Agitating – Having interrelated feed and discharge means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-23
2001-06-26
Soohoo, Tony G. (Department: 1723)
Agitating
Having interrelated feed and discharge means
C360S125330, C360S125330
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250793
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is broadly concerned with methods and apparatuses for applying a foamed product, comprising very small amounts of additive substances and requiring very small amounts of liquid carrier, to a large mass of materials such as animal feed. The product can be foamed by use of a foaming agent (either with or without subsequent agitation) or by agitating a suspension comprising the additive and liquid carrier without the addition of a foaming agent. Agitation can be carried out by any conventional mixing or vibrating mechanism or by injecting air under pressure into the suspension. Foaming of the suspension results in a product having increased surface area thus permitting an even, thorough distribution of the foamed additive onto the animal feed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Animal feed additives, such as vitamins, innoculants, and nutritional supplements, are generally mixed with animal feed after the pellet is formed. Typically, a quantity of the additive material is measured by hand and added to a tank containing a specific, measured quantity of a liquid carrier such as oil or water. A stirrer is provided within the tank in an attempt to maintain the additive(s) in suspension, and the tank is then pressurized to direct the mixture through a spray nozzle and onto the feed pellets. This method has many drawbacks. An excess amount of the additive/liquid carrier suspension must be prepared in order to ensure the amount is sufficient to treat all of the feed. While this leads to wastage, the alternative is to make too little additive/liquid carrier suspension, thus requiring additional time and labor to prepare a new batch. Another drawback with this method is that the tank and mixing apparatus must be thoroughly cleaned after each use in order to prevent the growth of algae and other undesirable organisms.
Many of these problems were eliminated by the dosifying apparatus patented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,507 which provides a system for applying accurately metered, minute quantities of concentrated additives from bulk sources of supply to successive masses of material. While the system of the '507 is a vast improvement, it still requires the use of a large quantity of a liquid carrier (such as water) for the additives in order to ensure that all of the feed is covered with the additive. This results in wet feed which leads to mold growth on and spoilage of the feed. Furthermore, it is expensive and undesirable to use large quantities of the liquid carrier. This is especially true when water is the carrier, and the system is being used in an area where water is not plentiful. Finally, the spraying of the liquid carrier/additive suspension disclosed in the '507 patent results in splattering of the suspension, creating a wet, messy dispensing area and wasting valuable additives.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention overcomes the problems described above by providing a method and apparatus for foaming a suspension comprising an additive and a small quantity of a liquid carrier and dispersing the foamed suspension onto bulk quantities of animal feed. This additive-containing foam is distributed evenly and thoroughly over the surface of the animal feed without wasting the additives or resulting in wet feed which will easily spoil.
In more detail, the additives, either in dry or liquid form, are carefully dispensed in a metered flow into an ongoing stream of carrier liquid in a pass-through tubular mixing chamber. Preferably, the additive is dispensed by gravity into the stream of carrier liquid as it passes through the chamber such that each increment of the moving liquid is matched up with a corresponding increment of the additive material to form a suspension having a first volume. The resulting suspension is then foamed so that the resulting foamed suspension has a second volume which is at least about 1½ times greater than the first volume, preferably from about 15-30 times greater, and more preferably about 20 times greater. Foaming of the suspension can be carried out in several ways. For example, the suspension can be agitated, such as by introducing air (preferably at an air pressure of from about 5-50 psi) directly into the suspension, thus causing it to foam. If this does not create sufficient foaming, foaming of the suspension can also be achieved by the addition of a foaming agent to the suspension. If necessary, the suspension containing the foaming agent can then be agitated in some manner in order to increase the foaming of the product. This agitation can be carried out by some shaking means, or air can be introduced into the suspension containing the foaming agent (preferably at an air pressure of from about 5-50 psi) in order to increase the foaming. Suitable foaming agents in accordance with the invention include any edible foaming agent such as starch-based foaming agents, milk-based foaming agents, or fatty acid-based surfactants. Preferably, the chosen foaming agent(s) will not negatively interact with the additives to be dispersed on the feed. The apparatuses and methods of the invention can be used to apply virtually any substance, dry or liquid, that the user wishes to apply to a bulk material such as animal feed. For example, vitamins, innoculants, nutritional supplements, and pharmaceutical agents are all substances which can be applied in accordance with the invention. Finally, any liquid carrier known in the art is suitable for use in the instant invention, with water being a particularly preferred liquid carrier.
The resulting foamed product is then dispersed or otherwise applied to the mass of waiting animal feed. A suction at the chamber outlet draws the foamed product away from the chamber in a smooth flow. In its preferred form, the chamber is arranged in an upright condition with its outlet disposed at the bottom of the chamber, and the additive and foaming agent inlets located in a position to drop the additive and foaming agent directly into the outflowing stream of liquid. If necessary, the foamed product (which includes the carrier, additive, and foaming agent) may be passed through a region downstream from the mixing chamber wherein the ingredients are agitated. This may be necessary if it is not feasible to foam the product while it is still in the mixing chamber or if increased foaming of the product is desired. Furthermore, air may be injected into the system at that location in order to assist in propelling the product along the line downstream from the mixing chamber as well as to further increase the foaming of the product.
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Hovey Williams Timmons & Collins
Soohoo Tony G.
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