6) will actuate the tube (2) so that after a swing it will return to its neutral, vertical original position. This feature combined with the vertical displacement of the guiding member (6) makes the feeding device easily adaptable to animals of different sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Egebjerg Maskinfabrik af 1983 A/S
    Inventor: Henrik Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 5850805
    Abstract: A clog resistant animal feeder for providing an animal feeder, especially for pigs, which is clog resistant and which is adjustable for allowing only a specified amount of feed to be dispensed at a time. The inventive device includes a storage bin having slanted side walls, a first tube within a lower portion of the bin, and a support member horizontally positioned within the bin, an elongated frame adjustably attached to the support member projecting downwardly through the side walls about the first tube, and a second tube pivotally attached to the elongated frame about the first tube. A pair of chains are preferably connected to the second tube for allowing an animal to engage the chain with their nose portion for manipulating the second tube where after any clogged feed within the first tube is jarred loose where it is dispensed out from the second tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Inventor: Michael Kleinsasser
  • Patent number: 5839389
    Abstract: A feeder for pig-raising which can discharge a fixed quantity of food in a good condition at all time, which can adjust a discharge quantity of food relatively simply, and which can feed efficiently at all time in consideration of a habit of pigs. A suspension rod is suspended within a feeding tank formed at a lower end with a food outlet, and a food-quantity adjusting member is disposed below the suspension rod. The food-quantity adjusting member comprises a conical portion having an upper end smaller in diameter than the food outlet of said feeding tank, being gradually enlarged in diameter downward, and a lower end slightly larger in diameter than the food outlet, and a disk-like portion secured to the lower end of said conical portion. Food is supplied to a bottom plate from a gap between the food outlet of the feeding tank and an inclined peripheral surface of the food-quantity adjusting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Fujii Shokai Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazumi Fujii
  • Patent number: 5829385
    Abstract: A feeding device, in particular for pigs, of the kind comprising a feed container (10) with a tubular outlet and preferably connected to a tubular transporter, by means of which the feed is brought to the feeding device, and where the pigs may act on the lower part of the tube (10) with their snouts for delivery of the feed into a trough (4). The feeding device is particular in that the lower part of the tube (10) is shaped as a separate deflectably suspended part and where there is provided between this and the lower edge of the fixed part of the tube a portioning device, through which the feed is supplied when the deflectable part is deflected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Agro Products ApS
    Inventor: Peter Kaspersen
  • Patent number: 5794561
    Abstract: A wildlife feeder including a feed storage bin and a feed trough supported by a central support post. The bin and trough are vertically spaced to allow unobstructed animal access in the area between the bin and the trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Inventor: John C. Schulz
  • Patent number: 5595139
    Abstract: An improved animal self-feeder that has a feed reservoir vertically disposed above a trough and that has an intermediate feeding plate disposed between the reservoir and the trough. The self-feeder includes an outlet for discharging feed downwardly from the reservoir onto the intermediate feed plate from which the animal can feed or can knock the feed into the trough below to feed. The self-feeder further includes an agitation assembly for agitating the feed within the reservoir to enhance its flow through the outlet. The agitation assembly is rotationally mounted within the reservoir such that it is rotatable through a complete circle, or 360.degree.. In a preferred embodiment the present invention further includes a jack screw and crank for changing the elevation of the agitation assembly and feed plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Lakeview Hutterian Brethren, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Hofer, Daniel J. Wipf
  • Patent number: 5482006
    Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic feeding device (1) for supplying domestic animals, particularly fattening pigs, which dispenses bulk feed of varying flowability, where a feed bin (8) is provided above a feed trough (6), the base (9) of this bin (8) possessing a removal aperture, below which a feed plate (10) is located in such a way that a horizontal feed removal slit (11) is formed between the edge of the removal aperture of the feed bin (8) and the feed plate (10). So that the animal searching for food can act directly and with maximum force on the sticking supply of feed, a tool (12), hung loosely into the bin (8), is provided, which possesses at least one actuating element (7) projecting from the bin (8) through the feed removal slit (11) towards the animal in such a way that it can be moved back and forth by the animal and is guided in the feed removal slit (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Aratowerk Walter von Taschitzki GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Rainer von Taschitzki
  • Patent number: 5463979
    Abstract: A windowed housing attracts an animal to feed confined with a feed reservoir, but a limb set across the window frustrates the animal's attempt to access the feed. Pawing or pulling at the obstructing limb rotates a rod which opens a feed gate to discharge the feed into an underlying feed chamber. An opening in the chamber gives the animal access to the discharged feed, but release of the limb, to access the chamber-received feed, allows the feed gate to close.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Inventor: Victor Fasino
  • Patent number: 5435267
    Abstract: An improved gravity flow livestock feeder broadly includes a hopper, a base, an feeder assembly and a deflector. The feeder assembly includes an upright member and a plurality of arms pivotally and independently connected to the lower end of the upright member. Each arm extends radially from the upright member. The deflector is disposed within the interior of the hopper and is pivotally connected to the upper end of the upright member. The feeding actions of an animal against an arm facilitates the movement of feed to an area accessible to the feeding animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: Westland Plastics, Ltd.
