Mining Feeder
Bulk Material Feeder

What is Mining Feeder/Bulk Material Feeder?

Mining Feeders and Bulk Material Feeders are widely used in various industries, including mining, metallurgy, mineral processing, manufacturing, ports and marine, food, and pharmaceuticals, and are available in a wide range of duty ratings, from light to super-heavy duty. Depending on the type, feeders can handle a significant range of particle or lump sizes, from powders to large, heavy rocks. And feeders are used on a wide range of system sizes and capacities, from very small food and pharmaceutical applications to extensive mining, metallurgy, and loading and unloading station applications.

Top 9 Types and 3 Working Principles of Mining Feeder/Bulk Material Feeder

All the mining feeders and bulk material feeders achieve flow activation using three mechanisms, at the same time, according to these working principles, it can be divided into 9 types of feeders.

• Working Principle 1#: Shear force plus conveying:
  • Type 1: Belt Feeders;
  • Type 2: Apron Feeders.
• Working Principle 2#: Reciprocating motion plus gravity:
  • Type 3: Vibratory Feeders;
  • Type 4: Stockpile Activators;
  • Type 5: Bin activators (also named draw-down hoppers).
• Working Principle 3#: Pushing or dragging:
  • Type 6: Screw Feeders;
  • Type 7: Rotary Plough Feeders;
  • Type 8: Drag chain feeders;
  • Type 9: Reclaim Feeders. 

Apron feeder

UHM long-lasting Apron Feeders are ideal for both cement and mineral processing applications to extract bulk materials from under a dump hopper or regulated feed to a crusher.

Apron feeder utilizes steel plates or pans that are mounted on heavy-duty chains to carry the material load. The chains act like the belt in a belt feeder, providing the motive force, and are driven by large sprockets connected to a drive unit via a drive shaft.
Apron feeders typically handle medium to large rock particles, allowing finer particle sizes within the flow to pass through the gaps between the plates (or pans). That is typically used in heavy- to super-heavy-duty applications, such as mine sites or large train unloading facilities.
Read More: Apron Feeder: Basics, 3 Types, 4 Features, 5 Diffs, 6 Pros

Belt Feeder

Easy to operate and adapt, UHN's Belt Feeders control moving feed from the mine truck into the plant by extracting smaller particle sizes, grains, or materials from hoppers, bins, silos, and stockpiles.

Belt feeders are similar to belt conveyors in their componentry and design. They consist of pulleys (typically two), a drive unit, a take-up unit, idlers, and a belt. Belt feeders are usually configured horizontally and are most commonly used to empty (drawdown) material from within a bin. They are similar to belt conveyors in terms of their componentry and design. They consist of pulleys (typically two), a drive unit, a take-up unit, idlers, and a belt. Belt feeders are usually configured horizontally and are most commonly used to empty (drawdown) material from within a bin or hopper.

Read More: Belt Feeders

Bin Activator

The Bin Activator is a new piece of equipment that has a broken arch, and closed three functions of feeding.

Bin activators used in the Bulk Solids Material Handling Systems, Bin Activators, also known as Live Bottom Bins, Shaker Bins, or Vibrating Silo Bottoms are used to create a flow of dry bulk solids from vertical storage bins.

Read More: Guide to the best Live Bottom Bins(Bin Activator)

Vibratory Feeder

UHM's vibratory feeders are a highly efficient method for increasing the speed of assembly operations and gently separating bulk materials.

Vibratory feeders utilize vibration and gravity to provide the motive force to the transferred material, effectively and efficiently moving, feeding and conveying bulk materials. that the materials are correctly oriented for addition to a production line.

Read More: Guide to the Best Vibratory Feeder & Grizzly Feeder