Mixing and dosing device for cattle feed

• US 9,648,848 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2011
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stichting Administratiekantoor Weelink Berendsen, Co.
• Original Assignee: Weelink Participaties B.V.
• Inventors: Weelink, Johannes Martinus Willibrordus
• Primary Examiner(s): Troy, Daniel J
• Assistant Examiner(s): TEFERA, HIWOT E
• Application Number:
  US13/996,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20130298837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,974 Days
• Field of Search: 119 5102, 119 5113, 119 53
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/006 Automatic identification systems for animals, e.g. electronic devices, transponders for animals identification systems for access to feeding pens A01K1/0209; ear tags with electronic identification means A01K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/008 incorporating GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/001 Fodder distributors with mixer or shredder adaptations of cutting machine A01F29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/02 Automatic devices automatic identification devices for stock A01K11/006
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/0225 Gravity replenishment from a reserve, e.g. a hopper for poultry A01K39/012
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/0258 with endless screws
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/0275 with mechanisms for delivery of measured doses A01K5/0233 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/01 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02 using radio waves using satellite radio beacon systems for determining position G01S19/00

Abstract

The invention relates to a mixing and dosing device for cattle feed, comprising a plurality of feed hoppers for different types of feed, wherein each hopper has an infeed end and an outfeed end disposed thereunder, wherein a dosing device is disposed in each hopper at its outfeed end, further comprising a control device adapted to control each of the dosing devices in order to dose feed from the associated hopper, a pivotable distributing hopper disposed under the plurality of outfeed ends, outfeed ports placed under the distributing hopper for connection to fodder conduits debouching in different feed troughs, further comprising one or more actuators for pivoting the distributing hopper, wherein the control device is further adapted to control the actuators so as to position the distributing hopper with its downstream end substantially above a selected one of the outfeed ports. The invention also relates to a feeding stall for feeding animals and a system and method for tracking positions of animals.

Claims

1. An animal tracking system for animals in an animal accommodation, comprising a transmitter which is to be attached to an animal and which is adapted to transmit a signal comprising identification data and positional information of the transmitter, signal receiving means for receiving this signal and adapted to determine from the signal the identification data and a position of the transmitter, and a database for storing the determined position and the associated identification data and a mixing and dosing device (1), said mixing and dosing device (1) comprising a plurality of feed hoppers (11,12,13,14,15) for different types of feed, wherein each of the plurality of hoppers (11,12,13,14,15) has an infeed end and an outfeed end disposed thereunder, wherein a dosing device (91,92,93,94) is disposed in each hopper (11,12,13,14,15) at its outfeed end, further comprising a control device (80) adapted to control each of the dosing devices (91,92,93,94) in order to dose feed from the associated hopper (11,12,13,14,15), a pivotable distributing hopper (50) disposed under the plurality of outfeed ends, outfeed ports (61-68) placed under the distributing hopper (50) for connection to fodder conduits debouching in different feed troughs (321,322,323,324,325, 461-468, 561, 513, 561, 562), further comprising one or more actuators (76, 77) for pivoting the distributing hopper (50), wherein the control device (80) is further adapted to control the actuators (76, 77) so as to position the distributing hopper (50) with its downstream end substantially above a selected one of the outfeed ports (61-68), said mixing and dosing device (1) further comprising a plurality of feed troughs (321,322,323,324,325, 461-468, 561, 513, 561, 562), wherein each of the feed troughs (321,322,323,324,325, 461-468, 561, 513, 561, 562) is connected to an outfeed port, wherein the control device (80) is adapted to determine ratios in which the different types of feed are dosed from the different hoppers (11,12,13,14,15) on the basis of the animal or animal group associated with the feed trough (321,322,323,324,325, 461-468, 561, 513, 561, 562), said mixing and dosing device (1) being further provided with animal identification means for identifying animals or animal groups at the feed trough (321,322,323,324,325, 461-468, 561, 513, 561, 562), wherein the control device (80) is adapted to determine ratios in which the different types of feed are dosed from the different hoppers (11,12,13,14,15) on the basis of the animal or animal group recognized at the feed trough (321,322,323,324,325, 461-468, 561, 513, 561, 562), said animal tracking system and said mixing and dosing device (1) being adapted for operable communication.

2. Animal tracking system according to claim 1, further comprising a feeding stall (501,502,503,504) for feeding cattle, comprising a first separating fence (511) and a second separating fence (512) which are disposed parallel to each other, wherein the two separating fences (511, 512) define a passage for an animal to reach a feed trough (561, 513, 561, 562), further comprising a closure (520, 530) which is movable to an opened position, in which it leaves the passage for an animal open, wherein the closure is movable further to a first closed position in which it closes the passage to an animal at a first distance from the feed trough (561, 513, 561, 562), wherein the first distance is greater than the length of an animal, said animal tracking system and said feeding stall (501,502,503,504) being adapted for cooperation.

3. Animal tracking system according to claim 2, wherein the closure (520, 530) is movable further to a second closed position, in which it closes the passage to an animal at a second distance from the feed trough (561, 513, 561, 562), wherein the second distance is smaller than the first distance.

4. Animal tracking system according to claim 2, wherein the closure (520, 530) comprises a bracket (520) which is mounted transversely of the separating fences (511, 512) for pivoting relative to the separating fences (511, 512).