    Inventor: Roger L. Patterson
  • Patent number: 5365879
    Abstract: A feeding device includes a tray, a chute secured to the tray and communicating with the tray opening, a bottle engaged on the chute for receiving food, and an actuator engaged in the chute for moving the food into the tray. The actuator includes a board pivotally supported in the chute, and a panel formed in the lower portion of the board and engaged in the tray. The food is moved into the tray through the chute by the board when the panel is depressed. A base is engaged below the tray for supporting the tray and the bottle in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Inventor: Ho Ying-Kuan
  • Patent number: 5353739
    Abstract: An automatic animal food feeding apparatus includes a base member having a top recess, a rotary table revolvably supported within the top recess of the base member by steel balls and having a conical center shaft with axial blades, a food container covered with a top cover and a bottom cap and supported on the base member above the rotary table, whereby the rotary table is turned as the animal passes its tongue over it, causing the blades to propel a grained food out of the food container through a food outlet on the bottom cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Inventor: King Ming Chu
  • Patent number: 5315958
    Abstract: A device for the controlled supply of animal feed includes a supply container, a feed trough with a side wall having an inlet, a conveying device with a drive unit connected between the supply container and the inlet of the feed trough, whereby the conveying device has an outlet opening that is coaxially arranged relative to the axis of the conveying device and the outlet opening is directly connected to the inlet of the feed trough. A control unit is connected to the drive unit for switching on and off the drive unit. A control flap is pivotably connected above the inlet and includes a control element that is connected to the control unit. The control flap activates the control unit for switching on and off the drive unit depending on the amount of animal feed present in the feed trough behind the control flap or due to activation by an animal to be fed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Inventor: Martin Forster
  • Patent number: 5307760
    Abstract: A method of recycling refrigerant or the like tanks to construct animal feeders. The animal feeders include the tanks as feed hoppers and provide a feeding dispensing mechanism which permits adjusting the amount of feed dispensed from the hopper. The tanks can also be recycled by making guards for the animal feeders to prevent small animals such as squirrels or the like from gaining access to feed in the feeders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Bradigan Wildlife Feeds, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad A. Madigan, Susan M. Madigan, Charles A. Curwick
  • Patent number: 5305709
    Abstract: A bird feeder is made up of a decorating face plate and a feeding set. The decorating face plate is provided centrally with a through hole. The feeding set is composed of two shells and fastened to the through hole such that the interior of the through hole and the two shells form jointly a receiving space for keeping the feed. The two shells are provided respectively and correspondingly in the lower portion thereof with a feeding port. One of the two shells is furnished with a feed supplying port. The feeding ports of the feeding set are provided respectively with a protective mask fastened thereto. The protective masks are provided respectively in the lower portions thereof with a slot in communication with the receiving space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Inventor: Dong-Fuh Hong
  • Patent number: 5275130
    Abstract: An animal feeder is actuable by an animal to provide and dispense an individual portion of feed thereto. The feeder includes a feed transport that is contained between an upper drop hole in the bottom portion of a hopper and a lower drop hole so that when the feed transport is actuated by the animal, feed is transported from the upper drop hole to the lower drop hole to fall into an animal feed station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Agri/$ense, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory A. Muckler
  • Patent number: 5272998
    Abstract: A livestock feeder which includes a feed trough and a feed storage bin above the trough in which an agitator operated by the feeding animal enables efficient movement of feed into the trough with an adjustable meter gate controlling the rate of feed flow. The feeder can be used as a dry feeder or a wet feeder with a wet nipple at each feeding station. The structure of the feeder provides more even distribution of feed, efficient feed discharge and a feeder in which it is easy to maintain sanitary conditions by being able to completely close the meter gate and by moving dividers above the feed trough into an out-of-the-way position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Inventors: Steven R. Pannier, Richard H. Pannier
