The belt conveyor is a continuous conveying equipment that uses the conveyor belt as both the traction mechanism and the load-bearing mechanism. It can transport loose materials as well as discrete items, and can also be coordinated with the process requirements of various industrial production lines to form a rhythmic assembly-line transportation system.

In addition to the characteristics of belt conveyors, belt feeders also possess their own structural features. First, when used beneath storage bins or hoppers with certain pressure, belt feeders can uniformly and continuously transport various high-density materials over short distances to crushing, screening, and conveying equipment, making them particularly suitable for applications below primary crushing. Second, compared to pan feeders, belt feeders have lower costs. They operate through friction drive between the belt and rotating components such as rollers, with excellent troughing between the belt and idlers, ensuring good sealing between the chute and belt to prevent material spillage at the feeding point. Third, belt feeders are typically equipped with full-length chutes, which enhance their own conveying capacity and improve efficiency. Fourth, belt feeders generally operate at very low belt speeds, with the current international standard minimum speed being 0.015 m/s, as seen in applications at sites in Western Australia, where they have already been put into service. Fifth, wider belt widths are commonly adopted because lower speeds allow for increased conveying capacity and reduced transportation costs by expanding the belt width.

The above are the structural characteristics of the feeder, while the power calculation for belt feeders also differs significantly from that of ordinary belt conveyors. Since belt feeders must additionally withstand substantial bin pressure, the power required to counteract this bin pressure must be fully considered.