MXPA98009073A - Adjustable feeder mount for birds of cor - Google Patents

Abstract

A feeder assembly (10) for poultry or other animals having a tray member (26), a feeder tube defining a channel (42) for receiving food from a feed supply, a plurality of fin members (22) having a plurality of fingers (92) for adjustably coupling the feeder tube (20), and a cone member (24) disposed around the feeder tube (20) and slidably mounted to the plurality of fin members (22) by a plurality of coupling arms (110). The cone member (24) is adapted to slide relative to the feeder tube (20) between a lowering position and a high position. The tray member (26) and one end (32) of the cone member (24) define a food opening (30) to allow food to pass from the feeder tube (20) to the tray member (26) for its presentation. The opening of the food (30) can be adjusted in size either by adjusting the fin members (22) relative to the tray member (26) or by sliding and adjusting the cone member (24) in relation to the feeder tube ( 20) and the fin members (2)

Description

ASSEMBLY ADJUSTABLE ASSEMBLY FOR POULTRY BIRDS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an adjustable feeder assembly for a feeding system for birds or other animals. The use of efficient and low-cost poultry feed systems, which allows poultry and the like to breed from the beginning to its maximum development with a minimum amount of time and effort, is a prerequisite for survival economically in the business of raising poultry. An important component of said poultry feeding systems are poultry feeder assemblies that present the feed to the poultry. The operation of a known type of poultry feed system, for example, begins with a feed supply that is being transported from a storage tank, through a series of transport conduits and finally into assembly assemblies. individual feeder trays for poultry, which are easily accessible to the group of poultry that are fed. An example of a feeder assembly that has been successful in connection with such a poultry feed system is the feeder assembly described in US Patent No. 4,834,026, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The bird feeder assembly of the '026 patent includes a contoured dome-shaped feeder body to prevent poultry from resting on it and a feeder tube that extends through an upper surface of the dome-shaped body to connect operatively with a food transport system. The feed supplied by the conveyor falls into the feeder tube and is directed through a feeding opening in the lower part of the body in the form of a dome and in a tray of the feeder assembly that is arranged below the lower edges of both the body in the form of dome like the feeder tube. The outer periphery of the tray, in combination with the external wall of the dome-shaped body, forms a feeding area for the limited annular poultry accessible to a large number of poultry which are fed. The releasable and adjustable coupling between the tray and the rest of the structure is facilitated by circumferentially formed spacer members integral with, and extending outwardly, of the dome-shaped feeder body. The distal end of these fin members are provided with a plurality of closely spaced fingers that can be positioned in an adjustable manner to interlock with corresponding arrangement of flange members provided on an annular rim or edge portion of the tray to adjust Increasing the size of the food opening. The use of materials with sufficient resilient flexibility to form the tray member of the poultry feeder assembly allows the feed system operator to manually release and adjustably position the fingers relative to the tray member and thus adjust the size of the tray member. opening of the food, without the help of a tool. Therefore, the feeder can be easily adjusted at this point of use to accommodate a variety of birds of different sizes and to adapt to a variable range of feed flow characteristics. It is an object of the present invention to provide a feeder assembly that defines a feeder opening that can be adjusted in size in a manner similar to that of the feeder assembly of U.S. Patent No. 4,834,026, but also in a form wherein the members of fin do not necessarily have to be relocated in relation to the tray. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a feeder assembly that defines a feed opening that can be adjusted in size in very fine increments and over a wide range of sizes.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a feeder assembly defining a food opening and having a cone member slidably mounted to adjust the size of the feeder opening. In accordance with these and other objects, the present invention provides a feeder assembly for poultry or animals having a tray member, a feeder tube defining a channel for receiving food from a feed supply, a plurality of attached members and fins. to the feeder tube and a cone member disposed around the feeder tube and slidably mounted to the plurality of fin members and adapted to slide relative to the fin members between a lowering position and a high position. The tray member and one end of the cone member define a food opening to allow food to pass from the feeder tube to the tray member for presentation and consumption. The opening of the food increases in size as the cone member moves towards the raised position. Conveniently, each of the fin members includes at its distal end a plurality of coupling fingers for adjustably adjug the tray member and for adjug the size of the