Feed mixer

Claim 2

A material mixing apparatus comprising: a. a mixing chamber adapted to contain materials to be mixed, said mixing chamber being defined by a bottom wall and opposite side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall and spaced end walls connected to said bottom wall and said side walls; b. material moving means within said mixing chamber and positioned adjacent each of said side walls for moving the materials along the bottom wall; c. material mixing means within said mixing chamber and positioned adjacent said side walls and above said material moving means for stirring and mixing materials above said material moving means; d. a passage within said mixing chamber and positioned adjacent the bottom wall and substantially centered between said side walls and having an entrance opening to permit materials to flow into said passage from said mixing chamber; e. means adjacent the entrance opening to said passage for selectively opening and closing said entrance opening; and f. means within said passage for receiving materials and discharging same from said mixing chamber.

Claim 3

a first plurality of spaced paddles mounted on said elongated shaft and positioned thereon to form an acute angle with a longitudinal axis of said elongated shaft;

Claim 4

a first plurality of spaced paddles mounted on said elongated shaft and positioned thereon to form an acute angle with a longitudinal axis of said elongated shaft;

Claim 5

a first plurality of spaced paddles mounted on said elongated shaft and positioned thereon to form an acute angle with a longitudinal axis of said elongated shaft;

Claim 6

a first plurality of spaced paddles mounted on said elongated shaft and positioned thereon to form an acute angle with a longitudinal axis of said elongated shaft;

Claim 7

A material mixing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said entrance opening to said passage is positioned intermediate said end walls of said mixing chamber; b. said material moving means comprises a pair of augers with a respective auger adjacent each of said side walls with each having a pair of flights thereon arranged and adapted to move materials toward an area of mutual convergence adjacent said entrance opening to said passage; c. said material mixing means comprises a pair of agitators with a respective agitator adjacent each of said side walls with each having an elongated shaft having a first plurality of paddles mounted on said shaft and positioned to form an acute angle with a longitudinal axis of said respective elongated shaft and a second plurality of paddles mounted on said shaft and positioned to form a second acute angle with the longitudinal axis of said shaft; and d. each of said paddles of said second plurality of paddles is positioned adjacent and spaced from at least one of said paddles of said first plurality of paddles.

Claim 8

A material mixing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. the area of mutual convergence for said pair of augers is positioned in longitudinally offset relation one from the other; b. said augers are rotated in opposite directions to move lower portions of the flights thereon toward the entrance opening to said passage to thereby move the materials toward the entrance opening to said passage; c. said agitators are rotated in opposite directions to move the materials toward a center portion of said mixing chamber and above said compartment; d. said augers are each rotated at speeds faster than speeds of each of said agitators to effect a movement of the materials within said mixing chamber; e. said paddles of said first and said second plurality of paddles are generally rectangular members each having a longitudinal axis extending substantially normal to a longitudinal axis of said respective elongated shaft; f. adjacent paddles of said first and said second plurality of paddles have the respective longitudinal axis thereof positioned to define an angle of substantially ninety degrees with the longitudinal axis of the respective adjacent paddle; and g. said agitators each have end paddles mounted on opposite end portions thereof and positioned adjacent the respective end walls of said mixing chamber.

Claim 9

a second plurality of spaced paddles mounted on said elongated shaft and positioned thereon to form a second acute angle with the longitudinal axis of said elongated shaft, each of said paddles of said second plurality of paddles being positioned adjacent and spaced from a respective one of said paddles of said first plurality of paddles; e. drive means operatively connected to said auger and to each of said agitators to effect rotation thereof and thereby blending of said mass of materials within said mixing chamber.

Claim 10

a second plurality of spaced paddles mounted on said elongated shaft and positioned thereon to form a second acute angle with the longitudinal axis of said elongated shaft, each of said paddles of said second plurality of paddles being positioned adjacent and spaced from a respective one of said paddles of said first plurality of paddles; e. drive means operatively connected to said auger and to each of said agitators to effect rotation thereof and thereby blending of said mass of materials within said mixing chamber.

Claim 11

a second plurality of spaced paddles mounted on said elongated shaft and positioned thereon to form a second acute angle with the longitudinal axis of said elongated shaft, each of said paddles of said second plurality of paddles being positioned adjacent and sPaced from a respective one of said paddles of said first plurality of paddles; d. drive means operatively connected to said auger and to each of said agitators to effect rotation thereof and thereby blending of said mass of materials within said mixing chamber.

Claim 12

a second plurality of spaced paddles mounted on said elongated shaft and positioned thereon to form a second acute angle with the longitudinal axis of said elongated shaft, each of said paddles of said second plurality of paddles being positioned adjacent and sPaced from a respective one of said paddles of said first plurality of paddles; d. drive means operatively connected to said auger and to each of said agitators to effect rotation thereof and thereby blending of said mass of materials within said mixing chamber.

