Feed mixer with a mixing container for feed and at least one additional container for feed supplements

Abstract

Feed mixer with - a mixing container (2) for mixing feedstuffs comprising basic feedstuffs such as grass silage, maize silage, hay and / or straw, as well as feed supplements such as minerals, concentrates and / or vitamins, - at least one additional container (8) for receiving the feed supplement, - a feed weighing device for weighing the feed placed in the mixing container (2), characterized in that the feed mixer has, in addition to the feed weighing device of the mixing container (2), a feed supplement weighing device (10) for weighing the feed supplement filled in the additional container (8), wherein the additional container (8) has a closing device (14) that can be controlled by an electronic control unit of the feed mixer and which can be opened and closed depending on the weight signals generated by the feed supplement weighing device (10), such that a predetermined quantity of feed supplement can be discharged from the additional container (8) and transferred to the mixing container (2), and wherein the feed mixer has a feed supplement conveying device (21) with a pipe or hose line (23) extending from the supplementary container (8) into the mixing container (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a feed mixer, in particular a feed mixer wagon, with a mixing container for mixing feedstuffs and with at least one additional container for receiving a feed supplement according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] In agriculture, feed mixers are commonly used in the form of feed wagons or stationary feed mixers for mixing feed for cattle. The main component of the feed consists of a basic feed such as grass silage, corn silage, hay, or straw, which is mixed in the mixing chamber, for example, by means of one or more vertical mixing augers.

[0003] The desired quantity of forage is usually poured into the mixing container from the top. A feed weighing system can then determine and display the weight, and therefore the quantity, of the feed in the mixing container. Such a feed weighing system can, for example, consist of measuring cells that measure the increase in the weight of the mixing container as the feed is poured in.

[0004] This feed weighing device must be designed to measure very high weight forces, usually many tons, since large-volume mixing containers are typically used for such feed mixers, for example between 5 m³. 3 and 80 m 3 They can hold feed. The measuring accuracy of such feed weighing devices is therefore usually limited to approximately ± 5 kg.

[0005] For good milk production and the health of cattle, a balanced feed composition optimally adapted to their specific needs is crucial. This often involves adding supplements such as minerals, concentrates, or vitamins to the basic feed. Such supplements can also help reduce methane emissions from cattle.

[0006] Such feed supplements are generally added in small quantities and constitute only a small fraction of the total weight of the feed being mixed. This is particularly true for supplements with highly concentrated ingredients. Therefore, these supplements must be weighed much more precisely than the basic feed and added to the basic feed as evenly as possible.

[0007] Feed weighing systems designed to weigh all the feed in the mixing container are not capable of accurately weighing feed supplements, which are added in relatively small quantities and with comparatively low weight, due to their design for very high weights. Therefore, feed supplements are often weighed using an external scale before being added to the mixing container and mixed with the base feed. However, this is cumbersome and time-consuming.

[0008] From US 2011 / 0 165 286 A1, a device for feeding livestock is known. This device comprises a feed container holding basic feed and a conveying assembly that receives the basic feed from the feed container. A feed additive assembly is connected to the conveying assembly to provide feed additives. The invention is therefore based on the objective of creating a feed mixer with which the addition of feed additives to the basic feed can be carried out in the most precise and simple way possible.

[0009] This problem is solved according to the invention by a feed mixer having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the further claims.

[0010] According to the invention, the feed mixer has, in addition to the feed weighing device of the mixing container, a feed supplement weighing device for weighing the feed supplement filled in the additional container.

[0011] Such a feed supplement weighing system can be optimally adapted to the specific dosing requirements of the feed supplement and, in particular, exhibit a measuring accuracy that is significantly higher than that of the feed weighing system in the mixing tank. The weight, and therefore the quantity, of the feed supplement to be added to the basic feed can thus be determined directly at the feed mixer with far greater accuracy than via the feed weighing system in the mixing tank. Pre-weighing the feed supplement using a separate, external scale is therefore no longer necessary. Accurate weighing and dosing of feed supplements increases feed efficiency, reduces the risk of under- or over-supplying the animals, contributes to animal health, can minimize methane emissions, and reduces costs for the farmer.

[0012] Preferably, the measurement inaccuracy of the feed supplement weighing device is less than 0.5 kg, particularly preferably less than 0.2 kg, and especially less than 0.1 kg.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment, the additional container is arranged separately from the mixing container, such that the weight of the feed supplement in the additional container can be measured independently of the weight of the feed in the mixing container. This can preferably be achieved by attaching the additional container to a holder comprising the feed supplement weighing device, wherein the feed supplement weighing device includes measuring elements that measure a deformation or load on the holder that depends on the fill weight of the additional container.

