Programmable apparatus and method for delivering microingredient feed additives by weight

A method of dispensing and delivering microingredient feed additives into a livestock feed ration shortly before delivering the feed ration to the livestock for consumption, comprising the steps:

• storing separately multiple said additives in concentrate form;
• dispensing selected said additives from their respective storage means into a weigh hopper means, weighing each selected additive in the weigh hopper means, and stopping the dispensing of each selected additive into the weigh hopper means when a predetermined weight of the selected additive is weighed;
• discharging each selected additive from the weigh hopper means into a pool of liquid carrier after the additive has been weighed;
• and
• positively intermixing the selected weighed additives with the pool of liquid carrier to disperse and suspend the additives in the pool to create an additive-carrier slurry;
• and
• pumping the slurry into a feed ration and positively mixing the slurry with the feed ration before delivering the feed ration to the livestock for consumption.

A method of dispensing and delivering microingredient feed additives into a livestock feed ration shortly before delivering the feed ration to the livestock for consumption, comprising the steps:

• storing separately multiple said additives in concentrate form;
• dispensing predetermined weights of selected said additive concentrates from their storage means and depositing the selected additives after weighing into a liquid carrier;
• intermixing the selected additives in the liquid carrier to dilute, disperse and suspend them and form a liquid carrier-additive slurry;
• directing the slurry into a feed ration;
• the step of dispensing predetermined weights including weighing multiple additive concentrates simultaneously.

A method of dispensing and delivering microingredient feed additives into a livestock feed ration shortly before delivering the feed ration to the livestock for consumption, comprising the steps:

• storing separately multiple said additives in concentrate form, including multiple additives in liquid concentrate form;
• dispensing predetermined amounts of at least two selected said liquid additive concentrates by weight into a liquid carrier;
• intermixing the additive concentrates in the liquid carrier to dilute, disperse and suspend them in the carrier;
• directing the additive-carrier mixture into a feed ration and intermixing the mixture and the feed ration.

A method of dispensing and delivering microingredient feed additives into a livestock feed ration shortly before delivering the feed ration to the livestock for consumption, comprising the steps:

• storing separately multiple said additives in concentrate form, including at least one said additive in liquid concentrate form and at least one said additive in solid particulate concentrate form;
• dispensing a predetermined amount of said solid particulate concentrate by weight into a liquid carrier;
• dispensing a predetermined amount of said liquid additive concentrate by weight into said liquid carrier;
• intermixing the liquid and dry additive concentrates in the liquid carrier to dilute, disperse and suspend them and form a liquid carrier-additive slurry;
• directing the slurry to a receiving station while maintaining the suspension and dispersion of the additives until delivered into a feed ration.

A method of dispensing and delivering microingredient feed additives into a livestock feed ration shortly before delivering the feed ration to the livestock for consumption, comprising the steps:

• storing separately multiple said additives in concentrate form;
• dispensing predetermined amounts of selected said multiple additive concentrates by weight into a liquid carrier;
• intermixing the weighed additive concentrates in the liquid carrier to dilute, disperse, and suspend them and form a liquid carrier-additive slurry;
• directing the slurry to a receiving station while maintaining the suspension and dispersion of the additives until delivered into a feed ration;
• the step of dispensing a predetermined amounts of said multiple additive concentrates by weight includes weighing each selected said additive concentrate to the nearest one gram.

A method of dispensing and delivering microingredient feed additives into a livestock feed ration shortly before delivering the feed ration to the livestock for consumption, comprising the steps:

• storing separately multiple said additives in concentrate form;
• dispensing selected said additives from their respective storage means into a weigh hopper means, weighing each selected additive in the weigh hopper means, and stopping the dispensing of each selected additive into the weigh hopper means when a predetermined weight of the selected additive is received in the weigh hopper means;
• discharging each selected and weighed additive from the weigh hopper means into a liquid carrier;
• intermixing the selected weighed additives in the liquid carrier to disperse and suspend them in the carrier to create an additive-carrier slurry;
• pumping the slurry into a feed ration and positively mixing the slurry with the feed ration before delivering the feed ration to the livestock for consumption;
• the step of weighing each selected additive in the weigh hopper means including weighing at least some of the selected additives cumulatively in the weigh hopper means before discharging the cumulatively weighed additives into the liquid carrier.

An apparatus for dispensing and delivering microingredient feed additives into a livestock feed ration at a livestock feedlot shortly before delivering the feed ration to the livestock for consumption, the apparatus comprising:

• multiple storage means for storing separately multiple said additives in concentrate form;
• dispensing means for dispensing selected said additives from their respective said storage means;
• a weigh hopper for receiving additives dispensed from said storage means by said dispensing means and weighing the dispensed additives;
• receiving tank means for receiving a liquid carrier from a source of said liquid carrier and for receiving additives discharged from said weigh hopper after they have been weighed;
• pumping means for pumping additive bearing liquid carrier from the receiving tank to a receiving station for delivery into a livestock feed ration;
• said weigh hopper being partitioned into separate container portions, each separate container portion being positioned to receive a different said additive dispensed by said dispensing means.

