CA1159208A - Automatic control for a pellet producing apparatus - Google Patents
Automatic control for a pellet producing apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA1159208A CA1159208A CA000392921A CA392921A CA1159208A CA 1159208 A CA1159208 A CA 1159208A CA 000392921 A CA000392921 A CA 000392921A CA 392921 A CA392921 A CA 392921A CA 1159208 A CA1159208 A CA 1159208A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- mill
- control system
- pellet
- temperature
- ingred
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Landscapes
- Processing And Handling Of Plastics And Other Materials For Molding In General (AREA)
Abstract
AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR A PELLET
PRODUCING APPARATUS
Abstract A control system for an automatic pellet pro-ducing system for producing pellets from a milled material of a selected composition. A difference in temperature of the material across the mill ( .DELTA. T
mill), is sensed and the proportion of selected in gredients of the material is controlled prior to entering the pellet mill to maintain .DELTA. T mill with-in a prescribed range.
PRODUCING APPARATUS
Abstract A control system for an automatic pellet pro-ducing system for producing pellets from a milled material of a selected composition. A difference in temperature of the material across the mill ( .DELTA. T
mill), is sensed and the proportion of selected in gredients of the material is controlled prior to entering the pellet mill to maintain .DELTA. T mill with-in a prescribed range.
Description
AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR A PELLET
PRODUCING APPARATUS
Background and Summary of the Invention This invention is an improvement of the Au-tomatic Pellet Producing System of U.S. Patent 3,932,736. Essentially, that patent discloses an automatic pellet producing system wherein the mois-ture content of the materiaI at the mill is automati-cally controlled to within a prescribed range, and the feed rate of the material to the mill is automatically controlled in response to the moisture content control.
In a preferred embodiment of that patent, tbe moisture content is controlled by sensing a temperature dif-ference ( ~ T) which is the dif~erence between the temperature of the material at a first location of the material prior to entering the mill, and the tem-perature of the material at a second location as it enters the mill. The referenced patent also includes, among other features, a load control system for auto matically controlling the load on the pe;let mill when the moisture control conditions are satisfied.
The present invention represents an improve-ment over the cited patent in the selection of ~ T.
; As explained, the ~ T of the referenced patent is mea-sured by sensing the temperature of th~ material at . ,~ , ,~
~5~
first and second locations prior to entering the mill.
In accordance with the present invention, ~ T is measured by sensing temperatures of the mater-ial across the mill ( ~ T mill), or a parameter that is directly related to the ~ T across the mill.
One of the problems in producing pellets has been to control the moisure content of the material to be pelleted. For a given formulation, for proper pellet consistency, minimum load on the mill, and maximum production, are interrelated. It has been discovered that ~ T mill is very closely, if not directly, related to the work done by the mill in pro-ducing the pellets. The greater ~ T mill, the great-er the work, and convexsely the lower ~ T mill, the less the work done by the mill in producing the pellets. It has also been discovered that for a given feed formulation there is a range of ~ T mill that will give good pellet quality, keep the work done by the mill to a minimum, and allow maximum pellet pro-duction.
One of the advantages of the present inven-tion is that the use of ~ T mill takes into account the peculiarities inherent within the mill itself.
Although the specifications of mills of the same type, load capacity, etc., may appear to be the same, there are always inherent characteristics peculiar to each machine. For example, when comparing supposedly iden-tical machines, with both operating at the same work level and at the same production speed, the load on one may be less than the other. By operating both machines within a prescribed ~ T mill range, the production rate of each can be adjusted for maximum production within the prescribed load limitations.
Generally, in accordance with the present invention, a prescribed ~ T mill range is selected.
~ T mill is then sensed and the proportion of certain ~s~
ingredients in the formulation is controlled to main-tain ~ T mill within the prescribed range.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, ~ T mill is sensed by sensing the temperature of the material as it enters the mill, sensing the tempera-ture of the material at the output of the mill, and measuring the difference between these temperatures ( ~ T mill). The amount of moisture in the material is controlled to maintain ~ T mill within the selected range. The moisture content may be controlled by con-trolling the amount of steam, water, dry heat, or some other suitable moisture additive or moisture con-trolling ingredient. The more moisture in the ma-terial, the lower the ~ T mill. The less amount of moisture, the greater the ~ T mill. Upon satisfying the ~ T mill condition, the feed rate of the material into the mill is controlled for maximum productivity within the load limitations of the mill.
Description of the Drawlng Figure 1 is a schematic of the control of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a view in section taken generally along the lil~e 2-2 of Figure l.
Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawing and to reference patent 3,932,736. It will be noted that the ; ~` drawing is a schematic of the control system which re-presents a portion of that disclosed in the referenced patent. Essentially, the same network as shown in Figures l, 2 and 3 of the referenced patent can be used with the present invention except that the tem-perature sensors 106 and lO9 are relocated to the in-put and output of the pellet mill for measuring ~ T
;mill rather than the ~ T of the referenced patent.
Thus, using the same reference numerals as in the referenced patent, there is shown a bin 10 for hold--ing a supply of material from which pellets are to be r -4~
made. In the case of feed pellets, the material is pre-ferably in milled form and is composed from any o a great variety of animal feed formulations including the numerous ones most con~only used in the art. The milled material is fed by means Oc an appropriate feed screw 11, auger, gravimetric feeder, or the like, into a condition-er 12. The feed screw 11 is operated, or made to rotate, by means of a variable speed screw motor 18. The con-ditioner includes rotating paddles or the like to aggi-tate and add tur~ulance to the material as thP materialmoves therethrough. A motor 20 operates the aggitator.
From the conditioner, the material is fed down a chute 24 and into a pellet mill or pellet producing means 25. The pellet mill 25 mi~ht, for example, be of the die type and comprise a rotating cylinder with radial holes therein and rollers mounted within the cylinder. The material is fed into the cylinder and by interaction of the cylinder and rollers is forced through ; the holes in the cylinder and severed to form pellets.
The die or pellet mill is operated by a relatively high horsepower electric motor 27. After severing, the pel-lets fall through an opening 28 at the bottom of the mill.
~eans are provided for supplying one or more moisture controlling ingredients to the material with-in the conditioner. These ingredients might, for example, include steam, water, dry heat, or some other suitable moisture controlling ingredient. The amount of such ingredient is controlled by a modulating con-trol valve and motor 57 which in turn is controlled - from output signals from a control network A.
The control network A may be that sho~ and described in the referenced patent 3,932,736, and essentially consists of the network shown in Figures 1,
PRODUCING APPARATUS
Background and Summary of the Invention This invention is an improvement of the Au-tomatic Pellet Producing System of U.S. Patent 3,932,736. Essentially, that patent discloses an automatic pellet producing system wherein the mois-ture content of the materiaI at the mill is automati-cally controlled to within a prescribed range, and the feed rate of the material to the mill is automatically controlled in response to the moisture content control.
In a preferred embodiment of that patent, tbe moisture content is controlled by sensing a temperature dif-ference ( ~ T) which is the dif~erence between the temperature of the material at a first location of the material prior to entering the mill, and the tem-perature of the material at a second location as it enters the mill. The referenced patent also includes, among other features, a load control system for auto matically controlling the load on the pe;let mill when the moisture control conditions are satisfied.
The present invention represents an improve-ment over the cited patent in the selection of ~ T.
; As explained, the ~ T of the referenced patent is mea-sured by sensing the temperature of th~ material at . ,~ , ,~
~5~
first and second locations prior to entering the mill.
In accordance with the present invention, ~ T is measured by sensing temperatures of the mater-ial across the mill ( ~ T mill), or a parameter that is directly related to the ~ T across the mill.
One of the problems in producing pellets has been to control the moisure content of the material to be pelleted. For a given formulation, for proper pellet consistency, minimum load on the mill, and maximum production, are interrelated. It has been discovered that ~ T mill is very closely, if not directly, related to the work done by the mill in pro-ducing the pellets. The greater ~ T mill, the great-er the work, and convexsely the lower ~ T mill, the less the work done by the mill in producing the pellets. It has also been discovered that for a given feed formulation there is a range of ~ T mill that will give good pellet quality, keep the work done by the mill to a minimum, and allow maximum pellet pro-duction.
One of the advantages of the present inven-tion is that the use of ~ T mill takes into account the peculiarities inherent within the mill itself.
Although the specifications of mills of the same type, load capacity, etc., may appear to be the same, there are always inherent characteristics peculiar to each machine. For example, when comparing supposedly iden-tical machines, with both operating at the same work level and at the same production speed, the load on one may be less than the other. By operating both machines within a prescribed ~ T mill range, the production rate of each can be adjusted for maximum production within the prescribed load limitations.
Generally, in accordance with the present invention, a prescribed ~ T mill range is selected.
