US Patent 10401212 Automated hopper and belt conveyor apparatus

An automated hopper and belt conveyor apparatus that can be used to feed bulk material into a mixer in order to create a feed mixture for farm animals. The automated hopper and belt conveyor apparatus includes a support frame that supports a hopper and an inclined belt conveyor that operate under control of a controller to accurately feed a desired quantity (in weight) of a bulk material item from the hopper to the mixer by forward-direction operation of the inclined belt conveyor. Excess bulk material that has been loaded into the hopper (bulk material over the desired quantity in weight) is reclaimed by the controller controlling opening a rear gate of the hopper and reverse-direction operation of the inclined belt conveyor.