ES2912121A1 - Device and method to previously load a plurality of feed types of a mixture of feed for cattle and method to prepare mixtures of feed (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus and method to previously load a plurality of types of feed of a mixture of feed for cattle and method to prepare mixtures of feed. A device and a method to previously load a plurality of feed types of a mixture of feed for cattle in a mixing plant is described, understanding the device: a load transporter to transport the types of feed towards a mixer to prepare the mixture from feed; a plurality of hoppers, each configured to selectively download one of the types of feed on the load transporter; and a programmed control system to contain a previous load plan of a previous load cycle, defining at least one previous load weight of the types of feed to be downloaded on the load transporter, and at least one of: - Place the loading points of the cargo transporter on the hoppers and download the types of feed on the dump points, depending on the previous load plan and the weight capacities of the dump points for individual feed types, and finish the previous load cycle when a predetermined total weight of the required feed types is reached, or interrupting the previous load cycle when a maximum load capacity of the load transporter or the feed is reached reaches the end of the transporter of load, and transport the types of feed previously loaded together towards the mixer; and - Place the loading points of the cargo conveyor on the hoppers and download the feed types of the hoppers over the dump points, depending on the previous load plan, where at least one of the types of feed to be discharged In the load transporter it is a supplementary part of a main component of the feed mixture, and where the control system is scheduled to control the discharge of the supplementary part of the main component according to a main part of the main component loaded in the mixer By means of a loading vehicle, so that the weight of the main part and the weight of the supplementary part add a total programmed weight of the main component. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Apparatus and method for preloading a plurality of feed types from a livestock feed mix and method for preparing feed mixes

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for preloading a plurality of feed types from a livestock feed mix and a method for preparing feed mixes.

Large farms with many thousands of cows tend to use electrically powered stationary mixers which offer energy cost and maintenance cost savings over diesel powered mobile mixers. The feed mixes are brought from the stationary mixer to the groups of cows by means of so-called feed trucks which are fast and relatively cheap in investment and use. The components of the feed mixes are centrally stored in a so-called feed kitchen with so-called commodity barns, in which so-called docks are present.

Normally, three to four main components, such as corn silage, grass silage in two grades, and forage are required in large quantities and can be dumped in heaps near the mixers. In addition, for example, ten kinds of by-products such as straw, alfalfa hay, brewer's grain, cottonseed, sugar beet pulp, soybean hulls and the like are stored in the docks of commodity barns, and, for example , ten types of concentrates, grains or flours are stored in the docks of granaries or vertical silos.

Since it is not uncommon to handle 600 tons of feed per day (for example, for 12,000 cows) in around 30 feed mixes of 20 tons each, large bucket trucks are used to load most feed components. the feed mixture (for example, two main components, four by-products and four minerals) in the mixers. Freight vehicles go back and forth to commodity barn docks and silage piles hauled in from other locations, looking for the feed again and then trying to dump exactly the right amount into the mixers and then back with the feed. feed surplus to the commodity docks again. In an effort to dump the required amounts of feed types, the full bucket can be shaken by the driver to cause a small amount to fall out, which can be difficult to control and also creates a lot of wear on the hinge bushings. and pivots.

Also, it is not possible to efficiently and accurately load the smallest amounts of by-products and minerals with a large bucket. Although bucket weighing systems are known, this approach is neither very accurate nor widespread.

These disadvantages can be partially overcome by discharging the by-products from stationary hoppers onto a loading conveyor and transporting the by-products via the loading conveyor and a cross conveyor to one of the mixers. The silos can be connected to a mineral collection container arranged on the cross conveyor.

Thus, the loading boat consists of at least three more or less simultaneous processes, i.e. driver-controlled loading with a loading vehicle, pre-collection in the ore container, and (at least partially) pre-loading in the cargo carrier. The sequence in which the three processes deliver the types of feed to the mixer can vary.

Normally, long material and large quantities go in first, so that the mixers can process it. During the manual loading of main components such as grass and corn, the other two processes begin, that is, the pre-loading on the loading conveyor and the collection of minerals/concentrates. When the last main component, e.g. corn, is finished, then the loading conveyor normally starts dumping the previously loaded amount followed by loading the hoppers one by one, and finally emptying the collected amount into the bin. concentrate collection. After the mixing cycle is complete, the mix is unloaded into the feed truck and delivered to the intended group of cows.

Since the loading conveyor, mineral collection container, cross conveyor and mixer can have weighing systems, the quantity already pre-loaded on the loading conveyor, the quantity on the way to the mixer and the amount on the way to the mixer can be calculated. amount that is already in the mixer. When the desired amount of a particular type of feed is reached, discharge from the hopper stops and the loading conveyor and cross conveyor are emptied until the mixer has received all of the previously loaded type of feed.

However, every time one switches from hopper to hopper, the loading conveyor and cross conveyor need to be completely emptied themselves in order to avoid messing up the next ingredient discharge with the rest of the feed in the feed. loading conveyor or cross conveyor. Due to the length of the loading conveyor, this procedure is quite time consuming.

As an alternative approach, US 2017/0188621 describes a mixing plant that can pre-load the entire amount of feed mix onto a loading conveyor. However, this requires a very large load carrier as some types of feed such as hay and straw are extremely bulky. Due to the daily amounts of feed required, huge hoppers would also be necessary. This would mean that the full amounts need to pass over the loading conveyor and the cross conveyor, thus creating a lot of wear and tear. If there are many different types of feed, the loading conveyor can become very expensive. Furthermore, this approach has not been able to reduce the time required for the overall mixing process.

Thus, there is a demand for improved apparatus and a method that overcomes at least one of the above drawbacks when preparing a livestock feed mix in a mixing plant.

This object is achieved with an apparatus according to at least one of claims 1 and 6 and a method according to at least one of claims 14 and 18.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the apparatus is suitable for pre-loading feed types from a livestock feed mix, the apparatus comprising: a loading conveyor for transporting the feed types to a mixer for preparing the feed mix; a plurality of hoppers, each configured to selectively discharge one of the feed types onto the loading conveyor; and a programmed control system:

- to maintain a preload plan of a preload cycle, the preload plan defining at least the preload weights of the types of feed to be unloaded on the loading conveyor;

- to sequentially move the dumping points of the loading conveyor to the dumping areas of the hoppers and to individually unload the types of feed at the dumping points, depending on the pre-loading plan and, in particular, depending on the capacities of spacing/weight of dumping points for individual feed types; Y

- to end the pre-loading cycle when a predetermined total weight of the required feed types is reached, or to interrupt the loading cycle preloading when a maximum full capacity of the loading conveyor is reached or the feed reaches a downstream end of the loading conveyor, and transports the previously loaded feed types together towards the mixer.

The load carrier comprises a first substantially horizontal section and a second rear section (in the transport direction) inclined upwards. The first section covers the discharge sections of the hoppers and some additional space for manual loading on the chain in an emergency.

