Dispenser, feeder and system for dispensing feed

Abstract

A dispenser (100) for dispensing feed (56) comprising a container (1) configured to contain feed and provided with an inlet (2) for loading feed into the container (1) and an outlet (3) for dispensing feed contained in the container (1) wherein an auger (21) is arranged at the outlet (3) and mechanically connected to a rotor (23), and a rotor arranged in the container (1) and configured to be mechanically connected to the actuator (42) to rotate the twist drill (21) about the axis of rotation (A). The present specification also relates to a feeder and a system that may include the dispenser.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a dispenser for distributing feed, in particular to laboratory animals kept in laboratory containers (such as cages or troughs). The present invention also relates to a feeder and a system that may include the dispenser. Background Art

[0002] US8449719 describes a system for distributing feed, wherein a movable feeder can tilt a dispenser containing feed about a horizontal axis from a horizontal position of the dispenser to an inclined position, so that a certain amount of feed falls into an animal container by gravity. As the dispenser rotates one revolution, the amount of feed distributed by the feeder is determined by the tilting speed of the dispenser, and due to the structure of the dispenser and its arrangement in the feeder, the feed contained in the dispenser cannot be completely emptied.

[0003] WO2023 / 064428A1 describes a similar system in which a mobile feeder rotates a dispenser about its horizontally arranged longitudinal axis so that a certain amount of feed is dispensed from a side opening of the dispenser due to the rotation of the dispenser. The distribution accuracy is relatively low because it is difficult to quantify the amount of feed dispensed from the side opening.

[0004] KR100620535B1 describes a feeder for distributing feed, comprising a feed distributor and an actuator mechanically coupled to the rotor of the distributor, the distributor being provided with an auger for distributing feed through an outlet. The distributor, in particular its outlet, is arranged above the actuator, so that this known feeder cannot be easily used in systems for distributing feed, such as those described in US8449719 and WO2023 / 064428A1. Furthermore, due to the use of screws as coupling means, the distributor cannot be quickly and easily coupled or decoupled from the known feeder, for example by replacing the distributor with another distributor containing different feed.

[0005] RU 2 676 552 C1 and GB 1 562 486 A describe feeders comprising a feed dispenser which is stably fixed in the associated feeder, so that in these known feeders replacing the dispenser with another one is not possible or in any case difficult. Summary of the invention

[0006] Therefore, the object of the present description is to provide a system that solves these problems. This object is achieved by a dispenser, a feeder and a system, the main characteristics of which are specified in the attached claims, which are considered to be an integral part of the present description.

[0007] Due to specific features of the dispenser and / or feeder, the system according to the present description allows dispensing feed in a more precise, faster and cleaner way than known systems, since distribution of the feed does not require moving the entire dispenser.

[0008] The dispenser preferably comprises a special auger, a special rotor and / or a special hopper, the features of which further improve the dispensing accuracy of the dispenser and its complete emptying.

[0009] The dispenser can be manufactured, applied, removed and cleaned relatively quickly and easily, thereby reducing the cost, maintenance and operating time of the system. To this end, the dispenser and the dispenser bracket of the feeder include reversible coupling means, such as covers and plates provided with magnets and other mechanical means to facilitate the application and removal of the dispenser on the dispenser bracket.

[0010] The feeder preferably comprises specific devices, such as a movable support provided with one or more electric impactors and / or a bidirectional electric stepper motor, which shortens the dispensing time and prevents feed from accidentally falling out of the dispenser and contaminating the surroundings.

[0011] The relatively neat and compact construction of the feeder also allows two dispensers to be employed with the feeder, rather than just one, thereby increasing the efficiency and versatility of the system.

[0012] Thus, due to the specific combination of features of the distributor and the feeder, the system according to the present description is more reliable and more efficient than known systems.

