GB2266440A - Preparation of animal fodder - Google Patents

Abstract

A process and apparatus for producing animal fodder. Selected dry ingredient materials are delivered from storage silos (12) and are prepared and mixed in a primary mixer (31) and then fat is added. Preset quantities of steam and molasses are mixed together and then added to the other ingredient materials in a controlled manner in a secondary mixer (35). This advantageously gives improved mixing and less trouble with plant running. Ideally also a selected quantity of water is sprayed onto granular ingredient materials when they are being conveyed from an intake hopper (10) to the storage silos (12) to counteract water loss during the process. <IMAGE>

Description

"A process and apparatus for producing animal fodder" This invention relates to the production of animal fodder.

According to the invention there is provided a process for producing animal fodder, comprising the steps of: (a) delivering selected dry ingredient materials from storage silos in turn to a weir and weighing preselected amounts of each material, delivering weighed material to a holding bin; (b) passing the material from the holding bin through a grinder, grinding the material to a pre-set desirable size; (c) delivering the ground material to a primary mixer and mixing the materials to achieve a uniform mix of the dry materials; (d) adding a pre-set amount of fat to the dry materials in the primary mixer and evenly mixing the fat with the dry materials;; (e) delivering the materials from the primary mixer to a secondary mixer, injecting a pre-set quantity of a mixture and steam and molasses into the material at an inlet of the secondary mixer, mixing the steam and molasses with the material in the secondary mixer to form a desired feed mixture; and (f) delivering the feed mixture discharged from the secondary mixer for packaging.

In one embodiment of the invention the process includes the step of transferring granular feed ingredient material discharged into an intake hopper to a selected storage silo, spraying a pre-set quantity of water onto the feed ingredient material at a spraying station as it is being conveyed to the silo.

Preferably after spraying the process includes delivering the feed along an elongate conveyor to a storage silo to facilitate mixing and absorption of the water by the feed material prior to delivery to the silo.

In another embodiment the process includes the step of sensing the delivery of granular material to the spraying station and controlling the spraying in response to the sensed granular material.

In another embodiment the process includes the step of controlling water pressure to maintain a substantially even water pressure during the spraying step.

In a further embodiment the process includes the step of spraying the fat onto the dry materials in the primary mixer, the fat being animal fat pre-heated to liquify the fat.

In another embodiment the process includes the step of pelletising the feed mixture downstream of the secondary mixer.

In another aspect the invention provides apparatus for carrying out the process described above including means for mixing steam and molasses and means to deliver a steam and molasses mixture through a nozzle at an inlet of the secondary mixer for injection into feed material entering the secondary mixer.

In another embodiment apparatus for carrying out the process includes means for spraying water onto granular feed ingredient material upstream of the silos, said means having a water supply line terminating in a spray bar with a plurality of nozzles, the spray bar mounted above a conveyor for the feed ingredient material, a water flow control valve in the supply line and a pressure cylinder connected to the water supply line.

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 flow chart illustrating a process according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a detail perspective partially cut-away view of portion of apparatus used in the process; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a mixer apparatus used in the process; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the mixer shown in Fig.

3.

Referring to the drawings a process and apparatus for producing animal fodder according to the invention will be described. Granular feed ingredient materials are delivered to an intake hopper 10 from supply trucks or the like. The feed materials are delivered by a conveyor system 11 comprising screw conveyors and elevator conveyors to storage silos 12. Fig. 2 shows portion of the conveyor system 11 in which an outlet 13 from an elevator conveyor discharges into a generally horizontal screw conveyor 14 comprising a tubular housing 15 within which a screw 16 is rotated to carry along the feed. A flow probe 17 detects the delivery of feed into the screw conveyor 14. As shown in Fig. 2, at an inlet end of the screw conveyor 14 a spray bar 18 extends internally along a top of the conveyor housing 15.A number of nozzles 19 are provided on the spray bar 18 to spray water onto material carried along by the screw conveyor 14. A water inlet 20 discharges through a solenoid-controlled check valve 21 and flow meter 22 to the spray bar 18. A pressure cylinder 23 in the inlet line 20 maintains an even water pressure during discharge of water through the spray bar 18. It will be noted that the nozzles on the spray bar 18 are arranged to spread water evenly over the feed mixture as it is carried along by the conveyor 14. Further, by mounting the spray bar 18 at an inlet end of the conveyor 14 this allows the water to be mixed and absorbed with the feed as it is delivered along the conveyor 14 prior to delivery to a silo 12.

To make up a feed mixture, selected ingredients from the storage silos 12 are delivered to a weighing machine 30 and then to a holding bin 31. From the holding bin 31 the materials are delivered through a grinder 32 which grinds the material to a pre-set desirable size prior to delivering the ground material to a primary mixer 33. It will be noted that the dry ingredient materials will have been partially mixed by their passage through the holding bin 31 and grinder 32.

