Feeding device

Abstract

To provide a feeding device that can appropriately control the amount of feed by reducing the change in the opening degree of the gap on the left and right of the adjustment plate even when livestock such as pigs come into contact with the adjustment plate at any location of the feeder. 【Solution means】The feeding device 1 includes a feeder body 2 having a storage space 21 for feed 100 inside, a feeding port 23 formed to open corresponding to the position of a feed receiving portion 22 that receives the feed 100 in the storage space 21, an adjustment plate 3 attached to the feeder body 2 so as to be movable up and down so that the opening degree of the feeding port 23 can be changed, a lifting means 4 for moving the adjustment plate 3 up and down, and a control shaft 5 that restricts the movable range of the adjustment plate 3 and controls the opening degree of the feeding port 23 within a certain range.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a feeding device used for feeding animals such as livestock.

Background Art

[0002] As livestock feed (forage) for pigs, cows, etc., there are, for example, types such as mash obtained by pulverizing raw materials into powder, pellets obtained by adding steam to the pulverized raw materials and pressure - molding them into pellet form, and crumbles obtained by finely pulverizing pellets. These types of granular feeds are selected and given according to the growth stage, body size, breed, etc. of the livestock.

[0003] Conventionally, various feeders for feeding granular feed to livestock have been used (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

[0004] In the feeder for breeding animals of Patent Document 1, a regulating plate that is lifted and lowered via a lifting operation part is provided on the lower side of the partition plate. The lifting operation part has a handle for rotating forward and backward attached to an operation part main body containing a female screw member, an operation rod screwed into the female screw member hangs down, and the regulating plate is attached to the operation rod.

[0005] Then, by rotating the handle of the lifting operation part forward and backward as needed, the regulating plate moves up and down, adjusting the opening degree of the gap at its lower part, and adjusting the flow rate of the feed flowing from the feed tank to the feeding trough side through the gap, making it possible to feed one to a plurality of livestock simultaneously.

[0006] Also, as shown in Patent Document 2, the applicant of the present application has previously proposed a feeding device having an adjustment plate that is attached to the feeder body so as to be liftable so that the opening degree of the feeding port of the feeder can be changed, a lifting means for lifting and lowering the adjustment plate, and a scale part formed with a scale for displaying the opening degree of the feeding port by the adjustment plate, enabling the feeding amount to livestock to be easily and appropriately adjusted regardless of the experience and eyesight of the operator.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Document

[0007]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] When raising livestock, it is necessary to feed an appropriate amount of feed so that the livestock can ingest nutrients appropriately and grow and fatten. Also, it is necessary to feed the livestock so that there is no individual difference in the amount of feed fed within the group of livestock using the same feeder. Furthermore, if too much feed is fed, there is a risk that the livestock will overeat, or that mold will occur due to mixing with moisture, livestock saliva, etc., or the feed will deteriorate, resulting in a deterioration in hygiene. Therefore, it is extremely important to appropriately adjust the amount of feed in the feeder.

[0009] However, in the structure of the feeder as in the conventional Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, since the lifting means for lifting and lowering the adjustment plate attached to the feeder body so as to be liftable is arranged at the left and right center of the feeder, when livestock such as pigs contact the adjustment plate at one of the left end or the right end of the feeder, there is a problem that the opening degree of the gap temporarily changes on the left and right of the adjustment plate and the feeding amount of the feed cannot be appropriately controlled.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a feeding device that can appropriately control the feeding amount of feed by reducing the change in the opening degree of the gap on the left and right of the adjustment plate even when livestock such as pigs contact the adjustment plate at any location of the feeder.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0011] To achieve the above object, the configuration of the feeding device according to the present invention is (1) A feeder body having a food storage space inside, and a feeding port formed to open corresponding to the position of a food receiving part that receives the food in the storage space. An adjustment plate that is attached to the feeder body so as to be movable up and down so that the opening degree of the feeding port can be changed. Lifting means for lifting and lowering the adjustment plate. A control shaft that restricts the movable range of the adjustment plate and controls the opening degree of the feeding port within a certain range, characterized by comprising the same.

