An apron weigh feeder is a type of conveyor belt that is used to transport and control the flow of bulk materials, such as coal, ore, and limestone. The feeder operates by continuously weighing the material on the belt and controlling the feed rate based on the weight of the material.
The apron weigh feeder consists of a frame, a belt conveyor, and a weighing system. The frame is typically made of steel and supports the belt conveyor and weighing system. The belt conveyor consists of a series of overlapping pans or plates that are attached to chains and driven by sprockets. The pans move along the length of the feeder and scoop up the material, which is then carried along the length of the feeder and discharged at the end. The weighing system consists of load cells that are mounted on the frame and measure the weight of the material on the belt conveyor.
The six steps operation of the apron weigh feeder
- The material to be transported is loaded onto the belt conveyor at the beginning of the feeder.
- The weighing system continuously measures the weight of the material on the belt conveyor.
- The weight data is sent to a controller, which calculates the feed rate based on the desired setpoint and the weight of the material on the belt conveyor.
- The controller adjusts the speed of the belt conveyor to control the feed rate and maintain a consistent weight on the belt.
- The material is transported along the length of the feeder and discharged at the end.
- The process is repeated for the next batch of material.
The apron weigh feeder is commonly used in industries such as mining, cement, and power generation, where accurate and controlled flow of bulk materials is critical to the production process. The feeder can be configured with various options, such as a pre-feeder to regulate the flow of material onto the belt conveyor, or a metal detector to detect and remove metal contaminants from the material.