Patent ID: 6923393

Claim:
A horizontal feed mixer for cutting and mixing a hay bale with other feed ingredients comprising: a mixer box having side walls, end walls and a bottom wall forming a mixer chamber having an open upper end; first and second augers mounted within the mixer chamber for rotation about first and second auger axes respectively; a rotor mounted within the mixer chamber for rotation about a rotor axis; drive mechanism connected to the rotor and the first and second augers for rotation about the rotor axis, the first auger axis, and the second auger axis, respectively; the rotor having a rotor diameter and a plurality of helical segments thereon; the first and second augers having first and second auger helical flightings, respectively, and having first and second auger diameters, respectively, that are smaller than the rotor diameter; the first and second augers being above the rotor within the mixer chamber; a plurality of knives mounted on the helical segments of the rotor and on the first and second helical flightings of the first and second augers, whereby the hay bale introduced to the upper end of the mixer chamber will first encounter the knives of the first and second augers and be cut and chopped into pieces which will fall to the rotor and be further cut by the knives on the helical segments of the rotor.