The invention relates in general to a vehicle for depositing feed along a feed fence for animals.

The invention relates in particular to a vehicle for depositing feed along a feed fence for animals, in particular cows, such as dairy cows or meat cows, wherein the vehicle comprises a container for accommodating feed, which is provided with a dispensing opening for allowing the feed accommodated in the container to flow out of the container on account of the force of gravity when the vehicle moves in a direction of travel along the feed fence during operation, and wherein the vehicle comprises a feed- displacement device for displacing, during operation, remaining feed which is situated along the feed fence and fresh feed which has flowed out of the container via the dispensing opening substantially transversely to the direction of travel of the vehicle and towards the feed fence in order to form a swath-shaped heap of feed along the feed fence.

The automatic feed system Vector ^® by Lely is known. This feed system comprises an autonomous and self-propelled vehicle, which is used to deposit feed along a feed fence for animals in an automated manner. The vehicle comprises a container which is filled with a batch of feed. When the feed-containing vehicle then drives along the feed fence, the feed is allowed to flow out of the container via a dispensing opening which is provided in the container, in such a way that a strip of feed in the form of a swath shaped heap of feed along the feed fence is formed. Animals which are situated behind the feed fence are able to reach feed deposited by the vehicle by passing their head through an opening in the feed fence.

Feed may be supplied in various forms and may contain relatively large, tuberous components, such as potatoes and/or beets, in their entirety and/or in pieces, and optionally mixed with smaller components. When the above-mentioned vehicle receives feed containing such relatively large components and dispenses this feed from the container via the dispensing opening, it is possible for these relatively large components to roll away in a direction away from the feed fence when dosing out the feed, as a result of which the large, tuberous components of the feed can no longer be reached by the animals. This undesirable effect may occur, in particular, when the large, tuberous components have a generally round shape. It is also possible for the large, tuberous components to exit the dispensing opening in an undesired direction during dosing out of the feed, such as forwards at an angle away from the feed fence, as a result of which these large components also come to lie outside the reach of the animals. It is an object of the invention to provide a vehicle for depositing feed along a feed fence for animals, wherein the risk of components in the dosed-out feed ending up beyond the reach of the animals along the feed fence is reduced.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the vehicle is provided with a deflecting device for deflecting feed which has flowed out of the container via the dispensing opening during operation of the vehicle, in a direction substantially transversely to the direction of travel of the vehicle and towards the feed fence, wherein the deflecting device is configured to move and/or guide tuberous components, such as potatoes and/or beets, in the fresh feed in such a way in the direction substantially transversely to the direction of travel of the vehicle and towards the feed fence that these tuberous components, after the remaining feed and the fresh feed have been displaced by the feed-displacement device to form the swath-shaped heap of feed, are substantially situated in or on this swath-shaped heap of feed, and in particular remain therein or thereon.

The vehicle according to the invention comprises a feed-displacement device for, during operation, displacing remaining feed which is situated along the feed fence, i.e. feed which the animals have not yet eaten, together with fresh feed which has just flowed out of the container via the dispensing opening, substantially transversely to the direction of travel of the vehicle and towards the feed fence in order to form a swath shaped heap of feed along the feed fence. While eating, the animals push the feed away from the feed fence until it is out of reach of the animals. By means of the feed- displacement device, the feed is moved back and/or pushed back in the direction towards the feed fence when the vehicle drives along the feed fence. In this case, the feed- displacement device is active, viewed in the direction of travel of the vehicle, behind the dispensing opening. In other words, the feed-displacement device is configured to push back not only remaining feed which is still situated along the feed fence, but also freshly dosed-out feed. The fresh feed is pushed together with the remaining feed to form the swath-shaped heap of feed.

By providing and using the deflecting device, the tuberous components of the feed are passed further towards the feed fence than if the deflecting device were not present in the vehicle. In particular, the deflecting device is intended to move the feed containing the tuberous components which has flowed out of the container via the dispensing opening during operation of the vehicle, away from the dispensing opening, in the direction towards the feed fence, immediately after the feed flows out of the dispensing opening and before the feed ends up on the floor along the feed fence. As a result thereof, the risk of the large, tuberous components in the feed, such as potatoes and/or beets, immediately after dosing out, coming to lie outside the reach of the animals is reduced. The deflecting device is thus configured to pass the tuberous components in the fresh feed which flows out of the container via the dispensing opening, in the direction substantially transversely to the direction of travel of the vehicle and towards the feed fence over such a distance that these tuberous components, after the remaining feed and the fresh feed together have been pushed back by the feed-displacement device to form the swath-shaped heap of feed, remain substantially in and/or on this swath-shaped heap of feed, i.e. within reach of the animals. The animals along the feed fence can then eat the tuberous components of the ration.