  • Patent number: 5255632
    Abstract: A hog feeder having dry feed fed by gravity to a trough includes a supply of water thereto. A liquid sensor, relay and solenoid valve are used to maintain the water in the trough at a predetermined level. The liquid sensor used to maintain the liquid level at a predetermined level includes an electrically operated sensor that does not malfunction due to abuse by hogs or due to becoming caked with dirt or feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Gro Master, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Thomas, Larry L. Coleman
  • Patent number: 5245949
    Abstract: This invention is a free choice feeder for livestock and other uses with a special micro feed control. This is a self feeder which comprises a base pan and a hopper positioned above. The base pan contains a rotary feed control wheel with attached feeder rods which allows feed to flow from the hopper into the base pan. The flow of material is determined by a crank screw and locking nut to provide a continuous, non interrupted flow of feed or other material from the hopper into the base pan. The hopper and base pan is held together in a rigid position by the use of a grill work consisting of top and bottom ring and numerous grill vertical dividers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Inventor: Lawrence R. Hively
  • Patent number: 5243930
    Abstract: This animal feeder is demand driven since only a feeding animal will cause feed to be dispensed. An elevated hopper containing granular feed has a pair of downward extensions which decrease in cross-section downward to an opening. A pair of funnels are pivotally mounted immediately below these extensions and extend upward to bracket the extension. The funnels are oriented vertically with the large end up unless the funnel is disturbed. The small low ends of the funnels extend downward next to the feed trough bottom. A feeding animal can move a low end to either side and incline the funnel from vertical. A planar metering plate is centrally mounted within each funnel oriented such that it is horizontal when the funnel is vertical. The metering plates are located immediately below each extension, are slightly larger than the openings, and do not extend completely across the funnel. Feed from the hopper will build up on a horizontal plate surface rather than flow through the funnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Inventor: Maurice Rahm
  • Patent number: 5183005
    Abstract: An improved bird feeder, having a common "Mason" jar to act as a hopper for storing birdseed, a trough for holding seed and to provide a perch for feeding, a cord for suspending the trough and attached jar from a tree, and a support for preventing the inverted and suspended jar from pivoting downward when the feeder is in use. The support is slideably received on the cord, so that the support can be quickly and easily engaged or released from the jar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Inventor: Thomas L. Tyler
  • Patent number: 5163380
    Abstract: Laboratory animals having known genetic, metabolic, and physiologic characteristics are maintained in sterile containment cells with known quantities of food, water, and oxygen provided to the animals and the rate of consumption monitored on a real- or near real-time basis. The containment cell, the food source, and the water source are mounted upon or suspended on or from load beams so that the mass of water and food consumed and the mass of the specimen are independently determinable on a real- or near real-time basis. The oxygen content of the input air is measured and at least the carbon dioxide and preferably both the oxygen and the carbon dioxide content of the output air are determined. A radio-frequency transducer is embedded within the specimen and transmits a short-range telemetry signal encoded with the specimen heart rate, body temperature, and blood pressure to a set of spaced antennas connected to a data receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: United States of America
    Inventors: Peter H. Duffy, Joseph F. Meehan, III, Ronald W. Hart
  • Patent number: 5146872
    Abstract: An animal-actuated feed-dispensing apparatus is provided by the present invention. The invention includes a feed storage bin having a dispensing opening closed by a swingable gate that is swingable between open and closed positions. The gate has first and second diverging members therefor defining therebetween a feed charge chamber that receives feed from the storage bin when said gate is swung open, the feed being dispensed from the charge chamber into an animal feeding area when said gate swings from the open to the closed position. The gate is actuated by the engagement of the second member by the animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: Clark Hutterian Brethren, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry L. Waldner