The invention is based on the idea of preloading different types of feed on the first loading conveyor section and precollecting the different types of feed on the first and second loading conveyor sections, preferably the total amount of feed of all by-products and supplementary parts of main components, or at least as many types of feed as possible based on the total capacity (with respect to weight and/or space) of the cargo carrier.

This can be done by intermittently moving the load carrier over defined distances, so that a particular hopper can dump a target weight/amount at at least one load carrier dump point until the full preload weight/amount is made. of a particular type of feed. The dump point weight capacity is what can be stored on the loading conveyor within a single dump of a particular feed type/component from a hopper. The length of the dump point normally corresponds to the full width of the hopper (in the transport direction).

The maximum weight/quantity capacity per discharge may differ from one type of feed to another, depending on the specific gravity of the particular type of feed and/or other properties of the types of feed. The target weight/quantity of a particular discharge may be a part of the weight capacity if the total preload weight/preload quantity of the feed type is made with the discharge of this target weight/quantity, or if the point dump for private discharge is already partially filled with another type of feed.

When the preload weight/total preload amount of a particular feed type has been unloaded according to the preload plan, the hopper of the next feed type in the preload plan is activated, the loading conveyor is driven intermittently to place another dump point in this hopper, and the type of feed contained is discharged in the same way as explained above.

This sequential scheme of unloading the various feed types (by-products and/or supplementary parts of main components) onto the loading conveyor is continued according to the pre-loading plan until all required feed types are pre-loaded onto the chain, or until the maximum total load capacity of the load conveyor is reached, or until the feed is reaching the end of the chain, where a load sensor prevents premature fall.

All pre-loaded/pre-collected feed types (by-products and/or supplemental parts of main components) are then transported on the loading conveyor to the chosen mixer, thereby emptying the loading conveyor. In the event that unloading had to be interrupted due to capacity limits (maximum weight and/or space on the loading conveyor), the unloading schedule is resumed according to the previous loading plan in order to unload the remaining by-products and /or supplementary parts of the main components in the previously emptied load carrier.

The benefit is that the loading conveyor needs to be emptied only if the full amount of the required feed types has been loaded or the maximum weight capacity or space capacity of the loading conveyor is reached. In this way, time loss due to repeated emptying of the load carrier can be minimized or even avoided.

The load carrier may have a frequency drive capable of driving the chain a number of pulses at a slow forward speed and to drive the fast load carrier in case of transport to one of the mixers. A pulse counter can be provided on the chain tensioner shaft.

At the downstream end of the load conveyor, there may be a load sensor that detects if there is feed laying on the chain.

The load carrier is mounted on weigh bars (weighing system). In this way, it is possible to know what weight is on the chain and weigh a certain amount of a type of feed on the chain, activating the hoppers and discharging a particular type of feed from them.

The hoppers can be driven by a hydrostatic pump, after activating the hoppers one by one, by means of associated hydraulic valves. However, other drives for the hoppers, such as electric motors, are also possible.

The control system may comprise a so-called back drop function (implemented by software) that takes into account how much weight of a particular feed type will continue to fall on average on the chain when the drive of a particular hopper is stopped. Based on the post drop function, the target weight of a particular feed type is corrected by subtracting the post drop weight of that feed type, and the drive stops at that corrected target weight (the calculated difference). In an effort to increase the accuracy of the individual discharges, the subsequent drop weight may be automatically calculated and/or adjusted in the control unit depending on the type of feed to be discharged next.

Alternatively or additionally, it is possible to equip the hoppers with individual weighing systems. In this case, multiple hoppers can be activated at the same time for simultaneous/overlapping discharge of different types of feed onto the loading conveyor, in an effort to save time. Simultaneous discharge can be achieved with a common and suitably powerful pump and flow sharing valves, or with multiple pumps.

Alternatively or additionally, the pump motor may comprise a frequency drive. The control system can then drop the motor frequency after a desired portion, for example, 95% of the target weight has been unloaded. For example, the frequency drive may drop the frequency to, say, 20%, thereby causing the pump and pump motor combination to slow down during discharge of the remaining portion, say, 5%. of the target weight. This increases the systematic accuracy of the download process and decreases subsequent drop propagation.

The mixers can be vertical mixers, horizontal mixers, spool-type mixers, or any other type.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the control system can be programmed to automatically resume the preload cycle after the loading conveyor has been emptied.

According to a third aspect, the length of the dump points may basically correspond to the width of the dump areas, when viewed in a transport direction of the load carrier, and the control system is programmed to intermittently drive the load carrier. load over distances basically corresponding to the length of the tipping points.

According to a fourth aspect, the control system can be programmed to determine the remaining load capacities of dumping points that have not been fully loaded with a particular type of feed.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, an apparatus for loading a plurality of feed types from a livestock feed mixture into a mixing plant comprises: one or more hoppers configured to selectively load one or more of the feed types directly or indirectly in a mixer to prepare the feed mixture; and a control system programmed to load at least one of the types of feed directly or indirectly into the mixer as a supplementary part of a main component of the feed mixture, in particular of a type of forage, loaded into the mixer with a cargo vehicle, so that the weight of the main part and the weight of the supplemental part add up to a scheduled total weight of the main component.

The apparatus may comprise a loading conveyor for conveying the types of feed to a mixer for preparing the feed mixture; a plurality of hoppers, each configured to selectively discharge one of the feed types onto the loading conveyor; and a programmed control system:

- to maintain a preload plan of a preload cycle, defining at least the preload weights of the feed types to be unloaded on the loading conveyor, where at least one of the feed types to be unloaded on the loading conveyor it is a supplemental part of a main component of the feed mix, such as a type of forage; Y

- to sequentially move the dumping points from the loading conveyor to the hoppers and to individually unload feed types at the dumping points, depending on the pre-loading plan,

wherein the control system is programmed to control the unloading of the supplementary part of the main component according to a main part of the main component loaded in the mixer, in particular by means of a loading vehicle, such that the weight of the main part and the weight of the supplemental part add up to a scheduled total weight of the main component.

The apparatus may comprise, for example, at least two, in particular at least four, hoppers for the different by-products and at least one, in particular at least two hoppers for the main components. The main components are preferably of the forage type and can be corn, grass silage of a first quality, grass silage of a second quality and GPS.

The control system comprises a user interface/in-cab control unit to be installed in a cargo vehicle. The user interface may comprise a touch screen with a confirmation button confirming that a predetermined weight of the main component (pre-fill weight) of the feed mix has been made.

Alternatively, a minimum prefill weight threshold value can be stored in the control system for at least one main component of the feed mixture. Once the weight of the main part (actual pre-fill weight) measured in the mixer reaches the associated minimum threshold value, the loading vehicle driver is informed to stop the manual loading (loading vehicle) of this main component, and the control system calculates the weight of a supplemental portion by subtracting the actual prefill weight from the total target weight of this major component in the feed mix.

