Heat treatment system

Abstract

To provide a heat treatment system that achieves high production efficiency and miniaturization without deterioration in quality of a fired article.SOLUTION: A heat treatment system according to the present invention is provided with heat treatment furnaces 1A and 1B, recovery units 5A and 5B, and transfer units 11A and 11B. Each recovery unit 5A, 5B is equipped with a clamp mechanism C. The clamp mechanism C has fixed claws 37a to 37b, bearing members 43a to 43d, movable claws 45a to 45d, pressed shafts 49a, 49b, and pressing plates 59a, 59b. At least one of the pressed shafts 49a, 49b and the pressing plates 59a, 59b comes into contact with a counterpart member by way of intermediate members 51a, 51b, and 44 formed of heat-resistant resin.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat treatment facility. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional heat treatment facility. This heat treatment facility includes a heat treatment furnace consisting of a roller hearth kiln (RHK), two crushing devices, two recovery devices, two cleaning devices, two filling devices, and two moving devices.

[0003] The heat treatment furnace has a heating chamber extending from the entrance to the exit. The interior of the heating chamber is heated by a heating element (not shown). Within the heating chamber, multiple sheaths are transported from the entrance to the exit. The sheaths consist of a bottom plate extending substantially horizontally and side walls integral with the bottom plate. The side walls extend upward from the bottom plate and, together with the bottom plate, form a storage space for storing the material to be fired. The material to be fired stored within the storage space is, for example, powder used as an electrode for a lithium-ion battery. The heat treatment furnace heats the material to be fired together with the sheath while moving the sheath containing the material within the heating chamber from the entrance to the exit.

[0004] The moving device sequentially connects one heat treatment furnace, the crushing device, the recovery device, the cleaning device, the filling device, and the other heat treatment furnace, and moves the sagger containing the material to be sintered, which is discharged from the outlet of one heat treatment furnace, to the crushing device, the recovery device, the cleaning device, the filling device, and the other heat treatment furnace.

[0005] The crushing device crushes the sintered material inside the sachet after the heat treatment. The recovery device clamps the sachet containing the sintered material and recovers the sintered material from the sachet. The cleaning device cleans the inside of the sachet after the sintered material has been recovered. After cleaning, the sachet is refilled with new sintered material by the filling device, except for those that cannot be reused due to damage or the like, and is then reused. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-85367 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, in conventional heat treatment equipment, the sagger discharged from the outlet of the heat treatment furnace and the sintered material inside it are moved a long distance by a moving device, and after the sagger and the sintered material have cooled to room temperature, the sintered material is collected by a collecting device. This results in a long heat treatment cycle for the sintered material, and insufficient production efficiency. In addition, this heat treatment equipment inevitably requires a long moving device and is large in size.

[0008] However, according to the inventors' findings, if the recovery device is used to recover the fired material when the pod and the fired material are at high temperatures, the quality of the fired material will be reduced.

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional situation, and has as its object to provide heat treatment equipment that can achieve high production efficiency and compactness without causing a deterioration in the quality of the fired object. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The inventors have conducted extensive research to solve the above problems and have discovered the following reasons for the deterioration of the quality of the sintered material when the scabbard and the sintered material are recovered by a recovery device while the scabbard and the sintered material are at high temperatures.

[0011] That is, the recovery device includes a clamping mechanism that clamps the sheath and an inversion mechanism that turns the sheath clamped by the clamping mechanism upside down. The recovery device also includes a clamp actuator that operates the clamping mechanism and an inversion actuator that operates the inversion mechanism. The clamping mechanism includes a pressed shaft that connects the two movable claws and a pressing piece that separates the movable claw from the fixed claw. The pressing piece presses the pressed shaft against the biasing force of the coil spring when the clamp actuator is activated. The pressed shaft and the pressing piece are generally made of metal, such as steel. When metal components interfere with each other at high temperatures, they are more likely to wear than when they interfere with each other at room temperature. As a result, the resulting wear powder becomes metallic foreign matter and gets mixed into the sintered product, resulting in a deterioration in the quality of the sintered product. For example, this problem becomes more pronounced when the sintered product constitutes an electronic component, such as an electrode for a lithium-ion battery.

