Apron feeders are heavy-duty machines that transport materials through industrial processes. They are made of steel and resemble short belt conveyors. Apron feeders are used in mining, factories, and batching plants to regulate the volume and rate of materials added to a process. The materials are held in a hopper and deposited onto the metal pans that make up the belt. The trays move horizontally and unload the materials into another vessel. Apron feeders cannot be used for precise feeding and metering or transporting fluids effectively.
An apron feeder is a large machine that transports materials through parts of a manufacturing or industrial process. These machines resemble short belt conveyors and may also be known as plate feeders or apron conveyors. Apron feed machines allow engineers and process managers to automatically control the volume of materials added to a process and regulate the rate at which these materials are added.
Manufacturers build apron feeders out of heavy, durable materials like steel. The machine must be able to support large, bulky materials such as rocks, which may have jagged edges. To bear the heavy weight of these types of materials, the belt portion of the apron feeder is made of heavy gauge steel trays or pans. The chains along both ends of the feeder help move the trays along the conveyor area and are driven by an industrial engine or motor.
Apron feed machines are found in mining, factories and batching plants. In mining, the apron feeder carries rocks and ores for crushing or further processing. In a factory, these machines can be used to add ingredients to a food or other mixture. Because of their heavy-duty design, conveyor belts are also a popular choice for transporting concrete and stone for crushing, recycling or mixing.
The materials that will be transported by the apron feeder are held in a large hopper above one end of the belt. The amount of material that reaches the feeder is determined by the distance between this hopper and the top of the feeder. If the two are placed close together, only a small volume of materials can reach the belt at any given time. When the hopper is positioned farther away, materials pour onto the belt more quickly to speed up the feeding process.
As the hopper deposits materials onto the plate feeder, the metal pans that make up the belt move horizontally like a conveyor belt. When the trays reach the end of the belt, they unload or feed the materials into another vessel. This may be a large bin, sorter, grinder, or any other receptacle needed to complete the specified process. Operators can adjust belt speed to speed up or slow down the production process as needed. Operators can also stop the tape to pause feeding and make any necessary changes.
Apron feeding machines cannot be used in applications where precise feeding and metering is required. For example, they cannot be used to mix sensitive ingredients in an exact ratio to make food, medicine or cosmetics. They are also not designed to hold most liquids and require modifications before they can transport fluids effectively.
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