Heat treatment system

Abstract

To disclose a technique which can increase the throughput of saggers in a heat treatment system.SOLUTION: A heat treatment system comprises a heat treatment furnace, a return line and a treatment part. The return line comprises: a first treatment line where saggers are sent; a second treatment line arranged in parallel to the first treatment line and where saggers are sent; an inlet line connected to the first treatment line and the second treatment line and arranged upstream of the return line than the first treatment line and the second treatment line; and an outlet line connected to the first treatment line and the second treatment line and arranged downstream of the return line than the first treatment line and the second treatment line. The treatment part comprises; a first treatment device treating the saggers on the first treatment line; and a second treatment device treating the saggers on the second treatment line.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The technology disclosed herein relates to a thermal processing system. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a heat treatment system. The heat treatment system includes a heat treatment furnace, a return line, and a processing device. The heat treatment furnace has an internal space in which a plurality of saggers are transported from an inlet to an outlet. The return line is disposed outside the heat treatment furnace and transports the plurality of saggers from the outlet to the inlet. The processing device is disposed on the return line and processes the saggers on the return line. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7041300 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above heat treatment system, the return line is a single line, so that the processing of the saggers by the processing device on the return line becomes a bottleneck, making it difficult to increase the processing amount of the saggers in the heat treatment system.

[0005] This specification discloses techniques that can increase sagger throughput in thermal processing systems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In a first aspect of the technology disclosed in the present specification, a heat treatment system includes a heat treatment furnace having an inlet and an outlet and having an internal space through which a plurality of saggers are transported from the inlet to the outlet, a return line arranged outside the heat treatment furnace and transporting the plurality of saggers from the outlet to the inlet, and a processing unit arranged on the return line and processing the saggers on the return line. The return line includes a first processing line through which the saggers are transported, a second processing line arranged in parallel with the first processing line and through which the saggers are transported, an inlet line connected to the first processing line and the second processing line and arranged upstream of the return line relative to the first processing line and the second processing line, and an outlet line connected to the first processing line and the second processing line and arranged downstream of the return line relative to the first processing line and the second processing line. The processing section includes a first processing device for processing the saggers on the first processing line, and a second processing device for processing the saggers on the second processing line.

[0007] According to the above configuration, the saggers moving on the return line are treated by the first treatment device on the first treatment line, or treated by the second treatment device on the second treatment line. Therefore, even when the amount of saggers to be treated in the heat treatment furnace is increased, the saggers can be sent from the discharge port to the discharge port of the heat treatment furnace via the return line. This allows the amount of saggers to be treated in the heat treatment system to be increased. In addition, the saggers are treated on the first treatment line and the second treatment line. In contrast, in a configuration in which the saggers are treated off the first treatment line (second treatment line), it is necessary to separate the saggers from the first treatment line (second treatment line) and return them to the first treatment line (second treatment line) after the saggers are treated. This requires time to transport the saggers on the return line. According to the above configuration, the time required to transport the saggers on the return line can be shortened compared to a configuration in which the saggers are treated off the first treatment line (second treatment line). [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a heat treatment system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 4 is a schematic diagram of a sagger before being gripped by a gripping portion in a collecting portion of the first embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 3] 4 is a schematic diagram of a sagger being held by a holding part in the collection part of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the collection section of the first embodiment with the sagger disposed within the enclosure and the inlet and outlet open; [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the collection section of the first embodiment when the sagger is placed within the enclosure and the inlet and outlet are closed. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic diagram of the collection section of the first embodiment when the sagger is disposed directly above the downstream lifting section. FIG. [Figure 7] 10 is a schematic diagram of the collection section of the first embodiment when a downstream lifting section is lowered. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a cleaning unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a filling section of the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a surface leveling unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] 2 is a schematic diagram of a non-branch line, a branch line, and a processing section in the heat treatment system of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 12] 2 is a schematic diagram of a non-branch line, a branch line, and a processing section in the heat treatment system of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a heat treatment system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a heat treatment system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] List the main features of the embodiments described below. Note that the technical elements described below are each independent technical elements, which exhibit technical utility alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing.

[0010] In a second aspect of the technology disclosed in this specification, in the above first aspect, the first processing line is arranged substantially parallel to the second processing line. According to the above configuration, compared with the configuration in which the first processing line is arranged substantially orthogonal to the second processing line, it is possible to suppress the enlargement of the return line.

