Weigh Feeder
A weigh feeder is a gravimetric material-handling device that continuously measures and controls the flow rate of bulk solids such as powder, granules, or free-flowing raw materials. It combines belt load measurement from load cells with belt speed measurement from an encoder to compute instantaneous mass flow and hold target throughput.
On a production floor, a weigh feeder typically sits beneath a bin, hopper, or prefeed device and acts as the rate-control point for a bulk material stream. Operators use it to keep recipe ratios constant while avoiding overfeeding downstream mixers, kilns, extruders, or process lines. Because the device reports both instantaneous rate and totalized weight, it reconciles material issued from inventory against what actually entered the process. That makes it a practical consumption counter for raw-material issue, WIP tracking, and production reporting. In warehousing and raw-material tracking, the totalized throughput feeds inventory systems, allowing planners to compare theoretical usage against physical stock and flag unexplained loss, scrap, or yield variance. The feeder also supports batching and continuous proportioning, giving manufacturing a stable, traceable link between receiving and process usage.
What is the difference between a weigh feeder and a simple volumetric feeder?
A weigh feeder is gravimetric and controls by actual mass flow, while a volumetric feeder meters by volume or speed alone. The weigh feeder is preferred when density changes, accuracy, or traceability matter.
What signals does a weigh feeder typically use?
Typical signals include load cell output for belt load, speed feedback from an encoder or tachometer, and an integrator/controller output that reports flow rate, belt load, belt speed, and totalized weight.
Why is a weigh feeder useful for inventory control?
Because it totalizes actual material moved through the process, it serves as a consumption counter for raw-material issue, helping compare theoretical usage against physical stock and highlight losses, scrap, or process inefficiency.