Patent ID: 7018192

Claim:
An apparatus for heat treatment of oblong articles, said apparatus comprising a fixed bottom member ( 2 ) and a cover member ( 3 ) hingedly secured thereto along one long side, where the cover member ( 3 ) in a closed state together with the bottom member ( 2 ) define a hot-air channel ( 12 ) during operation, said hot-air channel ( 12 ) extending lengthwise through the apparatus between said bottom member ( 2 ) and said cover member ( 3 ) from an inlet ( 14 ) to an outlet ( 15 ) at their respective ends in said apparatus, whereby means ( 16 ) are provided for sealingly closing a slit ( 17 ) between abutting portions of said bottom member ( 2 ) and said cover ( 3 ) member, characterised in that the means ( 16 ) for closing the slit ( 17 ) comprise a sluicing means ( 16 ) on the side of said apparatus being positioned opposite the hinged side of the cover member ( 3 ), said sluicing means ( 16 ) performing the function of allowing a lateral introduction of separate oblong articles into the hot-air channel ( 12 ) through a feeding track without pivoting said cover member ( 3 ) relative to said bottom member ( 2 ).