Intake cup apparatus
US4667623A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 12, 1986 |
| Grant date | May 26, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 12, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA01K39/01
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An intake cup apparatus is provided for delivering feed from a drop tube to a rotating auger-like conveyor. The apparatus comprises a housing extending above and around the auger-like member and having a top inlet portion for connection to the drop tube for receiving feed therefrom; and a feed metering gate structure mounted interiorly of the housing for directing and controlling the rate of flow of the feed to the auger-like conveyor. This gate structure comprises a pair of generally parallel plates spaced apart by a dimension similar to the diameter of the auger-like conveyor and having lower edges thereof extending about the auger-like conveyor. These plates are vertically movable relative to the auger-like member to thereby control the flow rate of feed thereto. The lower edges of the plates are respectively vetically offset such that the relative lower one of the edges is disposed in the direction of auger rotation relative to the other plate so as to facilitate the maintenance of a substantially level distribution of feed across the conveyor without regard for the auger rotation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.