A mechanism or system that delivers material downward, especially in manufacturing or machinery, or in agriculture.
Compound of 'down' and 'feed,' formed in industrial English (19th-20th century) to describe directional flow of materials through machines.
In factories and mills, a 'downfeed' is a crucial mechanism—it ensures materials flow smoothly downward through the machine rather than jamming or backing up. It's the kind of unglamorous but essential engineering that keeps production lines moving.
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