Synergetic automatic control system for pellet mill
US5021940A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 12, 1989 |
| Grant date | Jun 4, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 12, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA23N17/005
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method for automatically controlling a pellet mill. Dry material from a feeder and steam from a valve are supplied to a conditioner, in which the dry material is mixed with the steam to form a hot and moist conditioned mash. The mash is fed into a motorized die or other pellet producing means. During operation, the current load of the die motor and the temperature in the pellet mill are continuously monitored. At period intervals, the system determines whether the current is within a certain tolerance of a predetermined target value. If the current is not within tolerance, the rate of input of raw material is increased or decreased. For each such change in input of raw material, an adjustment is made to the amount of steam input. If the current is within tolerance, the system determines whether temperature of the conditoned mash is near a predetermined target value, and if not, the system adjusts the steam input. The system also monitors the effects of preceding adjustments to predict and prevent a plugged die.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.