Big Dutchman, Inc.

John F Hart

A continuously operating reciprocating hopper for continuously supplying feed to an automated feed distribution apparatus of the type having a continuous conveyor which movably traverses through a trough comprises a hopper bin for receiving a supply of feed for distribution wherein a bottom of the hopper bin defines a feed discharge opening. The hopper bin is shaped to direct the supplied feed to the feed discharge opening for delivery of the feed to the feed distribution system. An impeller is rotatably mounted within the hopper bin proximate to the discharge opening. The impeller includes a plurality of blades. A drive rotates the impeller about an axis of rotation in such a manner so that the impeller operates to displace feed away from the discharge area for the prevention of feed compacting in the trough housing.

Continuous operating distribution hopper

A poultry breeder pan feeder system and method in which a feeder pan assembly having a grille with ribs defining openings for feeding pullets and the like is converted into a female breeder pan assembly by providing such pan assembly for feeding male poultry pullets and the like and inserting an outer grille over the inner grille. The outer grille has ribs that overlap the ribs of the inner grille and cover portions of the feeder openings of the inner grille. The outer grille is adjustable on the inner grille to adjust the size of the openings through which the birds feed. A linear slide valve is provided to adjust the amount of feed dropping into the pan of the feeder so that the feed dropped into the pans can be a preselected amount, can flood the pan, or can be entirely shut off.

Poultry breeder pan feeding system and pan feeder assembly therefor

An animal pan feeder system, particularly for raising domestic birds and animals, and particularly for controlling the level of the feed in the pan, includes a pan assembly which has an adjustable skirt that determines the level of the feed, such skirt being adjustable by two structures. The first structure is an intermediate member between the drop tube and the skirt which is adjustable on the drop tube for adjusting the vertical position of the skirt. The second structure is the adjustment of a skirt by an anti-roost wire tied to the skirt by ties. The anti-roost wire is movable along the elongated feed conveyor, such movement asserts a pull on the ties which raises the skirt to adjust the level of the feed in the pan. Another feature of the invention is a cone-shaped deflector member mounted on the central axis of the drop tube for deflecting both the fines and coarse particles of the feed outwardly towards the outer periphery of the pan to eliminate the fines from accumulation in the central area of the pan. This deflector member is adjustable for shutting off the flow of feed through the drop tube.

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Holland, MI, United States of America

John F Hart