Abstract:
The invention relates to a charging device for creating superimposed layers of fine-grained bulk material on a rotating hearth ( 2 ). For each layer of bulk material to be charged, said charging device comprises a discharge hopper ( 22 ) having an outflow slot ( 36 ) and a discharge roller ( 42 ) positioned ahead of each outflow slot ( 26 ). Said outflow slot ( 36 ) and discharge roller ( 42 ) extend essentially at a right angle to the direction of rotation of the rotating hearth and the discharge roller ( 42 ) has a drive ( 44 ), the rotational frequency of which can be controlled.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a 371 of Application No. PCT/EP98/02796, filed on May 13, 1998. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a charging device for production of layers of fine-grained loose material one above the other on a rotary hearth. It is particularly suitable for the use of a new direct iron ore reduction process in a rotary hearth furnace. 
     Sponge iron is produced in a direct reduction process by the reduction of iron oxide with solid or gaseous reducing agents. Carbon, for example, which reacts with oxygen at higher temperatures and forms the reducing gas CO, serves as a solid reducing agent. A process of this type can be carried out, for example, in a rotary hearth furnace, i.e. in a furnace with a rotatable annular furnace bottom, which is lined with refractory material on the top side and is enclosed by a housing. Burners, which penetrate the housing and heat its interior to the required reaction temperature of over 1000° C., are mounted on the top side of the housing. 
     The iron oxide is deposited together with the reducing agent at a first point of the rotary hearth furnace and is fed by rotation of the rotary hearth to the interior of the housing, where it reacts with the reducing agent because of the high temperatures and is present as directly reduced iron after about one revolution of the rotary hearth. The form in which the iron is present depends on the type of process used. 
     In the traditional process the iron oxide is compacted before charging into the rotary hearth furnace with the reducing agent to form pellets, which are subsequently charged on to the rotary hearth of the furnace. Inside the furnace, the iron oxide in the individual pellets reacts with the carbon monoxide released by the carbon in a controlled atmosphere and is reduced to iron inside the pellets. The sponge iron is thus present in pellet form after the reduction. The pellets additionally containing the residues of the reducing agent (ash) as well as any impurities such as sulphur. After the reduction process a further process step, in which the directly reduced iron is separated from the ash and impurities, is consequently required. 
     In an alternative process fine-grained iron oxide and fine-grained reducing agent, e.g. coal, are charged in separate layers on to the rotary hearth of the furnace. In this process only one layer of iron oxide and one layer of reducing agent can be charged or several layers of the individual materials can be placed alternately in layers one above the other. On passage through the furnace carbon monoxide, which penetrates through the fine-grained iron oxide layers and reduces them to iron, is released in the coal layer(s). Consequently the reduced iron is present in a pure form in one or more layers above each other after the reduction process, the individual iron layers being separated from each other by layers of reducing agent residues and these ash layers being present in loose form. 
     As the individual layers of loose material do not mix with each other during the reduction process, this process offers the advantage that the sponge iron and reducing agent residues can easily be separated from each other. The basic prerequisite for economic implementation of this reduction process, however, is that the charging device of the rotary hearth furnace is capable of producing an optimum layered arrangement of the metal oxide and reducing agent on the rotary hearth. Consequently a task of the invention is to create a rotary hearth furnace, the charging device of which largely meets this prerequisite. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This problem is solved by the charging device according to this invention. 
     In the reducing furnace described above a charging device according to the invention consequently has a discharge bunker with a discharge slot and a discharge roller in front of the discharge slot for each metal oxide or reducing agent layer. The discharge slot and discharge roller extend essentially transversely to the direction of rotation of the rotary hearth and the discharge rollers have a variable-speed drive. If the speed of rotation of a discharge roller is increased, the discharge of loose material from the corresponding discharge bunker also increases. If, by contrast, the speed of rotation of a discharge roller is reduced, the discharge of loose material from the corresponding discharge bunker is also reduced. With the charging device according to the invention, metal oxide and reducing agent layers one above the other can thus be deposited on the annular furnace bottom. The ratio of metal oxide to reducing agent in the layers is adaptable to an optimum course of the reduction process via the variable-speed discharge rollers. By briefly stopping a discharge roller a layer can also be interrupted, so that heaps arranged behind each other are formed in the direction of rotation. Such a discontinuous layer simplifies, for example, discharge of the metallic sponge produced, because a continuous strand of material is not formed, but individual pieces of sponge separated from each other. 