[0014] The measuring elements can be, for example, strain gauges or measuring elements that detect positional deviations or deformations of the mounting in a capacitive manner.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment, the auxiliary container has a closing device that can be controlled by an electronic control unit of the feed mixer. This closing device can be opened and closed depending on the weight signals generated by the feed supplement weighing device, such that a predetermined quantity of feed supplement can be dispensed from the auxiliary container and transferred to the mixing container. In this way, the desired quantity of feed supplement can be added to the basic feed by automatically opening and closing the closing device, regardless of whether exactly the desired quantity of feed supplement or a larger quantity has been filled into the auxiliary container.

[0016] Advantageously, the closing device is arranged in the bottom area of ​​the additional container, such that the feed supplement can flow out of the additional container by gravity.

[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment, the feed mixer has a feed supplement conveying device with a pipe or hose extending from the auxiliary container into the mixing container. The pipe or hose can, in particular, extend from the auxiliary container over an upper edge of the mixing container or open into a lateral wall opening of the mixing container. In this way, the auxiliary container can be arranged at any point within the feed mixer, and the feed supplement can be introduced into the mixing container at other points, and in particular in such a targeted manner, that a uniform mixing of the feed is achieved.

[0018] Alternatively, it is also possible to arrange the additional container in the immediate vicinity of the mixing container or above the mixing container in such a way that the feed supplement falls into the mixing container simply by opening a closing device, for example a slide or a flap.

[0019] Furthermore, it is also possible that the pipe or hose line extends into an area above a transverse conveyor belt of the feed mixer, or that the additional container is located directly above such a transverse conveyor belt, so that the feed supplement can be applied to the basic feed when the mixing container is emptied.

[0020] The additional container can also be located in the area of ​​the feed mixer's loading device, which picks up the basic feed and transports it into the mixing container. Such a loading device could, for example, be a milling unit or feed cutting unit with an adjoining feed conveying channel or conveyor belt.

[0021] According to an advantageous embodiment, the feed supplement conveying device comprises a screw conveyor or a pneumatic or suction conveyor for conveying the feed supplement from the supplement container into the mixing container or into the area above the transverse conveyor belt.

[0022] The feed supplement dispenser can be deactivated depending on the weight signals generated by the feed supplement weighing system. This allows the electronic control unit to automatically stop the feed supplement feeder supply to the basic feed once the desired quantity has been dispensed from the hopper.

[0023] According to an advantageous embodiment, the electronic control unit is connected to a display unit for showing the weight of the feed in the mixing container and the feed supplement in the additional container. This allows the farmer to be continuously informed about the target and actual weights of the feed in the mixing container and the feed supplement in the additional container via the display unit, which expediently consists of a monitor.

[0024] According to an advantageous embodiment, several additional containers, for example two to six, are arranged around the circumference of the mixing container. This makes it possible to use a separate additional container for different feed supplements and to weigh the different feed supplements separately. Furthermore, this allows for a more uniform distribution of the feed supplement within the mixing container. This is particularly important for large feed mixers with long mixing containers and multiple mixing tools, especially augers.

[0025] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. They show: Fig. 1: a feed mixer according to the invention in the form of a feed mixer wagon, shown obliquely from above, the mixing augers not being shown for the sake of clarity, Fig. 2: a section of part of the feed mixer wagon from Fig. 1 diagonally from below, Fig. 3: A partially cut-away side view of an additional container and a section of a feed supplement conveying device, Fig. 4: A partially cut-away side view of an additional container and a locking device for opening and closing the additional container, Fig. 5: a largely schematic, front section of the feed mixer wagon by Fig. 1 with an additional container arranged in the area of ​​a milling device, and Fig. 6: a section of a driver's cab with a display device for showing the weights of the feed in the mixing container and the feed supplement in the additional container.

[0026] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a feed mixer in the form of a feed mixer wagon 1, which is equipped as a self-propelled unit, i.e., with its own drive and mixing mechanism. However, the invention is not limited to such self-propelled units, but is also applicable to towed feed mixer wagons (trailers) and stationary feed mixers.

[0027] The feed mixer wagon 1 includes an open-topped mixing container 2 in which feedstuffs in the form of basic feed such as grass silage, corn silage, hay or straw, and one or more feed supplements such as minerals, concentrates or vitamins can be taken in and mixed.

