Feeding device

Abstract

The invention relates to a feeding device (1), in particular for feeding piglets, comprising a feed container (3) with a number of at least two feed outlet openings (4), and a number of at least two cellular wheels (5) for the metered delivery of feed from the feed container (3), wherein one of the cellular wheels (5) is assigned to each of the feed outlet openings (4) and each of the cellular wheels (5) is designed to conveying and eject a feed discharged from the respectively assigned feed outlet opening (4), wherein the cellular wheels (5) are each arranged such that they can rotate about axes (6) which are parallel to the longitudinal extension direction (7) of the feed container (3), wherein the feed outlet openings (4) are provided at a distance from one another in the longitudinal extension direction (7) of the feed container (3).

Description

[0001] Feeding device

[0002] The invention relates to a feeding device, in particular for feeding piglets, comprising

[0003] - a feed container with a number of at least two feed outlet openings, and a number of at least two cell wheels for the metered dispensing of feed from the feed container, wherein each of the feed outlet openings is assigned one of the cell wheels and each of the cell wheels is designed to convey and eject feed dispensed from the respectively assigned feed outlet opening, wherein the cell wheels are each arranged to be rotatable about axes which are parallel to the longitudinal direction of the feed container.

[0004] In modern agriculture, it plays an important role to enable animal feeding in a controlled and efficient manner. This aims to provide animals with a balanced diet while simultaneously facilitating farmers' work and increasing the efficiency of animal husbandry.

[0005] A particular problem in pig farming is that digestive problems arise when the young animals are weaned, leading to growth deficits or illness. This is caused by the stress the young animal is under (from adjusting to a new environment, a new feed, etc.) and is made worse by the fact that the feed following the milk cannot be dosed precisely enough, and the consistency cannot be adjusted with sufficient precision. For this reason, it has long been common practice in pig farming to add zinc oxide to the feed when the piglets are weaned, to protect the intestinal mucosa.

[0006] The disadvantage is that the heavy metal zinc accumulates in the soil (e.g. when fertilizing with liquid manure) and, because it is water-soluble, can also get into the groundwater. In addition, although zinc oxide partially masks digestive problems, it does not solve them and does not lead to other problems. For example, zinc oxide reduces not only harmful but also beneficial bacteria in the intestine. Furthermore, although zinc oxide causes the intestinal villi to grow, it simultaneously reduces the depressions in the intestinal mucosa. This stimulates piglet growth at the beginning but can actually slow it down towards the end of rearing. Due to the potential environmental problems, the approval of zinc oxide-based veterinary medicinal products (at therapeutic doses) has been withdrawn in many countries.

[0007] There is therefore a need to provide an improved feeding facility, in particular an automatic feeder, which can prevent or alleviate the problems associated with weaning.

[0008] DE 1 953 402 U discloses a feed dosing and distribution device comprising a storage container arranged above a feeding trough and having a feed dispensing device at its tapered end. The feed dispensing device has one or more cell wheels, each extending over the entire length of the storage container. Several cell wheels, each extending over the entire length of the storage container, can be arranged side by side, with different numbers of cells or different diameters to enable different dosing.

[0009] As a rule, feed is fed which is not in powder form but contains larger pieces (with a diameter of e.g. approx. 3-4 mm). In the case of feed with a larger grain size, the area of ​​the individual cells in the cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the cell wheel can only be reduced to a certain size in order to continue conveying the feed. As the area of ​​the cells in the cross-section cannot be reduced any further, the state of the art, in which the cell wheel extends over the entire length of the storage hopper, requires a certain minimum diameter of the cell wheels or a minimum number of cells in the cell wheels depending on the grain size of the feed. On the other hand, the length of the storage hopper cannot be reduced, since otherwise there will not be a sufficient number of feeding places available; in other words the feed will not be distributed over a sufficient distance.The disadvantage is that the current technology does not allow for sufficiently precise dosing of small amounts of feed. On the other hand, reducing the length of the storage container is also not effective, since a smaller number of feeding places in the feeding trough can be filled with feed.

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to alleviate or eliminate a disadvantage of the prior art. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a feeding device (especially for piglets) that allows for the dosing of small amounts of feed.

[0011] This is achieved by a device as mentioned at the beginning, wherein the feed outlet openings are provided spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the feed container.

