A belt conveyor is only as good as the place where the material goes on. Load it badly, and gravel spills over the sides, the belt wears faster and the job slows down. That is why SoRoTo® belt conveyors [LINK: Belt Conveyors collection] are loaded through a feeder box – and why we have now made our feeder boxes even better to work with, on site and in the yard.
The standard feeder box: included with every forward-running conveyor
The yellow standard feeder box is the loading hopper at the loading end of the conveyor. It is included with every SoRoTo® construction belt conveyor that runs forward only – Standard, Speedy, Vario and Standard Link – and it does three jobs:
• It catches the material. The raised edges hold gravel, soil and rubble when you load from a wheelbarrow or a bucket, so more ends up on the belt and less on the ground.
• It protects the conveyor. It keeps material away from the rear roller, and an extra reinforced plate underneath takes the wear where it is greatest.
• It makes linking easy. When two conveyors run in a line, the motor end of the next conveyor can rest directly on the feeder box. No spacer block needed. Read more about linked belt conveyors [LINK: blog – Linked Belt Conveyors].
Stack it: stackable belt conveyors save storage space
Conveyors with the new standard feeder box can be stacked almost straight on top of each other. The new feeder box has “broad shoulders”: it is 51 cm wide at the top, just wider than the frame. That means the next conveyor can lie down inside it, with an offset of only a few centimetres. New motor brackets at the other end make the stack even more stable. The new feeder box is fitted to all new SoRoTo® conveyors that run forward only.
With the older, narrow feeder box, each conveyor had to be shifted 65–70 cm to clear the feeder box. Now a stack takes up less space in the warehouse and in the container – and it is easier to strap down safely when the conveyors are moved. For rental depots and contractors with several conveyors, that makes a real difference every day.
Move it: a large feeder box for mini excavator and wheelbarrow loading
Sometimes the best place to load is not at the end of the conveyor. In a garden, a basement or a narrow passage, the mini excavator or the wheelbarrow may only be able to reach the middle of the belt.
The new large feeder box [LINK: Large Feeder Box] is a wide conveyor hopper with a much bigger opening – made for loading with a mini excavator bucket or a wheelbarrow, which are both wider than the conveyor itself. The opening is [TBC: W × L] and the box weighs [TBC] kg. And it goes where you need it:
• on top of the standard feeder box, for a bigger loading area at the end of the conveyor
• in the middle of the frame, where the excavator can reach
• at the far end of the frame
The large feeder box is fitted with two side brackets with a spring-loaded knob. Turn the knob, set the box in place, and turn it back: a pawl locks the box onto the feeder box or the frame. No tools needed.
Load it: standard or large feeder box?
|
|
Standard feeder box |
Large feeder box |
|
Included with the conveyor |
Yes, on conveyors that run forward only |
No, optional |
|
Position |
Fixed at the loading end |
On the standard feeder box, or anywhere on the frame |
|
Best for |
Everyday loading with shovel, bucket or wheelbarrow |
Loading with mini excavator or wheelbarrow, and loading in the middle of the line |
|
Stackable conveyors |
Yes, with the new broad-shouldered feeder box |
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Feeder boxes for reversible belt conveyors
Conveyors that run in reverse – our 2-Way [LINK: 2-Way] and Multilink [LINK: Multilink] versions – are supplied without the standard feeder box, as it would be in the way when the belt runs backwards. Here the large feeder box is the natural choice, because it can be placed anywhere on the frame.
FAQ
Which conveyors come with the standard feeder box?
All SoRoTo® construction belt conveyors that run forward only: Standard, Speedy, Vario and Standard Link. 2-Way and Multilink conveyors are supplied without it, because they also run in reverse.
Does the large feeder box fit my older SoRoTo® conveyor?
[TBC] The large feeder box BC043-510 can be placed anywhere on the frame. To place it on top of the standard feeder box, the conveyor needs the new broad-shouldered feeder box. Conveyors with the older, narrow feeder box use the earlier large feeder box BC043-460. Ask your SoRoTo® dealer if you are unsure which one fits.
Do I need tools to fit or move the large feeder box?
No. Turn the spring-loaded knob, set the box in place and turn the knob back. A pawl locks the box onto the feeder box or the frame.
Can I stack older and new conveyors together?
[TBC] Conveyors with the new broad-shouldered feeder box stack almost straight on top of each other. Conveyors with the older, narrow feeder box need an offset of 65–70 cm.
Get the right feeder box for your conveyors
Ask your SoRoTo® dealer or rental company for the large feeder box. Can't find a dealer? [LINK: "Where can I get one?" form] Tell us where you work, and we will help you find the right setup for your site.
[See the Large Feeder Box →]
