IE940724A1 - A process for producing livestock feed - Google Patents

Abstract

Selected dry ingredient materials are delivered from associated storage hoppers 10 to a weighing device 12. Downstream of the weighing device 12, the dry ingredient materials are delivered through a filter 14 to a grinder 16 to grind the dry ingredient 2 to a desired particle size. Microingredient additives and a carrier material are delivered from associated storage hoppers 22 in turn to a microingredient weigher 23. The additives and carrier material are delivered to a mixer 24 for mixing the microingredient additives through the carrier material. The additives mixture is then combined with the dry ingredient material downstream of the grinder 16 for delivery with the dry ingredient materials into the mixer 20. Downstream of the mixer 20, the feed mixture is delivered through a liquids adder 66 in which preset desirable quantities of liquid ingredient material such as steam and molasses are injected into the feed mixture and combined with the feed mixture to form the livestock feed. <Fig. 1>

Description

A process for producing livestock feed This invention relates to a process and apparatus for producing livestock feed.

In the production of livestock feed, it is usual to include feed additives such as vitamins, minerals and the like to the feed. Commercially prepared additives premixes, typically delivered in bags obtainable from a premix supplier can be added by the livestock feed producer to other ingredient materials during the livestock feed production process. These premixes are relatively costly to buy. Further, for producing different animal feeds, a range of different premixes needs to be stocked by the livestock feed producer. The livestock feed producer is also limited to the particular combination of feed additives in the set premixes prepared by the commercial premix supplier. When such feed additives are mixed with other dry ingredient materials and delivered through filters, dryers and other processing equipment, there is a certain amount of wastage which is costly to the livestock reproducer to the expense of the commercially prepared additive premixes.

The present invention is directed towards overcoming these problems.

According to the invention there is provided a process for producing livestock feed comprising the stepssdelivering selected dry ingredient materials from associated storage hoppers to a weighing device, weighing a preset desirable amount of each dry ingredient material, □HEN TO PUBLIC INSPECTION UN CL FI SECTION 28 AND RULE 23 JNL. No. ......OF L94072 i - 2 conveying the dry ingredient materials to a grinder, grinding the dry ingredient materials to a desired particle size, downstream of the grinder, delivering ground material discharged from the grinder to a mixing vessel, delivering selected microingredient additives and a carrier material from associated storage hoppers in turn to a microingredient weigher to cumulatively weigh preset amounts of microingredient additives and carrier material on the weigher, the microingredient additives and carrier material being stored in storage hoppers, each having a discharge auger at an outlet of the hopper, each auger having a discharge outlet positioned for feeding material to the microingredient weigher, and each auger having independently operable drive means for feeding material from its associated hopper to the microingredient weigher, selectively discharging material from a number of the hoppers to the microingredient weigher, the microingredient weigher comprising an endless conveyor belt mounted on rollers on a carrier frame, the carrier frame suspended on a support frame, with load cells associated with conveyor suspension means to determine the weight of material carried on the conveyor, and drive means for the conveyor operable for delivering weighed microingredient additives and carrier material to a microingredient mixer for mixing, mixing the microingredient additives with the carrier material and adding said additives mixture to the dry ingredient materials for inclusion and mixing with the dry ingredient materials in the mixer, 9497? 4 conveying material discharged from the mixer to a liquids adder downstream of the mixer, combining preset desirable quantities of liquid ingredient materials with the dry ingredient materials in the liquids adder to form the livestock feed, and delivering the livestock feed to a feed storage bin.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the process includes the step of combining the additives mixture with the dry ingredient materials downstream of the grinder.

In a further embodiment, the process includes the step filtering the dry ingredient materials upstream of the grinder, delivering fine materials passing through the filter downstream of the grinder, bypassing the grinder for addition to ground material discharged from the grinder, and delivering coarse materials gathered by the filter through the grinder for reduction to a preset desirable size.

In another embodiment, the process includes the step of pelletising the livestock feed downstream of the liquids adder and prior to delivering the livestock feed to the feed storage bin.

In a further embodiment, the process includes the step of storing salt in a supply bag suspended on a support frame with a bag outlet located in a feed hopper for a salt delivery auger located beneath the bag, delivering salt by means of the auger to a salt weigher, weighing a preset desirable amount of salt on the weigher and delivering tfl4 0 71 4 said salt for addition to the dry ingredient materials downstream of the grinder for inclusion and mixing with the other materials in the mixer.

The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Fig. 1 is a schematic flowchart illustrating a process for producing livestock feed according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of microingredient handling apparatus used in the process; Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the microingredient handling apparatus; Fig. 4 is a detail, partially sectioned end elevational view of portion of the microingredient handling apparatus; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of salt handling apparatus used in the process; and Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the salt handling apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, a process and apparatus for producing livestock feed according to the invention will be described. Selected dry ingredient materials are delivered from storage hoppers 10 to a weighing device 12. The dry ingredient materials are cumulatively weighed in the weighing device according to a desired formula for the particular feed being produced. Downstream of the 940724weighing device 12, the dry ingredient materials are delivered through a filter 14 to a grinder 16 to grind the dry ingredient materials to a desired particle size.

It will be noted that fine material passing through the filter 14 is delivered through a bypass line 18, bypassing the grinder for addition to materials discharged from the grinder 16. Downstream of the grinder 16, the material is delivered to a mixing vessel 20.