The calculated extra part (weight) is then entered into the preload plan as the preload weight of the extra part of this main component to be unloaded from the respective hopper onto the loading conveyor.

Alternatively, the weight of the main part (actual prefill weight) in the mixer can be measured without defining a minimum threshold. A particular manual pre-filling procedure could be terminated at any time by the driver of the loading vehicle, and after confirmation of the pre-filling end, the weight of the supplementary part could be calculated based on it.

This procedure is preferably repeated for all the main components of the feed mixture.

In this way, the driver is relieved of the exact load; you can simply dump the full buckets and move on to the next job. This can save a loading vehicle to operate the facility, the driver does not need to drive back to dump the surplus and there is the benefit of precision and automation and still having a small economical final hopper and loading conveyor.

According to a sixth aspect, the control system is programmed to control the unloading of the supplementary part depending on a measured weight of the loaded main part and/or a signal confirming the unloading of a predetermined weight of the main part.

According to a seventh aspect, the apparatus according to at least one of the preceding aspects may comprise at least 10 hoppers, wherein the control system is programmed to assign at least two of the hoppers to a main component of the feed mixture, such as a type of forage.

According to an eighth aspect, the loading conveyor and/or each of the hoppers may comprise a weighing system.

According to a ninth aspect of the invention, the apparatus for preparing livestock feed mixtures comprises:

- stationary mixers for preparing a predetermined feed mixture from a plurality of feed types including at least one major component of one type of forage and by-products;

- loading areas for a loading vehicle, for loading the at least one main component in the mixers;

- the apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, for transporting on the loading conveyor the unloaded by-products and/or the unloaded supplementary parts of the at least one main component towards the mixers; Y

- a cross conveyor alternately connecting the loading conveyor with one of the mixers.

In this way, the capacity and performance of an automated apparatus can be optimized. For example, the apparatus may comprise two stationarily installed mixers, each having a capacity of at least 10,000 kg, preferably at least 20,000 kg. The mixers can be equipped with an electric drive, weigh bars and a programmable logic controller (PLC). Mixers can be used in an alternate way.

The cross conveyor directs the flow of material either from a mineral collection container or from the loading conveyor to the chosen mixer. The cross conveyor is also mounted on the weigh bars so you know it is empty or the feed is still on its way to the chosen mixer.

According to a tenth aspect, the apparatus further comprises silos for mineral feed types and a mineral collecting container connected to the silos and discharging onto the cross conveyor.

The mineral collection unit is mounted on weigh bars. There may be a post drop function (as explained above) for the ore collection unit in the control system and/or a frequency drive (as explained above) to be able to selectively drive the screw motors auger for collecting minerals/concentrates at lower speeds, in particular, shortly before reaching the target weight of a particular mineral/concentrate.

According to an eleventh aspect of the invention, a method for pre-loading a plurality of feed types of a livestock feed mixture in a mixing plant comprises the steps of: selectively discharging one of the feed types, each of a plurality of hoppers on a loading conveyor and conveying the types of feed on the loading conveyor to a mixer to prepare the feed mix. The unloading and transport of the feed types is controlled by a computer program containing a preload plan of a preload cycle, the preload plan defining at least the preload weights of the feed types to be be unloaded onto the cargo carrier. The computer program sequentially moves the loading conveyor dumping points to the hopper dumping areas and individually controls the unloading of feed types at the dumping points, depending on the pre-loading plan and, in particular, depending on of the space/weight capacities of the dumping points for the individual feed types, wherein the computer program terminates the preload cycle when a predetermined total weight of the required feed types is reached, or interrupts the preload cycle pre-loading when a maximum weight capacity of the loading conveyor is reached or when the load sensor at the downstream end of the loading conveyor is triggered by feed in the chain, and conveys the previously loaded feed types together towards the mixer, in particular following a request signal from the mixer, asking for the types of feed.

The quantities to be loaded are fixed in a ration. Only the supplementary parts need to be calculated. In this way, the preload can be adapted in a flexible way.

The general charging sequence is programmed in the main control unit. For example, a user (farmer) can determine that concentrates are loaded first from the pre-collection container, followed by feed from the hoppers. Or the pre-collected concentrates are transported to the mixer in between emptying the pre-loaded amount of feed onto the loading conveyor and resumption of loading from the hoppers. This can be totally flexible.

According to a twelfth aspect, the computer program can determine a remaining load capacity of at least one dump point that has not been fully loaded with a first type of feed and controls the discharge of at least a second type of feed such that the tipping point is fully loaded with the first type of feed and the at least second type of feed.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the invention, a method for loading feed types from a livestock feed mixture comprises: selectively loading one or more of the feed types from one or more hoppers directly or indirectly into a mixer to prepare the feed mixture I think; wherein at least one of the types of feed is directly or indirectly loaded into the mixer as a supplementary part of a main component of the feed mixture, in particular of a type of forage, loaded into the mixer with a loading vehicle, wherein the load is controlled such that the weight of the main part and the weight of the supplemental part add up to a scheduled total weight of the main component.

The method may comprise selectively discharging one of the feed types, each of a plurality of hoppers, onto a loading conveyor and transporting the feed types on the loading conveyor to a mixer to prepare the feed mix. Unloading and transport of the feed types are controlled by a computer program containing a preload plan of a preload cycle, the preload plan defining at least the preload weights of the feed types to be unloaded onto the cargo carrier. At least one of the feed types to be unloaded onto the loading conveyor is a supplemental part of a main component of the feed mix, such as a forage type. The computer program sequentially moves the loading conveyor dumping points to the hopper dumping areas and individually controls the unloading of feed types at the dumping points, depending on the pre-loading plan, where the dumping program computer controls the unloading of the supplementary part of the main component according to a main part of the main component loaded into the mixer by means of a loading vehicle, so that the weight of the main part and the weight of the supplementary part add up to a total weight programmed of the main component.

For each feed mix, the control system calculates a particular pre-loading plan taking into account the desired sequence of feed types and the associated hopper positions, as well as the total target weights of feed types. I think. Based on them, the control system calculates a sequence that defines which dumping points must be completely loaded with a single type of feed and which dumping points must be loaded sequentially with two different types of feed. In this way, the space available on the loading conveyor can be used efficiently to pre-collect as many types of feed as possible between the hoppers and the cross conveyor.

It might be beneficial to fill the hoppers closest to the mixers with the main components, for example two types of grass, corn and GPS.

According to a fourteenth aspect, the loaded main part can be weighed in the mixer and/or the loading of a predetermined weight of the main part can be confirmed manually on the loading vehicle, and the weight of the main part can be calculated by the computer program. supplementary depending on the measured and/or confirmed weight of the loaded main part.