Apparatus for dispensing and delivering microingredient feed additives into a livestock feed ration shortly before delivering the feed ration to the livestock for consumption, the apparatus comprising:

• multiple storage means for storing separately multiple said additives in concentrate form;
• dispensing means for dispensing selected said additives separately from their respective storage means;
• weighing means for weighing the amounts of selected additives dispensed by said dispensing means and stopping the dispensing means for the selected additives when predetermined weights of said selected additives are weighed by said weighing means;
• receiving tank means for receiving the predetermined weighed amounts of the selected additives dispensed from said storage means by said dispensing means and weighed by said weighing means and for receiving a liquid carrier from a source of said carrier;
• pumping means for pumping additive-bearing liquid carrier from said receiving tank to a receiving station for delivery into a feed ration;
• metering means for operating said dispensing means to meter additives from their respective storage means on a volumetric weight-per-unit-of-time basis;
• and control means for selectively disabling said weighing means and enabling said metering means.

Apparatus for dispensing and delivering microingredient feed additives into a livestock feed ration shortly before delivering the feed ration to the livestock for consumption, the apparatus comprising:

• multiple storage means for storing separately multiple said additives in concentrate form;
• dispensing means for dispensing selected said additives separately from their respective storage means;
• weighing means for weighing predetermined amounts of the selected additives dispensed by the dispensing means and stopping the dispensing means when predetermined weights of the selected additives are dispensed;
• receiving tank means for receiving a liquid carrier from a source of liquid carrier and for receiving the weighed amounts of said selected additives;
• pumping means for pumping additive-bearing liquid carrier from said receiving tank means to a receiving station for delivery into a feed ration;
• said weighing means including means for weighing said multiple storage means and determining the weights of selected said additives dispensed by determining the loss of weight of the respective storage means for the selected additives.

An apparatus for dispensing and delivering microingredient feed additives into a livestock feed ration at a livestock feedlot shortly before delivering the feed ration to the livestock for consumption, the apparatus comprising:

• multiple storage means for storing separately multiple said additives in concentrate form;
• dispensing means for dispensing selected said additives from their respective said storage means;
• a weigh hopper for receiving additives dispensed from said storage means by said dispensing means and weighing the dispensed additives;
• receiving tank means for receiving a liquid carrier from a source of liquid carrier and for receiving weighed additives discharge from said weigh hopper;
• pumping means for pumping additive-bearing liquid carrier from the receiving tank to a receiving station for delivery into a livestock feed ration;
• and means for rotating the weigh hopper from an upright position for receiving additives from the dispensing means to an upside down position for discharging weighed additives into the receiving tank means.

A method of dispensing and delivering microingredient feed additives into a livestock feed ration shortly before delivering the feed ration to the livestock for consumption, comprising the steps:

• storing separately multiple said additives in concentrate form;
• dispensing predetermined weights of selected said additive concentrates into a liquid carrier;
• directing the liquid carrier containing the dispensed feed additives to a receiving station for delivery into the feed ration;
• and
• determining the predetermined weights by weighing at least some of the selected additive concentrates dispensed within weighing container means, and after said some concentrates are weighed, discharging them simultaneously into the liquid carrier.

A method of dispensing and delivering microingredient feed additives into a livestock feed ration shortly before delivering the feed ration to the livestock for consumption, comprising the steps:

• storing separately multiple said additives in concentrate form;
• dispensing predetermined weights of selected said additive concentrates into a liquid carrier;
• directing the liquid carrier containing the dispensed selected additive concentrates to a receiving station while maintaining the additive concentrates in suspension in the liquid carrier until the carrier is delivered into a feed ration;
• and
• determining the predetermined weights of the different selected additive concentrates dispensed by measuring the loss of weight of the additive storage source for each additive concentrate dispensed.

An apparatus for measuring, dispensing, and delivering microingredient feed additive concentrates in small but accurate amounts in a liquid carrier into a livestock or poultry feed ration shortly before the delivery of the feed ration to the animals for consumption, said apparatus comprising:

• multiple storage means for storing separately a plurality of different microingredient feed additive concentrates;
• multiple dispensing means for dispensing separately several additive concentrates from said multiple storage means;
• weighing means for determining the weights of said different additive concentrates dispensed;
• isolating means for isolating said weighing means from influences affecting the weighing function of said weighing means so that accurate weight determinations are obtained;
• control means for controlling separately the operation of said plural dispensing means in response to weight determinations of said weighing means to control the weights of additive concentrates dispensed;
• receiving means for receiving additive concentrates dispensed from said storage means and for receiving a liquid carrier for suspending the concentrates dispensed and carrying said concentrates to a destination;
• delivery means for delivering the liquid carrier containing the additive concentrates dispensed to a receiving station for mixing with a feed ration;
• a support frame for supporting the weighing means;
• said weighing means including a weigh hopper for receiving additive concentrates dispensed by said dispensing means and at least a pair of load cells mounting said weigh hopper to said support frame;
• hopper discharge means for discharging weighed additive concentrates from the weigh hopper into the receiving means;
• said isolating means including resilient vibration dampening means between said weigh hopper and said load cells, electrically operated said discharge means on said weigh hopper and supplied with electrical power from a power source remote from the weigh hopper through flexible electrical conductor means, and panel means enclosing the support frame to isolate the support frame and the weigh means from ambient influences that might otherwise affect weight determinations.