Microingredient additives and a carrier material are delivered from associated storage hoppers 22 in turn to a microingredient weigher 23 to cumulatively weigh preset amounts of selected microingredient additives and the carrier material on the weigher 23. The microingredient additives and the carrier material are then delivered to a mixer 24 for mixing the microingredient additives through the carrier material. Downstream of the mixer 24, the additives mixture is combined with the dry ingredient materials downstream of the grinder 16 for delivery with the dry ingredient materials into the mixer 20.

The microingredient handling apparatus is shown in Figs. 2 to 4 and is indicated generally by the reference numeral . The apparatus 30 comprises a number of the storage hoppers 22, each having a discharge auger 31 at an outlet of the hopper 22. Each auger 31 has a discharge outlet positioned over the weigher 23 with independently operable drive means for each auger for feeding material from it's associated hopper 22 to the weigher 23. Thus, any predesired amounts of particular microingredient additives can be selectively discharged from the hoppers 22 to the weigher 23. The weigher 23 comprises an endless conveyor belt 34 mounted on rollers 35 on a carrier frame 36. The carrier frame 36 is suspended by hangers 37 on a support frame 38. Load cells are provided on the hangers 37 to 0 /^4 determine the weight of material carried on the conveyor 34 thus facilitating accurate weighing of the microingredient materials. Drive means (not shown) for the conveyor 34 is operable for delivering the weighed microingredient additives and the - carrier material to a mixer 40 for mixing the carrier material and the microingredient additives. An auger 42 mounted at an outlet of the mixer 40 delivers the additives mixture for combination with the dry ingredient materials.

A salt handling apparatus is shown diagrammatically in Figs. 5 and 6 and indicated generally by the reference numeral 50. Typical salts for inclusion in the livestock feed Include calcium magnesite and dicalcium phosphite. The salts are stored in a supply bag 52 hung by suspension loops 53 at a top of the bag 52 on associated lugs 55 on a support frame 56. The bag 52 has a narrowed outlet neck 58 with an outlet end suspended within a feed hopper 59 for a salt delivery auger 60. An outlet end 61 of the auger 60 discharges into a salt weigher 62 operable for weighing a preset desirable amount of salt for the feed mixture being processed. The salt is delivered from the weigher 62 for combination with the dry ingredient materials and microingredient additives downstream of the grinder and mixing with same in the mixing vessel 20.

Downstream of the mixing vessel 20, the feed mixture is delivered through a liquids adder 66 within which preset desirable quantities of liquid ingredient materials such as steam and molasses are injected into the feed mixture and combined with the feed mixture to form the livestock feed. Downstream of the liquids adder 66, the feed may be delivered directly to storage bins 68 or alternatively the feed may be delivered through a pelletiser 69 prior to delivery of feed pellets to the storage bins 68. ^94 Ο7?4 The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims (8)

1. A process for producing livestock feed comprising the steps:delivering selected dry ingredient materials from associated storage hoppers to a weighing device, weighing a preset desirable amount of each dry ingredient material, conveying the dry ingredient materials to a grinder, grinding the dry ingredient materials to a desired particle size, downstream of the grinder, delivering ground material discharged from the grinder to a mixing vessel, delivering selected microingredient additives and a carrier material from associated storage hoppers in turn to a microingredient weigher to cumulatively weigh preset amounts of microingredient additives and carrier material on the weigher, the microingredient additives and carrier material being stored in storage hoppers each having a discharge auger at an outlet of the hopper, each auger having a discharge outlet for discharging microingredient additives and carrier material to the weigher, and each auger having independently operable drive means for feeding material from its associated hopper to the microingredient weigher, selectively discharging material from a number of the hoppers to the microingredient 840724 weigher, the microingredient weigher comprising an endless conveyor belt mounted on rollers on a carrier frame, the carrier frame suspended on a support frame, with load cells associated with conveyor suspension means to determine the weight of material carried on the conveyor, and drive means for the conveyor operable for delivering weighed microingredient additives and carrier material to a microingredient mixer for mixing, mixing the microingredient additives with the carrier material and adding said additives mixture to the dry ingredient materials for inclusion and mixing with the dry ingredient materials in the mixer, conveying material discharged from the mixer to a liquids adder downstream of the mixer, combining preset quantities of liquid ingredient materials with the dry ingredient materials in the liquids adder to form the livestock feed, and delivering the livestock feed to a feed storage bin.

2. A process as claimed in claim 1 including the step of combining the additives mixture with the dry ingredient materials downstream of the grinder.

3. A process as claimed in any preceding claim including the step of filtering the dry ingredient materials upstream of the grinder, delivering fine materials passing through the filter downstream of the grinder, *940724i bypassing the grinder for addition to ground material discharged from the grinder, and delivering coarse materials gathered by the filter through the grinder for reduction to a preset desirable size.

4. A process as claimed in any preceding claim including the step of pelletising the livestock feed downstream of the liquids adder and prior to delivering the livestock feed to the feed storage bin.

5. A process as claimed in any preceding claim including the step of storing salt in a supply bag suspended on a support frame with a bag outlet located in a feed hopper for a salt delivery auger, delivering salt by means of the auger to a salt weigher, weighing a preset desirable amount of salt on the weigher and delivering said salt for addition to the dry ingredient material downstream of the grinder for inclusion and mixing with the other materials in the mixer.

6. A process for producing livestock feed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings .

7. Livestock feed whenever produced by the process as claimed in any preceding claim.

8. Apparatus for producing livestock feed according to the process as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6.