According to a fifteenth aspect, a first subgroup of hoppers may contain different by-products of the feed mix and a second subgroup of hoppers may contain different main components of the feed mix. Minerals can be provided in silos.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the invention, a method for preparing a predetermined feed mixture from a plurality of types of feed including at least one main component consisting, in particular, of at least one of a type of forage and silage , and including multiple by-products, wherein the by-products and/or a supplementary part of at least one of the main components are preloaded and transported according to at least one of the previous aspects, and a main part of the at least one main component is loading into a selected one of at least two mixers by means of a loading vehicle. Furthermore, the preloaded by-products and/or the at least one preloaded supplementary part are fed to the selected mixer by means of a cross conveyor selectively connecting the loading conveyor with the selected mixer.

The loading of at least one of the by-products, the supplementary parts of the main components and the minerals can be automated by means of the control system comprising at least one PLC.

A loading vehicle is preferably used to feed the main components into the mixers and the associated subset of hoppers and to feed the by-products. in the associated subgroup of hoppers. The loading vehicle can be a loader, a telescopic handler, a tractor with a front loader or the like.

The load conveyor can be a load chain, a load belt, or the like.

An in-cab controller with a touch screen or the like may be provided on the freight vehicle and may be wirelessly connected to the PLC via known data transfer techniques.

Any of the aspects and/or features described above may be combined with each other.

An embodiment of the invention is described in detail below with reference to the following figures showing:

Fig. 1 a general description of an apparatus for preparing feed mixtures;

Fig.2 a more detailed view of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 a loading conveyor with different types of feed unloaded from the hoppers;

Fig.4 the upstream end of the load carrier;

Fig. 5 the downstream end of the loading conveyor;

Fig.6 a mixing plant control system;

Fig. 7 a schematic diagram of a method for preparing feed mixes; Y

Fig. 8 a schematic diagram of a method for pre-loading feed types on the loading conveyor; Y

Fig. 9 is an alternative variant of the apparatus for direct loading into the mixer.

As can be seen from Fig. 1, the apparatus 1 for preparing feed mixtures for livestock comprises two mixers 2, an apparatus 3 for pre-charging a plurality of feed types/feed components of a feed mixture by means of of a plurality of hoppers 4 and a loading conveyor 5, and a cross conveyor 6 selectively connecting the loading conveyor 5 with one of the mixers 2. The mixers 2 can be vertical type, horizontal type or reel type or any other Type.

The apparatus 1 further comprises loading areas 7 for at least one cargo vehicle 8, a mineral collection tank 9 arranged on the cross conveyor 6 and receiving minerals and/or concentrates for the feed mixtures from a plurality of silos 10.

The apparatus 1 is part of a so-called feed kitchen 11 comprising fodder heaps 12 which can be placed in commodity barns (not shown) to provide a plurality of main components MC, which may consist of maize silage, grass of a first quality, grass silage of a second quality and GPS silage.

The loading vehicle 8 collects a main part MP of at least one of the main components MC and loads the same into one of the activated mixers 2 to prepare a particular feed mixture. The prepared feed mixes are finally unloaded into the feed trucks 13.

As can be seen in Fig. 2, a first subgroup 14 of the hoppers 4 is used to provide different by-products BP, and a second subgroup 15 of the hoppers 4 is used to provide supplementary parts SP of the main components MC. As explained in more detail with respect to Figs. 6 and 7, the main parts MP of the main components MC are loaded into the mixers 2 by means of the loading vehicle 8, while the supplementary parts SP of the same main components MC are unloaded from the hoppers 4 onto the loading conveyor. 5 and add to the main parts MP already loaded into the mixers 2, by means of the cross conveyor 6.

As can be seen in more detail in Fig. 3, the by-products BP required in the feed mix and the supplementary parts SP of the main components MC required in the feed mix are pre-loaded/pre-collected on the loading conveyor 5 and transport together to the mixer 2 used for the particular feed mixture.

The loading conveyor 5, the cross conveyor 6 and each of the mixers 2 are mounted on weighing systems 16, 17, 18, to monitor the weight of the by-products BP and supplementary parts SP during pre-unloading, transport and collection. of the same in the loading conveyor 5, the transversal conveyor 6 and in the mixers 2, respectively. The hoppers 4 can be individually mounted on weighing systems 19 (Fig. 2) in order to control the individual discharges of the by-products BP and/or the supplementary parts SP.

The weighing systems 16 to 19 can be of the conventional type, that is, incorporated in the legs of the loading conveyor 5, the cross conveyor 6, the mixers 2 and/or the hoppers 4, respectively. Thus, the structure and function of the weighing systems 16 to 19 are not described in detail.

As can be seen from Figs. 1 to 3, each of the mixers 2 is provided with a feed conveyor 20 in order to discharge the prepared feed mixes into the feed trucks 13.

Figs. 2 and 3 further show a main control unit 21 of the apparatus 3 and/or the mixing plant 1, a drive unit 22, preferably of the hydraulic type, for the hoppers 4 (of both subgroups 14, 15), a flow sensor loading 23, preferably of the ultrasonic type, which monitors the loading condition at the downstream end of the loading conveyor 5.

Drive unit 22 comprises an electric motor, a pump and valves (not shown). The drive unit 22 may comprise a frequency drive (electric power: eg 7.5 kW) to control (reduce) the speed of the motor and the pump. In this way, the discharge rate of the respective hopper 4 can be reduced, for example, when 5% of the target weight of a particular discharge is reached. For example, the download speed would be reduced to 20% of the initial download speed (which would be reduced from 50 Hz to 10 Hz in Europe and from 60 Hz to 12 Hz in the US).

The load carrier 5 can be driven by a frequency drive (electric power: eg 15 kW) located on a separate panel (not shown). However, the load carrier frequency drive 5 could be incorporated in the drive unit 22. The load carrier frequency drive 5 is doing the pulse check on the tensioner and is stopped by the load sensor 23 (sonar) at the downstream end of the loading conveyor 5. The frequency drive is capable of intermittently driving the defined dumping points DS on the loading conveyor 5 to the target positions TP on each of the hoppers 4.

The upstream end of load carrier 5 is depicted in Fig. 4 showing that drive unit 22 may comprise pulse sensors 22a arranged on load carrier idler sprockets 5 in order to command movement of the carrier. charging 5 while pre-charging.

This arrangement can also be used to detect whether the load carrier 5 is blocked, broken or needs to be tensioned, for example in the event that the delay between the start of the frequency drive and the detection of a movement of the load carrier 5 take too long.

Preferably, the hoppers 4 are provided on both sides of the loading conveyor 5. Thus, for the fourteen hoppers 4 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, seven TP target positions are required.

The downstream end of load carrier 5 with load sensor 23 is depicted in Fig. 5.

In order to pre-load the required by-products BP contained in the feed mix and/or the supplementary parts SP of the main components MC onto the loading conveyor 5, the completely empty dumping points DS or the partially empty dumping points DS are sequentially positioned at one of the target positions TP to unload a planned preload weight PW of the respective feed component/type at at least one tipping point DS.