  • Patent number: 5123379
    Abstract: The device for the automatic feeding of domestic animals, in particular pigs, with pourable feed has a feed trough in a housing above which there is a cone-shaped feed container with an opening in the floor and a vibrating device which passes through this opening. The front wall of the housing has an opening which fits the head of the animal to be fed, located underneath the hopper wall of the feed container, between the latter and the trough. In addition, there is a vibrating device with a vibrating plate which is larger than the opening in the container floor. The distance between the vibrating plate and the container floor can be adjusted to the relevant grain size of the feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Aratowerk Walter von Taschitzki GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Rainer von Taschitzki
  • Patent number: 5113795
    Abstract: A cat scratching post feeder comprising a dry food filled inner cylinder with a spring-loaded lower lid, and a carpeted outer cylinder that slides over the inner cylinder and rests upon the inner cylinder's lower lid steel support rod. The carpeted outer cylinder rests directly upon the lower lid's protruding steel support rod. Scratching action of a cat upon the carpeted outer cylinder exerts downward force through the steel support rod to the spring-loaded lower lid causing the lower lid to open and dispense dry cat food. The cat scratching post feeder can be mounted to a fixed wall or mounted to a free standing base. The cat scratching post feeder is a dual function device acting as a scratching post and as a pet-activated feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Inventor: Robert J. Delzio
  • Patent number: 5107795
    Abstract: The device of the present invention provides a novel feeder which generally comprises a feed reservoir, a trough, and an actuable feed dispensing mechanism all of which are operably connected to provide a structure which readily accommodates the three-dimensional space-envelope described by the normal range of feeding movements of the feeding animal thereby preventing injury to the animal and minimizing eating movements that are wasteful of feed. The device of the invention optionally incorporates a novel, feed-dispensing mechanism which is removably situated in the throat of the feed reservoir. The mechanism comprises a series of removable adjacent tubular segments, exemplified by cylindrical ring segments, through which runs a removable ring segments, through which runs a removable rigid support member, such as a rod. In the un-actuated state, the feed dispensing mechanism completely occludes the throat of the feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: University of Illinois
    Inventors: Stanley E. Curtis, Ian A. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5085173
    Abstract: An animal feeder having a hopper (A) with a shelf-like bottom (B) dispenses a predetermined amount of animal feed into an animal feeding bowl (F). The bowl is supported by a vertical rod (D), which is supported by the bottom and which protrudes through a central passage therein. The act of feeding by the animal moves the bowl, agitating the rod and thereby causing the predetermined amount of feed to be discharged through the central passage and into the bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Inventor: Michael R. Powers
  • Patent number: 5069164
    Abstract: An animal feeder having a rotatable feed plate. A spacer is carried by the feed plate to limit the amount of feed carried by the plate and further prevents accumulation of feed on the central portion feed plate. Limiting the amount of feed on the plate reduces the weight of feed to allow rotation of the plate by a smaller feeding animal. The spacer of this invention further reduces feed spoilage caused by static feed typically collected on the feed plate central portion. The feed plate is spaced from the feed trough by a central raised portion of the base to isolate feed carried on the plate from that in the trough. Isolating feed on the feed plate in this manner prevents the wicking of moisture from the trough into the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Assignee: Universal Cooperatives, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Wiwi
  • Patent number: 5036798
    Abstract: An animal feeder comprises a trough and a hopper located above the trough. The hopper has a bottom discharge opening the size of which is determined by a slideable gate positioned by an adjusting mechanism. Structure is provided to permit animal actuated movement of the gate upwardly and inwardly relative to the discharge opening. A shelf located above the trough and below the hopper discharge opening receives feed from the hopper and holds it there. Structure is provided which prevents the animal from feeding directly from the shelf but permits the animal to sweep feed with its snout from the shelf into the trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: King Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Brent A. King
