Pig Feeder Synchronism Bar for Uniform Feed Dosing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current pig feeders require complex and time-consuming adjustments to achieve accurate feed dosing, particularly in trapezoid-shaped hoppers, where independent adjustment of both ends of the blocking gate is necessary, making it difficult to maintain a smooth descent and uniform aperture.

Innovation Solution

A pig feeder with a synchronism bar connected to a rotation actuating means featuring eccentric pivot means, allowing synchronized upward and downward movement of the gate, enabling easy and accurate adjustment of the feed dosing through a single manually-operated switch, ensuring a uniform opening along the discharge outlet.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If independent adjustment of both ends of the blocking gate is used, then the gate can be positioned, but the adjustment process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment processVSAvoidadjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the adjustment of both ends of the blocking gate into a single synchronized operation. The synchronism bar links the two adjustment mechanisms (first and second adjusting screws) so that turning one screw automatically adjusts both ends of the gate simultaneously, maintaining parallelism while simplifying the operator's task to a single adjustment action rather than coordinating two independent adjustments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The synchronism bar acts as an intermediary mechanism between the two adjusting screws. It transmits and coordinates the adjustment motion from one screw to the other, ensuring both ends of the gate move together in a synchronized manner. This mediator component resolves the complexity by providing a mechanical link that automatically maintains the relationship between the two adjustment points

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If double adjustment on both ends of the gate is implemented, then positioning is achieved, but operator skill and time requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeed dosing accuracyVSAvoidadjustment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The synchronism bar is pre-configured with the correct geometric relationships and linkages to automatically maintain parallelism of the gate during adjustment. This preliminary setup of the mechanical system eliminates the need for the operator to perform sequential adjustments and waiting periods, as the synchronized mechanism performs the coordinated adjustment in a single continuous action, reducing both time and skill requirements while maintaining precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the gate is supported independently from both ends, then adjustment flexibility is provided, but maintaining horizontality becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment flexibilityVSAvoidgate parallelism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces asymmetry in the adjustment mechanism by providing a synchronism bar that creates a dependent relationship between the two ends. While the gate itself remains symmetric in function, the adjustment system becomes asymmetric with one adjusting screw serving as the primary control and the other end being mechanically coupled through the synchronism bar, ensuring parallelism is maintained automatically during adjustment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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 solution simplifies the adjustment process, allowing for precise and constant feed dosing without the need for multiple steps, reducing operator effort and ensuring accurate feed delivery, thus improving the efficiency and effectiveness of feed distribution.

Implementation Method 1

A pig feeder with a synchronism bar connected to a rotation actuating means featuring eccentric pivot means, allowing synchronized upward and downward movement of the gate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEccentric mechanism: Eccentric

Data Source

PatentEP2862436B1Pig feeder
Publication Date: 2020.09.23 DI NELLO HUGO DANIEL
  • EP2862436B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2862436B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2862436B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

A pig feeder of the type comprising an inverted trapezoid-shaped hopper in which the supply of feed-to-be-dosed is loaded, which is easy to adjust by means of a single control unit that acts at the same time on both edges of the lower tray, which serves as an adjusting feed dosing gate, for which purpose a synchronism bar is provided in the upper part, which further enables an accurate readout of the dosing aperture position of the feeder by means of a rotating pointer.