Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02559967 1998-04-27
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
This application is a divisional application of
copending Canadian Application Serial No. 2,236,017,
filed April 27, 1998.
This invention relates to animal feed dispensers and, more particularly, to~
an
improved animal feeder having an adjustable feed dispensing mechanism.
All conventional gravity type feeders utilize so-called feed gates to regulate
the flow of feed from a hopper to the animals. These feed gates are usually
adjusted by some type of threaded adjusting mechanism to control the flow of
feed.
The threaded adjusting mechanisms found in hog feeders on the market today
offer
no means of accurately determining the flow of feed being dispensed. If the
gate is
open too much, more feed will be dispensed than the animals can eat and the
excess feed is wasted. On the other hand if the gate is not open enough; the
animals
will not get the amount of food necessary for optimum growth. To compound the
matter, as the , animals grow larger, they need more food to continue optimal
growth.
To adjust conventional feeders correctly to obtain optimum performance
requires a certain amount of guesswork. Because adjusting the feeders is
difficult
and very labor intensive, many feeders are simply not adjusted properly,
resulting
in feed waste or poor animal growth rate as discussed above.
The present invention solves this problem by providing an improved feeder
having a precise feed dispensing mechanism with standardized indicia to
eliminate
the guesswork from dispensing feed to the livestock.
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CA 02559967 1998-04-27
The advantages provided by the present invention are that animal producers
can control proper feed adjustment based on animal weight, feed type, number
of
animals, etc. Producers can also mandate a standard setting for all feeders
for any
given circumstance thereby ruling out potential variables in animal
production.
Another advantage to the present invention is that routine adjustments to the
feed dispensing mechanism can be accomplished simply and the feed gates can be
quickly and fully opened for cleaning.
The dispensing mechanism of the present invention is user friendly, the
index scale of 1 to 10 is easily read and understood, a direct acting index
lever
correlates to feed gate movements either upwardly or downwardly, the indexing
lever and connecting rods are replaceable and the unique connecting rod
attaches
to the feed gate without bolts or welding.
A dust cover is included which makes the feeder of the present invention
environmentally safe by preventing large amounts of dust from becoming
airborne
when a feeder is being filled by an automatic delivery system.
In addition to the above, the improved feeder of the present invention
includes a feed drop tube holder similar to that shown in U.S. Patent No.
5,558,039
to adapt it for use with an automatic feed delivery system.
DESCRIPTION Or RELATED PRIOR ART
U.S. .Patent No. 5,558,039 to Leon S. Zimmerman discloses a 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. This feeder
features a feed drop tube holder fabricated from a flexible, resilient
material which
is installed intermediate the opposed side walls of the feed bin by
compressing the
holder lengthwise with hand pressure to effectively reduce its overall length
and to
allow tabs formed on the ends thereof to engage a plurality of horizontally
opposed
slots formed in the opposed side walls.
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CA 02559967 1998-04-27
SUMMARY OF TI-IE INVENTION
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention there is provided
an
improved animal feeder for use with an automatic feed delivery system having a
feed drop
tube operatively connected thereto, the feeder including a feed bin defined by
a pair of
opposed, downwardly converging side walls, a pair of opposed end walls fixedly
attached to
the side walls, and a bottom wall fixedly attached at the lower edges of the
side walls and the
end walls forming elongated troughs along opposite sides ofthe feeder and
below the opposed
side walls, a pair of vertically adjustable feed gates disposed intermediate
the lower edges of
to the side walls and in adjustable space apart relation to the bottom wall to
control the flow of
feed into the troughs, the improvement comprising: an adjustable feed
dispensing means
including control lever~means having indexing means, the control lever means
being pivotally
mounted on the feed bin; connecting rod means operatingly connected to the
control lever
means, the connecting rod means being attached to the feed gates at a near
opposite end
thereof such that the indexing means is moved upwardly or downwardly to
accurately adjust
the vertical height of the feed gates.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention there is provided
an
animal feeder having an adjustable feed gate and being at least partially
defined by a wall, said
animal feeder comprising: a feed dispensing mechanism including: a first index
member
2o having a plurality of adjustment positions, a first engagement member
operable to be engaged
with said plurality of adjustment positions, and a linkage in communication
with the
adjustable feed gate, whereby adjustable engagement between the first
engagement member
and the first index member is operable to control an amount of feed delivered
by the animal
feeder; and a cleaning mechanism including: a second index member having a
plurality of
adjustment positions, the wall having at least one opening disposed therein,
an adjustable
member operable to cover the opening in the wall, a second engagement member
mechanically communicating with the adjustable member and being operable to
engage with
the second index member, and the second engagement member operable to control
the flow of
cleaning fluid through the opening in the wall.
