A feeder operable to convey a divided solids material comprises a conduit and an actuator. The conduit has a hollow body with a length, a first end, a second end opposite the first end and a displaceable body segment defined along at least a portion of the length. The displaceable body segment has at least a first fixable location positionable at a first fixed location. The actuator is positioned to apply force to the conduit and is controllable to cause selected flow of divided solids material in a feed direction extending generally from the first end to the second end. Methods are also disclosed.

A gravity-feed bin includes a generally hollow main bin having an open end, a storage reservoir and a dispensing chute. The dispensing chute has an opening disposed near a distal end. The bin includes a dispensing gate movable between open and closed positions. When the dispensing gate is in the closed position, the dispensing gate blocks the opening of the dispensing chute. The main bin includes a vertical front wall joined to planar first front surface that is disposed below the vertical front wall, at an angle relative to the vertical front wall so as to direct bulk material inwardly towards the interior of the storage reservoir. A second planar front surface is joined to the first front surface, and disposed at an angle relative to the first front surface, so as to direct the bulk material towards the dispensing chute.

A particulate material supplying apparatus includes a hopper that stores a particulate material, a discharge gutter that dispenses the particulate material, a feeder that transports the particulate material to a weighing scale, the weighing scale that weighs the particulate material, a supply shutter that feeds the particulate material to a machine in the next process step at a predetermined timing, and a controller that controls the operations of these devices. The discharge gutter includes an inclined gutter portion having an opening in an upper surface thereof and a substantially U-shaped cross section. The controller controls the discharge gutter so that the particulate material in the hopper is dispensed to the feeder by causing the discharge gutter to perform a swinging motion in which a forward rotation and a backward rotation each to a predetermined angle are repeated while the opening in the inclined gutter portion faces upward.

An oscillatory feeder operable to convey a flowable solid material has a tubular body and a displaceable body segment. The tubular body has at least one first end, at least one second end opposite the first end and a displaceable body segment between the first and second ends. The displaceable body segment has a first fixable location positionable at a first fixed location and a second fixable location positionable at a second fixed location. The actuator is attached to the displaceable body segment and controllable to cause selected displacement of the body segment and attached actuator and corresponding selected flow of solid material within the displaceable body segment in a feed direction extending generally from the first end to the second end.

A gravity-feed bin includes a generally hollow main bin having an open end, a storage reservoir and a dispensing chute. The dispensing chute has an opening disposed near a distal end. The bin includes a dispensing gate movable between open and closed positions. When the dispensing gate is in the closed position, the dispensing gate blocks the opening of the dispensing chute. The main bin includes a vertical front wall joined to planar first front surface that is disposed below the vertical front wall, at an angle relative to the vertical front wall so as to direct bulk material inwardly towards the interior of the storage reservoir. A second planar front surface is joined to the first front surface, and disposed at an angle relative to the first front surface, so as to direct the bulk material towards the dispensing chute.

An oscillatory feeder operable to convey a flowable solid material has a tubular body and a displaceable body segment. The tubular body has at least one first end, at least one second end opposite the first end and a displaceable body segment between the first and second ends. The displaceable body segment has a first fixable location positionable at a first fixed location and a second fixable location positionable at a second fixed location. The actuator is attached to the displaceable body segment and controllable to cause selected displacement of the body segment and attached actuator and corresponding selected flow of solid material within the displaceable body segment in a feed direction extending generally from the first end to the second end.