WO2006034709A1

WO2006034709A1 - A feed dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2006034709A1
Application number: PCT/DK2005/000609
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kim Axelsen; Torben Olesen; Anders Gerhardt-Hansen
Original assignee: Aco Funki AS
Current assignee: Aco Funki AS
Priority date: 2004-09-29
Filing date: 2005-09-27
Publication date: 2006-04-06
Anticipated expiration: 2007-03-29
Also published as: DK200500504A; DK176187B1

Abstract

A feed dispenser (1), in particular for the feeding of pigs, said feed dispenser (1) comprising a storage part (2) for feed and a dispensing part (3) for the dispensing of feed, said feed dispenser (1) being adapted to be mounted in a rack (9) or directly in a partition (10). The feed dispenser (1) may tilt about one or more essentially horizontal pins (7), which pins (7) are provided in connection with the assembled shell parts (5, 6), and which pins (7) are arranged in the part facing away from the storage part (2) of the feed dispenser (1). Holding means (14) for holding the feed dispenser (1) in an upright and/or in a tilted position are provided in connection with the rack (9) of the feed dispenser (1) or the partition (10) of the pen system.

Description

A FEED DISPENSER

The prior art

The invention relates to a feed dispenser for the feeding of farm animals, such as pigs, said feed dispenser comprising a storage part for feed and a dispensing part for the dispensing of feed, said feed dispenser being adapted to be mounted in a rack or directly in a wall, said feed dispenser being composed of a plurality of shell parts which constitute a unit after as- sembly.

Feed dispensers for various forms of farm animals are known, where a feed storage part in the form of a funnel-shaped container is mounted in a rack above a feed trough. Such a rack is disclosed e.g. in Danish Utility Model No. DK 94 00123 U3 and in Danish Patent No. DK 173679 B1 , where a relatively complicated combination of pipes and rods is provided in order to hold the container and/or the dispensing part of the feed dispenser relative to the underlying trough or to hold the feed dispenser relative to a partition in an enclosure for farm animals. Furthermore, a portion of the configuration of the rack serves as a partition between the animals which are present in the adjacent enclosures, and which are thus able to eat on the side of the dispenser which is arranged in the enclosure concerned.

In addition to its complicated structure, this rack is difficult to clean. These feed dispensers are used in particular for the feeding of piglets and slaughter pigs, and it is therefore important that the individual enclosures in the pig house are cleaned before a new batch of pigs for fattening arrives.

Danish Utility Model Application No. 2001 00114 U3 discloses a feed dis- penser for mounting in a partition, where it is attempted to avoid cracks and chinks while at the same time avoiding the use of iron profiles for mounting the feed dispenser on the partition. In this solution, however, some long joints are provided between the feed dispenser and the partition which are difficult to seal and thereby keep clean.

The object of the invention

The object of the invention is to facilitate the work, partly in connection with the cleaning of the dispenser, partly in connection with the filling of feed.

This is achieved according to the invention with a dispenser in which the shell parts comprise one or more essentially horizontal pins, which pins are formed by the assembled shell parts, and about which pins the feed dis¬ penser may be tilted.

The actual configuration of the shell parts, which together constitute the feed storage part and the feed dispensing part of the feed dispenser, means that the storage part with the dispensing part are made in one piece with the frame. When essentially horizontal pins are provided in the transi¬ tion between the frame and the partition or the pen wall in a system of pens (or the transition between the frame and the rack in the case of a stand¬ alone feed dispenser), it is possible to tilt the storage part with the dispens¬ ing part so that any remaining feed may be emptied out of the storage part before the subsequent cleaning, e.g. by flushing with water. Hereby, there is no unnecessary waste of feed. Further, the working environment is im- proved, as it is very easy to fill the dispenser with feed when it is in a lying position.

The configuration of the shells also makes it possible to embed reinforce¬ ments to achieve a greater strength at exposed locations or to increase the strength of the shell by means of design changes of the shell itself. Further the configuration with the integrated frame also makes the cleaning easier, as an easy-to-clean face is achieved hereby relative to a traditional frame with many round iron bars, nooks and corners as well as holes. Thus, there is no traditional transition between the hopper and the frame with as- sociated bolt assembly, and therefore no dirt accumulates between the frame and the hopper. Cleaning may thus take place without or almost without disassembly of the dispenser. When the shell may be tilted, the ac¬ cess conditions at cleaning are made much easier, it being possible to stand beside the dispenser and flush from one or the other side to remove dirt and any feed residues. Further, it is easier for the water, with optionally added cleaning agents used for flushing, to run off, so that the dispenser becomes dry more rapidly and effectively and is thus ready for use again.

