Firing system

Abstract

To provide a technique which can reduce an installation space for installing a firing system.SOLUTION: A firing system comprises: plural firing furnaces for firing treatment objects in saggers, and each having a carry-in port where each sagger is carried in and a carry-out port where each sagger is carried out; and a recovery part for recovering the treatment objects fired by each of the plural firing furnaces. One recovery part is installed relative to the plural firing furnaces.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a firing system.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a firing system. The firing system includes a firing furnace and a circulation line. The firing furnace fires an object to be processed in a firing container and has a carry-in port for carrying in the firing container and a carry-out port for carrying out the firing container. The circulation line is connected to the carry-out port and the carry-in port of the firing furnace and sends the fired container carried out from the carry-out port of the firing furnace to the carry-in port of the firing furnace. Further, the circulation line includes a recovery unit that extracts the object to be processed from the firing container.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above firing system, one circulation line including a recovery unit is installed for one firing furnace. Therefore, when the firing system includes a plurality of firing furnaces, a plurality of circulation lines are required, and each circulation line includes a recovery unit. In this configuration, a large installation space for installing the firing system is required.

[0005] This specification discloses a technology that can reduce the installation space for installing a firing system.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In a first aspect of the technology disclosed in this specification, a firing system includes a plurality of firing furnaces for firing an object to be processed in a sagger, each of the plurality of firing furnaces having a carry-in port into which the sagger is carried and a carry-out port through which the sagger is carried out, the plurality of firing furnaces, and a recovery unit for recovering the object to be processed fired by each of the plurality of firing furnaces.

[0007] According to the above configuration, one recovery unit is installed for the plurality of firing furnaces. For this reason, the recovery units for recovering the objects to be processed fired by the plurality of firing furnaces are intensively arranged in a specific installation space. Thereby, the installation space for installing the firing system can be reduced as compared with the case where a recovery unit is installed for each of the plurality of firing furnaces.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

[0009] The main features of the embodiments described below are listed. 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 recovery unit is arranged separately from each of the plurality of firing furnaces. The firing system is capable of automatic movement, and further includes a first automatic transport device for transporting the sagger carried out from each of the carry-out ports of the plurality of firing furnaces to the recovery unit. According to the above configuration, the sagger carried out from each carry-out port of the plurality of firing furnaces can be easily transported to the recovery unit.

[0011] In a third aspect of the technology disclosed in this specification, in the above first or second aspect, the firing system is arranged separately from each of the plurality of firing furnaces, and includes a supply unit that supplies the object to be processed before firing to the said crucible, and a second automatic transport device that is capable of automatic movement and transports the crucible supplied with the object to be processed before firing to each of the loading ports of the plurality of firing furnaces. According to the above configuration, the crucible can be easily transported from the supply unit to each loading port of the plurality of firing furnaces.

[0012] (Example) As shown in FIG. 1, the firing system 2 includes a plurality of firing furnaces 10, a transport unit 12 (see FIG. 2), a recovery and supply unit 14, a plurality of outlet robots 16, a plurality of first automatic transport devices 18, a plurality of second automatic transport devices 20, and a plurality of inlet robots 22.

[0013] The plurality of firing furnaces 10 are arranged in a row direction D1. The row direction D1 is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction D2 of the firing furnace 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the firing furnace 10 fires the object to be processed 6 in the crucible 4. The crucible 4 has a box shape with an open upper end. The object to be processed 6 is, for example, a raw material for a ceramic capacitor or a positive electrode material and a negative electrode material for a lithium-ion battery.

[0014] The firing furnace 10 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped heat-insulating structure. The firing furnace 10 has an internal space 26 inside. Further, the firing furnace 10 has a loading port 28 arranged at one end of the firing furnace 10 and an unloading port 30 arranged at the other end of the firing furnace 10. The internal space 26 communicates with the outside of the firing furnace 10 through each of the loading port 28 and the unloading port 30.