3o In accordance with yet another embodiment ofthe present invention there is
provided
an animal feeder for delivering feed to at least one animal, said animal
feeder comprising: a
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CA 02559967 1998-04-27
pair of opposed, downwardly sloping sidewalls; a pair of opposed end walls
coupled to the
pair of opposed, downwardly sloping sidewalk; the pair of opposed, downwardly
sloping
sidewalk and the pair ofopposed end walls defining an opening operable to
receive the feed; a
dust cover for covering at least a portion of the opening, wherein opposed
peripheral edges of
the dust cover are supported by contact with opposed inside surfaces of the
pair of opposed,
downwardly sloping sidewalls, whereby the dust cover reduces airborne
particulates generated
by delivery of the feed through the opening in the animal feeder; and a feed
drop tube and a
feed drop tube holder positioned adjacent the dust cover operable to deliver
feed through the
opening in the animal feeder.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention there is
provided an
animal feeder for delivering feed to at least one animal, the animal feeder
comprising: a
pair of opposed, downwardly sloping sidewal(s; a pair of opposed,
substantially vertical end
walls coupled to the pair of opposed, downwardly sloping sidewalls; the pair
of opposed,
downwardly sloping sidewalls and the pair of opposed, substantially vertical
end walls
defining an opening operable to receive the feed; a pair of substantially
parallel support braces
extending transversely across the opening; and a first dust cover removably
coupled to one of
the support braces and a second dust cover removably coupled to one ofthe
support braces,
the first dust cover and the second dust cover are removably coupled to the
support braces by
way of J-shaped brackets, wherein the first and second dust covers
substantially cover the
20 opening to reduce airborne particulates generated by delivering the feed
through the opening
in the animal feeder.
In accordance with a still further embodiment of the present invention there
is
provided an animal feeder for delivering feed to at least one animal, the
animal feeder
comprising: a pair of opposed, downwardly sloping sidewalk; a pair ofopposed,
substantially
vertical end walls coupled to the pair of opposed, downwardly sloping
sidewalk; the pair of
opposed, downwardly sloping sidewalls and the pair of opposed, substantially
vertical end
walls defining an opening operable to receive the feed; a pair of
substantially parallel support
braces extending transversely across the opening; a first dust cover removably
coupled to one
of the support braces and a second dust cover removably coupled to one of the
support braces,
3o wherein the first and second dust covers substantially cover the opening to
reduce airborne
particulates generated by delivering the feed through the opening in the
animal feeder; and a .
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CA 02559967 1998-04-27
feed drop tube and a feed drop tube holder positioned between the pair of
support brackets and
adjacent to the first dust cover and the second dust cover.
1n accordance with one embodiment of the present invention there is provided
an
animal feeder for delivery of feed to at least one animal, the animal feeder
comprising: a pair
ofopposed, downwardly sloping sidewalls; a pair ofopposed, substantially
vertical end walls
coupled to the pair of opposed, downwardly sloping sidewalls; the pair of
opposed,
downwardly sloping sidewalls and the pair of opposed, substantially vertical
end walls
defining a substantially rectangular opening operable to receive the feed; a
pair of
substantially parallel support braces extending transversely across the
opening; and a first dust
t o cover having a first trapezoidal periphery and a second dust cover having
a second trapezoidal
periphery, at least a portion of the first trapezoidal periphery and at least
a portion of the
second trapezoidal periphery each contacting and being supported by opposed
inside surfaces
of the pair of opposed, downwardly sloping sidewall, the first dust cover
includes a first J-
shaped bracket and the second dust cover includes a second J-shaped bracket,
the first and
second J-shaped brac)cets operable to removably engage the substantially
parallel support
braces, whereby the first and second dust covers substantially reduce airborne
particulates
generated by delivery of the feed through the opening in the animal feeder.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention there is
provided an
animal feeder for delivery of feed to at least one animal, the animal feeder
comprising: a pair
20 of opposed, downwardly sloping sidewalls; a pair of opposed, substantially
vertical end walls
coupled to the pair of opposed, downwardly sloping sidewalls; the pair of
opposed,
downwardly sloping sidewalk and the pair of opposed, substantially vertical
end walls
defining a substantially rectangular opening operable to receive the feed; a
first dust cover
having a first trapezoidal periphery and a second dust cover having a second
trapezoidal
periphery, at least a portion of the first trapezoidal periphery and at least
a portion of the
second trapezoidal periphery each contacting and being supported by opposed
inside surfaces
of the pair of opposed, downwardly sloping sidewal I, whereby the first and
second dust covers
substantially reduce airborne particulates generated by delivery of the feed
through said
opening in the animal feeder; and a feed drop tube holder and a feed drop tube
positioned
3o substantially between the first dust cover and the second dust cover.