     The reduction process can be further optimised by gravimetric control of the layer build-up. For this purpose the device according to the invention need only have continuous weighing devices, which are integrated in the charging device in such a way that the discharge of metal oxides and reducing agents in loose form can be measured gravimetrically. A speed control system for the variable-speed drives of the discharge rollers controls in this case the speed of the discharge rollers as a function of the corresponding gravimetric measured values of the weighing devices. 
     In a first embodiment of the weighing device, the discharge bunkers for the metal oxide and for the reducing agent are connected to a storage bunker for the metal oxide or reducing agent, although they can be moved in a vertical direction relative to the respective storage bunker and are suspended by weight measuring cells above the rotary hearth. In this embodiment the discharge of loose material from each discharge bunker can be measured separately, so that the build-up of each individual layer can be controlled gravimetrically. 
     In a second embodiment of the weighing device the discharge bunkers for the metal oxide together with a storage bunker for the metal oxide form a first separate unit, which is suspended by weight measuring cells above the rotary hearth, and the discharge bunkers for the reducing agents together with a storage bunker for the reducing agents form a second unit, which is suspended by weight measuring cells above the rotary hearth. In this embodiment the total loose material discharge from the storage bunker for the metal oxide and the storage bunker for the reducing agent can be measured separately by gravimetry, so that the total build-up of the metal oxide layers and the total build-up of the reducing agent layers can be adapted to each other gravimetrically. 
     To prevent mixing of the layers at the interfaces as far as possible and thus ensure a clean boundary layer build-up between the individual layers, a guide section is advantageously arranged under each of the discharge rollers in such a way that the loose material falling from the roller falls on to the guide section and is guided by the latter at a reduced speed on to the top layer in each case. 
     The discharge bunkers advantageously each have a discharge hopper, a slot-type discharge opening being formed between two free edges. The first edge rests against the discharge roller and the second edge is arranged a certain distance from the surface of the discharge roller, so that a discharge slot, which determines the layer thickness of the loose material on the discharge roller by scraping, is formed between the discharge roller and the second edge. In other words the layer thickness of the loose material on the discharge roller is determined by a scraping edge, so that the layer thickness of the loose material on the discharge roller is independent of the angle of slope of the loose material. In addition the scraping produces more uniform distribution of the loose material over the full width of the discharge roller. 
     The charging device advantageously has a second driven roller. This second roller, which is also designated a separating roller, defines with the discharge roller a second discharge slot, the height of which is slightly smaller than the height of the discharge slot between the discharge roller and the second edge. During operation the separating roller has a higher circumferential speed than the discharge roller, so that it accelerates the loose material relative to the discharge roller and ensures early falling of the loose material from the discharge roller. Consequently it helps to prevent the loose material falling in more or less large blocks in an uncontrolled manner from the discharge roller as a result of the sole effect of gravity, which would lead to a different apparent density. 
     It is also advantageous to provide the discharge bunker with a discharge hopper which is designed in such a way that the total weight of the loose material column in the discharge bunker rests on the walls of this discharge bunker. 
     To ensure uniform loading of the annular furnace bottom in the radial direction (i.e. according to the width), the discharge roller may be conical, for example, the diameter decreasing towards the centre of the rotary hearth. However, the same result can likewise be achieved, if the height of the discharge slot decreases towards the centre of the rotary hearth. 
     The discharge roller may have a continuous surface. However, it may also be designed as a type of bucket wheel. 
     To prevent escape of the process gases during reduction, the charging device sealed by water channels is advantageously integrated in a closed casing. 
     To supply the individual discharge bunkers with loose material, each discharge bunker is preferably connected via a conveyor to a storage bunker, the conveyor having several discharge points into the discharge bunker. Such discharge bunkers, with which the same loose material is charged, are generally connected to the same storage bunker. The different discharge points of the conveyor ensure that the discharge bunker is filled as uniformly as possible over its length. 
