Feed tanks and automatic feeders

Abstract

The purpose of this invention is to provide a feed tank and an automatic feeding device that can prevent the feed in the feed tank from flowing in one direction when the feed is discharged from the feed tank onto a transport conveyor and flatten the surface of the feed, thereby enabling the feed to be efficiently transported automatically to the feeding area. SOLUTION: The feed tank 10 has a feed damper 14 at the bottom end of a funnel-shaped section 12 that gradually narrows in diameter at the bottom of a cylindrical body 11, and a half-split dropper 20 in the shape of a semi-right circular cone that stands upright on the top surface of the feed discharge outlet of the feed damper 14. The half-split dropper 20 is detachably installed on a base 25 that is screwed onto the feed damper 14, and stands upright on the top surface of the feed discharge outlet of the feed damper 14, facing in the feed conveying direction.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a feed tank for livestock, and to an automatic feeder that automatically transports discharged feed to a feeding area. [Background technology]

[0002] In livestock breeding, feed tanks that contain feed and discharge the required amount to feed the livestock come in a variety of sizes. Generally, feed tanks have a hopper section at the bottom of a cylindrical section that tapers gradually downward, and a feed outlet at the bottom of the conical guide section. Generally, various types of compound feed are used, and the individual components of the feed vary in size, specific gravity, and shape. This can lead to problems such as uneven distribution of the feed types discharged from the feed outlet of the feed tank, and the formation of feed bridges and ratholes in the conical guide section, making it difficult to discharge the feed.

[0003] In response to this problem, Patent Document 1 proposes a feed tank in which a metal fitting is hooked to the edge of the upper opening of the feed tank body, and an angle-adjustable umbrella-shaped feed separation prevention device is attached to the tip of a chain or wire rope attached to this fitting. With this feed tank, the angle-adjustable umbrella-shaped structure allows feed such as granular grains and powders such as rice bran to be discharged evenly. It is also said that even if the properties of the feed change due to moisture or other factors, each component with different characteristics can be discharged evenly.

[0004] Patent Document 2 proposes a feed tank equipped with a feed discharge damper at the bottom of the tank body and an umbrella-shaped body disposed in the lower space within the tank body, the umbrella-shaped body being supported on the damper via vertical supports, which are made up of multiple support sections that are detachable from one another. This feed tank allows the height of the umbrella-shaped body to be changed to accommodate differences in mixed feed or seasonal variations in wetness and dryness, and the gap between the umbrella-shaped body and the tank peripheral wall can be easily adjusted. This is said to prevent uneven distribution of mixed feed from the feed tank.

[0005] Patent Document 3 proposes a feed hopper having a bridge prevention means provided in a conical guide section of the feed hopper whose diameter gradually decreases downward, rotatably supported on a hanging rod that hangs down along the axis of the feed hopper, the bridge prevention means comprising a plurality of stirring rods that extend obliquely upward from the hanging rod in accordance with the inclination of the conical guide section and are arranged along the inner wall surface of the conical guide section.With this feed hopper, the bridge prevention means is said to be able to prevent feed from becoming clogged in the conical guide section in a bridge-like shape. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 60-177124 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 1-112658 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-167706 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] As described in Patent Document 1, for example, compound feed for livestock consists of 60% grains such as corn and barley, 10% cereals such as bran and rice bran, 10% vegetable oil cakes such as soybeans and oil cakes, 10% animal feed such as fish meal and meat meal, and 10% mixtures of salt, calcium carbonate, etc., each with different physical properties. The compound ratio of this compound feed varies depending on the type of livestock, and the individual physical properties also vary depending on the season and environment. This can lead to uneven distribution of the contents of the compound feed discharged from the feed tank, and problems such as feed bridging at the hopper due to the shape of the feed tank, which can hinder feed discharge. To address these issues, the feed tanks described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 have an umbrella-shaped structure on the top of the feed outlet. Furthermore, the feed hopper described in Patent Document 3 is equipped with a bridging prevention device.