1n accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention there is
provided an
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animal feeder comprising: a hopper including a wall having a feed discharge
formed therein
and a feed trough adjacent the feed discharge; a feed gate positionable
relative to the feed
discharge; and an indexing mechanism operably coupled to the feed gate and
positionable in a
plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions to selectively locate
the feed gate in a
plurality of individual discrete feed gate positions while allowing the feed
gate to move within
a limited range of linear motion about each of the plurality of individual
discrete feed gate
positions once the feed gate is_in one ofthe plurality of individual discrete
feed gate positions.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention there is
provided
an animal feeder comprising: a hopper including a wall having a feed discharge
formed
therein and a feed trough adjacent the feed discharge; a feed gate
positionable relative to the
feed discharge; an indexing mechanism operably coupled to the feed gate and
positionable in a
plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions to selectively locate
the feed gate in a
plurality ofdiscrete feed gate positions while allowing the feed gate to move
within a limited
range of linear motion about each ofthe plurality of discrete feed gate
positions, the indexing
mechanism including: an index member coupled to a surface of the hopper by a
pivot and
positionable in the plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions; an
index pin
extending between the index member and the surface and engagable with a set of
index holes
disposed about the pivot; and a connecting member having a first end operably
coupled to the
index member and a second end operably coupled to the feed gate.
2o In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention there is
provided a
indexed feed dispensing mechanism comprising: a hopper including a wall having
a feed
discharge formed therein and a feed trough disposed adjacent the feed
discharge; a feed gate
positionable relative to the feed discharge; an index array having a plurality
of individual
discrete adjustment positions; an engagement member operable to be engaged
with the
plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions, the feed gate being
selectively located in
a plurality of discrete feed gate positions relative to the feed discharge
when the engagement
member engages the plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions; and
a linkage in
communication with the feed gate to allow the feed gate to move within a
limited range of
linear motion about each ofthe plurality ofdiscrete feed gate positions, the
linkage including a
3o control member movably coupled to the engagement member and the feed gate.
1n accordance with a still further embodiment of the present invention there
is
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provided an indexed feed dispensing mechanism comprising: a hopper including a
wall having
a feed discharge formed therein and a feed trough disposed adjacent the feed
discharge; a feed
gate positionable relative to the feed discharge; an index array having a
plurality of individual
discrete adjustment positions; an engagement member operable to be engaged
with the
plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions, the feed gate being
selectively located in
a plurality ofdiscrete feed gate positions relative to the feed discharge when
the engagement
member engages the plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions; and
a linkage having
a first end operably coupled to the engagement member and a second end
inserted through a
mounting aperture formed in the feed gate to attach the linkage to the feed
gate.
to In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention there is
provided an
indexed feed dispensing mechanism comprising: a hopper including a wall having
a feed
discharge formed therein and a feed trough disposed adjacent the feed
discharge; a feed gate
positionable relative to the feed discharge, the feed gate having a projection
extending
outwardly away from the feed discharge and accessible from said feed trough;
an index array
having a plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions; an engagement
member
operable to be engaged with the plurality of individual discrete adjustment
positions, the feed
gate being selectively located in a plurality ofdiscrete feed gate positions
relative to the feed
discharge when the engagement member engages the plurality of individual
discrete
adjustment positions; and a linkage having a first end operably coupled to the
engagement
2o member and a second end operably coupled to the feed gate.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention there is
provided an
animal feeder comprising: a hopper including a wall having a feed discharge
formed therein
and a feed trough adjacent the feed discharge; a feed gate positionable
relative to the feed
discharge; an indexing mechanism operably coupled to the feed gate and
positionable in a
plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions to selectively locate
the feed gate in a
plurality ofdiscrete feed gate positions while allowing the feed gate to move
within a limited
range of linear motion about each ofthe plurality ofdiscrete feed gate
positions, the indexing
mechanism having a first index linkage for selectively locating a first end
ofthe feed gate and
a second index linkage selectively locating a second end of said feed gate
independent of the
.so first end of the feed gate.
