Utilizing Discrete Troughs Patents (Class 119/57.4)
  • Patent number: 11778990
    Abstract: An automatic food feeder for aquatic breeding comprises a bottom plate; the lower side of the bottom plate is provided with a driving mechanism, and the driving mechanism comprises four groups of rotating shafts located on the lower side of the bottom plate; gears are sleeved on the outer sides of the two groups of rotating shafts, and a conveyor belt is connected between the two groups of gears; a plurality of groups of meshing teeth matched with the gears are uniformly provided on the inner side of the conveyor belt, and a plurality of groups of electric telescopic push blocks are uniformly arranged on the outer side of the conveyor belt; a placing rack is connected on the upper side of the bottom plate, and a control box is connected on the front part of the lower side of the placing rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG OCEAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yin Zhang, Hanhao Zhu, Yeyi Si, Chenchen Lin, Yue Pan, Qingqian Xu, Guiming He, Kangkang Jian, Yiwei Yao, Zhigang Chai, Xu Liu, Jiahui Wang, Zhiqiang Cui, Qile Wang
  • Patent number: 11766023
    Abstract: A bulk feed tank has a boot unloader through which feed is directed into a supply system having at least one conveyor housing an auger. The boot unloader includes an unloader body formed of front, rear and opposing side panels forming a rectangular receiving portion. An auger mounting plate is mounted to the front panel and mates with the conveyor. A bearing assembly is secured to the rear panel and rotatably mounts the auger such that the auger passes through the receiving portion. A clear access door is attached to at least one of the opposing side panels. A wear plate assembly is attached to an. The wear plate assembly is fastened to the front, rear and side panels under the boot unloader body and can be removed without unfastening the side panels from the front panel and the rear panel or removing the auger from the receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: The GSI Group LLC
    Inventor: Alan C. Hogan
  • Patent number: 11291238
    Abstract: An enclosed cannabis cigarette preparation system that includes an indexing module configured to accept a plurality of pre-rolled cones, each having a sealed end and an open end, and to move the pre-rolled cones through a plurality of stations. The system further includes a filling module configured to dispense, at a first station, a portion of cannabis shake material into the open end of each of the pre-rolled cones to form loosely filled cones; a tamping module configured to compress, at a second station, the cannabis shake material in each of the loosely filled cones to form tamped cones; a de-clogging module; and a pinching module configured to pinch-twist, at a third station, the open end of each of the pre-rolled cones to form rolled cigarettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: UTEKTIK, INC.
    Inventors: Jack Leadbeater, Trent Bohl, James O'Connor, John Kinnard, Larry Miller, Jesse Haws, Riley Chicci, Frank Ross, Julie Stefl, Yani Deros
  • Patent number: 10869463
    Abstract: A method for the separable joining and fastening of two circularly cylindrical pipe ends (2, 2A) with the same outside and inside diameters, in mutual non-rotatable extension of each other with coinciding central axes (3) is provided in which the pipe ends (2, 2A) are brought axially against each other and fastened radially, wherein a toothing (7) in the axial direction at one pipe end (2) engages with a corresponding toothing (7) in the axial direction at the other pipe end (2A) in a last section of the axial assembly for joining two pipe ends. Similarly, a system is provided with a joint sleeve and corresponding detent for keeping the pipe ends joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Inventor: Karsten Egelund Andersen
  • Patent number: 8915214
    Abstract: A feed level sensor for a poultry feeding system is positioned within the drop tube of a control feeder of the feeding system. The sensor comprise a first light emitter/light detector pair to detect when the level of feed in the drop tube falls below a predetermined “empty” level and a second light emitter/light detector pair to detect when feed in the drop tube is at a predetermined “full” level in the drop tube. The sensor emits a “start” signal to activate a drive to deliver feed to the feeders along a feed line when it is detected that feed in the control feeder drop tube falls below the “empty” level and emits a “stop” signal to deactivate the drive when it detects that feed within the drop tube is at the “full” level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: The GSI Group, LLC
    Inventor: Nathan Pickens
  • Patent number: 8904958
    Abstract: A feeding device for feeding poultry comprising a dish-shaped dispensing pan with an outer circumferential edge, a feed drop tube opening out above a central part of the pan such that a volume of feed transported to the drop tube is distributed over the bottom surface of the pan, and bars connecting the pan with the drop tube, in which openings are present between the bars for the poultry to have access to feed distributed in the pan, which openings are delimited by sides of parts of the device facing said openings. At least part of said sides of the parts facing said openings, in particular said bars, have a non-sharp-edged cross-section which is constructed circumferentially closed. The circumferentially closed parts are at least partly made out of a foam plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Roxell N.V.