[0012] This means that the feed outlet openings are provided along the longitudinal extent of the feed hopper and are spaced apart from one another. The feed outlet openings are therefore also arranged at a distance from one another in the direction of the axes of the cell wheels. Feed therefore only passes through to the cell wheels via partial sections of the longitudinal extent of the feed hopper. This allows for finer dosing (per unit length of the feed hopper) without having to make the cells of the cell wheels smaller, so that even small portions of coarse-grained feed can be dosed precisely. At the same time, the feed can still be ejected evenly over the length of the feed hopper in order to provide sufficient feeding places and to prevent weaker young animals from being prevented from eating. The more precise dosing also makes it possible to precisely adjust the consistency of the feed by (e.g.Additional water is added (either manually or from the feeding device). Furthermore, the feed quantity and consistency can be precisely adjusted in small increments to suit the age of the young animals, or even increased if necessary. Furthermore, the feeding device is easily scalable. Especially when feeding piglets, the device improves their health status and biological performance.

[0013] The feed container is, in particular, a storage container for storing feed. The feed container preferably has a feed filling opening for filling the feed container with feed. The feed container preferably has a tapered or funnel-shaped section in the direction of the feed outlet openings in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the feed container. In an operating position of the feeding device, the cell wheels are arranged, in particular, below the feed container and the feed outlet openings, so that the feed is transported into the cell wheels by gravity.

[0014] The cell wheels are particularly designed to dispense feed into a feeding trough in an operating position. The cell wheels each have a number of impeller blades or rotor blades which extend from their axis. The rotor blades preferably extend in planes in which the axis lies. Alternatively, helical gearing is possible. This means that the rotor blades of each cell wheel are not arranged parallel to the axis, but intersect it or are skewed to it. This allows a more continuous start-up to be achieved. Each cell wheel preferably has at least 2, particularly preferably at least 4, even more preferably at least 5 cells. Each cell wheel preferably has fewer than 12, particularly preferably fewer than 10, even more preferably fewer than 8 cells.

[0015] The feed container has a number of preferably at least 5, particularly preferably at least 8, even more preferably at least 12, feed outlet openings. The feeding device has a number of preferably at least 5, particularly preferably at least 8, even more preferably at least 12, cell wheels. The distance between two adjacent feed outlet openings in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the feed container is preferably at least 0.5 times, particularly preferably at least 1 times, even more preferably 1.5 times or 2 times the greatest extent of the feed outlet openings in the longitudinal direction of the feed container. Preferably, each feed outlet opening has the same extent in the longitudinal direction of the feed container.

[0016] Preferably, the feeding device can be arranged above a feeding trough.

[0017] It is preferred if the cellular wheels are arranged rotatably on a common shaft and spaced apart from one another in the direction of the common shaft. This allows for a particularly simple drive of the cellular wheels. Driving the cellular wheels means setting them in rotation about their axis.

[0018] It is advantageous if a screw conveyor (in particular a spiral conveyor, i.e. a shaftless screw conveyor) is provided in the feed container so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation being parallel to the longitudinal direction of the feed container. The screw conveyor can be used to prevent bridging or cavities in the feed in the feed container and thus uneven feed discharge through the feed outlet openings and thus through the cell wheels. In addition, the feed container can be filled with feed from just one side of the feed container. The screw conveyor can have a varying pitch. This is particularly advantageous if filling takes place from one side. The screw conveyor preferably extends adjacent to the outlet openings. The feed container is preferably U-shaped and is adapted in sections to the circumference of the screw conveyor.The use of a spiral conveyor is advantageous if only bridging is to be prevented, but only a small amount of conveying is to take place in one direction. The screw conveyor has a diameter which is preferably between 0.2 times and 3 times, particularly preferably between 0.5 times and 2 times, even more preferably between 0.8 times and 1.2 times the diameter of the cell wheels. The screw conveyor preferably has a diameter which is between 2 cm and 20 cm. The screw conveyor preferably extends over substantially the entire internal length in the longitudinal direction 7 of the feed container 2.

[0019] It is preferred if a water line is provided so that feed ejected from the cell wheels can be mixed with water. This means that the feed can be administered in mushy, liquid or dry form. On the other hand, only water can be metered into the same feeding trough, for example with additives (in particular before the feed is metered out). By providing a separate water line, with which the dry feed is only mixed with water after it has been ejected from the cell wheels, particularly good hygiene is achieved. The water line preferably has a connecting element for connection to a (stationary) water supply. In the operating position of the feeding device, a section of the water line preferably runs below the feed container, in particular over the entire longitudinal extent of the feed container.Preferably, dry food is introduced into the feed container, which can be mixed into a slurry of appropriate consistency using the water line. The water line is, in particular, tubular. Additional mixing of the dry food and water is generally not necessary, as this is sufficiently effected by the burrowing movements of the feeding animals. Preferably, a section of the water line extends along (in particular substantially parallel to) the feed container.