[0012] The heat treatment equipment of the present invention includes a heat treatment furnace having a heating chamber extending from an inlet to an outlet, and heating the sagger containing the sintered object together with the sagger while moving the sagger from the inlet to the outlet within the heating chamber; A recovery device that recovers the baked material from the sheath in which the baked material is accommodated; a moving device that connects the heat treatment furnace and the recovery device and moves the sheath containing the fired material discharged from the outlet to the recovery device; The recovery device includes a clamping mechanism that clamps the sheath; an inversion mechanism for turning the sheath clamped by the clamp mechanism upside down, The sheath includes a bottom plate extending substantially horizontally and a side wall integral with the bottom plate, extending upward from the bottom plate and forming, together with the bottom plate, a storage space for storing the baking object; The recovery device includes a clamp actuator that activates the clamp mechanism; an inversion actuator that operates the inversion mechanism, the clamp mechanism includes a reversing shaft extending in a horizontal first axis direction and rotating about the first axis by actuation of the reversing actuator; an inversion member fixed to the tip of the inversion shaft and extending in the vertical direction; a pair of fixed claws fixed to one end of the reversing member, extending parallel to the first axial direction, and having fixed claw portions abutting against one end of the sheath; a pair of bearing members fixed to the other end of the reversing member and having axial holes extending in the up-down direction and in a second axial direction perpendicular to the first axial direction; a rotation shaft slidably provided in each of the shaft holes and extending in the second axis direction; a pair of movable claws fixed to the rotary shaft and having movable claw portions that come into contact with the other end of the sheath when they approach the fixed claws due to sliding of the rotary shaft; a coil spring having a biasing force that biases the movable claws so that the movable claws approach the fixed claws; a pressure-receiving shaft connecting the two movable claws; a pressing piece that presses the pressed shaft against the biasing force by operation of the clamp actuator to separate the movable claw portion from the fixed claw portion, At least one of the pressed shaft and the pressing piece is in contact with the mating member via an intermediate member made of heat-resistant resin.

[0013] In the heat treatment equipment of the present invention, the fixed claw, bearing member, and movable claw form a pair. After the sheath is clamped between the fixed claw and the movable claw by the biasing force of the coil spring, the reversing actuator is actuated to rotate the reversing shaft together with the reversing member about the first axis, turning it upside down, and the material to be sintered in the sheath can be dropped and recovered. Meanwhile, after the reversing actuator is actuated to rotate the reversing shaft together with the reversing member about the first axis in the opposite direction, turning it back upside down, the pressing piece is actuated by the clamp actuator to press the pressed shaft against the biasing force of the coil spring, causing both movable claws to separate from the fixed claw. This releases the sheath from the clamping force between the fixed claw and the movable claw, allowing the sheath to be reused, etc.

[0014] Here, at least one of the pressed shaft and the pressing piece contacts the mating material at an intermediate material. That is, the pressed shaft contacts the pressing piece at the intermediate material, the pressing piece contacts the pressed shaft at the intermediate material, or the pressed shaft and the pressing piece contact the mating material at the intermediate material. This intermediate material is made of heat-resistant resin. Therefore, even if the pressing piece presses the pressed shaft at high temperatures, wear powder is unlikely to be generated. Therefore, metallic wear powder is unlikely to become metallic foreign matter and be mixed into the sintered product, which is unlikely to cause a deterioration in the quality of the sintered product.

[0015] Furthermore, in this heat treatment facility, as described above, the metal components do not interfere with each other at high temperatures, so the heat treatment furnace and the recovery device can be placed close to each other, which allows for increased production efficiency and downsizing of the heat treatment facility.

[0016] Therefore, the heat treatment equipment of the present invention can achieve high production efficiency and compactness without causing a deterioration in the quality of the fired object.

[0017] When the pressing piece is made of metal, the pressed shaft can be composed of a pressed shaft body made of metal and a pressed part that is an intermediate member fixed to the pressed shaft. In this case, the pressed part functions as the intermediate member.

[0018] Furthermore, when the pressed shaft is made of metal, the pressing piece can be composed of a metal pressing piece main body that operates in response to the operation of the clamp actuator, and a pressing part that is an intermediate member fixed to the pressing piece main body. In this case, the pressing part functions as the intermediate member.

[0019] The retrieval device preferably has a bulkhead with the sheath located inside and the clamping actuator and the inverting actuator located outside.

[0020] In this case, the partition wall can prevent foreign matter from being mixed into the baking object. Meanwhile, the inside of the partition wall can be easily maintained at a high temperature, which makes the effect of the present invention more pronounced. Furthermore, since the clamp actuator and the reversing actuator are located outside the partition wall, they can be isolated from high temperatures and their breakdown can be suppressed.