When the hopper and the frame are in one piece, a greater strength is achieved, and, thereby, the unit can better absorb impacts from the pig.

The configuration also allows a more uniform production and accuracy, as welding and preceding machining of rods and pipes are avoided.

The actual dispensing of feed from the feed dispenser may advantageously take place by means of a principle according to which forces are absorbed at the point where the impact takes place and therefore cannot propagate to other elements of the structure.

Each element is adapted to absorb the impact, and, therefore, propagation to other elements does not take place.

The dispensing plate may optionally consist of a plate which may be re¬ placed for use for various types of feeds.

The trough used in connection with the feed dispenser may have a configu- ration where the same width is used for all forms of pigs, but where the through may be replaced so that the size of the trough fits an exact type of pig-

The subclaims define advantageous embodiments of feed dispensers ac¬ cording to claim 1 , such as locking means, drinking water supply pipes, the feed storage part and the lid on it.

The drawing

The invention will be explained more fully below with reference to the drawing, in which

fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a feed dispenser according to the invention, mounted on a trough,

fig. 2 shows a feed dispenser in a tilted state, seen from the side of operation at cleaning,

fig. 3 shows a sectional view of a second embodiment of a feed dis¬ penser, seen from the front,

fig. 4 shows a third embodiment of a feed dispenser, seen obliquely from the front,

fig. 5 shows the same embodiment as is shown in fig. 4, incorpo¬ rated in a pen system.

Description of exemplary embodiments

Embodiments of a feed dispenser 1 as shown in figures 1 and 2 according to the invention will be described below. The feed dispenser 1 , which is in¬ tended for the feeding of animals, in particular pigs, comprises a storage part 2 for feed as well as a supply or dispensing part 3 for the dispensing of the feed. A frame part 4 protrudes on respective sides on the outer part of the storage part 2 of the feed dispenser 1 which extends down towards the dispensing part 3.

The outer parts of the feed dispenser 1 , which are mainly formed by the storage part 2 in the form of a feed container and the frame part 4, are preferably made by moulding in two or more parts.

By having e.g. a feed dispenser 1 where the actual storage part 2 and the frame 4 are moulded in substantially two main halves in the form of shell parts 5, 6, the number of components included in the feed dispenser 1 may be reduced.

This also results in a considerable reduction of space for transport and storage of components, as the shell parts 5, 6 may be placed above each other.

When the unit arrives at the customer, the shell parts 5, 6 may be joined e.g. by means of ordinary joining methods, such as a tongue and groove joint, a bolt joint or the like. Another way of assembling the dispenser 1 may be by means of some locking devices integrated in the shell parts 5, 6, which, once they have been snapped together, must be opened by de¬ structive separation.

When the shell parts 5, 6 have been joined to a storage part 2 with a frame

4, one or more essentially horizontal pins 7, about which the storage part 2 with the dispensing part 3 may be tilted, are formed in the outer parts of the frame 4, that is the part of the frame 4 facing away from a longitudinal centre axis through the storage part 2.

The feed dispenser 1 is usually used together with a form of trough 8 in which feed and water may be mixed and eaten by the animals. The trough 8 may either be provided with a rack 9 for keeping the feed dispenser 1 at a correct height above the feed trough 8, or the trough 8 may be incorporated in a pen system which includes a rack 8 for carrying the feed dispenser 1. Also, the feed dispenser 1 may conceivably be carried by partitions 10 in¬ cluded in the pen system, as shown in fig. 5.

To ensure that the storage part 2 with the dispensing part 3 does not tilt in ordinary use, a plurality of holding means 14 are arranged in connection with the rack 9 or the partition 10, which are to be released for the storage part 2 with the dispensing part 3 to be tilted, as indicated in fig. 3.