In the example according to Fig. 3, the first and second dumping points DS1, DS2 (closest to the cross conveyor 6) are filled with a first by-product BP1, a third dumping point DS3 is partially filled with the first by-product BP1 and a second byproduct BP2. A fourth dumping point DS4 is completely filled with the second by-product BP2, a fifth dumping point DS5 is partially filled with the second by-product BP2 and a third by-product BP3, a sixth dumping point DS6 is partially filled with the third by-product BP3 and a fourth by-product BP4, a seventh dump point DS7 is completely filled with the fourth by-product BP4, an eighth dump point DS8 is partially filled with the fourth by-product BP4 and a first main component MC1. A ninth dump point DS9 is completely filled with a second main component MC2. A tenth dump point DS10 is partially filled with a third main component MC3.

The distances between the target positions TP can basically correspond to the width (in the transport direction 5a of the loading conveyor 5) of the hoppers 4. In the same way, the length 24 (in the transport direction 5a of the loading conveyor 5) of the dumping points DS can basically correspond to the width of the hoppers 4.

However, the individual DS dump points may have different lengths 24, depending on the width of the hopper 4 used to load a particular dumping point DS and/or depending on the material properties of the discharged by-products BP and/or main components MC.

In either case, the cargo carrier 5 is virtually segmented at the dump points DS by sequentially moving the receiving sections of the cargo carrier 5 to one of the target positions TP.

It is favorable for the frequency drive to operate the load carrier 5 in only one direction. In this way, the SQ pre-loading sequence can start with the required 4 hoppers positioned furthest from the cross conveyor 6. However, other chain loading SQ sequences would also be possible, such as starting with the closest 4 hoppers to the cross conveyor 6, or starting with all the required hoppers 4 placed on one side of the loading conveyor 5, followed by the required 4 hoppers on the other side, and/or moving the loading conveyor 5 in both directions.

The loading conveyor 5 comprises a basically horizontal section 5b and an upwardly inclined section 5c (Fig. 2) which can both be used to pre-load/pre-collect by-products BP and/or supplementary parts SP of main components MC before unloading. the same together in mixer 2 activated. In this way, it is not necessary to empty the loading conveyor 5 and the cross conveyor 6 between the discharge of different types of feed (by-products BP and/or main components MC) on the loading conveyor 5.

Fig. 6 schematically shows a control system 30 that includes at least the main control unit 21, the hoppers 4, the loading conveyor 5, the weighing systems 18 of the mixers 2 and an in-cab control unit 31 provided on each loading vehicle 8. The control system may further comprise the weighing systems 16, 17, 19 of the loading conveyor 5, the cross conveyor 6 and/or the hoppers 4, and the load sensor 23 (not shown in Fig. Fig.6).

In a primarily known manner, the main control unit 21 and the in-car control unit 31 are based on programmable logic controllers (PLC).

Control unit 21 contains at least one preload plan PP of a corresponding preload cycle PC to deliver all required by-products BP and all supplementary parts SP of required main components MC of a feed mix through the conveyor. 5.Charging plan pre-load PP comprises at least the pre-load weights PW of the by-products BP and the supplementary parts SP to be unloaded onto the loading conveyor 5.

Furthermore, the preload plan PP may comprise a sequence SQ of the target positions TP assigned to the required dump points DS. The target positions TP basically correspond to the positions of the hoppers 4 containing the required by-products BP and supplementary parts SP.

Since a single DS dumping point may not be able to receive the planned preload weight PW of a particular feed type/component, the preload weight PW can be divided into target weights TW for each required DS dumping point. for preloading this particular feed component. If only one dump point DS is required for a particular feed component, its preload weight PW corresponds to a single target weight TW.

Preferably, the main control unit 21 further contains information regarding a post-fill function of the hoppers 4 that defines how much weight of a particular by-product BP or main component MC is further discharged from the hoppers 4 at a dump point DS after that the respective hopper 4 has been stopped by the control unit 21. This can be achieved by defining individual afterfill weights AW for each of the by-products BP and for each of the main components MC, depending on the material properties.

For the discharge of a particular feed component, the main control unit 21 may correct each target weight TW by subtracting therefrom the subsequent fill weight AW of this feed component. The discharge of the hoppers 4 is then controlled using these corrected target weights TW and/or the weighing systems 19 provided in the hoppers 4.

The control unit 21 assigns each hopper 4 to a particular by-product BP or a particular main component MC. In the same way, TP target positions can be assigned to each of these feed types/components.

The in-cab control unit 31 may comprise a confirmation button 32 that allows the driver of the cargo vehicle 8 to confirm that a predetermined main part MP of a particular main component MC has been made. This can be achieved by completely filling the loading vehicle bowl 8 with the main component MC, thereby loading a substantially reproducible amount of known weight into the activated mixer 2. After uploading a required number of cuvettes, the loading of the main part MP is confirmed. This creates a confirmed weight CW of the main part MP, used by the main control unit 21 to calculate the planned preload weight PW of the associated supplemental part SP of this particular main component MC.

Furthermore, the main control unit 21 and/or the cabin control unit 31 can maintain a threshold TH for each of the main components MC, defining minimum weights of their main parts MP to be loaded by means of the loading vehicle 8 in mixer 2 activated. In this case, the weighing system 18 of the respective mixer 2 weighs the loaded main part MP of a particular main component MC, thereby producing a measured weight MW of the main part MP.

The main control unit 21 and/or the in-cab control unit 31 check whether the measured weight MW has reached the threshold TH. If so, the driver of the loading vehicle 8 is informed that the main part MP of this particular main component MC is done, and the driver can move on to the next job. Furthermore, the measured weight MW of the main part MP is used by the main control unit 21 to calculate the planned preload weight PW of the corresponding supplementary part SP of this particular main component MC.

This procedure of calculating pre-charge weights PW of supplemental parts SP based on confirmed weights CW/measured weights MW of main parts MP loaded into mixer 2 is repeated for all required main components MC, thereby completing the plan. PP preload.

Fig. 6 further indicates that the main control unit 21 controls the hoppers 4 to discharge the target weights TW of the required feed types at the assigned dumping points DS, based on the specific weight capacities WC of the dumping point. DS (empty) for each of the different types/components of feed, and based on the filling degrees FD of the individual dumping points DS (the space available for each individual discharge from a hopper 4).

The main control unit 21 controls (the drive unit 22 of) the loading conveyor 5 to position the dump points DS at the target positions TP, also based on the weight capacities WC and the degrees of filling FD.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic diagram of the steps performed in one embodiment of a method/procedure 100 for preparing a feed mix.

