Ground Hoppers

Our standard auger-driven transport system Ground Hopper provides reliable conveying of powders such as calcium carbonate blends, ATH blends, as well as granules and other fine particle or lightweight fillers. Most commonly, these are used to fill the filler metering hoppers used with our Autocaster™ continuous casting machine and Batchmaster metering machines - however, these can be used with other equipment and other applications as well.

Application: Precise metering/conveying of bulk powder or granular fillers.

• Eliminate laborious manual bulk powder handling and filling.
• Extends production run time by adding filler capacity.
• Store pre-set batch run parameters for convenient operation.
• Load-cell based weight loss scale system delivers precise amount of filler.
• Intuitive, user-friendly PLC-based touch control and monitoring system.
• Operates independently (no Autocaster or Batchmaster required).

The Self-Metering Weight Loss Ground Hopper is a standalone, bulk filler metering system for processing of bulk fillers (powders and granules in the standard system).

The Ground Hopper automates the supply of fillers for your production processes, delivering a predetermined amount of filler, at a controllable delivery rate. The feed bin stores 15 cubic feet of material, but that capacity can be greatly extended by adding an optional Bulk Bag Suspender Frame which sits atop the Ground Hopper and dispenses an additional Bulk Bag (Supersack) of filler for longer production runs between filler reloading.

This Ground Hopper utilizes a load cell-based weight loss scale that continuously and accurately weighs the remaining filler during operation. Easy-to-use touch interface reports on the progress of your batch processing job. 

The Weight Loss Ground Hopper with optional Motor Driven Mechanical Agitation System, and Control Panel Mounted on side of the unit with the added Motor-Driven Mechanical Aditation System (shown below)

The Motor Driven Mechanical Agitation System is mounted through the wall of the bin, with the motor outside, and the rotating tines inside the bin, located just above the auger intake area. The tines are driven by the motor, and turn continuously during operation to break up any sticky (or bridging) filler. Certain powders, rubbers and other materials benefit from this additional agitation in the bin prior to metering.

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Various systems are utilized to vibrate or mechanically agitate a material that is prone to "bridging" (material clumping above the auger feed that can prevent or hinder material from feeding into the auger). For those materials, these agitation systems are sometimes recommended. Note that the first one below is included in your Weight Loss Ground Hopper. The other two are options to consider if your material is prone to bridging problemsl. These should ideally be ordered with the Ground Hopper is initially manufacturered.

Sifting Grate and Pneumatic Vibrator

Included!

This sifting screen and pneumatic vibrator are included standard on the Weight Loss Ground Hopper. Together, they break up most clumpy most conventional materials (like Calcium Carbonate blends) before it enters the auger transport area.

Motor-Driven Mechanical Agitation

Optional (Order No 166779)

For difficult to convey fillers that tend to bridge or “clump up”, a motor-driven mechanical agitation system can be added. This system has rotating mixing tines that continuously turn the material inside the bin during Ground Hopper operation to prevent bridging or clogging above the auger intake area.

Air Pad Vibrating System

Optional (Order No 165768)

This pneumatic air pulse system can be added to new Ground Hoppers to further disrupt the ability for sticky fillers that are prone to bridging to keep fillers flowing by periodically pulsing air bursts into the Ground Hopper feed bin.

• Precise weight-loss based monitoring with electronic controls including calibration offers superior metering compared to other volumetric metering systems.

• 50 lb/min (22 kg) output rate for standard auger (when metering Calcium Carbonate). Maximum output rate varies depending on material. Auger can be upgraded for higher feed rates (eg 100 lb/min) or different materials.

• Rugged 15 cubic foot (0.42 cubic meter) bin with heavy-duty 12-gauge steel construction.

• Durable auger mounted on 45 degree incline (60 degree option also). Minimum 10’ (3m) ceiling height required. Optional custom auger lengths available for different discharge height requirements.

• Dimensions 57.5” x 42.5” x 45” (146 x 108 x 114cm) (LWH) excluding auger.

• 230/460V, 3-phase motor options in 60 or 50Hz configurations (specify desired power).

• 2-way forklift entries for flexible loading and access.

• Pneumatic vibrator for anti-bridging control (prevents clogging of powders or other fillers).

• Includes screen for helping to prevent bag scraps and other debris from reaching auger.

• Includes chain clamps for securing Bulk Bag Suspender to Ground Hopper.

Did you know?
Gruber produces a variety of other Ground Hoppers for metering of other powders, granules, and aggregates such as sand, pea gravel, pebbles, stones, and abrasive materials. We can custom configure a Ground Hopper to your specific needs for other materials or applications. Please call to discuss your needs.

This Ground Hopper includes an auger designed for powder or granules, but it can be substituted with a variety of augers for processing larger aggregates or specialty materials. Auger lengths can be modified for your preferred discharge height. Additional agitation system options can be added for difficult-to-process materials. Gruber Bulk Bag Gantries and Conveyors can be added to further automate your production efficiency.

Eliminate the back-breaking work of manually loading bulk filler for your production process, and benefit from reduced labor costs and improved safety by automating your bulk filler handling and conveying processes.

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Automated metering of lightweight powder bulk filler over extended distances utilizing a positive pneumatic pressure (air) transport system.

Automatically meter and transfer lightweight filler material over extended distances with a Pneumatic-transport Ground Hopper. This eliminates the requirement for an auger, and allows the Ground Hopper to be placed in a more remote location - out of the way of the Autocaster casting system or the Batchmaster mixing station.

Now, you can supply lightweight powder fillers like CalCarb/Lightweight powder blends and ATH blends to TWO different metering hoppers from a single Pneumatic Ground Hopper with the Dual-Feed model!

Bulk filler handling systems can be integrated with your process or batching system to reduce labor, improve efficiencies, aid in material cost control, and potentially lower overhead costs.

For situations where you need your Ground Hopper to be movable or portable.

In some cases, your bulk filler handling system is not required to be a fixed location, and you may benefit by moving your Gruber Ground Hopper to where you need it for a given use. Portability offers added convenience and added value to your Bulk Filler Handling investment.

Special version Gruber Ground Hopper and Bulk Bag Suspender Frame option for use with the Batchmaster III Metering System.

Designed to handle the demanding requirements of metering large rock or highly abrasive aggregates for polymer concrete and other specialized cast polymer manufacturing applications.

The "Top-Mount" Large Aggregate Ground Hopper is an auger-screw driven conveyor, typically used to convey larger-sized such quartz, pea gravel or small rock up to as large as 3/8" (7 mm) diameter used in Polymer Concrete Casting applications. This machine is normally used to convey fillers to the filler metering hoppers included with Gruber's Autocaster™ continuous casting machine. It can also easily handle smaller aggregates such as sand, granules and very small pea gravel.

The Small Aggregate Ground Hopper is an auger-screw driven conveyor, typically used to convey very small aggregates such as sand, and other granules no larger than sand, as well as granular powders. This machine is normally used to convey fillers to the filler metering hoppers included with Gruber's Autocaster™ continuous casting machine.