~ T mill is then sensed and the proportion of certain ~s~
ingredients in the formulation is controlled to main-tain ~ T mill within the prescribed range.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, ~ T mill is sensed by sensing the temperature of the material as it enters the mill, sensing the tempera-ture of the material at the output of the mill, and measuring the difference between these temperatures ( ~ T mill). The amount of moisture in the material is controlled to maintain ~ T mill within the selected range. The moisture content may be controlled by con-trolling the amount of steam, water, dry heat, or some other suitable moisture additive or moisture con-trolling ingredient. The more moisture in the ma-terial, the lower the ~ T mill. The less amount of moisture, the greater the ~ T mill. Upon satisfying the ~ T mill condition, the feed rate of the material into the mill is controlled for maximum productivity within the load limitations of the mill.
Description of the Drawlng Figure 1 is a schematic of the control of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a view in section taken generally along the lil~e 2-2 of Figure l.
Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawing and to reference patent 3,932,736. It will be noted that the ; ~` drawing is a schematic of the control system which re-presents a portion of that disclosed in the referenced patent. Essentially, the same network as shown in Figures l, 2 and 3 of the referenced patent can be used with the present invention except that the tem-perature sensors 106 and lO9 are relocated to the in-put and output of the pellet mill for measuring ~ T
;mill rather than the ~ T of the referenced patent.
Thus, using the same reference numerals as in the referenced patent, there is shown a bin 10 for hold--ing a supply of material from which pellets are to be r -4~
made. In the case of feed pellets, the material is pre-ferably in milled form and is composed from any o a great variety of animal feed formulations including the numerous ones most con~only used in the art. The milled material is fed by means Oc an appropriate feed screw 11, auger, gravimetric feeder, or the like, into a condition-er 12. The feed screw 11 is operated, or made to rotate, by means of a variable speed screw motor 18. The con-ditioner includes rotating paddles or the like to aggi-tate and add tur~ulance to the material as thP materialmoves therethrough. A motor 20 operates the aggitator.
From the conditioner, the material is fed down a chute 24 and into a pellet mill or pellet producing means 25. The pellet mill 25 mi~ht, for example, be of the die type and comprise a rotating cylinder with radial holes therein and rollers mounted within the cylinder. The material is fed into the cylinder and by interaction of the cylinder and rollers is forced through ; the holes in the cylinder and severed to form pellets.
The die or pellet mill is operated by a relatively high horsepower electric motor 27. After severing, the pel-lets fall through an opening 28 at the bottom of the mill.
~eans are provided for supplying one or more moisture controlling ingredients to the material with-in the conditioner. These ingredients might, for example, include steam, water, dry heat, or some other suitable moisture controlling ingredient. The amount of such ingredient is controlled by a modulating con-trol valve and motor 57 which in turn is controlled - from output signals from a control network A.
The control network A may be that sho~ and described in the referenced patent 3,932,736, and essentially consists of the network shown in Figures 1,
2 and 3 of the drawings of that referenced patent.
The control network A also has outputs 152 =. .
and 178 to the feed screw motor 18 and conditioner motor 20 for purposes as described in the referenced patent. Also as described in the referenced patent, a transducer 132 is magnetically coupled to the mill motor 27, and a signal representing the load on the motor is carried by a conductor 130 to an input of the control networ]c ~.
As with the referenced patent, a temperature sensor 106 senses th~ temperature of the material and feeds a signal representing that temperature through a conductor 107 to an input of the control network.
Another temperature sensor 109 senses the temperature of the material at another location and feeds the sig-nal representing that temperature through a conductor 110 to another input of the control network. However, unlike the referenced patent, where the sensors 106 and 109 are both located to sense the temperature of the material before it enters the pellet mill, with the present invention, the sensors are positioned at the input and output of the pellet mill to sense the temperature of the material as it enters and leaves the mill. Thus, the control network senses ~ T a-cross the mill ( ~ T mill), and controls the valve and motor 57 to modulate the amount of moisture con-trolling ingredient mixed with the material in the conditioner in order to maintain a T mill within prescribed limits. This is accomplished within the control network in the same manner that A T is con-trolled in the referenced patent.
By way of example only, for the production of certain feed pellets, ~ T mill may be 12-18F, although for the production of other types of pellets T mill may be substantially greater, such as 120F.
It should further be noted, that the control network also maintains the mill load within the pre-.; ' !
~s~
scribed range and includes an overload control asexplained in the referenced patent. Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, ~ T
mill is maintained within the prescribed range, and with this requirement satisfied, the feed rate of the material may be increased for maximum produc-tivity within a prescribed load range.