[0012] The configuration of (1) of the feeding device of the present invention has the following effects. That is, according to the configuration of (1) above, in the feeder body having a food storage space inside and a feeding port formed to open corresponding to the position of a food receiving part that receives the food in the storage space, an adjustment plate that is attached to the feeder body so as to be movable up and down so that the opening degree of the feeding port can be changed is adjusted up and down by the lifting means for lifting and lowering the adjustment plate, and a feeding device capable of appropriately controlling the feeding amount of food can be provided by a control shaft that restricts the movable range of the adjustment plate and controls the opening degree of the feeding port within a certain range.

[0013] In the configuration of (1) of the feeding device of the present invention, it is preferable to have the following configurations of (2) and (3).

[0014] (2) In the configuration of (1) above, the control shaft includes locking means for setting a threshold value of the opening degree of the feeding port.

[0015] According to the preferable configuration of (2) above, by setting the threshold value of the opening degree of the feeding port, more appropriate control of the feeding amount can be achieved during the lifting operation of the adjustment plate, and it is also possible to prevent the adjustment plate from falling off due to an incorrect lifting operation.

[0016] (3) In the configuration of (2) above, the control shaft is composed of a male screw-shaped bolt member provided on the feeder main body and penetrating the adjustment plate, and a nut member that is the locking means and engages with the bolt member to set the threshold value of the opening degree of the feeding port by a rotation operation.

[0017] According to the preferable configuration of (3) above, it becomes possible to easily set the threshold value of the opening degree of the feeding port by rotating the nut member engaged with the male screw-shaped bolt member provided on the feeder main body and penetrating the adjustment plate.

Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, there are provided a feeder main body having a feeding space for feed therein and a feeding port formed corresponding to the position of a feed receiving portion for receiving the feed in the storage space, and an adjustment plate that is attached to the feeder main body so as to be movable up and down so that the opening degree of the feeding port can be changed. The vertical position of the adjustment plate is adjusted by lifting means for lifting and lowering the adjustment plate, and the movable range of the adjustment plate is controlled by a control shaft that restricts the movable range of the adjustment plate and controls the opening degree of the feeding port within a certain range, so that even when livestock such as pigs contact the adjustment plate at any location of the feeder, it is possible to reduce the change in the opening degree of the gap on the left and right of the adjustment plate and appropriately control the amount of feed supplied, thereby providing a feeding device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail using preferred embodiments. However, the following embodiments are merely examples embodying the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a feeding device (view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 2) according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a part of the feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention, with some parts shown in transparency. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of FIG. 3. The feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the feeding device 1 in the present embodiment includes a feeder main body 2, an adjustment plate 3, a lifting means 4, and a control shaft 5. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the control shaft 5 includes a male screw-shaped bolt member 7 and a nut member 8 which is a locking means 6.

[0023] The feeder main body 2 of the feeding device 1 in the present embodiment has a hollow internal space surrounded by side wall portions 24a, 24b, a front wall portion 25, and a rear wall portion 26 as a food storage space 21. The upper surface side of the feeder main body 2 is open at 27, and the opening 27 communicates with the storage space 21.

[0024] The side wall portions 24a, 24b of the feeder main body 2 are formed of vertically long rectangular flat plates and are oppositely arranged in parallel with a predetermined interval therebetween and are erected. The rear wall portion 26 of the feeder main body 2 is formed of a horizontally long rectangular flat plate and is connected to the side wall portions 24a, 24b so as to close the rear surface side of the side wall portions 24a, 24b.

[0025] The front wall portion 25 of the feeder main body 2 is oppositely installed with a predetermined interval from the rear wall portion 26 and is installed so as to close the front side of the storage space 21.

[0026] In this embodiment, the front wall portion 25 of the feeder main body 2 is integrally formed with, for example, an upper end wall portion 25a formed substantially vertically so as to close the upper side of the front surface, an inclined portion 25b connected to the lower end of the upper end wall portion 25a and inclined downward so as to gradually approach the rear wall portion 26 side, and a hanging wall portion 25c vertically provided downward from the lower end of the inclined portion 25b. Further, the front wall portion 25 of the feeder main body 2 has a lower end wall portion 25d formed substantially vertically so as to close the lower side of the front surface side.