[0015] The conveying unit 12 includes a plurality of rollers 34 whose both ends are rotatably supported. The plurality of rollers 34 are arranged across the internal space 26 and the outside of the firing furnace 10. The plurality of crucibles 4 are placed on the rollers 34 in a stacked state. When the rollers 34 rotate, the plurality of crucibles 4 are carried into the internal space 26 from the carry-in port 28. Next, the plurality of crucibles 4 move in the conveying direction D2 from the carry-in port 28 to the carry-out port 30 through the internal space 26 due to the rotation of the rollers 34. The plurality of crucibles 4 that have moved to the carry-out port 30 are carried out from the carry-out port 30 to the outside of the firing furnace 10 due to the rotation of the rollers 34. In this embodiment, the conveying direction D2 corresponds to the longitudinal direction D2 of the firing furnace 10 and is substantially orthogonal to the row direction D1.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the firing furnace 10 includes a first replacement unit 40, a preheating unit 42, a firing unit 44, a cooling unit 46, and a second replacement unit 48. The first replacement unit 40, the preheating unit 42, the firing unit 44, the cooling unit 46, and the second replacement unit 48 are arranged in order in the conveying direction D2. For this reason, the carry-in port 28 is arranged in the first replacement unit 40, and the carry-out port 30 is arranged in the second replacement unit 48. The crucible 4 moves through the first replacement unit 40, the preheating unit 42, the firing unit 44, the cooling unit 46, and the second replacement unit 48 in order.

[0017] The first replacement unit 40 replaces the gas near the carry-in port 28 of the internal space 26 from air with an atmosphere gas. The atmosphere gas is, for example, nitrogen gas or oxygen gas. The preheating unit 42 preheats the object to be processed 6 (see FIG. 2) in the crucible 4. The firing unit 44 fires the object to be processed 6 in the crucible 4. The temperature of the firing unit 44 is higher than the temperature of the preheating unit 42. The cooling unit 46 cools the object to be processed 6 in the crucible 4 near the outlet of the cooling unit 46. The temperature near the outlet of the cooling unit 46 is lower than the temperatures of the preheating unit 42 and the firing unit 44, respectively. The second replacement unit 48 replaces the gas near the carry-out port 30 of the internal space 26 from the atmosphere gas to air.

[0018] In this embodiment, a plurality of circulation lines are not installed for the plurality of firing furnaces 10, and one recovery and supply unit 14 is installed. As a result, the installation space for installing the firing system 2 can be reduced. The recovery and supply unit 14 includes one first recovery unit 52, one second recovery unit 54, and one supply unit 56. The first recovery unit 52, the second recovery unit 54, and the supply unit 56 are arranged in order in the direction D3 opposite to the transport direction D2. The first recovery unit 52, the second recovery unit 54, and the supply unit 56 are arranged in a row. The first recovery unit 52, the second recovery unit 54, and the supply unit 56 are integrated. That is, in this embodiment, the first recovery unit 52, the second recovery unit 54, and the supply unit 56 are intensively arranged in a specific installation space.

[0019] In this embodiment, the first recovery unit 52 is a first recovery station that processes the saggers 4 carried out from the plurality of firing furnaces 10. The first recovery unit 52 is arranged separately from each of the plurality of firing furnaces 10. The first recovery unit 52 has a carry-in port 52a into which the sagger 4 is carried. The first recovery unit 52 includes a disassembling unit 60, a first crushing unit 62, an inversion recovery unit 64, and a cooling unit 66.

[0020] The disassembling unit 60 separates the stacked saggers 4 into a non-stacked state. The first crushing unit 62 roughly crushes the workpiece 6 by piercing pins into the workpiece 6 after firing in the sagger 4. The inversion recovery unit 64 turns the sagger 4 filled with the crushed workpiece 6 upside down. As a result, the workpiece 6 after firing in the sagger 4 is recovered into the recovery container. That is, the recovery container is arranged below the inversion recovery unit 64, and the workpiece 6 after firing falls into and is accommodated in the recovery container when the sagger 4 is turned upside down. The sagger 4 from which the workpiece 6 after firing has been recovered passes through the second recovery unit 54 and is sent to the supply unit 56. The cooling unit 66 is arranged below (or above) the transport path for transporting the sagger 4 from which the workpiece 6 after firing has been recovered, and cools the workpiece 6 recovered into the recovery container.

