An Apparatus and a Method for Transferring Material

An apparatus for transferring material, comprising:

• a filament having a first end for carrying the material and a second end connected to and accommodated in a storage unit;
• a head portion adapted to movably receive at least part of the filament near said first end;
• wherein said storage unit is arranged in a fixed position separated from the head portion;
• and
• wherein the filament is movable such that the first end protrudes by a pre-determined length from the head portion to allow transfer of the material to and from the first end.

A method of transferring material from a source location to a target location using an apparatus comprising:

• a filament having a first end for carrying the material;
• a head portion adapted to movably receive at least part of the filament;
• and a driving mechanism for advancing and/or retracting the filament towards and/or away from the head portion;
• wherein the driving mechanism is arranged on a fixed support separated from the movable head portion;
• and wherein the filament is movable such that the first end protrudes by a pre-determined length from the head portion to allow transfer of the material to and from the first end, the method comprising the steps of:
• arranging a first end of a filament projecting from a head portion of the apparatus to contact the source location to load the material at said first end;
• moving the first end of the filament away from the source location to contact the target location to unload at least part of the material from the first end at said target location;
• cutting a preset length of the filament from the first end to generate a fresh end of the filament which is free of the material;
• wherein the step of moving does not include moving:
• (i) a driving mechanism for advancing and/or retracting the filament towards and/or away from the head portion;
• and/or (ii) a storage unit storing a second end of the filament.