Feeders And Their Uses

There are a variety of feeders used in the manufacturing industry today. As technology improves, more advanced types of feeders are being developed to match the needs of the manufacturing industry. The role of these devices is to move manufacturing parts from one place to another under a controlled environment. Feeders can help automate mass manufacturing and provide linear transportation of materials. One example of such a feeder is the vibratory feeder. The function of this versatile machine is to transport loose material from one place to another along a tube, trough or screen due to vibrations caused by external sources.

Previously these feeders were simple and acted as shaking conveyors. But with improvements in technology, they can now perform tasks that previously they could not such as sort materials. These additional features allow the feeders to be used in more industries such as mining and forestry. Recycling companies around the world also make use of these devices to sort different materials apart while at the same time transporting them.

A regular feeder today would comprise of a trough deck and a drive unit which enables vibrations introduced from an electric motor and can either be mounted above or below the machine. The trough deck is usually positioned at an angle to allow gravity to move the material forward. The vibrations are used to initiate the movement of material on the deck which can be fine powders, grains, coal etc. The size and weight of these systems also vary depending on their application; for example a vibratory feeder whose application is for the transportation of materials such as nuts, tablets or cereal would probably only weigh 15 kilograms whereas a system whose application is for the transportation of heavy materials such as coal can weigh as much as 10 000 kilograms. Due to these specifications, when choosing the right type of feeder for your manufacturing process is important. Firstly it must be able to support the weight. Secondly, if your manufacturing process involves food items, you would want to get a system that is hygienic and would not contaminate the food. And lastly, you should consider the price of the system. You would not want to end up paying too much for a system that might not even suit your manufacturing process.

Vibratory feeders can be classified into two sub-groups depending on how the vibrations are generated in these systems; the electro-magnetic feeders and the electro-mechanical feeders. Electro-magnetic feeders work when an electric motor energizes a magnet which causes the feeder to vibrate several times a minute. This application allows for high controlled flow towards the end of the trough. The electro-magnetic feeders create vibrations by using an electric motor and a mechanical system of pulleys and other mechanical components. These systems are not as precise and electro-magnetic and they require frequent maintenance. However, they are used in applications where high-duty is required.

Feeders have definitely benefited the manufacturing industry in a great way, making the process much smoother, easier and efficient.

About the Author

The writer of this article is aw understood has known blogger & mechanical designer who has information all through vibrating screen manufacturer, assembling procedure, rotating screens and so forth. The writer has distributed articles on web stage on different modern online journals