[0011] In a third aspect of the technology disclosed in this specification, in the above second aspect, the first processing line is arranged substantially orthogonal to each of the inlet line and the outlet line. The second processing line is arranged substantially orthogonal to each of the inlet line and the outlet line. According to the above configuration, the inlet line is substantially parallel to the outlet line. For this reason, the direction of the sagger moving on the inlet line can be made the same as the direction of the sagger moving on the outlet line. That is, the sagger on the inlet line and the sagger on the outlet line can be moved in the same direction (for example, the direction from the discharge port to the inlet port).

[0012] In a fourth aspect of the technology disclosed in this specification, in the above second or third aspect, the length of the first processing line is substantially the same as the length of the second processing line. According to the above configuration, the distance that the sagger moves on the first processing line is substantially the same as the moving distance of the sagger moving on the second processing line. Thereby, the time required for the sagger to move on the first processing line and the time required for the sagger to move on the second processing line can be made substantially the same.

[0013] In a fifth aspect of the technology disclosed in the present specification, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, each of the first and second processing devices is selected from a group including a recovery device that inverts the sagger to recover the object to be treated in the sagger, a cleaning device that cleans the sagger, a filling device that fills the object to be treated in the sagger, and a surface leveling device that level the surface of the object to be treated in the sagger. Usually, the time required to recover the object to be treated, the time required to clean the sagger, the time required to fill the object to be treated in the sagger, and the time required to level the surface of the object to be treated in the sagger are longer than the time required to simply transport the sagger, and by shortening these times, the amount of saggers to be processed in the heat treatment system can be increased. According to the above configuration, each of the first and second processing devices is selected from a recovery device, a cleaning device, a filling device, and a surface leveling device, so that the amount of saggers to be processed in the heat treatment system can be further increased.

[0014] (First embodiment) As shown in FIG. 1, the heat treatment system 2 includes a heat treatment furnace 10 and a return line 12.

[0015] The heat treatment furnace 10 bakes, that is, heat treats, the workpiece 6 (see FIG. 5) packed in the sagger 4. The workpiece 6 is, for example, a raw material for a ceramic capacitor, and a positive electrode material and a negative electrode material for a lithium ion battery.

[0016] The heat treatment furnace 10 is a thermally insulated structure having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The heat treatment furnace 10 has an internal space 14 inside. The heat treatment furnace 10 also has an inlet 16 disposed at one end of the heat treatment furnace 10 and an outlet 18 disposed at the other end of the heat treatment furnace 10. The internal space 14 communicates with the outside of the heat treatment furnace 10 via the inlet 16 and the outlet 18. The multiple saggers 4 are stacked in the height direction (vertical direction) and arranged in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction D1 (for example, two tiers are stacked in the height direction and six saggers are arranged in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction D1), and are transported in the conveying direction D1 through the internal space 14 by rollers (not shown). As a result, the multiple saggers 4 are transported from the inlet 16 to the outlet 18.

[0017] The return line 12 is disposed outside the heat treatment furnace 10. The return line 12 transports the plurality of sacks 4 in a transport direction D1 by rollers (not shown). As a result, the plurality of sacks 4 are sent from the discharge outlet 18 to the discharge inlet 16.

[0018] The return line 12 includes a plurality of (two in this embodiment) non-branched lines 12a and one or more (one in this embodiment) branched lines 12b. The non-branched line 12a is a single line that is not branched. The branched lines 12b are a plurality of lines that branch off from the non-branched line 12a. The non-branched line 12a and the branched lines 12b are arranged alternately. The inlet 16 and the outlet 18 of the heat treatment furnace 10 are each connected to the non-branched line 12a. The non-branched line 12a and the branched line 12b will be described in detail later.

