TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a magnetic catcher device for ferromagnetic objects in animal feed and an animal feed handling device comprising such a magnetic catcher device.

BACKGROUND

During preparation of animal feed, feed components are mixed in vertical or horizontal, stationary or mobile mixers. Different amounts of feed components, such as e.g. silage, straw, beet pulp and other feed components, are mixed in a mixer to produce a feed mixture suitable for feeding to a particular kind of animal, such as e.g. lactating cows or heifers.

Unintentionally some of the feed components may comprise metal parts such as pieces of wire, staples, screws, and broken tools. It is understood that such metal parts are

undesirable in animal feed and may cause injuries to the animals. Therefore, often one or more magnets are used in connection with mixing animal feed to remove ferromagnetic objects from the feed.

EP 2497359 discloses a screw for a feed mixing vehicle. The screw has a worm shaft rotatable around a vertical rotational axis. A worm thread helically extends around the worm shaft. An auxiliary wing is arranged offset from an initial edge of the worm thread and extends radially outwardly from the shaft. A rear end of the auxiliary wing is provided with a magnet. US 6332426 discloses an apparatus for feeding animals provided with a supply channel which receives wrapped feed bales. A delivery mechanism including a nozzle carries cut fodder from the feed bales to stalls to be consumed by the animals. The delivery mechanism includes a magnetic device or devices which may be electromagnets for removing pieces of metal from within the fodder.

EP 930005 discloses a truck for shredding and mixing products for zootechnical use, comprising on a self-propelled or towed wheeled chassis, a container with one or more rotating scrolls provided with shredding blades. The truck comprises two continuous conveyor belts. A magnet is mounted adjacent to a product passage region at an end of one of the conveyor belts to retain any potentially damaging metal pieces. US 5143221 discloses an apparatus comprising a container mounted on a chassis having wheels and a supporting structure. A powered vertical auger is provided inside the container for mixing animal fodder therein. A conveyor belt having side walls and a lower chute is located adjacent an opening in the container. Permanent magnets are fixed to the side walls and lower chute of the conveyor and to a tubular element of the supporting structure arranged above the conveyor for removing and retaining any ferromagnetic material contained in the animal fodder being conveyed. A more efficient solution for removing ferromagnetic objects from a batch of feed than in the above discussed prior art solutions is desirable.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved magnetic catcher device.

According to an aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a magnetic catcher device for ferromagnetic objects in animal feed comprising a fixed structure adapted to be attached to an animal feed handling device, a feed displacement member adapted to displace animal feed from a first position to a second position, and at least a first magnet unit. The feed displacement member is movably connected to the fixed structure, and the first magnet unit is attached to the feed displacement member.

Since the first magnet unit is attached to the movable feed displacement member, the first magnet unit is movable together with the feed displacement member.

It has been realized by the inventor that in magnetic catcher devices where animal feed and ferromagnetic objects travel past a stationary magnet, the pull force of the magnet has to overcome the kinetic energy of a ferromagnetic object to be able to attract the object. The present invention provides a solution according to which the difference in velocity between the animal feed and the magnet is zero. Since the magnet is attached to the movable feed displacement member, the pull force of the magnet does not have to overcome any kinetic energy to attract ferromagnetic objects from the animal feed. As a result, the above mentioned object is achieved. The magnetic catcher device may be mounted to various kinds of animal feed handling devices, such as e.g. at an outlet of a feed mixer, in connection with a cross conveyor on a vertical feed mixer, or in connection with a tilting animal feed conveyor.

According to embodiments, the first magnet unit may comprise at least one permanent magnet. For instance, the permanent magnet may be made from neodymium or AINiCo.

According to embodiments, the feed displacement member may comprise at least a first section and a second section. The first magnet unit may be attached to the feed

displacement member at the first section and a second magnet unit may be attached to the feed displacement member at the second section. In this manner magnets may be distributed over the feed displacement member to ensure that ferromagnetic objects in animal feed are sorted out by the magnetic catcher device when the ferromagnetic objects are displaced from the first position to the second position in the first section and in the second section. The feed displacement member may comprise further sections, each of the further sections comprising a magnet unit.

