| 摘要 |
An apparatus (10) and method for the production of sterile, pelleted feed products is provided which includes an extruder device (12) equipped with a pelleting head (14) adjacent the outlet end of the extruder barrel (17). The pelleting head (14) includes an annular die section (52) having die openings (58) therethrough which is secured to the extruder barrel (17), forming an extension thereof; a rotatable, multiple-vane plate (66) is secured to the screw (42) of the device (12) and cooperates with the die section (52) to form final pellets. A rotatable knife (16) serves to cut emerging extrudate so as to size the pellets. In an alternative embodiment, the plate (66) is separately powered for rotation independent of the extruder screw (17), preferably by means of a prime mover (102) coupled with a short extruder screw section (100) which supports the plate (66). Preferably, the extruder device (12) is equipped with an upstream preconditioner (40) serving to moisturize and uniformly mix dry feed ingredients. The preconditioner also at least partially precooks the mixture and subjects the same to time-temperature conditions for sterilization purposes. |