     The conveyor comprises, for example, a fluidising channel with one or more discharge openings. Particularly uniform filling of the discharge bunker can be achieved with a conveyor comprising a fluidising channel with a discharge opening which extends radially essentially over the full length of the discharge bunker and in the direction of rotation and has a clearance which increases in the conveying direction. 
    
    
     Various embodiments of the invention are described below with the aid of the enclosed figures. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a schematic general view of a rotary hearth furnace for the production of sponge iron; 
     FIG. 2 a schematic general view of a charging device for the rotary hearth furnace according to FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 a section through a first embodiment of a charging device; 
     FIG. 3B a section through a heat protection shield under the charging device; 
     FIG. 4 a section through a second embodiment of a charging device; 
     FIG. 5 a perspective view of a first embodiment of a discharge device on a charging device; 
     FIG. 6 a perspective view of a second embodiment of a discharge device on a charging device; 
     FIG. 7 a cross-section through layers, which can be achieved with a device according to the invention; 
     FIG. 8 a longitudinal section along the section plane  8 — 8  through the layers in FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 a section through a further embodiment of a charging device; 
     FIG. 10 a longitudinal section through a conveyor for conveyance of the fine-grained loose material into the discharge bunker; 
     FIG. 11 a section along the section line  11 — 11  through the device in FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 12 a section along the section line  12 — 12  through the device in FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 13 a section along the section line  12 — 12  through a variant of the device in FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 14 a perspective view; partially sectioned, of a further variant of the device in FIG. 10 with a connected discharge bunker; 
     FIG. 15 a section through the device in FIG. 14, the section plane corresponding to the section plane in FIGS.  12  and  13 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A rotary hearth furnace for the production of sponge iron is shown schematically in FIG.  1 . The furnace comprises an annular rotary hearth  2 , with a furnace bed  3  with a refractory lining. The rotary hearth is pivoted on a foundation and enclosed on its top side by a housing  4  (for better understanding, the housing is shown partially sectioned). The reduction of iron, oxide, to directly reduced iron takes place inside the housing  4  in a controlled atmosphere at high temperatures of about 1300-1400° C. For this purpose fine-grained iron oxide and fine-grained coal dust are charged in separate layers above each other by means of a charging device  8  on to the refractory lining of the rotary hearth  2  in a first area  6  of the rotary hearth furnace. In this arrangement it is possible to charge only one layer of iron oxide and one of coal, or several layers of the individual materials can be placed alternately above each other. 
     After the charging, the iron oxide and coal dust enter the reaction area  10  of the rotary hearth furnace as a result of rotation of the rotary hearth  2 . In this area  10  of the rotary hearth furnace burners  12 , which heat the interior of the furnace to the required reaction temperature of about 1300-1400° C., are mounted in the housing  4 . The hot waste gases of the burners  12  are conducted through the furnace by the counterflow method and subsequently removed through a chimney stack  14 . In the inert atmosphere prevailing in the furnace the coal dust releases carbon monoxide, which reduces the iron oxide to iron. 
     After reduction in the reduction area  10  of the furnace is concluded, the finished sponge iron is present in pure form in one or more layers  16  one above the other. This sponge iron subsequently enters the discharge area  18  of the rotary hearth furnace, in which the sponge iron is removed from the furnace by a discharge device  20 . 
     A charging device  8  for charging several layers of fine-grained loose material one above the other is shown schematically in FIG.  2 . It comprises several discharge bunkers  22 , which are arranged one behind the other in the direction of rotation  24  (indicated by the arrow  24 ) of the rotary hearth and extend transversally to the direction of rotation  24  essentially over the full width of the annular surface of the rotary hearth  2 . The discharge bunkers  22  are provided preferably in an odd number and charge coal dust and iron oxide alternately on to the rotary hearth  2 , the first discharge bunker charging a bottom coal dust layer and the last discharge bunker covering the sequence of loose material layers with a top layer of coal dust. 
     The individual discharge bunkers  22  are each connected via their own conveyor  26  to a storage bunker  28  for iron oxide or a storage bunker  30  for coal dust, which are mounted on a supporting frame  32  above the discharge bunker  22 . For space reasons the storage bunkers  28  and  30  can be arranged radially outside the actual furnace area, so that sufficient space remains in the centre of the rotary hearth furnace, e.g. for rotary connections for the possible supply of media to the rotary hearth  2 , etc. 