In accordance with yet another embodiment ofthe present invention there is
provided
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an animal feeder comprising: a feed bin having a pair of sidewalls, a pair of
end walls coupled
to the pair of sidewalk, a first lower opening and a second lower opening
formed through a
lower portion of the feed bin, and an upper opening formed through an upper
portion of the
feed bin; an adjustable feed gate assembly having a first gate, an indexing
mechanism, a
connecting member interconnecting the indexing mechanism and the first gate
such that the
indexing mechanism is movable to selectively position the first gate relative
to the first lower
opening; and a cover assembly removably secured to the feed bin to reduces
airborne
particulates generated by delivery of feed through said upper opening, the
cover assembly
including a feed drop tube extending through the upper opening, a central
panel secured to the
feed bin in the upper opening, and a pair of side panels secured to the feed
bin in the upper
opening adjacent the central panel, each ofthe pair of side panels having
opposed peripheral
edges supported by contact with opposed inside surfaces of the feed bin.
Other features and advantages ofthe present invention will become apparent and
obvious from a study of the following description and the accompanying
drawings which are
merely illustrative of such invention.
BRIEF DESCR1PT10N OF DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a livestock feeder of the prior art;
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the improved feeder of the present
invention
showing the feed-dispensing mechanism thereof;
2o Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the feed dispensing controls;
Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken through section 4-4 of Fig. 3;
Fig. S is a cross-sectional view of the feed gate showing the manner in which
the
connecting rod is attached thereto;
Pig. 6 is a side elevational view of the connecting rod and feed gate;
Fig. 7 is a top sectional view of the lower portion of a connecting rod;
Pig. 8 is a sectional view showing the control lever in a position of
disengagement
with an indexing hole;
Pig. 9 is a sectional view showing the control lever in a position of
engagement with
an indexing hole;
.so Fig. I 0 is a top plan view of the dust cover panels;
Fig. 11 is an elevational view of the animal feeder showing the dust cover
installed
therein; and
Fig. l2 is an enlarged view showing the support braces and J-shaped brackets
for
mounting the dust cover panels.
4d
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As background and to better understand by comparison the improved
livestock feeder of the present invention, reference should be made to animal
feeder illustrated in Fig. 1 and labeled Prior Art.
The Prior Art animal feeder, indicated generally at 40, comprises an open-
topped hopper, indicated generally at 45, defined by opposing, downwardly
sloping side walls 41 and opposing substantially vertical end walls 42.
The opposing end walls 42 are of generally rectangular shape and their
upper edges are preferably positioned on substantially the same level as the
upper
edges of the downwardly sloping side walls 41. The lower edges of the opposing
end walls 42 terminate at a substantial distance below the lower edges of the
opposing side walls 41 and are suitably secured to opposed ends of a bottom
wall
43.
The bottom wall 43 is connected to upwardly and outwardly inclined outer
panel portions 44 forming elongate feed troughs, indicated generally at 55,
along
opposite sides of the animal feeder 40 and below the opposing side walls 41.
The lower portions of the downwardly converging side walls 41 and the
bottom wall 43 define therebetween a feed discharge opening 16.
As another element of the Prior Art feeder 40, reinforcing dividers, shown in
the form of plurality of spaced-apart, elongate rods 57 span the feed troughs
55
from the side walls 41 to the respective outer trough portions 44 of the
bottom wall
43. The rods 57 reinforce the feed bin and divide each feed trough 55 into
individual feeding areas which serve to aid~in giving the livestock animals
access
to feed.
