Computer-aided selection of belt feeder parameters for the load and stability of its structure assessment

Due to their simple design, high reliability, and low energy consumption, belt feeders are a fundamental means of transporting bulk materials, particularly in continuous feeding systems. The most commonly used belt feeders are short ones, with lengths up to 40 meters and belt widths up to 1 meter. In addition to their use in underground and open-pit mining, they are widely applied in energy, metallurgy, and other industrial sectors and in transshipment ports, storage yards, and stockpiles. The proper operation of belt feeders is ensured by maintaining their structure’s required stability and rigidity under specific operational conditions (installation location). It applies to feeders operating on straight stationary supports, particularly on V-type stationary and mobile supports. Various computer programs are used during the design phase of these feeders to assist and facilitate the process because, despite standard components and assemblies, belt feeders are not repeatable solutions and require multi-variant calculations. Based on a typical belt feeder, its analytical model, and dedicated software, the stability and forces acting on the supports are investigated. This software enables and facilitates the analysis of the stability and support loads of a belt feeder during its design phase or when implementing structural modifications. It may be particularly useful for current and future users introducing changes to the feeder’s structure or relocating it to a different operational site. The presented application was employed in the analysis of a belt feeder at an open-pit mine during the process of modifying its drive unit.