YPT Apron Feeders

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APF Series Apron Feeders

Designed for Demanding Material Handling Applications

An apron feeder is a robust machine that moves bulk material from a stockpile, bin, or hopper to other equipment at a regulated rate.

Unlike lighter feeders or belt conveyors, apron feeders are designed to manage large lumps, withstand significant impact, handle wet or sticky materials, and ensure a steady feed rate into crushers or conveyors.

These usually feature overlapping steel pans attached to a sturdy chain or track, moving materials along a trough or frame.

Areas of Application

YPT APF Series apron feeders have been designed for all kinds of heavy duty applications.
  • Supplying primary crushers within mining or aggregate facilities, where sizable blocks of ore are deposited for processing.
  • Extract material from hoppers, bins, or stockpiles at a controlled rate for transfer to processing.
  • Designed for abrasive, wet, sticky, or heavy materials that quickly wear out standard belt feeders.
  • Suitable for stockpile reclaim operations, rail or truck unloading feeders, and scenarios involving significant material impact and large lump sizes

Principle of Operation

YPT APF Series apron feeders are available in a wide variety sizes so can be used at several points in the material handling processes:
  • Material is typically deposited, often from a hopper or dump, onto the pans of the apron feeder in an efficient and controlled manner.
  • Pans are attached to a chain or track, which moves them along the trough to transport material to the discharge end.
  • At the discharge end, material is released either by gravity or onto an additional conveyor at a regulated rate. The capacity is determined by factors such as chain speed, pan width, and feed depth.
  • The system typically consists of undercarriage rollers, carry chains, return rollers, sprockets, tensioning devices, and a sturdy frame to withstand heavy loads and impacts.
  • Apron feeders are often installed horizontally, but they can also be inclined within limits to save space and lower hopper height.

Heavy-Duty Feeding for the Toughest Conditions

Special Parts

4
1
2
3
5
6

1

Pans (plates)

Overlapping steel pans carry the load and protect chains from direct impact.

4

Trough & liners

Heavy frame with replaceable wear liners and impact bars in the loading zone.

2

Chains & rollers

Tractor-type chains with carry/return rollers for low friction and long life.

5

Sealing & dribble control

Skirt boards and dribble conveyors manage fines and spillage.

3

Sprockets & drives

Head sprockets driven by motor/gear reducer; tail sprockets with take-up.

6

Controls

VFD for speed control, torque monitoring and interlocks with downstream equipment.

Production Range

YPT offers the APF Series apron feeders in a comprehensive range of sizes for heavy duty applications.
The following table summarizes the equipment sizes available across YPT standard production range.

L
W
L
W
Chain PitchWidth (mm)
D3-1351000
D3-1351200
D4-1711200
D4-1711500
D4-1711600
D4-1711800
D7-2161800
D7-2162100
D7-2162400
The feeder length can be tailored to meet the specific demands of the process.

Reliable Under Pressure. Built for Production

Design Criteria

Material characteristics:

Lump size, bulk density, abrasiveness and stickiness govern pan thickness, chain size and liner selection.

Required feed rate (t/h):

Determines pan width, chain speed and hopper opening geometry.

Impact & shock loading:

Direct truck or shovel dump requires reinforced pans, impact rails and heavy frames.

Inclination:

Usually horizontal; limited incline is possible with appropriate pan design and power margin.

Wear strategy

Replaceable wear liners, sealed chains and adequate lubrication extend service life.

Drive & tensioning:

Sized for peak torque with reliable take-up/tension systems and guarded sprockets.

Technical Specifications

Pan / Chain
Width:

~600 – 1,500 mm+Selected by capacity and
lump size

Chain
Speed:

 ~0.05 – 0.40 m/sLow speed limits
wear and fines

Capacity:

 ~100 – 5,000 t/hFunction of width,
speed and bed depth

Max Lump
Size:

Up to ~1,200 mmHigh impact duty
with reinforced pans

Incline:

Horizontal to ~25°Feasible with correct
design and power

Drive
Power:

~15 – 300 kWDepends on load,
friction and speed

Operating
Temperature:

−30 °C – +60 °CMaterial and lubrication
dependent

YPT Apron Feeder Highlights

  • cost efficient design

    YPT APF Series apron feeders are built to thrive in tough mining environments, delivering reliable feeding of coarse, abrasive materials with minimal downtime. Their heavy duty construction and total cost efficient design make them ideal for long-term use in primary crushing stations and ROM bins. YPT feeders are trusted across mine sites globally. Whether handling ore, overburden, or large boulders, they provide consistent performance you can rely on—day in and day out—keeping your throughput on target.

  • mining-grade tractor chain design

    YPT’s mining-grade tractor chain design is engineered for high-impact loading and extreme wear conditions. Sealed track components and a sealed-for-life centralized lubrication system reduce maintenance to a minimum, helping you cut downtime and lower maintenance labor costs. APF Series can handle 20% peak capacities and required speed of the feeder has been determined accordingly. Apron Feeder sits on very heavy duty structural chassis which prevents the equipment and components from bending and deflecting.

  • wear resistant pans casted of manganese steel

    Austenitic manganese pans are designed and produced for the greatest resistance against high impact unloading condition. Pan design also allows no accumulation of sticky clay material in between the pans. In our feeder design, we use impact and wear resistant pans casted of manganese steel with 1” thickness, hardened via heat treatment. Upper truck and return rollers are lifetime lubricated and fully sealed. All rollers which are located at top and bottom, is easily accessible for service. Heavy Duty Tractor Type Chains are sealed and lubricated lifetime. Maximum allowable chain speed is up to18 m/min for hard rock ore.

  • The head shaft

    The head shaft is produced with forged steel and mounted on heavy duty self-aligning roller bearings with minimum 100.000 hours of B-10 Life. Segmented sprockets at 72 degree is bolted on the main drive head. Segmented sprockets will be used only at drive side to be easily serviced if required. The tail pulley does not have spherical roller bearings.

  • Automatic Lubrication System

    YPT APF Series apron feeders can be optionally equipped with an Automatic Lubrication System ensuring continuous and efficient lubrication of critical components, which enhances equipment lifespan and reduces maintenance intervals.

  • dual drive arrangements

    For applications that require higher power and torque, dual drive arrangements are available as an alternative to traditional hydraulic systems, operating through a master-follower type VFD configuration to deliver synchronized and energy efficient performance.

Important Considerations:

  • Feed Bed Depth & Chain Load:

    Excessive material thickness elevates chain tension and drive load; therefore, the design must optimize feed layer thickness to ensure efficient operation.

  • Inclined installation trade-offs:

    Incline saves space but lowers throughput and may cause more wear, requiring careful hopper and structure design.

  • Wear Part Inventory:

    Although apron feeders are designed for durability, it is essential to regularly monitor the condition of components such as pans and chain bushings. While these parts are sometimes treated as commodity items, their quality can significantly impact overall performance.

  • Maintenance Access:

    For heavy units, it is essential to ensure that drive assemblies, tensioning points, and chain components are readily accessible, facilitating efficient servicing and maintenance.

  • Integration with downstream equipment:

    It is essential to ensure that the feed rate and control are aligned with the capacity of the crusher or conveyor; an oversized feeder without appropriate coordination with downstream systems may result in blockages or inefficient utilisation.

  • Wet/sticky material:

    Apron feeders are built to manage challenging materials, but it's still important to include proper sealing, skirt boards, and weather protection in their design.

  • Speed vs wear trade-off:

    Operating at higher chain speeds may boost capacity, but it can also significantly accelerate wear, generate more noise, and produce additional fines. It is advisable to select moderate speeds for better balance.