ES357379A1 - Automatic feeding and cleaning installation for pig farms - Google Patents

Abstract

A building for housing pigs has automatic feeding, watering and dung clearing means. The stable has two rows of pens 1 defining a control passage 1a along which a feeding hopper 3 travels, and two dunging passages 1b. A control room 1c is isolated from the stable by automatically controlled motor driven doors 25. The feed hopper is filled from silo 24 by a screw conveyer (24a), Fig. 7 (not shown), the filling being controlled by a micro-switch. The food supply is regulated by a turbine 19, Fig. 9,in a shoot (23), Fig. 8 (not shown), of the hopper 3. The turbine is rotated by a star wheel 14 turned by pegs 15 in rail 16 which control the quantity of food dispensed. The star wheel drives turbine 19 via gears 17 and shaft 18. The star wheel has a ratchet so that food is only supplied as the hopper moves away from the control room. Water is supplied, for mixing with the food, from tanks (7), Fig. 6 (not shown), in each pen. The water level in the tanks is controlled by adjustable ball valve (34a). As the food hopper advances a roller 11 carried by an arm 9, Fig. 5, mounted on the feed hopper 3 actuates a valve 38a via a plate (12), Fig. 6 (not shown) in order to supply water to the food in the trough. The roller only actuates the valve when in position b, Fig. 5. When the feed hopper reaches a position remote from the control room, arm 9 is raised by a stop 13. On returning to the control room, arm 9 is lowered by stop 131. Dung channels 1b, Fig. 1, are cleaned by scraper blades 30, Fig. 7, carried on trolleys 29. The scraping action occurs in one direction of movement of the trolleys only, the blades being brought into and out of engagement with the floor by means of stops 33, 331, at each end of the dunging passage. The feed hopper 3, Fig. 1, may be driven by steel cables 4, Fig. 3 (not shown), or by an electric motor on the hopper. The dung trucks are driven by endless belts passing over pulleys 271, 27.