[0019] The heat treatment system 2 includes a de-stage device 22, a cooling device 24, a crushing device 26, a first lifting lifter 28, a collection section 30, a second lifting lifter 32, a cleaning section 34, a filling section 36, a surface leveling section 38, and a stacking device 40. The de-stage device 22, the cooling device 24, the crushing device 26, the first lifting lifter 28, the collection section 30, the second lifting lifter 32, the cleaning section 34, the filling section 36, the surface leveling section 38, and the stacking device 40 are disposed on the return line 12. The de-stage device 22, the cooling device 24, the disintegrator 26, the first lifter 28, the collecting section 30, the second lifter 32, the cleaning section 34, the filling section 36, the surface leveling section 38, and the stacking device 40 are arranged in order from the upstream to the downstream of the return line 12. The de-stage device 22, the cooling device 24, the disintegrator 26, and the first lifter 28 are arranged in the non-branched line 12a located at the most upstream side of the two non-branched lines 12a. The second lifter 32, the cleaning section 34, the filling section 36, the surface leveling section 38, and the stacking device 40 are arranged in the non-branched line 12a located at the most downstream side of the two non-branched lines 12a. The collecting section 30 is arranged in the branched line 12b. Hereinafter, the collecting section 30 may be referred to as a processing section 42.

[0020] After the sacks 4 are discharged from the discharge opening 18, the de-stack device 22 de-stacks the vertically stacked sacks 4 so that the sacks 4 are not stacked. As a result, the sacks 4 are arranged in a line in the conveying direction D1. The vertical direction is approximately perpendicular to the conveying direction D1. As is clear from FIG. 1, the sacks 4 that are conveyed in a line in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction D1 inside the heat treatment furnace 10 are conveyed to the de-stack device 22 in a state where they are not lined up in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction D1 (i.e., in a line in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction D1).

[0021] The cooling device 24 is configured so that the saggers 4 can pass through the inside thereof. The cooling device 24 cools the saggers 4 and the objects to be treated 6 (see FIG. 10) filled in the saggers 4 by air or water flowing through a cooling pipe (not shown). As shown in FIG. 1, in the cooling device 24, a plurality of saggers 4 are transported while lined up in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the transport direction D1 (for example, lined up in six horizontal rows). By transporting the saggers 4 while lined up in the horizontal direction, the transport speed of the saggers 4 in the cooling device 24 can be reduced, and the objects to be treated 6 in the saggers 4 can be sufficiently cooled.

[0022] The crusher 26 crushes the objects 6 to be treated (see FIG. 10) filled in the saggers 4, for example, by piercing pins into the objects 6 to be treated. As shown in FIG. 1, the saggers 4 transported from the cooling device 24 to the crusher 26 are transported in a row in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the transport direction D1, and the crusher 26 processes the saggers 4 one by one.

[0023] The first lifting lifter 28 lifts the sacks 4. Since the sacks 4 are processed one by one by the crushing device 26 and then transported to the first lifting lifter 28, the first lifting lifter 28 lifts the sacks 4 one by one.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 2, the recovery section 30 recovers the objects 6 in the saggers 4 into a recovery container 43. The recovery section 30 includes a plurality of recovery devices 44 (two in this embodiment). The number of the recovery devices 44 is the same as the number of the lines included in the branch line 12b (see Fig. 1). Each of the recovery devices 44 processes the saggers 4 one by one (i.e., recovers the objects 6).

[0025] The recovery device 44 includes a rail portion 45, a base portion 46, a gripping portion 47, a surrounding wall portion 48, an entrance cover portion 49, an exit cover portion 50, an upstream lifting portion 51, and a downstream lifting portion 52. The rail portion 45 extends in the conveying direction D1.

[0026] The base portion 46 is movably attached to the rail portion 45. The base portion 46 is guided by the rail portion 45 and moves on the rail portion 45 in the conveying direction D1.

[0027] The gripping portion 47 is attached to the base portion 46. The gripping portion 47 grips by sandwiching the crucible 4. The gripping portion 47 is rotatable about the rotation axis AX1. The rotation axis AX1 extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the conveying direction D1 (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 2). The gripping portion 47 turns the crucible 4 upside down by rotating while gripping the crucible 4.

[0028] The surrounding wall portion 48 is disposed above the recovery container 43. The recovery container 43 and the surrounding wall portion 48 are disposed between the two non-branching lines 12a. The surrounding wall portion 48 has a substantially box shape with an open lower side. The lower end of the surrounding wall portion 48 faces the upper end opening of the recovery container 43. The surrounding wall portion 48 has an inlet 48a and an outlet 48b. The inlet 48a and the outlet 48b are arranged side by side in the conveying direction D1. With respect to the conveying direction D1, the inlet 48a faces the outlet 48b. The crucible 4 and the gripping portion 47 can pass through the inlet 48a and the outlet 48b.