[0020] It is advantageous if the water line has water discharge openings, with each cell wheel being assigned one of the water discharge openings so that feed ejected from the respectively assigned cell wheel can be mixed with water from the respective water discharge opening. Preferably, in the operating position, a water discharge opening is provided below each cell wheel, in particular at least partially congruent with the respective cell wheel when viewed from a vertical direction. Preferably, the water discharge openings are provided on a side of the water line facing away from the cell wheels. Preferably, the feeding device has an additive storage container for storing an additive (supplement) and an injector for supplying the additive to the water line. Preferably, the injector works via the Venturi effect.The feeding device preferably has a first additive storage container for storing a first additive and a first injector for supplying the first additive to the water line, as well as a second additive storage container for storing a second additive and a second injector for supplying the second additive to the water line. The injector can be used, for example, to add medication to treat sick animals.

[0021] It is preferred if the water line has a control valve for controlling the water flow in the water line. This allows the consistency of the feed to be controlled. The control valve is preferably a solenoid valve.

[0022] It is advantageous if the water line has a drain valve for diverting water from the water line into a drain line. The drain valve is preferably a solenoid valve. If the (warm) water becomes too cold for feeding due to remaining in the water line for a longer period of time, the cooled water can be drained through the drain valve and the water line can be filled with warm water through a control valve or an additional inlet valve (particularly near the injectors).

[0023] Preferably, the cell wheels are provided in a tube adjoining the feed container, the longitudinal direction of which is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the feed container, wherein the feed outlet openings of the feed container represent feed inlet openings of the tube or are connected to feed inlet openings of the tube, and wherein the tube further comprises a feed ejection opening for each cell wheel, wherein furthermore the space of each cell wheel in the tube is closed off on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the tube by limiting elements, in particular circular. Preferably, the feed ejection openings of the tube are each arranged opposite the feed inlet openings of the tube. Preferably, the feeding device comprises a drive device for driving the cell wheels, wherein the drive device preferably comprises a motor, in particular an electric motor.

[0024] Advantageously, the drive device can have a speed sensor for monitoring the number of revolutions of the cell wheels. The revolutions of the cell wheels are proportional to the amount of feed dispensed. The speed sensor can therefore be used to monitor and regulate the amount of feed. This allows particularly precise dosing without the need for scales. The speed sensor preferably has an incremental encoder. The speed sensor preferably has an optical sensor and the drive device also drives a wheel with pulse generator elements which generate a pulse at the optical sensor when they pass by. The wheel preferably has a greater number of pulse generator elements than the number of cells per cell wheel.

[0025] The feeding device preferably has a control unit which is designed to control the dispensing of a specific amount of feed by controlling the drive device, the cell wheels being driven for a number of revolutions of the cell wheels which is determined depending on the specific amount of feed to be dispensed. This means that the control unit starts the drive device, whereby the cell wheels are set in rotation and feed is ejected. At the same time, the control unit monitors the rotation via the speed sensor, and when a specific number of revolutions is reached, the control unit stops the drive device. In particular, the cell wheels are driven by the drive device for a defined number of pulses from the speed sensor (having an incremental sensor).Preferably, the drive device is designed to reverse the direction of the drive for a limited time in the event of a blockage of the drive of the cell wheels. In particular, the control unit is designed to control the drive device accordingly. Preferably, the control unit is further designed to control the control valve of the water line to dispense water (together with feed or independently of the feed). In particular, it is preferred if the control unit is further designed to control the control valve of the water line depending on the specific amount of feed to be dispensed. In this way, the desired consistency (dry, mushy or liquid) of the feed can be achieved automatically. Preferably, the control unit is further designed to control the injector (in particular to dispense an additive into the water line).

[0026] The control unit is preferably designed to control the feeding device to dispense feed of a definable consistency and quantity at definable intervals.