[0008] In recent years, automation and large-scale operations have become more common due to labor shortages and other factors, creating a demand for more efficient livestock breeding management. In response to this demand, automatic feeding devices that automatically transport feed discharged from feed tanks to livestock feeding areas have been considered. However, when feed is discharged from a feed tank onto a transport conveyor, there is a problem in that the feed outflow speed differs depending on the location within the feed tank, resulting in feed discharge problems (one-sided flow).

[0009] The purpose of this invention is to provide a feed tank and an automatic feeding device that can prevent the feed in the feed tank from flowing in one direction when the feed is discharged from the feed tank onto a transport conveyor and flatten the surface of the feed, thereby enabling the feed to be efficiently transported automatically to the feeding area. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The feed tank according to the present invention is a feed tank that automatically transports feed discharged from the feed tank to a feeding area, and the feed tank has a feed damper at the bottom end of a funnel-shaped section that gradually narrows in diameter at the bottom of a cylindrical body, and a half-right circular cone-shaped split dropper that stands upright above the feed discharge outlet of the feed damper, facing the feed transport direction. The half-right circular cone shape refers to one half of a right circular cone, consisting of a side (umbrella) formed by the generatrix, a flat section with a closed cut surface, and a bottom, and the flat section is the front side of the half-right circular cone.

[0011] In the above device, the half-split dropper is preferably disposed so that its apex is located forward of the center of the feed tank.

[0012] Furthermore, it is preferable that the half-split dropper be provided at a height where the umbrella portion has an inclination angle equivalent to that of the funnel-shaped portion, and the area of ​​the plane of the gap between the lower end of the umbrella portion and the funnel-shaped portion is 1 to 4 times the projected area of ​​the umbrella portion.

[0013] The automatic feeder according to the present invention discharges feed contained in a feed tank through a feed outlet in a feed damper and automatically transports it to a feeding area by a transport conveyor. The feed tank has a feed damper attached to the lower end of a funnel-shaped section that gradually narrows in diameter at the bottom of a cylindrical body, and a half-right circular cone-shaped split dropper that stands on the top of the feed outlet of the feed damper facing the feed delivery direction, and the amount of feed discharged from the feed tank and the transport speed of the transport conveyor are automatically controlled. The half-right circular cone shape refers to one half of a right circular cone, consisting of a side (umbrella portion) formed by the generatrix, a flat portion with a closed cut surface, and a bottom, and the flat portion is the front side of the half-right circular cone.

[0014] The feed tank of the automatic feeding device can be provided with a feed remaining amount sensor that measures the amount of feed remaining in the feed tank. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] The feed tank according to the present invention can evenly discharge feed onto the conveyor, prevent the feed from flowing one-sidedly within the feed tank, and mitigate the formation of rat holes and bridges. This is mainly to prevent the feed from spoiling within the feed tank. Furthermore, a feed remaining amount sensor installed in the feed tank that measures the amount of feed remaining in the feed tank can accurately measure the volume or weight of the feed in the feed tank, allowing for the creation of an efficient feed delivery plan. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a feed tank and an automatic feeding device according to the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a diagram showing the appearance of a half-split dropper and a base disposed in the feed tank shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a half-split dropper. [Figure 4]FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between a half-split dropper and a funnel-shaped part in a feed tank where an effectiveness test of the half-split dropper is conducted. [Figure 5] 1 is a diagram showing the results of a test on the effectiveness of a half-split dropper. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The following describes an embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 shows an example of a feed tank and automatic feeder according to the invention. This feed tank can be suitably used in an automatic feeder that automatically transports feed stored in the feed tank to a feeding area. As shown in Figure 1, this feed tank 10 has a feed damper 14 at the bottom end of a funnel-shaped portion 12 that gradually narrows in diameter at the bottom of a cylindrical body 11. This feed tank 10 also has a half-split dropper 20 in the shape of a right circular cone that stands on top of the feed discharge outlet of the feed damper 14.

