Device for filling a drum with radioactive wastes

Object: To provide a buffle at a lower portion within a hopper to form an annular outlet opening, thereby preventing pellets charged from being one-sided toward the center of a drum can and reducing in size gaps due to the angle of repose to increase a filling quantity. Structure: Pellets coveyed by a conveyor drop into a hopper. The hopper is secured to a frame, and has a conical buffle mounted in the central portion at the lower end thereof. The buffle is retained on a center line of the drum by means of a plurality of arms, and the outlet opening of the hopper assumes an annular configuration. The dropped pellets once impinge upon the buffle and pass through the outlet opening and then accumulated at a position of a concentric cylinder of the drum can. The use of this device results in smaller gaps and in a greater filling quantity. (Yoshihara, H.)