  • Patent number: 5022347
    Abstract: A device for dispensing dry feed to animals, particularly hogs, including a housing having an interior storage chamber for dry feed. An animal-actuatable valve projects downwardly through a discharge opening formed in the lower end of the housing to permit controlled dispensing of dry feed. The valve element has an upper valve plate disposed within the feed chamber for normally closing off the discharge opening, and an elongate actuator rod is fixed to the upper valve plate and projects downwardly for actuation by the animal. The valve plate is preferably of a downwardly-opening truncated conical configuration to permit scooping of feed into the discharge opening during oscillation of the valve element. The housing, in a preferred embodiment, has a sleevelike shroud fixed thereto and projecting downwardly from the discharge opening so as to extend partially along the actuator to prevent moisture from coming into close proximity to the discharge opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: Big Dutchman Cyclone, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. DenBleyker
  • Patent number: 4987858
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel feeder which readily accommodates the three-dimensional space-envelope described by the normal range of feeding movements of a feeding animal, minimizes eating movements that are wasteful of feed, and prevents injury to the feeding animal. The feeder optionally incorporates a novel, feed-dispensing mechanism which can be removed from the throat of the feeder reservoir. The mechanism has a series of removable adjacent tubular segments, such as cylindrical rings, through which runs a removable rigid support, such as a rod. When un-actuated, the mechanism completely occludes the throat of the feeder. When a feeding animal displaces the segments upwardly, feed passes through the opening created in the throat of the feeder. When the segments return to their original position by the force of gravity, the feeder throat is occluded and feed flow stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Stanley E. Curtis, Ian A. Taylor
  • Patent number: 4982698
    Abstract: Animal operated feeder comprising a vertically extended holding bin having a shallow feeding tray spaced below and projected forwardly of its bottom. The bin includes a dispensing outlet normally sealed by a closure device a portion of which projects therefrom, over and in vertically spaced relation to a rear portion of the tray. The bin also incorporates baffle structure which underlies and carries the major portion of the weight of the feed load and defines within the bin, at a location offset and vertically displaced from the dispensing outlet, a restricted opening for feed to move thereby to an uppermost portion of the upper surface of a downwardly inclined baffle plate immediately thereunder which supports and directs the amount of feed which it receives along its length, which extends to a point adjacent and spaced from the vicinity of the dispensing outlet where a lower end portion thereof defines a limited passage for feed to move thereby to this outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Inventor: Herbert M. Sollars
  • Patent number: 4953504
    Abstract: An animal feeder for individual animal self-regulated release of free flowing particulate animal feed (e.g. meal or pellets) from an elevated feed supply hopper into a subjacent feed trough. The hopper has a feed outlet in the form of a slot extending longitudinally between opposite sides of the feeder and with its width defined between the bottom edge of an inclined hopper wall and the hopper rear wall. The slot is normally closed by a plurality of tubular segments or rings resting in end-to-end elongated tube-forming relationship on the upper side of the slot. A rod (solid or hollow) rests loosely within the tubular segments and extends from one end segment to the opposite end segment. A horizontal segment restraining member or bar is mounted above the segments which limits excessive lifting of the segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: Moorman Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Ian A. Taylor
  • Patent number: 4945859
    Abstract: A feeder (10) is disclosed which includes a bucket (16) and a conical section (28) extending from the lower end of the bucket to a discharge opening (30). A distributing assembly (36) predictably meters feed (70) from the interior of the bucket and conical section either by the action of wind against a sphere (14) or by an electrical feeding assembly (102). The distributing assembly (36) includes a plate (38), a rod (40) pivoted from the plate and a disc (42) mounted on a rod. Posts (66, 68) on the disc (42) interact with orifices (44, 46) on the plate to meter the feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Inventor: William C. Churchwell