According to embodiments, the first magnet unit may comprise a number of separate magnets distributed over a portion of the first section. In this manner it may be ensured that a magnetic pull force is provided in a substantial part of the first section.

According to embodiments, the second magnet unit may comprise a number of separate magnets distributed over a portion of the second section. In this manner it may be ensured that a magnetic pull force is provided in a substantial part of the second section. According to embodiments, the feed displacement member may comprise a cylinder. A first protruding element may extend from the cylinder, and a second protruding element may extend from the cylinder. The cylinder may be rotatably attached to the fixed structure to rotate about a rotation axis. In this manner the magnetic catcher device may be provided with a rotatable feed displacement member. In such a magnetic catcher device the animal feed may easily be transported from the first position to the second position as the feed displacement member rotates, while e.g. the first magnet unit attracts ferromagnetic objects. The feed displacement member may be rotated by gravity as the weight of animal feed placed in cells formed between the first and second protruding elements in an upper first position brings the feed displacement member to rotate to a lower second position.

Alternatively, the feed displacement member may be actively rotated e.g. by a motor. Moreover, a magnetic catcher device with a rotating feed displacement member may easily be arranged along a feed transport path in an animal feed handling device, e.g. at an outlet of a mixer space, or at an end of a conveyor. According to embodiments, the feed displacement member may comprise at least two further protruding elements extending from the cylinder. In this manner further cells for animal feed may be provided between the at least two further protruding elements on the feed

displacement member. A higher number of cells entails smaller cells, and thus smaller portions of animal feed in each cell. A magnet unit in a cell may be more likely to attract ferromagnetic objects in a small cell than in a large cell.

According to embodiments, the first magnet unit may be attached to the first protruding element and/or the cylinder, and the second magnet unit may be attached to the second protruding element and/or the cylinder.

According to embodiments, the feed displacement member may comprise a conveyor member arranged to be movable along the fixed structure. In this manner a longer portion of a feed transport path in an animal feed handling device may form part of a magnetic catcher device than a magnetic catcher device comprising a rotating feed displacement member. Along the portion of the feed transport path provided by the conveyor member, ferromagnetic objects may be caught by the first magnet unit, and/or the second magnet unit, and/or further magnet units. The conveyor member may be driven e.g. by a motor.

According to embodiments, the first magnet unit may be attached to the conveyor member and/or the second magnet unit may be attached to the conveyor member.

According to embodiments, the feed displacement member may comprise a first protruding element and a second protruding element attached to the conveyor member, wherein the first magnet unit may be attached to the first protruding element and/or the second magnet unit may be attached to the second protruding element. In this manner cells for animal feed may be provided on the conveyor member.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an animal feed handling device providing an improved magnetic catching of ferromagnetic objects.

According to an aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by an animal feed handling device comprising a feed space adapted for temporarily storing animal feed therein, a feed dispensing end portion, and a feed transport path leading from the feed space to the feed dispensing end portion. The animal feed handling device comprises a magnetic catcher device according to any aspect or embodiment discussed herein. Due to the first magnet unit of the magnetic catcher device moving together with the animal feed, the force of the first magnetic unit does not have to overcome the kinetic energy of any ferromagnetic objects in the animal feed, as explained above. As a result the object is achieved. According to embodiments, the animal feed handling device may comprise a feed transporting element adapted to transport feed along at least a portion of the feed transport path. The magnetic catcher device may be arranged downstream of the feed transporting element. In this manner the feed transporting element may be arranged to transport animal feed to the magnetic catcher device, or to place animal feed onto the magnetic catcher device.

According to embodiments, the magnetic catcher device may be arranged at the feed dispensing end portion. In this manner the magnetic catcher device may be arranged an end of the feed transport path. At the end of the feed transport path the magnetic catcher device may be easily accessible for removal of any ferromagnetic objects from the first magnet unit and the second magnet unit.