[0029] The inlet cover portion 49 is rotatably attached to the surrounding wall portion 48. The inlet cover portion 49 opens and closes the inlet 48a by rotating.

[0030] The outlet cover portion 50 is rotatably attached to the surrounding wall portion 48. The outlet cover portion 50 opens and closes the outlet 48b by rotating.

[0031] The upstream elevating portion 51 is disposed on the upstream non-branching line 12a of the two non-branching lines 12a. The upstream elevating portion 51 is elevable. The crucible 4 can be placed on the upstream elevating portion 51.

[0032] The downstream elevating portion 52 is disposed on the downstream non-branching line 12a of the two non-branching lines 12a. The downstream elevating portion 52 is elevable. The crucible 4 can be placed on the downstream elevating portion 52.

[0033] When the material 6 to be treated is collected from the sack 4, first, as shown in Fig. 3, the sack 4 is placed on the upstream non-branched line 12a of the two non-branched lines 12a, and the upstream lifting unit 51 is raised so that its upper end is positioned above the non-branched line 12a. The sack 4 is lifted by being placed on the upstream lifting unit 51. Next, the gripping unit 47 grips the lifted sack 4.

[0034] 4, the base portion 46 moves together with the gripping portion 47 in the conveying direction D1 and stops directly above the surrounding wall portion 48. This causes the sack 4 to move in the conveying direction D1. Because the inlet cover portion 49 opens the inlet 48a, the sack 4 passes through the inlet 48a and enters the surrounding wall portion 48. At the same time as the base portion 46 moves, the upstream lifting portion 51 descends so that its upper end is positioned below the non-branch line 12a.

[0035] Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the inlet cover part 49 rotates to close the inlet 48a. Also, the outlet cover part 50 rotates to close the outlet 48b. The inlet cover part 49 and the outlet cover part 50 rotate simultaneously. Next, the grip part 47 rotates 180 degrees around the rotation axis AX1. This causes the sack 4 to be turned upside down, with the opening 4a of the sack 4 facing downward. As a result, the material 6 to be treated in the sack 4 is discharged from the sack 4 and collected in the collection container 43. Also, since the inlet 48a and the outlet 48b are closed, the material 6 to be treated is prevented from scattering from the inlet 48a and the outlet 48b to the outside of the surrounding wall part 48.

[0036] Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the gripper 47 rotates 180 degrees around the rotation axis AX1. As a result, the sack 4 is turned upside down, and the opening 4a of the sack 4 faces upward. Next, the inlet cover part 49 rotates to open the inlet 48a. Also, the outlet cover part 50 rotates to open the outlet 48b. The inlet cover part 49 and the outlet cover part 50 rotate simultaneously. Next, the base part 46 moves in the conveying direction D1 together with the gripper 47 and stops directly above the downstream non-branched line 12a of the two non-branched lines 12a. As a result, the sack 4 passes through the outlet 48b, exits the surrounding wall part 48, and moves to directly above the non-branched line 12a. At this time, the upper end of the downstream lifting part 52 is located above the non-branched line 12a. Simultaneously with the movement of the base portion 46, the upstream lifting portion 51 is lifted so that the upper end thereof is positioned above the non-branch line 12a.

[0037] Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the gripper 47 releases the grip of the sack 4. This places the sack 4 on the downstream lifter 52. Next, the downstream lifter 52 descends so that its upper end is positioned below the non-branched line 12a. This places the sack 4 on the non-branched line 12a. Finally, the base 46 moves together with the gripper 47 in the opposite direction to the conveying direction D1 and stops directly above the upstream non-branched line 12a of the two non-branched lines 12a. Thereafter, the recovery device 44 repeatedly executes the above-mentioned operations. This allows the sacks 4 sent from the first lifter 28 to be processed in order.

[0038] 1, the second lifter 32 lowers the sacks 4. The sacks 4 that have been processed in the multiple recovery devices 44 are sent to the second lifter 32 one by one in sequence.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 8, the cleaning unit 34 cleans the sacks 4. The cleaning unit 34 includes a cleaning device 54. As shown in Fig. 1, the second lifter 32 lowers the sacks 4 one by one, so that the cleaning device 54 cleans the sacks 4 one by one.