[0021] In this embodiment, the second recovery unit 54 is a second recovery station that processes the object to be processed 6 recovered into the recovery container at the first recovery unit 52 (first recovery station). The second recovery unit 54 is arranged separately from each of the plurality of firing furnaces 10. The second recovery unit 54 includes a transport unit 70, a second crushing unit 72, and a storage unit 74. The transport unit 70, the second crushing unit 72, and the storage unit 74 are arranged below (or above) a transport path (i.e., a transport path for transporting the crucible 4 from the inversion recovery unit 64 to the supply unit 56) through which the crucible 4 in which the object to be processed 6 after firing is recovered is transported.

[0022] The transport unit 70 transports the recovery container in which the object to be processed 6 is recovered. The second crushing unit 72 finely crushes the object to be processed 6 recovered into the recovery container using a roll crusher. The storage unit 74 stores the object to be processed 6 crushed by the second crushing unit 72.

[0023] In this embodiment, the supply unit 56 is a supply station that supplies the object to be processed 6 before firing to the crucible 4 transported from the first recovery unit 52 (first recovery station). The supply unit 56 is arranged separately from each of the plurality of firing furnaces 10. The supply unit 56 includes an object supply unit 78, a leveling unit 80, and a stacking unit 82.

[0024] The object supply unit 78 supplies the object to be processed 6 before firing to the crucible 4 in which the object to be processed 6 after firing is recovered. The leveling unit 80 levels the surface of the object to be processed 6 in the crucible 4. The stacking unit 82 stacks a plurality of crucibles 4 in the vertical direction. The plurality of crucibles 4 are carried out from the carry-out port 56a of the supply unit 56 in a state of being stacked in the vertical direction.

[0025] The outlet robot 16 is arranged near the carry-out port 30 of the firing furnace 10. The outlet robot 16 is arranged outside the firing furnace 10. One outlet robot 16 is installed in one firing furnace 10. For this reason, the number of the plurality of outlet robots 16 is the same as the number of the plurality of firing furnaces 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the outlet robot 16 moves the crucible 4 carried out from the carry-out port 30 of the firing furnace 10 to the first automatic transport device 18 using, for example, an arm.

[0026] In this embodiment, the first automatic transport device 18 is an automated guided vehicle (AGV) that automatically moves along a predetermined route. In a modified example, the first automatic transport device 18 may be an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) that moves autonomously. The first automatic transport device 18 can carry the crucibles 4. A plurality of crucibles 4 are placed on the first automatic transport device 18 in a stacked state.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, the first automatic transport device 18 can move along a first path 90 between the carry-out port 30 of each firing furnace 10 and the carry-in port 52a of the first recovery unit 52. Accordingly, there is no need to install a circulation line connecting the carry-out port 30 of each firing furnace 10 and the carry-in port 52a of the first recovery unit 52. The first automatic transport device 18 moves along the first path 90 from the carry-out port 30 of the firing furnace 10 to the carry-in port 52a of the first recovery unit 52 with a plurality of stacked crucibles 4 placed thereon. Thereby, the crucibles 4 and the workpiece 6 after firing are transported by the first automatic transport device 18 from the carry-out port 30 of the firing furnace 10 to the carry-in port 52a of the first recovery unit 52. Next, the plurality of crucibles 4 on the first automatic transport device 18 are carried into the first recovery unit 52 from the carry-in port 52a. After transporting the crucibles 4, the first automatic transport device 18 moves along the first path 90 from the carry-in port 52a of the first recovery unit 52 to the carry-out port 30 of the firing furnace 10. In FIG. 1, the first path 90 is indicated by a dashed line. In the firing system 2 of this embodiment, a plurality of first automatic transport devices 18 are provided to transport the crucibles 4 from each firing furnace 10 to the first recovery unit 52. Since the distance from each of the plurality of firing furnaces 10 to the first recovery unit 52 is different, a relatively large number of first automatic transport devices 18 are assigned to the firing furnace 10 with a longer distance to the first recovery unit 52. Which of the plurality of firing furnaces 10 the plurality of first automatic transport devices 18 are assigned to is determined by a management device (not shown) according to the operating status of each firing furnace 10.

