Melting material supply apparatus

A melting material supply apparatus combined with a metal melting furnace for melting a melting material supplied to a crucible and configured to supply the melting material to the crucible, wherein

• a melting material supply unit configured to supply a melting material to the crucible;
• a means configured to move the melting material supply unit between a position for supplying the melting material to the crucible and a position retracted therefrom and apart from the crucible which has been supplied with the melting material at the position for supplying;
• a furnace lid provided integrally with the melting material supply unit and configured to cover an opening provided at a top of the crucible;
• a furnace lid-supporting means configured to support the furnace lid in a horizontal state;
• and
• a furnace lid-moving means configured to move the furnace lid supported by the furnace lid-supporting means between a first position at which the furnace lid is placed at the opening to cover the opening and a second position at which the opening is opened to allow a supply of the melting material.