A hopper feeder is a heavy-duty electromagnetic vibrating feeder installed directly under a hopper's discharge opening or under a screen, running under a "full-hopper" load almost continuously rather than intermittently. In the Vibromekhanika lineup this duty is covered by the PEVF and PEVVF feeders, rated from 50 to 300 m³/h — unlike the lighter PEV feeders, which are built for precise dosing of smaller volumes.
Why a hopper needs a heavy-duty feeder
Material in a loaded hopper puts constant pressure on the feeder tray — the feeder has to start and run under a column of material, not only on an "unloaded" feed. Drives with rotating parts wear faster in this duty; the VEM electromagnetic drive handles it without issue and can effectively act as a hopper gate, opening and closing the flow by changing the vibration amplitude. That's why a hopper calls for a heavy-duty design with the matching mass and drive margin, not just any vibrating feeder.
PEVF or PEVVF: what's the difference
Both designs are heavy-duty hopper feeders; the difference is where the drive sits:
- PEVF (bottom-mounted drive) — the base, most cost-effective option for most hoppers, when there is enough clearance under the tray.
- PEVVF (top-mounted drive) — a solution for tight clearances, for example when the feeder is mounted above a conveyor and there is no room underneath for the drive housing.
| Parameter | PEVF | PEVVF |
|---|---|---|
| Drive position | bottom | top |
| Typical use | standard hopper installation | limited clearance under the tray (e.g. above a conveyor) |
| Capacity | 50–300 m³/h | 60–150 m³/h |
| Tray width | 500–1500 mm | 700–1200 mm |
| Drive | VEM-T1–T4 | VEM-T1–T3 |
How to size a model
Sizing needs the hopper's chute angle, the material's lump size and bulk density, and the required capacity. For a step-by-step way to work this out yourself, or to prepare it for a supplier's quote request, see our article on sizing a feeder under a hopper. If the material is abrasive or dusty (ore, concentrate), those factors are covered separately in our article on feeders at mining plants.
The full PEVF and PEVVF size range is in the PEV feeders catalog.
Frequently asked questions
How does a hopper vibrating feeder differ from a regular belt or screw feeder under a hopper?
An electromagnetic vibrating feeder has no rotating parts in contact with the material, so there is nothing to wear out under the pressure of a material column, and no risk of a screw jamming on coarse lumps. Capacity control is smooth, from zero to maximum, directly from the control cabinet, with no step-down gearbox.
Can a light PEV feeder be used under a hopper instead of a PEVF?
Generally no — the light PEV/PEVU/PEVNM feeders are built for precise dosing under a relatively small, steady load (weight batchers, packaging, lab lines), not for continuous operation under a column of material in a hopper. A hopper needs the mass and drive margin that only the heavy-duty PEVF/PEVVF design provides.
What capacity should a hopper feeder have?
It is set by the process line's required throughput and the material's lump size, not by the size of the hopper itself. The PEVF/PEVVF range steps through 50, 60, 90, 150, 250 and 300 m³/h; the final choice is best made together with the supplier based on your specific parameters.
Send us your hopper and material parameters via the request form — we'll size a PEVF or PEVVF model for your task, or design a custom feeder.