Machine for mixing and distributing products used to feed livestock

• US 20040114459A1
• Filed: 01/09/2004
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lucas G
• Original Assignee: Lucas G
• Inventors: Lucas, Gerard, Retaillaud, Jean-Claude
• Granted Patent: US 7,028,932 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 366/297
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/002 with mixing or shredding element rotating on horizontal axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/05 Stirrers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 241/605 Hay unbaler
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 366/603 Animal food mixer

Abstract

The machine comprises a container (1) which is fitted with a base (2) that extends between the lateral walls (3 and 4) and the end walls (5, 6). The base (2) partially covers (i) a mixing rotor (10) and (ii) a feed auger (11) which moves the products in the skip either in a closed circuit or in a circuit towards a distributing chute (13). A transfer screw (12) is mounted on top of the feed auger (11). The transfer screw can comprise cutting members in the form of sectioning parts (15). The sectioning parts co-operate with teeth (16) which are disposed on a beam (19). The teeth (16) can be positioned as necessary either on a beam located in the container or on one or more beams located on the lateral wall (4). Similarly, the feed auger (11) can also comprise sectioning parts that co-operate with teeth if required.

Claims

1. - a mixing machine for distribution of product for feeding cattle comprising particularly straw and/or hay, which machine consists of a skip (1) fitted with a bottom (2) extending between lateral walls (3, 4) and end walls (5, 6), which bottom surrounds partially on the one hand,—

a mixing rotor (10) with large diameter extending longitudinally up to the end walls (5, 6) and, on the other hand, a feeding endless screw (11) extending parallel to said rotor in order to move said product from one end to the other of said bottom, toward the feeding orifice (32) which is provided on one of said lateral walls and is directed toward one of the end walls of said skip, which orifice (32) can be blanked off by a flap (33) to suit the requirements, which feeding screw (11) is topped with a transfer screw (12) which, on the one hand, moves the product longitudinally in the skip in a direction which is the reverse of that induced by said feeding screw and which, on the other hand, comprises knives in the form of sections (15) in order to shred and/or cut the product, such as hay and/or straw, which product is inserted by the top of said skip, characterised in that it comprises, on one at least of said screw (11, 12), knives in the form of sections (15) arranged by couples forming a v, which couples co-operate with teeth (16) arranged on a support in the form of beam (19), which beam extends at a distance from the casing of the screw carrying said knives, between said end walls (5, 6) of said skip;

2. - A machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the couples of sections (15) are distributed over the length of the screw (11 or 12) behind the active surface of the propeller of said screw, and are mounted on a support (17) in the form of a plate, which is arranged in a radial plane, integral with the hub of the propeller and said plate.

3. - A machine according to claim 2, characterised in that the couple of sections (15) is in the form of a V whereof the angle is of the order of 10 to 45°

to suit the requirements.

4. - A machine according to anyone of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the number of couples of sections (15) per turn on each screw is for instance three to six.

5. - A machine according to anyone of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the teeth co-operating with the couples of sections (15) are spaced by a distance of the order of 5 to 15 cm and their effective working height is of the same order.

6. - A machine according to anyone of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the teeth (16) are in the form of a triangle or trapezoid made in all or in part in a steel sheet band, which band is fixed on the support in the form of beam (19).

7. - A machine according to anyone of claims 1 to 6,characterised in that the couples of sections (15) are arranged and distributed on the transfer screw (12).

8. - A machine according to claim 7, characterised in that the teeth (16) co-operating with the couples of sections (15) are arranged on a beam (191) which lies substantially at the intersection of a vertical plane which is tangent to the casing of the transfer screw (12), on the side of the mixing rotor (10), and of a horizontal plane which is tangent to the upper portion of said casing of the transfer screw.

9. - A machine according to anyone of claims 7 or 8, characterised in that the teeth (16) co-operating with the couples of sections (15), are arranged on a support in the form of a beam (193) extending on the lateral wall (4) of the skip, substantially at the intersection thereof with a horizontal plane which is tangent to the upper portion of the casing of the transfer screw (12).

10. - A machine according to anyone of claims 7 to 9, characterised in that the teeth (16) co-operating with the couples of sections (15), are arranged on a support in the form of a beam (192) fixed on the lateral wall (4), at the intersection thereof with a horizontal plane which is tangent to the lower portion of the casing of the transfer screw (12).

11. - A machine according to anyone of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that it comprises couples of sections (15) arranged at the feeding screw (11), distributed over the length of said screw.

12. - A machine according to claim 11, characterised in that the teeth co-operating with the couples of sections (15) are arranged on a beam (195) provided at the junction of the portions of the bottom (2) surrounding on the one hand the feeding screw (11) and, on the other hand, the mixing rotor (10).

13. - A machine according to anyone of claims 11 or 12, characterised in that the teeth (16) co-operating with the couples of sections (15) arranged on the feeding screw (11) are arranged on a beam (194) integral with the lateral wall (4) of the skip, at the intersection thereof with a horizontal plane which is tangent to the upper portion of the casing of said feeding screw (11).

14. - A machine according to anyone of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that it comprises a kind of hopper for introduction of the product in the skip (1), which hopper is located above the transfer screw (12) in a area delineated by the radial plane (34) of the neutral area of the feeding screw (11) and the radial plane (38) of the neutral area of said transfer screw (12).

15. - A machine according to claim 14, characterised in that it comprises a shutter (25) forming a wall for the hopper, which shutter is hinged on the beam extending between the front and rear walls of the skip, between the transfer screw (12) and the mixing rotor (10), which shutter (25) is associated with a control member, such as an actuator (27), in order to be tilted either on the side of said mixing rotor (10) or on the side of said transfer screw (12) to guide the product which is injected into the skip (1), either on the former or the latter.