Husbandry apparatus

Claim 2

An automatic animal feeder comprising: a plurality of animal cages arranged side-by-side in horizontal alignment and forming thereby a cage assembly; a receptacle mounted at the front of each cage such that a rear portion thereof is disposed within said cage, and a front portion thereof is disposed in front of said cage; carriage means movably mounted on said cage assembly for horizontal movement aloNg said cage assembly in front of said receptacles, and including a driving mechanism therefor; first means mounted on said carriage means capable of dispensing feed into each of said receptacles during movement of said carriage means in one direction along said cage assembly; second means mounted on said carriage means capable of dispensing water under pressure into each of said receptacles for flushing said receptacles during movement of said carriage means in an opposite direction along said cage assembly; and control means operatively associated with said cage assembly and said carriage means for synchronizing operation of said driving mechanism, said first means, and said second means.

Claim 3

An automatic animal feeder as described in claim 1, and further wherein each cage is separated by a solid partition.

Claim 4

An automatic animal feeder as defined in claim 1, and further wherein each cage includes an integral framework removably mounted at one end thereof.

Claim 5

An automatic animal feeder as described in claim 1, and further wherein said driving mechanism includes drive wheels mounted on a track secured to said cage assembly, and with a reversible motor provided for rotating said wheels.

Claim 6

An automatic animal feeder as described in claim 1, and further wherein said first means includes a canister for holding the feed and with an auger operated discharge at the base thereof, a funnel for receiving the feed from said discharge, a water line leading to said funnel, and an agitator device for blending said feed and water prior to dumping same into a receptacle directly therebelow when said first means is moved in front of a receptacle by said carriage means.

Claim 7

An automatic animal feeder as described in claim 1, and further wherein said second means includes a discharge tube leading from a source of water to a receptacle when said tube is moved in front of a receptacle by said carriage means, and including further a valve interposed between said tube and said source for controlling the passage of water through said discharge tube.

Claim 8

An automatic animal feeder as described in claim 1, and further wherein said control means comprises switch means on said carriage means and trip devices on said cage assembly operably connected to said driving mechanism, said first means, said second means for operation thereof in timed sequence and in response to activation by said trip devices.

Claim 9

An automatic animal feeder as described in claim 5, and further wherein said second means includes a discharge tube leading from a source of water to a receptacle when said tube is moved in front of a receptacle by said carriage means, and including further a valve interposed between said tube and said source for controlling the passage of water through said discharge tube.

Claim 10

An automatic animal feeder as described in claim 8, and further wherein said control means comprises switch means on said carriage means and trip devices on said cage assembly operably connected to said driving mechanism, said first means, and said second means for operation thereof in timed sequence and in response to activation by said trip devices.

Claim 11

An automatic animal feeder comprising: a plurality of animal cages arranged side-by-side in horizontal alignment, forming thereby a cage assembly; a cup-like receptacle pivotally mounted at the front of each cage with half the cup inside the cage and the other half of the cup outside to the front of the cage, whereby each receptacle is rockable from a normal position where an animal can eat from the inner portion to a position where the outer portion is lowered such that contents thereof tend to spill out of the receptacle due to gravity; carriage means movably mounted on said cage assembly for horizontal movement along said cage assembly in front of said receptacles, and including a driving mechanism frictionally engaged with said cage assembly; first means mounted on said carriage means capable of dispensing feed into each of said receptacles; second means mounted on said carriage means capable of forcing liquid into each of said receptacles for cleansing purposes; and control means operatively associated with said cage assembly and said carriage means for synchronizing operation of said driving mechanism, said first means, and said second means.