opening. Therefore, with the feeder assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the size of the food opening can be adjusted by sliding the cone member in relation to the fin members or by adjug the placement of the coupling fingers in relation with the tray member. - - - The cone member preferably includes a plurality of coupler arms slidably engageable with the fin members. Each of the arms is slidably received within an opening defined by a respective fin member. Each arm includes a retaining projection, preferably at its distal or lower end, for coupling the respective fin member. The retaining projections are adapted to prevent the cone member from disengaging from the fin members when the cone member moves towards the raised position. Preferably, the cone member defines a plurality of pairs of grooves, each pair being disposed about a respective coupling arm and each fin member is received by a respective pair of grooves. Each of the fin members includes a seal member in contact with an inner wall of the cone member to prevent food from passing through the slots. If desired, the coupling arms of the cone member may be flexible to facilitate coupling and uncoupling of the cone member and the fin members. The cone member may be positioned adjustably in relation to the feeder tube in any suitable manner. In a preferred embodiment, for example, the feeder assembly may include a connector in the form of a pair of cords or the like, secured to the cone member and a clamping member for joining the cords together or around a support. The support, for example, may be in the form of a wire extending parallel to a food supply conduit or in the shape of the food supply conduit. The clamping member is preferably in the form of a cable clamp attached to the wire and movable with the wire to allow the cone member to be fitted snugly relative to the feeder tube. Consequently, the feeder assembly according to the invention provides many benefits. For example, the cone member can be adjusted quickly and easily in relation to the fin members and the feed opening can be adjusted in size in fine increments. Additionally, with the feeder assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the food opening can be adjusted in size in two different ways, which provides convenience and flexibility to the poultry breeder. The opening of the food can be adjusted to the desired size, either by adjusting the fin members in relation to the tray member or by sliding and adjusting the cone member in relation to the feeder tube and the fin members. As a result the feeder assembly allows the bird breeder to adjust the size of the feed opening quickly and easily during the total of the various stages of development of the poultry. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention and the advantages thereof will be more apparent in consideration of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bird feeder assembly of poultry according to a preferred embodiment of invention coupled with a feed supply conduit and a wire of a poultry feed system, illustrating the cone member in a down position; FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the holding member of the poultry feeder taken along with lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIGURE 2, illustrating one of the coupling arms of the cone member and one of the wing members in engagement with the coupling arm when the cone is in an elevated position; FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIGURE 4; FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of the poultry feeder assembly of FIGURE 1. FIGURES 1-5 illustrate a feeder assembly 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The illustrated feeder assembly 10 is suitably adapted to be used in connection with a poultry feeder system that includes a feed supply conduit 12 and conveniently a wire 14 extending substantially parallel to the feed supply conduit 12. The wire 14 it is often included with poultry feeder systems to ensure that birds can not prostrate on feeder assembly 10, and usually has an electric current. Conveniently, the feeder system includes a plurality of feeder assemblies 10 that can be vertically adjusted or either supported on the ground or suspended above the ground by raising or lowering the feed supply conduit 12 or by any other suitable means. The illustrated feeder assembly 10 generally comprises a feeder tube 20, 3 circumferentially spaced fin members 22 attached to the feeder tube 20, a cone member 24 slidably coupled to both the feeder tube 20 and the fin members 22, and a feeler member. tray 26. An opening of the food 30 is defined by a lower edge 32 of the cone member 24 and the tray member 26, the size of said opening conveniently being adjustable in two different ways, as described in detail below. The feeder tube 20 includes a hollow and generally cylindrical portion 40 and defines a channel 42 for receiving food from the food supply conduit 12. The three fin members 22 are conveniently integral with the cylindrical portion 40 and extend radially from the lower portion. of the cylindrical portion 40 for coupling with the tray member 26. The feeder tube 20 conveniently also includes four separate bridges 44 extending along most of its length to facilitate sliding of the cone member 24 in relation to the tube feeder 20. The illustrated feeder tube also defines a pair of diametrically opposed passages 46 for receiving the cords 130, as described below.