  • Patent number: 4922856
    Abstract: An apparatus for receiving signals in the form of strikes from fish to control the operation of a scatter-type feeder to feed the fish in response to the fish strikes. The apparatus transforms vibrations of strikes by even the tiniest of fish into electrical signals which may be amplified and analyzed by control circuitry to control the operation of the scatter-type feeder. In operation, the circuitry effectively controls the amount of feed dispensed per batch by the feeder, causes a delay time (a pause) to follow after the dispensation of one batch before it is possible for strike signals to initiate the dispensation of a second batch and requires the strike to be one of a specified magnitude before food is dispensed. Each of these controls is adjustable by knobs on a control box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Assignee: Sweeney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Sweeney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4895109
    Abstract: The mash feed through comprises a casing (2) of which the upper piece (12) encases a storage reservoir (11) and of which the bottom piece (49) accommodates a dish-shaped feed trough. The storage reservoir is closed off on its underside by a valve (18) provided to be actuated by an animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Inventors: Cornelis J. De Groot, Adrianus W. J. De Groot
  • Patent number: 4829935
    Abstract: An animal feeding device including a housing defining an upper food storage compartment having a bottom discharge opening, a closure slideably mounted below the compartment for opening and closing the discharge, an arm pivotally mounted to the housing and connected with the closure for moving the closure between the open and closed positions, and moveable tabs between the arm and the closure to vary the manner of engagement between the two, thereby varying the movement of the closure in response to movement of the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Inventor: James A. Gray
  • Patent number: 4825811
    Abstract: An animal feeding device, especially for pigs, has an overhead feed metering or regulation mechanism formed of a cylindrical member resting in a slot across the bottom of a feed hopper to close the slot and prevent feed from falling from the hopper. The bottom of the member is accessible from below the slot and the pig causes feed to fall from the slot by pushing the member up with its nose to open the slot. When the member is released by the pig, it falls back down into the slot to close same. The member can be a tube or pipe retained in operable open and closed position by a rod extending therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Inventor: Charles O'Kelley
  • Patent number: 4799455
    Abstract: A creep feeder furnishes a blow molded container with an inner chamber, a top port and a bottom port. The top port provides passage for feed into the inner chamber and is closed by a snap fit cap. The bottom part provides a throat, narrowing valve seat and narrower delivery tube. A blow molded, hollow valve is enclosed in the bottom part and operates with the valve seat to dispense feed upon demand of an animal. The valve has a bulbous head with a gradually narrowing under surface that engages with the valve seat to close the bottom port. A narrower valve stem hangs in the delivery tube, and the delivery tube keeps the valve substantially aligned in the bottom port to insure proper sealing between the head and valve seat. The device dispenses feed upon an animal pushing up the bottom end of the stem and spacing the head from the seat. Feed in the chamber then flows down through the bottom port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Inventor: Charles O'Kelley
  • Patent number: 4790266
    Abstract: A feeder unit for animals, particularly pigs, provides feed in either wet or dry condition and comprises a trough and a shelf positioned above the trough with a water supply duct beneath the shelf for directing water through valves actuated by the pig into the trough. A hopper positioned above the shelf directs material continuously onto the shelf to be retained on the shelf by the repose angle. The pig can thus either eat directly from the shelf the feed in dry condition or can brush the feed into the trough for mixing with water and eating in wet condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Gro Master Feed, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan R. Kleinsasser, Dan Kleinsasser
  • Patent number: 4719875
