A control system for mixing materials having a container to receive the materials, agitators, a driveline to drive the agitators at an output speed with an output torque, an power source to provide an input speed with an input torque, a continuously variable transmission that connects the driveline and the power source, and an electronic control unit configured to adjust a speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission to provide a linear relationship between the input torque and the output torque with a slope, when the input torque is below a control input threshold, and to follow a corrected linear relationship between the input torque and the output torque with a corrected slope smaller than the slope when the input torque is above the control input threshold.

A system for analyzing feed mixtures, which comprises: a mixing apparatus suitable for containing a plurality of feeds and comprising a mixing means suitable for mixing said plurality of feeds so as to define a feed mixture; a sensing means suitable for acquiring chemical and/or physical parameters of the feed mixture; and a processing unit connected to the sensing means. The sensing means comprises at least an image acquisition device and the processing unit is configured to determine the degree of homogeneity of the feed mixture and/or configured to determine the length of the fibers included in the mixture.

High thermal transfer, hollow core extrusion screws (50, 52, 124, 126, 190) include elongated hollow core shafts (54, 128, 130, 192) equipped with helical fighting (56, 132, 134, 194) along the lengths thereof. The fighting (132, 134, 194) may also be of hollow construction which communicates with the hollow core shafts (54, 128, 130, 192). Structure (88, 90) is provided for delivery of heat exchange media (e.g., steam) into the hollow core shafts (54, 128, 130, 192) and the hollow fighting (132, 134, 194). The fighting (56, 132, 134, 194) also includes a forward, reverse pitch section (64, 162, 216). The extrusion screws (50, 52, 124, 126, 190) are designed to be used as complemental pairs as a part of twin screw processing devices (20), and are designed to impart high levels of thermal energy into materials being processed in the devices (20), without adding additional moisture.

A fodder mixing wagon, comprising a mixing container containing a mixing device, which is adapted to be driven in a mixing process of at least two fodder components, and at least one electronically operable sensor system having a head and used for determining fodder values of at least one fodder component, the head is arranged such that it is operable in the interior of the fodder mixture during the mixing process for determining fodder values of all loaded fodder components and/or the mixing accuracy of the fodder mixture.

Apparatus for injection of fluid into an extruder is provided, including a static mixer section with a pipe assembly coupled with the static mixer outlet and leading to the extruder barrel; the pipe assembly outlet and barrel injection opening have diameters less than the maximum internal diameter of the static mixer casing. The invention greatly simplifies the fluid injection apparatus used with extruders, while giving more efficient absorption of thermal energy with a minimum of environmental contamination, and the ability to inject multiple streams into the extruder.

Apparatus for injection of fluid into an extruder is provided, including a static mixer section with a pipe assembly coupled with the static mixer outlet and leading to the extruder barrel; the pipe assembly outlet and barrel injection opening have diameters less than the maximum internal diameter of the static mixer casing. The invention greatly simplifies the fluid injection apparatus used with extruders, while giving more efficient absorption of thermal energy with a minimum of environmental contamination, and the ability to inject multiple streams into the extruder.

Apparatus (20) for injection of fluid into extrusion system components such as a preconditioner (24) or extruder (100) is provided, preferably as a composite assembly including a fluid injection valve (52) and an interconnected static mixer section (54). Alternately, use may be made of the fluid injection valve (52) or static mixer section (54) alone. The invention greatly simplifies the fluid injection apparatus used in extrusion systems, while giving more efficient absorption of thermal energy with a minimum of environmental contamination, and the ability to inject multiple streams into the extrusion systems.

Variable-scale, modular, easily manufacturable, energy efficient, reliable, and computer operated Insect Production Superstructure Systems (IPSS) may be used to produce insects for human and animal consumption, and for the extraction and use of lipids for applications involving medicine, nanotechnology, consumer products, and chemical production with minimal water, feedstock, and environmental impact. An IPSS may comprise modules including feedstock mixing, enhanced feedstock splitting, insect feeding, insect breeding, insect collection, insect grinding, pathogen removal, multifunctional flour mixing, and lipid extraction. An IPSS may be configured to be constructed out of a plurality of containerized modules.

A process to remove the glucosinolates of oilseed meals, such as Brassica carinata oilseed meals, is provided. In one embodiment, exogenous myrosinase is used to convert the glucosinolates to volatile isothiocyanate compounds, which can then be removed under conditions of mild heat and negative pressure. In another embodiment, heat and pressure are used to remove glucosinolates from Brassica carinata oilseed. The processed meals may contain less than 80% of their starting levels of glucosinolates and may be suitable for use in various applications, including as animal feeds.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for producing fermented soybean meal, which produces fermented soybean meal for monogastric animals and ruminant selectively or together. An apparatus for producing fermented soybean meal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a solid-liquid separating part, which mixes raw material soybean meal and an extraction solvent and extracts the soybean meal, and separately produces a remaining soybean meal and a soybean meal extract; a lactic acid bacteria culturing part, which produces the lactic acid bacteria by putting inoculum into the soybean meal extract, and supplies the lactic acid bacteria to the solid-liquid separating part; a solid substrate fermenting part, which is selectively supplied with and mixes at least two of the remaining soybean meal supplied from the solid-liquid separating part, the raw material soybean meal supplied through bypass, and lactic acid bacteria supplied from the lactic acid bacteria culturing part to produce a mixed material, and solid-substrate ferments the mixed material to produce primary solid substrate fermented soybean meal; and a drier, which dries the primary solid substrate fermented soybean meal supplied from the solid substrate fermenting part to produce secondary solid substrate fermented soybean meal.