[0013] The system may also include specific devices to increase the safety of the feeder movement and to protect the feed contained in the dispenser. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Further advantages and features of the dispenser, feeder and system according to the present description will become apparent to a person skilled in the art from the following detailed description of some embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which embodiments are considered as non-limiting examples of the claims, in which:

[0015] Figure 1 is an exploded view of one embodiment of a dispenser;

[0016] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A rear view of the dispenser;

[0017] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 (partial) cross-sectional view of II II II;

[0018] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of a dispenser;

[0019] Figure 5 With corresponding distributor bracket Figure 1 A perspective view of a dispenser;

[0020] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A side view of a dispenser;

[0021] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A cross-sectional view taken along line VI I-VI I;

[0022] Figure 8 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a feeder;

[0023] Fig. 9 yes Figure 8 A bottom perspective view of a feeder;

[0024] Fig.10 yes Figure 8 Rear view of the feeder;

[0025] Fig.11 yes Figure 8 Front view of the feeder;

[0026] Fig.12 yes Figure 8 A bottom view of the feeder;

[0027] Fig.13 yes Figure 8 A side view of a feeder;

[0028] Fig.14 is in the retracted position Figure 8 a side view of the feeder shown;

[0029] Fig.15 yes Fig.13 The sectional view of XV-XV;

[0030] Fig.16 yes Fig.13 A sectional view taken along the line XVI-XVI;

[0031] Fig.17 is a front view of one embodiment of the system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Figure 1-4An embodiment of a dispenser 100 is shown, which includes a container 1, which is configured to contain feed and is provided with an inlet 2 for loading feed into the container 1 and an outlet 3 for dispensing the feed contained in the container 1. The container 1 may also be provided with an outlet conduit 4, which is arranged downstream of the outlet 3 to guide the feed dispensed from the outlet 3 outward. Therefore, the outlet 3 is located between the container 1 and the outlet conduit 4. A hopper 5 is preferably arranged between the outlet 3 and the container 1 to convey the feed from the container 1 to the outlet 3. The side surface of the container 1 may include a transparent scale 6 to display the amount of feed contained in the container 1.

[0033] The inlet 2 of the container 1 can be partially or completely closed by a cover 7. The cover 7 preferably comprises one or more auxiliary openings 8, 9 communicating with the inlet 2 for loading feed into the container 1 through the cover 7 when the container 1 is closed by the cover 7. The cover 7 can be fixed to the container 1 by one or more screws 10 inserted into corresponding holes 11, 12 obtained in the cover 7 and in a flange 13 arranged around the inlet 2 of the container 1.

[0034] Preferably, the hopper 5 has a substantially frustoconical shape and the container 1 has a substantially cylindrical or frustoconical shape.The container 1, the outlet conduit 4, the hopper 5 and / or the flange 13 are preferably made of a single piece of moulded plastic, in particular transparent polycarbonate.

[0035] The auger 21 is arranged at the outlet 3 of the container 1 and is mechanically connected to a rotor 23 arranged in the container. The auger 21 is arranged in the outlet 3 and / or protrudes from both sides of the opening. In particular, the rotor 23 comprises a substantially cylindrical shaft, one end of which is keyed to the auger 21 by a grub screw 22. The rotor 23 is configured to be mechanically connected to the actuator to transmit the driving torque to the auger 21 and to rotate the auger 21 about the rotation axis A, in particular about an axis substantially coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the auger 21 in a rotation direction R, so as to dispense feed from the container 1 with the auger 21, and preferably also rotate in a direction opposite to the rotation direction R, so as to move feed toward the container 1 with the auger 21.

[0036] Preferably, the auger 21 is frustoconical and / or has a larger diameter of 10-15 mm and / or has a smaller diameter of 5-10 mm. The outlet 3 is substantially cylindrical and / or has a diameter of 5-15 mm. Preferably, the free end of the auger 21 extends into the outlet conduit 4 and / or the end of the auger 21 connected to the rotor 23 extends into the hopper 5. Preferably, the thread of the auger 21 has a substantially square cross-section and / or the pitch of the thread increases gradually towards the free end of the auger 21 (i.e. towards the outside).