[0040] 8, the cleaning device 54 includes an inverting unit 56 and a discharge unit 58. The inverting unit 56 grips the sack 4 by clamping the front and rear surfaces of the sack 4. The inverting unit 56 turns the sack 4 upside down by rotating around a rotation axis AX2.

[0041] The discharge unit 58 is disposed at a position vertically facing the sagger 4 inverted by the inverting unit 56. The discharge unit 58 discharges gas upward toward the opening 4a of the sagger 4. This causes the object to be treated 6 (see FIG. 10) remaining inside the sagger 4 to be removed from the sagger 4.

[0042] 9, the filling section 36 fills the saggers 4 with the objects to be treated 6 (i.e., the objects to be treated 6 before heat treatment). The filling section 36 includes a filling device 62. As the saggers 4 are treated one by one by the cleaning device 54, the filling device 62 also fills the saggers 4 with the objects to be treated 6 one by one.

[0043] The filling device 62 includes a storage section 64 and a supply section 66. The storage section 64 stores the objects 6 to be treated before being heat-treated, which are to be filled into the sagger 4.

[0044] The supply unit 66 is connected to the discharge port 64a of the storage unit 64. The supply unit 66 controls the opening and closing of the discharge port 64a, and supplies a predetermined amount of the material to be treated in the storage unit 64 from the opening 4a of the sagger 4 into the inside of the sagger 4. As a result, the material to be treated 6 is filled into the sagger 4.

[0045] 10, the surface leveling section 38 levels the surfaces of the objects 6 to be treated that are packed in the saggers 4. The surface leveling section 38 is equipped with a surface leveling device 70. Since the saggers 4 are treated one by one by the filling device 62, the surface leveling device 70 also treats the objects in the saggers 4 one by one.

[0046] The surface leveling device 70 includes a shaft portion 72 and a blade portion 74. The shaft portion 72 rotates about a rotation axis AX3.

[0047] The blade portion 74 is connected to the tip of the shaft portion 72. The blade portion 74 rotates around the rotation axis AX3 together with the shaft portion 72. As a result, the surface of the material to be treated 6 filled in the sagger 4 is leveled by the blade portion 74.

[0048] As shown in Fig. 1, the stacking device 40 stacks a plurality of sacks 4 vertically. The stacked plurality of sacks 4 are then transported to the entrance 16. As shown in Fig. 1, the sacks 4 processed by the surface smoothing device 70 are transported to the stacking device 40 in a line in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the transport direction D1, and are stacked in the height direction (vertical direction) by the stacking device 40.

[0049] The non-branched line 12a and the branched line 12b will be described. As shown in FIG. 11, the non-branched line 12a includes an inlet line 80 and an outlet line 82. The inlet line 80 is disposed upstream of the return line 12 from the branched line 12b. The width of the inlet line 80 in the width direction is, for example, larger than the width of the sagger 4 and is not more than twice the width of the sagger 4. For this reason, it is not possible to move a plurality of saggers 4 along the inlet line 80 while lining them up in the width direction. The width direction is perpendicular to the conveying direction D1 and the up-down direction.

[0050] The outlet line 82 is disposed downstream of the return line 12 from the branch line 12b. The outlet line 82 is disposed downstream of the return line 12 from the inlet line 80. The outlet line 82 is disposed approximately parallel to the inlet line 80. The conveying direction D1 of the sagger 4 moving on the outlet line 82 is approximately parallel to the conveying direction D1 of the sagger 4 moving on the inlet line 80. The outlet line 82 is offset from the inlet line 80. The width of the outlet line 82 in the width direction is approximately the same as the width of the inlet line 80 in the width direction.

[0051] The branch line 12b includes a first treatment line 86 and a second treatment line 88. The first treatment line 86 and the second treatment line 88 are disposed in parallel.