Final mixing is carried out in the primary mixer 33 to achieve a uniform mix of the dry materials. When the dry materials have been mixed liquid animal fat is sprayed onto the materials in the mixer 33 which is operated to evenly mix the fat with the dry materials. The material is then delivered to a hopper 34. The animal fat is pre-filtered and is heated to a temperature of about 70"C prior to addition to the mixer.

Material from the hopper 34 is then delivered in a controlled manner through a secondary mixer 35 which is a paddle type mixer. A mixture of steam and molasses is injected into the material at an inlet 36 of the secondary mixer 35. Figs. 3 and 4 show the arrangement for the injection of molasses and steam. Molasses is delivered along a supply pipe 40 at approximately 6 bar pressure for injection into the feed mixture at the inlet of the mixer 35. Upstream of the nozzles steam is delivered through a steam pipe 42 at the same pressure as the molasses and delivered into the molasses pipe 40 for mixture with the molasses prior to injection of the molasses and steam mixture through the nozzles at the inlet of the mixer 35. In the mixer 35 the steam and molasses are mixed with the feed materials which are then discharged through an outlet 44. A water pipe 46 is also provided for optional injection of a spray of water into the feed at the inlet of the secondary mixer 35.

The feed mixture can then either be delivered to a bulk storage tank 50 for bulk collection or to a bagging plant for packaging. Alternatively the feed mixture may be delivered through a pelletiser 55 prior to bagging the pelletised feed.

Additional molasses may be added in a mixer 56 adjacent an inlet of the pelletiser 55.

Advantageously it has been found that by mixing steam with molasses prior to injection of the molasses into the feed mixture this has significantly improved the handling of the feed mixture overcoming problems associated with the molasses clogging the pipework, chutes and the like through which the feed is delivered. It has been found that relatively large amounts of molasses can be added to the feed mixture.

Quantities of molasses of the order of 5% by weight of the overall mixture can be added at the secondary mixer. An additional 3% by weight of molasses can optionally be added at the mixer 56 at the pelletising machines.

The addition of water to the granular ingredient materials upstream of the silos advantageously enables a higher water content to be achieved in the end product.

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

Claims (12)

1. A process for producing animal fodder, comprising the steps of: (a) delivering selected dry ingredient materials from storage silos in turn to a weigher and weighing preselected amounts of each material, delivering weighed material to a holding bin; (b) passing the material from the holding bin through a grinder, grinding the material to a pre-set desirable size; (c) delivering the ground material to a primary mixer and mixing the material to achieve a uniform mix of the dry materials; (d) adding a pre-set amount of fat to the dry materials in the primary mixer and evenly mixing the fat with the dry materials;; (e) delivering the materials from the primary mixer to a secondary mixer, injecting a pre-set quantity of a mixture and steam and molasses into the materials at an inlet of the secondary mixer, mixing the steam and molasses with the material in the secondary mixer to form a desired feed mixture; and (f) delivering the feed mixture discharged from the secondary mixer for packaging.

2. A process as claimed in claim 1 including the step of transferring granular feed ingredient material discharged into an intake hopper to a selected storage silo, spraying a pre-set quantity of water onto the feed ingredient material at a spraying station as it is being conveyed to the silo.

3. A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein after spraying, the process includes delivering the feed from the spraying station along an elongate conveyor to a storage silo to facilitate mixing and absorption of water by the feed material prior to delivery to the silo.

4. A process as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 including the step of sensing the delivery of granular material to the spraying station and controlling the spraying in response to the sensed granular material.

5. A process as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4 including the step of controlling water pressure to maintain a substantially even water pressure during the spraying step.

6. A process as claimed in any preceding claim including the step of spraying the fat onto the dry materials in the primary mixer, the fat being animal fat pre-heated to a pre-set desirable temperature.

7. A process as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the process further includes the step of pelletising the feed mixture downstream of the secondary mixer.

8. A process substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. Animal feed whenever produced by the process as claimed in any preceding claim.

10. Apparatus for carrying out the process as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 including means for mixing steam and molasses and means to deliver a steam and molasses mixture through a nozzle at an inlet of the secondary mixer for injection into feed material entering the secondary mixer.

11. Apparatus for carrying out the process as claimed in any of claims 2 to 8 including means for spraying water onto granular feed ingredient material upstream of the silos, said means having a water supply line terminating in a spray bar with a plurality of nozzles, the spray bar mounted above a conveyor for the granular feed ingredient material, a water flow control valve in the supply line and a pressure cylinder connected to the water supply line.

12. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.