초록 ▼

Improved preconditioners (10) are provided for partial moisturization of human food or animal feed ingredients prior to downstream final processing thereof in an extruder (56) or pellet mill. The preconditioner (10) preferably includes an elongated housing (12) having a wall (14) with an inlet (20)

Improved preconditioners (10) are provided for partial moisturization of human food or animal feed ingredients prior to downstream final processing thereof in an extruder (56) or pellet mill. The preconditioner (10) preferably includes an elongated housing (12) having a wall (14) with an inlet (20) and an opposed outlet (22). The housing (12) also has a larger diameter end wall (16) proximal to the inlet (20), a smaller diameter end wall (18) proximal to outlet (22), and a progressively converging housing wall (14) with a taper angle of from about 2-9°. A shaft (36) extends along the length of housing (14) and supports a plurality of outwardly extending mixing elements (46) positioned in axially and circumferentially spaced relationship along the length of the shaft (36). The outer margins (54) of the mixing elements (46) cooperatively define a taper along the length of the housing wall (14). The shaft (36) is designed to operate at high rotational speeds, and the mixing elements (46) may be selectively angularly oriented to retard or increase the flow rate of materials through the preconditioner (10). The simplified preconditioner (10) is operable to provide high degrees of moisturization and precooking.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A preconditioner operable to moisturize and partially cook feed materials prior to downstream processing thereof, said preconditioner comprising:an elongated housing presenting an inlet and an opposed outlet, said housing having a larger diameter end proximal to said inlet and a smaller

We claim: 1. A preconditioner operable to moisturize and partially cook feed materials prior to downstream processing thereof, said preconditioner comprising:an elongated housing presenting an inlet and an opposed outlet, said housing having a larger diameter end proximal to said inlet and a smaller diameter end proximal to said outlet, and a tapered wall section between said housing ends; andan elongated, axially rotatable shaft extending along the length of said housing and having a plurality of axially spaced apart, outwardly extending mixing elements supported by the shaft and each presenting an outer margin remote from the shaft,the spaced apart outer margins of said mixing elements being spaced from said housing a distance of no more than about ½ inch and cooperatively defining a taper along the length of the tapered section of said housing,selected ones of said mixing elements being oriented at a neutral position relative to the rotation direction of said shaft and other ones of said mixing elements being oriented in a negative angular position relative to the rotation direction of said shaft, such that the residence time of such materials passing through said preconditioner is increased,said shaft operable to rotate at a speed of from about 400-900 rpm,said preconditioner operable to precook said materials and achieve a cook value of from about 15-60%.