[0021] According to the confirmation of the inventors, ultra-high purity polyimide, PEEK (Poly Ether Ether Ketone), etc. can be used as the heat-resistant resin. According to the tests conducted by the inventors, it is most preferable to use ultra-high purity polyimide as the heat-resistant resin. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] According to the heat treatment equipment of the present invention, high production efficiency and miniaturization can be achieved without causing a deterioration in the quality of the fired object. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of the heat treatment equipment of the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the moving device and the recovery device in the heat treatment facility of the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view, partly in section, showing a part of the recovery device in the heat treatment facility of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a front view, partly in section, showing a part of the recovery device in the heat treatment facility of the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main part of a recovery device in the heat treatment facility of the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a front view, partly in section, showing the operation of the recovery device in the heat treatment facility of the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a front view, partly in section, showing the operation of the recovery device in the heat treatment facility of the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a front view, partly in section, showing the operation of the recovery device in the heat treatment facility of the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a pressing piece and the like of the recovery device in the heat treatment facility of the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a pressing member of a recovery device in a heat treatment facility of the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Hereinafter, first and second embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [Example]

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the heat treatment equipment of Example 1 includes two heat treatment furnaces 1A and 1B, crushing devices 3A and 3B, recovery devices 5A and 5B, cleaning devices 7A and 7B, filling devices 9A and 9B, and moving devices 11A and 11B.

[0026] Heat treatment furnaces 1A and 1B are the same size, RHK furnaces. Each has a heating chamber 13c that extends linearly from its inlet 13a to its outlet 13b. The inlet 13a of heat treatment furnace 1B is located near the outlet 13b of heat treatment furnace 1A, and the outlet 13b of heat treatment furnace 1B is located near the inlet 13a of heat treatment furnace 1A. Both heating chambers 13c are heated to a predetermined temperature by a heating element (not shown). Furthermore, within both heating chambers 13b, multiple ceramic sheaths 15 are transported in a line from the inlet 13a to the outlet 13b.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 5, the sheath 15 comprises a substantially horizontally extending bottom plate 15a and a side wall 15b integral with the bottom plate 15a. The bottom plate 15a is a substantially horizontally extending square plate, and the side wall 15b is a rectangular cylinder in plan view. The side wall 15b extends upward from the periphery of the bottom plate 15a and, together with the bottom plate 15a, forms a storage space S for storing the object to be sintered W. The object to be sintered W stored in the storage space S is a powder that serves as an electrode for a lithium-ion battery. As shown in FIG. 1, the heat treatment furnaces 1A and 1B heat the object to be sintered W together with the sheath 15 while moving the sheath 15 containing the object to be sintered W within the heating chamber 13c from the entrance 13a to the exit 13b.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 2, the moving devices 11A and 11B are composed of a plurality of rollers 17 rotated by a motor (not shown). As shown in Fig. 1, the moving device 11A sequentially connects one heat treatment furnace 1A, the crushing device 3A, the recovery device 5A, the cleaning device 7A, the filling device 9A, and the other heat treatment furnace 1B, and moves a sheath 15 containing the material to be sintered W discharged from the outlet 13b of the heat treatment furnace 1A to the crushing device 3A, the recovery device 5A, the cleaning device 7A, the filling device 9A, and the other heat treatment furnace 1B.

[0029] The moving device 11B sequentially connects the other heat treatment furnace 1B, the crushing device 3B, the recovery device 5B, the cleaning device 7B, the filling device 9B and the one heat treatment furnace 1A, and moves the sheath 15 containing the material to be fired W discharged from the outlet 13b of the heat treatment furnace 1B to the crushing device 3B, the recovery device 5B, the cleaning device 7B, the filling device 9B and the one heat treatment furnace 1A.

[0030] In the moving devices 11A and 11B, multiple sheaths 15 are discharged in a row from the outlet 13b of the heat treatment furnaces 1A and 1B, and after each sheath 15 is transported to the crushing devices 3A and 3B, the recovery devices 5A and 5B, the cleaning devices 7A and 7B and the filling devices 9A and 9B, multiple sheaths 15 are again transported in a row from the entrance 13a of the heat treatment furnaces 1A and 1B.

[0031] The crushing devices 3A and 3B are configured to crush the baked material W in each sheath 15 after the heat treatment. The recovery devices 5A and 5B are configured to clamp each sheath 15 and recover the baked material W from each sheath 15. The cleaning devices 7A and 7B are configured to clean the inside of each sheath 15 after recovering the baked material W. After cleaning, each sheath 15 is filled with new baked material W by the filling devices 9A and 9B and reused, except for those that cannot be reused due to damage or the like.