A method of dispensing and delivering formulations of microingredient feed additives into a livestock feed ration at a feedlot shortly before delivering the feed ration to the livestock for consumption, comprising the steps:

• storing separately multiple said additives in concentrate form, including some of said additives in dry concentrate form and at least one additive in liquid form;
• weighing predetermined amounts of selected said additives including at least two said additives in dry concentrate form, with no substantial intermixing of the selected additives during the weighing process;
• discharging the weighed amounts of the selected additives in dry concentrate form into a mixing vessel;
• introducing a liquid carrier into the mixing vessel;
• intermixing the liquid carrier and weighed amounts of selected additives in dry form in the mixing vessel to form a slurry within the mixing vessel;
• and
• conveying the slurry to a receiving station while maintaining the weighed amounts of additive concentrates in dry form in suspension and dispersion until the slurry is delivered into the feed ration.

A method of dispensing and delivering microingredient feed additives into a livestock feed ration shortly before delivering the feed ration to the livestock for consumption, comprising the steps:

• storing separately multiple said additives in concentrate form, including at least one said additive in liquid concentrate form and at least one said additive in solid particulate concentrate form;
• dispensing a predetermined amount of said solid particulate concentrate by weight into a liquid carrier;
• dispensing a predetermined amount of said liquid additive concentrate by weight into said liquid carrier;
• directing the carrier bearing the liquid and dry additives dispensed to a receiving station for delivery into a feed ration.

A method of dispensing and delivering microingredient feed additives into a livestock feed ration shortly before delivering the feed ration to the livestock for consumption, comprising the steps:

• storing separately multiple said additives in concentrate form;
• dispensing predetermined weights of selected said additive concentrates from their storage means and depositing the selected additives after weighing into a liquid carrier;
• delivering the carrier bearing the diluted additive concentrates into a feed ration;
• the step of dispensing predetermined weights including weighing multiple additive concentrates simultaneously.

A method of dispensing and delivering microingredient feed additives into a livestock feed ration shortly before delivering the feed ration to livestock for consumption, comprising the steps:

• storing multiple said additives in concentrate form in separate storage containers;
• dispensing volumetrically from their separate storage containers predetermined amounts of selected said additives by operating a separate dispensing device for each selected additive at a predetermined dispensing rate for a predetermined period of time;
• calculating the theoretical weight of each said selected additive dispensed at said predetermined rate and for said predetermined period of time;
• determining the actual weight of each selected additive dispensed at said predetermined rate and period of time;
• comparing the theoretical and actual weights of each selected additive dispensed and from the comparison calculating an adjustment for at least one of the predetermined dispensing rate and period of time for the associated dispensing device such that the theoretical weight will be substantially the same as the actual weight of additive dispensed upon continued operation of the dispensing device;
• adjusting the dispensing device for each selected additive using the calculated adjustment for such dispensing device;
• depositing each selected dispensed, and weighed additive into a liquid carrier and delivering the selected additives-bearing liquid carrier to a receiving station for intermixing with the livestock feed ration.

Apparatus for dispensing and delivering microingredient feed additives into a livestock feed ration shortly before delivering the feed ration to the livestock for consumption, the apparatus comprising:

• multiple storage containers for storing separately multiple said additives in concentrate form;
• dispensing devices, one for each storage container, for dispensing selected said additives separately from their respective storage containers;
• weighing means for weighing the amounts of selected additives dispensed by said dispensing devices;
• a receiving tank for receiving the selected additives dispensed from said storage containers by said dispensing devices and for receiving a liquid carrier from a source of said carrier;
• a pump for pumping additive-bearing liquid carrier from said receiving tank to a receiving station for delivery into a feed ration;
• and
• a programmable control for controlling the operation of the dispensing devices, the weighing means and the pump, the control being operable to:
• (a) selectively operate the dispensing devices to meter selected additives from their respective storage containers on a volumetric weight-per-unit-of-time basis;
• (b) selectively operate the weighing means to determine the actual weight of each additive dispensed volumetrically by its dispensing device;
• (c) calculate the theoretical weight of each additive dispensed volumetrically by its dispensing device;
• (d) compare the theoretical and actual weights of each additive dispensed volumetrically;
• and
• (e) calculate an adjustment factor for the dispensing device for each additive dispensed based on the comparison of (d) such that upon adjustment of the dispensing device using such factor, the theoretical weight of additive dispensed volumetrically should be substantially the same as the actual weight of additive dispensed by the adjusted dispensing device.