Patent Number: 050193260
Section: abstract

The present invention provides a pellet handling equipment for conveying pellets. The pellet handling equipment is essentially composed of a first roller device, a second roller device, and a pellet supplying device. The first roller device is supported generally horizontal and rotatable about an axis thereof for a rotation in a predetermined direction. The second roller device is disposed parallel and adjacent to the first roller device, supported rotatable about an axis thereof for a rotation in a same direction with the first roller device. The second roller device is provided with a slot formed in a circumferential surface thereof and extending in the axial direction. The slot is capable of receiving each one of the pellets. The pellet supplying device intermittently supplies the pellets to the first and second roller device. Each of the intermittently supplied pellets is supported by the first and second roller device therebetween so that the axis of the pellet is parallel to the axes of the first and second roller device. Then, the pellet is rotated about an axis thereof as the first and second roller device rotate, trapped in the slot of the second roller device, and conveyed to the side opposite to the first roller device.