[0032] 2 to 4, the recovery devices 5A and 5B have a partition wall 21. The partition wall 21 has four side plates 21a to 21d extending vertically and a top plate 21e connecting the upper ends of the side plates 21a to 21d. The lower end of the partition wall 21 is narrowed, and an opening 21f connected to the hopper is formed below it.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 2, when the sheath 15 moving above the moving devices 11A, 11B reaches the front of the recovery devices 5A, 5B, the moving devices 11A, 11B temporarily stop the sheath 15 there and transport the sheath 15 into the partition wall 21 by the air cylinder 19. The side plate 21b of the partition wall 21 is provided with an opening / closing door (not shown) that opens when the sheath 15 is transported and closes once the sheath 15 has been transported. The partition wall 21 and the opening / closing door prevent foreign matter from getting mixed into the baked object W.

[0034] A frame 23 extending vertically is provided behind the partition wall 21, and a reversing actuator 25 is fixed to the frame 23. The reversing actuator 25 has a rotating shaft that protrudes horizontally, and a reversing drive shaft 29a is fixed to one end of the rotating shaft via a joint 27a, and a reversing drive shaft 29b is fixed to the other end of the rotating shaft via a joint 27b. The reversing drive shafts 29a and 29b are rotatably supported by the frame 23.

[0035] A reversing shaft 31a is horizontally mounted on the side plate 21a of the partition wall 21 by a support device 30a, and a reversing shaft 31b is horizontally mounted on the side plate 21c of the partition wall 21 by a support device 30b. The reversing shafts 31a and 31b extend in the direction of the first axis X1. Gaps are provided between the side plate 21a and the reversing shaft 31a and between the side plate 21c and the reversing shaft 31b to prevent sliding therebetween. A transmission belt 33a is wound between the reversing drive shaft 29a and the reversing shaft 31a, and a transmission belt 33b is wound between the reversing drive shaft 29b and the reversing shaft 31b. The reversing actuator 25, the frame 23, the joints 27a and 27b, the reversing drive shafts 19a and 29b, the support devices 30a and 30b, and the transmission belts 33a and 33b constitute a reversing mechanism T. The frame 23, joints 27a, 27b, reversing drive shafts 19a, 29b, support devices 30a, 30b, and transmission belts 33a, 33b constitute a rotating part T1 that rotates the reversing shafts 31a, 31b around the first axis X1 when the reversing actuator 25 is operated.

[0036] 3 and 4, a thin, plate-like reversing member 35a extending vertically is fixed to the tip of the reversing shaft 31a located inside the partition wall 21. A thin, plate-like reversing member 35b extending vertically is also fixed to the tip of the reversing shaft 31b located inside the partition wall 21.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 5, fixed claw 37a is fixed to the front side of the lower part of reversing member 35a, and fixed claw 37b is fixed to the rear side of the lower part of reversing member 35a. Fixed claws 37a and 37b form a pair. As shown in Fig. 3, fixed claw 37c is fixed to the front side of the lower part of reversing member 35b, and fixed claw 37d is fixed to the rear side of the lower part of reversing member 35b. Fixed claws 37c and 37d also form a pair.

[0038] As shown in Figures 6 to 8, the fixed claws 37a and 37b each comprise a steel fixed claw body 39 extending horizontally toward the interior of the partition wall 21, and a ceramic fixed claw portion 41 fixed to the tip of the fixed claw body 39. The ceramic is alumina. The fixed claw portion 41 abuts against the bottom surface of the bottom plate 15a of the sheath 15. The same is true for the fixed claws 37c and 37d.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 5, bearing member 43a is fixed to the front side of the upper part of reversible member 35a, and bearing member 43b is also fixed to the rear side of the upper part of reversible member 35a. Bearing members 43a and 43b form a pair. As shown in Fig. 3, bearing member 43c is also fixed to the front side of the upper part of reversible member 35b, and bearing member 43d is also fixed to the rear side of the upper part of reversible member 35b. Bearing members 43c and 43d also form a pair.

[0040] The rotating shafts 47a and 47b are made of steel, while the bearing members 43a to 43d are made of heat-resistant resin, more specifically, ultra-high purity polyimide based on biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA) ("Sepra (registered trademark) SA201" manufactured by Nissan Diamond Industrial Co., Ltd.).