[0028] In this embodiment, the second automatic transport device 20 is an automated guided vehicle (AGV) that automatically moves along a predetermined route. In a variant, the second automatic transport device 20 may be an autonomous mobile robot (AMR). As shown in FIG. 2, the second automatic transport device 20 can carry the crucibles 4. A plurality of crucibles 4 are stacked and placed on the second automatic transport device 20.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, the second automatic transport device 20 can move along a second route 92 between the delivery port 56a of the supply unit 56 and the inlet 28 of each firing furnace 10. Thus, there is no need to install a circulation line connecting the delivery port 56a of the supply unit 56 and the inlet 28 of each firing furnace 10. A plurality of crucibles 4 supplied with the workpiece 6 before firing are placed on the second automatic transport device 20. The second automatic transport device 20 moves along the second route 92 from the delivery port 56a of the supply unit 56 to the inlet 28 of each firing furnace 10 with a plurality of crucibles 4 placed thereon. Thereby, the crucibles 4 and the workpiece 6 before firing are transported by the second automatic transport device 20 from the delivery port 56a of the supply unit 56 to the inlet 28 of each firing furnace 10. Next, the plurality of crucibles 4 on the second automatic transport device 20 are moved to the inlet 28 of the firing furnace 10 by the inlet robot 22. Finally, the second automatic transport device 20 moves along the second route 92 from the inlet 28 of the firing furnace 10 to the delivery port 56a of the supply unit 56. In FIG. 1, the second route 92 is shown by a dashed line. Similar to the first automatic transport device 18, a plurality of second automatic transport devices 20 are equipped. Which firing furnace 10 among the plurality of firing furnaces 10 the plurality of second automatic transport devices 20 transport the crucibles 4 to is determined by a management device (not shown) according to the operating status of each firing furnace 10.

[0030] The inlet robot 22 is arranged near the inlet 28 of the firing furnace 10. The inlet robot 22 is arranged outside the firing furnace 10. One inlet robot 22 is installed in one firing furnace 10. Therefore, the number of the plurality of inlet robots 22 is the same as the number of the plurality of firing furnaces 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the inlet robot 22 moves a plurality of crucibles 4 on the second automatic transport device 20 to the inlet 28 of the firing furnace 10, for example, using an arm.

[0031] (Effect) In the above embodiment, one first recovery unit 52 is installed for a plurality of firing furnaces 10. For this reason, the first recovery unit 52 that recovers the workpiece 6 fired by the plurality of firing furnaces 10 is intensively arranged in a specific installation space. Thereby, a circulation line is installed for each of the plurality of firing furnaces 10, and the installation space for installing the firing system 2 can be reduced as compared with the case where each circulation line includes the first recovery unit 52.

[0032] (Corresponding relationship) The first recovery unit 52 is an example of the "recovery unit".

[0033] (Modification) In one embodiment, the first recovery unit 52 and the second recovery unit 54 may be arranged separately, and the second recovery unit 54 and the supply unit 56 may be arranged separately. The first recovery unit 52 and the second recovery unit 54 may be arranged separately, or the second recovery unit 54 and the supply unit 56 may be arranged separately.

[0034] In one embodiment, the recovery and supply unit 14 may not include the second recovery unit 54. In this configuration, the first recovery unit 52 and the supply unit 56 may be integrated or may be arranged separately from each other.

[0035] In one embodiment, the direction in which the recovery and supply unit 14 extends is not limited to the transport direction D2, and may be, for example, the column direction D1, or may be a direction inclined with respect to each of the column direction D1 and the transport direction D2.

[0036] In the above embodiment, the recovery supply unit 14 is arranged at a distance from each of the plurality of firing furnaces 10 in the column direction D1. In one embodiment, the recovery supply unit 14 may be arranged at a distance from each of the plurality of firing furnaces 10 in a direction opposite to the column direction D1. Further, the recovery supply unit 14 may face the discharge port 30 of each of the plurality of firing furnaces 10 and may be arranged at a distance from each discharge port 30 in the conveying direction D2. Furthermore, the recovery supply unit 14 may face the inlet 28 of each of the plurality of firing furnaces 10 and may be arranged at a distance from each inlet 28 in the direction D3.

