Metering Mechanism For Strand-Type Bulk Solid Materials

A feeder comprising:

• a first rotatable pulley having a diameter and a width;
• a movable belt, coupled to the first rotatable pulley, having a length and a width, the belt disposed to receive material to be metered on an upper surface of the belt;
• a belt motor capable of moving the upper surface of the belt in a first direction;
• a first rotating drum disposed above and oriented substantially across and substantially parallel to the upper surface of the belt, the first rotating drum comprising one or more projections having a preselected length and being coupled on one end to the outside periphery of the first rotating drum, wherein the shortest distance from the outside periphery of the first rotating drum to the upper surface of the belt is a first predetermined distance, the first rotating drum substantially limiting the travel of material on the upper surface of the belt higher than the first predetermined distance;
• and
• an outlet for material disposed a distance in the first direction from the first rotating drum for dispensing the material on the belt.

A method for providing volumetrically metered material comprising:

• receiving material from a material source;
• transporting the material to a belt, the belt moving in a first direction, the belt having a width;
• creating a predetermined height and width of material on the belt;
• transporting the predetermined height and width of material in the first direction toward an exit;
• and
• controlling the speed of the belt.

A volumetric feeder comprising:

• a first rotatable pulley having a diameter and a width;
• a movable belt, coupled to the first rotatable pulley, having a length and a width, the belt disposed to receive material to be metered on an upper surface of the belt;
• a belt drive to move the upper surface of the belt in a first direction;
• means for creating a substantially predetermined height and width of material on the belt;
• and
• an exit for dispensing the material on the belt disposed a distance in the first direction from the means for creating a substantially predetermined height and width of material.