     FIG. 3 shows a section in the direction of rotation through a discharge bunker  22 . In its lower area it has a discharge hopper  34  with a discharge slot  36 . The discharge slot  34  is formed by two edges  38  and  40 , the first edge  38  resting on a pivoted discharge roller  42  and the second edge  40  being arranged a certain distance from the surface of the discharge roller  42 . The diameter of the roller  42  and the position of the two edges  38 ,  40  relative to the roller  42  are fixed in such a way that discharge of fine-grained loose material  43  from the discharge bunker  22  when the discharge roller  42  is stationary is prevented. If, by contrast, the discharge roller  42  is driven by a drive  44  in the direction of the arrow  46 , the fine-grained loose material  44 , which flows freely from the discharge slot  36  on to the surface of the roller  42 , is entrained by the discharge roller  42 , a layer of loose material  48  being formed on the surface of the roller  42 . The thickness of this layer of loose material  48  is advantageously determined by scraping at the edge  40 , so that the layer thickness on the discharge roller  42  is essentially independent of the flow behaviour of the loose material  43 . It is self-evident that the surface of the roller must have a structure which ensures adequate adhesion of the loose material  43  to the roller surface in order to ensure the further transport of the loose material to the falling zone. 
     A second roller  50  is mounted on the discharge side above the discharge roller  42  in front of the zone in which the gravitational force would cause slipping of the layer of loose material from the discharge roller  42 . It forms with the discharge roller  42  a slot  52 , the free cross-section of which is slightly smaller than the thickness of the layer of loose material  48 . The roller  50  is driven via a drive  54  with a higher circumferential speed than the discharge roller  42 , specifically in such a way that it accelerates the layer of loose material  48  relative to the surface of the discharge roller  42 . In other words the roller  50  tears the layer of loose material  48  away from the discharge roller  42  before the gravitational force would cause slipping of the layer of loose material off the discharge roller  42  and consequently causes continuous falling of the loose material from the discharge roller  42 . 
     The loose material falling from the discharge roller  42  falls on to a guide section  56 , which is arranged under the discharge roller  42  in such a way that it guides the loose material in the direction of rotation (see arrow  58 ) on to the rotary hearth  2 . On striking the rotary hearth the vertical velocity component of the loose material is consequently greatly reduced, so that interfering mixing of the layers above each other at the interfaces is effectively avoided. In FIG. 3 it is shown schematically how an additional loose material layer  60  is placed above two already existing layers  62  and  64 . 
     It should be mentioned that a heat protection shield  66  is arranged between the rotary hearth  2  and the charging device  8  because of the intense heat radiated by the furnace bed  2 . In this heat-insulated or mechanically cooled protective shield  66  radial slots  68  for loading the rotary hearth  2  are provided only under the discharge rollers  42 . Insulated covers  70  allow the slots  68  to be covered when not in use. It should also be noted that the inclination of the slots  68  prevents direct irradiation of the discharge devices  22 ,  42  arranged above the slots  68 . 
     FIG. 3B shows a section through a heat protection shield for a charging device for production of six layers arranged above each other on the rotary hearth  2 . For this purpose six radial slots  68   1  to  68   6  are provided in the protective shield for loading the rotary hearth  2 . A discharge roller (not shown in FIG. 3B) is arranged above each of these slots. It can be seen that the height of the gap between the bottom edge of the guide sections  56   1  to  56   6  and the surface  3  of the furnace bed increases in the direction of rotation. This height corresponds essentially to the total height of the layers already deposited on the rotary hearth. Consequently all guide sections  56   1  to  56   6  can always deposit the loose material on the rotary hearth in an optimum manner, i.e. without mixing with the previous layer. 
     According to the embodiment in FIG. 3 the discharge bunkers  22  are all suspended in such a way that their weight can be determined separately. For this purpose a refilling pipe  72 , which connects the discharge bunker  22  to the conveyor  26  or the storage bunker  28 ,  30 , must ensure a certain freedom of vertical movement. This can be achieved, for example, by the installation of an axial compensator in the refilling pipe  72 . Furthermore, the discharge bunker  22  must not be incorporated rigidly in the casing  4  of the rotary hearth furnace. This problem is solved by incorporating the discharge bunkers in the casing via channels  74  filled with a liquid. The discharge bunker  22  disconnected in this way from the rest of the device with regard to its weight is supported in a supporting structure by a continuous weighing device. In FIG. 3 this supporting structure is shown schematically as a fixed point  75  and the weighing device as a lever arm  76 . However, the weighing device may also comprise already known weight measuring cells, which are then used as supports for the discharge bunker  22 . 