[0037] In one embodiment, the conveying unit 12 is not limited to the roller conveying method, and may be, for example, a pusher conveying method.

[0038] In one embodiment, the plurality of crucibles 4 on the first automatic conveying device 18 may be carried into the first recovery unit 52 from the inlet 52a using a robot. Further, the plurality of crucibles 4 discharged from the discharge port 56a of the supply unit 56 may be placed on the second automatic conveying device 20 using a robot.

[0039] In one embodiment, the first recovery unit 52 may further include a cooling unit that cools the crucible 4 carried into the first recovery unit 52 from the inlet 52a. Thereby, the crucible 4 and the object to be processed 6 after firing are cooled simultaneously.

[0040] In one embodiment, after the crucible 4 is discharged from the discharge port 30 of the firing furnace 10 and turned upside down, the object to be processed 6 in the crucible 4 may be recovered into a recovery container. The recovery container may be conveyed to the inlet 52a of the first recovery unit 52 by an automatic conveying device. Further, the crucible 4 from which the object to be processed 6 has been recovered may be conveyed to the supply unit 56 by the first automatic conveying device 18.

[0041] In one embodiment, the recovery and supply unit 14 may include a plurality of lines through which the saggers 4 pass. The number of the plurality of lines may be less than the number of the plurality of firing furnaces 10, or may be the same as the number of the plurality of firing furnaces 10. In this configuration, instead of the stage breakdown unit 60, the first crushing unit 62, the inversion recovery unit 64, and the cooling unit 66, the first recovery unit 52 may include a first lifter unit that raises the sagger 4, an inversion recovery unit that recovers the workpiece 6 in the sagger 4 by turning the sagger 4 upside down, and a second lifter unit that lowers the sagger 4. Further, the first recovery unit 52 may further include a cooling unit that cools the sagger 4 carried into the first recovery unit 52 from the carry-in port 52a. Thereby, the sagger 4 and the workpiece 6 after firing are cooled simultaneously. In this configuration, the first automatic transport device 18 on which the sagger 4 is placed may move inside the cooling unit, or the sagger 4 may move inside the cooling unit by a transport device different from the first automatic transport device 18. Further, the plurality of saggers 4 on the first automatic transport device 18 may be carried into the first recovery unit 52 from the carry-in port 52a by a robot. Also, the plurality of saggers 4 carried out from the carry-out port 56a of the supply unit 56 may be placed on the second automatic transport device 20 by a robot.

[0042] As described above, specific examples of the technology disclosed in this specification have been described in detail, but these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above. Further, the technical elements described in this specification or the 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. Also, the technology illustrated in this specification or the drawings achieves a plurality of purposes simultaneously, and has technical utility by achieving one of those purposes itself.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0043] 2: Firing system 4: Sagger 6: Workpiece 10: Firing furnace 14: Recovery and supply unit 18: First automatic transport device 20: Second Automatic Conveyor 28: Loading Inlet 30: Loading Outlet 52: First Recovery Unit 54: Second Recovery Unit 56: Supply Unit 90: First Route 92: Second Route D1: Column Direction D2: Longitudinal Direction, Conveying Direction D3: Direction

Claims

1. A plurality of firing furnaces for firing an object to be processed in a sagger, each of the plurality of firing furnaces having a carry-in port into which the sagger is carried in and a carry-out port for carrying out the sagger, the plurality of firing furnaces; A recovery unit for recovering the object to be processed fired by each of the plurality of firing furnaces, the firing system comprising the same.

2. The recovery unit is disposed separately from each of the plurality of firing furnaces, The firing system is capable of automatic movement, and further includes a first automatic transport device that transports the sagger carried out from each of the carry-out ports of the plurality of firing furnaces to the recovery unit. The firing system according to claim 1.

3. A supply unit that is disposed separately from each of the plurality of firing furnaces and supplies the object to be processed before firing to the sagger, The firing system is capable of automatic movement and further includes a second automatic transport device that transports the sagger supplied with the object to be processed before firing to each of the carry-in ports of the plurality of firing furnaces. The firing system according to claim 1 or 2.

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