Na forma e na função, os alimentadores de correia são essencialmente transportadores de correia curta. Existem algumas áreas importantes em que os dois diferem, no entanto:
Rate control: feeders are capable of rate control (meaning the rate at which they operate can be varied), while conveyors operate at a constant speed.Operational speed: feeders typically operate at slower speeds than belt conveyors.Flow patterns: feeders are flood-loaded (where all of the material in the bin is in motion during withdrawal), while belt conveyors are funnel-loaded (where some of the material in a bin moves while the rest remains stationary).São utilizadas várias técnicas e mecanismos de transporte diferentes, mas essas dividem amplamente nessas categorias, em ordem decrescente de precisão:
closed-loop feedback systems, where the output from some variable feeder is measured and the feed rate varied by a local control system ensuring the desired rate is maintained. To be noted that the dosing equipment can be a belt but can also be a screw conveyor, a twin screw conveyors or a vibrating tubevolumetric feeders, such as screw conveyors, delivering a predictable volumetric feed, driven at a variable rateopen loop systems where a feeder (e.g. a belt feeder) is driven at a given rate which has been established in advanceopen loop systems where a door or valve on a feed hopper is opened by a graduated amount, delivering an approximate rate of feedQualquer uma delas pode ser combinada com verificações subsequentes de Beltweighers ou (no caso de grãos, pós e líquidos) medidores de fluxo para fornecer um fluxo de material mais preciso.