    Abstract: A feeder (10) for dispensing feed to livestock includes a hopper (14), a discharge opening (28) in a lower portion (18) of the hopper (14), a vertical shaft (32) in the hopper (14) that extends downward through the discharge opening (28), an animal-actuated actuator arm (66) that extends radially outward from the shaft (32) below the discharge opening (28), and a flexible agitator (70) that is disposed in the hopper (14) that has a tip (88) at a first radial distance (74), and that elastically bends to reduce the first radial distance (74) to smaller (96, 106, and 110) radial distances in response to various resistances of packed feed, thereby reducing the torque that is required to agitate packed feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: Agri-Plastics, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl W. Van Gilst
  • Patent number: 4676197
    Abstract: A hog feeder comprises a generally overhead horizontal conveyor for transporting feed to a series of drop tubes which contain centerless augers for delivering feed downwardly through the tubes to feed pans therebelow. Attached to the auger at its lower end are elements for engagement by the hogs during feeding to drive the centerless auger and thereby positively deliver feed to the feed pans. The system further includes a limit switch in the down tube of a control feeder unit located above the pan and below the horizontal conveyor for ensuring that there is always feed in the various other feeder units attached to the overhead conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: CTB, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald R. Hoover
  • Patent number: 4660508
    Abstract: A feeder unit for animals, particularly pigs, provides feed in either wet or dry condition and comprises a trough and a shelf positioned above the trough with a water supply duct beneath the shelf for directing water through valves actuated by the pig into the trough. A hopper positioned above the shelf directs material continuously onto the shelf to be retained on the shelf by the repose angle. The pig can this either eat directly from the shelf the feed in dry condition or can brush the feed into the trough for mixing with water and eating in wet condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Inventors: Jonathan R. Kleinsasser, Dan Kleinsasser
  • Patent number: 4606300
    Abstract: An apparatus for discharging fish feed, including a feed portioning device (1-3) connected to a probe device (5), which is at least partially immersed in water and excitable by fish for activating the portioning device such as to discharge a quantity of feed to the fish. The probe device contains an element (8) sensitive to sound and/or pressure waves and which reacts for pushes against the probe device achieved by the fish, and accordingly sends signals to an electrical device (4) for activating the portioning device (1-3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1986
    Inventor: Mikael Sterner
  • Patent number: 4582023
    Abstract: A livestock self-feeder includes a main feed storage hopper supplying feed to a retaining area in which the height of feed is constant and independent of the amount of feed in the main hopper. The feed is then dispensed from the retaining hopper through an adjustable feed gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Assignee: Zumbahlen Equipment Company
    Inventors: Dennis J. Zumbahlen, Vincent J. Zumbahlen, Cary L. Sizelove, Sr., William J. Dietrich, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4508061
    Abstract: A feeding apparatus is provided for dispensing dry granular feed directly into a hog's mouth. The apparatus comprises a supply conduit, an elongated feed tube, an auger positioned within said feed tube, and an electric motor or pawl and ratchet mechanism for rotating the auger. A lever is positioned near the outlet of the feed tube, the dimensions and spacing of the lever and feed tube outlet being such as to permit engulfment by the hog's mouth. When the roof of the hog's mouth depresses the lever, the auger is activated to deliver feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Inventor: David Swearingin
  • Patent number: RE35173
    Abstract: A .[.cat.]. scratching post feeder comprising a .[.dry food filled inner cylinder.]. .Iadd.first shell able to receive food .Iaddend.with a .[.spring-loaded lower lid.]. .Iadd.tension-loaded door .Iaddend.and a .[.carpeted outer cylinder.]. .Iadd.second shell with a surface that cats like to scratch .Iaddend.that slides over the .[.inner cylinder.]..Iadd.first shell .Iaddend.and rests upon the .[.inner cylinder's lower lid steel support rod.]. .Iadd.first shell's door support element. .Iaddend.The .[.carpeted outer cylinder.]. .Iadd.second shell with a surface that cats like to scratch .Iaddend.rests directly upon the .[.lower lid's protruding steel support rod.]. .Iadd.door support element. .Iaddend.Scratching action of a cat upon .[.carpeted outer cylinder.]. .Iadd.the second shell with a surface that cats like to scratch .Iaddend.exerts downward force through the .[.steel support rod.]. support element to the .[.spring-loaded lower lid.]. .Iadd.tension-loaded door .Iaddend.causing the .[.lower lid.]. .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Inventor: Robert J. Delzio