It is noted that a deflecting device is generally known, also for use with feed mixing wagons. However, the known deflecting devices for use with feed-mixing wagons are configured to counteract a feed stream towards the feed fence, in particular to prevent feed from flying through the feed fence, as is the case with a transverse conveyor belt for dispensing feed from the feed-mixing wagon laterally. In contrast to the known deflecting devices, the deflecting device according to the invention is configured not to counteract a stream of feed towards the feed fence, but in fact to ensure it.

Furthermore, it is noted that EP 2845473 A1 discloses a mixing/dosing wagon for a fodder, in particular for dosing roughage in the cow-calf industry. The mixing/dosing wagon comprises a mobile undercarriage and a bin for containing the fodder. The bin comprises a lateral discharge opening for discharging the fodder. Along the sides and the bottom of the discharge opening, flexible, rubber guide members are fitted to the outside of the bin which are adapted for guiding the discharged fodder towards a trough.

For the sake of completeness, it is also noted that where terms such as “bottom” and “top” are used in the present text, these should be interpreted against a background of the vehicle in a normal, operating orientation.

In a preferred embodiment, the swath-shaped heap of feed of remaining feed and fresh feed along the feed fence comprises a highest line, wherein the deflecting device is configured in such a way that, after the feed-displacement device has displaced the remaining feed and the fresh feed in order to form the swath-shaped heap of feed, the tuberous components in the fresh feed substantially end up between this highest line and the feed fence. In this case, the feed-displacement device is configured in such a way that, during operation, it displaces remaining feed which is situated along the feed fence, i.e. feed which has not yet been eaten by the animals, together with fresh feed which has just flowed out of the container via the dispensing opening, substantially transversely to the direction of travel of the vehicle and towards the feed fence in order to form a swath-shaped heap of feed with a highest line along the feed fence, i.e. a line of highest points. The deflecting device is configured to pass the tuberous components in the fresh feed which flows out of the container via the dispensing opening during operation of the vehicle, over such a distance in the direction substantially transversely to the direction of travel of the vehicle and towards the feed fence that these tuberous components end up substantially between this highest line and the feed fence after the feed-displacement device has pushed the remaining feed and the fresh feed together in order to form the swath-shaped heap of feed. The tuberous components then end up on the flank of the heap of feed which runs obliquely downwards and towards the feed fence. This ensures that the tuberous components of the feed do not roll in a direction away from the feed fence. When they end up in the swath-shaped heap of feed, these components are more likely to roll in a direction towards the feed fence, i.e. they remain within reach of the animals.

It may be practical if the vehicle comprises a removal device for removing feed which is accommodated in the container from the container via the dispensing opening. In particular, such a removal device may comprise a rotatably drivable body which is arranged outside the container, substantially in front of the dispensing opening, and has a plurality of teeth which move through the dispensing opening upon rotation of the body. The deflecting device may then be situated at least partly under the removal device. In a practical embodiment, the deflecting device is provided with a deflecting panel with a deflecting surface which is situated under the dispensing opening, wherein the deflecting surface is configured to catch and pass on the fresh feed comprising the tuberous components which has, during operation, been removed from the container by the removal device and has flowed out of the container via the dispensing opening and deflecting that feed in the direction substantially transversely to the direction of travel of the vehicle and towards the feed fence.

The rotatably drivable body may be arranged in the removal device in any suitable way, in which case, for example, a number of bearings may be used. The removal device may comprise a bottom bearing block in which the rotatably drivable body is mounted. If the deflecting device comprises a deflecting panel as described above, it is preferable for the deflecting panel to be fitted to that bottom bearing block and to extend obliquely downwards from that bottom bearing block in the direction substantially transversely to the direction of travel of the vehicle and towards the feed fence. As a result thereof, the dimensions of the deflecting panel can remain limited, i.e. the desired effect is achieved using a relatively small deflecting panel.