[0027] Due to the inclined portion 25b of the front wall portion 25, the accommodation space 21 is provided such that the front-rear width gradually becomes narrower downward. Further, a feeding space 28 is formed on the front side inside the feeder main body 2, that is, in front of the inclined portion 25b and the hanging wall portion 25c, for livestock or the like to put their heads in and eat the feed on the feed receiving portion 22. Therefore, it can be said that the inclined portion 25b and the hanging wall portion 25c constitute a partition wall portion that divides the internal space of the feeder main body 2 into an accommodation space 21 and a feeding space 28 composed of the feed receiving portion 22 and the water supply portion 29 in the front-rear direction.

[0028] In this embodiment, the hanging wall portion 25c is provided with a slight inclination such that the lower end is slightly closer to the rear wall portion 26 side than the vertical direction. A rear bent wall portion 25e bent so as to incline toward the rear wall portion 26 side is integrally provided on the lower end side of the hanging wall portion 25c.

[0029] The feed receiving portion 22 is provided on the lower side inside the feeder main body 2. In this embodiment, the feed receiving portion 22 is provided such that, for example, a horizontal portion 222 for placing feed is installed at a predetermined gap downward from the lower end of the rear bent wall portion 25e of the front wall portion 25.

[0030] The bait receiving portion 22 is integrally formed, for example, with a rear inclined portion 221 that slopes downward forward from the rear wall portion 26, a horizontal portion 222 connected to the rear inclined portion 221, and a water supply portion wall 291 that is connected from the front end portion of the horizontal portion 222 to the water supply portion 29 and slopes upward toward the upper end side of the lower end wall portion 25d of the front wall portion 25. The rear inclined portion 221 of the bait receiving portion 22 faces the accommodation space 21 of the feeder body 2 and causes the bait accommodated in the accommodation space 21 to flow down to the front horizontal portion. The water supply portion 29 is composed of the above-described water supply portion wall 291, one or a plurality of water supply ports 292, and a water supply pipe 293 that supplies water from the outside to the water supply ports 292.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, a feeding opening B formed by being surrounded by the lower end of the rear bent wall portion 25e of the front wall portion 25, the horizontal portion 222 of the bait receiving portion 22, and the left and right side wall portions 24a and 24b serves as the feeding port 23. An adjustment plate 3 is installed at the position of the feeding port 23. By vertically operating the adjustment plate 3, the opening degree C of the feeding port 23 can be adjusted, and the amount of bait replenished from the accommodation space 21 to the horizontal portion 222 of the bait receiving portion 22 can be adjusted.

[0032] The adjustment plate 3 is an opening degree adjustment means that is attached to be vertically movable inside the feeder body 2 via a lifting means 4 so that the opening degree C of the feeding port 23 (B) can be changed. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the adjustment plate 3 is formed, for example, in a substantially horizontally long rectangular contour shape that completely closes the feeding port 23 in the state of being lowered to the lowest position.

[0033] The adjustment plate 3 is installed in parallel with the hanging wall portion 25c of the front wall portion 25. The upper end of the adjustment plate 3 is provided with a front bent wall portion 3a that is bent in a substantially U shape toward the front side. As shown in FIG. 4, hole portions 3b for the bolt members 7 of the control shaft 5 described later to penetrate are respectively provided at substantially the left and right ends of the front bent wall portion 3a.

[0034] In the present embodiment, by providing the front bending wall portion 3a on the side of the adjustment plate 3 and the rear bending wall portion 25e on the side of the hanging wall portion 25c, the contact friction between the adjustment plate 3 and the hanging wall portion 25c can be reduced relatively, enabling smooth lifting and lowering operations, and the gap between the adjustment plate 3 and the hanging wall portion 25c can be ensured to be as small as possible to prevent feed leakage. Note that both the left and right sides of the adjustment plate 3 may be guided in the vertical direction along guide portions (not shown) provided on the inner surface sides of the left and right side wall portions 24 of the feeder main body 2 and move up and down.