In order to obtain an accurate temperature measurement at the sensor 109, it has been found de-sirable to locate a baffle in the form of an angleplate or bracket 202 within the housing of the mill 25 at the location of the sensor or probe 109. The purpose of the baffle is to impede the flow of pellets as they fall between the mill housiny and mill die 200 in order ts cause an accumulation of the pellets around the probe. This prevents air turbulance a-round the probe that would reduce the temperature at the probe and create a false reading.
There are various changes and modifications which may be made to applicant's invention as would be apparent to those skilled in the art.~ Howe~er, any of these changes or modifications are included in the teaching of applicant's disclosure and he intends that his in~ention be limited only 'by the scope of the claims appended hereto.
.
:
The control network A also has outputs 152 =. .
and 178 to the feed screw motor 18 and conditioner motor 20 for purposes as described in the referenced patent. Also as described in the referenced patent, a transducer 132 is magnetically coupled to the mill motor 27, and a signal representing the load on the motor is carried by a conductor 130 to an input of the control networ]c ~.
As with the referenced patent, a temperature sensor 106 senses th~ temperature of the material and feeds a signal representing that temperature through a conductor 107 to an input of the control network.
Another temperature sensor 109 senses the temperature of the material at another location and feeds the sig-nal representing that temperature through a conductor 110 to another input of the control network. However, unlike the referenced patent, where the sensors 106 and 109 are both located to sense the temperature of the material before it enters the pellet mill, with the present invention, the sensors are positioned at the input and output of the pellet mill to sense the temperature of the material as it enters and leaves the mill. Thus, the control network senses ~ T a-cross the mill ( ~ T mill), and controls the valve and motor 57 to modulate the amount of moisture con-trolling ingredient mixed with the material in the conditioner in order to maintain a T mill within prescribed limits. This is accomplished within the control network in the same manner that A T is con-trolled in the referenced patent.
By way of example only, for the production of certain feed pellets, ~ T mill may be 12-18F, although for the production of other types of pellets T mill may be substantially greater, such as 120F.
It should further be noted, that the control network also maintains the mill load within the pre-.; ' !
~s~
scribed range and includes an overload control asexplained in the referenced patent. Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, ~ T
mill is maintained within the prescribed range, and with this requirement satisfied, the feed rate of the material may be increased for maximum produc-tivity within a prescribed load range.
In order to obtain an accurate temperature measurement at the sensor 109, it has been found de-sirable to locate a baffle in the form of an angleplate or bracket 202 within the housing of the mill 25 at the location of the sensor or probe 109. The purpose of the baffle is to impede the flow of pellets as they fall between the mill housiny and mill die 200 in order ts cause an accumulation of the pellets around the probe. This prevents air turbulance a-round the probe that would reduce the temperature at the probe and create a false reading.
There are various changes and modifications which may be made to applicant's invention as would be apparent to those skilled in the art.~ Howe~er, any of these changes or modifications are included in the teaching of applicant's disclosure and he intends that his in~ention be limited only 'by the scope of the claims appended hereto.
.
:
Claims (7)
1. An automatic control system for a pelleting apparatus, the apparatus including a pellet producing means and means for feeding a supply of material to the producing means, said control system comprising means for sensing the temperature of the material near the input of the producing means, means for sensing the temperature of the material near the output of the producing means, and means for measuring the difference between said temperatures (.DELTA.T mill), and means for automatically controlling the proportion of selected ingredients of the material before entering the producing means in response to said sensing means to maintain .DELTA.T mill to within a pre-scribed range.
2. The control system of claim 1 wherein the selected ingred-ient, the proportion of which is controlled, is moisture.
3. The control system of claim 1 wherein the selected ingred-ient is steam.
4. The control system of claim 1 wherein the selected ingred-ient is water.
5. The control system of claim 1 wherein the selected ingred ient is dry heat.
6. The control system of claim 1 further comprising means for inhibiting the flow of material at the location of said output temp-erature sensor to improve the accuracy with which the temperature of the material flowing therepast is sensed.
7. The control system of claim 6 wherein said flow inhibiting means is a baffle.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000392921A CA1159208A (en) | 1981-12-22 | 1981-12-22 | Automatic control for a pellet producing apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000392921A CA1159208A (en) | 1981-12-22 | 1981-12-22 | Automatic control for a pellet producing apparatus |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1159208A true CA1159208A (en) | 1983-12-27 |
Family
ID=4121681
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000392921A Expired CA1159208A (en) | 1981-12-22 | 1981-12-22 | Automatic control for a pellet producing apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1159208A (en) |
-
1981
- 1981-12-22 CA CA000392921A patent/CA1159208A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |
Effective date: 20001227 |