    Inventors: Philippe Hyppoliet Pia Maria Keirse, Jeroen Fiers
  • Publication number: 20130305995
    Abstract: A portable feed delivery system can have a first feed container including a first conveyor apparatus that delivers feed to a second feed container, where a second conveyor apparatus delivers feed to a feed delivery conduit that can be directed by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventors: David W. SAMMONS, Donald G. BRUCE
  • Patent number: 8056506
    Abstract: A control assembly for use in a feed delivery assembly comprises a housing having an inlet, an outlet, and a chamber between said inlet and outlet. The chamber is opened in a plane parallel, but radially offset from, an axis of the inlet and outlet. A tube member is removably receivable in the chamber. The removable tube member includes a tube having a length sufficient to span a distance between the inlet and outlet tubes. At least one infrared emitter and at least one infrared receiver are mounted on the tube member tube and are positioned to be opposed to each other such that the receiver will receive and detect light from the emitter. The emitter and receiver are operatively connected to a controller. The controller emits a signal when it is determined that the light from the emitter to the receiver is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: The GSI Group, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas D. Fleshner
  • Publication number: 20080202437
    Abstract: A unique feed pan with auto chick grill for feeding the broiler birds from day one without entering into the pan. It also protects the broiler birds from the effect of heavy mortality, which adversely affect the growth of chicks. It is the most efficient way of feeding to birds from day one with minimum feed wastage and to protect day old chicks from infection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventor: Harish Rajaram Garware
  • Patent number: 6938577
    Abstract: A system for moving feeders and/or drinkers within a livestock house that has a plurality of items suspended from the ceiling of the livestock house. The system includes structure for supplying feed and/or water to the feeders and/or drinkers, respectively, structure for adjusting a height of the feeders and/or drinkers relative to a floor of the livestock house, and structure for transversely moving the feeders and/or drinkers within the livestock house. Operation of the different structures of the system within the livestock house does not interfere with the items suspended from the ceiling of the livestock house.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: CTB IP, Inc
    Inventors: James Richard Kraft, Roger S. Kiphart, Timothy William Momont
  • Patent number: 6786178
    Abstract: A feed distribution system with feed dispensers (20), dispenser trays (22) of which have a convex edge (27) with successive edge areas (61) which have a relatively large radius of curvature and edge areas (62) which have a relatively small radius of curvature; a suitable shape in this connection is an elliptical shape a triangular shape, a hexagonal shape. The invention provides improved animal welfare, inter alia through a larger feeding space and also larger living space when the birds are not feeding. The invention further provides improved economic efficiency for the breeder, inter alia by reduced costs per bird.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Roxell N.V.
    Inventor: Danny De Rouck
  • Patent number: 6779488
    Abstract: A feedbox for breeding poultry includes at least one main protection grate mounted on a feed storage tub and with dividing plates and openings to allow the poultry access to the feed. The feedbox utilizes an auxiliary grate slidingly or rotationally joined to the main protection grate and equipped with a plurality of peripheral tips. The tips do not interfere with the openings of the main protection grate in at least a first relative position of the auxiliary grate with respect to the main grate and, vice versa, the tips at least partially obstruct one or more of the openings in at least a second relative position of the auxiliary grate with respect to the main grate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Corti Zootecnici S.r.l.
    Inventors: Esterino Corti, Paolo Tancredi
  • Patent number: 6766765
    Abstract: An improved livestock feeder provided with an adjustable feed dispensing mechanism including control levers which are operatively connected to the feeder metering gates to control the flow of feed to livestock. The dispensing mechanism features a plurality of adjustable control levers which engage an array of indexing holes formed in the feeder to set the vertical height adjustment of the feed gates. The dispensing mechanism includes a graduated scale corresponding to each of the index holes to provide a standard setting for the feeder which can be utilized by an animal producer to supply of feed flow at a given stage in the animal's life cycle to obtain a desired growth rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: CTB IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Bondarenko, Bryan S. Shive, Leon S. Zimmerman, George S. Zimmerman, Anthony Martin
  • Patent number: 6748901
    Abstract: An animal in a pen is fed by a drop tube from a raised supply system to a position at or adjacent the floor or a trough at the floor. A spout at the bottom of the drop tube extends at an angle to the tube for discharging the feed in a direction to one side of the drop tube depending upon an angular orientation of the drop tube about a vertical axis of the drop tube. A clamp for attaching the drop tube to the wall of the pen includes co-operating indexing adjustment components including a stud mounted on the tube and grooves in the top surface of the clamping band which can be adjusted to provide a plurality of indexed angular orientations of the tube about the axis for locating the direction of discharge of the spout at specific indexed locations relative to the trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Cryatla Spring Colony Farms Lt.