[0041] The bearing members 43a to 43d are provided with fixing holes 431 and 432 for fixing to the reversible member 35a or the reversible member 35b with bolts (not shown). The bearing members 43a to 43d are also provided with an axial hole 433 extending in the vertical direction and in the direction of a second axis Y1 perpendicular to the direction of the first axis X1.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 5, the reversing member 35a has guide holes 351 (only the front side of the bearing member 43b is shown in Fig. 5) extending vertically through the reversing member 35a on the rear side of the bearing member 43a and on the front side of the bearing member 43b. Movable claws 45a, 45b are inserted into both guide holes 351. The movable claws 45a, 45b form a pair and are connected by a rotating shaft 47a extending in the direction of the second axis Y1. The rotating shaft 47a slides and rotates within both shaft holes 433 of the bearing members 43a, 43b.

[0043] As shown in Fig. 3, the reversing member 35b also has guide holes 351 extending vertically on the rear side of the bearing member 43c and on the front side of the bearing member 43d. Movable claws 45c and 45d are inserted into the guide holes 351. The movable claws 45c and 45d form a pair and are connected by a rotating shaft 47b extending in the direction of the second axis Y1. The rotating shaft 47b slides and rotates within the shaft holes 433 of the bearing members 43c and 43d.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 5, the rear ends of the movable claws 45a and 45b are connected by a pressed shaft body 49a extending in the direction of the second axis Y2. As shown in FIG. 4, a set collar 51a is fixed to the middle position of the pressed shaft body 49a. The pressed shaft body 49a and the set collar 51a correspond to the pressed shaft. As shown in FIG. 3, the rear ends of the movable claws 45c and 45d are also connected by a pressed shaft body 49b extending in the direction of the second axis Y2. As shown in FIG. 4, a set collar 51b is also fixed to the middle position of the pressed shaft body 49b. The pressed shaft body 49b and the set collar 51b correspond to the pressed shaft. The second axis Y2 is parallel to the second axis Y1.

[0045] As shown in Figures 6 to 8, the movable claws 45a and 45b are made of a steel movable claw body 40 that extends horizontally toward the inside of the partition wall 21, and a ceramic movable claw portion 42 that is fixed to the tip of the movable claw body 40. The ceramic is alumina. The movable claw portion 42 abuts against the upper surface of the side wall 15b of the sheath 15. The movable claws 45c and 45d are made in the same manner.

[0046] As shown in Fig. 5, a coil spring 55a is provided between the rear end of fixed claw 37a and the rear end of movable claw 45a and is housed in bellows 53a. A coil spring 55b is also provided between the rear end of fixed claw 37b and the rear end of movable claw 45b and is housed in bellows 53b. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a coil spring 55c is also provided between the rear end of fixed claw 37c and the rear end of movable claw 45c and is housed in bellows 53c, and a coil spring 55d is also provided between the rear end of fixed claw 37d and the rear end of movable claw 45d and is housed in bellows 53d.

[0047] Open shafts 57a and 57b extending in the direction of the second axis Y3 are provided within the partition wall 21 so as to be swingable about the second axis Y3. The second axis Y3 is parallel to the second axes Y1 and Y2. The open shaft 57a is disposed between the pressed shaft main body 49a and the side plate 21a, and the open shaft 57b is disposed between the pressed shaft main body 49b and the side plate 21c.

[0048] A pressing piece 59a is fixed to the middle position of the release shaft 57a, and a pressing piece 59b is fixed to the middle position of the release shaft 57b. As shown in Fig. 3, a clamp actuator 61a that swings the release shaft 57a and a clamp actuator 61b that swings the release shaft 57b are provided on the outer surface of the side wall 21d.

[0049] As shown in Fig. 9, the pressing pieces 59a and 59b are made of steel. Meanwhile, the set collars 51a and 51b are also made of heat-resistant resin, more specifically, made of ultra-high purity polyimide based on biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA) ("Sepra (registered trademark) SA201" manufactured by Nissan Diamond Industrial Co., Ltd.). The set collars 51a and 51b correspond to the intermediate material.

[0050] The reversing shafts 31a, 31b, reversing members 35a, 35b, fixed claws 37a to 37d, bearing members 43a to 43d, rotating shafts 47a, 47b, movable claws 45a to 45d, coil springs 55a to 55d, pressed shaft body 49a, set collars 51a, 51b, release shafts 57a, 57b, and pressing pieces 59a, 59b constitute the clamping mechanism C.