The frame 4 contributes to imparting the necessary strength to the struc¬ ture, so that the storage part 2 and the frame 4, mounted as an assembled unit in the rack 9 or in the partition 10, have the necessary rigidity to be used as a feed dispenser for animals.

In addition to imparting this strength, the frame 4 also provides a form of barrier face so that animals eating on one side of the dispenser cannot eat the feed dispensed on the other side of the dispenser.

Supply of water to the trough 8 may take place through ducts which are provided in the assembled feed dispenser 1 in that the individual shell parts 5, 6 are provided with some gullies which form tubular passages when the shell parts 5, 6 are assembled.

In a preferred embodiment, these tubular passages 11 are arranged such that, at least over a small extent, they extend essentially vertically and in U- shape or form a similar bend, where a connection 12 for a drinking valve is arranged at the lower end of the bend.

In the embodiment of the water supply, as shown in fig. 3, supply flow and return flow may be provided by means of two concentric pipes 13, where the supply flow of water may take place in the innermost pipe, and the re¬ turn flow may take place in the cavity between the outer surface of the in¬ nermost pipe and the inner surface of the outermost pipe, and where the connection of the drinking valve 12 is likewise disposed at the lower end of the pipes.

In an embodiment, as shown in fig. 4, the water supply may be mounted externally on the dispenser in an ordinary manner, but also such that the pipe connections 13 included in the water supply, at least over a small ex- tent, extend essentially vertically and in U-shape or form a similar bend, with a connection 12 for a drinking valve arranged at the lower end of the bend.

The storage part 2 is provided with centering means in the form of a lid 15 with a plurality of holes 16 through which the feed dispenser 1 may be filled with feed. The position of these holes 16 in the lid 15 ensures a more cor¬ rect filling of the storage part 2, as they are positioned such that the supply of the feed takes place in the immediate vicinity of a vertical axis of sym¬ metry through the storage part 2. This more correct filling or optimum filling of the storage part 2 ensures that it is not necessary to replenish the stor¬ age container 2 as often, since the volume of the storage part is utilized better.

The storage part 2 and the dispensing device 3 may tilt about pins 7, while the lid 15 of the dispenser essentially remains in its position relative to the rack 9 or the partition 10.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A feed dispenser (1) for the feeding of farm animals, such as a pigs, said feed dispenser (1) comprising a storage part (2) for feed as well as a dis¬ pensing part (3) for the dispensing of feed, said feed dispenser (1) being adapted to be mounted in a rack (9) or directly in a wall (10), said feed dis¬ penser (1) being composed of a plurality of shell parts (5, 6) which consti¬ tute a unit after assembly, characterized in that the shell parts (5, 6) comprise one or more essentially horizontal pins (7), which pins (7) are formed by the assembled shell parts (5, 6), and about which pins (7) the feed dispenser (1) may be tilted.

2. A feed dispenser according to claim 1, c h a ra cte ri ze d in that holding means (14) for holding the feed dispenser (1) in an upright and/or in a tilted position are provided in connection with the rack (9) of the feed dis¬ penser (1) or in connection with the partition (10) of the pen system.

3. A feed dispenser according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that one or more passages/gullies (11) are provided in the shell parts (5, 6), said passages/gullies forming tubular passages for the supply of drinking water when the shell parts (5, 6) are assembled.

4. A feed dispenser according to claim 3, characterized in that the tubular passages (11) are U-shaped and have a connection for a drinking valve (12) arranged at the bottom of the passage (11).

5. A feed dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the tubular passages are formed by concentric pipes (13).

6. A feed dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, char¬ acte rized in that the storage part (2) of the feed dispenser (1) is pro- vided with a lid (15), in which lid centering means in the form of one or more holes (16) for the filling of feed are provided.

7. A feed dispenser according to claim 6, characterized in that the hole or the holes (16) in the lid (15) of the feed dispenser (1) are provided in or in the immediate vicinity of a vertical axis of symmetry through the stor¬ age part (2) when the feed dispenser (1) is in a vertical position.

8. A feed dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, char- acterized in that, by being capable of being lifted and lowered relative to the rack (9) or the partition (10) of the pen system, the lid (15) of the feed dispenser (1) forms a holding means (14) for holding the tiltable part of the feed dispenser (1) in an upright position.