Programmable apparatus and method for delivering microingredient feed additives to animals by weight

• US RE34,776 E
• Filed: 06/26/1991
• Issued: 11/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Micro Beef Technologies Ltd (MWI Veterinary Supply Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Micro Chemical Inc.
• Inventors: Pratt, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): JENKINS, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US07/721,685
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: 366/141, 366/150, 366/151, 366/152, 366/154, 366/160, 366/161, 366/162, 366/16, 366/17, 366/18, 366/19, 366/20, 366/21, 111/57, 111/77, 111/58, 111/59, 364/502, 364/567
• US Class Current: 366/141
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/0216 for the distribution of liquid fodder A01K9/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 15/0201 Feed mechanisms with proportioning B01F15/04
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 15/0234 using gravity, e.g. from a hopper
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 15/0445 by weighing, e.g. with automatic discharge
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2003/125 by introducing, e.g. dispersing, dissolving, solids in liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2215/0008 Mixing cattle, poultry, stock or game food, possibly combined with distribution fodder distributors with mixer or shredder A01K5/001
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 3/1221 using driven stirrers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 3/18 solid with solids B01F5/24 takes precedence; bulk material piled in a stack and unloaded from the stack to obtain an average product B65G69/10
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 5/265 using one central conveyor or several separate conveyors, e.g. belt or screw conveyors, vibrating tables, for discharging flows from receptables, e.g. in layers
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 15/001 Volumetric pre-dispensing to an estimated weight; Gravimetric make-up device for target device
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/24 using a single weighing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/382 involving digital counting
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/06 Means for damping oscillations, e.g. of weigh beams
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/001 with discontinuous action
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/134 by sensing the weight of the individual components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 366/603 Animal food mixer

Abstract

A method and apparatus whereby livestock and poultry are administered feed additives in their feed ration. The apparatus stores additive concentrates separately until just prior to use, then on demand dispenses the additive concentrates into one or more weigh hoppers for weighing therein. The weighed contents of the weigh hoppers are discharged into a liquid carrier within a mixing vessel where the dispensed additives are diluted, suspended, and dispersed by mixing. The resulting carrier-and-additive slurry is pumped to a receiving station for mixing with a feed ration. The weighing components are isolated from movements that would affect additive weight determinations during the weighing process so that accurate measurements of additive weights are obtained. Dispensing and weighing of multiple additives within a single weigh hopper are sequential. Each additive may be weighed and discharged from the hopper individually or cumulatively with other additives. With multiple weigh hoppers, dispensing, weighing and discharge of additives from the different hoppers can occur simultaneously or independently. A programmable control can program the apparatuses for dispensing either entirely on a weight basis, partly on a weight basis and partly on a metering basis, on a weight-compensated metering basis, or entirely on a metering basis if the weighing means malfunctions.

Claims

1. dampen the effects of any erroneous weight readings..]. 16. .[.Apparatus according to claim 1 including.]. .Iadd.An apparatus for measuring, dispensing, and delivering microingredients in small but accurate proportions in a liquid carrier slurry into a livestock or poultry feed ration shortly before the delivery of said feed ration to the animals for consumption, said apparatus comprising:

multiple storage means for storing separately a plurality of different microingredient feed additive concentrates;

a plurality of separate dispensing means, one for each said storage means, for dispensing separately and without intermingling additive concentrates from said multiple storage means;

multiple weigh hopper means in additive-receiving relationship to said plural dispensing means for receiving additives dispensed from said multiple storage means by said plural dispensing means, each said hopper means including hopper discharge means for discharging additives therefrom;

a mixing vessel in additive-receiving relationship to said multiple hopper means for receiving additive concentrates from said multiple hopper means upon operation of said hopper discharge means and for receiving liquid carrier from a remote source;

flow inducing means for inducing a flow of liquid within said mixing vessel;

delivery means for delivering a slurry of liquid carrier and additive concentrates from said mixing vessel to a receiving station for mixing with a feed ration at a location remote from said mixing vessel;

separate weigh means for each said weigh hopper means, said weigh means being operable to determine predetermined weights of additives received in said weigh hopper means delivered to said weigh hopper means by said dispensing means when said predetermined weight of additives have been added to said weigh hopper means;

and .Iaddend.programmable control means for controlling the operation of said dispensing, weigh and discharge means, said programmable control means including program means for selectively operating said dispensing means in conjunction with said weigh means in a weigh mode or independently of said weigh means in a metering mode to dispense said

2. microingredients by volume. 17. A method of dispensing and delivering microingredient feed additives into a livestock feed ration shortly before delivering the feed ration to the livestock for consumption, comprising the steps:

storing separately multiple said additives in concentrate form, including some said additives in solid particulate-concentrate form and at least .[.one.]. .Iadd.some others .Iaddend.of said multiple additives in liquid concentrate form;

dispensing predetermined amounts of selected said solid particulate concentrates by weight into a liquid carrier .Iadd.within a mixing vessel.Iaddend.;

dispensing predetermined amounts of selected said liquid additive concentrates .Iadd.by volume .Iaddend.into .[.a.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.liquid carrier .[.by volume.]. .Iadd.within the mixing vessel.Iaddend.;

intermixing the .Iadd.dispensed .Iaddend.additive concentrates in the liquid carrier .Iadd.within the mixing vessel.Iaddend., including both the solid particulate additive concentrates and the liquid additive concentrates, to dilute, disperse, and suspend them and form a liquid carrier-additive slurry .Iadd.within the mixing vessel.Iaddend.;

.Iadd.after forming the slurry within the mixing vessel, .Iaddend.directing the slurry to a receiving station while maintaining the suspension and

3. dispersion of the additives until delivered into a.[.-.].feed ration. 18. A method of dispensing and delivering microingredient feed additives into a livestock feed ration shortly before delivering the feed ration to the livestock for consumption, comprising the steps:

storing separately multiple said additives in concentrate form;

dispensing predetermined amounts of selected said additive concentrates into a liquid carrier with no substantial intermixing of the additive concentrates before they enter the liquid carrier;

intermixing the additive concentrates in the liquid carrier to dilute, disperse, and suspend them and form a liquid carrier-additive slurry;

directing the slurry to a receiving station while maintaining the suspension and dispersion of the additives until delivered into a feed ration;

determining the predetermined amounts of the selected additives by weighing at least some of the selected additive concentrates dispensed within weighing container means;

before weighing said some of the selected additive concentrates within the weighing container means, detecting an overweight or underweight condition of the weighing container means and (a) if an overweight condition of the weighing container means is detected discharging the container means of any residual ingredients from a preceding dispensing and delivering cycle, and (b) if an underweight condition of the container means is detected, metering the predetermined amounts of said some additive concentrates into the weighing container means on a volumetric basis, and discharging the predetermined amounts of said some concentrates from the weighing container means into the liquid carrier.