5. Animal tracking system according to claim 4, wherein the closure (520, 530) further comprises a fence (530) which is mounted pivotally on the bracket (520) and extends between the separating fences (511, 512) over substantially the width of the passage when in the first or a second closed position.

6. Animal tracking system according to claim 5, wherein the fence (530) is provided with one or more support parts (535, 536) which are adapted to support on one or both of the separating fences (511, 512) when the closure (520, 530) is in the first or second closed position.

7. Animal tracking system according to claim 6, wherein the one or more support parts (535, 536), at least when the closure (520, 530) is in the first or second closed position, are arranged on the upper side of the fence (530) and lie against an upper side of the first and/or the second separating fence (512).

8. Animal tracking system according to claim 5, wherein the pivot point (532) of the bracket (520) and the separating fences (511, 512) is on an upper side of the separating fences (511, 512), preferably at a position halfway along the length of the separating fences (511, 512).

9. Animal tracking system according to claim 6, wherein the separating fences (511, 512) are provided on their upper side with recesses (515b, 516b) for receiving the one or more support parts of the fence (530) therein when the closure (520, 530) is in the first or second closed position.

10. Animal tracking system according to claim 4, further provided with an arm (540) which is pivotally connected to a separating fence (511) and to the fence (530) so that a four-bar mechanism is formed by the fence (530), the bracket (520), the separating fence and the arm (540), which mechanism is adapted to keep an orientation of the fence (530) substantially vertical relative to the floor in the first and a second closed position.

11. Animal tracking system according to claim 2, further comprising a first receiver (513) and a second receiver (514) for receiving an animal identification signal from a transmitter attached to an animal, wherein the first receiver (513) and the second receiver (514) form the animal recognition means (513, 514) and are placed on or at an entry side of the passage of respectively the first separating fence (511) and the second separating fence (512), wherein a control device (80) is adapted to control an actuator (518) to move the closure to different positions on the basis of the recognized animal when an animal is recognized between the two receivers (513, 514).

12. Animal tracking system according to claim 2, further comprising a weighing device for measuring the weight of feed present in the feed trough (561, 513, 561, 562), wherein the weighing device is connected to the control device (80) and the control device (80) is further adapted to move the closure (520, 530) to a second position when the weight of feed weighed in the feed trough (513) is less than a predetermined weight.

13. Animal tracking system according to claim 2, further comprising a compressed air line which is placed at the feed trough (561, 513, 561, 562) and is connected to a compressed air device, wherein the compressed air device is adapted to carry a blast of compressed air through the compressed air line after a predetermined feeding time and/or when feed is no longer present in the feed trough (561, 513, 561, 562).

14. A method for mapping positions of animals in an animal accommodation, comprising the steps of:

i) equipping animals with a transmitter, wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit a signal comprising an identifier and a position indication of the animal,

ii) receiving the transmitted signals from the animals with a receiver,

iii) determining the identifier and a position of an animal from the received signal, and

iv) storing in a database the identifier, the position associated therewith and an indication of the time at which they were determined,

v) using the determined position of an identified animal in a mixing and dosing device (1) for cattle feed, comprising a plurality of feed hoppers (11,12,13,14,15) (11,12,13,14,15) for different types of feed, wherein each of the plurality of hoppers (11,12,13,14,15) has an infeed end and an outfeed end disposed thereunder, wherein a dosing device (91,92,93,94) is disposed in each hopper (11,12,13,14,15) at its outfeed end, further comprising a control device (80) adapted to control each of the dosing devices (91,92,93,94) in order to dose feed from the associated hopper (11,12,13,14,15), a pivotable distributing hopper (50) disposed under the plurality of outfeed ends, outfeed ports (61-68) placed under the distributing hopper (50) for connection to fodder conduits debouching in different feed troughs (321,322,323,324,325, 461-468, 561, 513, 561, 562), further comprising one or more actuators (76, 77) for pivoting the distributing hopper (50), wherein the control device (80) is further adapted to control the actuators (76, 77) so as to position the distributing hopper (50) with its downstream end substantially above a selected one of the outfeed ports (61-68).

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the determined position of an identified animal is used as animal recognition in a feeding stall (501,502,503,504) for feeding cattle, comprising a first separating fence (511) and a second separating fence (512) which are disposed parallel to each other, wherein the two separating fences (511, 512) define a passage for an animal to reach a feed trough (561, 513, 561, 562), further comprising a closure (520, 530) which is movable to a first opened position, in which it leaves the passage for an animal open, wherein the closure is movable further to a first closed position in which it closes the passage to an animal at a first distance from the feed trough (561, 513, 561, 562), wherein the first distance is greater than the length of an animal;

said feeding stall (501,502,503,504) further comprising an actuator (518) for driving movement of the closure (520, 530) to the first closed position and to the first and/or a second open position, said feeding stall (501,502,503,504) further comprising a control device (80) adapted to control the actuator (518) to move the closure (520, 530) to the first and/or second closed position and/or to the first opened position, wherein the control device (80) is connected to animal recognition means (513, 514) which are adapted to recognize an animal when the animal is present at or close to the first distance from the feed trough (561, 513, 561, 562), wherein the control device (80) is adapted to control the actuator (518) in order to move the closure to a different position on the basis of the recognized animal.