[0028] The mixing tools located in mixing container 2 are in Fig. Figure 1 not shown. In the illustrated embodiment, the mixing tools consist of two mixing screws with a vertical axis of rotation, one mixing screw being arranged in the front half of the mixing container 2 and the other mixing screw in the rear half of the mixing container 2. The mixing container 2 therefore comprises a front and a rear mixing chamber.

[0029] Between the two mixing chambers are opposing feed guide wedges 3, which project from the side walls of the mixing container 2 into the interior of the mixing container 2 and prevent feed from remaining in the areas not covered by the vertical augers.

[0030] Other mixing containers 2 and mixing tools are readily possible. For example, mixing container 2 can contain only one mixing tool or more than two mixing tools.

[0031] The illustrated mixing container 2 is connected at its front end to a drive unit 4 for powering the mixing tools and for the drive system of the feed mixer wagon 1. A driver's cab 5 is arranged on the drive unit 4.

[0032] Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the feed mixer wagon 1 has a loading device comprising a milling cutter 6 for milling and picking up forage, for example from a silage pile, wherein the milling cutter 6 can be moved vertically in a known manner. The forage picked up by the milling cutter 6 is fed to the mixing container 2 via a feed conveying channel 7.

[0033] If feed mixers are used that do not have their own loading device, the basic feed is usually filled into the mixing container 2 from above using a separate vehicle, for example a tractor with a front loader, or another separate filling device.

[0034] The feed mixer wagon 1 has a feed weighing device (not shown) with which the feed located in the mixing container 2 can be weighed. As is known, such a feed weighing device can consist of several load cells that interact with support elements arranged on the chassis, on which the mixing container 2 is mounted. Known load cells of this type operate, for example, with strain gauges or detect positional deviations or deformations of the support elements capacitively.

[0035] Due to the high weight of the mixing container 2 and the feed contained therein, for example 5 m³ 3 up to 80 m 3 This feed weighing system must be designed for high weights, typically many tons. Therefore, standard feed weighing systems of this type usually have a measurement inaccuracy of + / - 5 kg or even more.

[0036] The feed mixer wagon 1 also has several, in this exemplary embodiment four, additional containers 8 for holding feed supplements, for example minerals, highly concentrated feed, or vitamins. Such feed supplements constitute a significantly smaller proportion of the finished feed, both in terms of quantity and weight, than the basic feed. The additional containers 8 are therefore considerably smaller than the mixing container 2 and can, for example, only hold up to 100 kg of feed supplements.

[0037] In the illustrated embodiment, two upper auxiliary containers 8a, 8b are attached to the outside and in an upper region of the mixing container 2. Two lower auxiliary containers 8c, 8d are attached to the chassis of the feed wagon 1 below the mixing container 2. The auxiliary containers 8b, 8d are arranged centrally in the longitudinal direction of the mixing container 2, while the auxiliary containers 8a, 8c are arranged at the rear end of the mixing container 2 and the chassis, respectively.

[0038] The additional containers 8 are funnel-shaped, with their side walls tapering downwards towards each other. Other shapes of the additional containers are readily possible. Preferably, the additional containers 8 can be closed by means of an upper flap 9, as shown. With the flap 9 open, the additional containers 8 can be filled with feed supplements from above.

[0039] The weight of the feed supplement filled into each additional container 8 can be weighed independently of the feed weighing device of the mixing container 2 via a separate feed supplement weighing device 10, which is assigned to each additional container 8 and located in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 to Fig. 4 is only shown schematically.

[0040] The feed supplement weighing devices 10 have a significantly higher measuring accuracy than the feed weighing device of the mixing container 2. Preferably, the measuring inaccuracy is less than 0.5 kg, more preferably less than 0.2 kg, and particularly less than 0.1 kg. In this way, even small and very small quantities of feed supplements can be weighed accurately.

[0041] Preferably, the feed supplement weighing device 10 is integrated into a bracket 11, with which the respective auxiliary container 8 is attached to the mixing container 2 or to the chassis. For example, it is possible to design the auxiliary container 8 as a separate component and to mount it on the mixing container 2 or on the chassis via support arms 11a, 11b extending on both sides of the auxiliary container 8, and to measure the weight-dependent deformation of the support arms 11a, 11b when the feed supplement is poured in by means of strain gauges arranged on the support arms 11a, 11b.

[0042] Other types of feed supplement weighing devices 10 are readily possible, for example weighing devices which detect a positional deviation or deformation of the holder 11 in a capacitive manner or which operate by means of electromagnetic force compensation.