[0051] In the recovery devices 5A and 5B, when the sheath 15 containing the baking material W inside the partition wall 21 is transported, the clamp actuator 61a is activated. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the release shaft 57a rotates around the second axis Y3, and the pressing piece 59a presses the pressed shaft main body 49a via the set collar 51a. As a result, the movable claws 45a and 45b open the movable claw portion 42 against the biasing force of the coil springs 55a and 55b. The same applies to the clamp actuator 61b, the release shaft 57b, the pressing piece 59b, the set collar 51b, the pressed shaft main body 49b, the movable claws 45c and 45d, the coil springs 55c and 55d, and the movable claw portion 42.

[0052] After this, the clamp actuator 61a reacts, and as shown in Figure 7, the release shaft 57a rotates in the opposite direction around the second axis Y3, the pressing piece 59a moves away from the set collar 51a, and no longer presses the pressed shaft body 49a. As a result, the movable claws 45a and 45b yield to the biasing force of the coil springs 55a and 55b, closing the movable claw portion 42. The same applies to the clamp actuator 61b, the release shaft 57b, the pressing piece 59b, the set collar 51b, the pressed shaft body 49b, the movable claws 45c and 45d, the coil springs 55c and 55d, and the movable claw portion 42. As a result, the recovery devices 5A and 5B clamp the sheath 15 containing the baked material W at its four corners.

[0053] Next, in the reversing mechanism T, the reversing actuator 25 is activated to rotate the reversing drive shafts 29a, 29b, and the transmission belts 33a, 33b rotate the reversing shafts 31a, 31b around the first axis X1. Therefore, as shown in Figure 8, the sheath 15 containing the material to be baked W is turned upside down together with the reversing member 35a, etc., and the material to be baked W in the sheath 15 can be dropped into the hopper and collected.

[0054] Thereafter, the reversing actuator 25 reacts, causing the reversing drive shafts 29a and 29b to rotate in the opposite direction, and the transmission belts 33a and 33b cause the reversing shafts 31a and 31b to rotate in the opposite direction around the first axis X1. As a result, the sheath 15, which has dropped the baking material W, returns to its original upside-down position together with the reversing member 35a and the like.

[0055] Next, the clamp actuators 61a and 61b are actuated, the release shafts 57a and 57b rotate about the second axis Y3, and the pressing pieces 59a and 59b press the pressed shaft body 49a via the set collars 51a and 51b. As a result, the movable claws 45a to 45d open the movable claw portions 42 against the biasing forces of the coil springs 55a to 55d. When the sheath 15 is released from the clamping mechanism C, as shown in FIG. 2, the sheath 15 is carried out of the partition wall 21 by the air cylinder 19 and returned to the moving devices 11A and 11B.

[0056] Thereafter, the cleaning devices 7A and 7B clean the inside of the sheath 15. After cleaning, the sheath 15, except for those that cannot be reused due to damage or the like, is filled with new material to be fired W by the filling devices 9A and 9B and reused.

[0057] Meanwhile, in this heat treatment equipment, the recovery devices 5A and 5B have clamp actuators 61A and 61B, an inversion actuator 25, and a partition wall 21, and the partition wall 21 positions the sheath 15 inside and the clamp actuators 61A and 61B and the inversion actuator 25 outside. Therefore, the partition wall 21 can prevent foreign matter from being mixed into the sintered object W. Furthermore, because the clamp actuators 61A and 61B and the inversion actuator 25 are positioned outside the partition wall 21, the clamp actuators 61A and 61B and the inversion actuator 25 are isolated from high temperatures, and their failure can be suppressed.

[0058] However, the temperature inside the partition wall 21 is likely to be maintained at a higher temperature. In Example 1, the temperature inside the partition wall 21 was approximately 400°C. The set collars 51a, 51b and the pressing pieces 59a, 59b are in a sliding and interfering relationship with each other. Furthermore, the bearing members 43a to 43d and the rotating shafts 47a, 47b are in a sliding relationship with each other.

[0059] In this regard, in this heat treatment equipment, the pressing pieces 59a, 59b are made of steel and the set collars 51a, 51b are made of heat-resistant resin, so even if the set collars 51a, 51b and the pressing pieces 59a, 59b slide and interfere with each other at high temperatures, wear powder is unlikely to be generated. Therefore, metallic wear powder is unlikely to become metallic foreign matter and get mixed into the sintered object W, and the quality of the sintered object W is unlikely to deteriorate.

