GB860192A - Improvements in or relating to machines for preparing or treating animal feeding stuf - Google Patents

Abstract

860,192. Batch mixing machines; hammer and roller mills. BRAUNE, R. H. Jan. 9, 1958 [Oct. 9, 1956], No. 30689/56. Classes 59 and 86 A machine for preparing or treating animal feeding stuffs or other agricultural products comprises a frame 1. 2, Fig. 2; a mixing and storage container 3 supported by the frame and provided with a discharge shoot 66, Fig. 4, and control gate 67; a mixing or agitating and elevating screw 6, Fig. 3, supported in upper and lower bearings 9, 10; an inlet casing or duct 39 communicating with the bottom of the container 3, the upper part 38 of the casing 39 being adapted to detachably support a hammermill 40, or a drying fan, or a crusher attachment; and a single drive means 31 to actuate both the screw 6 and the hammermill 40, or the drying fan, or the crusher attachment. The lower tubular portion 5 of the container extends into a square cross-section feed chamber 12 having a rear feed hopper 19. The chamber 12 is connected to the casing 39. A table 23 extends from one side of the chamber 12 and supports bearings 25, Fig. 4, for a shaft 26 which detachably receives hub plates 41, carrying pivoted hammermill flail elements 42. A perforated screen 43 is provided around the elements 42. The shaft 26 is driven from the electric motor 31 through a pulley on the motor shaft 30, a belt 28 and a pulley 27. Another pulley 35 on the shaft 30 drives, via a belt 36 and pulley 37, a worm engaging a worm wheel 61 in a gear box 11, the worm wheel 61 driving the shaft 7 of the screw 6. The motor 31 is carried on a plate 32 pivoted at 33 and adjusted by a screw 34, whereby the belts may be tensioned. Referring to Fig. 5, the hammermill attachment also includes an open feed tray 48 carried by a removable plate 44 fitting over an aperture in the portion 38 of the casing 39. The tray has an air intake vent 58, an adjustable slide 59, an adjustable gate 56 and a pivoted shutter 51 connected to a trip lever 52 provided with an adjustable counterweight 53. In operation, material fed to the hammermill pivots the shutter 51 whereby the lever 52 operates a micro-switch 54 in the motor circuit to energize the motor 31. The drive to the shaft 26 stops when the feed to the tray 48 stops. A micro-switch is also provided in the top of the container 3 to stop the machine should the container become full. Whilst materials are fed to the tray, ready ground additives or other materials are fed into the hopper 19 and the materials are elevated into the container 3 by the screw 6 and thoroughly mixed therein. A drying fan with electric heater housing may be attached to the inlet casing 39 in lieu of the hammermill, as described with reference to Fig. 7 (riot shown), whereby hot air is supplied to the container 3 to dry the materials therein. Instead of the hammermill or drying device, a crusher device comprising a pair of rollers in a housing may be attached to the casing 39 as described with reference to Figs. 8 and 9 (not shown), the crushed materials being directed through an aperture in the housing by a shoot to the interior of the casing 39. The crusher rollers are driven by belts and pulleys on a shaft carried in a bracket secured below the table 23. the shaft being driven from the motor 31. In a modification described with reference to Figs. 10 and 11 (not shown), a hammermill may be driven directly by the vertical shaft of a motor, the shaft also driving the screw 6 through a belt and pulleys and the gear box 11.