[0043] In the Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 schematically illustrates how the feed supplement can be conveyed from an additional container 8, which is one of the lower additional containers 8c or 8d, into the mixing container 2 to be mixed with the basic feed.

[0044] As from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 4, a drain opening 12 at the lower end of the auxiliary container 8 can be opened and closed by means of a slide 13, which is part of a closing device 14. Fig. Figure 4 shows the slide 13 in its closed position.

[0045] In the illustrated embodiment, the closing device 14 further comprises a hydraulically, pneumatically, or electrically actuated lifting cylinder 15, which is coupled at one end 16 to the slide 13 and at the other end 17 to a retaining element 18 that is rigidly connected to the chassis. Extending the lifting cylinder 15 moves the slide 13 to the right in the direction of arrow 19, thereby opening the discharge opening 12 of the auxiliary container 8.

[0046] Instead of such a lifting cylinder, other drives can easily be used, for example rack and pinion drives or electric drives.

[0047] With the slide gate 13 open, the feed supplement located in the auxiliary container 8 falls into a conveying chamber 20 of a feed supplement conveying device 21 located below it. From this conveying chamber 20, the feed supplement can then be conveyed, for example, by means of a screw conveyor 22 via a pipe or hose 23 to the basic feed. The screw conveyor 22 can be driven, i.e., set in rotation, for example, by an electric or hydraulic motor 24.

[0048] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the pipe or hose lines 23 extend upwards over the upper edge of the mixing container 2, so that the feed supplement can be directed from above onto the basic feed located in the mixing container 2.

[0049] It is also possible to run a pipe or hose 23 from the additional container 8 into a space above a transverse conveyor belt (not shown) in order to sprinkle the feed supplement onto the feed located on the transverse conveyor belt when emptying the mixing container 2.

[0050] Alternatively or in addition to a mixing screw 22, other conveying devices are also conceivable, for example pumps, compressed air or suction conveyors.

[0051] If an additional container 8, as is the case with the upper additional containers 8a, 8b, is located in the immediate vicinity of the mixing container 2, no longer pipe or hose lines 23 are required. In this case, the Fig. The conveying chamber 20 shown in Figure 3 leads directly into a wall opening of the mixing container 2. The closing device 14 and the conveying device 21 can be configured in the same way for the additional containers 8a and 8b as for the additional containers 8c and 8d.

[0052] Out of Fig. Figure 5 shows that an additional container 8 for feed supplements can also be provided in the vicinity, in particular on, the milling cutter 6 or on the feed conveying channel 7. This additional container 8 can be provided as an alternative or in addition to the additional containers 8 arranged in the vicinity of the mixing container 2 and can be designed in the same way as them.

[0053] The in Fig. The additional container 8 shown in Figure 5 also interacts with a feed supplement weighing device 10, a closing device 14, and a conveying device 21 for the feed supplement, as described in the following. Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 to Fig. The additional containers 8 shown in Figure 4 are described. In contrast to the above, the feed supplement is directed through a wall opening in the area of ​​the milling cutter 6 or the feed conveying channel 7 onto the basic feed picked up by the milling cutter 6, before the feed enters the mixing container 2 via the feed conveying channel 7.

[0054] The weights of the feed supplements filled into the individual hoppers 8, measured by the feed supplement weighing devices 10, are sent as corresponding weight signals to a central electronic control unit, i.e., a central computer, of the feed mixer wagon 1 and processed together with weight signals sent by the feed weighing device of the mixing hopper 2. By means of a connection to the electronic control unit, in Fig.The weight of the feed supplements filled into the additional containers 8 can be displayed on the display device 25 shown in Figure 6.

[0055] The display device 25 is preferably located in the driver's cab 5 of a self-propelled feed mixer wagon 1. Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible to provide a separate display device 25 for each additional container 8 and to arrange these devices near the respective additional container 8. Furthermore, it is also conceivable to display the fill weights of the additional containers 8 on a display device that is located separately from the feed mixer, for example, on a mobile display device such as a smartphone or tablet, or on a display device that is located on a filling vehicle or in a room remote from the mixing location.

[0056] The precise dosage of the feed supplement can be achieved, for example, by filling the respective auxiliary container 8 with exactly the amount of feed supplement to be added to a batch of the basic feed being mixed in the mixing container 2, and then completely emptying the auxiliary container 8 during the mixing process, i.e., adding the entire contents of the auxiliary container 8 to the basic feed. In this case, it is advantageous if the weight of the feed supplement is continuously displayed while being filled into the auxiliary container 8 and the farmer is additionally given a visual and / or audible signal when the desired target weight is reached.

