IES950976A2 - A method for manufacturing animal feed - Google Patents

Abstract

Selected ingredient materials are discharged to a weigher (81). A weighed batch of ingredient materials is discharged from the weigher (81) into a holding bin (82) within which additives are combined with the ingredient materials. The contents of the holding bin (82) are delivered to a mixer (85) and mixed to form a feed mix before discharge to a collecting bin (86). The feed mix is discharged in a controlled manner from the collecting bin by means of a screw conveyor (88). As the feed mix drops into an inlet of the screw conveyor (88), molasses is added to the feed mix for mixture with and coating of the materials of the feed mix to form an animal feed which is discharged from an outlet of the screw conveyor (88). <Fig. 1>

Description

A method for manufacturing animal feed This invention relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing animal feed.

According to the invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing an animal feed comprising the step:delivering ingredient materials to a plurality of storage silos, discharging preset amounts of selected ingredient materials from chosen storage silos to a weigher, weighing measured amounts of the selected ingredient materials in a preset desired ratio, discharging the weighed batch of ingredient materials to a holding bin, forming a charge of selected additive material associated with the batch of ingredient materials, collecting the additives in a charge hopper, combining the charge of additive materials with the batch of ingredient materials, discharging the batch of ingredient materials and additive materials from the holding bin to a mixer, mixing the materials in the mixer for a preset time period to from an homogenous feed mix, delivering the feed mix from the mixer to a collecting bin, _ ______ OPEN TO PUBLIC INSPECTION UNDLR SECTION 28 AND RULE 2L JNL. No..7.7.½........OF 950976 discharging the feed mix from the collecting bin by means of a screw conveyor, adding liquid molasses to the feed mix as it is being delivered to the screw conveyor and mixing the molasses with the feed mix for coating the materials of the feed mix with molasses as the feed mix moves between an inlet and an outlet of the screw conveyor for forming an animal feed which is discharged from the outlet of the screw conveyor.

In a further embodiment of the invention the method includes adding the molasses to the feed mix adjacent an inlet of the screw conveyor for through passage of the batch of feed mix and the molasses in the screw conveyor for evenly distributing a preset desired amount of molasses throughout the batch of feed mix, coating the materials of the feed mix with molasses.

In another embodiment, the method includes the step of controlling the pressure and rate of addition of the molasses to the feed mix in response to the flow of feed mix between the collecting bin and the screw conveyor.

The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a schematic diagram illustrating a method and apparatus for manufacturing animal feed according to the invention.

Referring to the drawing, a method for manufacturing animal feed according to the invention will be described. Ingredient materials are delivered to a plurality of storage silos 80. The storage silos 80 each contain materials such as wheat, barley, oats and the like, some 097β - 3 of which may have already been conditioned in the toaster as previously described.

To produce a particular animal feed, preset amounts of selected ingredient materials are discharged from chose storage silos 80 into a weigher 81. Measured amounts of the selected ingredient materials in a preset desired ratio are collected in the weigher 81.

The weighed batch of ingredient materials is then discharged from the weigher 81 into a holding bin 82.

A charge of selected additive materials, such as minerals and vitamins, are weighed out in desired portions relative to the batch of ingredient materials and collected in a charge hopper 83. The additive materials are then discharged from the charge hopper 83 into the holding bin 82 for combination with the batch ingredient materials in the holding bin 82.

Next, the batch of ingredient materials and additive materials are discharged from the holding bin 82 into a mixer 85. Within the mixer 85 the materials are mixed for a preset time period to form an homogenous feed mix.

When mixing has been completed the feed mix is delivered into a collecting bin 86 and an outlet of the mixer 85 is closed to prepare the mixer 85 for reception of a fresh batch of ingredient materials from the holding bin 82, said fresh batch having been prepared while the mixing of the first batch was taking place in the mixer 85.

The feed mix is discharged in a controlled manner from the collecting bin 86 by means of a screw conveyor 88. The screw conveyor 88 has a trough 89 within which is rotatably mounted a screw 90 driven by an external motor -950076 - 4 91 for advancing material between an inlet 92 and an outlet 93 of the screw conveyor 88. Liquid molasses is added into the feed mix as it drops from the collecting bin into an inlet of the screw conveyor 89. The liquid molasses is delivered at a desired pressure by a pump 97 from a molasses supply tank 98. By controlling the pressure of the molasses spray and the rate of delivery of the feed mix through the screw conveyor 89 advantageously the molasses is evenly distributed throughout the batch of feed mix discharged from the collecting bin 86 to form a high quality homogenous animal feed which is discharged from the outlet 93. The animal feed may be collected from the outlet 93 for transport in bulk or maybe bagged prior to transport.

It will be noted that the controlled mixing of the molasses with the feed mix gives a high quality animal feed binding the ingredient materials and thus preventing or at least minimising separation of the ingredient materials within the feed. The molasses also gives the animal feed a distinct aroma and flavouring which makes the feed attractive to animals. A further advantage of the manner in which the molasses is added is that it acts as a dust suppressant promoting a more comfortable working environment.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described which may be varied in construction and detail.

Claims (5)

1. A method for manufacturing an animal feed comprising the steps: delivering ingredient materials to a plurality 5 of storage silos, discharging preset amounts of selected ingredient materials from chosen storage silos to a weigher, weighing measured amounts of the selected 10 ingredient materials in a present desired ratio, discharging the weighed batch of ingredient materials to a holding bin, forming a charge of selected additive materials associated with the batch of ingredient 15 materials, collecting the additive materials in a charge hopper, combining the charge of additive materials with the batch of ingredient materials, 20 discharging the batch of ingredient materials and additive materials from the holding bin to a mixer, mixing the materials in the mixer for a preset time period to form an homogenous feed mix, 950978 delivering the feed mix from the mixer to a collecting bin, discharging the feed mix in a controlled manner from the collecting bin by means of a screw conveyor, adding liquid molasses to the feed mix as it is being delivered to the screw conveyor and mixing the molasses with the feed mix for coating the materials of the feed mix with molasses as the feed mix moves between an inlet and an outlet of the screw conveyor for forming an animal feed which is discharged from the outlet of the screw conveyor.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 which includes adding the molasses to the feed mix adjacent an inlet of the screw conveyor for through passage of the batch of feed mix and the molasses in the screw conveyor for evenly distributing a preset desired amount of molasses through the batch of feed mix, coating the materials of the feed mix with molasses.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 which includes the step of controlling the pressure and rate of addition of the molasses to the feed mix in response to the flow of feed mix between the collecting bin and the screw conveyor.

4. A method for manufacturing animal feed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5. Animal feed whenever manufactured according to the method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4.