What is a Self Dumping Hopper?
A self dumping hopper is a rugged steel box invented by Joseph Roura in the late 1920’s in Detroit, Michigan, which is used to store, transport and conveniently dump various materials. By nature of design and to facilitate ease of use they are often used with a forklift.
Some common applications of dump hoppers include trash, refuse, scrap metal, concrete, and more.
How Do You Use a Self Dumping Hopper?
Always obey the fork lift truck manufacturers operating instructions and guidelines as well as your corporate safety practices and guidelines. Before attempting to empty your forklift hoppers first ensure the contents do not exceed the maximum weight capacity as labeled on the hopper. Second, insure the contents are fully within the confines of the hopper. To load your hopper onto your forklift truck:
- Spread apart the fork lift truck forks to match the fork opening on the base of the hopper.
- Insert the fork lift truck forks into the fork opening. The forks should never extend beyond the front of the hopper base.
- Next, place the forklift truck in neutral and apply the parking brake.
- Secure the hopper to the forklift truck by using the master secure chain, and set the flip over handle latch to make sure it is in the
closed position.
- Raise the hopper to a reasonable height from ground level and tilt the forks all the way back to secure the hopper.
- Transport the hopper to the desired location.
- Place the forklift truck into neutral and apply the parking brake. The operator will now need to place the flip over handle latch in the open
position to allow the trip lever to trip. Also check the mast secure chain to make sure it is still secure.
- The operator will then raise the hopper to a safe dumping position.
- Move the hopper into place and slowly lower the base of the hopper onto the top of the container the material is being dumped into. With a forklift truck
in neutral and the parking brake set it is important to keep clear of the hopper, especially the rocker track.
- Lift up the trip lever handle to release the hopper into its dump position.
- Once the load has been emptied, operate the hopper into the field position. To do this Roura recommends that the operator uses the front lip of
the bulk container.
- This can be done by lowering the front nose of the hopper body on to the top lip of the bulk container until the hopper rocks back and the hopper
latch pin locks in place with the trip lever handle.
- Lower the hopper to a reasonable distance from ground level until the forks are all the way back.
- Transporter hopper to the desired location to be refilled and with the forklift truck in neutral and the parking brake set.
- Lower the hopper to the ground, remove the mast secure chain and check the flip over handle latch to make sure it is in the closed position.
- The forklift truck can now be fully disengaged from the dumping hoppers and the hopper is now ready to be refilled.
Benefits of Dump Hoppers
How effectively you handle your raw materials affects the throughput of your products. The number of times a worker touches an item impacts the cost of production and the potential for human error or a safety disaster increases. Using hopper dumpsters means less direct contact with the materials and less time manipulating the hopper. The employee completes the task faster with greater safety. Because using these hoppers is so easy, the business saves on training costs, and the worker is happier performing the job.
Maintaining a clean, uncluttered production area with a dump hopper improves productivity in any business or industrial setting. Whether or not the public views this zone, employees will complete their assignments in a safe, pleasant environment without cluttered corners or spots. Empty dump hoppers can be easily stored by stacking one inside the other to conserve space when not in use.
You cannot overemphasize the human and safety benefits of providing the right forklift dumpster or dump hopper for your employees. A dumping hopper keeps the operator safe from accidents and exposure to any potentially hazardous materials or waste. Not only is this the right thing to do, it also pays dividends by saving time, lowering costs and reducing employee turnover.
How To Choose a Dump Hopper
There are a range of dump hoppers designed to meet the needs of many types of material management companies, including those that handle mining, solid waste, glass, concrete, scrap metal and other materials. The important components to consider when selecting a hopper container is size, weight, volume capacity and the type of materials the hopper will be used for.
Common Types of Hoppers
- Durable Hopper: These are the smallest hoppers Roura offers, and have a weight load capacity of 2,000 to 4,000 pounds and a volume capacity of 1/8 to 5 cubic yards. The smaller size of a durable hopper is ideal for light weight material handling that may include ash, stamping, sawdust or glass. There are many different models to choose from, allowing your company to choose a small size with a shape that meets material handling needs.
- Rugged Hopper: The rugged hopper is a step above the durable hopper and is a good size option for companies handling coal, rubber, metal scrap or construction material below the weight of 8,000 pounds. Weight capacities of the rugged sized model range from 4,000 to 8,000 pounds and the volume capacity is the same as the durable hopper, at 1/8 to 5 cubic yards. A rugged hopper is constructed of 7-gauge carbon steel, and like all Roura Material Handling hoppers, includes the standard flip secure latch.
- Ultimate Hopper: Companies handling heavy weights of material should consider the ultimate sized hopper as a safe and effective transportation option. This hopper has a weight capacity of 8,000 to 10,000 pounds and a volume capacity of 1/3 to 5 cubic yards. While the durable and rugged sized hoppers are ideal for lightweight materials such as ash and rubber, the ultimate hopper is an option for industries transporting brick, castings, demolition debris and other dense and heavy materials. Working with these heavy materials can be dangerous. Thus, the ultimate hopper includes side and back angle rows and two support channels to reinforce the ¼” carbon steel body, to help you handle large materials safely.
- Behemoth Hopper The behemoth dump hopper is the largest hopper we offer. It has the same weight capacity as the ultimate size material hopper, with a capacity of 8,000 to 10,000 pounds. The difference is in volume capacity, where the behemoth can provide a 6 to 10 cubic yard volume capacity. This is a very large hopper and is the recommended size for companies handling large and highly dense materials, such as hot ash, shipyard debris, concrete and castings. In the case of the behemoth hopper, the continuously welded structure is composed of 3/16” and ¼” carbon steel. Additionally, there is a 72” long box tube base with a slide bolt latch to keep the large materials secure during transport.
Common Hopper Applications
It’s easy to see how hoppers fit right into a productivity-driven manufacturing environment. They also impart tremendous value to all types and sizes of businesses. Almost every commercial undertaking needs to store and process basic components, move them around and dispose of waste and recyclables.
Construction sites provide many opportunities to use hoppers to increase productivity. They can transport and feed ingredients for mixing small amounts of concrete or mortar. They can keep the site free of debris and unsightly materials. They can move pallets of shingles and dispose of old roofing materials.
The food and restaurant industries offer numerous applications for dump hopper use. A larger bakery, for example, can use a hopper for adding heavy quantities of flour or sugar to an industrial mixer. These dumpster bins can collect and carry empty packaging or used bowls and pans to waste and washing areas. With tight quarters and precise preparations, busy restaurants also need to keep clutter and trash constantly under control. These wonderful inventions by Roura are the perfect tool for the job.
Larger offices, as well as schools and health care facilities, also benefit from using hoppers. They can store materials until needed, keep work areas clean and safe and dispose of waste and recyclables. Since hoppers come in such a large variety of sizes and weight loads, even smaller institutions make good use of them.
Roura Hoppers
When it comes to hoppers, if you want the real thing, come to the company that invented them, Roura Material Handling.