[0052] The first treatment line 86 is connected to a first upstream connection point 86a of the inlet line 80. The inlet line 80 is disposed upstream of the first treatment line 86. The first treatment line 86 is connected to a first downstream connection point 86b of the outlet line 82. The outlet line 82 is disposed downstream of the first treatment line 86. A collection container 43 is disposed in the first treatment line 86. The first treatment line 86 is disposed approximately perpendicular to each of the inlet line 80 and the outlet line 82. The conveying direction D1 of the sagger 4 moving on the first treatment line 86 is approximately perpendicular to the conveying direction D1 of the sagger 4 moving on the inlet line 80 and the conveying direction D1 of the sagger 4 moving on the outlet line 82. The width of the first treatment line 86 in the width direction is, for example, larger than the width of the sagger 4 and is not more than twice the width of the sagger 4. For this reason, it is not possible to move a plurality of saggers 4 lined up in the width direction on the first treatment line 86. The width of the first treatment line 86 in the width direction is, for example, approximately the same as the width of the inlet line 80 in the width direction.

[0053] The second treatment line 88 is connected to a second upstream connection point 88a of the inlet line 80. The second upstream connection point 88a is disposed downstream of the inlet line 80 from the first upstream connection point 86a. The second treatment line 88 is connected to a second downstream connection point 88b of the outlet line 82. The second downstream connection point 88b is disposed downstream of the outlet line 82 from the first downstream connection point 86b. A collection container 43 is disposed in the second treatment line 88. The second treatment line 88 is substantially perpendicular to each of the inlet line 80 and the outlet line 82. The second treatment line 88 is disposed substantially parallel to the first treatment line 86. This prevents the return line 12 from becoming large in size, compared to a configuration in which the second treatment line 88 is substantially perpendicular to the first treatment line 86. The conveying direction D1 of the sagger 4 moving through the second treatment line 88 is the same as the conveying direction D1 of the sagger 4 moving through the first treatment line 86. The second processing line 88 is offset with respect to the first processing line 86. The width of the second processing line 88 in the width direction is approximately the same as the width of the first processing line 86 in the width direction. The length of the second processing line 88 in the conveying direction D1 is the same as the length of the first processing line 86 in the conveying direction D1. Therefore, the distance that the sagger 4 moves along the second processing line 88 is approximately the same as the distance that the sagger 4 moves along the first processing line 86. As a result, the time required for the sagger 4 to move along the second processing line 88 is approximately the same as the time required for the sagger 4 to move along the first processing line 86. Note that the average moving speed of the sagger 4 moving along the second processing line 88 is approximately the same as the average moving speed of the sagger 4 moving along the first processing line 86.

[0054] The processing section 42 is disposed in the branch line 12b. In this embodiment, the processing section 42 corresponds to the recovery section 30. The processing section 42 includes a plurality of (two in this embodiment) processing devices 92. In this embodiment, the processing devices 92 correspond to the recovery device 44. Hereinafter, one of the two processing devices 92 will be referred to as a first processing device 92a, and the other of the two processing devices 92 will be referred to as a second processing device 92b.

[0055] The first processing device 92a is disposed on the first processing line 86. The first processing device 92a processes the saggers 4 on the first processing line 86. As a result, the objects to be processed 6 are collected from the saggers 4.

[0056] The second treatment device 92b is disposed on the second treatment line 88. The second treatment device 92b treats the saggers 4 on the second treatment line 88.

[0057] The flow of moving a plurality of sacks 4 from the inlet line 80 to the outlet line 82 will be described. First, a plurality of (two in this embodiment) sacks 4 move on the inlet line 80 in the conveying direction D1. Hereinafter, one of the two sacks 4A will be referred to as sack 4A, and the other of the two sacks 4A will be referred to as sack 4B. Sack 4A passes through the first upstream connection point 86a and moves to the second upstream connection point 88a. Sack 4B moves to the first upstream connection point 86a.

[0058] Next, the sagger 4B moves in the conveying direction D1 on the first treatment line 86 to directly above the recovery container 43 by the movement of the gripping part 47 (see FIG. 2) of the recovery device 44, which is the first treatment device 92a. Next, the sagger 4B is turned upside down, so that the material 6 in the sagger 4B is recovered in the recovery container 43. Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the sagger 4B moves in the conveying direction D1 on the first treatment line 86 to the first downstream connection point 86b by the movement of the gripping part 47 of the recovery device 44, which is the first treatment device 92a. Also, before the sagger 4B moves to the first downstream connection point 86b, the sagger 4 on the inlet line 80 moves to the first upstream connection point 86a.

