Mechanization of preparation of feed stuff for bees

Candy preparation in large volumes is not an easy task. The cost of one kilogram of such top dressing in retail varies in the range of 160-200 rubles. For a large apiary, this is a significant part of the costs, which takes away a large share of the profit. If you prepare candy yourself, then these costs can be reduced. At the moment, there is no mechanized line for making candy. Therefore, the issue of mechanization of this process is acute and requires a solution. The main components of candy are sugar and honey. But in order to use them for the preparation of top dressing, they must be processed accordingly. Sugar should be ground to a state of powdered sugar, sifted, and honey dissolved to a fluid state. In the conditions of an apiary, it is not possible to do this in the absence of means of mechanization. The industry does not produce special machines for the preparation of bee top dressing. To facilitate the work of a beekeeper, it is advisable to select a set of machines from industries working with materials with similar physical and mechanical properties. The main processes involved in the preparation of candy, which require equipment: sugar grinding, sifting, decrystallization of honey, dosing of components, mixing and packaging. We analyzed the designs of existing technical means and proposed options for mechanization of each process for an average apiary of 50-100 bee colonies. To reduce the cost of purchasing equipment, several technical solutions have been proposed, which can be implemented independently. In particular, we proposed designs for a sugar grinder and a thermal chamber for dissolving honey. To substantiate the parameters of the thermal chamber, experimental studies of the honey decrystallization process were carried out.