[0035] The lifting and lowering means 4 is a lifting and lowering means for adjusting the opening degree C of the feeding port 23 by lifting and lowering the adjustment plate 3. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the lifting and lowering means 4 includes a base portion 41 attached to the feeder main body 2, an operating rod 42 having an adjustment plate 3 attached to its lower end and being inserted through the base portion 41 so as to be movable up and down, and an operation input means 43 provided on the upper side of the operating rod 42.

[0036] The base portion 41 is a support base member that is a component of the lifting and lowering means 4 and supports the adjustment plate 3. In the present embodiment, the base portion 41 is installed in a spanning manner between the upper end wall portion 25a of the front wall portion 25 and the upper end portion of the rear wall portion 26 at a position close to the opening 27 on the upper end side of the feeder main body 2. The base portion 41 is composed of a member having a U-shaped cross section like a channel member and being long in one direction, and is arranged so as to horizontally cross the left and right central positions of the opening 27 on the upper end side of the feeder main body 2 in the front-rear direction, and both ends are fixed to the front wall portion 25 and the rear wall portion 26.

[0037] The base portion 41 is attached with an inclination such that the front end side is slightly lower than the rear end side. A through hole 44 is provided at the front-rear intermediate position of the base portion 41 through which the operating rod 42 can be inserted in a penetrating manner.

[0038] The operating rod 42 is composed of, for example, a long rod-shaped body in the vertical direction, and the adjustment plate 3 is connected via a connecting member 42a provided at the lower end. A male screw portion is formed on the upper side of the operating rod 42. The operating rod 42 is movable up and down along the longitudinal axis direction in a state where it is inserted through the through hole 44 of the base portion 41.

[0039] The operation input means 43 is means for inputting a driving force for moving the operating lever 42 up and down. It has a rotary operation member 45 that engages with the male screw portion of the operating lever 42 and is installed on the base portion 41, and a handle 46 attached to the rotary operation member 45.

[0040] The rotary operation member 45 is, for example, composed of a plate-shaped lever member that is long on one side. One end side of the rotary operation member 45 is provided with a female screw portion that screws into the male screw portion of the operating lever 42. The rotary operation member 45 is connected to the base portion 41 so as to be rotatable forward and backward around the central axis of the operating lever 42.

[0041] With such a configuration of the lifting means 4, with the handle 46 in an upwardly moved state, the handle 46 is grasped by hand and rotated, and by rotating the operating lever 42 forward and backward around the axis via the rotary operation member 45, the male screw portion of the operating lever 42 screws up and down with respect to the female screw portion of the rotary operation member 45. Thereby, the operating lever 42 and the adjustment plate 3 connected to the lower end thereof move up and down, and the opening degree C of the feeding port 23 can be adjusted.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the control shaft 5 is composed of a bolt member 7 having a male screw shape and a nut member 8 that is a locking means 6. The bolt members 7 of the control shaft 5 are respectively provided between at least the left and right approximate ends of the horizontal portion 222 and the hanging wall portion 25c of the front wall portion 25 parallel to the adjustment plate 3 of the front wall portion 25, and the lower portions of the respective bolt members 7 are joined to the left and right approximate ends of the horizontal portion 222 of the food receiving portion 22. Further, the bolt member 7 is provided so as to penetrate through the rear bent wall portion 25e of the front wall portion 25 and the front bent wall portion 3a of the adjustment plate 3. The bolt member 7 and the rear bent wall portion 25e are joined, and the bolt member 7 and the front bent wall portion 3a penetrate through the front bent wall portion 3a via a hole portion 3b provided in the front bent wall portion 3a. Note that, in order to prevent the intrusion of food or the like between the hole portion 3b and the bolt member 7, for example, packing may be provided.

[0043] The nut member 8, which is the locking means 6 of the control shaft 5, has a female screw portion that engages with the male screw portion of the bolt member 7. Further, the diameter of the nut member 8 is larger than the diameter of the hole portion 3b of the front bending wall portion 3a. Furthermore, the nut member 8, which is the locking means 6, can limit the upward movement of the adjustment plate 3 by engaging with the bolt member 7 and locking at an arbitrary position by a rotation operation. By setting the threshold value (upper limit) of the opening degree C of the feeding port 23, more appropriate control of the feeding amount can be achieved during the lifting operation of the adjustment plate 3, and it is also possible to prevent the adjustment plate 3 from falling off the bolt member 7 due to an incorrect lifting operation.