[0057] The emptying of the additional container 8 and the conveying of the feed supplement to the basic feed is expediently carried out by manually operating a control or input element, for example a switch or a button, whereby the closing device 14 is activated by means of the electronic control device in such a way that the emptying opening 12 of the additional container 8 is opened, whereby the conveying device 21 is then also activated in order to convey the feed supplement to the basic feed.

[0058] Furthermore, it is also possible for the weight signals transmitted by the feed supplement weighing device 10 to the electronic control unit to be processed by the electronic control unit in such a way that, when the auxiliary container 8 is emptied during the mixing process, the discharge opening 12 of the auxiliary container 8 is automatically closed and / or the conveying device 21 is switched off once the desired quantity of feed supplement has left the auxiliary container 8. In this case, a larger quantity of feed supplement can be placed in a mixing container 8 than is required for a single mixing operation.

[0059] The weighing data generated by the feed supplement weighing devices 10 can be fed into a documentation system that enables accurate tracking of the feed supplements fed.

[0060] The target quantities or weights of feed supplements to be added to the basic feed can be stored as a recipe in the electronic control unit. The weight data supplied by the feed supplement weighing devices 10 can then be compared by the electronic control unit 10 with the target weights in order to control the sealing devices 14 and / or conveying devices 21 in such a way that the desired quantities of feed supplements are added to the basic feed in a very precise manner.

[0061] Furthermore, it is also possible to design the additional containers 8 in such a way that they can hold liquid additives such as water or molasses, with which the basic feed is to be moistened or enhanced. Within the scope of the present invention, such liquid additives are therefore also considered feed supplements.

Claims

[1] Feed mixers with - a mixing container (2) for mixing feedstuffs comprising basic feedstuffs such as grass silage, maize silage, hay and / or straw, as well as feed supplements such as minerals, concentrates and / or vitamins, - at least one additional container (8) for receiving the feed supplement, - a feed weighing device for weighing the feed placed in the mixing container (2), characterized by , that the feed mixer, in addition to the feed weighing device of the mixing container (2), has a feed supplement weighing device (10) for weighing the feed supplement filled in the additional container (8), wherein the additional container (8) has a closing device (14) that can be controlled by an electronic control unit of the feed mixer and which can be opened and closed depending on the weight signals generated by the feed supplement weighing device (10), such that a predetermined quantity of feed supplement can be discharged from the additional container (8) and transferred to the mixing container (2), and wherein the feed mixer has a feed supplement conveying device (21) with a pipe or hose line (23) extending from the supplementary container (8) into the mixing container (2). [2] Feed mixer according to claim 1, characterized by , that the feed supplement weighing device (10) has a measurement inaccuracy of less than 0.5 kg. [3] Feed mixer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, that the additional container (8) is arranged separately from the mixing container (2) in such a way that the weight of the feed supplement located in the additional container (8) can be measured independently of the weight of the feed located in the mixing container (2). [4] Feed mixer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the additional container (8) is attached to a holder (11) having the feed supplement weighing device (10), wherein the feed supplement weighing device (10) comprises measuring elements which measure a deformation or load of the holder (11) which depends on the fill weight of the additional container (8). [5] Feed mixer according to claim 1, characterized by , that the closing device (14) is arranged in the bottom area of ​​the additional container (8) in such a way that the feed supplement can flow out of the additional container (8) by gravity. [6] Feed mixer according to claim 1, characterized bythat the pipe or hose (23) extends from the auxiliary container (8) over an upper edge of the mixing container (2) or opens into a side wall opening of the mixing container (2). [7] Feed mixer according to claim 1 or 6, characterized by , that the feed supplement conveying device (21) comprises a screw conveyor (22) or a pneumatic or suction conveyor for conveying the feed supplement from the supplementary container (8) into the mixing container (2) or into the area above the transverse conveyor belt. [8] Feed mixer according to one of claims 1, 6 or 7, characterized by , that the feed supplement conveying device (21) can be deactivated depending on the weight signals generated by the feed supplement weighing device (10). [9] Feed mixer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the additional container (8) is attached to a loading device of the feed mixer, wherein the feed supplement can be applied to the basic feed before the basic feed enters the mixing container (2). [10] Feed mixer according to one of claims 1, or 5 to 9, characterized by , that the electronic control device is connected to a display device (25) for displaying the weight of the feed located in the mixing container (2) and the feed supplement located in the additional container (8). [11] Feed mixer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that several additional containers (8) are arranged distributed around the circumference of the mixing container (2).

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