[0060] Furthermore, because the rotating shafts 47a and 47b are made of steel and the bearing members 43a to 43d are made of heat-resistant resin, wear powder is unlikely to be generated even when the bearing members 43a to 43d and the rotating shafts 47a and 47b slide against each other at high temperatures. Therefore, metallic wear powder is unlikely to become foreign metal and get mixed into the baking object W, and the baking object W is unlikely to suffer a deterioration in quality.

[0061] Furthermore, in this heat treatment equipment, the fixed claws 37a to 37d are each composed of a metal fixed claw body 39 and a ceramic fixed claw portion 41, and the movable claws 45a to 45d are each composed of a metal movable claw body 40 and a ceramic movable claw portion 42. Therefore, only the ceramic fixed claw portion 41 and the movable claw portion 42 interfere with the sheath 15. Therefore, compared to when the metal fixed claw portion and the movable claw portion interfere with the sheath, metal foreign matter is less likely to be generated, and the quality of the sintered object W is less likely to deteriorate.

[0062] Therefore, according to the heat treatment equipment of Example 1, high production efficiency and miniaturization can be achieved without causing a deterioration in the quality of the fired object W.

[0063] Furthermore, in this heat treatment equipment, as described above, the metal members do not slide or interfere with each other at high temperatures, so the heat treatment furnaces 1A, 1B and the recovery devices 5A, 5B can be located close to each other. This allows for improved production efficiency and downsizing of the heat treatment equipment. In particular, since the heat treatment equipment of Example 1 includes two heat treatment furnaces 1A, 1B and two recovery devices 5A, 5B, the effects of locating the heat treatment furnaces 1A, 1B and the recovery devices 5A, 5B close to each other are significant.

[0064] Furthermore, in this heat treatment equipment, the bearing members 43a to 43d are made of heat-resistant resin, and the rotary shafts 47a and 47b are made of metal, so that the equipment has excellent durability. [Example]

[0065] The heat treatment equipment of Example 2 employs two pressing units 44 shown in Fig. 10 instead of the set collars 51a and 51b of Example 1. The pressing units 44 are made of heat-resistant resin, more specifically, made of ultra-high purity polyimide based on biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA) ("Sepra (registered trademark) SA201" manufactured by Nissan Diamond Industrial Co., Ltd.).

[0066] A contact surface 44a that contacts steel pressed shafts 49a, 49b is formed on the pressing portion 44. Bolt holes 44b, 44c are also formed in the pressing portion 44, and the pressing portion 44 is fixed to a steel pressing piece main body 59a by bolts 46, 48 that are inserted through the bolt holes 44b, 44c. The pressing piece main body 59a and the pressing portion 44 correspond to the pressing piece.

[0067] Other configurations of this heat treatment equipment are the same as those of Example 1. In this heat treatment equipment, the pressing portion 44 corresponds to the intermediate material. Because the pressed shafts 49a, 49b are made of steel and the pressing portion 44 is made of heat-resistant resin, even if the pressing portion 44 and the pressed shafts 49a, 49b slide and interfere with each other at high temperatures, wear powder is unlikely to be generated. Therefore, metallic wear powder is unlikely to become metallic foreign matter and be mixed into the sintered object W, and the sintered object W is unlikely to suffer a deterioration in quality.

[0068] Furthermore, in this heat treatment equipment, the entire pressing piece is not made of heat-resistant resin, but only the pressing portion 44 is made of heat-resistant resin, so that high durability is exhibited. Other functions and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0069] (test) The inventors selected which heat-resistant resin would be preferable for use in the heat treatment equipment of the present invention. As heat-resistant resins, MC Nylon (registered trademark) (monomer cast nylon), PEEK, and Sepra (registered trademark) SA201 were prepared. The heat-resistant temperature, tensile strength, abrasion resistance, and ductility (elongation) of these heat-resistant resins according to literature are as shown in Table 1 below.

[0070] [Table 1]

[0071] From Table 1, it can be seen that ultra-high purity polyimide or PEEK is preferable as the heat-resistant resin, and in particular, Sepra (registered trademark) SA201 is the most preferable. In various tests conducted by the inventors using actual equipment, it was also found that Sepra (registered trademark) SA201 was the most preferable as the heat-resistant resin.

[0072] The present invention has been described above in accordance with Examples 1 and 2 and tests. However, the present invention is not limited to the above Examples 1 and 2 and tests, and can be modified and applied as appropriate within the scope of the invention.

[0073] For example, if the clamping mechanism has a pair of fixed claws, a bearing member, and a movable claw, the effects of the present invention can be enjoyed in heat treatment equipment equipped with recovery devices for various clamping mechanisms.