Claim 12

An automatic animal feeder comprising: a plurality of animal cages arranged side-by-side in horizontal alignment, forming thereby a cage assembly; a cup-like receptacle pivotally mounted at the front of each cage with half the cup inside the cage and the other half of the cup outside to the front of the cage, whereby each receptacle is rockable from a normal position where an animal can eat from the inner portion to a position where the outer portion is lowered such that contents thereof tend to spill out of the receptacle due to gravity; carriage means movably mounted on said cage assembly for horizontal movement along said cage assembly in front of said receptacles, and including a driving mechanism frictionally engaged with said cage assembly; first means mounted on said carriage means capable of dispensing feed into each of said receptacles; second means mounted on said carriage means capable of forcing liquid into each of said receptacles for cleansing purposes; and control means operatively associated with said cage assembly and said carriage means for synchronizing operation of said driving mechanism, said first means, and said second means.

Claim 13

An automatic animal feeder as described in claim 10, and further wherein said second means includes a member movably mounted on said carriage means engageable with said receptacle to move said receptacle to a lower position, including a discharge tube for directing water into said lowered receptacle, and including further timing means operable to shut off the cleansing water and to disengage said member from said receptacle such that said receptacle returns to its normal position.

Claim 14

An automatic animal feeder as described in claim 10, and further wherein said control means comprises switch means on said carriage means and trip devices on said cage assembly operably connected to said driving mechanism, said first means, and said second means for operation thereof in timed sequence and in response to activation by said trip devices.

Claim 15

An automatic animal feeder as described in claim 11, and further wherein said control means comprises switch means on said carriage means and trip devices on said cage assembly operably connected to said driving mechanism, said first means, and said second means for operation thereof in timed sequence and in response to activation by said trip devices.

Claim 16

An automatic animal feeder comprising: a plurality of animal cages arranged side-by-side in horizontal alignment and forming thereby a cage assembly; a receptacle mounted at the front of each cage such that a rear portion thereof is disposed within said cage, and a front portion thereof is disposed in front of said cage; carriage means movably mounted on said cage assembly for horizontal movement along said cage assembly in front of said receptacles, and including a driving mechanism therefor; first means mounted on said carriage means capable of dispensing feed into each of said receptacles; second means mounted on said carriage means capable of forcing liquid into each of said receptacles for cleansing purposes; electric switch trip means mounted on said cage assembly and programmed to each cage; and control means responsive to said trip means for operating said driving mechanism, said first means, and said second means, said control means including a reversible drive motor as a part of said driving mechanism, each side of which is connected in circuit with said driving mechanism, said first means, and said second means, and a timing mechanism capable of directing power alternately in timed sequence to one side of said drive motor for effecting movement of said carriage means in one direction, and then to the other side of said drive motor for effecting movement of said carriage means in the opposite direction.

Claim 17

An automatic animal feeder comprising: a plurality of animal cages arranged side-by-side in horizontal alignment and forming thereby a cage assembly; a receptacle mounted at the front of each cage such that a rear portion thereof is disposed within said cage, and a front portion thereof is disposed in front of said cage; carriage means movably mounted on said cage assembly for horizontal movement along said cage assembly in front of said receptacles, and including a driving mechanism therefor; first means mounted on said carriage means capable of dispensing feed into each of said receptacles; second means mounted on said carriage means capable of forcing liquid into each of said receptacles for cleansing purposes; electric switch trip means mounted on said cage assembly and programmed to each cage; and control means responsive to said trip means for operating said driving mechanism, said first means, and said second means, said control means including a reversible drive motor as a part of said driving mechanism, each side of which is connected in circuit with said driving mechanism, said first means, and said second means, and a timing mechanism capable of directing power alternately in timed sequence to one side of said drive motor for effecting movement of said carriage means in one direction, and then to the other side of said drive motor for effecting movement of said carriage means in the opposite direction.

Claim 18

An automatic animal feeder as described in claim 14, and further wherein said first means includes timing means responsive to activation of said trip means simultaneously with de-energization of said drive motor by said trip means; said timing means operable to activate said first means for a predetermined period of time, to re-energize said drive motor without affecting said trip means, and operable to de-energize itself.

Claim 19

An automatic animal feeder as described in claim 1, and wherein said first means includes a feed transfer unit and a water unit operable to discharge water into said feed transfer unit, said first means and said second means electrically connected, and said control means operable during movement of said carriage means in said opposite direction to effect discharge of water from said water unit into said feed transfer unit.