After the start of the mixing procedure 100, the described steps 110 to 190 are can be performed simultaneously and/or in an overlapping manner, depending on the availability of the required input parameters, such as confirmed weights CW/measured weights MW of loaded MP main parts, remaining weight/space capacity of the load carrier 5 , and/or the availability of the cross conveyor 6 (being busy or not).

In a step 110, a prefill plan (not shown) predetermining the main parts MP or the thresholds TH of the main components MC required to be loaded by means of the loading vehicle 8 is read and displayed on the control unit in cabin 31.

In a step 120, the loading vehicle 8 picks up one of the required main components MC in the associated forage pile 12 and loads this main component MC into the activated mixer 2. Preferably, the loading vehicle 8 loads the fully filled buckets into the mixer 2.

In a step 130, the loading of this main part MC in the mixer is finished by confirming the complete loading of the predetermined main part MP in the in-cab control unit 31 and transmitting a confirmed weight CW of the main part MP/main component MC. to the main control unit 21. Alternatively, once an associated threshold TH of the main part MP is reached (and displayed), charging of the main part MP is terminated, and a measured weight MW of the main part MP /main component MC is transmitted to the main control unit 21.

Steps 120 and 130 are repeated for the other required MC major components in the feed mix until the MC major components are preloaded.

In a step 140, the main parts MP of the main components MC already loaded in the mixer 2 are mixed with each other. Simultaneously, other components can be added by performing steps 150 to 190, as explained below.

In step 150, the ores and/or concentrates previously collected in the ore collection container 9 are transported by means of the cross conveyor 6 to the activated mixer 2 which already contains at least one of the previously filled main components MC. However, the pre-collect container 9 normally starts to work and collect what is scheduled without requiring the presence of a main component MC in the mixer 2. In this way, step 150 can start before/during steps 120 to 140.

In a step 160, a preload plan PP for a preload cycle PC is read by the main control unit 21 in order to retrieve all available preload weights PW, usually starting with the preload weights PW of the required by-products BP, and followed by the calculated preload weights PW of the supplementary parts SP of the required main components MC.

In a step 170, according to the preloading plan PP, the responsive dump points DS are sequentially moved to their target positions TP in the bins 4 containing the required by-products BP and the required main components MC. According to the preloading plan PP, a preloading weight PW of each required by-product BP and the supplementary part SP is discharged from the corresponding hopper 4 . The preload weight PW may consist of several target weights TW discharged sequentially at different dump points DS.

In a step 180, the main control unit 21 checks whether the preload plan PP can be supplemented/completed with a preload weight PW of at least one supplementary part SP. Supplementary parts SP of the required main component MC can only be unloaded from the corresponding hopper 4 if the preload weight PW of this particular supplementary part SP has been added to the preload plan PP. For this purpose, the main control unit 21 calculates the preload weight PW based on the confirmed weight CW or the measured weight MW of the corresponding main part MP.

Steps 160 to 180 are repeated until all the required by-products BP and supplemental parts SP of the required main components MC have been unloaded onto the loading conveyor 5. In this case, the entire pre-loading cycle PC has been done.

Alternatively, the pre-charge cycle PC can be interrupted when a maximum full capacity TC of the charge carrier 5 has been reached. In this case, a step 190 is performed and the pre-charge cycle resumes with steps 160 to 180.

In step 190, by-products BP and supplemental parts SP/main components MC previously loaded onto loading conveyor 5 are transported together to cross conveyor 6 discharging all components previously loaded into activated mixer 2.

The cross conveyor 6 can be used to alternatively transport preloaded feed types/components from the loading conveyor 5 or minerals/concentrates from the mineral collection container 9 to the activated mixer 2.

In this way, it is possible to carry out at least two of the processes of loading and mixing the main parts MP of the main components MC (steps 110 to 140), pre-collecting and providing minerals/concentrates (step 150), and the cycle of pre-loading PC of pre-loading the by-products BP and the supplementary parts SP of the main components MC onto the loading conveyor 5 (steps 160 to 190), simultaneously and/or superimposed.

The ore/concentrate pre-collection container 9 can already start at the same time as the manual loading in the mixer 2 as well as the pre-loading in the loading chain 5. However, in case one works with at least a part main component MP and at least one supplementary part SP, the control system 30 has to wait until the manually loaded quantities are known, before pre-loading these main components MC can be done.

The appropriate sequences are determined by the main control unit 21 (PLC). It would also be possible to end the entire pre-loading cycle PC for the hoppers 4 and then start loading from the pre-collection container 9 to the mixer 2, or any other sequence, whichever the farmer prefers to do.

Fig. 8 schematically shows an embodiment of a method/procedure 200 for sequentially discharging different by-products BP and supplementary parts SP of the main components MC into dumping points DS placed in the hoppers 4. The method/procedure 200 is part of the cycle of PC preload.

In a first step 210, an appropriate sequence SQ of discharge of the different required by-products BP and the supplementary parts SP of the main components MC is determined, depending on the content and position of each hopper 4 containing one of the by-products BP or one of the main MC components.

In a step 220, a specific weight capacity WC (preload) is determined/read from the dumping points DS for each required feed type/component according to the preload plan PP. This means that it is known how much weight of a particular feed type/component will normally fit on an empty dumping point DS.

In a step 230, the preload weight PW of the first/next feed component of the feed mix, or all available preload weights PW are read from the preload plan PP.

In a step 240, the required fill degree FD of the dumping point(s) DS is determined for the first/next feed component of the feed mixture, or for all available preload weights PW. If a dump point DS is empty, the fill degree FD is zero. The fill level FD of a complete dump point would be 1 or 100% (in this case, however, it would not be available).

The specific weight capacity WC of a dumping point DS for a type of feed to be unloaded and the degree of filling FD of the dumping point DS determine the available/remaining loading capacity of this dumping point DS for the corresponding unloading of a hopper 4.

In a step 250, target positions TP and target weights TW are determined for the required dump point(s) DS for the first/next feed component of the feed mix, or for all available preload weights PW. This depends on the filling degrees FD of the individual dumping points, in particular when moving to the next component and starting its discharge over a partially filled dumping point DS. The preload weight PW of a particular feed component can be distributed to a number of dump points DS and associated target weights TW.

In a step 260, the calculated (and optionally corrected after fill and/or pulse-controlled) target weights TW are dumped at the assigned dump point DS sequentially placed at the target positions TP in one of the hoppers 4.

At the same time, the main control unit 21 checks in a step 270 whether all components contained in the preload plan PP have been made and/or whether a maximum total capacity TC of the load carrier 5 has been reached.

The maximum TC total capacity can be a weight capacity and/or a space capacity. Compared to them, the actual total weight on the load carrier 5 can be monitored by means of the weighing system 16, and/or the space occupied on the load carrier 5 can be monitored by means of the load sensor 23 arranged at the downstream end of the load carrier 5. If the load sensor 23 detects the arrival of a full dump point DS, the maximum full capacity TC is reached.

