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A system for delivering microingredient feed additives into a feed ration includes a storage hopper with a mixer element attached to an agitator shaft that is configured to agitate a high-moisture feed ingredient in the hopper when the agitator shaft is rotated. A micromachine includes storage conta

A system for delivering microingredient feed additives into a feed ration includes a storage hopper with a mixer element attached to an agitator shaft that is configured to agitate a high-moisture feed ingredient in the hopper when the agitator shaft is rotated. A micromachine includes storage containers for storing low-inclusion ingredients, and meters and dispenses precise amounts of selected low-inclusion ingredients without using a fluid carrier. A mixing conveyor receives and mixes the high-moisture feed ingredient and the selected low-inclusion ingredients. The mixing conveyor includes a discharge screw with a rotatable shaft and flighting attached to the shaft, wherein a portion of the flighting positioned below the storage hopper pull the high-moisture feed ingredient from the storage hopper and convey it to a mixing section that receives the selected low-inclusion ingredients dispensed from the micromachine without using a fluid carrier and mixes the low-inclusion ingredients with the feed ingredient.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A system for delivering one or more microingredient feed additives into a feed ration for animal consumption, the system comprising: a storage hopper for storing a high-moisture feed ingredient, the storage hopper including at least one mixer element attached to an agitator shaft, wherein the at

1. A system for delivering one or more microingredient feed additives into a feed ration for animal consumption, the system comprising: a storage hopper for storing a high-moisture feed ingredient, the storage hopper including at least one mixer element attached to an agitator shaft, wherein the at least one mixer element is configured to agitate the high-moisture feed ingredient when the agitator shaft is rotated;a micromachine that includes a plurality of storage containers for storing a plurality of low-inclusion ingredients, the micromachine capable of metering and dispensing precise amounts of selected low-inclusion ingredients without using a fluid carrier; anda mixing conveyor that receives and mixes the high-moisture feed ingredient and the selected low-inclusion ingredients, the mixing conveyor including a discharge screw with a rotatable shaft and fighting attached to the shaft, wherein a portion of the fighting positioned below the storage hopper pulls the high-moisture feed ingredient from the storage hopper when the rotatable shaft is rotated and conveys the high-moisture feed ingredient along the mixing conveyor to a mixing section of the mixing conveyor that receives the selected low-inclusion ingredients dispensed from the micromachine without using a fluid carrier and mixes the selected low-inclusion ingredients with the high-moisture feed ingredient pulled from the storage hopper. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the dispensing precise amounts of the selected low-inclusion ingredients does not use a liquid carrier. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the dispensing precise amounts of the selected low-inclusion ingredients does not use compressed air carrier. 4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a portable transport platform, wherein each of the storage hopper, the micromachine, and the mixing conveyor are mounted to the portable transport platform. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the portable transport platform includes one or more wheels. 6. The system of claim 4, wherein the portable transport platform is configured to be pulled by a tractor over a highway. 7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a batch controller that receives input information specifying the selected low-inclusion ingredients and corresponding quantities of the selected low-inclusion ingredients to be included in a feed batch to be produced, and generates first and second control signals, the first control signal for the micromachine to control the metering and dispensing of the precise amounts of the selected low-inclusion ingredients, and the second control signal for the mixing conveyor to control a speed of the rotatable shaft. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the batch controller receives the input information wirelessly. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the information is received from a personal digital assistant. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the fighting is a helicoid. 11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of mixing paddles attached to the rotatable shaft in the mixing section of the mixing conveyor. 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the rotatable shaft includes a tapered section where a diameter of the shaft tapers from a larger first diameter to a smaller second diameter over the tapered section. 13. The system of claim 1, wherein a pitch of the fighting is varied along the mixing conveyor. 14. A portable system for delivering one or more micro ingredient feed additives into a feed ration for animal consumption, the system comprising: a storage hopper for storing a high-moisture feed ingredient, the storage hopper including at least one mixer element attached to an agitator shaft, wherein the at least one mixer element is configured to agitate the high-moisture feed ingredient when the agitator shaft is rotated;a micromachine that includes a plurality of storage containers for storing a plurality of low-inclusion ingredients, the micromachine capable of metering and dispensing precise amounts of selected low-inclusion ingredients without using a fluid carrier;a mixing conveyor that receives and mixes the high-moisture feed ingredient and the selected low-inclusion ingredients, the mixing conveyor including a discharge screw with a rotatable shaft and fighting attached to the shaft, wherein a portion of the fighting positioned below the storage hopper pulls the high-moisture feed ingredient from the storage hopper when the rotatable shaft is rotated and conveys the high-moisture feed ingredient along the mixing conveyor to a mixing section of the mixing conveyor that receives the selected low-inclusion ingredients dispensed from the micromachine without using a fluid carrier and mixes the selected low-inclusion ingredients with the high-moisture feed ingredient pulled from the storage hopper; anda portable transport platform configured to be pulled by a tractor over a highway, wherein each of the storage hopper, the micromachine, and the mixing conveyor are mounted to the portable transport platform. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the dispensing precise amounts of the selected low-inclusion ingredients does not use a liquid carrier. 16. The system of claim 14, wherein the dispensing precise amounts of the selected low-inclusion ingredients does not use compressed air carrier. 17. The system of claim 14, further comprising a batch controller that receives input information specifying the selected low-inclusion ingredients and corresponding quantities of the selected low-inclusion ingredients to be included in a feed batch to be produced, and generates first and second control signals, the first control signal for the micromachine to control the metering and dispensing of the precise amounts of the selected low-inclusion ingredients, and the second control signal for the mixing conveyor to control a speed of the rotatable shaft. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the batch controller receives the input information wirelessly. 19. The system of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of mixing paddles attached to the rotatable shaft in the mixing section of the mixing conveyor. 20. A system for delivering one or more microingredient feed additives into a feed ration for animal consumption, the system comprising: a storage hopper for storing a high-moisture feed ingredient, the storage hopper including at least one mixer element attached to an agitator shaft that can rotate, wherein the at least one mixer element is confi cured to a agitate the high-moisture feed ingredient when the agitator shaft is rotated;a micromachine that includes a plurality of storage containers for storing a plurality of low-inclusion ingredients, the micromachine capable of metering and dispensing precise amounts of selected low-inclusion ingredients without using a fluid carrier; anda mixing conveyor that receives and mixes the high-moisture feed ingredient and the selected low-inclusion ingredients, the mixing conveyor including a discharge screw with a rotatable shaft and fighting attached to the shaft configured to receive the high-moisture feed ingredient from the storage hopper and convey the high-moisture feed ingredient along the mixing conveyor to a mixing section of the mixing conveyor that receives the selected low-inclusion ingredients dispensed from the micromachine without using a fluid carrier and mixes the selected low-inclusion ingredients with the high-moisture feed ingredient pulled from the storage hopper.