[0037] The rotor 23 may comprise one or more agitators 24, in particular pins inserted into through holes 25 obtained on the rotor 23 and which form an angle of less than 90°, in particular an angle of 30°-60° with the rotation axis A. The rotor 23 may also comprise a propeller 26, in particular arranged near the auger 21. The propeller 26 comprises one or more blades, in particular three blades, wherein the distal portion of each blade forms an angle of less than 90°, in particular an angle of 30°-60° with the rotation axis A. In particular, the propeller 6 is arranged in the hopper 5, wherein preferably the distal portions of the blades of the propeller 26 face the side of the container 1 and are substantially parallel to the adjacent portion of the inner surface of the hopper 5, or face the side of the auger 21 and are substantially perpendicular to the adjacent portion of the inner surface of the hopper 5. Preferably, the container 1, the outlet duct 4, the hopper 5, the auger 21, the rotor 23 and / or the propeller 26 are arranged on the rotation axis A in a substantially coaxial manner with each other.

[0038] The end of the rotor 23 opposite to the end connected to the auger 21 preferably protrudes from the container 1, in particular from the lid 7, and / or comprises a head 27 configured to be mechanically and preferably self-centeringly coupled to a joint that can be driven by an actuator so that the torque generated by the actuator can be transmitted to the auger 21 through the joint, the head 27 and the rotor 23. The head 27 is preferably made in one piece with the rotor 23 and has a polygonal shape with a conical free end. The lid 7 preferably comprises a hub 28 that accommodates a portion of the rotor 23 in a rotatable and non-axially sliding manner, in particular by a bearing 29 and a retaining ring 30, which are covered by a cover 31 having a substantially truncated cone / truncated pyramid shape. The dispenser 100 preferably comprises reversible coupling means, in particular one or more magnets 32 included in the lid 7, which are configured to detachably apply the dispenser 100 to a dispenser support. Alternatively or in addition to the magnet 32 ​​, the reversible coupling means may comprise a mechanical rotation coupling, in particular a screw or a bayonet coupling, configured to rotate about the rotation axis A in order to achieve coupling or decoupling with the dispenser holder.

[0039] Figure 5-7 Shows Figure 1-4A dispenser 100, wherein the dispenser 100 is fixed to a dispenser support 41, in particular comprising a shaped plate supporting an actuator 42, such that the dispenser support 41 is arranged between the actuator 42 and the dispenser 100. In addition, the dispenser support 41 may comprise reversible coupling means, in particular one or more magnets 43 and / or a swivel coupling, which are configured to cooperate with the reversible coupling means of the dispenser, in particular with the magnets 32 and / or the swivel coupling of the dispenser 100. For this purpose, the magnets 43 are arranged with opposite polarity so as to combine with adjacent magnets 32. Thus, the dispenser 100 can be applied or removed from the dispenser support 41 in a removable manner from the dispenser support 41 by a manual action of the operator, in particular an action performed with one hand, preferably without tools, pushing, pulling, rotating and / or tilting the dispenser 100 relative to the dispenser support 41. The dispenser support 41 may comprise one or more holes 44 for fixing the dispenser support 41 to a feeder for distributing feed with screws. During the coupling of the dispenser 100 to the dispenser support 41, the head 27 is mechanically and automatically coupled to the joint 45, which can be rotated by the actuator 42. As shown in the figure, in its operating position, the joint 45 is arranged below the actuator 42, so that when the dispenser 100 is mechanically coupled to the dispenser support 41, the dispenser 100 is arranged below the dispenser support 41. The actuator 42 preferably includes a stepper motor configured to rotate a drive shaft 46 in two rotational directions, which is mechanically connected to the joint 45, thereby rotating the dispensing device, in particular the auger 21 of the dispenser 100 fixed to the dispenser support 41, in two directions when necessary. The actuator 42 preferably includes an adapter 47, which is configured to receive the joint 45 and fix the motor to the dispenser support 41.

