PIVOTABLE FEED MIXER

Abstract

In order to provide a feed mixture, a feed mixer is proposed which has a container. The container has a bottom and a wall which is connected to the bottom and delimits a filling opening, the area of which is greater than the area of the bottom. A rotatable auger is provided which can be rotated about an axis, the axis running substantially perpendicularly with respect to the bottom. The feed mixer has a pivoting device which is intended and suitable for pivoting the container during a mixing operation, in particular after a predefined time period or after a predefined number of revolutions of the at least one auger.

No new matter is added.

Claims

1. A method for providing a feed mixture, the method comprising the steps: introducing a feed component into a container of a feed mixer, the container having a bottom and a wall which is connected to the bottom and delimits a filling opening, the area of which is greater than the area of the bottom, activating an auger to be rotated about an axis which runs substantially perpendicularly with respect to the bottom, for carrying out a mixing operation, and pivoting the container during the mixing operation after a predefined event.

2. The method claim of claim 1, in which the predefined event is determined as a function of at least one property of the feed component.

3. The method of claim 1, and further comprising the step of: introducing a second feed component into the container, and the predefined event being determined as a function of the sequence of the introduction.

4. The method of claim 1, in which the predefined event is determined as a function of a weight of the feed component.

5. The method of claim 1, in which the predefined event is determined as a function of an angle of the auger which tapers conically towards the filling opening.

6. The method of claim 1, in which the predefined event is determined as a function of a ratio of a height of the container to an axial extent of the auger.

7. The method of claim 1, in which the predefined event is determined as a function of a wall angle of at least one wall section which widens substantially conically from the bottom.

8. The method of claim 1, in which the container is pivoted in such a way that an axis of the auger intersects an axis of gravity at a pivot angle.

9. The method of claim 8, in which the pivot angle is determined as a function of property of the feed component.

10. The method of claim 3, in which the second feed component is introduced into the container, after the feed component, and a pivot angle is determined as a function of a sequence of the introduction of the feed component and the second feed component.

11. The method of claim 1, in which a pivot angle for the container is determined as a function of a weight of the feed component.

12. The method of claim 1, in which a pivot angle for the container is determined as a function of an angle of the auger which tapers conically towards the filling opening.

13. The method of claim 1, in which a pivot angle for the container is determined by a ratio of the height of the container to the axial extent of the auger.

14. The method of claim 1, in which a pivot angle for the container is determined as a function of a wall angle of at least one wall section which widens substantially conically from the bottom.

15. The method of claim 1, in which the step of pivoting the container is performed about a substantially horizontal pivot axis.

16. The method of claim 1, in which the step of pivoting the container is performed about an unloading angle to unload the feed mixture.

17. The method of claim 16, in which a pivoting direction for unloading the feed mixture corresponds to a pivoting direction during the mixing operation, and the unloading angle is greater than a pivot angle for the container.

18. A feed mixer for providing a feed mixture, the feed mixer comprising: a container having a bottom and a wall which is connected to the bottom and delimits a filling opening, the area of which is greater than the area of the bottom, an auger having a rotation axis which runs substantially perpendicularly with respect to the bottom, and a pivoting device operationally disposed to pivot the container during a mixing operation after a predefined event.

19. The feed mixer of claim 18, and further comprising: a weighing device.

20. The feed mixer of claim 18, wherein the container has a height and the auger has an axial extent, and the ratio of the container height to the axial extent of the auger is greater than 1.1.

21. The feed mixer of claim 18, wherein the container is pivoted in such a way that an axis of the auger intersects an axis of gravity at a pivot angle.

22. The feed mixer of claim 21, wherein the container has a wall section which widens substantially conically from the bottom with a wall angle, wherein the ratio between the wall angle and the pivot angle is greater than about 3.

23. The feed mixer of claim 18, wherein the container is pivotable about a substantially horizontally running pivot axis.

24. The feed mixer of claim 18, wherein the pivoting device includes a cylinder.

25. The feed mixer of claim 18, wherein the container includes pins lying opposite one another, protruding from the wall and engaging corresponding receptacles of respective support structures which are arranged on both sides of the container.

26. The feed mixer of claim 18, and further comprising a conveyer disposed to discharge a feed mixture from the container.

27. The feed mixer of claim 18, and further comprising a controller in communication with the pivoting device.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined event is a predefined time period.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined event is a predefined number of auger revolutions.

30. The feed mixer of claim 18, wherein the predefined event is a predefined period of time.

31. The feed mixer of claim 18, wherein the predefined event is a predefined number of auger revolutions.

32. The feed mixer of claim 20, wherein the ratio is in a range of between about 1.2 and about 1.8.

33. The feed mixer of claim 22, wherein the ratio is in a range of between about 3.5 and about 7.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows a side view of a feed mixer according to the invention,

[0045] FIG. 2 shows the feed mixer according to FIG. 1 in a plan view,

[0046] FIG. 3 shows instantaneous images of the feed mixer during a mixing operation, in a side view,

[0047] FIG. 4 diagrammatically shows a section of the feed mixer according to the invention with a feed mixture;

[0048] FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the feed mixer according to FIG. 4; and

[0049] FIGS. 6 to 8: further examples of feed mixers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] FIG. 1 shows one preferred refinement of the feed mixer according to the invention for providing a feed mixture. The feed mixer has a container 1. The container 1 has a bottom 8. In the exemplary embodiment which is shown, the bottom is circular, as can be seen from FIG. 2. This is not absolutely necessary. A wall 10 which delimits a filling opening 9 extends from the bottom 8 and is connected to the latter.

