Pelleting system
AssigneeProject Plaid, LLC
InventorJason M. Pendleton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pelleting system and method for pelletizing a cellulosic fiber into feed pellets. The pelleting system includes a mixer adapted to combine a shredded cellulosic fiber with at least one additive and a preservative to form a mixture; a pellet feeder for injecting said mixture into a conditioning chamber, the conditioning chamber adapted to apply steam to the mixture to add moisture and heat to said mixture for softening the mixture to facilitate pelletizing; and a pellet mill adapted to compress the mixture to form feed pellets. The final product may be a feed pellet having a compression ratio between about 7 L/D and about 16 L/D and containing between about 9 wt. % moisture and about 12 wt. % moisture.
Claims9
A method for converting shredded cellulosic fiber into feed pellets, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a pelleting system consisting essentially of a mixer;
- a feeder;
- a conditioner;
- a pellet mill;
- and a cooler;
- (b) combining shredded cellulosic fiber selected from the group consisting of cotton, hemp, switchgrass, sage, alfalfa, and gin fiber and combinations thereof with at least one food additive selected from the group comprising sodium bentonite, calcium carbonate, calcium bentonite, sodium chloride and dicalcium phosphate to form a mixture substantially free of gelatinizing agents;
- (c) injecting said mixture into a conditioning chamber and applying steam at a temperature range between about 160° F. and about 205° F. to said mixture to add moisture and heat to said mixture for softening said mixture to facilitate pelletizing;
- (d) compressing said mixture to form feed pellets, wherein the compression ratio of said pellet mill is greater than about 7 L/D and less than about 16 L/D;
- and
- (e) drying and reducing the temperature of said feed pellets to remove moisture and to harden said feed pellets formed by said pellet mill.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.