[0040] Figure 8-16 An embodiment of a feeder 200 is shown, which feeder 200 may include a dispenser, in particular two dispensers 100 according to the above-described embodiment, which are arranged with the rotation axes A substantially parallel to each other. The feeder 200 also includes a dispenser support, in particular two dispenser supports 41 fixed to a movable support 51, which can be moved by an actuator 52, in particular an electric actuator. For this purpose, the movable support 51 is fixed to a slide 53, which is configured to be moved back and forth in the Z direction from an extended position to a retracted position and vice versa relative to a support 54 of the feeder 200 by the actuator 52. Preferably, the movable support 51 can be moved relative to the support 54 only in the Z direction.

[0041] like Fig.13As shown, in the extended position of the movable support 51, the dispenser fixed on the corresponding dispenser bracket 41 can protrude outward onto a container 55 (shown by dotted lines), in particular a cage or box for experimental animals, so that by starting the corresponding actuator 42, in particular by rotating the auger 21 of the dispenser 100, the feed 56 contained in the dispenser can be dispensed into the container 55.

[0042] like Fig.14 As shown, in the retracted position of the movable support 51, the dispenser fixed to the dispenser bracket 41 does not protrude outward, so the feeder 200 can move vertically in the Y direction relative to the container 55 without interfering with the dispenser.

[0043] Each distributor bracket 41 is preferably oriented in the feeder 200 so that the rotation axis A of the distributor 100 fixed thereto is inclined relative to the Y direction, that is, it is inclined by 10°-25°, in particular 15°-20°, relative to the basic vertical direction of the feeder's use position, that is, it is inclined by 65°-80°, in particular 70°-75°, relative to the moving direction Z of the movable support 51.

[0044] The feeder 200 may also include an optical reader 57, which is fixed to the bracket 54 below the movable support 51 and is configured to read the label applied to the container 55. The feeder 200 may also include a liquid outlet pipe 58, which is fixed to the movable support 51 and connected to a pump 59, which is in turn connected to a tank 60 filled with liquid (e.g., nutrients for experimental animals) and can be driven by a motor 61. An aerator 62 can be connected to the tank 60 to aerate the liquid contained therein. The liquid outlet pipe 58 is preferably arranged next to the outlet duct of the distributor, in particular between the outlet ducts 4 of two distributors 100.

[0045] Each dispenser bracket 41 is preferably fixed to the movable support 51 by a weighing sensor 63 to weigh the dispenser 100, in particular to weigh the dispensed amount of feed 56. The movable support 51 preferably includes one or more electric impactors 64, which are configured to impact the dispenser, in particular the container 1 of the dispenser 100, once or multiple times during or after dispensing the feed 56 into the container 55, in particular in a direction D substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis A of the dispenser 100. The feeder 200 may include a cable guide 65 fixed to the bracket 54 to guide the cables (not shown in the figure) of the actuator 52, the optical reader 57, the motor 61 and the electric impactor 64. The feeder 200 may also include a cart 66 fixed to the bracket 54 to guide the feeder to move in the Y direction. The actuator 52 is preferably configured to rotate a screw 67 engaged in a threaded bushing 68, which is fixed to the slider 53, so that the actuator 52 moves the slider 53 forward or backward in the Z direction by rotating the screw 67 in one direction or the opposite direction. The slider 53 may include one or more pins 69 substantially parallel to the Z direction and may slide in a perforated guide 70 fixed to the bracket 54. A position sensor 71 may be arranged between the actuator 52 and the slider 53 to detect the position of the slider 53 relative to the bracket 54.

[0046] Fig.17 An embodiment of a system 300 is shown, which may include a dispenser, in particular two dispensers 100 according to the present description, and / or a feeder, in particular a feeder 200 according to the present description. Furthermore, the system 300 may include a transport device for moving the feeder 200 in the X direction, i.e. in a substantially horizontal direction, and / or in the Y direction, i.e. in a substantially vertical direction, so that the feeder can distribute feed, preferably by one or more dispensers 100 according to the present description, to specific animal containers of a plurality of animal containers 55 arranged in several rows and / or several columns. For this purpose, the containers 55 are arranged on one or more racks 81. The transport device may include a horizontal rail 82 for sliding a trolley 83 in the X direction, and / or a vertical rail 84 for sliding a trolley, in particular a trolley 66 of a feeder 200 according to the present description, in the Y direction. The vertical rail 84 may be fixed to the trolley 83 so as to slide in the X direction.

