METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SEPARATING AND TRANSFERRING PELLETS

The invention relates to a method and a device for separating out and transferring pellets (1), in particular cryopellets, into a target container (2). The pellets (1) are guided from a storage chamber (4) into a downwardly leading and vertically oriented metering duct (5) such that a column of pellets (1) located one on top of another forms in the metering duct (5). The bottommost pellet (1') of this column of pellets (1) is located at a junction (7) at which an outlet duct (6) is connected to the metering duct (5) and leads transversely away from the metering duct (5). A first pressure-difference duct (8), which leads into the metering duct (5) above the junction (7) by means of a first duct mouth (9), is subjected to negative pressure, wherein a pellet (1") is drawn in at the first duct mouth (9) and is fixed in place there thereby, and wherein this drawn-in pellet (1") acts as a block for the pellets (1) located thereabove. A second pressure-difference duct (10), which leads into the junction (7) by means of a second duct mouth (11), is subjected to positive pressure, wherein the pellet (1') located at the junction (7) is blown out through the outlet duct (6) and fed to the target container (2). After the bottommost pellet (1') has been blown out, the holding negative pressure in the first pressure-difference duct (8) is shut down such that the pellet (1") held at the first duct mouth (9) moves on to the junction (7) and a new bottommost pellet (1') is located at the junction (7).