Apparatus for braking a processing element

A system comprising

• a storage container for processing elements,
• a feed hose for the processing elements from the storage container to a processing device,
• and a braking unit that, in an end region of the feed hose, is arranged in front of the processing device in the conveying direction, said braking unit comprising a guide channel for the processing element, wherein the guide channel has a guide channel inlet and a guide channel outlet, and
• wherein the guide channel has at least one curved section to apply a centrifugal force to the processing element to be braked that moves along the guide channel, said centrifugal force pressing the processing element against an outer curvature region of an inner peripheral surface of the curved section,
• and wherein the at least one curved section is configured to brake the processing element by friction between the inner peripheral surface of the guide channel and the processing element such that the processing element loses at least 50% of its kinetic energy between the guide channel inlet and the guide channel outlet.

A method for braking a processing element,

• comprising the steps:
• inserting the processing element into a curved section of a guide channel at an input speed,
• generating a centrifugal force on the processing element,
• generating a centrifugal force-induced friction between the processing element and an inner peripheral surface of the curved section of the guide channel, and
• braking the processing element by means of the centrifugal force-induced friction to an output speed that is at most 75% of the input speed.