     The measuring signal of the weighing device  76  is transmitted to a controller  78 , which determines a time-related weight reduction of the discharge bunker and thus the discharge rate of the loose material  43 . As the output signal of this controller  78  is used as the input signal for the speed control  79  of the drive  44 , the discharge rate of the roller  42  can thus be controlled continuously. Consequently, the build-up of the loose material layer  60  can be regulated gravimetrically. In other words the apparent density (kg loose material/m 2  hearth surface) in each layer can be adjusted continuously. 
     According to the embodiment in FIG. 4 the discharge bunkers  22 ′,  22 ″ form a common suspended unit with their associated storage bunkers  28 ,  30 , the total weight of which is determined via a continuous weighing device  76 ′,  76 ″. In this embodiment only the overall apparent density of a loose material on the rotary hearth  2  can be adjusted. 
     It should also be noted with regard to the discharge bunkers  22  that their discharge hopper  34  is preferably designed in such a way that the total weight of the column of loose material in the discharge bunker  22  rests on one or more walls of the discharge hopper  34 . Consequently, it is not essential for the discharge rollers  42  to be suspended from the discharge bunkers  22  in order to measure the discharge rate of the device relatively accurately via a change in weight of the bunker. In addition compacting of the loose material layer on the discharge roller  42  is avoided. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 show two advantageous embodiments of the discharge device, which permit a relatively uniform layer build-up over the full width of the rotary hearth to be ensured despite different circumferential speeds of the rotary hearth along the discharge roller  42 . 
     In FIG. 5 the discharge roller  42  is of cylindrical design, i.e. its circumferential speed is always the same. However, the inside height of the discharge opening  36 ′ increases in proportion to the distance from the centre of the rotary hearth. Consequently the thickness of the loose material layer on the discharge roller  42  likewise diminishes from the outside inwards in proportion to the distance from the centre of the rotary hearth and the apparent density is consequently essentially the same over the full width of the rotary hearth. 
     In FIG. 6 the discharge roller  42 ′ is of conical design, whereas the inside height of the discharge opening  36  of the discharge hopper  34 ′ is constant over the full width. However, the diameter of the conical discharge roller  42 ′ increases in proportion to the distance from the centre of the rotary hearth. The circumferential speed and thus the discharge rate of the discharge roller  42  diminish in proportion to the reduction of the circumferential speed of the rotary hearth  2  from the outside inwards and the apparent density is consequentially essentially the same over the full width of the rotary hearth. 
     A multi-layer charging profile, which can be achieved with a device according to the invention, is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The charging profile has two iron oxide layers  86   2  to  86   4  and three coal layers  86   1 ,  86   3 ,  86   5  deposited one above the other. Whereas the coal layers  86   1 ,  86   3 ,  86   5  were charged continuously over the width of the rotary hearth  2 , the iron oxide layers  46   2 ,  46   4  are subdivided into three separate rings next to each other (see FIG.  8 ). The latter are in turn subdivided by radial interruptions  87  into individual areas  88   1 ,  88   2 ,  88   3 ,  88   4 . The radial interruptions  87  are produced by briefly stopping the discharge rollers  42 . Alternatively they could also be achieved, however, by briefly closing the discharge opening  36  of the discharge hopper  34  by a closing element, e.g. a slide valve. The annular interruptions are achieved by teeth  90   1 ,  90   2  in the discharge openings  36  of the discharge bunkers  20 , which interrupt the loose material layer on the discharge roller  42 . The subdivision of the iron oxide layers  46   2 ,  46   4 , into non-contiguous areas  88   1 ,  88   2 ,  88   3 ,  88   4  causes the sponge iron to be present in the form of sheets next to each other after the reduction and thus facilitates further processing of the sponge iron. It should be noted that the annular interruptions can also be achieved by bars running in the direction of rotation, which are arranged in the slots  68  in the heat protection shield  66 . 
