Feed wagon

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10136616-B2
Application number	US-201415021140-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2014
Priority date	Sep 10, 2013
Publication date	Nov 27, 2018
Grant date	Nov 27, 2018

Abstract

A livestock feed wagon includes a moving frame, a feed container which is fitted on the frame for accommodating animal feed, in particular provided with feed mixer, and a movable arm construction having an operable gripper fitted thereto for grabbing an amount of animal feed. The arm construction is configured in such a way that the arm construction can pivot the gripper only in one plane from a first position for grabbing animal feed next to the livestock feed wagon to a second position for releasing the animal feed above the feed container. This makes it possible to provide a very simple and compact construction.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A livestock feed wagon, comprising:
a movable frame;
a feed container fitted on the frame for accommodating animal feed; and
a movable arm construction having an operable gripper fitted thereto for grabbing an amount of animal feed,
wherein the arm construction is configured in such a way that the arm construction can only pivot the gripper in one, substantially vertical, plane from a first position for grabbing animal feed next to the livestock feed wagon to a second position for releasing the animal feed above the feed container,
wherein the gripper comprises a gripper-displacement device configured to move the gripper at right angles to at least one arm of the arm construction, and
wherein the gripper-displacement device comprises a movable trolley which can run on a rail.

2. The livestock feed wagon according to claim 1 , wherein the arm construction is connected, by means of a first hinge, to one of either the feed container or the frame, and is connected, by means of a second hinge, to the gripper, and wherein the arm construction is configured in such a way that the second hinge is pivotable over at least 135° with respect to the first hinge.

3. The livestock feed wagon according to claim 2 , wherein the arm construction comprises a single, rigid or telescopic, arm part between the first hinge and the second hinge.

4. The livestock feed wagon according to claim 2 , wherein the arm construction comprises a single, rigid or telescopic, arm part between the first and the second hinge.

5. The livestock feed wagon according to claim 1 , wherein the arm construction comprises two arms mutually connected by a transverse arm, each of the two arms being fitted on one of either the frame or the feed container.

6. The livestock feed wagon according to claim 5 , wherein the feed container, along an upper edge thereof and between the two arms, comprises a movable wall part with an actuator, which movable wall part is configured to make room for the gripper to move downwards and/or sideways.

7. The livestock feed wagon according to claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more drives configured to drive the frame, the arm construction and the gripper; and
a control for autonomously controlling the one or more drives.

8. The livestock feed wagon according to claim 1 , wherein the feed container, along an upper edge thereof and near to the arm construction, comprises a movable wall part with an actuator, which movable wall part is configured to make room for the gripper.

9. The livestock feed wagon according to claim 1 , further comprising a 3D device for recording a spatial image comprising distance information.

10. The livestock feed wagon according to claim 9 , wherein the 3D device is configured to perform an analysis of a surface of a pile of feed situated in front of the 3D device, and wherein the control controls one or more drives configured to drive the frame on the basis of the analysis.

11. The livestock feed wagon according to claim 9 , wherein the gripper comprises a gripper-displacement device configured to move a gripper at right angles to at least one arm, and wherein a control controls one or more drives configured to drive the gripper-displacement device and/or the gripper on the basis of the distance information of the analysis.

12. The livestock feed wagon according to claim 1 , wherein the gripper comprises two mutually pivotable gripping jaws or a movable blade for cutting a chunk of animal feed from a pile of animal feed.

13. The livestock feed wagon according to claim 1 , wherein the feed container is provided with a feed mixer.

14. The livestock feed wagon according to claim 1 , wherein the arm construction is connected, by means of a first hinge to the feed container, and is connected, by means of a second hinge, to the gripper, and wherein the arm construction is configured in such a way that the second hinge is pivotable over at least 135° with respect to the first hinge.

15. The livestock feed wagon according to claim 1 , wherein the arm construction comprises two arms mutually connected by a transverse arm, each of the two arms being fitted on either side of the feed container.

16. The livestock feed wagon according to claim 15 , wherein the feed container, along an upper edge thereof and between the two arms, comprises a movable wall part with an actuator, which movable wall part is configured to make room for the gripper to move downwards and/or sideways.

17. The livestock feed wagon according to claim 1 , wherein the movable trolley comprises a crane crab.

18. The livestock feed wagon according to claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more drives configured to drive the frame, the arm construction and the gripper-displacement device; and
a control for autonomously controlling the one or more drives.

19. The livestock feed wagon according to claim 1 , further comprising an optical 3D device for recording a spatial image comprising distance information, the optical 3D device being fitted on an end of the arm construction, which is situated near the gripper or on the gripper.

20. The livestock feed wagon according to claim 1 , wherein the gripper comprises two mutually pivotable gripping jaws or a movable blade for cutting a chunk of animal feed from a pile of animal feed, and also a movable support for supporting the chunk of animal feed.

Assignees

• Lely Patent Nv

Inventors

• Van Den Berg Karel
• Pastoor Jan Lambertus
• Sie Howard
• Huyzer Arie
• Van Kuilenburg Jan Martinus

Classifications

• G06T2207/30128

  Food products · CPC title

• G06T2207/10004

  Still image; Photographic image · CPC title

• A01K5/001

  Fodder distributors with mixer or shredder (adaptations of cutting machine A01F29/00) · CPC title

• B25J11/0045

  Manipulators used in the food industry · CPC title

• A01D87/003 Primary

  with gripping or clamping devices (manure loaders A01C3/04) · CPC title