As another element of the Prior Art feeder 40, a pair of elongate, pivotally
mounted, vertically adjustable gates 48 including gate adjustment means 49
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mechanically coupled thereto overlie the respective feed discharge openings 46
for
varying the size of each opening 46. The gates 48 extend longitudinally
between
the end walls 42 with the opposite ends of the gates 48 terminating closely
adjacent
end walls 42. A small clearance remains necessary between the ends of the
gates
48 and the end walls 42 so that the gates 48 may pivot freely in their
described
adjusted positions.
Another element of the Prior Art feeder 40 is the feed drop tube holder,
indicated generally at 60, as shown in Fig. 1. The feed drop tube holder 60 is
a
generally flat, rectangular structure having a circular opening 60a in the
center
thereof.
Holder 60 includes a plurality of tabs 60b integrally formed on opposite ends
thereof at predetermined intervals. Tabs 60b are adapted to engage a plurality
of
cooperating slots 61 which are disposed about the upper peripheral edges of
side
walls 41 at regular intervals.
One of the principle advantages of the feed drop tube holder 60 is that it
does not require brackets for additional hardware to install. Holder 60 is
manufactured to an overall length that is slightly larger than the inside
dimension
between the opposing side walls 41 as measured in a plane coincidental with
slots
61. ,
Being made of a flexible, resilient material holder 60 may be compressed
lengthwise by hand pressure into a curved bow shape in order to insert tab 60b
into
cooperating slot 61.
Once released from-this position, holder 60 springs back into its original
flat
configuration such that tabs 60b project outwardly through slots 61 in side
walls 41
retaining holder 60 therebetween.
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The central opening 60a in holder 60 is sized to a dimension that is slightly
larger than the feed drop tube 63 to accommodate the insertion of the same
into
central openings 60a at varying angles without binding therein.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that holder 60 may be
easily
repositioned to several longitudinal positions within feeder 40 by removing
and
replacing holder 60 to a different grouping of opposed slots 61 as desired.
Since all of the above hereinabove described features of feeder 40 are well
known to those skilled in the art, further detailed discussion of the same is
not
deemed necessary.
One of the principle improvements of the animal feeder 10 of the present
invention is the feed dispensing mechanism, indicated generally at 20
comprising a
pair of control levers 16 with associated indexing holes 23, a scale 25 with
numeric
indicia 26, control rods 15 and feed gates 14 as shown in Fig. 2.
The structure and function of these components will now be described in
further detail. It will be understood that a dispensing mechanism as depicted
in Fig.
2 is installed on the interior surface of each end wall 11 of the present
feeder 10 to
operate the vertically adjustable feed gates 14 thereof.
A pair of adjustable control levers 16 are pivotally mounted on the interior
surface of each end wall 11 by use of suitable attaching hardware such as a
pivot
screw 17, lock washer 18, spacer 13 and compression spring 19 as seen in Figs.
3
and 4.
An opposite end of the control lever 16 includes a pointer 16a for indicating
the setting for the feed gates 14 as described hereinafter in further detail.
The pointer 16a is provided with a knob 21 including an index pin 22
projecting outwardly therefrom for mating engagement with an array of index
holes 23 which are radially disposed at regular intervals along an arc
concentric
with an axis of the pivot screw 17 as seen in Figs. 3 and 4.
CA 02559967 1998-04-27 ,
Intermediate the pivot screw 17 and the knob 21 an upper end of a
connecting rod 15 is secured using suitable attaching hardware. In the
preferred
embodiment a connecting tab 24 having an elongated slot 37 formed at one end
thereof is coupled to the upper end of connecting rod 15. The tab 24 is
mounted on
a connecting bolt 35 which loosely penetrates the slot 37 and is secured
thereon by
lock nut 36.
An opposite end of each connector rod 15 is configured as illustrated in Figs.
5-7. The lower most end of the connector rod 15 is initially bent at
90° to a
longitudinal axis thereof as at 15' in Fig. 5 so as to lie in a plane
coincident with
the major portion of the rod 15. Thereafter the tip portion 15b is again bent
90° as
at 15" to lie in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the major
portion of
the rod 15 as shown in Fig 6.
To install the connector rod 15 ~ in the feed gate 14 the tip portion 15b is
inserted through mounting aperture 38 as seen in Fig. 5 attaching the rod 15
to the
feed gate 14 without bolting or welding the connection. Thus installed, it
will be
appreciated that a non-binding linkage is provided between the rod 15 and the
gate
14 to facilitate operation of the dispensing mechanism when the feeder is
filled to
capacity.
