Feeder for livestock

Claim 2

In a feeder for depositing feed in an elongate substantially linear feed receiver having a selected feed zone of a predetermined length, the combination of an elongate support structure positioned above and substantially aligned with said receiver, a carriage supported from said support structure for substantially horizontal reciprocal linear movement parallel to and above the feed zone of said receiver, said carriage including a pair of belt guides oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the support structure and spaced from one another in the direction of said axis approximately one-half the length of said feed zone, a flexible conveyor belt providing a top feed receiving surface for said carriage bridging between said guides, said belt further having portions passing on around the respective guides and back toward one another beneath the feed receiving surface, stationary anchoring means holding a segment of each of said portions against movement lengthwise of the receiver, drive means drivingly connected with said carriage for reciprocating said carriage to cause alternate movement of said guides toward and away from said anchoring mEans thereby to move the unanchored part of said belt alternately toward the opposite ends of the receiver and shift said feed receiving surface lengthwise relative to said carriage, and means for delivering a stream of feed onto said feed receiving surface whereby it is carried by said receiving surface toward the ends of the zone upon reciprocation of the carriage, said support structure including a stationary elongate hood overlying said receiver above said carriage, said hood including side walls extending downwardly alongside and cooperating with said belt conveyor to inhibit passage of feed off the side edges of the conveyor belt.

Claim 3

The combination as in claim 1, said side walls including a pair of upturned rails near the opposite sides of said carriage, said carriage having trolley wheels riding on said rails.

Claim 4

In a feeder for depositing feed in an elongate substantially linear feed receiver having a selected feed zone of a predetermined length, the combination of an elongate support structure positioned above and substantially aligned with said receiver, a carriage supported from said support structure for substantially horizontal reciprocal linear movement parallel to and above the feed zone of said receiver, said carriage including a pair of belt guides oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the support structure and spaced from one another in the direction of said axis approximately one-half the length of said feed zone, a flexible conveyor belt providing a top feed receiving surface for said carriage bridging between said guides, said belt further having portions passing on around the respective guides and back toward one another beneath the feed receiving surface, stationary anchoring means holding a segment of each of said portions against movement lengthwise of the receiver, drive means drivingly connected with said carriage for reciprocating said carriage to cause alternate movement of said guides toward and away from said anchoring means thereby to move the unanchored part of said belt alternately toward the opposite ends of the receiver and shift said feed receiving surface lengthwise relative to said carriage, and means for delivering a stream of feed onto said feed receiving surface whereby it is carried by said receiving surface toward the ends of the zone upon reciprocation of the carriage, and sweep means positioned adjacent the path of said upper surface of said conveyor and operable to permit feed to move past said sweep means but to intercept and prevent further movement of the feed in the reverse direction as said carriage moves toward the other end of the receiver.

Claim 5

In a feeder for depositing feed in an elongate substantially linear feed receiver having a selected feed zone of a predetermined length, the combination of an elongate support structure positioned above and substantially aligned with said receiver, a carriage supported from said support structure for substantially horizontal reciprocal linear movement parallel to and above the feed zone of said receiver, said carriage including a pair of belt guides oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the support structure and spaced from one another in the direction of said axis approximately one-half the length of said feed zone, a flexible conveyor belt providing a top feed receiving surface for said carriage bridging between said guides, said belt further having portions passing on around the respective guides and back toward one another beneath the feed receiving surface, stationary anchoring means holding a segment of each of said portions against movement lengthwise of the receiver, drive means drivingly connected with said carriage for reciprocating said carriage to cause alternate movement of said guides toward and away from said anchoring means thereby to move the unanchored part of said belt alternately toward the opposite ends of the receiver and shift said feed receiving surface lengthwise relative to said carriage, and means for delivering a stream of feed onto said feed receiving surface whereby it is carried by said receiving surface toward the ends of the zone upon reciprocation of the carriage, and sweep means positioned adjacent the path of said upper surface of said conveyor and operable to permit feed to move past said sweep means but to intercept and prevent further movement of the feed in the reverse direction as said carriage moves toward the other end of the receiver.

Claim 6

In a feeder for depositing feed in an elongate substantially linear feed receiver having a selected feed zone of a predetermined length, the combination of an elongate support structure positioned above and substantially aligned with said receiver, a carriage supported from said support structure for substantially horizontal reciprocal linear movement parallel to and above the feed zone of said receiver, said carriage including a pair of belt guides oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the support structure and spaced from one another in the direction of said axis approximately one-half the length of said feed zone, a flexible conveyor belt providing a top feed receiving surface for said carriage bridging between said guides, said belt further having portions passing on around the respective guides and back toward one another beneath the feed receiving surface, stationary anchoring means holding a segment of each of said portions against movement lengthwise of the receiver, drive means drivingly connected with said carriage for reciprocating said carriage to cause alternate movement of said guides toward and away from said anchoring means thereby to move the unanchored part of said belt alternately toward the opposite ends of the receiver and sHift said feed receiving surface lengthwise relative to said carriage, means for delivering a stream of feed onto said feed receiving surface whereby it is carried by said receiving surface toward the ends of the zone upon reciprocation of the carriage, said conveyor belt comprising an endless belt trained around said guides with an upper flight above the carriage and a lower flight below the carriage, said anchoring means including belt gripping members having a belt gripping condition and a belt release position, and means for alternating said belt gripping members from one condition to the other.

Claim 7

In a feeder for depositing feed in an elongate substantially linear feed receiver having a selected feed zone of a predetermined length, the combination of an elongate support structure positioned above and substantially aligned with said receiver, a carriage supported from said support structure for substantially horizontal reciprocal linear movement parallel to and above the feed zone of said receiver, said carriage including a pair of belt guides oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the support structure and spaced from one another in the direction of said axis approximately one-half the length of said feed zone, a flexible conveyor belt providing a top feed receiving surface for said carriage bridging between said guides, said belt further having portions passing on around the respective guides and back toward one another beneath the feed receiving surface, stationary anchoring means holding a segment of each of said portions against movement lengthwise of the receiver, drive means drivingly connected with said carriage for reciprocating said carriage to cause alternate movement of said guides toward and away from said anchoring means thereby to move the unanchored part of said belt alternately toward the opposite ends of the receiver and sHift said feed receiving surface lengthwise relative to said carriage, means for delivering a stream of feed onto said feed receiving surface whereby it is carried by said receiving surface toward the ends of the zone upon reciprocation of the carriage, said conveyor belt comprising an endless belt trained around said guides with an upper flight above the carriage and a lower flight below the carriage, said anchoring means including belt gripping members having a belt gripping condition and a belt release position, and means for alternating said belt gripping members from one condition to the other.