METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTRODUCING OBJECTS INTO A CONTINUOUS FLOW OF MATERIAL

摘要

An apparatus for introducing objects into a continuous flow of material comprises: a reservoir (1) for providing a plurality of objects to be introduced into the continuous flow of material; a transfer wheel (3) for transporting the objects to a means for inserting the objects into the continuous flow of material, the transfer wheel (3) further comprising a peripheral surface (30); a transfer zone (31) extending about a portion of a peripheral surface (30) of the transfer wheel (3); delivery means (2) for moving the objects from the reservoir (1) to the transfer zone (31), and means (32) for moving the objects through the transfer zone (31); wherein the delivery means (2) and the transfer zone (31) are configured such that the objects are moved from the reservoir (1) to the transfer zone (31) and through the transfer zone (31) along a single line path.