In case the maximum TC full capacity has been reached, the pre-charge cycle in progress is interrupted in a step 270.

After the complete emptying of the loading conveyor 5 via the cross conveyor 6 (according to step 190), the PC preload cycle resumes according to the PP preload plan, preferably continuing with step 230.

If the main control unit 21 determines in step 270 that all required components have been preloaded, the preload cycle PC is terminated in step 280.

Steps 210 to 260 may be performed at any time for a single feed type/component or for multiple feed types/components of the feed mix, as soon as the required preload weight PW of the particular component is available, in particular of a supplementary part SW.

A practical example of a performed mixing procedure is described below.

At first, the main control unit 21 sent a pre-fill plan with all the main components MC required to be loaded "manually" by means of the loading vehicle 8 to the display of the in-cab control unit 31 to instruct the operator. driver to load 6,000 kg of type 1 grass silage (first main component MC1) and 10,000 kg of corn silage (second main component MC2). The driver tries to load as fast as possible by completely filling the bucket of the loading vehicle 8, containing 2700 kg of type 1 grass silage and 3200 kg of corn silage.

The driver placed two buckets filled with type 1 grass silage and then pressed the button to confirm the end of the job. This created a CW confirmed weight of 5400 kg. The remaining amount of 600 kg was calculated as the preloading weight PW of the supplemental part SP of type 1 grass silage and entered into the preloading plan PP of the preloading cycle PC.

Alternatively, a threshold TH of a minimum prefill quantity of 4500 kg could be programmed for type 1 grass silage. value below 1500 kg, depending on the total amount of type 1 grass silage required and the measured weight MW of type 1 grass silage loaded into mixer 2 activated.

Subsequently, the driver placed three buckets of 3200 kg each for corn silage, leaving 400 kg as planned preload weight PW of the supplementary part SP of corn silage to be unloaded from the corresponding hopper 4.

Pre-collection of the other feed types/components of the feed mix started in the collection container 9 for the minerals/concentrates, in this example two minerals of 500 kg each and two concentrates of 250 kg each. In this way, four silos 10 were activated one by one respecting the subsequent drop of components and the pulse speed of the respective drive until the desired weights were reached, while being controlled by the main control unit 21.

In addition, the maximum total TC capacity of cargo carrier 5 was 3200 kg.

The preload plan PP contained the following preload weights PW of the following by-products BP: 1000 kg of beer grain; 700 kg of alfalfa hay; 400 kg of sugar beet pulp; and 400 kg of cottonseed.

The preload plan PP was completed by adding a preload weight PW calculated from the supplementary parts SP as follows: 600 kg grass silage type 1; and 400 kg of corn silage.

A dump point DS that the loading conveyor 5 could hold: 400 kg of beer grain, requiring 2.5 dump points DS; 350 kg of alfalfa hay, requiring 2 tipping points; 400 kg of sugar beet pulp, requiring 1 tipping point; 200 kg of cottonseed, requiring 2 tipping points; 600 kg of type 1 grass silage, requiring 1.5 tipping points; and 600 kg of corn silage, requiring 0.66 tipping points.

This filled cargo carrier 5 looked as schematically depicted in Fig. 2.

However, since the maximum TC total capacity was 3200 kg, the ongoing preload cycle was interrupted after the discharge of 100 kg of corn silage.

After emptying the loading conveyor, the pre-loading cycle was resumed by unloading the remaining 500 kg of corn silage onto loading conveyor 5.

The preload SQ sequence began with the required 4 hopper positioned furthest from the 6 cross conveyor, and the activated 4 hoppers dropped the components onto the assigned DS dump points one by one.

If the particular DS dump point was large enough for the planned preload weight PW, it was calculated at what percentage the DS dump point would be filled. If the dump point DS was too small for the preload weight PW, the hopper dump stopped at the calculated preload capacity WC of the dump point DS. Then the loading conveyor 5 moved a defined number of pulses (from the drive unit 22) bringing the next available dump point DS below the activated hopper 4, and then the pre-loading cycle continued accordingly until the weight The desired pre-load PW (using a post-drop function and/or a hopper 4 pulse function) was unloaded onto the loading conveyor 5. The main control unit 21 then determined by what percentage the bin was filled. last dumping point DS, so that the next type of feed could be dumped on top (until the dumping point was completely filled).

As soon as the "manual" preloading of the mixer 2 activated by the driver of the loading vehicle had been done, the supplementary parts SP to be unloaded from the hoppers 4 were calculated, thereby completing the preloading plan PP, and joined the current preload cycle.

In case the maximum total capacity TC of the cargo carrier 5 was exceeded according to the pre-charge plan PP, the supplementary parts SP of the main components were added as the last components by the main control unit 21.

This practical example turned out to be particularly fast and efficient.

Fig. 8 shows a variant of the mixing plant 1/apparatus 3 shown in Fig. 1, this variant further comprising hoppers 34 each directly loading one of the main components MC into mixers 2. Otherwise , the reference signs used in Fig. 8 designate the same components as described with reference to Fig. 1.

The hoppers 34 are arranged in/on the mixers 2. The hoppers 34 are activated after the corresponding pre-loading with the loading vehicle 8 has finished.

In this way, the hoppers 34 can provide a supplementary part SP of a main component MC in order to supplement a main part MP (loaded with the loading vehicle 8) of the main component MC such that the weight of the main part MP and the weight of the supplementary part SP is added to the total weight programmed of the main component MC.

In principle, this variant can be controlled in the same way as described with regard to the indirect loading of the hoppers 4 via the loading conveyor 5. However, for this main component MC, the supplementary part SP (directly loaded) it is not added to the PP preload plan/prepick routine for bins 4 and load conveyor 5.

Direct loading with one or more hoppers 34 is advantageous if the supplemental part SP is too large an amount (too heavy or bulky) to add to the previous load on the loading conveyor 5 and/or if there is a lack of space for it. load carrier 5 (load carrier 5 otherwise becoming too long).

Indirect loading with one or more hoppers 4 via the loading chain 5 is advantageous because time can be saved with a pre-pickup routine based on the pre-loading plan PP and/or because only one hopper 4 is needed to supply to both mixer 2s. This is particularly useful if all possible servings should be made with each of the mixer 2s.

Direct loading from at least one hopper 34 is also an option in case there is only a single mixer 2 without a loading conveyor 5. This would mean that direct loading is controlled without the pre-loading plan PP. Instead, the at least one hopper 34 directly dumps the feed components into the mixer 2.