[0018] The half-split dropper 20 is detachably mounted on a base 25 that is screwed onto the feed damper 14, and stands upright facing the feed conveying direction on the top surface of the feed discharge outlet of the feed damper 14. A guide tube 15 is provided below the feed damper 14, and feed discharged from the feed tank 10 is introduced into the transport conveyor 30.

[0019] FIG. 2 shows the state in which the half-split dropper 20 is disposed on the base 25. FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the half-split dropper 20. The half-split dropper 20 is shaped like a half right circular cone as shown in FIG. 2 or 3. That is, it has the shape of one half of a right circular cone, and has a side surface (umbrella portion 211) formed by the generatrix, a flat plate portion 212 with a closed cut surface, and a bottom surface 213. The flat plate portion 212 of this half-split dropper 20 is the front, and the flat plate portion 212 is the front side of the half-split dropper 20. This forward direction is the direction in which feed discharged from the feed tank 10 is automatically transported by the transport conveyor 30 (FIG. 1).

[0020] As shown in Figure 3, the half-split dropper 20 has a holding tube 215 at its center. This holding tube 215 is inserted into a support rod protruding from the base 25, and the half-split dropper 20 is fixed to the base 25. The center of the holding tube 215 coincides with the center of the feed tank 10, and the dropper body 210 is disposed at a position recessed from the center of the feed tank 10 toward the feed conveyance side at the front. This recessed length can be, for example, 15 to 30 mm. The dropper body 210 also has a reinforcing plate 216 and a handle 217 at its top 214, which is used for installation, transportation, and storage of the dropper body 210.

[0021] The umbrella part 211 of the half-split dropper 20 preferably has an inclination angle equivalent to the inclination angle of the funnel-shaped part 12. The half-split dropper 20 is preferably disposed in the feed tank 10 so that the plane of the semi-ring-shaped gap (L) formed by the lower end of the umbrella part 211 and the wall surface of the funnel-shaped part 12, i.e., the opening area (S) for dropping feed in the feed tank, is at a height position having an area 1 to 4 times the projected area of ​​the umbrella part 211. [Example]

[0022] A test was conducted to examine the effectiveness of the half-split dropper 20 of the present invention. As shown in Figure 4, the test involved varying the installation height (H) of the bottom of the umbrella portion of the half-split dropper 20 from the feed damper 14. The feed surface in the feed tank 10 was observed, and the feed flow velocities at the front (arrow a) and rear (arrow b) of the funnel-shaped portion 12 were measured. In Figure 4, dimension L is the gap between the half-ring formed by the bottom of the umbrella portion 211 and the funnel-shaped portion 12. The area ratio (p) is the ratio of the area of ​​the half-ring to the projected area of ​​the umbrella portion. Table 1 lists the characteristics of the feed used. Table 2 lists the test results. Figure 5 shows the observation results of the feed surface in the feed tank 10. The feed tank used in the test was a 7-ton tank with a total tank height of 4.64 m and an outer diameter of 2.44 m. The conveyor speed was 1,000 kg / h.

[0023] [Table 1]

[0024] The feed shown in Table 1 is a mixed feed for poultry farming (form: mash) for adult layer hens. In Table 1, "Pass" indicates a particle size of less than 0.5 mm.

[0025] [Table 2]

[0026] The feed in the tank (t) shown in Table 2 indicates the amount of feed remaining in the feed tank when automatic feed conveyance began. According to Table 2, the rear flow velocity was approximately 20 times the front flow velocity, indicating a significant difference between the rear and front flow velocities. The flow velocity was calculated from the flow distance per hour from the point at which flow could be visually confirmed through the transparent windows at the front and rear of the feed tank. It was confirmed that the rear flow velocity slowed (from 0.21 cm / s to 0.19 cm / s) with the installation of the half-split dropper. The rear flow velocity remained constant at 0.19 cm / s, regardless of the height of the half-split dropper. The front flow velocity remained constant at 0.01 cm / s, regardless of whether the half-split dropper was installed. The front flow velocity was significantly smaller than the rear flow velocity, and visual measurement of the flow distance was not necessarily accurate.