Each passage 46 includes a hole 48 defined on the face of the respective cylindrical portion 40 and an opening 49 defined by the upper portion of the respective cylindrical portion. Each orifice 48 is contiguous with the respective opening 49 to form the x-perspective passage 46 (see Figures 1 and 6). The feeder tube 20 also includes a closure portion 50 at the upper end of the cylindrical portion 40, which is conveniently integral with the cylindrical portion. The closure part 50 defines a hole 52 for receiving the supply supply conduit 12. The orifice 52 extends generally perpendicular to the channel 42. The closure portion 50 conveniently also includes a pair of coupling projections 54 for coupling the wire 14. of the feeder system. An opening (not shown) is defined in the food supply conduit 12 through which food can enter the channel 42 of the feeder tube 20 from the food supply conduit 12. In a preferred embodiment, the tray member 26 is bowl-shaped and includes a vertical conical portion 60 extending from the center of the tray member. The tray member 26 also includes a vertical peripheral wall 62 that terminates at an edge 64. The edge 64 includes an internal flange 66 for coupling the fin members 22 as described below. In the illustrated mode, the tab 66 comprises a double-flange arrangement. In a preferred embodiment, the fin members 22 are spaced around the circumference of the lower end 68 of the cylindrical portion 40 and each fin member 22 comprises a connecting portion 70 and a fin portion 72 integral therewith. The connecting portions 70 extend generally downwardly and radially outwardly from the lower end 68 of the cylindrical portion 40. Each connection portion 70 includes a pair of spaced apart side members 74 converging towards each other as the side members are extend to the fin portion 72. The fin portions 72 conveniently extend radially outwardly from the ends of the connecting portions 70. Each fin portion 72 conveniently comprises an upper wall 78 joining together with a pair of opposite side walls 80. that extend down from the top wall. The upper wall 78 of each fin portion 72 defines an opening 82 for slidably engaging the cone member 24 as described below. The side walls 80 are conveniently parallel to each other, and are joined along their internal or proximal ends by a seal member 84. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer side 86 of each seal member 84 abuts the inner wall 88. of the cone member 24 and is arched to complement the arched configuration of the inner wall. Each of the illustrated seal members 84 extends from the lower portion of the respective pair of side walls 80 to beyond the upper wall 78 of the respective fin portion 72. In the illustrated embodiment, each fin portion 72 also includes an internal reinforcing wall not shown being connected together with the internal parts of the side walls 80. The side members 74 of the connecting portion 70 terminate on the inner sides 90 of the seal members 84. A plurality of closely spaced fingers 92 are extend radially outwardly -from the outer or distal ends of the side walls 80. The fingers 92 are adapted to adjustably engage the flange 66 of the peripheral wall 62 of the jacket member 26 to allow adjustable positioning of the feeder tube 20 and the cone member 24 in relation to the tray member. Since the size of the opening of the food 30 depends on the placement of the cone member 24 in relation to the tray member 26, the size of the food opening can be adjusted to fit the fingers 92 in relation to the flange 66 of the container. member of tray.