    Inventor: Jonathan Kleinsasser
  • Publication number: 20040050336
    Abstract: Described is a feed distribution system with feed dispensers (20), dispenser trays (22) of which have a convex edge (27) with successive edge areas (61) which have a relatively large radius of curvature and edge areas (62) which have a relatively small radius of curvature; a suitable shape in this connection is an elliptical shape, a triangular shape, a hexagonal shape etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventor: Danny De Rouck
  • Patent number: 6655317
    Abstract: A poultry feeder having an adjustment mechanism which adjusts the relative positions between the feeder tower and the feeder bowl to control the amount of feed entering the bowl that is readily adjustable, and, at the same time, enables the feeder bowl, the grill and the adjustment collar to freely rotate relative to the feeder tower to prevent damage to the adjustment mechanism when the grill and/or the bowl is contacted by the feeding birds. A lower edge of an adjusting collar rests on a shoulder portion of the feeder tower when the poultry feeder is suspended above floor level. The relative positions between a bottom of the feeder tower and the feeder bowl is adjustable in a plurality of discreet positions. Each of the plurality of discreet positions provides a different clearance between the bottom of the feeder tower and the bowl, thus controlling the amount of feed which may enter the bowl from the feeder tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Val Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick W. Steudler, Jr., Jeremy L. Parsons
  • Patent number: 6631695
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for automatically supplying fodder into a large cowshed and an apparatus for carrying out the method, wherein moving rails are built on a passageway of a plurality of partitioned shed groups, a feeder for mixing and feeding the fodder is arranged on the passageway movably back and forth, the fodder being supplied from a storage tank for raw material established outside the cowshed into the feeder for mixing and feeding the fodder while the fodder is measured automatically so that the fodder can be mixed during the movement, and component and ratio of the mixed fodder are set up differently base on the partitioned shed groups, whereby the required mixed fodder is supplied automatically to each of the partitioned shed groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Inventor: Il-Hyun Shin
  • Patent number: 6591780
    Abstract: To provide a feed carrying apparatus 1 capable of considerably reducing the carrying resisting force at a corner 3a of a pipeline 3 and also capable of considerably reducing the cost of the whole apparatus, and capable of carrying feed S smoothly and efficiently. A corner joint 48 formed on a bent pipe part 51 with a plurality of projections 52 projecting inward is disposed at the corner 3a of the pipeline 3. There is disposed a disk cable tension applying mechanism 271 in which a load corresponding to weight of a weight 277 is loaded to always urge fixed tension against a disk cable 2. At a corner 303a of a pipeline 303 are disposed a drive device 304 having a drive motor 313 connected to a drive sprocket 316 constituting a corner joint 310, or a drive device 404 having a drive sprocket 410 arranged away from an inclined wall 409d within a casing 409 formed with the inclined wall 409d.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Fujii Shokai Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazumi Fujii
  • Patent number: 6532895
    Abstract: The invention concerns a feed pan for poultry, especially chickens and hens, for use in connection with a tube feeding system. The feed pan comprises a feed cone (1) under which a bottom pan (10) is mounted, and the feed cone (1) has mounting elements for mounting on a feed tube (20), so that feed from an outlet hole (21) in the feed tube (20) can pass through the feed cone (1) and down into the bottom pan (10). The mounting elements for the feed cone are configured so that the feed cone (1) and the feed tube (20) can be turned in relation to each other around the axis of the feed tube. The mounting elements comprise adjustable means which can co-operate with driving elements (6, 7) on the feed cone (1), so that the feed cone can also be turned together with the feed tube (20), which among other things is used in connection with the dosing of feeds and cleaning of feed pans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Landmeco Ølgod A/S
    Inventor: Søren Andersen
  • Patent number: 6474261
    Abstract: A poultry feeder includes a drop tube which attaches to a horizontal feed distribution or conveyor tube enclosing an auger driven by a motor and gear reducer unit. The feeder includes a feed pan and grill assembly mounted on the drop tube for relative vertical movement, and an annular feed level control member is supported above the feed pan for relative vertical movement by an actuator sleeve. A feed conveyor control unit includes a base housing recessed within a center portion of the pan and supports a spring biased inverted cone member covered by a flexible diaphragm for sensing the weight of feed supported within the center portion of the feeder. The cone has a center plunger or stem which carries an adjustable metal actuator screw positioned to actuate an inductive type proximity switch or sensor connected to control the drive motor for the auger drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Val-Co Pax, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark R. Turner, Douglas S. Bertke
  • Publication number: 20020157614
