Apron Feeder

What is an Apron Feeder?

Apron feeders or pallet feeders carry and feed materials, operating like a conveyor belt, and are connected by bolts to two parallel endless chains of pallets that are resistant to abrasion and impact.

The chains are rotated by gears at the front and rear. The first driving gear is driven by an electric motor and the reducer. Pallet feeders generally operate horizontally, although they can operate inclined toward the feed direction.

The dimensions of the feeder is determined in accordance with the operating environment. Generally, they vary in lengths of 3–18 meters and widths of 0.9–2.4 meters. These feeders operate at low speeds but have a high carrying capacity.

For which processes/applications are apron/pallet feeders used?

Pallet feeders are built to operate in heavy-duty environments. These feeders are used for feeding large sized rocks, which do not have contain very fine pieces or need to be separated into fine pieces, to crushers.

Crawler feeders are indispensable if the material to be crushed is moist, sticky or contains clay.

What materials are processed using apron/pallet feeders?

Pallet feeders are usually mounted under bunkers. The mineral ore to be crushed is poured into the bunker by trucks and fed to the crusher via a pallet feeder mounted under the bunker that serves as both a carrier and feeder.

Crawler feeders are resistant to the impacts of rock and ore falling from heights. They can be produced in various lengths and widths, and their capacities can be adjusted by changing the rotational speed of the chains to which the pallets are attached.

What criteria should govern the selection of an apron/pallet feeder?

Pallet feeders are usually mounted horizontally, but can also be mounted on a suitably inclined area, if necessary. They are thus suitable for locations varying topographical structures.

If installed on a steep incline, a shorter feeder should be used to reduce the initial investment cost, and the main chassis should be strengthened to satisfy the demanding operational conditions. Although pallets can be manufactured to suit the quality of the rock carried by the feeder, they are often produced from solid steel or cast metals.

Useful tips for the maintenance and operation of apron/pallet feeders.

A belt conveyor can be used when necessary to collect any fine materials that may fall under the pallet feeder, and any matter that is likely to cause problems if it becomes stuck between the pallets.

The placement of a conveyor under the pallet feeder ensures the operating area is kept clean, without the need for human interventions.

These feeders have fewer components. If the gearbox and electric motor are properly maintained, the probability of failure is very low. The replacement of pallets that wear out over time or that break due to impact is easy due to their bolted fixings.

Since the pallets are bolted to the chains, there is a possibility that the nuts will loosen over time. The pallet connections should not be loose, and so nuts should be tightened; and connections that cannot be tightened should be cut off and renewed.

The tension of the chains to which the pallets are attached should be checked to prevent possible sagging.