Hopper door assembly and method for feeding bulk metal objects from a hopper

摘要

An apparatus and method is provided for feeding bulk metal objects from a hopper supported by a frame. The hopper includes side panels that taper downwardly to form an interior chamber therebetween with upper and lower openings. Doors are hingedly attached to the side panels adjacent the lower opening and are opened and closed by piston and cylinder combinations pivotally attached to the frame and pivotally attached to members extending downwardly from the doors. Arms extend from the doors into the interior chamber to facilitate the movement of the metal objects in the hopper toward the lower opening to feed through the doors. Vibrations created by various movements of the doors also help move the metal objects toward the lower opening.