[0074] In addition, in Examples 1 and 2, the fixed claw portion 41 abuts against the bottom surface of the bottom plate 15a of the sheath 15, and the movable claw portion 42 abuts against the upper surface of the side wall 15b of the sheath 15 to clamp the sheath 15, but the fixed claw portion 41 may abut against one end of the side wall 15b of the sheath 15, and the movable claw portion 42 may abut against the other end of the side wall 15b of the sheath 15 to clamp the sheath 15.

[0075] Furthermore, in Examples 1 and 2, the sintered object W was a powder that would be used as an electrode for a lithium ion battery, but the sintered object of the present invention is not limited to this. If the sintered object W is an object that constitutes an electronic component, such as an electrode for a lithium ion battery, a more significant effect is achieved. [Industrial Applicability]

[0076] The present invention can be used in manufacturing methods of high-performance parts, electronic parts, and the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 13a...Entrance 13b...Exit 13c…Heating chamber W: Object to be baked 15...Saya 1A, 1B...Heat treatment furnace 5A, 5B...Recovery device 11A, 11B...Movement device C...Clamping mechanism T...Reversal mechanism 15a…Bottom plate S...Storage space 15b…Side wall 61a, 61b...Clamp actuator 25...Reverse actuator X1…1st axis center 31a, 31b...reversed shaft 35a, 35b...reversing members 41...Fixed claw part 37a~37d…Fixed claw Y1…2nd axis center 433...Axle hole 43a to 43d... Bearing members 47a, 47b...rotation shaft 42...Movable claw part 45a~45d…Movable claw 55a~55d... Coil springs 49a, 49b...Pressed shaft, pressed shaft body 59a...Pressing piece, pressing piece body 21...Bulkhead

Claims

1. a heat treatment furnace having a heating chamber extending from an inlet to an outlet, in which a sheath containing an object to be fired is moved from the inlet to the outlet within the heating chamber, while the object to be fired is heated together with the sheath; A recovery device that recovers the baked material from the sheath in which the baked material is accommodated; a moving device that connects the heat treatment furnace and the recovery device and moves the sheath containing the fired material discharged from the outlet to the recovery device; The recovery device includes a clamping mechanism that clamps the sheath; an inversion mechanism for turning the sheath clamped by the clamp mechanism upside down, The sheath includes a bottom plate extending substantially horizontally and a side wall integral with the bottom plate, extending upward from the bottom plate and forming, together with the bottom plate, a storage space for storing the baking object; The recovery device includes a clamp actuator that activates the clamp mechanism; an inversion actuator that operates the inversion mechanism, the clamp mechanism includes a reversing shaft extending in a horizontal first axial direction and rotating about the first axial direction in response to actuation of the reversing actuator; an inversion member fixed to the tip of the inversion shaft and extending in the vertical direction; a pair of fixed claws fixed to one end of the reversing member, extending parallel to the first axial direction, and having fixed claw portions abutting against one end of the sheath; a pair of bearing members fixed to the other end of the reversing member and having axial holes extending in the up-down direction and in a second axial direction perpendicular to the first axial direction; a rotation shaft slidably provided in each of the shaft holes and extending in the second axis direction; a pair of movable claws fixed to the rotary shaft and having movable claw portions that come into contact with the other end of the sheath when they approach the fixed claws due to sliding of the rotary shaft; a coil spring having a biasing force that biases the movable claws so that the movable claws approach the fixed claws; a pressure-receiving shaft connecting the two movable claws; a pressing piece that presses the pressed shaft against the biasing force by operation of the clamp actuator to separate the movable claw portion from the fixed claw portion, At least one of the pressed shaft and the pressing piece is in contact with the mating material via an intermediate material made of heat-resistant resin.

2. The pressing piece is made of metal, 2. The heat treatment equipment according to claim 1, wherein the pressure-receiving shaft comprises a pressure-receiving shaft body made of metal and a pressure-receiving portion, which is the intermediate material, fixed to the pressure-receiving shaft.

3. The pressed shaft is made of metal, 2. The heat treatment equipment according to claim 1, wherein the pressing piece comprises a metal pressing piece body that operates in response to the operation of the clamp actuator, and a pressing portion that is the intermediate member fixed to the pressing piece body.

4. 4. The heat treatment facility according to claim 1, wherein the recovery device has a partition wall for locating the sheath inside and locating the clamp actuator and the reversal actuator outside.

5. 3. The heat treatment equipment according to claim 1, wherein the pressing portion is made of ultra-high purity polyimide.

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