Movable Feed Shelf for Hog Feeder Clogging and Accessibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional hog feeders, such as tray and paddle feeders, face issues with accessibility for smaller pigs, feed availability, visibility, and consistency, leading to clogging, wastage, and inefficient feed flow due to the need for frequent adjustments with changes in feed consistency.
Innovation Solution
An animal feeder apparatus with a movable feed shelf and a secondary agitation mechanism that promotes feed flow in multiple directions, ensuring accessibility for all pigs and reducing clogging and wastage, while providing enhanced visibility for operators to monitor feed availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed feeding tray is used in traditional tray feeders, then feed flow can be regulated, but smaller pigs cannot access the feed tray and push the tray to dispense feed
Solution Approach 1:
The feed tray is transformed from a fixed structure to a movable one that can be pushed by pigs. The tray is supported by rollers and can move laterally when pigs push it with their snouts, enabling them to access feed and control dispensing. This dynamic element resolves the contradiction by allowing pig interaction while maintaining feed flow regulation through controlled movement.
2Adaptability or versatility
If feed consistency changes frequently, then feed flow regulation becomes difficult, but maintaining a fixed regulation mechanism causes clogging and wastage
Solution Approach 1:
The feeder system allows pigs to self-regulate feed flow by pushing the movable tray. When feed consistency changes, the pigs naturally adjust their pushing behavior to maintain adequate feed flow, eliminating the need for manual regulation adjustments. The system adapts to different feed consistencies through animal behavior rather than mechanical adjustment, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the feeding tray is positioned high for older pigs, then younger pigs cannot access the feed, but positioning it low for younger pigs makes it inaccessible for older pigs
Solution Approach 1:
The solution adds a lateral movement dimension to the feed tray access system. Instead of vertical positioning that creates height conflicts between age groups, the tray moves horizontally along a track, allowing pigs of all sizes to access feed from the same vertical level. This dimensional change resolves the contradiction by enabling multi-age accessibility without compromising ease of operation for any group.
4Loss of substance
If a gate mechanism is used to control feed flow, then feed wastage is reduced, but feed clogging occurs and requires frequent adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The movable tray system allows pigs to self-regulate feed flow by pushing the tray, eliminating the need for manual gate adjustments. The system naturally prevents overfilling and clogging through animal interaction, reducing feed wastage without requiring frequent human intervention for flow management. This resolves the contradiction by making the system both wastage-reducing and easy to operate.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus ensures consistent feed availability and reduces wastage and clogging by allowing feed to flow freely, accommodating different feed consistencies and facilitating feeding for both younger and older pigs, while allowing producers to easily identify and address any feed flow issues.
Implementation Method 1
a feed shelf movement assembly configured to permit a feeding animal to move the feed shelf
Implementation Method 2
feed falling from the hopper and shelf rests on the lower feed support surface
Data Source
AI summary
An animal feeder apparatus including a feed hopper defining an interior for receiving a quantity of feed, an upper opening and a lower feed discharge opening. A feed shelf may be located below the feed hopper and have an upper feed support surface with at least a portion of the upper feed support surface being located directly below the feed discharge opening of the feed hopper. A feed trough may be located toward the bottom of the apparatus below the feed hopper and below the feed shelf, and form a lower feed support surface upon which feed falling from the hopper and shelf rests. A feed shelf movement assembly may be configured to permit a feeding animal to move the feed shelf from a location adjacent to the lower feed support surface of the feed trough.