[0059] As shown in Fig. 11, the sagger 4A moves in the conveying direction D1 on the second treatment line 88 to directly above the recovery container 43 by the movement of the gripping part 47 (see Fig. 2) of the recovery device 44, which is the second treatment device 92b. Next, the sagger 4A is turned upside down, so that the material 6 to be treated in the sagger 4A is recovered in the recovery container 43. Next, the sagger 4A moves in the conveying direction D1 on the second treatment line 88 to the second downstream connection point 88b by the movement of the gripping part 47 of the recovery device 44, which is the second treatment device 92b. Also, before the sagger 4A moves to the second downstream connection point 88b, the sagger 4 on the inlet line 80 moves to the second upstream connection point 88a.

[0060] In this embodiment, sagger 4B moves through the first processing line 86, and at the same time, sagger 4A also moves through the second processing line 88. In addition, at the same time that sagger 4B is turned upside down, sagger 4A is also turned upside down. That is, the two saggers 4 are simultaneously processed by each processing device 92.

[0061] Finally, the sagger 4B transferred from the first treatment line 86 and the sagger 4A transferred from the second treatment line 88 move along the outlet line 82 in the conveying direction D1.

[0062] (effect) In the above embodiment, a processing device 92 is disposed in each of the first processing line 86 and the second processing line 88. Therefore, even if the processing by the processing device 92 takes a long time, the processing is performed by the multiple processing devices 92 disposed in the first processing line 86 and the second processing line 88. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the processing device 92 from becoming a bottleneck, and it is possible to process a large number of saggers 4. As a result, even when the processing amount of the saggers 4 to be processed in the heat treatment furnace 10 is increased, the saggers 4 can be sent from the discharge port 18 to the inlet 16 of the heat treatment furnace 10 via the return line 12. This allows the processing amount of the saggers 4 in the heat treatment system 2 to be increased.

[0063] (Second Example) A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 13. In the second embodiment, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 13, the return line 12 further includes a parallel line 112. The parallel line 112 is connected to the downstream non-branch line 12a of the two non-branch lines 12a. The parallel line 112 is connected in parallel to the downstream non-branch line 12a. The saggers 4 lowered by the second lifter 32 are sent alternately to the non-branch line 12a and the parallel line 112.

[0064] The cleaning section 34 includes a plurality of (two in this embodiment) cleaning devices 54. One cleaning device 54 is disposed in the non-branched line 12a, and the other cleaning device 54 is disposed in the parallel line 112.

[0065] The filling section 36 includes a plurality of (two in this embodiment) filling devices 62. One of the filling devices 62 is disposed in the non-branched line 12a, and the other filling device 62 is disposed in the parallel line 112.

[0066] The surface leveling section 38 includes a plurality of (two in this embodiment) surface leveling devices 70. One surface leveling device 70 is disposed in the non-branched line 12a, and the other surface leveling device 70 is disposed in the parallel line 112.

[0067] In this embodiment, the cleaning device 54, the filling device 62, and the surface smoothing device 70 are arranged in series on the non-diverging line 12a. Also, the cleaning device 54, the filling device 62, and the surface smoothing device 70 are arranged in series on the parallel line 112.

[0068] (Third Example) A third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 14. In the third embodiment, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described. As shown in Fig. 14, the return line 12 includes five non-branch lines 12a and four branch lines 12b. The non-branch lines 12a and the branch lines 12b are arranged alternately.

[0069] The collection unit 30 is disposed in the branch line 12b located most upstream of the four branch lines 12b. The cleaning unit 34 is disposed in the branch line 12b downstream of the branch line 12b in which the collection unit 30 is disposed. The filling unit 36 ​​is disposed in the branch line 12b downstream of the branch line 12b in which the cleaning unit 34 is disposed. The surface leveling unit 38 is disposed in the branch line 12b downstream of the branch line 12b in which the filling unit 36 ​​is disposed. The collection unit 30, the cleaning unit 34, the filling unit 36, and the surface leveling unit 38 correspond to a processing unit 42.

[0070] The cleaning section 34 includes a plurality of cleaning devices 54 (two in this embodiment). The cleaning devices 54 correspond to the processing devices 92. The number of the cleaning devices 54 is the same as the number of the lines included in the branch line 12b. Each of the cleaning devices 54 processes one sagger 4 at a time. One of the cleaning devices 54 (i.e., the first processing device 92a) is disposed in the first processing line 86, and the other cleaning device 54 (i.e., the second processing device 92b) is disposed in the second processing line 88.