[0047] The transport device of the system may include one or more proximity sensors 85 configured to stop the movement of the feeder 200 if an obstacle is detected. In particular, the proximity sensor 85 is fixed to the cart 83 and / or the vertical track 84 to detect the presence of an obstacle, such as an operator who is picking up a container 55, during the movement of the vertical track 84 in the X direction.

[0048] The system may also include a rest stop 86 for the feeder 200, which is arranged in a rest position 87 (shown in dashed lines) in the area covered by the movement of the feeder 200 in the X direction and / or the Y direction. The rest stop 86 is provided with one or more elastic baffles, which are configured to close the outlet 3 (in the absence of the outlet duct 4) or the outlet duct 4 of the dispenser by interference, in particular the dispenser 100 described above, which is connected to the dispenser bracket 41 of the feeder 200. Therefore, if the dispenser 100 is extended by the feeder 200 at the elastic baffle of the rest stop 86, the elastic baffle can act as a plug to prevent, for example, moisture from entering the container 1.

[0049] The system may also include an electromechanical drive device (not shown) for moving the carts 66, 83, and an electronic control device for controlling the movement of the devices of the carts 66, 83 and the feeder 200 (in particular the actuators 42, 52, the motor 59 and / or the electronic impactor 64), for example based on analog or digital signals obtained from sensors of the system 300, in particular from the optical reader 57, the weighing sensor 63 and / or the position sensor 71 of the feeder 200, and the proximity sensor 85.

[0050] Without exceeding the scope of the attached claims, those skilled in the art may make modifications or additions to the embodiments described and shown herein. In particular, further embodiments may include the technical features of one of the following claims, and add one or more technical features described in the specification or shown in the drawings, which may be obtained alone or in any combination, and include their equivalent features.

[0051] Furthermore, unless otherwise stated, the terms "one", "two", etc. in the specification and claims respectively mean "at least one", "at least two", etc. Similarly, unless otherwise stated, the tolerance of angles, aspect ratios and values ​​mentioned in the specification and / or shown in the drawings is at least 5%.

Claims

1. A dispenser (100) for distributing feed (56), the dispenser (100) comprising a reversible coupling device, the reversible coupling device being configured to detachably apply the dispenser (100) to a dispenser bracket (41) of a feeder (200) for distributing feed (56); and a container (1), the container (1) being configured to contain feed and the container (1) being provided with an inlet (2) for loading feed into the container (1) and an outlet (3) for distributing the feed contained in the container (1), wherein: The auger (21) is arranged at the outlet (3) and is mechanically connected to the end of a rotor (23), the rotor (23) is arranged in the container (1) and is configured to be mechanically connected to an actuator (42), the actuator (42) is fixed to the distributor bracket (41) to rotate the auger (21) around a rotation axis (A), wherein the rotor (23) includes a head (27), the head (27) is configured to mechanically connect the rotor (23) to the actuator (42), characterized in that the end of the rotor (23) opposite to the end of the rotor (23) connected to the auger (21) protrudes from the container (1) and includes the head (27).

2. The dispenser (100) according to claim 1, wherein: A hopper (5) is arranged between the outlet (3) and the container (1) to convey the feed from the container (1) to the outlet (3), wherein the rotor (23) includes a propeller (26) arranged in the hopper (5), and the propeller (26) includes one or more blades, wherein the distal end portion of the blade (26) of the propeller faces the side of the container (1) and is substantially parallel to the adjacent portion of the inner surface of the hopper (5), or faces the side of the auger (21) and is substantially perpendicular to the adjacent portion of the inner surface of the hopper (5).

3. The dispenser (100) according to claim 1, wherein: The auger (21) is frusto-conical and the pitch of the thread of the auger (21) increases towards the free end of the auger (21).

4. The dispenser (100) according to claim 1, wherein: The head (27) of the rotor (23) is configured to be mechanically connected in a self-centering manner to a joint (45) operable by the actuator (42) fixed to the distributor support (41).

5. The dispenser (100) according to claim 4, wherein: The head (27) of the rotor (23) has a polygonal shape, and the free end of the head (27) is tapered.

6. The dispenser (100) according to claim 1, wherein: The reversible coupling device comprises one or more magnets (32) and / or a mechanical rotary coupling, wherein the mechanical rotary coupling is configured to rotate around the rotation axis (A) of the auger (21) to achieve coupling or separation of the dispenser (100) with the dispenser bracket (41).

7. The dispenser (100) according to claim 1, wherein: The inlet (2) of the container (1) is partially or completely closed by a cover (7), which includes one or more magnets (32) and a hub (28), which accommodates a part of the rotor (23) in a rotatable and non-axially sliding manner.

8. A feeder (200) for distributing feed (56), the feeder (200) comprising at least one dispenser bracket (41), the dispenser bracket (41) comprising a reversible coupling device, the reversible coupling device being configured to cooperate with the reversible coupling device of a dispenser (100) for distributing feed (56) to mechanically couple the dispenser bracket (41) to the dispenser (100), and an actuator (42) comprising a joint (45), the joint (45) being rotatable by the actuator (42) and being configured to mechanically connect to the head (27) of the rotor (23) of the dispenser (100) and to rotate it when the dispenser (100) is mechanically coupled to the dispenser bracket (41), characterized in that The joint (45) is arranged below the actuator (42), so that when the dispenser (100) is mechanically coupled to the dispenser bracket (41), the dispenser (100) is arranged below the dispenser bracket (41).

9. The feeder (200) according to claim 8, wherein: The distributor support (41) is mechanically coupled to the distributor (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. The feeder (200) according to claim 8, wherein: The actuator (42) includes an electric stepper motor configured to rotate in two rotational directions.

11. The feeder (200) according to claim 8, wherein: The distributor support (41) is mounted on a movable support (51) configured to be movable in a direction (Z) relative to a support (54) of the feeder (200) by an actuator (52).

12. The feeder (200) according to claim 11, wherein: The distributor support (41) is oriented in the feeder (200) so that the axis of rotation (A) of the distributor (100) is inclined by 65°-80°, in particular 70°-75°, relative to the direction of movement (Z) of the movable support (51).

13. The feeder (200) according to claim 11, wherein: The dispenser bracket (41) is fixed to the movable support (51) via a load cell (63), and the load cell (63) is configured to weigh the dispenser (100) coupled to the dispenser bracket (41).

14. The feeder (200) according to claim 11, wherein: The movable support (51) includes one or more electric strikers (64) configured to strike the dispenser (100) one or more times.

15. A system (300) for distributing feed (56) into containers (55) for animals, the system comprising a feeder (200) according to claim 8 or any one of claims 10 to 14, and a transport device (82, 83, 84) for moving the feeder (200) in a substantially horizontal direction (X) and / or a substantially vertical direction (Y).

16. The system (300) of claim 15, wherein: The transport device (82, 83, 84) includes one or more proximity sensors (85) configured to stop the movement of the feeder (200) if an obstacle is detected.

17. The system (300) of claim 15, wherein: A rest station (86) for the feeder (200) is arranged in a rest position (87) in an area covered by the feeder (200) moving in a substantially horizontal direction (X) and / or a substantially vertical direction (Y), and is provided with one or more elastic baffles configured to close, by interference, the outlet (3) or outlet duct (4) of the distributor (100) connected to the distributor bracket (41) of the feeder (200).

18. A system (300) for distributing feed (56) into containers (55) for animals, the system comprising a feeder (200) according to claim 9, and a transport device (82, 83, 84) for moving the feeder (200) in a substantially horizontal direction (X) and / or a substantially vertical direction (Y).

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