Claim 13

A material mixing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said entrance opening to said passage is positioned intermediate said end walls defining said mixing chamber; b. said materiaL moving means comprises a pair of augers each positioned adjacent a respective one of said side walls defining said mixing chamber and each having a pair of flights thereon arranged and adapted to move materials toward an area of mutual convergence adjacent said entrance opening to said passage and an auxiliary auger positioned above and between said first named augers; c. said auxiliary auger has opposite end flights thereon each adapted to move materials away from a respective one of said end walls defining said mixing chamber and a pair of center flights thereon each adapted to move materials adjacent the entrance opening to said passage to eliminate bridging; d. said material mixing means comprises a pair of agitators each positioned adjacent a respective one of said side walls defining said mixing chamber and each having an elongated shaft and a first plurality of paddles mounted on said shaft and positioned to form an acute angle with a longitudinal axis of said respective elongated shaft and a second plurality of paddles mounted on said shaft and positioned to form a second acute angle with the longitudinal axis of said shaft; and e. each of said paddles of said second plurality of paddles is positioned adjacent and spaced from at least one of said paddles of said first plurality of paddles.

Claim 14

A material mixing apparatus comprising: a. a mixing chamber adapted to contain materials to be mixed, said mixing chamber being defined by a bottom wall and opposed side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall and spaced end walls connected to said bottom wall and side walls; b. an auger adjacent each of said side walls within said mixing chamber and adapted to operate submerged beneath a mass of materials to be mixed and positioned adjacent the bottom wall and adapted to move materials within a lower portion of said mixing chamber; c. each of said augers having a pair of flights thereon arranged and adapted to move materials toward an area of mutual convergence and toward the longitudinal center of said mixing chamber; d. a plurality of rotatable agitators each adapted to operate at least partially submerged beneath a mass of materials to be mixed, said agitators being above said auger and each having a plurality of spaced material engaging paddles thereon, said agitators being adapted to move the materials toward a longitudinal center of said mixing chamber, each of said agitators including:

Claim 15

A material mixing apparatus comprising: a. a mixing chamber adapted to contain materials to be mixed, said mixing chamber being defined by a bottom wall and opposed side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall and spaced end walls connected to said bottom wall and side walls; b. an auger adjacent each of said side walls within said mixing chamber and adapted to operate submerged beneath a mass of materials to be mixed and positioned adjacent the bottom wall and adapted to move materials within a lower portion of said mixing chamber; c. each of said augers having a pair of flights thereon arranged and adapted to move materials toward an area of mutual convergence and toward the longitudinal center of said mixing chamber; d. a plurality of rotatable agitators each adapted to operate at least partially submerged beneath a mass of materials to be mixed, said agitators being above said auger and each having a plurality of spaced material engaging paddles thereon, said agitators being adapted to move the materials toward a longitudinal center of said mixing chamber, each of said agitators including:

Claim 16

A material mixing apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein: a. said paddles of said first and said second plurality of paddles are generally rectangular members each having a longitudinal axis extending substantially normal to a longitudinal axis of said respective elongated shaft; b. adjacent paddles of said first and said second plurality of paddles have the respective longitudinal axis thereof positioned to define an angle of substantially ninety degrees with the longitudinal axis of the respective adjacent paddle; and c. said agitators each have end paddles mounted on opposite end portions thereof and positioned adjacent the respective end walls of said mixing chamber.

Claim 17

A material mixing apparatus comprIsing: a. a mixing chamber adapted to contain materials to be mixed, said mixing chamber being defined by a bottom wall and opposed side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall and spaced end walls connected to said bottom wall and side walls; b. an auger adjacent each of said side walls within said mixing chamber and adapted to operate submerged beneath a mass of materials to be mixed and positioned adjacent the bottom wall and adapted to move materials within a lower portion of said mixing chamber; c. each of said augers having a pair of flights thereon arranged and adapted to move materials toward an area of mutual convergence and toward the longitudinal center of said mixing chamber; d. a plurality of rotatable agitators each adapted to operate at least partially submerged beneath a mass of materials to be mixed, said agitators being above said auger and each having a plurality of spaced material engaging paddles thereon, said agitators being adapted to move the materials toward a longitudinal center of said mixing chamber; e. drive means operatively connected to said auger and to each of said agitators to effect rotation thereof and thereby blending of said mass of materials within said mixing chamber; f. a passage at the lower portion of said mixing chamber and defined by a pair of converging walls extending from the bottom wall of said mixing chamber, said passage being between said augers; g. said bottom wall and converging walls having an entrance opening to said passage to thereby permit materials to flow thereto from said mixing chamber; h. closure means operable to selectively open and close the entrance opening to said passage; and i. means within said passage for receiving and moving materials to discharge same from said passage.