In practice, an elongate unloading roller is used as the rotatably drivable body, in particular if the dispensing opening has an elongate shape and extends substantially in a vertical direction. For the sake of completeness, it is noted that the dispensing opening may in any case have the afore-mentioned design, i.e. irrespective of the use of a removal device.

The deflecting panel from the deflecting device may be designed in any suitable way. Thus, it may be advantageous for the deflecting panel to be generally channel-like, but it is for example also possible for the deflecting panel to have a completely flat section for guiding the feed. If the deflecting device comprises a deflecting panel, the latter may be fitted to the vehicle in such a way that it extends obliquely downwards, in the direction substantially transversely to the direction of travel of the vehicle and towards the feed fence. The obliquely downward orientation results in the tuberous components in the feed moving easily across the deflecting panel on account of the force of gravity, away from the dispensing opening and towards the feed fence. This does not alter the fact that embodiments of the deflecting device which are provided with a mechanism to actively move the components of the feed away from the dispensing opening and towards the feed fence are also possible within the scope of the invention.

If the deflecting device comprises a deflecting panel, then this may be fixedly fitted to the vehicle. However, it may also be practical if the deflecting panel can be moved between an operating position and a non-operating position, wherein the position of the deflecting panel can then be chosen on the basis of the type of feed which is being processed by the vehicle.

As is known per se in the field of vehicles which are designed to move back and/or push back feed in the direction of a feed fence, the feed-displacement device may comprise a rotatably arranged continuous skirt with an outer surface for pushing away feed which is situated in a path of the skirt during operation of the vehicle. However, in the context of the invention, a different design of the feed-displacement device is also possible.

According to a design which is known per se, the container may be provided with a bottom, a peripheral wall which extends upwards from the bottom, and an open top end which makes loading feed into the container possible, wherein the dispensing opening is provided laterally in the peripheral wall. In a general sense, it is practical if the dispensing opening has a lateral position in the container, with the term “laterally” having to be understood to mean with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle.

The container may furthermore be provided with a mixing and/or cutting member for mixing feed accommodated in the container, wherein the mixing and/or cutting member is arranged in the container so as to be drivable and rotatable. Such a mixing and/or cutting member may be rotatable about a substantially vertical rotation axis.

In particular, the container may comprise a door which is displaceable between a closed position in which the dispensing opening is closed by the door and an open position in which the dispensing opening is at least partly open. In this case, it is advantageous if the vehicle comprises a control system, in which the door is operable between the open and closed position by means of an electrical door motor which is controllable by the control system, and wherein the control system is configured to operate the door towards the open position while the vehicle moves in a direction of travel along the feed fence, in such a way that feed accommodated in the container flows out of the container via the dispensing opening, in particular on account of the force of gravity. The controllable door, optionally in combination with the above-described removal device, forms a dosing device for dosing the feed from the container onto a surface along the feed fence, for example a floor of a feeding alley in an animal shed.

According to the invention, it is preferred if the vehicle is autonomous and self-propelled. With an autonomous and self-propelled vehicle for automatically depositing feed along a feed fence for animals, the above-described technical advantages of the deflecting device according to the invention become clearly evident.

The invention also relates to a method for, preferably automatically, feeding animals, in particular cows, such as dairy cows or meat cows, by means of a vehicle as described above.

The invention will be explained below by means of the drawing, in which a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of an autonomous and self-propelled vehicle for depositing feed along a feed fence for animals is shown, in which identical reference numerals denote identical or similar components, and in which:

Figure 1 diagrammatically shows a first perspective view of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 diagrammatically shows a second perspective view of the vehicle shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 diagrammatically shows a top view of an animal shed with a feed fence and the vehicle shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 diagrammatically shows a vehicle 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, which is one of many embodiments which are possible in the context of the invention. Figure 3 illustrates the intended use of the vehicle 10, namely the use for depositing feed 1 on a surface, in particular a floor of a feeding alley, along a feed fence 2 in an animal shed 4 for animals 3, such as cows. The vehicle 10 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is shown diagrammatically in Figure 3 without details.

