APPARATUS FOR MIXING FEED

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for mixing feed, comprising a mixing chamber (3), a movable mixing element (4) contained in the mixing chamber and formed by two circulating endless elements (13) connected by carriers (16), and a loading plate (7) for supplying the feed into the mixing chamber. According to the invention, the loading plate (7) forms a boundary wall of the mixing chamber (3) in a mixing position and, in this position, closely connects to the mixing element (4). Furthermore it is also possible that the interspacing between the mixing elements (16) is so big that the supply of feed into the mixing chamber (3) is not hindered. Finally, the width of the loading plate (7) can be smaller than the distance between the endless elements (16) of the mixing elements (4).

Description: Apparatus for mixing feed The invention relates to an apparatus for mixing feed, such as silage or the like, comprising a mixing chamber, a movable mixing element contained in the mixing chamber and formed by two circulating endless elements, such as chains or the like, connected by carriers, and a loading plate for supplying the feed into the mixing chamber. Such a mixing apparatus is already described in French patent application 2.531.602. The loading plate shown in this prior art mixing apparatus is pivotably attached to a carrier arm and may supply the feed to be mixed to the mixing chamber (also called loading container) through a supply opening. This prior art mixing apparatus has a number of disadvantages. One of the most important disadvantages is that, in the maximally retracted position in which the loading plate is nearest to the mixing element (hereafter called mixing position) , there is a large dead space between the upper portion of this loading plate and the mixing element. When coarse fibre-like feed, for example containing long blades of grass or halms, is supplied to the mixing apparatus, there is a risk of these feed parts being entangled in the carriers of this mixing element and becoming jammed in the nip between the mixing element and the lower end of the loading plate during advancement of the mixing element. Another disadvantage is that the carriers extending between the endless elements, as seen in transverse direction of the mixing chamber, form a hindrance to the supply of the feed by the loading plate into the mixing chamber. It is selfevident that this disadvantage will become stronger as the supplied feed has a greater percentage of fibre-like material. It is now an object of the present invention to provide a mixing apparatus of the type indicated above, with which these and other disadvantages are removed in a simple but nontheless effective way. For this purpose, the mixing apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the loading plate forms a boundary wall of the mixing chamber in a mixing position and, in this position, closely connects to the mixing element with the greater part thereof. Contrary to the prior art, the loading plate closely connects to the mixing element when it is in the mixing position (the position in which the loading plate is closest to the mixing chamber) , so that there is substantially no dead space between this mixing element and the loading plate. On the one hand, this prevents feed which is entangled in the mixing element from being forced to move into a progressively narrowing channel to the nip between the mixing element and the loading plate which could cause a blockade, while on the other hand it is mainly ensured already by the close fit of the loading plate to the mixing element that the feed reaches the mixing chamber fully through the mixing element. On the one hand, said structural configuration results in a proper supply of the feed to be mixed into the mixing chamber, while on the other hand the loading plate may serve as boundary wall during the mixing operation and no feed can come out of the range of the mixing element in an unintentional manner. In a favourable embodiment of a mixing apparatus according to the invention, the loading plate is flat and the mixing element has a straight path segment at the location of the loading plate, where the mixing element extends at a close distance from and parallel to the loading plate. In this embodiment, there is obtained a very favou¬ rable cooperation between the respective path segment of the mixing element and the loading plate. As to the structure, several measurements known per se are available to realize such straight path segment. It is for example possible to pass the endless elements of the mixing element around return wheels, return pullies or the like which are positioned near the upper and lower ends of the loading plate near the side- walls of the mixing chamber, respectively. Other guiding principals are however also conceivable. It is maybe superfluous to note that such a straight path segment and corresponding flat loading plate is not necessary. Also a curved path segment in combination with a loading plate shape of which is adapted thereto is possible. In order to obtain an exceptionally effective operation of the mixing apparatus according to the invention it is preferred to attach the loading plate at the end of a telescoping arm. By means of this telescoping arm, the loading plate may perform a translatory movement for supplying the feed so that the feed is introduced into the mixing chamber in an orderly manner. The use of such telescoping arm does not preclude the possibility to also pivotally attach the loading plate to the end of this telescoping arm through a pivot. Another measurement promoting the proper supply of the feed into the mixing chamber is that the lower end of the loading plate cooperates with an entrance guide to the feed, said entrance guide extending substantially parallel to the telescoping arm in the mixing position of the loading plate. Besides the measurements mentioned above, also other measurements are conceivable to promote the supply of the feed into the mixing chamber of the mixing apparatus. It is for example possible that the interspacing between the carriers of the mixing element is so large that the feed can be supplied into the mixing chamber hardly without any hindrance. As is noted already before, this is not the case in the prior art (French patent application 2.531.602) so that feed is urged each time against one or a plurality of carriers. By now increasing the interspacing between the carriers they cannot or can hardly form any hindrance to the undisturbed supply of the feed. The specific spacing between the carriers will depend upon the dimensions of the effective portion of the loading plate, that is the dimensions of the loading plate portion which actually participates in the supply of feed into the mixing chamber. When using the embodiment mentioned above it is further preferred that there are used means to ensure that the mixing element may be stopped in a position in which a carrier is positioned right under the lower end of the loading plate. Especially when the feed is supplied through an entrance guide said positioning of the respective carrier means that the feed is, as it were, shoved over this carrier inwardly. The next ^ 00 o o U3 a vo oo o £ •T) o CO which the lower carrier 16 is below the lower end of the loading plate 7) it is for example possible to use an automa¬ tic uncoupling device in the transmission box 15 with which the mixing element is uncoupled from the power take-off 2 of the tractor 1 at the right time. It is also possible to take measurements to ensure that the coupling between the mixing element 4 and the power take-off 2 is restored again when the loading plate 7 is in the position shown in fig. 1. Generally, driving the mixing element 4 is undesirable when the loading plate 7 does not close the rearside of the mixing chamber because in such a case feed may leave the mixing chamber 3 in an undesired manner or might damage the mixing element 4. In order to discharge the mixed feed in a controlled manner, the mixing chamber has, on its front side, an unloa- ding board 6 pivotable about a transverse pivot shaft 22. By positioning the pivot shaft 22 outside the circumscription of the mixing chamber 3 it is effected that, in the unloading position of the unloading board 6 (indicated by dashed lines) the feed is prevented from jamming between this unloading board and the return element 11 shown on the upper side. Under the unloading board 6 there is an unloading conveyor 23 in this case extending in transverse direction. In fig. 3 there is shown a second embodiment of the mixing apparatus substantially corresponding to the mixing apparatus of fig. 1. However, in this embodiment the lower return elements 11 and the guides 12 for guiding the endless elements 13 are replaced by guides 24 determining the path of the endless elements 13 from the upper return elements 11 positioned on the lower side up to the neighbourhood of the loading board 6. In this manner, a precise guidance of the elements 13 along the loading plate 7 is obtained when the loading plate is in the maximum retracted position or mixing position. As appears from the detail of fig. 4, the entrance guide 18 connects to the bottoms 26 of the mixing chamber 3 through a curved portion 25. In the embodiment of fig. 3 and 4, the lower cutting edge 27 of the loading plate 7 is in the maximum retracted mixing position beyond the connection of the entrance guide 18 to the curved portion 25. Because the

