Apparatus for heat treatment of oblong articles

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 opening said hot-air channel completely;

• characterised in that the sluicing means (16) comprises a pair of bars (18, 19) substantially vertically displaceable relative to one another, said bars being supported by the bottom member (2) and adapted to sealingly engage adjacent portions of the cover member (3) independent of one another when said cover member is in the closed state, and that the bars (18, 19) are connected to adjacent fixed portions of the bottom member (2) in such a manner that the flow of air below the bars (18, 19) is prevented in any position of said bars.