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for automatically supplying fodder into a large cowshed and an apparatus for carrying out the method, where in moving rails are built on a passageway of a plurality of partitioned shed groups, a feeder for mixing and feeding the fodder is arranged on the passageway movably back and forth, the fodder being supplied from a storage tank for raw material established outside the cowshed into the feeder for mixing and feeding the fodder while the fodder is measured automatically so that the fodder can be mixed during the movement, and component and ratio of the mixed fodder are set up differently base on the partitioned shed groups, whereby the required mixed fodder is supplied automatically to each of the partitioned shed groups
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventor: Il-Hyun Shin
  • Patent number: 6470826
    Abstract: A poultry feeder which includes a mechanism for automatically adjusting the size of the opening from the feeder's drop tube to the feeder pan so as to permit the feed pan to be flooded with feed as young chicks are introduced into a poultry house and then, as the chicks grow, to automatically reduce the amount of feed introduced into the pan. The feeder includes a feed level controller movable relative to the feeder's drop tube to be moveable axially relative to the drop tube and feeder pan. The drop tube includes a plurality of support members (fins) pivotally mounted to the drop tube body and which extend from the body outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: The GSI Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Thuline
  • Publication number: 20020152966
    Abstract: A device for supplying feed to animals, which device is provided with a hopper for the feed, a feeding parlor, and conveying means for conveying feed from the hopper to the feeding parlor, said device being adapted to be positioned relative to a bottom on which an animal can stand. The conveying means comprise a first conveyor for conveying feed upwards from a hopper. The first conveyor has a supply end. The feeding parlor may be constituted by a feeding trough having a shape that widens from the entrance opening. Additionally or alternatively the conveying means are arranged such that the supply end is movable from and towards each of the feeding parlors. Additionally or alternatively the distance between a feeding trough and a bottom portion is adjustable. An assembly of such a device and a bottom portion, the bottom portion being provided with means for adjusting the orientation of the bottom portion relative to the bottom, and with means for locking the bottom portion in an adjusted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: Lely Enterprises A.G., a Swiss Limited Liability Company
    Inventors: Alexander van der Lely, Karel van den Berg, Howard Sie, Lucien Eliza Niels Voogd
  • Patent number: 6269770
    Abstract: An improved livestock feeder for use with an automatic feed delivery system having a feed drop tube operatively connected thereto for dispensing feed into a feed bin. The improved feeder is provided with an adjustable feed dispensing mechanism including control levers which are operatively connected to the feed metering gates to control the flow of feed to livestock. The dispensing mechanism features a plurality of adjustable control levers which engage an array of indexing holes formed in the feeder to set the vertical height adjustment of the feed gates. The dispensing mechanism includes a graduated scale corresponding to each of the index holes to provide a standard setting for the feeder which can be utilized by an animal producer to supply of feed flow at a given stage in the animal's life cycle to obtain a desired growth rate. The animal feeder is provided with improvements that aid in the cleaning and sterilization of the equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Staco, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Bondarenko, Bryan S. Shive, Leon S. Zimmerman, George S. Zimmerman, Anthony Martin
  • Patent number: 6263833
    Abstract: A portable livestock feed dispenser is mounted on the bed of a flatbed truck, pickup, or other suitable vehicle. The dispenser comprises an elongate box or hopper with a dispenser end positioned adjacent one edge or end of the flatbed, for dispensing livestock feed to a feed site as desired. A lid extends over the entire top of the apparatus, with a hinge system allowing the lid to be positioned to one side of the device for filling the hopper. A lateral power auger extends the length of the structure, and receives feed from the upper hopper for dispensing from the dispenser outlet. The auger receives power from the electrical or other power supply of the vehicle upon which the dispenser is mounted, with auger operation being controllable remotely from the vehicle cab. A counter is driven by rotation of the auger, for measuring the amount of feed dispensed by the device. The counter may be mechanical, but is preferably electrically operated in order to provide a remote readout in the cab of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventors: Clyde Runyan, Casey Runyan, Chance Runyan
  • Patent number: 6173676
    Abstract: A feeder assembly for birds or other animals having a pan member, a feeder tube defining a channel for receiving feed from a feed supply and defining a brood gate opening, a plurality of wing members having a plurality of fingers for adjustably engaging the feeder tube, and a cone member disposed about the feeder tube and slidably mounted to the plurality of wing members by a plurality of engaging arms. The cone member is adapted to slide relative to the feeder tube between a raised position to open the brood gate opening and a lowered position to close the brood gate opening. The pan member and an end of the cone member define a feed opening for permitting feed to pass from the feeder tube to the pan member for presentation. The feed opening can be adjusted in size either by adjusting the wing members relative to the pan member or by sliding and adjustably positioning the cone member relative to the feeder tube and the wing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: CTB, Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore John Cole