The vehicle 10 comprises a container 20 for accommodating a batch of feed 1. The vehicle 10 is able to carry an amount of feed 1 and to move autonomously and freely. The container 20 is provided with a dispensing opening 22 to allow the feed 1 accommodated in the container 20 to flow out of the container 20 when the vehicle 10 moves along the feed fence 2 during operation. The container 20 is provided with a bottom 23, a peripheral wall 24 which extends from the bottom 23 upwards, and an open top end 25 which allows the container 20 to be loaded with feed 1.

The dispensing opening 22 is fitted laterally in the peripheral wall 24 and is closable by means of a door 26 which is displaceable between a closed position which is illustrated in Figure 1, in which the dispensing opening 22 is closed by the door 26, and an open position (see Figure 2) in which the dispensing opening 22 is at least partly open. In this exemplary embodiment, the door 26 is configured as a sliding door which can be moved up and down - in the open position, the door is moved up. In order to operate the door 26, i.e. place the door 26 in a position between the closed and open position, depending on current circumstances, the vehicle 10 comprises a control system 12 and an electrical door motor 14 which is controllable by the control system 12.

The container 20 is provided with a mixing and/or cutting member 15 for mixing feed 1 accommodated in the container 20, wherein the mixing and/or cutting member 15 is fitted in the container 20 so as to be drivable and rotatable. This mixing and/or cutting member 15 is rotatable about a substantially vertical rotation axis 16 and may be, for example, an auger.

In the illustrated embodiment, the vehicle 10 is not only configured to deposit feed 1 along a feed fence 2, but also to push back deposited feed 1 in the direction towards the feed fence 2. To this end, the vehicle 10 is provided with a feed-displacement device 30 which is situated under the container 20. In particular, this feed-displacement device 30 is configured to displace, during operation, feed 1 which is situated along the feed fence 2 substantially transversely to the direction of travel R of the vehicle 10 and towards the feed fence 2 in order to form a swath-shaped heap of feed 1a along the feed fence 2, i.e. a strip of feed with a line H of highest points (see Figure 3) and downwardly slanting flanks on either side thereof. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the feed-displacement device 30 comprises a continuous, rotatable skirt 31 with an outer surface 32 for pushing away feed 1 which is situated in a path of the skirt 31 during operation of the vehicle 10. The bottom edge of the skirt 31 runs at a slight angle with respect to the floor, so that the bottom edge of the skirt 31 has a contact point 17 with the floor at the front left (see Figure 3). As a result thereof, the skirt 31 rotates when the vehicle 10 moves forward. However, it is also possible for the skirt 31 to be drivable by an electrical drive motor (not shown).

The vehicle 10 is autonomous and self-propelled, i.e. the vehicle 10 is provided with a propelling device (not shown) with wheels and/or other components by means of which it can move across the floor and a drive mechanism therefor (not shown). The vehicle 10 is furthermore provided with a navigation and steering system which is configured to displace the vehicle 10 completely automatically and in an intended manner from a location where feed 1 is loaded into the container 20 to the animal shed 4, in the animal shed 4 along the feed fence 2, from the animal shed 4 back to the location where feed 1 is loaded into the container 20, etc. The navigation and steering system preferably comprises a number of sensors to obtain current information about the environment which is then processed in order to control the propelling device.

The vehicle 10 is provided with one or more batteries (not shown) in order to be able to provide all electrical components of the vehicle 10 with power during operation, so that the vehicle 10 does not have to be connected to a power supply during operation. Preferably, the vehicle 10 is configured to monitor the state of the at least one battery and to move towards a charging point autonomously and at a suitable point in time and to connect thereto in order to prevent the battery from becoming completely discharged. Furthermore, the control system 12 of the vehicle 10 comprises a processor unit or a similar unit to be able to control the various actions which may be performed in and by the vehicle 10. The above-mentioned systems for controlling one or more components of the vehicle 10 may all form part of said unit.