Claims (21)

1. Apparatus for loading feed types from a livestock feed mix, the apparatus comprising: one or more hoppers configured to selectively load one or more of the feed types directly or indirectly into a mixer to prepare the feed mix; and a control system programmed to load at least one of the types of feed directly or indirectly into the mixer as a supplementary part of a main component of the feed mixture, in particular of a type of forage, loaded into the mixer with a cargo vehicle, so that the weight of the main part and the weight of the supplementary part add up to a programmed weight of the main component. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, the apparatus further comprising: a load conveyor for transporting the type(s) of feed to the mixer, wherein the control system is programmed: - to maintain a preload plan of a preload cycle, defining at least one preload weight of the type(s) of feed to be unloaded on the loading conveyor, where at least one of the types of feed to be unloaded on the cargo carrier is the supplementary part; Y - to sequentially place the loading conveyor dumping points in the hopper/hoppers and to individually unload the type/types of feed from the hopper/hoppers onto the dumping points, depending on the pre-loading plan; Y - to control the discharge of the supplementary part according to the main part loaded in the mixer so that the weight of the main part and the weight of the supplementary part add up to the programmed weight of the main component. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control system is programmed to control the unloading of the supplementary part depending on a measured weight of the loaded main part and/or a signal confirming the loading of a predetermined weight of the main part. 4. Apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, comprising at least two hoppers, wherein the control system is programmed to assign at least one of the hoppers to a main component of the feed mixture, in particular of the feed type. forage. 5. Apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the loading conveyor and/or each of the hoppers comprises a weighing system. 6. Apparatus for pre-loading a plurality of feed types from a livestock feed mix, the apparatus comprising: a loading conveyor for transporting the feed types to a mixer for preparing the feed mix; one or more hoppers, each configured to selectively discharge one of the feed types onto the loading conveyor; and a programmed control system: - to contain a preload plan of a preload cycle, defining at least one preload weight of the type(s) of feed to be unloaded on the loading conveyor; - to sequentially move the loading conveyor dumping points under the hopper/hoppers and to individually unload the feed type/types onto the dumping points, depending on the pre-loading plan; Y - to terminate the preload cycle when a predetermined total weight of the required feed type(s) is reached, or to interrupt the preload cycle when a maximum preload capacity of the loading conveyor is reached or the feed reaches an end downstream of the loading conveyor, and transporting the previously loaded feed type(s) together to the mixer. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, comprising at least two hoppers configured to selectively discharge one of the types of feed onto the loading conveyor. 8. The apparatus of claim 6 or 7, wherein the control system is further programmed to automatically resume the pre-load cycle after the load conveyor has been emptied. 9. Apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the length of the tipping points basically corresponds to the width of the hoppers, when viewed in a direction of transport of the loading conveyor, and the control system is programmed to intermittently drive the load carrier at distances substantially corresponding to the length of the dump points. 10. Apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the control system is programmed to determine the remaining load capacities of the dump points that have not been fully loaded with a particular type of feed. 11. Apparatus for preparing feed mixtures for livestock, comprising: - stationary mixers for preparing a predetermined feed mixture from a plurality of feed types including at least one major component of one type of forage and by-products; - loading areas for a loading vehicle, for loading the at least one main component in the mixers; Y - the apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, for transporting, in particular indirectly on the loading conveyor, the unloaded by-products and/or the unloaded supplementary parts of the at least one main component towards the mixers. 12. Apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising: - a loading conveyor for transporting the unloaded by-products and/or the unloaded supplementary parts of the at least one main component towards the mixers; Y - a cross conveyor alternately connecting the loading conveyor with one of the mixers. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising silos for mineral/concentrate feed types and a mineral collection container connected to the silos and discharging onto the cross conveyor. 14. A method of loading feed types from a livestock feed mix, the method comprising: selectively loading one or more of the feed types from one or more hoppers directly or indirectly into a mixer to prepare the feed mix; wherein at least one of the types of feed is directly or indirectly loaded into the mixer as a supplementary part of a main component of the feed mixture, in particular of a type of forage, loaded into the mixer with a loading vehicle, wherein the load is controlled such that the weight of the main part and the weight of the supplemental part add up to a programmed weight of the main component. 15. The method of claim 14, the method further comprising: selectively unloading one of the feed types, each of the one or more hoppers, onto a loading conveyor and transporting the feed type(s) on the loading conveyor to the mixer, where the unloading and transport of the type(s) of feed is controlled by a computer program containing a preloading plan of a preloading cycle, following at least the weight of the type(s) of feed required in the feed mix, wherein at least one of the feed types/feed type to be unloaded onto the loading conveyor is the supplementary part, wherein the computer program sequentially moves the loading conveyor dump points under the hopper/hoppers and individually controls the unloading of the type/types of feed from the hopper/hoppers to the dumping points, depending on the pre-loading plan, and where the computer program controls the unloading of the supplementary part according to the main part loaded into the mixer with the loading vehicle, so that the weight of the main part and the weight of the supplemental part add to the programmed weight of the main component. Method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the loaded main part is weighed in the mixer and/or the loading of a predetermined weight of the main part is confirmed manually in the loading vehicle, and where the computer program calculates the weight of the supplementary part depending on the measured and/or confirmed weight of the loaded main part. 17. Method according to at least one of claims 14 to 16, wherein a first subgroup of the at least one hopper contains different by-products of the feed mixture and a second subgroup of the at least one hopper contains different main forage components of the feed mix. 18. Method for pre-loading one or more types of feed from a livestock feed mixture, the method comprising: selectively unloading one of the types of feed each from one or more hoppers onto a loading conveyor and transporting the one or more types of feed on the loading conveyor to a mixer to prepare the feed mix, where the unloading and transport of the type(s) of feed is controlled by a computer program containing a loading plan prior to a loading cycle following at least the weight of the type/types of feed required in the feed mixture, where the computer program sequentially moves the dump points of the loading conveyor under the hopper/hoppers and individually controls the discharge of the type/ types of feed from the hopper/hopper to the dumping points, depending on the pre-loading plan, and where the computer program ends the pre-loading cycle when a total pr weight is reached determined feed type(s) required, or interrupts the preload cycle when a maximum preload capacity of the loading conveyor is reached or the feed reaches a downstream end of the loading conveyor, and transport of the type(s) begins feed preloaded together into the mixer, in particular following a Mixer demand signal, requesting the type/types of feed. 19. Method according to claim 18, wherein at least two types of feed of the feed mixture are selectively discharged from at least two hoppers onto the loading conveyor. 20. Method according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the computer program determines a remaining weight capacity of at least one dump point that has not been fully loaded with a first type of feed and controls the discharge of at least a second type of feed in such a way that the tipping point is fully loaded with the first and at least the second type of feed. 21. Method for preparing a predetermined feed mixture from a plurality of feed types that include at least one main component of one type of forage and by-products, wherein the by-products and/or a supplementary part of at least one of the main components are preloaded and transported according to the method of at least one of claims 14 to 20, wherein a main part of the at least one main component is loaded into a selected mixer by means of a loading vehicle, and wherein the previously loaded by-products and/or the supplementary part are fed into the selected mixer by means of a cross conveyor which selectively connects the loading conveyor with the selected mixer.