In normal operation the user of the improved feeder 10 adjusts the
dispensing mechanism 20 by grasping and pulling the knob 21 outwardly from an
engaged position as shown in Fig. 8 and pivoting the lever 16 upwardly or
downwardly to adjust the gate 14 to the desired vertical position. After the
desired
position or hole 23 is selected, the knob 21 is again released to the position
shown
in Fig. 9.
It will be appreciated that each respective indexing hole 23 corresponds to
numeric indicia 26 on the scale 25 so as to dispense feed at a predetermined
rate to
livestock eating from the feeder 10. In this manner several feeders 10 can be
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CA 02559967 1998-04-27
utilized in a livestock production facility to deliver a predetermined amount
of feed
to animals at any stage of the life cycle using the standard settings on the
scale 25.
It will also be noted that a feeder 10 can be disposed between adjacent pens
in such a production facility and adjusted to deliver feed in different
amounts from
opposite sides of the feeder 10. Thus, the improved feeder of the present
invention
provides significant advantages to animal producers which are unknown in the
prior art.
Further, the physical location of the dispensing mechanisms 20 on the
interior end walls 11 of the feeder rather than on lateral brace members 47
extending across the hopper 45 as shown in Fig. 1 lends itself to another
principle
advantage of the present invention. The improved feeder 10 is provided with a
removable dust cover, indicated generally at 33 as shown in Figs. 10-12.
The dust cover 33 is comprised of a pair of generally rectangular panels 34
which are configured and dimensioned to closely fit the interior peripheral
edge of
the feeder 10 when installed therein as shown in Fig. 11. It will be
understood that
the feed drop tube holder 60 of the prior art as shown in Fig. 10 functions as
a part
of the dust cover 33 as described hereinafter in further detail.
The dust cover panels 34 together with the feed drop tube holder 60 are
fabricated from a resilient plastic material and are easily removed for
cleaning and
maintenance purposes.
The dust cover panels 34 are supported in the position shown in Fig. 11 by a
pair of generally parallel support braces 27 which extend transversely across
the
top opening of the feeder 10 interconnecting the downwaxdly sloping side walls
12.
Braces 27 are configured to support the inner edges of the panels 34 in the
position shown in Fig. 11. In the preferred embodiment the inner edges of the
dust
cover panels 34 are provided with attaching hardware such as J-shaped brackets
39
which axe secured to the inner edges of panels 34 by suitable fasteners. J-
shaped
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CA 02559967 1998-04-27
i
which are secured to the inner edges of panels 34 by suitable fasteners. J-
shaped
brackets 39 engage the support braces to 27 to secure the panels 34 as more
clearly
shown in Fig. 12.
An opposite end portion of the panels 34 are provided with cut-out portions
34a to accommodate the connecting rods 15 disposed along the end walls 11 of
the
feeder. The insertion of the feed drop tube holder 28 is accomplished as
described
hereinabove and in U.S. Patent No. 5,558,039:
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the remaining
peripheral
edges of the panels 34 are supported by their contact with the downwardly and
inwardly converging side walls 12 of the feeder.
In this construction the dust cover 33 functions to reduce the airborne
particulates generated by the automatic feed delivery system utilized in
conjunction with feeders of this type. Thus, the environment of the production
facility is made safer and respiratory hazards are reduced for both man and
animal.
From the above it can be seen that the improved animal feeder of the present
invention provides an adjustable dispensing mechanism for the accurate
delivery of
feed to livestock animals. The dispensing mechanism includes standardized
controls and settings to enable a precise amount of feed to be delivered to
animals
during specific stages of their life cycle to ensure optimum growth rates.
The improved feeder of the present invention also provides a dust cover for
controlling airborne particulate matter created by the automatic feed delivery
system used in conjunction with the feeder.
The terms "top", "bottom", "side", and so forth have been used herein
merely for convenience to describe the present invention and its parts as
oriented in
the drawings. It is to be understood, however, that these terms are in no way
limiting to the invention since such invention may obviously be disposed in
different orientations when in use.
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CA 02559967 1998-04-27
The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specific ways
than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential
characteristics of such invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to
be
considered in all respects as illustrative and nonrestrictive, and all changes
coming
within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended
to
be embraced therein.
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