[0071] The filling section 36 includes a plurality of (two in this embodiment) filling devices 62. The filling devices 62 correspond to the processing devices 92. The number of the filling devices 62 is the same as the number of the lines included in the branch line 12b. Each of the filling devices 62 processes one sagger 4 at a time. One of the filling devices 62 (i.e., the first processing device 92a) is disposed in the first processing line 86, and the other filling device 62 (i.e., the second processing device 92b) is disposed in the second processing line 88.

[0072] The surface leveling section 38 includes a plurality of surface leveling devices 70 (two in this embodiment). The surface leveling devices 70 correspond to the processing devices 92. The number of the surface leveling devices 70 is the same as the number of the lines included in the branch line 12b. Each of the surface leveling devices 70 processes one sagger 4 at a time. One of the surface leveling devices 70 (i.e., the first processing device 92a) is disposed in the first processing line 86, and the other surface leveling device 70 (i.e., the second processing device 92b) is disposed in the second processing line 88.

[0073] (Modification) In one embodiment, the branch line 12b may include three or more processing lines.

[0074] Although specific examples of the technology disclosed in this specification have been described in detail above, these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and variations of the specific examples exemplified above. Furthermore, the technical elements described in this specification or drawings exhibit technical utility alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. Furthermore, the technology exemplified in this specification or drawings achieves multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving one of the objectives itself has technical utility. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 2: Heat treatment system 4: Box 4A: Box 4B: Sagger 4a:Aperture 6: Workpiece 10: Heat treatment furnace 12: Return Line 12a: Non-branched line 12b: Branch line 14: Interior space 16: Loading entrance 18: Exit 22: Disassembly device 24: Cooling device 26: Crusher 28: First lifter 30: Collection Department 32: Second lifter 34:Cleaning department 36: Filling section 38: Surface leveling section 40: Stacking device 42: Processing section 43: Collection container 44: Recovery device 45: Rail section 46: Base part 47: Grip part 48: Surrounding wall 48a: Entrance 48b:Exit 49: Entrance cover part 50: Exit cover 51: Upstream lift section 52: Downstream lift section 54:Cleaning device 56: Reversal section 58:Discharge part 62: Filling equipment 64: Storage unit 64a: Discharge port 66: Supply section 70: Surface leveling device 72: Shaft 74: Wing 80: Entrance line 82: Exit Line 86: First processing line 86a: First upstream connection 86b: First downstream connection 88: Second processing line 88a: 2nd upstream connection 88b: Second downstream connection 92: Processing equipment 92a: First processing device 92b: Second processing device 112: Parallel lines AX1: Rotating axis AX2: Rotating axis AX3: Rotation axis D1: Transport direction

Claims

1. a heat treatment furnace having an interior space with an inlet and an outlet, through which a plurality of saggers are conveyed from the inlet to the outlet; a return line disposed outside the heat treatment furnace and configured to transport the plurality of saggers from the discharge outlet to the discharge inlet; A processing unit is disposed on the return line and processes the saggers on the return line, The return line is a first processing line to which the saggers are fed; a second processing line arranged in parallel with the first processing line and through which the saggers are fed; an inlet line connected to the first treatment line and the second treatment line and disposed upstream of the return line relative to the first treatment line and the second treatment line; an outlet line connected to the first treatment line and the second treatment line and disposed downstream of the return line relative to the first treatment line and the second treatment line, The processing unit includes: a first processing device for processing the saggers on the first processing line; a second processing apparatus for processing the saggers on the second processing line.

2. The thermal treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the first process line is disposed substantially parallel to the second process line.

3. The first processing line is disposed substantially perpendicular to each of the inlet line and the outlet line, The thermal treatment system of claim 2 , wherein the second process line is disposed substantially perpendicular to each of the inlet line and the outlet line.

4. The thermal treatment system of claim 2 , wherein a length of the first treatment line is approximately the same as a length of the second treatment line.

5. 5. The heat treatment system according to claim 1, wherein each of the first treatment device and the second treatment device is selected from a group including a recovery device that inverts the sagger to recover the workpiece in the sagger, a cleaning device that cleans the sagger, a filling device that fills the workpiece in the sagger, and a surface leveling device that level the surface of the workpiece in the sagger.

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