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for mixing feed, comprising a mixing chamber, a movable mixing element contained in the mixing chamber and formed by two circulating endless elements, such as chains or the like, connected by carriers, and a loading plate for supplying the feed into the mixing chamber, charac¬ terized in that the loading plate forms a boundary wall of the mixing chamber in a mixing position and, in this position, closely connects to the mixing element with the greater part thereof. 2. Mixing apparatus according to claim 1, characte¬ rized in that the loading plate is flat and the mixing element has a straight path segment at the position of the loading plate, where the mixing element extends at a close distance from and parallel to the loading plate. 3. Mixing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the loading plate is attached to the end of a telescoping arm. 4. Mixing apparatus according to claim 3, characte- rized in that the lower end of the loading plate cooperates with an entrance guide for the feed, said entrance guide extending substantially parallel to the telescoping arm in the mixing position of the loading plate. 5. Mixing apparatus preferably according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the interspacing between the carriers of the mixing element is so big that the feed is allowed to be supplied into the mixing chamber hardly without hindrance. 6. Mixing apparatus according to claim 5, characte- rized in that means are used to ensure that the mixing element may be stopped in a position in which a carrier is positioned right under the lower end of the loading plate. 7. Mixing apparatus according to claim 6, which is coupable behind a tractor and is driven by it, characterized in that an automatic uncoupling device is used for disposing the carrier in said position when the loading plate is powered for supplying feed. 8. Mixing apparatus according to claim 7, characte¬ rized in that the uncoupling device can only be coupled again when the loading plate is in the mixing position. 9. Mixing apparatus according to one of the prece¬ ding claims, characterized in that, as seen in transverse direction of the mixing chamber, the width of the loading plate is smaller than the distance between the endless ele¬ ments of the mixing element. 10. Mixing apparatus according to one of the prece¬ ding claims, wherein the loading plate is constructed as cutting tray and carries at least one lateral cutting means on its lower side, characterized in that each lateral cutting means is positioned on the side of the loading plate facing away from the mixing chamber when the loading plate is in the mixing position. 11. Mixing apparatus according to claim 10, charac¬ terized in that the path followed by the carriers of the mixing element extends parallel to the cutting edge of the loading plate at the position of the bottom of the mixing chamber. 12. Mixing apparatus according to one of the prece¬ ding claims, wherein the mixing chamber is provided on its side opposite to the loading plate with an unloading board, characterized in that the unloading board is pivotable about a pivot positioned outside the circumscription of the mixing chamber. 13. Mixing apparatus according to one of the prece¬ ding claims 4-12, characterized in that in the mixing position and seen in the direction to the mixing chamber, the lower edge of the loading plate has passed beyond the end of the entrance guide connecting to the bottom of the mixing chamber. 14. Mixing apparatus according to one of claims 10- 13, characterized in that the entrance guide is provided on the side for each lateral cutting means connecting to the bottom of the mixing chamber, with a slit for receiving the respective lateral cutting means and possibly with a slit for receiving the cutting edge of the loading plate, wherein each lateral cutting means or the cutting edge of the loading plate, respectively is received in the respective slit in the mixing position of the loading plate.

Inventors: LIET CORNELIS HENDRICUS, LIET FREDERICUS, LIET, CORNELIS, HENDRICUS, LIET, FREDERICUS
Applicants: LITECH BV, LITECH B.V.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A01F25
IPC codes: A01F25, A01K5, B01F13, B01F15