The cone member 24 is hollow and is arranged around the feeder tube 20. Conveniently it is configured to prevent the poultry from lying on it. The cone member illustrated, for example, includes a generally cylindrical upper portion 100 slidably engaging the feeder tube 20, a central conical truncated portion 102 _ and a generally cylindrical base portion 104 that includes a circumferential bridge 106. In "the illustrated embodiment, the base portion 104 is slightly tapered The base portion 104 of the cone member 24 includes three circumferentially spaced coupling arms 110 and defines 3 pairs of slot 112, each of which is disposed about a coupling arm 110. Each coupling arm 110 is slidably received by the opening 82 of the fin portion 72 of a respective fin member 22 and each pair of slots 112 slidably receives the side walls 80 of the fin portion In operation, the slots 112 conveniently are closed at least in part by stamp members 84 to minimize the amount of food This could happen in some way through the slots. Each coupling arm 110 conveniently includes a clamping protrusion 114 at its distal end. The clamping protrusion 114 conveniently extends radially outward and is adapted to engage the lower part of the upper wall 78 when the cone member 24 moves to the raised position to prevent the cone member from disengaging from the Fin portion during normal operating conditions. However, the coupling arms 110 are conveniently flexible to facilitate manual engagement and decoupling of the cone member 24 with the wing members 22 when desired.Each coupling arm 110 conveniently includes a front engaging surface 120 and a pair of opposite side mating surfaces 122. The front and side mating surfaces 120 and 122 extend from near the upper end of the base portion 104 past the bottom edge 32 of the cone member 24. In the embodiment illustrated, the Coupling arms 110 protrude radially outwardly from the base portion 104 of the cone member 24. The front coupling surface 120 is attached to the upper end of the base portion 104 by an inclined surface 126. The front and side coupling surfaces 120 and 122 conveniently extend in a generally vertical direction to facilitate the action of d vertical sifting of the cone member 24 in relation to the fin portions 72. "In a preferred embodiment, the feeder assembly also includes a pair of cords 130 which are secured to the cone member and a clamping member in the form of a clamp cable 132 joining the cords to the wire 14. The cords 130 can be secured to the cone member 24 in any suitable manner, preferably 180b apart, and conveniently extend around the food supply conduit 12. Each cord 130 also passes to through the passages 46 defined by the feeder tube 20. With this configuration, pulling the wire 14 in one direction causing the cone member 24 to rise relative to the feeder tube 20 and pulling the wire in the other direction is caused The cone member 24 is lowered and relative to the feeder tube 20. The attraction of the wire 14 can be achieved in any suitable way such as, for example, turning a crank associated with the wire. If desired, the size of the opening of the food 30 can also be adjusted in any other suitable manner, such as, for example, by adjusting the placement of the cable clamp 132 relative to the feeder tube 20. The cable clamp 132 , it can have any suitable construction. For example, the illustrated cable clamp 132, which is a commercially available fastener, comprises a wing nut 134 and a threaded pin 136 adjustably engageable with the wing nut. The wing nut 134 includes a threaded inner wall 138 defining a hole 140 and a rod 142 within the hole. The bolt 136 defines a diametral groove 150 for receiving the cords 130 and the shank 142 of the wing nut 134. Therefore, the rope clamp 132 can be placed over the cords 130 and the wire 14 in the appropriate position and the Finn nut 134 can be rotated to close the cable clamp in place. Accordingly, the size of the opening of the food 30 defined by the feeder assembly 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention can be adjusted either by adjusting the fin members 22 relative to the tray member 26, or by sliding the bladder member. cone 24 in relation to the feeder tube 20 by any suitable form or a combination of both. As a result, the opening of the food 30 can be adjusted in fine movements over a wide range of sizes. Additionally, the ability to adjust the size of the opening of the food 30 in two different ways provides the poultry farmer with additional convenience. The above description is for purposes of illustration only and is not intended to limit the scope of protection in accordance with this invention. The scope of protection is to be measured by the following claims, which should be interpreted as widely as the inventive contribution allows.

