Methods of preconditioning comestible materials such as foods or feeds include the step of separately injecting steam and water into a static mixer in order to create a blend, which is then injected into the materials within a preconditioner barrel. The methods yield increased cook values in the preconditioned materials, with a reduction in evolved steam from the preconditioner.

The present invention relates to a modular, mobile mixing and packaging plant for powdery or granular products comprising a carrying structure having dimensions suitable for being introduced in a standard maritime container and internally housing a reception and manual weighing module, a material loading module, a mixing module and a packaging module.

A system for converting an irregular flow stream of solid particulates into a continuously flowing stream of solid particulates is disclosed. The system comprises a bin adapted to receive the irregular particulate flow stream. A level sensor is adapted to produce an output signal representative of the volume of particulates in the bin. The bin level controller has a set point corresponding to a desired level for the volume of particulates in the bin and is adapted to receive the output signal from the level sensor. The bin level controller produces a bin level control signal proportional to the deviation from the set point signal. A movable valve is positioned proximate the outlet adapted to modulate the particulate flow stream out of the bin and a valve controller is operatively associated with the valve. The valve controller is adapted to respond to bin level control signals from the bin level controller. The bin level controller is constructed and arranged to operate the valve such that the volume of particulates remains at the bin set point level to ensure a constant stream of particulates out of the bin through the outlet. Once the particulate flow stream is continuous and measured, it may be subjected to further operations such as proportional coating or mixing of additional constituents.

Static plant for preparing feed mixes for ruminant livestock, having a conveyor unit for conveying the feed mix ingredients, chain and/or screw feeders, feeders with weight sensors and supplementary conveyor belt, silos of solid ingredients, and silos of liquid ingredients, independently supplying two or more high-capacity mixers, via the conveyor unit by a dual flow, the mixers including weight control means, laser sensors and strain gauges. The invention allows for mixing to be controlled with increased accuracy and, consequently, improving the quality of the mix, using fully automated continuous operating cycles, the resulting mix being discharged onto any type of known device using discharging means, for its distribution.

Described herein are chewable articles intended to be provided to animals for purposes including dental cleaning, breath freshening, nutrition, administration to the animal of beneficial agents, satisfaction of the animal's urge to chew, and general enjoyment by the animal. The chews are made to be appetizing to the animal, to satisfy an urge to chew, to effect abrasive cleaning of the animal's teeth, to deliver one or more active agents to the oral cavity of the animal, or a combination of these. The chews have a resilient, chewable texture and are shaped to facilitate dental cleaning, to facilitate oral grasping by the animal, to appeal to human owners of the animal, to enhance the human-animal bond, or a combination of these. Also disclosed are apparatus and methods for making such chewable articles and for formulating and using them to effect dental health in animals.

An apparatus is configured to apply a treatment agent to an agricultural byproduct. The apparatus includes a fragmenting chamber where the agricultural byproduct is fragmented into particles. An initial amount of a treatment agent is applied to the byproduct in the fragmenting chamber. Particles of a desired size flow through a screen from the fragmenting chamber to a recovery zone. A second amount of the treatment agent is applied to the particles in the recovery zone. A regulator regulates the amount of the treatment agent applied to the particles in the fragmenting chamber and the amount of treatment agent applied in the in the recovery zone. The regulation may be based on one or more feedback mechanisms.

A food waste dehydrator that can efficiently collect food scraps and food waste and create an output that can be used as livestock feed, livestock feed supplement, or can be further processed into compost or soil amendment. In some embodiments, the food waste dehydrator is mobile and modular. In some embodiments, the food waste dehydrator includes a self-contained heating and energy source.

Foamed meat or fish products and methods of producing the same are provided. The methods comprise feeding a raw material comprising comminuted meat or fish and connective tissue to a dispersing apparatus. A gas is also provided to the dispersing apparatus and the dispersing apparatus operated to provide the foamed meat or fish product. The foamed meat or fish products so produced include gas bubbles having an average size of 0.1 to 7 mm.

An apparatus is configured to apply a treatment agent to an agricultural byproduct. The apparatus includes a fragmenting chamber where the agricultural byproduct is fragmented into particles. An initial amount of a treatment agent is applied to the byproduct in the fragmenting chamber. Particles of a desired size flow through a screen from the fragmenting chamber to a recovery zone. A second amount of the treatment agent is applied to the particles in the recovery zone. A regulator regulates the amount of the treatment agent applied to the particles in the fragmenting chamber and the amount of treatment agent applied in the recovery zone. The regulation may be based on one or more feedback mechanisms.

A device for producing a high density compact livestock feed from a loose granular material according to various embodiment can include a source for supplying a loose granular material to be treated and moving the treated material through a series of successive treatment zones. Rotatable screws are provided within an extruder to compress and transport the treated material a die. The treated material is pressed through the die while a two-dimensional cross-section compression is applied to the treated material.