Mixer apparatus

Abstract

A mixer apparatus is disclosed for mixing livestock feed and the like. The apparatus includes a container for the reception therein of the feed. The container includes a housing and a wall extending away from the housing. The wall defines an opening which is disposed remote from the housing for the reception therethrough of the feed. The arrangement is such that the housing and the wall define therebetween an enclosure for the feed received through the opening. An auger is disposed within the enclosure, the auger having an axis of rotation which extends through the housing. The mixer apparatus further includes a further auger which is disposed within the enclosure, the further auger having a rotational axis disposed approximately parallel and spaced from the axis of rotation of the auger. The mixer also has a drive wheel which is common to the auger and the further auger, the drive wheel having a further axis of rotation which is disposed spaced and approximately parallel relative to the axis of rotation of the auger and the rotational axis of the further auger.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A mixer apparatus for mixing livestock feed, said apparatus comprising: 
 a container for the reception therein of the feed;    said container including:    a housing;    a wall extending away from said housing, the arrangement being such that substantially all of said wall is disposed above said housing, said wall defining an opening disposed remote from said housing for the reception therethrough of the feed, the arrangement being such that said housing and said wall define therebetween an enclosure for the feed received through said opening;    an auger disposed within said enclosure, said auger having an axis of rotation extending substantially vertically through said housing;    said mixer apparatus further including:    a further auger disposed within said enclosure, said further auger having a rotational axis disposed approximately parallel and spaced from said axis of rotation of said auger;    a substantially horizontally disposed drive wheel;    a final driven wheel driven by said drive wheel and disposed substantially horizontally within said housing, said drive wheel driving said final driven wheel, said final driven wheel being rotatable about said axis of rotation, said final driven wheel being drivingly connected to said auger so that when said final driven wheel is rotated within said housing, said auger is rotated therewith within said enclosure for mixing the feed; and    said drive wheel being common to said auger and said further auger, said drive wheel having a further axis of rotation which is disposed spaced and approximately parallel relative to said axis of rotation of said auger and said rotational axis of said further auger, the arrangement being such that in use of said apparatus, said axis of rotation of said auger, said rotational axis of said further auger and a direction of movement of said apparatus lie in a common plane.    
     
     
         2 . A mixer apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein 
 said drive wheel is a drive gear pinion.  
 
     
     
         3 . A mixer apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein 
 said drive wheel is a drive sprocket.  
 
     
     
         4 . A mixer apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein 
 said drive wheel is a drive pulley.  
 
     
     
         5 . A mixer apparatus for mixing livestock feed, said apparatus comprising: 
 a container for the reception therein of the feed;    said container including:    a housing;    a wall extending away from said housing, the arrangement being such that substantially all of said wall is disposed above said housing, said wall defining an opening disposed remote from said housing for the reception therethrough of the feed, the arrangement being such that said housing and said wall define therebetween an enclosure for the feed received through said opening;    an auger disposed within said enclosure, said auger having an axis of rotation extending substantially vertically through said housing;    said mixer apparatus further including:    a further auger disposed within said enclosure, said further auger having a rotational axis disposed approximately parallel and spaced from said axis of rotation of said auger;    a substantially horizontally disposed drive wheel;    a final driven wheel driven by said drive wheel and disposed substantially horizontally within said housing, said drive wheel driving said final driven wheel, said final driven wheel being rotatable about said axis of rotation, said final driven wheel being drivingly connected to said auger so that when said final driven wheel is rotated within said housing, said auger is rotated therewith within said enclosure for mixing the feed;    said drive wheel being common to said auger and said further auger, said drive wheel having a further axis of rotation which is disposed spaced and approximately parallel relative to said axis of rotation of said auger and said rotational axis of said further auger; and    a hitch for moving said mixing apparatus, said axis of rotation of said auger and said rotational axis of said further auger and said hitch being approximately in alignment relative to each other.    
     
     
         6 . A mixer apparatus as set forth in  claim 5  wherein 
 said drive wheel is a drive gear pinion.  
 
     
     
         7 . A mixer apparatus as set forth in  claim 5  wherein 
 said drive wheel is a drive sprocket.  
 
     
     
         8 . A mixer apparatus as set forth in  claim 5  wherein 
 said drive wheel is a drive pulley.  
 
     
     
         9 . A mixer apparatus for mixing livestock feed, said apparatus comprising: 
 a container for the reception therein of the feed;    said container including:    a housing;    a wall extending away from said housing, the arrangement being such that substantially all of said wall is disposed above said housing, said wall defining an opening disposed remote from said housing for the reception therethrough of the feed, the arrangement being such that said housing and said wall define therebetween an enclosure for the feed received through said opening;    an auger disposed within said enclosure, said auger having an axis of rotation extending substantially vertically through said housing;    said mixer apparatus further including:    a further auger disposed within said enclosure, said further auger having a rotational axis disposed approximately parallel and spaced from said axis of rotation of said auger;    a substantially horizontally disposed drive wheel;    a final driven wheel driven by said drive wheel and disposed substantially horizontally within said housing, said drive wheel driving said final driven wheel, said final driven wheel being rotatable about said axis of rotation, said final driven wheel being drivingly connected to said auger so that when said final driven wheel is rotated within said housing, said auger is rotated therewith within said enclosure for mixing the feed;    said drive wheel being common to said auger and said further auger, said drive wheel having a further axis of rotation which is disposed spaced and approximately parallel relative to said axis of rotation of said auger and said rotational axis of said further auger; and    said housing being of oblong-shaped configuration, said oblong-shaped configuration having a major axis which, in use of the mixing apparatus, extends along a direction of movement of said mixing apparatus.    
     
     
         10 . A mixer apparatus as set forth in  claim 9  wherein 
 said drive wheel is a drive gear pinion.  
 
     
     
         11 . A mixer apparatus as set forth in  claim 9  wherein 
 said drive wheel is a drive sprocket.  
 
     
     
         12 . A mixer apparatus as set forth in  claim 9  wherein 
 said drive wheel is a drive pulley.