Claims (27)

1. CLAIMS 1. A feeder assembly for birds or other animals characterized in that it comprises: (a) a tray member; (b) a feeder tube defining "a channel for receiving food from a feed supply; (c) a plurality of fin members attached to the feeder tube; and (d) a cone member disposed around the feeder tube and mounted slidably to the plurality of fin members, the cone member adapted to slide relative to the fin members between a descent position and an elevated position, the tray member and one end of the cone member defining a food opening for allowing the food to pass from the feeder tube to the tray member for presentation and consumption, the opening of the food increasing in size as the cone member moves towards the elevated position 2. The feeder assembly in accordance with the claim 1, characterized in that each of the fin members includes a plurality of distal end fingers for adjustably coupling the tray member and adjust the size of the food opening. 3. The feeder assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the cone member includes a plurality of coupling arms releasably coupling the fin members 4. The feeder assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that each of the members of fins defines an opening for slidably receiving a respective coupling arm 5. The feeder assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that each of the coupling arms includes a clamping projection adapted to engage a respective fin member when the The cone member is in the raised position to prevent the cone member from uncoupling from the fin members 6. The feeder assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that the clamping projections are formed at the distal ends of the arms. coupling 7. The feeder assembly in accordance with the indication 4, characterized in that the coupling arms are flexible and the cone member is decoupled with the fin members by flexing the coupling arms. The feeder assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the cone member defines a plurality of slot pairs, each pair of slots disposed about the respective coupling arm and slidably receiving the portions of a respective fin member. 9. The feeder assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that each of the fin members includes a seal member that substantially closes a pair of respective grooves when the cone member is in the descent position. 10. The feeder assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that the seal members adjoin an inner wall of the cone member. The feeder assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that the seal members and the inner wall of the cone member are arched. The feeder assembly of non-conformity with claim 4, characterized in that each fin member includes an upper wall and each opening being defined by a respective upper wall. The feeder assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that each fin member includes a pair of separate side walls interconnected by the respective upper wall. ~~ ~ ~ - 14. The feeder assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that each fin member comprises a fin wall and a connecting portion connecting the fin portion to the feeder tube, each fin portion including an upper wall and each opening being defined by a respective upper wall. 15. The feeder assembly according to claim 14, characterized in that each fin portion includes a pair of separate side walls interconnected by a respective upper wall. 16. The feeder assembly according to claim 14, characterized in that the connection members extend downwards and radially outwards from a lower end of the feeder tube. The feeder assembly according to claim 14, characterized in that the fin portions extend radially outward relative to the feeder tube. 18. The feeder assembly according to claim 14, characterized in that the fin members and the feeder tube are integral with each other. The feeder assembly according to claim 1, further characterized in that it includes a connector for coupling the feeder assembly with a support of a poultry feeding system and for adjustably positioning the cone member in relation to the feeder tube. 20. The feeder assembly according to claim 19, characterized in that the connector includes a pair of cords secured to the cone member and a clamping member connecting the cords together. The feeder assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the fin members includes a plurality of fingers formed at a distal end and the tray member includes a vertical wall, the vertical side wall including a flange for adjustably coupling the plurality of fingers to adjust the position of the feeder tube in relation to the tray member. 22. The feeder assembly according to claim 21, characterized in that the flange extends annularly and includes a double-flange arrangement for intertrabaring with the fingers. 23. The feeder assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the fin members and the feeder tube are integrally with each other. 24. A feeder assembly for birds or other animals characterized in that it comprises: (a) a tray member having a vertical peripheral wall; (b) a feeder tube defining a channel for receiving food from a food supply; (c) a plurality of integral fin members with the feeder tube adjustably coupling the peripheral wall, each fin member defining an opening; Y (d) a cone member disposed around the feeder tube and including a plurality of coupling arms slidably received through the openings of the fin member to allow sliding of the cone member in relation to the fin members and the feeder tube between a descent position and an elevated position, the tray member and one end of the cone member defining a food opening to allow food to pass from the feeder tube to the tray member for presentation and consumption, the size of the opening food being adjustable by adjusting the position of the fin members in relation to the peripheral wall of the tray members and sliding the cone member in relation to the fin members and the feeder tube. 25. The feeder assembly according to claim 24, characterized in that each fin member includes at the distal end a plurality of coupling fingers adjustably engaging the peripheral wall. 26. The feeder assembly according to claim 24, characterized in that each coupling arm includes a clamping projection adapted to engage a respective fin member when the cone member is in the raised position to prevent the cone member from decoupling. of the fin members. 27. The feeder assembly according to claim 24, characterized in that the feeder tube is integral with the fin members.