An asphalt paver is a machine used to lay asphalt on roads, driveways and other surfaces. It consists of an articulated frame with a feeder hopper in the front, a conveyor system that carries the material from the hopper to the rear of the machine where it is laid down by screed plates. The paving process begins when hot mix asphalt is delivered to the job site and unloaded into trucks or stockpiles. The material is then loaded into the paver's hopper where it is distributed evenly across its width using augers or conveyors. Asphalt pavers are then able to spread this material over existing pavement while simultaneously compacting it with rollers for a smooth finish.