[0027] Advantageously, the drive device can also be designed to drive the screw conveyor. Preferably, a gear driving the screw conveyor is connected via a chain to a gear driving the cellular wheels. Preferably, the drive device has a gear ratio such that the screw conveyor is driven at a higher speed than the cellular wheels. Preferably, the screw conveyor can be driven by the drive device at a speed that is at least 1.5 times, particularly preferably at least twice, and even more preferably at least 3 times, as high as that of the cellular wheels.

[0028] The feeding device is preferably modularly expandable. Advantageously, the feeding device can have a shaft, wherein the shaft can be driven by the drive device, wherein the shaft has a drive profile for driving cell wheels of a further feeding device. Since the cell wheels and the screw conveyor of the further feeding device are advantageously connected via a chain and can thus be driven together, the screw conveyor of the further feeding device can also be driven. Advantageously, any number of further feeding devices can therefore be added. Preferably, the drive profile is provided at one end of the feed container, in particular on an end of the feed container opposite the drive device. Preferably, the water line has a connecting element for connecting a water line of a further feeding device.Preferably, a portion of the water conduit extends along (in particular substantially parallel to) the feed container, and the connection is provided adjacent to this portion. Preferably, the connection is provided downstream of the water discharge openings.

[0029] The feeding device preferably has a support device for holding the cell wheels and preferably the water discharge openings above a feeding trough. The feeding device can thus advantageously be placed above a feeding trough as required. The feeding device is thus transportable. Quick-release fasteners are preferably provided for mounting the feeding device to the floor. The feeding device can be mounted on the floor over existing feeding troughs using the quick-release fasteners.

[0030] Preferably, the feeding device comprises a feeding trough, wherein the cell wheels are arranged to eject conveyed feed into the feeding trough, and preferably the water discharge openings are arranged to direct water into the feeding trough. Preferably, the feeding trough is detachably connected to the rest of the device. Thus, when the piglets are transitioned to solid feed, the feeding trough can advantageously be left in place and only the feeding device removed.

[0031] The invention further relates to the use of the feeding device for dispensing feed and preferably water into a feeding trough, in particular for feeding piglets. The invention further relates to the use of the feeding device for feeding piglets, in particular for promoting growth and thus improving yield.

[0032] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to particularly preferred embodiments, to which, however, it is not intended to be limited. Fig. 1 shows an abstract block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a feeding device above a feeding trough.

[0033] Fig. 2 shows schematically with more details the embodiment of Fig. 1 in a view obliquely from above.

[0034] Fig. 3 shows schematically the embodiment of Fig. 1 in a side or sectional view.

[0035] Fig. 4 shows schematically the embodiment of Fig. 1 in a front view.

[0036] Fig. 1 shows an abstract block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a feeding device 1 above a feeding trough 2. Figures 2 to 4 show the same embodiment with more details, namely Fig. 2 in a view obliquely from above, Fig. 3 in a side or sectional view, and Fig. 4 in a front view.

[0037] The feeding device 1 is intended in particular for feeding piglets. The feeding device has a feed container 3 with a number of at least two feed outlet openings 4. Furthermore, the feeding device 1 has, below the feed container 3 (in the operating position shown in the figures), a number of at least two (in this embodiment preferably nine) cell wheels 5 for the metered dispensing of feed from the feed container 3, wherein each of the feed outlet openings 4 is assigned one of the cell wheels 5 and each of the cell wheels 5 is designed to convey feed dispensed from the respectively assigned feed outlet opening 4 and to eject it into the feeding trough 2. The cell wheels 5 are each arranged so as to be rotatable about axes 6 which are parallel to the longitudinal direction 7 of the feed container 3.In this embodiment, the cell wheels 5 are rotatably mounted on a common shaft 8. The feed outlet openings 4 are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction 7 of the feed container 3, and the cell wheels 5 are spaced apart from one another in the direction of the common shaft 8. This allows the cells of the cell wheels 5 to be sized to convey even coarser-grained feed, while at the same time allowing precise dosing even of small quantities. Furthermore, any number of feeding stations can be supplied with feed, while still allowing fine dosing.