According to embodiments, the animal feed handling device may comprise a magnet carrying structure arranged above the feed transport path. The magnet carrying structure may comprise at least two magnet carrying members extending perpendicularly to the feed transport path. The at least two magnet carrying members may be adapted to extend into animal feed being transported along the feed transport path. In this manner animal feed in the animal handling device may be subjected to further magnets, thus increasing the likelihood to catch any ferromagnetic objects in the animal feed.

According to embodiments, the magnet carrying structure may be arranged above the feed transporting element at the feed dispensing end portion. In this manner the magnet carrying structure may be easily accessible for removal of any ferromagnetic objects therefrom. According to embodiments, a mixing device may be arranged in the feed space. In this manner a mixing of animal feed may be provided in the animal feed handling device. Further features of, and advantages with, the present invention will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Various aspects of the invention, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the example embodiments discussed in the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates embodiments of a magnetic catcher device for ferromagnetic objects in animal feed,

Fig. 2 illustrates a side view of the magnetic catcher device illustrated in Fig. 1 ,

Fig. 3 illustrates a side view of alternative embodiments of a magnetic catcher device, Fig. 4 schematically illustrates embodiments of a magnetic catcher device for ferromagnetic objects in animal feed,

Fig. 5 illustrates an animal feed handling device according to embodiments, and

Fig. 6 illustrates a portion of an animal feed handling device according to embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present invention will now be described more fully. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Well-known functions or constructions will not necessarily be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

Fig. 1 illustrates embodiments of a magnetic catcher device 2 for ferromagnetic objects in animal feed. The magnetic catcher device 2 comprises a fixed structure 4. The fixed structure 4 is adapted to be attached to an animal feed handling device, e.g. via the illustrated slots 6 provided in arm elements 8 of the fixed structure 4. The magnetic catcher device 2 further comprises a feed displacement member 10 adapted to displace feed from a first position to a second position, and at least a first magnet unit 12. The feed displacement member 10 is movably connected to the fixed structure 4. The first magnet unit 12 is attached to the feed displacement member 10.

The feed displacement member 10 comprises a cylinder 14. A first protruding element 16 and a second protruding element 18 extend from the cylinder 14. The cylinder 14 is rotatably attached to the fixed structure 4 to rotate about a rotation axis 20. The feed displacement member 10 comprises at least a first section 21 and a second section 22. The first magnet unit 12 is attached to the feed displacement member 10 at the first section 21 and a second magnet unit 24 is attached to the feed displacement member 10 at the second section 22. In this embodiment, the first magnet unit 12 is attached to the first protruding element 16, which forms part of the first section 21 , and the second magnet unit 24 is attached to the second protruding element 18, which forms part of the second section 22.

The first magnet unit 12 may comprise a number of separate permanent magnets 26 evenly distributed over a portion of the first section 21. In this embodiment the first magnet unit 12 comprises 15 permanent magnets 26. Similarly, the second magnet unit 24 may comprise a number of separate permanent magnets 28 distributed over a portion of the second section 22. In this embodiment the second magnet unit 24 comprises 15 permanent magnets 28. The magnets 26, 28 of the first and second magnet units 12, 24 are evenly distributed over each of the first and second protruding elements 16, 18. Mentioned purely as an example, the magnets 26, 28 may be arranged at 45 mm distance from each other in a direction parallel with the rotation axis 20 and offset 25 mm from each other in a direction

perpendicular to the rotation axis 20. Each magnet 26, 28 may e.g. be a neodymium magnet having an outer diameter of 25 mm and a pull force of 6 kg. The magnets 26, 28 are secured to the respective first and second protruding elements 16, 18 by bolts and nuts.