During use in the animal shed 4, the vehicle 10 drives in a direction of travel R along the feed fence 2, as is illustrated in Figure 3. In the illustrated example, there is still an amount of feed 1b present along the feed fence 2 from one or more previous feed deposits by the vehicle 10. Due to the animals 3 eating, the remaining amount of feed 1b in front of the vehicle 10 has been scattered in a direction away from the feed fence 2. This amount of feed 1b may have different forms. In a new feed delivery, the vehicle 10 deposits a new amount of feed 1 and moves the feed 1b which is still present and the newly dosed-out feed which is situated in the path of the skirt 31 of the feed-displacement device 30 towards the feed fence 2, so that a narrower strip of feed 1a having the shape of a swath is produced along the feed fence 2 behind the vehicle 10, i.e. the strip of feed 1a substantially has a line H of highest points and downwardly slanting flanks on either side thereof.

As is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the vehicle 10 comprises an unloading roller 41 which forms part of a removal device 40 of the vehicle 10. The removal device 40 serves to remove feed 1 accommodated in the container 20, in particular grass silage or hay in the feed, via the dispensing opening 22 from the container 20. The unloading roller 41 is fitted substantially in front of the dispensing opening 22, on the outside of the container 20, and is rotatable about a substantially vertical rotation axis. The unloading roller 41 has a plurality of teeth 42 which move through the dispensing opening 22 upon rotation of the unloading roller 41.

Furthermore, the vehicle 10 comprises a deflecting device 50 which comprises a deflecting panel 51. The deflecting device 50 serves to deflect a stream of feed 1 which moves out the container 20 during operation of the vehicle 10 via the dispensing opening 22, in a direction substantially transversely to the direction of travel R of the vehicle 10 and towards feed fence 2. The use of the deflecting device 50 is mainly intended to ensure that when the feed 1 contains relatively large, solid components, in particular tuberous components, such as potatoes and/or beets, either in their entirety and/or in pieces, these components do not land too far away from the feed fence 2, which might otherwise be the case because these components tend to roll due to their shape. It is particularly advantageous if the deflecting device 50 is configured to ensure that the components of the feed 1 , viewed from the vehicle 10, end up beyond the line H of highest points after the feed 1 has been pushed back to form the swath-shaped heap of feed 1a. If the components then start to roll, they are guided towards the feed fence 31 instead of away from it.

The deflecting panel 51 has a deflecting surface 52 which is situated under the dispensing opening 22. It is this deflecting surface 52 in particular which is configured to catch the feed 1 which has flowed out of the container 20 via the dispensing opening 22 during operation and to deflect that feed 1 in the direction substantially transversely to the direction of travel R of the vehicle 10 and towards the feed fence 2. In the illustrated example, the deflecting panel 51 forms part of a plate part which has been bent in a few locations in order to have a fitting section 53 in addition to the deflecting panel 51. By means of this fitting section 53, the plate part is fixed to the vehicle 10 with the deflecting panel 51 in a position under the dispensing opening 22 and under the unloading roller 41. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the deflecting panel 51 is fitted to a bottom bearing block 43 of the unloading roller 41. The deflecting panel 51 extends obliquely downwards from this mounting position in the direction substantially transversely to the direction of travel R of the vehicle 10 and towards the feed fence 2. Due to this positioning and orientation of the deflecting panel 51, the dimensions can be relatively small, while the desired effect is nevertheless reached of supplying relatively large components of the feed 1 in such a way that they are readily reachable by the animals 3 if they stick their head through the feed fence 2 in order to eat the feed 1.

Therefore, according to the invention, an autonomous and self-propelled vehicle 10 is provided which is configured to provide animals 3 which are situated behind a feed fence 2 in an animal shed 4 with feed 1 in an efficient manner. In particular, tuberous, solid components of the feed 1 are prevented from being able to roll outside the reach of the animals 3 as a result of the fact that these components are guided in a direction substantially transversely to the direction of travel R of the vehicle 10 and towards the feed fence 2. To this end, the vehicle 10 is provided with a deflecting device 50 which does not have to be a complicated addition to the vehicle 10 and, in a simple embodiment, does not have to comprise of more than a deflecting panel 51 which is fitted and may be oriented in such a way that these components of the feed 1 end up at a desired position in the produced swath-shaped heap of feed 1a with respect to the feed fence 2, in particular a position which, viewed from the vehicle 10, is beyond a highest line H of the swath-shaped heap of feed 1a along the feed fence 2.

The invention is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiment. Various variations and modifications thereof are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.