[0038] The cell wheels 5 are provided in a pipe 17 adjoining the feed container 3, the longitudinal direction 18 of which is parallel to the longitudinal direction 7 of the feed container 3. The feed outlet openings 4 of the feed container 3 represent feed inlet openings 19 of the pipe 17, so that the feed reaches the feed container 3 to the cell wheels 5. The pipe 17 further has a feed ejection opening 20 for each cell wheel 5, which are each opposite the feed inlet openings 19 of the feed and from which the feed transported by the cell wheels 5 is ejected in the direction of the feed trough 2 (i.e. downwards). In addition, the space of each cell wheel 5 in the tube 17 is closed off on both sides in the longitudinal direction 18 of the tube 17 by, in particular, circular limiting elements 21.Thus, the cell wheels 5 are each provided in a space which is closed off except for the respective feed inlet opening 19 and the feed ejection opening 20 and enables precise dosing with the cell wheels 5.

[0039] In the feed hopper 3 there is provided a screw conveyor 9, in this embodiment a spiral conveyor, which can rotate about an axis of rotation 10. The axis of rotation 10 is parallel to the longitudinal direction 7 of the feed hopper 3. The screw conveyor can prevent bridging and ensure that all feed outlet openings 4 are sufficiently covered with feed in order to convey the same amount of feed with all cell wheels 5. The axis of rotation 10 is understood to be the straight line that describes the rotation. This can be an axis as a machine element (i.e. a shaft). In this embodiment, however, the spiral conveyor is shaftless.

[0040] Advantageously, the feeding device 1 allows a separate supply of dry feed from the feed container 3 and water, which only come together in the feed trough 2 in order to ensure hygiene in the feeding device 1 and to prevent the formation of germs. For this purpose, a water line 11 is provided below the feed container 3 and the pipe 17 with the cell wheels 5, so that feed ejected from the cell wheels 5 can be mixed with water. Furthermore, water can also be metered out independently of the feed. The dry feed from the feed container 3 is only mixed with water in the feed trough 2, where it is further mixed by the rooting of the eating animals. The water line 11 has water discharge openings 12 which point downwards. The water line 11 has a connection element 29 (see Fig. 2) for connection to a stationary water supply, in particular a hot water connection.A section of the water line 11 runs below along and parallel to the feed container (s) 3 or pipe (s) 17 over substantially the entire length of the feed container 2 (in particular over at least the length of the feed container 3 between the outermost cell wheels 5). Each cell wheel 5 is assigned one of the water discharge openings 12, so that feed ejected by the respectively assigned cell wheel 5 can be mixed with water from the respective water discharge opening 12.

[0041] The water line 11 has a control valve 15 for controlling a water flow in the water line 11. This allows the water to be dosed according to the amount of dry food. The water line 11 also has a drain valve 16 for discharging water 16 from the water line 11 into a drain line. In particular, the drain valve 16 is provided at the end of a hot water inlet line. This allows it to be drained via a drain line before the control valve 15 is activated if the hot water becomes too cold for feeding due to remaining in the inlet line for a longer period of time.

[0042] For adding additives, the feeding device 1 has two additive storage containers 13a, 13b for storing additives and one injector 14a, 14b each for supplying the respective additive to the water line 11. This can be used, for example, to treat sick animals. The feeding device 1 further has a drive device 22 for driving the cell wheels 5. The drive device 22 has a motor 28, in particular an electric motor. In this embodiment, the motor 28 is connected via a chain 29 to the common shaft 8 of the cell wheels 5 and drives them via the chain 29. The drive device 22 is further designed to drive the screw conveyor 9, for which purpose the common shaft 8 of the cell wheels 5 is connected by a chain 30 to the rotational axis 10 (or a corresponding shaft) of the screw conveyor 9.

[0043] The drive device 22 has a speed sensor 23 for monitoring a number of revolutions of the cell wheels 5, which in this embodiment is designed as an incremental encoder, with an optical sensor 31, which emits pulses when pulse generator elements 32 pass by.

[0044] The feeding device 1 has a control unit 24 which is designed to control the dispensing of a specific amount of feed by controlling the drive device 22, the cell wheels 5 being driven for a number of revolutions of the cell wheels 5 which is determined depending on the specific amount of feed to be dispensed. The control unit 24 is further designed to control the control valve 15 of the water line 11 independently of or depending on the specific amount of feed to be dispensed. The desired amount of feed and consistency can therefore be provided automatically. The feeding device 1 therefore does not require scales and can provide very small dosage amounts using the system. In addition, the intervals and also the consistency of the feed can be adjusted using the control unit 24.This allows the change in the piglets' diet after weaning to be adapted to their individual development.