Fig. 2 illustrates a side view of the magnetic catcher device 2 illustrated in Fig. 1. The feed displacement member 10 comprises at least two further protruding elements 30 extending from the cylinder 4 beside the first and second protruding elements 16, 8. In this embodiment the feed displacement member 10 comprises in total six protruding elements 16, 18, 30. Cells 32 for animal feed are formed between the protruding elements 16, 18, 30. Each cell 32 may form part of a section of the displacement member 10, such as the first section 21 and the second section 22.

As mentioned above, the feed displacement member 0 is adapted to displace animal feed from a first position 34 to a second position 36. When put to use in an animal feed handling device, the first position 34 is arranged at an upper side of the magnetic catcher device 2, and the second position 36 is arranged at a lower side of the magnetic catcher device 2. Portions of animal feed 38 are placed in the cells 32 at the first position 34 and are emptied from the cells 32 at the second position 36 as the feed displacement member 0 rotates about its rotation axis. While the portions of animal feed 38 are placed in the cells 32, and/or while the portions of animal feed 38 are rotated from the first position 34 to the second position 36, and/or while the portions of animal feed 38 are emptied from the cells 32, ferromagnetic objects 40 in the portions of animal feed 38 are pulled towards the magnet unit in each cell 32. The ferromagnetic objects 30 may be manually removed, e.g. after use of the magnetic catcher device 2.

Fig. 3 illustrates a side view of an alternative embodiment of a magnetic catcher device 2. This embodiment resembles the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 2. Only the main differences will be discussed, which differences are the number of protruding elements 16, 18, 30, and the arrangement of the magnet units 12, 24 of each section of the feed displacement member 10. In this embodiment the feed displacement member 10 comprises a total of five protruding elements 16, 18, 30.

Again, each magnet unit 12, 24 comprises a number of separate permanent magnets evenly distributed over a portion of a relevant section of the feed displacement member 10. In this embodiment a portion of a section comprises a protruding element 16, 18, 30 and a portion of the cylinder 14. Accordingly, the first magnet unit 12 is attached to the first protruding element 16, and the cylinder 14 and the second magnet unit 24 is attached to the second protruding element 18 and the cylinder 14.

In alternative embodiments the magnet unit may be attached only to the cylinder 14 in each section of the feed displacement member 10. A further alternative may be to have different arrangements of magnet units in various sections of the feed displacement member 10. With reference to the embodiments of Figs. 1 - 3 it is mentioned, purely as an example, that a total diameter D of the feed displacement member 10 may be 230 mm, a total radial length R of a protruding element may be 70 mm, and a total length of the feed displacement 0 along its rotation axis may be 730 mm. Fig. 4 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a magnetic catcher device 2 for

ferromagnetic objects in animal feed. The magnetic catcher device 2 comprises a fixed structure 4. The fixed structure 4 is adapted to be attached to an animal feed handling device. The magnetic catcher device 2 further comprises a feed displacement member 10 adapted to displace animal feed from a first position 34 to a second position 36, a first magnet unit 12, a second magnet unit 24 and further magnet units 41. The feed

displacement member 10 is movably connected to the fixed structure 4. The first magnet unit 12 is attached to the feed displacement member 10. The feed displacement member 10 comprises a conveyor member 42 arranged to be movable along the fixed structure 4. A motor 44 is arranged to drive the conveyor member 42. The conveyor member 42 may comprise one or more belts, chains, or any other arrangement adapted to transport animal feed thereon and to move along the fixed structure 4.

The feed displacement member 10 comprises at least a first section 21 and a second section 22. The first magnet unit 12 is attached to the conveyor member 42 at the first section 21 and the second magnet unit 24 is attached to the conveyor member 42 at the second section 22.