[0044] Also, after the lifting operation of the adjustment plate 3 by the lifting means 4, by rotating the nut member 8, which is the locking means 6, and locking it at the position of the hole portion 3b of the adjustment plate 3, it is possible to prevent the adjustment plate 3 from tilting up and down due to contact with livestock or the like on the adjustment plate 3, and to reduce the tilting of the adjustment plate 3 back and forth by the bolt member 7, so that it is possible to easily keep the opening degree C constant.

[0045] Note that the control shaft 5 is provided at at least approximately both left and right ends of the horizontal portion 222. However, a plurality of control shafts may be provided as long as they are on the position straight line between the two control shafts 5. Each of the control shafts is provided so as to penetrate through the hole portions provided in the rear bending wall portion 25e of the front wall portion 25 and the front bending wall portion 3a of the adjustment plate 3 in the same manner as the control shaft 5.

[0046] Next, a usage example of the feeding device 1 in an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0047] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view (view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 2) showing the usage state of the feeding device in an embodiment of the present invention. Next, a usage example of the feeding device 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 5.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 5, before putting granular feed 100 such as crumbled feed into the accommodation space 21 from the opening 27 on the upper end side of the feeder main body 2, the nut member 8, which is the locking means 6 of the control shaft 5, is adjusted to set the threshold value of the opening degree. After the setting, a certain amount of feed 100 is accommodated in the accommodation space 21.

[0049] For example, according to the breeding conditions such as the type and size of the livestock 300 being bred, etc., the operator operates the handle 46 of the lifting means 4 to move the adjusting plate 3 up and down and adjust it so that the opening degree D of the feeding port 23 is achieved. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, by rotating the rotation operation member 45 linked to the handle 46 on the upper side of the feeder main body 2, the adjusting plate 3 can be adjusted to a predetermined appropriate opening degree.

[0050] After adjusting the opening degree D of the feeding port 23 by the adjusting plate 3, as shown in FIG. 5, the handle 46 and the base 41 are locked, and the rotation of the rotation operation member 45 is suppressed, thereby preventing the adjusting plate 3 from tilting up and down from the adjusted position. The control shafts 5 are provided at both the left and right ends of the adjusting plate 3 to prevent the adjusting plate 3 from tilting back and forth.

[0051] By substantially fixing the adjusting plate 3 at the adjusted position by the lifting means 4 and the control shaft 5 in this way, for example, even if the mouth, nose, head, etc. of the livestock 300 hit the adjusting plate 3, the adjusting plate 3 will not shift, and the appropriately adjusted opening degree D of the feeding port 23 can be maintained. As a result, the amount of feed 100 given to the livestock 300 etc. can be appropriately controlled, and the livestock 300 can be bred and fattened while being well managed.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0052] 1 Feeding device 2 Feeder main body 21 Accommodation space 22 Feed receiving part 23 Feeding port 29 Water supply part 3 Adjusting plate 4 Lifting means 41 Base 42 Operating rod 42a Connecting member 44 Through hole 45 Rotation operation member 46 Handle 5 Control shaft 6 Locking means 7 Bolt member 8 Nut member 100 Bait 300 Livestock

Claims

1. A feeder body having a food storage space inside, and a feeding port formed to open corresponding to the position of a food receiving portion for receiving food in the storage space; An adjustment plate that is attached to the feeder body so as to be movable up and down so that the opening degree of the feeding port can be changed; Lifting means for lifting and lowering the adjustment plate; A control shaft that restricts the movable range of the adjustment plate and controls the opening degree of the feeding port within a certain range, characterized in that the feeding device is provided with the control shaft.

2. The feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control shaft includes locking means for setting a threshold value of the opening degree of the feeding port.

3. The feeding device according to claim 2, characterized in that the control shaft is composed of a male screw-shaped bolt member provided on the feeder body and penetrating the adjustment plate, and a nut member that is the locking means and engages with the bolt member to set a threshold value of the opening degree of the feeding port by a rotational operation.

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