Mineral material feed apparatus, a plant and a method

1. A feed apparatus for feeding mineral material comprising:

a first frame;

a feed box fixed to the first frame and having walls for the mineral material to be loaded to the apparatus; and

a feed device joined to the first frame so that the material to be loaded to the feed box ends up onto a transport surface of a transport member of the feed device, the transport surface and a bottom edge of the wall of the feed box forming a gap therebetween;

wherein the feed apparatus comprises distance adjustment members to move the transport surface of the feed device and the bottom edge of the wall of the feed box relative to each other;

the feed device further comprises a second frame fixed by the distance adjustment members to an adjustable distance from the first frame;

wherein the distance adjustment members comprise a lever having a first pivot point pivoted to the first or a second frame and a second pivot point of the lever located at a third distance from the first pivot point and is pivoted to a corresponding second or first frame acting as an adjustment pair; and

the distance adjustment members comprise a screw which is, when operated, arranged to move the lever.

2. The feed apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the distance adjustment members are configured to adjust a distance between the transport surface of the feed device and the bottom edge of the wall of the feed box.

3. The feed apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the distance adjustment members is configured to adjust the distance between the first frame and the second frame.

4. The feed apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the feed device comprises a second frame fixable by the distance adjustment members to an adjustable distance from the first frame.

5. The feed apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the distance adjustment members comprise at least one item selected from a group consisting of: a screw; a screw actuator; a wedge actuator; and a hydraulic actuator.

6. The feed apparatus of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the distance adjustment members comprise a combination of the screw and a lever.

7. The feed apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the screw is, when operated, arranged to move the lever by acting to a screw support point comprised by the lever which screw support point is located at a fourth distance from the first pivot point.

8. The feed apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the second pivot point of the lever is equipped with a combination of a shaft and a longitudinal groove which enables in the lever a longitudinal movement of the shaft, the movement being substantially in a longitudinal direction of the second frame.

9. The feed apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the third distance between the first and second pivot points is smaller than the fourth distance between the screw support point and the first pivot point.

10. The feed apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a seal directed towards the transport surface fixed to the wall of the feed box by plates which are pressable towards a rear surface of the wall, wherein the distance adjustment members are configured to decrease the distance between the transport surface of the feed device and the bottom edge of the wall of the feed box to compensate wear of the seals.

11. The feed apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the distance of the seal from the transport surface is adjustable by changing a vertical fixing point of the seal relative to the wall, and an opening is formed to the plate for a tool to separate the seal from the plate.

12. The feed apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a grip form for a tool, formed to the seal at place of an opening in the plate.

13. The feed apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the grip form is a hole.

14. The feed apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting member is configured to adjust steplessly.

15. The feed apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the feed device is a feed conveyor which comprises an endless transport belt.

16. The feed apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the distance adjustment members are pivoted to the first frame and to the feed device.

17. A mineral material processing plant, wherein the processing plant comprises a feed apparatus of claim 1 .

18. A method comprising:

feeding mineral material with a feed apparatus that comprises a first frame, a feed box fixed to the first frame and having walls for the mineral material to be loaded to the apparatus, and a feed device which is joined to the first frame so that the material to be loaded to the feed box ends up onto a transport surface of a transport member of the feed device, and the transport surface and a bottom edge of the wall of the feed box are forming a gap therebetween, and the feed device comprises a second frame which is fixed by distance adjustment members to an adjustable distance from the first frame;

adjusting the mineral material feed apparatus;

the adjusting comprising moving the transport surface of the feed device and the bottom edge of the wall of the feed box relative to each other by the distance adjustment members;

wherein the distance adjustment members comprise a lever having a first pivot point pivoted to the first or a second frame and a second pivot point of the lever located at a third distance from the first pivot point and pivoted to a corresponding second or first frame acting as an adjustment pair;

wherein the distance adjustment members comprise a screw; and

the adjusting further comprising moving the lever with the screw.