Hopper & Bunker Discharge
Discharging stored material from hoppers, bunkers and surge bins to conveyors and crushers at a controlled rate.
- Steady discharge
- Adjustable stroke frequency
- Simple mechanism
GELEN RB reciprocating feeders draw material out of hoppers and bunkers with a simple back-and-forth plate motion. The stroke frequency is adjustable, so the feed rate to the crusher, screen or conveyor can be set precisely. Rugged and simple, the RB series suits bulky, uneven and abrasive material in aggregate, mining and recycling plants.
Simple, positive motion: the plate pushes material toward the transfer point on the forward stroke and returns under the load, so feeding does not depend on vibration or free flow.
Adjustable feed rate: the back-and-forth frequency can be changed to match the capacity of the crusher, screen or conveyor.
Uses the bunker wall: on the return stroke the material supports itself against the rear wall of the bunker, so the plate slides back without dragging the load with it.
Tolerant of difficult material: bulky, uneven or abrasive material is handled with little degradation and a steady flow.
Material introduced through a hopper or bunker rests on the feeder plate. With the forward movement of the plate, the material flow begins at the transfer point; with the backward movement, the material supports itself against the rear wall of the bunker, so the plate returns without carrying the load back. The back-and-forth frequency can be adjusted, which sets the feed rate.
The RB1460 has a 1,400 × 6,000 mm plate. Its simple mechanism and robust construction suit continuous feeding from hoppers, bunkers and reclaim tunnels to crushers, screens and conveyors.
| Widthmm | Lengthmm | PowerkW | Theoretical Capacityt/h | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RB1460 | 1,400 | 6,000 | 55 | 330–710 |
Theoretical capacity is calculated from the plate width, stroke and stroke frequency for material with a bulk density of 1.6 t/m³. Actual capacity depends on the material, the gate opening and the stroke settings.
An RB feeder with the pan cut away from the bin above it. Five things worth naming.
Bolted plates take the abrasion instead of the pan itself. They are the part meant to be consumed, and they come off with a spanner.
The plate slides forward and back along its guide rails. On the return stroke the material leans on the bunker wall instead of moving with it, so the drive has to move the plate, not the pile above it.
Driven mechanically, not by an unbalanced motor. The stroke is positive and its frequency is adjustable, so the feed rate is set to the machine downstream rather than left to the bunker level.
Material moves forward over this edge on the drive stroke and stays where it is on the return. The rate is strokes per minute, not a guess.
Bolts straight to the bin steel. The whole machine hangs under the hopper and needs no foundation of its own.
The RB1460 reciprocating feeder has a 1,400 × 6,000 mm plate. Its stroke frequency is adjustable to set the feed rate. Tell us the material, the bunker or hopper arrangement, the largest lump size and the tonnage, and GELEN engineering will confirm the feeder and its settings for your plant.
Every feeder is built to its duty. Send those numbers and an engineer comes back with a size, a drive and what it will do in your circuit.
Size one for meThe reciprocating feeder moves material in short, repeated pushes — one stroke at a time.
Material from the hopper or bunker rests on the feeder plate at the outlet.
On the forward stroke the plate carries the material toward the transfer point, where it starts to discharge.
On the backward stroke the material supports itself against the rear wall of the bunker, and the plate slides back under it.
The stroke frequency sets how much material is discharged per minute, giving a steady, adjustable feed.
GELEN reciprocating feeders serve aggregate, mining and recycling plants.
Discharging stored material from hoppers, bunkers and surge bins to conveyors and crushers at a controlled rate.
Feeding crushed stone and gravel from bunkers to secondary crushers and screens.
Reclaiming ore and bulk minerals from storage bunkers in continuous operation.
Feeding recycled aggregate and mixed material where irregular pieces must be discharged without blockages.
What the RB series brings to hopper and bunker feeding.
The plate pushes material forward mechanically, so feeding does not rely on free flow or vibration.
The back-and-forth frequency sets the feed rate to what the next machine can take.
On the return stroke the load rests against the bunker's rear wall, so the plate returns without carrying material back.
Bulky, uneven and abrasive material is fed steadily with little degradation.
A straightforward mechanism with few wear points keeps maintenance simple.
GELEN designs the bunker, feeder and downstream equipment together so capacities and transfer points match.
The reciprocating feeder sits at the outlet of a hopper, bunker or surge bin and meters material to the next stage.
Every circuit is different. Send us yours and we will say where a feeder fits and what it changes downstream.
Check my circuitBoth discharge material positively from hoppers. Their duty classes differ.
| Reciprocating Feeder (RB) | Apron Feeder (AF) | |
|---|---|---|
| Motion | Plate moving back and forth | Overlapping pans on a chain |
| Best for | Controlled feeding from hoppers, bunkers and tunnels | Large, heavy, sharp run-of-mine material under dump hoppers |
| Feed rate control | Stroke frequency | Chain speed |
| Theoretical capacity | 330–710 t/h | 350–1,840 t/h |
See apron feeders and vibrating feeders.
Not sure which one? Send us the duty and an engineer will say which, and what you would give up by choosing the other.
Which one fits?Technical guides and industry organisations for crushing plant operators.
A reciprocating feeder, or reciprocating plate feeder, discharges material from a hopper or bunker with a plate that moves back and forth. Each forward stroke pushes material toward the transfer point, and the stroke frequency sets the feed rate. GELEN builds this machine as the RB series.
With the forward movement of the plate, the material flow begins at the transfer point. With the backward movement, the material supports itself against the rear wall of the bunker, so the plate slides back without dragging the load with it. The back-and-forth frequency can be adjusted to set the feed rate.
Reciprocating feeders handle bulky, uneven and abrasive materials such as crushed stone, gravel, ore and recycled aggregate. Because the plate pushes material positively, the feeder is less sensitive to how freely the material flows than a vibrating feeder.
Calculated from its 1,400 mm plate width and typical stroke settings for material with a bulk density of 1.6 t/m³, the RB1460 handles about 330–710 t/h. Actual capacity depends on the gate opening, stroke length and frequency, and the material, so GELEN confirms the settings for each application.
A reciprocating feeder is a simple, economical choice for controlled feeding from hoppers, bunkers and reclaim tunnels. An apron feeder is built for the heaviest duty: large, sharp run-of-mine material dumped directly from trucks, where impact loads are high. For free-flowing rock that also needs scalping, a vibrating grizzly feeder may be the better choice.
Inspect and replace the worn feeder plate and liners, check the drive mechanism and pivots, and keep all moving parts lubricated as specified. Keeping the bunker outlet free of oversized blocks prevents bridging and uneven loading of the plate.
Send your material, your capacity and the product sizes you need. An engineer answers, not a form.