[0051] In the exemplary embodiment which is shown, the wall 10 is configured in such a way that the filling opening 9 has a substantially oval shape. The wall 10 has two wall sections 11, 12 which widen substantially conically from the bottom 8. The wall sections 12 of conical configuration have a wall angle K which is shown in FIG. 1. The conical wall sections 11, 12 are arranged so as to lie opposite one another. Wall sections 13, 14 which are configured substantially parallel to one another are provided with the conical wall sections 11, 12. The wall sections 13, 14 do not lie perpendicularly on the bottom 8.

[0052] The wall angle K is preferably smaller than 45, in particular smaller than or equal to 26. In particular, the wall angle K lies at 15.

[0053] An auger 2 is arranged inside the container 1. The auger 2 has at least one cutting device, here a knife 5 which extends helically in the axial direction. It can be seen from the illustration according to FIG. 1 that the auger 2 tapers conically towards the filling opening 9 at an angle W. The auger 2 can be rotated about an axis X. The axis X lies substantially perpendicularly on the bottom 8. The reference numeral 3 denotes a drive unit which serves to drive the auger 2. The drive unit 3 can be, for example, an electric motor. If the feed mixer is configured as a mobile feed mixer, the drive 3 can be configured in the form of a power take-off drive (PTO) which is connected to the traction vehicle.

[0054] A conveying means 6 is provided in the exemplary embodiment which is shown in order to unload a feed mixture. The conveying means 6 comprises a conveyor belt 15 which, in the exemplary embodiment which is shown, is provided in the region of the conically configured wall section 12. The conveyor belt 15 extends from the bottom 8 in the direction of the filling opening 9 and beyond the latter. A passage opening is provided in the wall section 12, through which passage opening the conveyor belt 15 passes into the container 1.This allows the conveying belt 15 of the conveying means 6 to be in contact with the feed causing even unloading.

[0055] In the exemplary embodiment which is shown, the container 1 is arranged in such a way that it can be pivoted about a substantially horizontally running pivot axis 4. The container 1 can be pivoted by the pivoting angle V from the starting position (shown in FIG. 1) in the clockwise direction and in the anti-clockwise direction, as is shown by the instantaneous images in FIG. 3. The respective pivoting position of the feed mixer is shown in FIG. 3 using dashed lines. In order to unload the feed mixture, the feed mixer can be pivoted in the anti-clockwise direction by the angle V, that is to say in the direction of the conveying means 6.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 2, the container 1 has pins 16 which are held pivotably in a support frame (not shown). The pivot axis 4 is at the same time the axis of the pins 16. In a preferred embodiment the pins 16 and, consequently, the pivot axis 4 can be varied to allow to place the pivot axis 4 in the center of gravity of the filled and/or empty container 1.

[0057] A pivoting device (not shown) is provided in order to pivot the container 1. The pivoting device preferably comprises at least one cylinder/piston unit. The pivoting device can also be realized via control cables or correspondingly arranged camshafts. There is also the possibility to provide a gearwheel on at least one pin, which gearwheel is connected fixedly to the pin so as to rotate with it. The gearwheel can be rotated, for example, via a auger or a toothed rack.

[0058] FIG. 3 shows instantaneous images of the feed mixer. Different positions of the container 1 in the pivoted state are shown using dashed lines. As a result of the pivoting operation, the feed which is situated in the container is moved in the direction of the auger 2.

[0059] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a container 1, in which feed is situated. As a result of the rotation of the auger 2, the feed is mixed and optionally comminuted.

[0060] The region C which is shown using hatched lines represents that region of the feed in which sufficiently satisfactory thorough mixing is achieved. Feed, the thorough mixing or comminution of which is not yet sufficient, is situated in the regions A and B. As a result of the pivoting of the container 1, the feed from the region A and/or from the region B passes into the region C, with the result that improved thorough mixing of the feed can be achieved.

[0061] FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 show alternatives of a container 1 with three augers 2 (FIGS. 6 and 7) and with two augers 2 (FIG. 8). Each of the containers 1 has a bottom 8 with several bottom sections 17. Each of the bottom sections 17 is itself planar. FIG. 6 displays an embodiment in which the bottom 8 comprises three bottom sections 17 which are shifted against each other. The container 1 of FIG. 7 comprises three bottom sections 17 which are tilted against one another. The container 1 of FIG. 8 displays two augers 2 each fixed to a bottom section 17 being tilted to the other bottom section 17. All of the augers 2 displayed can be rotated about an axis X being substantially perpendicular to the respective bottom section 17 are substantially perpendicular. Alternatively, the axis X can be slightly tilted towards the bottom 8 or the bottom section 17.

[0062] The feed mixer according to the invention and the method according to the invention indicate an efficient and energy-saving possibility of providing a feed mixture. There is also the possibility to provide relatively small feed quantities by means of the feed mixer. An additional mixer for providing relatively small feed mixtures is therefore not required, for example, in dairy farms. The feed mixer according to the invention is suitable, in particular, for providing a feed mixture between 25 kg and 25000 kg or between 0.05 m.sup.3 and 100 m.sup.3.