[0027] The remaining feed amount in the tank shown in Figure 5 indicates the amount of feed remaining in the feed tank when the presence or absence of ratholes is observed with a camera, and the amount of feed remaining in the feed tank when one-way flow is observed. Figure 5 shows that ratholes occur when half-split droppers are not installed, but that the installation of half-split droppers suppresses the formation of ratholes. No particular difference was observed depending on the installation height H (200 to 600 mm) of the half-split droppers.

[0028] When the half-split dropper was not installed, one-sided spill occurred at the rear of the feed tank, with a thickness of 1 / 4 of the radius from the crescent-shaped wall. When the half-split dropper was installed at a height H of 200 mm, a small amount of one-sided spill occurred at the front of the feed tank. However, when it was 400 mm, no one-sided spill was observed. When it was 600 mm, some one-sided spill was observed at the rear of the feed tank.

[0029] As described above, by installing this half-split dropper 20 in the feed tank 10, it is possible to prevent the feed from flowing in one direction inside the feed tank. Furthermore, rat holes are hardly ever caused. Therefore, the surface of the feed inside the feed tank is almost flat, and by measuring the height of the feed surface, the amount of feed remaining in the feed tank can be measured with high precision. For example, as shown in Figure 1, an efficient automatic feeding system can be constructed by installing a feed remaining amount sensor 17 on the top surface of the feed tank 10 and automatically controlling the feed discharge port of the feed damper 14 and the transport conveyor 30. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 10 Feed tank 11 Cylindrical body 12 Funnel 14 Feed Dumper 15 Guide tube 17 Feed remaining sensor 20 Half-split dropper 210 Dropper body 211 Umbrella section 212 Flat plate part 213 bottom 214 Top 215 Holding cylinder 216 Reinforcement Plate 217 Handle 25 Foundation 30 Transport conveyor 100 Automatic Feeder

Claims

1. A feed tank in which feed discharged from the feed tank is automatically transported to a feeding area, The feed tank has a feed damper at the lower end of a funnel-shaped section that gradually narrows in diameter at the bottom of a cylindrical body, and a semi-right cone-shaped half-split dropper that is erected on the upper surface of the feed discharge outlet of the feed damper facing in the feed transport direction. A half right cone shape is one half of a right cone, consisting of a side (umbrella part) formed by the generatrix, a flat part with a closed cut surface, and a bottom, and the flat part is the front side of the half-split dropper.

2. 2. The feed tank according to claim 1, wherein the half-split dropper is disposed so that its apex is located forward of the center of the feed tank.

3. The feed tank according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the half-split dropper is provided at a height position where the umbrella part has an inclination angle equivalent to the inclination angle of the funnel-shaped part, and the area of ​​the plane of the gap between the lower end of the umbrella part and the funnel-shaped part is 1 to 4 times the projected area of ​​the umbrella part.

4. An automatic feeding device that automatically discharges feed stored in a feed tank from a feed discharge port of a feed damper and transports it to a feeding area by a transport conveyor, The feed tank has a feed damper provided at the lower end of a funnel-shaped portion whose diameter gradually decreases toward the bottom of a cylindrical body, and a half-split dropper having a semi-right circular cone shape that stands upright on the upper surface of the feed discharge outlet of the feed damper toward the feed delivery direction, The automatic feeding device is configured such that the amount of feed discharged from the feed tank and the transport speed of the transport conveyor are automatically controlled. A half right cone shape is one half of a right cone, consisting of a side (umbrella part) formed by the generatrix, a flat part with a closed cut surface, and a bottom, and the flat part is the front side of the half-split dropper.

5. 5. The automatic feeding device according to claim 4, wherein the feed tank has a feed remaining amount sensor for measuring the amount of feed remaining in the feed tank.

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