Traveling hopper feed delivery system

摘要

A traveling hopper feed delivery system is disclosed. The system includes hoppers which carry loads of feed past elongated feed-receiving troughs. These troughs are located adjacent poultry-retaining cages. Auger distributor conveyors carried by the hoppers draw the feed from each hopper bottom and urge it toward each feed trough. Delivery tubes depend from the auger conveyors for directing limited amounts of feed from the conveyors to each trough. Return means return undelivered feed from the distributor conveyors back to the respective hoppers. Sensors disposed to extend into the troughs sense the amount of feed already present in the troughs, and adjust butterfly valves (located between the feed delivery tubes and the auger conveyors) in response to the sensed height of feed present in the troughs before additional feed is delivered.