Claim 18

A material mixing apparatus comprIsing: a. a mixing chamber adapted to contain materials to be mixed, said mixing chamber being defined by a bottom wall and opposed side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall and spaced end walls connected to said bottom wall and side walls; b. an auger adjacent each of said side walls within said mixing chamber and adapted to operate submerged beneath a mass of materials to be mixed and positioned adjacent the bottom wall and adapted to move materials within a lower portion of said mixing chamber; c. each of said augers having a pair of flights thereon arranged and adapted to move materials toward an area of mutual convergence and toward the longitudinal center of said mixing chamber; d. a plurality of rotatable agitators each adapted to operate at least partially submerged beneath a mass of materials to be mixed, said agitators being above said auger and each having a plurality of spaced material engaging paddles thereon, said agitators being adapted to move the materials toward a longitudinal center of said mixing chamber; e. drive means operatively connected to said auger and to each of said agitators to effect rotation thereof and thereby blending of said mass of materials within said mixing chamber; f. a passage at the lower portion of said mixing chamber and defined by a pair of converging walls extending from the bottom wall of said mixing chamber, said passage being between said augers; g. said bottom wall and converging walls having an entrance opening to said passage to thereby permit materials to flow thereto from said mixing chamber; h. closure means operable to selectively open and close the entrance opening to said passage; and i. means within said passage for receiving and moving materials to discharge same from said passage.

Claim 19

A material mixing apparatus as set forth in claim 7 includes an auxiliary auger extending between said end walls defining said mixing chamber and positioned above said passage and between said first named augers, said auxiliary auger having opposite end flights thereon each adapted to move materials away from a respective one of said end walls defining said mixing chamber, said auxiliary auger having a center flight thereon adapted to move materials adjacent the entrance opening and eliminate bridging thereover.

Claim 20

A material mixing apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein: a. said augers are rotated in opposite directions to move lower portions of the flights thereon toward the entrance opening to said passage to thereby move materials toward the entrance opening to said passage; b. said agitators are rotated in opposite directions to move the materials toward a longitudinal center portion of said mixing chamber; and c. said augers are each rotated at speeds faster than speeds of each of said agitators to effect a movement of the materials within said mixing chamber.

Claim 21

A material mixing apparatus comprising: a. a mixing chamber adapted to contain materials to be mixed, said mixing chamber being defined by a bottom wall and opposed side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall and spaced end walls connected to said bottom wall and side walls; b. at least one rotatable auger within said mixing chamber and adapted to operate submerged beneath a mass of materials to be mixed and positioned adjacent the bottom wall and adapted to move materials within a lower portion of said mixing chamber; c. a plurality of rotatable agitators each adapted to operate at least partially submerged beneath a mass of materials to be mixed, said agitators being above said auger and each having a plurality of spaced material engaging paddles thereon, said agitators being adapted to move the materials toward a longitudinal center of said mixing chamber; d. drive means operatively connected to said auger and to each of said agitators to effect rotation thereof and thereby blending of said mass of materials within said mixing chamber; e. a pAssage within said mixing chamber and positioned adjacent the bottom wall thereof and defined by a pair of upwardly converging walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall of said mixing chamber and positioned between said augers; f. said converging walls having an entrance opening to said passage defined by spaced edge and for flow from said mixer chamber into said passage; g. means adjacent said opening defining edges for selectively opening and closing the entrance opening to said passage; h. means within said passage for receiving and moving materials to discharge same from said mixing chamber; and i. means mounted on said mixing chamber and communicating with said passage for receiving materials therefrom and directing same from the mixing chamber.

Claim 22

A material mixing apparatus comprising: a. a mixing chamber adapted to contain materials to be mixed, said mixing chamber being defined by a bottom wall and opposed side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall and spaced end walls connected to said bottom wall and side walls; b. at least one rotatable auger within said mixing chamber and adapted to operate submerged beneath a mass of materials to be mixed and positioned adjacent the bottom wall and adapted to move materials within a lower portion of said mixing chamber; c. a plurality of rotatable agitators each adapted to operate at least partially submerged beneath a mass of materials to be mixed, said agitators being above said auger and each having a plurality of spaced material engaging paddles thereon, said agitators being adapted to move the materials toward a longitudinal center of said mixing chamber; d. drive means operatively connected to said auger and to each of said agitators to effect rotation thereof and thereby blending of said mass of materials within said mixing chamber; e. a pAssage within said mixing chamber and positioned adjacent the bottom wall thereof and defined by a pair of upwardly converging walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall of said mixing chamber and positioned between said augers; f. said converging walls having an entrance opening to said passage defined by spaced edge and for flow from said mixer chamber into said passage; g. means adjacent said opening defining edges for selectively opening and closing the entrance opening to said passage; h. means within said passage for receiving and moving materials to discharge same from said mixing chamber; and i. means mounted on said mixing chamber and communicating with said passage for receiving materials therefrom and directing same from the mixing chamber.

