Abstract An animal feeder shown in two embodiments which incorporates a storage bin for receiving a supply of granular animal feed wherein the bin has a removable top to protect the animal feed from the elements, an opening at the bottom where the animal feed pours from the bin onto a plate. An auger extends across the plate. The auger is rotated at a controlled rate by a motor. The auger forces a controlled quantity of feed during an interval to advance along the auger to the edge of the plate to fall thereafter down a chute, dispensed for feeding in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the chute empties into a storage container which stores and dumps animal feed. The second embodiment also supplies all of the animal feed from the storage container at one instant while the first embodiment provides the animal feed continuously over an interval of time.
An Animal feeder comprising: a storage bin adapted to receive and store a supply of granular animal feed and having an opening in the lower portions thereof; a plate positioned below said opening for accumulating animal feed thereon from said storage bin; an auger means between said plate and the opening in said storage bin, said auger means having a set of flights thereon for agitating animal feed; raised side means adjacent to said plate on opposite sides of said auger means for capturing animal feed therebetween, said auger means being positioned to agitate animal feed on said plate; a fillable container having a specified capacity below an edge of said plate to receive and store animal feed falling from said plate; means for periodically tilting and dumping feed from said container; a pivot mounting for said container; and an internal wall in said container arranged such that an accumulaton of animal feed therein alters the center of gravity and causes said container to pivot about said pivot.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
An Animal feeder comprising: a storage bin adapted to receive and store a supply of granular animal feed and having an opening in the lower portions thereof; a plate positioned below said opening for accumulating animal feed thereon from said storage bin; an auger means between said plate and the opening in said storage bin, said auger means having a set of flights thereon for agitating animal feed; raised side means adjacent to said plate on opposite sides of said auger means for capturing animal feed therebetween, said auger means being positioned to agitate animal feed on said plate; a fillable container having a specified capacity below an edge of said plate to receive and store animal feed falling from said plate; means for periodically tilting and dumping feed from said container; a pivot mounting for said container; and an internal wall in said container arranged such that an accumulaton of animal feed therein alters the center of gravity and causes said container to pivot about said pivot.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including a counter balance weight attached to said container such that said container is filled and acts against said counter weight and tips an accummulation of specified weight of feed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 2 including a stop and spaced pivot member, said stop limiting rotation of said container about said pivot member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 3 including first and second compartments divided by said wall, one being arranged to be filled partly before the other and the latter being arranged to tip and rotate said container.