Drying and agglomerating machine for vegetables - producing solid granules for cattle feed in one operation

摘要

The machine is used to transform freshly-cut vegetables into solid granules in a single operation, principally for use in animal feeds. It comprises a framework carrying a hollow rotor rotating on a vertical shaft (I); another vertical shaft (II) is placed inside the rotor and a second shaft is fixed outside the rotor and drives the assembly through a motor coupled to its lower end. The rotor is provided with an upper toothed wheel, mounted on (I), with a set of superimposed annular rings which engage with pinions on the other shafts and a lower toothed extrusion ring. The vegetable matter is fed into the hopper and carried by conveyors to another hopper which surrounds the feed opening. The vegetables are gripped, minced and ground between he teeth of the wheel and its corresponding pinion; they pass downwards around and between the rings until they reach the extrusion ring. Whilst descending and passing alternately to the inside and the outside of the rotor, the vegetables become agglomerated into solid rods; these are converted into granules. Heating means are fixed inside the rotor and air is admitted to keep the temp. at 150 degrees C. The vegetable matter is transformed by only a small application of heat; no forced dehydration is necessary and no subsequent rehumidification is required.