To provide a method for preheating a large quantity of raw material efficiently up to a temperature as high as possible through a simple facility, delivering the heated raw material stably without causing suspension, and the like, and feeding the raw material substantially continuously to a melting/ scouring furnace.

In a vertical raw material preheater located above a melting/ scouring furnace 1 in order to preheat a raw material with exhaust gas from the furnace, a gas seal valve 8 and a continuous raw material delivery unit 6 having seal function are disposed, respectively, at the upper and lower parts of a raw material hopper 7. A vertical preheat furnace 3 is disposed at the lower part of the continuous raw material delivery unit 6 continuously thereto and opening/closing raw material supporting arms 4, 5 are disposed at the lower part thereof such that only the exhaust gas can be passed constantly. A raw material carrier 2 for feeding the raw material into the furnace is disposed under the raw material supporting arms 4, 5.