[0045] Preferably, the feeding device 1 is modularly expandable and for this purpose has a shaft 25, wherein the shaft 25 can be driven by the drive device 22, wherein the shaft 25 has a drive profile 26 for driving cell wheels of a further feeding device. In this embodiment, the shaft 25 is formed by the common shaft 8 of the cell wheels 5, at the end of which the drive profile 26 is provided. In addition, the water line has a connecting element 31 to which a water line of a further feeding device can be connected.

[0046] The feeding device 1 can in particular be placed over any feeding troughs 2 as required and for this purpose has a support device 27 for holding the cell wheels 5 and preferably the water discharge openings 12 above a feeding trough 2.

Claims

Patent claims:

1. Feeding device (1), in particular for feeding piglets, comprising - a feed container (3) with a number of at least two feed outlet openings (4), and a number of at least two cell wheels (5) for the metered dispensing of feed from the feed container (3), wherein one of the cell wheels (5) is assigned to each of the feed outlet openings (4) and each of the cell wheels (5) is designed to convey and eject feed dispensed from the respectively assigned feed outlet opening (4), wherein the cell wheels (5) are each arranged rotatably about axes (6) which are parallel to the longitudinal direction (7) of the feed container (3), characterized in that the feed outlet openings (4) are provided at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction (7) of the feed container (3).

2. Feeding device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cell wheels (5) are rotatably arranged on a common shaft (8) and are spaced apart from one another in the direction of the common shaft (8).

3. Feeding device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a screw conveyor (9), in particular a spiral conveyor, is provided in the feed container (3) so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation (10), wherein the axis of rotation (10) is parallel to the longitudinal direction (7) of the feed container (3).

4. Feeding device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a water line (11) so that feed ejected from the cell wheels (5) can be mixed with water.

5. Feeding device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the water line (11) has water discharge openings (12), wherein each cell wheel (5) is assigned one of the water discharge openings (12) so that feed ejected from the respective associated cell wheel (5) can be mixed with water from the respective water discharge opening (12).

6. Feeding device (1) according to claim 4 or 5, comprising an additive storage container (13a, 13b) for holding an additive and comprising an injector (14a, 14b) for supplying the additive to the water line (11).

7. Feeding device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the water line (11) has a control valve (15) for controlling a water flow in the water line (11).

8. Feeding device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the water line (11) has a drain valve (16) for discharging water from the water line (11) into a drain line.

9. Feeding device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cell wheels (5) are provided in a tube (17) adjoining the feed container (3), the longitudinal direction (18) of which is parallel to the longitudinal direction (7) of the feed container (3), wherein the feed outlet openings (4) of the feed container (3) represent feed inlet openings (19) of the tube (17) or are connected to feed inlet openings (19) of the tube (17), and wherein the tube (17) further has a feed ejection opening (20) for each cell wheel (5), wherein furthermore the space of each cell wheel (5) in the tube (17) is closed off on both sides in the longitudinal direction (18) of the tube (17) by, in particular, circular boundary elements (21).

10. Feeding device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a drive device (22) for driving the cell wheels (5), wherein the drive device (22) in particular comprises an electric motor.

11. Feeding device (1) according to claim 10, wherein the drive device (22) has a speed sensor (23) for monitoring a number of revolutions of the cell wheels (5).

12. Feeding device (1) according to claim 11, comprising a control unit (24) which is designed to control the dispensing of a specific amount of feed by controlling the drive device (22), wherein the drive of the cell wheels (5) takes place for a number of revolutions of the cell wheels (5) which is determined depending on the specific amount of feed to be dispensed.

13. Feeding device (1) according to claim 7 and 12, wherein the control unit (24) is further configured to control the control valve (15) of the water line (11), in particular depending on the specific amount of feed to be dispensed.

14. Feeding device (1) according to one of claims 10 to 13 and claim 3, wherein the drive device (22) is further arranged to drive the screw conveyor (9).

15. Feeding device (1) according to one of claims 10 to 14, comprising a shaft (25), wherein the shaft (25) can be driven by the drive device (22), wherein the shaft (25) has a drive profile (26) for driving cell wheels of a further feeding device.

16. Feeding device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a support device (27) for holding the cell wheels (5) and preferably the water discharge openings (12) above a feeding trough (2).

17. Feeding device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a feeding trough (2), wherein the cell wheels (5) are arranged to eject conveyed feed into the feeding trough (2), and preferably the water discharge openings (12) are arranged to direct water into the feeding trough (2).

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