Again, each magnet unit 12, 24, 41 may comprise a number of separate permanent magnets evenly distributed over a portion of a relevant section of the feed displacement member 10. In Fig. 4 several possible alternative arrangements of the magnet units 12, 24, 41 are illustrated. One or more of the magnet units 12, 24, 41 may be attached to the conveyor member 42. If the feed displacement member 10 comprises protruding elements 16, 18, 30, one or more of the magnet units 41 may be attached to some or all of the protruding elements 16, 18, 30. Portions of animal feed 38 placed on the conveyor member 42 at the first position 34 are emptied from the conveyor member 42 at the second position 36 as the conveyor member 42 moves along the fixed structure 4. While the portions of animal feed 38 are moved from the first position 34 to the second position 36, ferromagnetic objects 40 in the portions of animal feed 38 are pulled towards the magnet units 12, 24, 41.

Fig. 5 illustrates an animal feed handling device 50 according to embodiments. The animal feed handling device 50 comprises a feed space 52 adapted for temporarily storing animal feed therein, a feed dispensing end portion 54, and a feed transport path leading from the feed space 52 to the feed dispensing end portion 54. A mixing device 56, such as e.g. an auger, is arranged in the feed space 52.

The animal feed handling device 50 comprises a feed transporting element 58 adapted to transport feed along at least a portion of the feed transport path, e.g. from an outlet of the feed space 52 to a further feed transporting element 60. The animal feed handling device 50 comprises a magnetic catcher device 2 arranged downstream of the feed transporting element 58. In this embodiment, the magnetic catcher device 2 is arranged at the feed dispensing end portion 54. The magnetic catcher device 2 is a magnetic catcher device 2 as discussed in connection with the embodiments of Figs. 1 - 3. As an alternative, a magnetic catcher device 2 as discussed in connection with the embodiments of Fig. 4 may be used in the animal feed handling device 50. In such embodiments the magnetic catcher device may form the further transporting element 60. The catcher device 2 comprising a rotating feed displacement member could still be used, or could alternatively be omitted.

Fig. 6 illustrates a portion of an animal feed handling device 50 according to embodiments. The animal feed handling device 50 may e.g. be an animal feed handling device 50 as discussed in connection with Fig. 5, and comprises a magnet carrying structure 62 arranged above the feed transport path of the animal feed handling device 50. The magnet carrying structure 62 is arranged above one feed transporting element 60 at the feed dispensing end portion 54 of the feed transport path.

The magnet carrying structure 62 comprises at least two magnet carrying members 64 extending perpendicularly to the feed transport path. In this embodiment there are provided six magnet carrying members 64. The magnet carrying members 64 are pivotably connected to the animal feed handling device to pivot about an axis 68. They are adapted to extend into and/or above animal feed being transported along the feed transport path, i.e. animal feed being transported by the feed transporting element 60. Each magnet carrying member 64 may be provided with a number of permanent magnets 66, e.g. five magnets 66 as illustrated. The magnets 66 may be of the same kind as the magnets provided on the magnetic catcher device 2.

This invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. A person skilled in the art will realize that different features of the embodiments disclosed herein may be combined to create embodiments other than those described herein, without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims. It is also understood by those skilled in the art that the magnetic catcher device 2 may comprise a different kind of fixed structure than illustrated in Figs. 1 - 6. The fixed structure may form an integral part of a feed handling device 50. A different number of permanent magnets may be used than 15, both larger and smaller numbers of magnets are foreseen. An even distribution of the magnets over a portion of a relevant section of the feed displacement member is recommended to ensure a reliable catching of ferromagnetic objects from animal feed. The shape of the separate magnets may be other than round. The magnets may be attached in other ways than with bolts and nuts, e.g. by gluing. The protruding elements 16, 18, 30 may be made from ferromagnetic material. In such case, the permanent magnets may magnetise the protruding elements 16, 18, 30 to such an extent that ferromagnetic objects may stick also to the protruding elements 16, 18, 30.

Although the invention has been described with reference to example embodiments, many different alterations, modifications and the like will become apparent for those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of various example embodiments and that the invention is defined only by the appended claims.

As used herein, the term "comprising" or "comprises" is open-ended, and includes one or more stated features, elements, steps, components or functions but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, steps, components, functions or groups thereof.