     A further advantageous embodiment of the discharge rollers is shown in FIG.  9 . These discharge rollers  142  comprise cells  144  radially open on the outside and subdivided by bars  143 , which are filled with fine-grained loose material from the discharge hopper  134 . The lower edge  146  of the discharge hopper  134  is connected to a casing  148 , which encloses the roller  142  as far as the discharge zone immediately above the slot  68  in the protective shield  66  resting on its full length. In other words the bars  143  extending radially outwards, which are located in the area of the casing  148 , rest directly on the latter. The direction of rotation of the discharge roller  142  is indicated by the arrow  150 . The reference number  152  shows a variable-speed drive, which allows the device in FIG. 9 to be operated as described above with reference to the device in FIG.  3 . 
     Several advantageous embodiments of a conveyor  26  for conveyance of the fine-grained loose material from the respective storage bunker  28 ,  30  to the discharge bunker  22  are shown in FIGS. 10 to  16 . Such a conveyor  26  may comprise, for example, a chain conveyor or screw conveyor and preferably has several discharge points into the discharge bunker  22 , so that the discharge bunker  22  is fed as uniformly as possible over its length transversally to the direction of rotation. 
     An advantageous embodiment of a conveyor  26  is shown as a longitudinal section in FIG.  10 . It consists of a fluidising channel  26 , which has several discharge points  162 , to the bottom of which the refilling pipes  72  of a discharge bunker  22  are connected. The number of discharge points  162  may vary according to the length of the discharge bunker  22 ; it will generally be between two and five. 
     The fluidising channel  26  has a closed duct  164  falling in the conveying direction, which is subdivided inside by a gas-permeable, e.g. ceramic, partition  166  into a lower gas duct  168  and an upper conveying duct  170 . A gas inlet  172  is connected to an inert gas source, which feeds inert gas under pressure as fluidising gas into the gas duct  168 . The fluidising gas then passes through the pores in the gas-permeable partition  66 , converts fine-grained loose material in the conveying duct  70  into a fluidised condition and is subsequently returned via a gas outlet  176 . 
     The conveying duct  170  has on its top side a loose material inlet duct  174 , which is connected to the respective storage bunker  28 ,  30 . The iron oxide or coal dust passes through this loose material inlet duct  174  to the conveying duct  170 , is converted in the latter into a fluidised condition and is conveyed by virtue of the inclination of the duct  164  (e.g. 5-10° ) to the lower discharge points  162 . The discharge points  162  are formed by discharge openings  163  in the partition  166 , to which outlet connection pieces  178 , which extend downwards through the gas duct  68  and emerge at the bottom of the duct  166 , are connected. These outlet connection pieces  178  are connected to the refilling pipes  72  of the discharge bunker  22  so that loose material transfer into the discharge bunker  22  is made possible. 
     The discharge openings  163  are preferably offset transversely to the conveying direction of the conveyor  26  in such a way (see FIG. 12) that only part of the conveyed loose material falls into the respective opening, while the remainder of the loose material is conveyed to the following discharge opening  163 . The last discharge opening  163  preferably extends over the full width of the partition, so that all the remaining loose material is removed from the fluidising channel  26 . Alternatively bars  180 , which run in the conveying direction of the fluidising channel  26  and conduct the loose material to the respective discharge openings  163 , can be arranged in the conveying duct  170  (see FIG.  13 ). 
     Particularly uniform filling of the discharge bunker  22  is made possible with the embodiment of the conveyor  26 ′ shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. It comprises a fluidising channel with a discharge opening  163 ′, which is designed in such a way that it forms discharge points over the full length of the discharge bunker  22 . The discharge opening  163 ′ extends radially essentially over the full length of the discharge bunker  22 , whereas it has a clearance increasing in the conveying direction transversely to the latter. The fluidising channel  26 ′ is flange-connected directly to the discharge bunker  22  open at the top. Hence the loose material flow, which is distributed under the loose material inlet duct  174 , over the full width of the duct  170 , is continuously cut at the widening discharge opening  163  during further transport and the discharge bunker  22  is consequently fed uniformly over its full length.