Claim 23

A material mixing apparatus comprising: a. a mixing chamber adapted to contain materials to be mixed, said mixing chamber being defined by a bottom wall and opposed side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall and spaced end walls connected to said bottom wall and side walls; b. at least one rotatable auger within said mixing chamber and adapted to operate submerged beneath a mass of materials to be mixed and positioned adjacent the bottom wall and adapted to move materials within a lower portion of said mixing chamber; c. a plurality of rotatable agitators each adapted to operate at least partially submerged beneath a mass of materials to be mixed, said agitators being above said auger and each having a plurality of spaced material engaging paddles thereon, said agitators being adapted to move the materials toward a longitudinal center of said mixing chamber; d. drive means operatively connected to said auger and to each of said agitators to effect rotation thereof and thereby blending of said mass of materials within said mixing chamber; e. said mixing chamber has an auger adjacent each of said side walls thereof; f. said mixing chamber has a passage in a lower portion thereof and positioned between said augers; g. said passage has an entrance opening to permit materials to flow thereinto from said mixing chamber; h. said passage has means therein for receiving and moving materials to discharge same from said passage; i. each of said augers has a pair of flights thereon arranged and adapted to move materials toward an area of mutual convergence adjacent the entrance opening to said passage; j. the entrance opening to said passage is spaced from the end walls of said mixing chamber.

Claim 24

A material mixing apparatus comprising: a. a mixing chamber adapted to contain materials to be mixed, said mixing chamber being defined by a bottom wall and opposed side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall and spaced end walls connected to said bottom wall and side walls; b. at least one rotatable auger within said mixing chamber and adapted to operate submerged beneath a mass of materials to be mixed and positioned adjacent the bottom wall and adapted to move materials within a lower portion of said mixing chamber; c. a plurality of rotatable agitators each adapted to operate at least partially submerged beneath a mass of materials to be mixed, said agitators being above said auger and each having a plurality of spaced material engaging paddles thereon, said agitators being adapted to move the materials toward a longitudinal center of said mixing chamber; d. drive means operatively connected to said auger and to each of said agitators to effect rotation thereof and thereby blending of said mass of materials within said mixing chamber; e. said mixing chamber has an auger adjacent each of said side walls thereof; f. said mixing chamber has a passage in a lower portion thereof and positioned between said augers; g. said passage has an entrance opening to permit materials to flow thereinto from said mixing chamber; h. said passage has means therein for receiving and moving materials to discharge same from said passage; i. each of said augers has a pair of flights thereon arranged and adapted to move materials toward an area of mutual convergence adjacent the entrance opening to said passage; j. the entrance opening to said passage is spaced from the end walls of said mixing chamber.

Claim 25

A material mixing apparatus comprising: a. a mixing chamber adapted to contain materials to be mixed, said mixing chamber being defined by a bottom wall and opposed side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall and spaced end walls connected to said bottom wall and side walls; b. at least one rotatable auger within said mixing chamber and adapted to operate submerged beneath a mass of materials to be mixed and positioned adjacent the bottom wall and adapted to move materials within a lower portion of said mixing chamber; c. a plurality of rotatable agitators each adapted to operate at least partially submerged beneath a mass of materials to be mixed, said agitators being above said auger and each having a plurality of spaced material engaging paddles thereon, said agitators being adapted to move the materials toward a longitudinal center of said mixing chamber, each of said agitators including:

Claim 26

A material mixing apparatus comprising: a. a mixing chamber adapted to contain materials to be mixed, said mixing chamber being defined by a bottom wall and opposed side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall and spaced end walls connected to said bottom wall and side walls; b. at least one rotatable auger within said mixing chamber and adapted to operate submerged beneath a mass of materials to be mixed and positioned adjacent the bottom wall and adapted to move materials within a lower portion of said mixing chamber; c. a plurality of rotatable agitators each adapted to operate at least partially submerged beneath a mass of materials to be mixed, said agitators being above said auger and each having a plurality of spaced material engaging paddles thereon, said agitators being adapted to move the materials toward a longitudinal center of said mixing chamber, each of said agitators including: