Continuous heating furnace

Abstract

Preventing damage to conveyor rollers and other components caused by improper conveying. [Solution] The continuous heating furnace 1 comprises a furnace body 10, a plurality of conveying rollers, a drive mechanism 40, and a load cell 81. The drive mechanism 40 comprises a plurality of shafts 43 and a chain drive device. The plurality of shafts are equipped with support parts 43c and sprockets. The chain drive device comprises an endless chain 45, a power transmission device 90, and driven rollers. The travel path of the endless chain 45 is defined by the driven rollers. The load cell 81 is provided on at least one of the driven rollers and detects the tension acting on the endless chain 45.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a continuous heating furnace.

Background Art

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-172436 discloses a heating furnace including a furnace body and a plurality of conveying rollers arranged at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction of the furnace body. Sprocket wheels are attached to the base ends of the plurality of conveying rollers respectively. A chain is wound around the sprocket wheels. Each conveying roller is supported by a bearing. Each conveying roller is rotationally driven via a chain by a roller drive transmission mechanism and is supposed to rotate at a constant speed in the same direction. By the constant-speed rotation of each conveying roller, the workpiece placed on each conveying roller is conveyed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The inventor of the present application wants to prevent damage to the conveying rollers due to poor conveyance in advance.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The continuous heating furnace disclosed herein comprises a tunnel-shaped furnace body enclosing a space along the conveying direction, a plurality of conveying rollers traversing the tunnel-shaped furnace body and arranged along the conveying direction, and a drive mechanism positioned on one side of the furnace body for driving the plurality of conveying rollers. The drive mechanism comprises a plurality of shafts and a chain drive device. Each of the plurality of shafts is provided with a support portion that supports one end of a corresponding conveying roller among the plurality of conveying rollers outside the furnace body, and a sprocket. The chain drive device comprises an endless chain whose travel path is set to sequentially mesh with the sprockets of the plurality of shafts arranged along the conveying direction, a power transmission device that transmits power to rotate the endless chain in a predetermined direction, and a plurality of driven rollers for defining the travel path of the endless chain. At least one of the plurality of driven rollers is provided with a detection portion that detects the tension acting on the endless chain. In such a continuous heating furnace, damage to the conveying rollers can be effectively prevented. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0006] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the continuous heating furnace 1. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a side view of the continuous heating furnace 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the support structure on the drive side of the conveyor roller 20. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the support structure on the driven side of the conveyor roller 20. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a front view of the drive mechanism 40. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a rear view of the drive mechanism 40. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the area around the power transmission device 90 in Figure 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, members and parts that perform the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals. Also, the dimensional relationships (length, width, thickness, etc.) in each figure do not reflect the actual dimensional relationships. The directions of up, down, left, right, front, and back are represented by the arrows U, D, L, R, F, and Rr in the figures, respectively. Hereinafter, the directions of up, down, left, right, front, and back are defined only for the convenience of explanation and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified.

[0008] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the continuous heating furnace 1. Figure 1 schematically shows the longitudinal section of the continuous heating furnace 1 along the conveying direction. Figure 2 is a side view of the continuous heating furnace 1. Figure 2 shows the drive side of the continuous heating furnace 1. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the support structure on the drive side of the conveying roller 20. Note that Figure 3 shows the support structure of the conveying roller 20 located furthest forward among the multiple conveying rollers 20.

[0009] <Continuous heating furnace 1> As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the continuous heating furnace 1 comprises a furnace body 10, a plurality of transport rollers 20, a drive mechanism 40, and a control device 100. The continuous heating furnace 1 is a heating furnace that continuously heats the workpiece A while transporting it along the transport direction. The continuous heating furnace 1 is a so-called roller hearth kiln that heats the workpiece while transporting it in the transport direction (here, from rear to front) by the rotation of the transport rollers. The arrows in Figure 1 indicate the transport direction in which the workpiece A is transported.

[0010] <Furnace body 10> As shown in Figure 1, the furnace body 10 encloses a space 10n through which the workpiece A is transported along the transport direction. The furnace body 10 is formed in a tunnel shape. The furnace body 10 has a side wall 11, a side wall 12 (see Figure 4), a bottom wall 13, and a top wall 14. A transport roller 20 and a heater 30 are provided in the space 10n inside the furnace body 10. The workpiece A is transported through the space 10n by the transport roller 20 and heated by the heater 30.

[0011] The heater 30 is equipment for heating the workpiece A being transported on the transport rollers 20. In this embodiment, a cylindrical ceramic heater is used as the heater 30. The heaters 30 are arranged above and below the multiple transport rollers 20 at predetermined intervals along the transport direction. The heaters 30 are spanned across the side walls 11 and 12. The heaters 30 are not particularly limited as long as they can heat the workpiece A. The type, shape, arrangement, etc., of the heaters 30 are not particularly limited and can be selected according to the heating conditions, etc. As heaters, for example, metal sheath heaters, plate-shaped panel heaters, burner-type heating devices, etc., may be used. The number, output, etc., of the heaters 30 can be appropriately set according to the processing conditions of the workpiece A. By changing the number, output, etc., of the heaters 30, the workpiece A can be processed under different processing conditions along the transport direction.

[0012] A temperature sensor may be provided in space 10n. A thermocouple, infrared thermometer, or the like may be used as the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor measures the temperature of space 10n, which is heated by the heater 30. The output of the heater 30 may be controlled according to the temperature of space 10n measured by the temperature sensor. This allows space 10n to be maintained at a preset temperature.

[0013] The furnace body 10 is made of a material that insulates the heat of the space 10n and is fire-resistant. The furnace body 10 may be made of an insulating material in which ceramic fiber boards, formed into a predetermined shape, are stacked in the thickness direction. The ceramic fiber board is, for example, a plate material formed into a plate shape by adding inorganic fillers and inorganic-organic binders to so-called bulk fiber. The furnace body 10 may also be made of heat-resistant bricks. The thickness of the furnace body 10 is set to a required thickness such that the heat of the space 10n is sufficiently insulated. The outside of the furnace body 10 is covered with an outer wall 16. The outer wall 16 is made of a metallic material that has excellent rigidity and heat resistance. For example, stainless steel may be used as the outer wall 16. Multiple through holes 11a, 12a (see Figures 3 and 4) are formed in the side walls 11 and 12 of the furnace body 10 at approximately constant pitches and approximately uniform heights. The through holes 11a and 12a are holes through which the conveyor roller 20 is inserted, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

[0014] The continuous heating furnace 1 shown in Figure 1 may be a so-called atmospheric furnace, in which the inlet for bringing in the material to be processed A and the outlet for removing the material to be processed A are open to the atmosphere. The continuous heating furnace 1 may also be a so-called atmosphere furnace, in which the atmospheric gas inside the furnace body is controlled. The furnace body 10 may be provided with a gas supply pipe and a gas exhaust pipe. The gas supply pipe is a pipe for supplying atmospheric gas into the furnace body. A gas cylinder for supplying atmospheric gas may be connected to the gas supply pipe. Although not particularly limited, examples of atmospheric gases that can be used include nitrogen, argon, air, oxygen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, etc. The atmospheric gas is appropriately selected according to the heating conditions of the material to be processed, etc. The gas exhaust pipe is a pipe for exhausting atmospheric gas from the furnace body. An exhaust device such as an exhaust pump may be connected to the gas exhaust pipe. When reaction gas is generated from the material to be processed A, the reaction gas is exhausted from the gas exhaust pipe. By providing a gas supply pipe and a gas exhaust pipe in the furnace body 10, the atmosphere inside the furnace body can be controlled. Furthermore, the furnace body 10 may be provided with partitions that divide the space 10n into regions along the transport direction.

[0015] <Multiple conveying rollers 20> As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the multiple conveying rollers 20 are inserted into through holes 11a and 12a formed in side walls 11 and 12 of the furnace body 10, respectively, and each traverse the tunnel-shaped furnace body 10. The multiple conveying rollers 20 are arranged along the conveying direction. The multiple conveying rollers 20 are each hollow shaft members. In other words, the conveying roller 20 is a cylindrical roller. In the present embodiment, a ceramic roller is used as the conveying roller 20. The conveying roller 20 is not limited to being made of ceramic and may be made of metal. The conveying rollers 20 are aligned in height so as to support the workpiece A and are arranged in the space 10n at a predetermined pitch.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the ends of the multiple conveying rollers 20 each protrude from the through holes 11a and 12a to the outside of the furnace body 10. The multiple conveying rollers 20 are driven by a drive mechanism 40 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The drive mechanism 40 is provided outside the furnace body 10. Hereinafter, the drive mechanism 40 will be described.

[0017] <Drive mechanism 40> As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the drive mechanism 40 includes support plates 41 and 42, a plurality of shafts 43, and a chain drive device 44. The drive mechanism 40 is a mechanism that is arranged on one side of the furnace body 10 and drives the conveying rollers 20. In the present embodiment, the drive mechanism 40 is arranged on the left side of the furnace body 10. The multiple conveying rollers 20 rotate at substantially the same timing and speed by the drive mechanism 40. When the multiple conveying rollers 20 rotate, the workpiece A placed on the multiple conveying rollers 20 is conveyed along the conveying direction.

[0018] <Pair of support plates 41 and 42> The pair of support plates 41 and 42 are members that support the shaft 43. As shown in FIG. 3, the support plate 41 is disposed outside the side wall 11 of the furnace body 10 and faces the side wall 11 of the furnace body 10. The support plate 42 is disposed further outside the support plate 41 with respect to the side wall 11 of the furnace body 10 and faces the support plate 41 with a gap therebetween. Further, the support shaft 51, the support shaft 61 (see FIG. 5), and the support shaft 71 (see FIG. 5) described later are attached to the support plate 42. The pair of support plates 41 and 42 are provided outside the side wall 11 of the furnace body 10. The pair of support plates 41 and 42 are disposed to face the furnace body 10 on one side of the furnace body 10. The pair of support plates 41 and 42 are supported by a support frame 40b attached to the outer wall 16. Although not shown, a collar is disposed between the pair of support plates 41 and 42. The pair of support plates 41 and 42 are connected by a connecting member 40c inserted through the collar. As shown in FIG. 2, the support plates 41 and 42 are substantially T-shaped plates and have substantially the same shape as each other. The pair of support plates 41 and 42 face each other with a predetermined gap therebetween. The support plates 41 and 42 extend along the conveying direction substantially parallel to each other.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 3, the support plates 41 and 42 each have opposing surfaces 41a and 42a that face the other support plate. A spacer or the like for maintaining a gap may be provided between the support plates 41 and 42. A cover 47a is attached to the upper portions of the support plates 41 and 42.

[0020] A cover 47b is attached to the lower part of the support plates 41 and 42. The cover 47b is detachably attached by bolts 47c. As shown in Figure 2, the cover 47b is provided intermittently along the conveying direction (see Figure 2). The cover 47b can prevent the endless chain 45, which will be described later, from falling off. A chain guide 47d is provided on the upper surface of the cover 47b. The chain guide 47d is a projection extending along the conveying direction and is formed along the travel path of the endless chain 45. The chain guide 47d has a width narrower than the spacing between the plate portions 45a on the sides of the endless chain 45, which will be described later. In this embodiment, the chain guide 47d is formed approximately in the center of the width direction of the cover 47b. The cover 47b can prevent the endless chain 45 from falling off. The chain guide 47d suppresses meandering of the endless chain 45 when the endless chain 45 is driven.

[0021] Mounting holes 41b and 42b are formed in the support plates 41 and 42. The mounting holes 41b and 42b are positioned so as to overlap with the through holes 11a formed in the side wall 11 of the furnace body 10 in the width direction of the furnace body 10. Bearings 41c and 42c are mounted in the mounting holes 41b and 42b, respectively. In addition, as shown in Figure 2, a mounting hole 41d is formed in the support plate 42. The mounting hole 41d is a hole into which the support shaft 71 (see Figure 5), which will be described later, is attached. The mounting hole 41d is an elongated hole in which the length in the vertical direction is longer than the length in the front-to-back direction.

[0022] <Multiple shafts 43> As shown in Figure 2, the multiple shafts 43 are arranged along the conveying direction to correspond to the ends of the multiple conveying rollers 20 (see Figure 1). As shown in Figure 3, the multiple shafts 43 are stretched across a pair of support plates 41 and 42, and are supported by bearings 41c and 42c mounted in mounting holes 41b and 42b of the pair of support plates 41 and 42. The shafts 43 support the conveying rollers 20 outside the furnace body 10.

[0023] Multiple shafts 43 are rotatably supported by a pair of support plates 41 and 42 via bearings 41c and 42c. The shafts 43 are members that support the conveyor rollers 20. Each of the multiple shafts 43 supports one end (in this embodiment, the left end) of a corresponding conveyor roller 20 from among the multiple conveyor rollers 20 outside the furnace body 10. "One conveyor roller 20 corresponding to a shaft 43 from among the multiple conveyor rollers 20" here refers to a conveyor roller 20 that is aligned in the left-right direction with respect to a certain shaft 43 (in other words, positioned in the front-back direction).

[0024] The shaft 43 extends along the width direction of the furnace body 10. The shaft 43 comprises a base portion 43a, a spring seat portion 43b, an insertion portion 43c, a support portion 43d, and a sprocket 43e. The base portion 43a is located at a position far from the furnace body 10. The base portion 43a is substantially cylindrical. The base portion 43a is attached to the support plates 41 and 42 via bearings 41c and 42c. The outer diameter of the base portion 43a is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the bearings 41c and 42c. The length of the base portion 43a is longer than the distance between the support plates 41 and 42. The spring seat portion 43b is connected to the base portion 43a.

[0025] The spring seat portion 43b is located on the furnace body 10 side of the shaft 43, closer to the base end portion 43a. The spring seat portion 43b is a roughly disc-shaped portion with a larger outer diameter than the base end portion 43a. The spring seat portion 43b is the portion to which one end of the coil spring 25 abuts. The insertion portion 43c extends from the spring seat portion 43b.

[0026] The insertion portion 43c is the part that is inserted into the coil spring 25. The insertion portion 43c extends from the spring seat portion 43b toward the furnace body 10. The outer diameter of the insertion portion 43c is smaller than the outer diameter of the spring seat portion 43b and the inner diameter of the coil spring 25 through which it is inserted. In this embodiment, at the base end side (spring seat portion 43b side), the outer diameter of the insertion portion 43c is approximately the same as the inner diameter of the coil spring 25. This makes it easier to fix the coil spring 25 to the shaft 43 and makes it less likely for the coil spring 25 to shift position. The insertion portion 43c has a step formed so that it becomes narrower toward the tip. A support portion 43d is provided at the tip of the insertion portion 43c.

[0027] The support portion 43d supports one end of one of the multiple conveyor rollers 20 that corresponds to the shaft 43. The support portion 43d is substantially spherical except for its flat ends. The support portion 43d is inserted through the hollow conveyor roller 20. The support portion 43d, inserted through the conveyor roller 20, supports the conveyor roller 20 from the inside. The outer diameter of the support portion 43d is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the conveyor roller 20. This makes it less likely for these components to be subjected to large loads even when the conveyor roller 20 and shaft 43 expand due to thermal expansion during the operation of the continuous heating furnace 1.

[0028] The conveyor roller 20 is supported by the shaft 43 via a coil spring 25. The coil spring 25 is positioned between the conveyor roller 20 and the spring seat portion 43b of the shaft 43. Here, a coil spring 25 with a natural length longer than the gap between the conveyor roller 20 and the spring seat portion 43b of the shaft 43 is used. As a result, both ends of the coil spring 25 abut against the ends of the conveyor roller 20 and the spring seat portion 43b of the shaft 43, respectively. The elastic force of the compressed coil spring 25 acts on both the ends of the conveyor roller 20 and the spring seat portion 43b. This causes the conveyor roller 20 to rotate as the shaft 43 rotates. A sprocket 43e is attached to the shaft 43.

[0029] <Multiple sprockets 43e> Multiple sprockets 43e are each mounted on the shaft 43 between a pair of support plates 41 and 42. In this embodiment, the sprockets 43e are attached to the base end 43a of the shaft 43. The position of the sprockets 43e is determined by a cylindrical collar 44a through which the base end 43a is inserted. Multiple sprockets 43e are mounted to the base end 43a of the shaft 43 so that they overlap each other in the conveying direction. Therefore, the multiple sprockets 43e are arranged along the conveying direction. An endless chain 45, which will be described later, is wrapped around the sprockets 43e.

[0030] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the support structure on the driven side of the conveyor roller 20. As shown in Figure 4, a pair of support plates 56 and 57 are provided on the outside of the side wall 12. The pair of support plates 56 and 57 are supported by a support frame 40e. A collar 58 is positioned between the pair of support plates 56 and 57. The pair of support plates 56 and 57 are connected by a connecting member 59 inserted through the collar 58. Through holes 56a and 57a are formed in the pair of support plates 56 and 57. A shaft 43 is attached to the through holes 56a and 57a via bearings 56b and 57b. The driven side shaft 43, supported by the pair of support plates 56 and 57, has the same configuration as the drive side shaft 43 described above, except that a sprocket 43e (see Figure 3) is not attached, so a detailed explanation is omitted. Similar to the drive side shaft 43, the insertion portion 43c of the driven side shaft 43 is inserted through a compressed coil spring 25. The coil spring 25 is compressed by the spring seat portion 43b and the end of the conveyor roller 20, and the driven shaft 43 rotates in conjunction with the conveyor roller 20. The driven shaft 43 rotates in conjunction with the driven shaft 43, which is driven by the drive mechanism 40.

[0031] Figure 5 is a front view of the drive mechanism 40. As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the chain drive device 44 includes an endless chain 45, a turn roller 46, a first support mechanism 50, a guide roller 48, a second support mechanism 60, a tension roller 49, a third support mechanism 70, a fourth support mechanism 80, and a power transmission device 90. A drive device (not shown) that generates power is connected to the power transmission device 90. The power generated by the drive device is input to the power transmission device 90. The input power is transmitted to the endless chain 45 (see Figure 3) by the power transmission device 90. Note that the endless chain 45 is not shown in Figure 5. The chain drive device 44 is a device that rotates the shaft 43.

[0032] <Endless Chain 45> The endless chain 45 transmits power received from the power transmission device 90 to the sprockets 43e. As shown in Figure 3, the endless chain 45 comprises a pair of plate sections 45a and roller sections 45b connecting the plate sections 45a. As shown in Figure 3, the endless chain 45 has a travel path set so that it sequentially engages with a plurality of sprockets 43e arranged along the conveying direction between a pair of support plates 41 and 42. Here, as shown in Figure 2, the endless chain 45 passes beneath the plurality of sprockets 43e provided on each of the plurality of shafts 43. In the drive mechanism 40, the travel path of the endless chain 45 is predetermined.

[0033] Here, the endless chain 45 is routed not only around the sprocket 43e and turn roller 46, but also around the guide roller 48 and tension roller 49. Therefore, the turn roller 46, guide roller 48, and tension roller 49 define the travel path of the endless chain 45. In this embodiment, a chain rail 40d is provided below the multiple sprockets 43e on the multiple shafts 43, along the travel path of the endless chain 45. The chain rail 40d may be provided, for example, on the opposing surfaces 41a, 42a (see Figure 3) of a pair of support plates 41, 42. The endless chain 45 is connected to the power transmission device 90 with the required tension applied by the tension roller 49. Therefore, the power transmitted from the power transmission device 90 causes the endless chain 45 to rotate along a predetermined path. In conjunction with the endless chain 45, the sprocket 43e shown in Figure 3 rotates, and the shafts 43 inserted through the multiple conveyor rollers 20 rotate accordingly. The rotation of the shaft 43 is transmitted to the conveyor roller 20 via the coil spring 25, and the conveyor roller 20 rotates in conjunction with the shaft 43. As a result, the multiple conveyor rollers 20 rotate at approximately the same timing and speed. In this way, the multiple conveyor rollers 20 are driven from the end on the side wall 11 (see Figure 2). Note that it is not necessary for all shafts 43 to be equipped with a sprocket 43e. Some shafts may not be equipped with a sprocket 43e and may rotate in conjunction with the conveyance of the workpiece A, without being driven by the endless chain 45.

[0034] In this embodiment, the endless chain 45 rotates counterclockwise in the view of Figure 2. That is, the direction of rotation of the endless chain 45 in this embodiment is counterclockwise in the view of Figure 2. Therefore, the shaft 43 and the conveyor roller 20 (see Figure 3) rotate clockwise in the view of Figure 2. As a result, the workpiece A (see Figure 1) supported by the conveyor roller 20 is conveyed from rear to front. However, the direction in which the endless chain 45, shaft 43 and conveyor roller 20 rotate, i.e., the direction in which the workpiece A is conveyed, is not limited to this.

[0035] <Turn Roller 46> The turn roller 46 is a roller that folds the endless chain 45 back in a predetermined direction. The turn roller 46 is a hollow shaft member. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the drive mechanism 40 has two turn rollers 46. One of the two turn rollers 46 is positioned below the foremost shaft 43 among a plurality of shafts 43 arranged in the conveying direction. In this case, as shown in Figure 3, the turn roller 46 is positioned below the sprocket 43e of the foremost shaft 43. As shown in Figure 2, the other of the two turn rollers 46 is positioned below the rearmost shaft 43 among a plurality of shafts 43 arranged in the conveying direction. Although not shown, the other of the two turn rollers 46 is also positioned below the sprocket of the rearmost shaft 43, similar to the other of the two turn rollers 46. The forward turn roller 46 of the two turn rollers 46 will also be referred to as turn roller 46a. The turn roller 46a is located in front of the power transmission device 90. Of the two turn rollers 46, the rearmost turn roller 46 will also be referred to as turn roller 46b. Turn roller 46b is located behind the power transmission device 90. In the following description, the term "turn roller 46" will be used as appropriate when describing something common to both turn rollers 46a and 46b. In this embodiment, turn roller 46a folds the endless chain 45 back from front to rear. Turn roller 46b folds the endless chain 45 back from rear to front. In other words, turn roller 46 folds the endless chain 45 back by approximately 180 degrees. However, the direction and angle in which the turn roller 46 folds the endless chain 45 are not particularly limited.

[0036] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, a guide roller having a flange portion 46f is used as the turn roller 46. The flange portion 46f is a part whose diameter widens at approximately the axial center of the turn roller 46. The flange portion 46f is continuous in the circumferential direction of the turn roller 46. By arranging the plate portion 45a of the endless chain 45 to sandwich the flange portion 46f, the endless chain 45 is less likely to fall off the turn roller 46. Note that the turn roller 46 is not particularly limited as long as it has a shape on which the endless chain 45 can be hung. As the turn roller 46, for example, a guide roller with a flat outer surface, a guide roller with flange portions on both sides in the axial direction, a guide roller with grooves, a sprocket, etc. may be used.

[0037] <First support mechanism 50> The first support mechanism 50 is a mechanism that supports the turn roller 46. The first support mechanism 50 includes a support shaft 51, a collar 52, a bearing 53, and fastening members 54 and 55. However, the mechanism that supports the turn roller 46 is not limited to this.

[0038] <Support shaft 51> The support shaft 51 is a member that is inserted into the turn roller 46 via a bearing 53. The support shaft 51 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. The length of the support shaft 51 in the left-right direction is longer than the distance between the pair of support plates 41 and 42 in the left-right direction. Although not shown in the figures, the pair of support plates 41 and 42 have through holes through which the support shaft 51 can be inserted. These through holes extend in the left-right direction. The support shaft 51 is inserted into a collar 52. The collar 52 is positioned adjacent to the left and right of the bearing 53. The bearing 53 is attached to the turn roller 46. The collar 52 is in contact with the opposing surfaces 41a and 42a of the pair of support plates 41 and 42. The portion of the support shaft 51 located between the pair of support plates 41 and 42 is covered by the collar 52.

[0039] <Fastening members 54, 55> In this embodiment, the support shaft 51 and the collar 52 are attached to a pair of support plates 41 and 42 by fastening members 54 and 55, respectively. Here, the fastening members 54 and 55 are nuts. Although not shown in the illustration, screw threads are formed at both ends of the support shaft 51 in the left-right direction, into which the fastening members 54 and 55 are screwed. With the support shaft 51 inserted through the pair of support plates 41 and 42, the collar 52, and the bearing 53, the support shaft 51 is fixed by fastening the fastening members 54 and 55 to the support shaft 51 from the left-right outer sides of the pair of support plates 41 and 42. This fixes the position of the turn roller 46.

[0040] <Guide Roller 48> The guide roller 48 shown in Figure 2 is a roller that guides the endless chain 45 in a predetermined direction. The guide roller 48 is a hollow shaft member. The guide roller 48 folds the endless chain 45 back in a predetermined direction. In this embodiment, the drive mechanism 40 has two guide rollers 48. Of the two guide rollers, the guide roller 48 located in front will also be referred to as guide roller 48a. Guide roller 48a is located in front of the power transmission device 90. Of the two guide rollers 48, the guide roller 48 located in rear will also be referred to as guide roller 48b. Guide roller 48b is located behind the power transmission device 90. In the following description, when describing something common to both guide rollers 48a and 48b, the term guide roller 48 will be used as appropriate.

[0041] In this embodiment, the guide roller 48 is made up of a sprocket. As described above, an endless chain 45 (see Figure 2) is wrapped around the guide roller 48. The endless chain 45 is guided in a predetermined direction by the guide roller 48. In this embodiment, the endless chain 45 is guided by the guide roller 48 to change between a state in which it extends substantially vertically and a state in which it extends substantially horizontally. More specifically, the guide roller 48a guides the endless chain 45 so that it changes from a state in which it extends substantially vertically to a state in which it extends substantially horizontally (here, in the front-to-back direction). The guide roller 48b guides the endless chain 45 so that it changes from a state in which it extends substantially horizontally to a state in which it extends substantially vertically. In other words, the guide roller 48 bends the endless chain 45 by approximately 90 degrees.

[0042] <Second support mechanism 60> As shown in Figure 5, the second support mechanism 60 is a mechanism that supports the guide roller 48. The second support mechanism 60 includes a support shaft 61, a collar 62, a bearing 63, and fastening members 64 and 65. Here, we will describe the second support mechanism 60 that supports guide roller 48a, one of the two guide rollers 48 (see also Figure 2). Guide roller 48b (see Figure 2) is also supported by the second support mechanism 60, similar to guide roller 48a (see also Figure 6). Note that the mechanism that supports the guide roller 48 is not limited to this.

[0043] <Support shaft 61> The support shaft 61 is a component that is inserted into the guide roller 48 via a bearing 63. The support shaft 61 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. Although not shown in the illustration, the support plate 42 has a through hole through which the support shaft 61 can be inserted. This through hole extends in the left-right direction. The support shaft 61 is inserted into the collar 62. The bearing 63 is positioned adjacent to the right of the collar 62. The bearing 63 is attached to the guide roller 48. The fastening members 64 and 65 in this case are nuts. Although not shown in the illustration, screw threads are formed at both ends of the support shaft 61 in the left-right direction, respectively, for screwing into the fastening members 64 and 65. The support shaft 61 is fixed when the bearing 63 and guide roller 48 are attached to the support shaft 61 inserted into the support plate 42 and collar 62, and the fastening members 64 and 65 are fastened. This fixes the position of the guide roller 48.

[0044] <Tension Roller 49> The tension roller 49 shown in Figure 2 is a roller for adjusting the tension applied to the endless chain 45. The tension roller 49 is a hollow shaft member. The tension roller 49 folds the endless chain 45 in a predetermined direction. In this embodiment, the drive mechanism 40 has two tension rollers 49. Of the two tension rollers 49, the tension roller 49 located in front will also be referred to as tension roller 49a. A portion of the tension roller 49a overlaps with the power transmission device 90 in the conveying direction. In the rotational direction of the endless chain 45, the tension roller 49a is located upstream of the turn roller 46a and the guide roller 48a and downstream of the power transmission device 90.

[0045] Of the two tension rollers 49, the rearmost tension roller 49 will also be referred to as tension roller 49b. A portion of tension roller 49b overlaps with the power transmission device 90 in the conveying direction. In the rotation direction of the endless chain 45, tension roller 49b is located downstream of the turn roller 46b and guide roller 48b and upstream of the power transmission device 90. In the following description, the term tension roller 49 will be used as appropriate when describing something common to both tension rollers 49a and 49b.

[0046] In this embodiment, the tension roller 49 is composed of a sprocket. As described above, an endless chain 45 (see Figure 2) is wrapped around the tension roller 49. The tension roller 49 folds the endless chain 45 in a predetermined direction. In this embodiment, the endless chain 45 is folded in an up-and-down direction with respect to the conveying direction. More specifically, the turn roller 46a folds the endless chain 45 from bottom to top. The tension roller 49b folds the endless chain 45 from top to bottom. In other words, the tension roller 49 folds the endless chain 45 by approximately 180 degrees.

[0047] <Third support mechanism 70> The third support mechanism 70, as shown in Figure 5, is a mechanism that supports the tension roller 49a. As shown in Figure 4, the third support mechanism 70 includes a support shaft 71, a collar 72, a bearing 73, and fastening members 74 and 75. However, the mechanism that supports the tension roller 49a is not limited to this.

[0048] <Support shaft 71> The support shaft 71 is a member that is inserted into the tension roller 49a via a bearing 73. The support shaft 71 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. The support shaft 71 is inserted into the mounting hole 41d. The support shaft 71 is inserted into the collar 72. The bearing 73 is positioned adjacent to the right of the collar 72. The bearing 73 is attached to the tension roller 49a. The fastening members 74 and 75 in this case are nuts. The support shaft 71 is fixed by attaching the bearing 73 and the tension roller 49a to the support shaft 71 inserted into the mounting hole 41d and the collar 72, and fastening the fastening members 74 and 75. At this time, the vertical position of the support shaft 71 with respect to the vertically extending mounting hole 41d is adjusted, thereby adjusting the vertical position of the tension roller 49a. In this embodiment, the tension roller 49a folds the endless chain 45 back from below to above. Therefore, the lower the vertical position of the support shaft 71, the greater the tension acting on the endless chain 45.

[0049] <Fourth support mechanism 80> Figure 6 is a rear view of the drive mechanism 40. As shown in Figure 6, the fourth support mechanism 80 is a mechanism that supports the tension roller 49b. The fourth support mechanism 80 has a collar 82, a bearing 83, and fastening members 84 and 85. The collar 82 and bearing 83 are the same as the collar 72 (see Figure 5) and bearing 73 (see Figure 5) of the third support mechanism 70 (see Figure 5). The fastening members 84 and 85 have the same configuration as the fastening members 74 and 75 (see Figure 5) of the third support mechanism 70.

[0050] <Power transmission device 90> An endless chain 45 is wrapped around the power transmission device 90. The power transmission device 90 is a device that transmits power to rotate the endless chain 45 in a predetermined direction. The power transmitted to the endless chain 45 by the power transmission device 90 is transmitted to the conveyor roller 20 via the endless chain 45, sprocket 43e, and shaft 43. The power transmission device 90 comprises a rotating shaft 90a and a drive sprocket 90b. The drive sprocket 90b is inserted through the rotating shaft 90a. The endless chain 45 is wrapped around the drive sprocket 90b as shown in Figure 2. The power transmission device 90 has gears, etc. (not shown) that transmit the input power to the rotating shaft 90a. The power input to the power transmission device 90 causes the rotating shaft 90a to rotate in a predetermined direction via the gears, etc., and the drive sprocket 90b rotates. As a result, the endless chain 45 wrapped around the drive sprocket 90b rotates. Here, the rotating shaft 90a and the drive sprocket 90b rotate clockwise in the view shown in Figure 2. As a result, the endless chain 45 rotates counterclockwise in the view shown in Figure 2. However, the direction in which the rotating shaft 90a and the drive sprocket 90b rotate is not limited to this. The power transmission device 90 may be, for example, a motor. In this case, the power transmission device 90 generates the power to rotate the endless chain 45, and the power transmission device 90 transmits that power.

[0051] <Control device 100> The control device 100 is electrically connected to the power transmission device 90 and the load cell 81, as shown in Figure 2. The configuration of the control device 100 is not particularly limited, but the control device 100 is, for example, a microcomputer. The control device 100 controls the transport speed of the workpiece A (see Figure 1) so that the workpiece A is transported according to predetermined transport conditions. Here, the control device 100 controls the transport speed of the transport roller 20 by controlling the rotation speed of the rotating shaft 90a of the power transmission device 90, thereby controlling the transport speed of the workpiece A. As described above, when the power transmission device 90 transmits power, the drive sprocket 90b attached to the power transmission device 90 rotates, and the endless chain 45 rotates.

[0052] Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the area around the power transmission device 90 in Figure 2. The arrows in Figure 7 indicate the direction of rotation of the endless chain 45. As shown in Figure 7, when the power transmission device 90 transmits power, the rotating shaft 90a and the drive sprocket 90b rotate clockwise, and the endless chain 45 rotates counterclockwise. At this time, a portion of the endless chain 45 behind the power transmission device 90 moves in a substantially horizontal direction (forward in this case). When the power transmission device 90 transmits power further, the direction of movement of this portion changes from substantially horizontal to downward by the guide roller 48b. That is, the guide roller 48b bends the endless chain 45 by approximately 90 degrees. When the power transmission device 90 transmits power further, the direction of movement of this portion changes from downward to upward by the tension roller 49b, from upward to downward by the drive sprocket 90b, and from downward to upward by the tension roller 49a. In other words, the tension rollers 49a, 49b and the drive sprocket 90b fold the endless chain 45 back by approximately 180 degrees. A portion of the endless chain 45 that has passed through the tension roller 49a changes direction by the guide roller 48a, moving from above to approximately horizontal (in this case, forward). In other words, the guide roller 48a folds the endless chain 45 back by approximately 90 degrees. As shown in Figure 2, a portion of the endless chain 45 that has passed through the guide roller 48a changes direction by the turn roller 46a, moving from front to back. Furthermore, when the power transmission device 90 transmits power, this portion changes direction by the turn roller 46b, moving from back to front. In other words, the turn rollers 46a and 46b fold the direction of the endless chain 45 back by approximately 180 degrees. The endless chain 45 that has passed through the turn roller 46b reaches the guide roller 48b again. This is repeated, causing the endless chain 45 to rotate along the travel path. At this time, the transport roller 20 rotates, and the object to be processed A (see Figure 1) is transported from rear to front.

[0053] Incidentally, in the continuous heating furnace 1 described above, the movement of the shaft 43 supporting the conveyor roller 20 may deteriorate with use. For example, if the rotation of the bearing 41c deteriorates, the movement of the shaft 43 will deteriorate, and a load will be placed on the conveyor roller 20. Note that the phenomenon of the shaft 43's movement becoming poor can also occur in the driven support mechanism of the conveyor roller 20 shown in Figure 4. If the power transmission device 90 continues to try to rotate the endless chain 45 along the travel path while the shaft 43 is moving poorly, the load on the tension roller 49 etc. around which the endless chain 45 is wrapped will increase, which may cause damage or deformation of the tension roller 49 etc. If damage or deformation occurs to the tension roller 49 etc., the endless chain 45 will not be able to rotate, and power will not be transmitted to the endless chain 45. At this time, the conveyor roller 20 will not rotate, and poor conveyance of the workpiece A will occur. When poor conveyance occurs, the workpiece A will not be conveyed along the travel path, and the workpiece A will become overcrowded at the location where the poor conveyance occurred. At this time, the weight of the workpiece A can cause damage to the conveyor roller 20 or deformation of the shaft 43. If the conveyor roller 20 is damaged, problems such as the workpiece A falling off the conveyor roller 20 can occur. The inventors of this application wanted to detect and prevent such damage to the conveyor roller 20 in advance.

[0054] Here, according to the inventor's knowledge, tension acts on the endless chain 45 when the continuous heating furnace 1 is in use. If the movement of the shaft 43 supporting the conveyor roller 20 becomes poor, the tension of the endless chain 45 increases accordingly. Since the endless chain 45 is wrapped around the turn rollers 46a, 46b, guide rollers 48a, 48b and tension rollers 49a, 49b, when the endless chain 45 rotates along the predetermined travel path as described above, the endless chain 45 is pressed against the turn rollers 46a, 46b, guide rollers 48a, 48b and tension rollers 49a, 49b. The turn rollers 46a, 46b, guide rollers 48a, 48b and tension rollers 49a, 49b are examples of driven rollers in the present invention.

[0055] Therefore, the inventor of the present invention considered providing a detection unit in at least one of the multiple driven rollers to detect the tension acting on the endless chain 45.

[0056] <Load Cell 81> An example of a detection unit is a load cell 81 provided in the drive mechanism 40. The load cell 81 is provided in at least one of the driven rollers and detects the tension acting on the endless chain 45. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 6, the load cell 81 has a cylindrical shape with an outer diameter substantially the same as that of the support shaft 71 (see Figure 4). The load cell 81 is inserted through the tension roller 49b. Therefore, the tension roller 49b is supported by the load cell 81 and the fourth support mechanism 80. The load cell 81 has a bearing 83 of the fourth support mechanism 80 attached to it and is inserted through a collar 82. The load cell 81 is also fixed by fastening members 84 and 85.

[0057] As shown in Figure 2, the support plate 42 has a mounting hole 41e. The mounting hole 41e is a hole into which the load cell 81 is mounted (see also Figure 6). The mounting hole 41e is an elongated hole in which the vertical length is longer than the front-to-back length, similar to the mounting hole 41d (see Figure 5). Similar to the mounting hole 41d and the support shaft 71 (see Figure 5), the vertical position of the tension roller 49b is adjusted by adjusting the vertical position of the load cell 81 relative to the mounting hole 41e. The load cell 81 may be mounted on the support plate 41, or on both the support plate 41 and the support plate 42.

[0058] Because the endless chain 45 is pressed against the turn rollers 46a, 46b, guide rollers 48a, 48b, and tension rollers 49a, 49b, a load corresponding to the tension of the endless chain 45 is applied to the support shafts 51, 61, 71 and the load cell 81 shown in Figures 5 and 6 via the driven rollers. Here, since the tension roller 49b folds the endless chain 45 from below to above, an upward load is applied to the load cell 81. The load cell 81 has a sensor that can detect the load applied in the radial direction of the load cell 81. Therefore, the load cell 81 detects the tension of the endless chain 45 based on the load applied to the tension roller 49b. The load cell 81 is electrically connected to the control device 100 (see Figure 2). The load cell 81 detects the load and transmits an electrical signal corresponding to the load to the control device 100. Note that the load cell 81 may also be provided on driven rollers other than the tension roller 49b. Furthermore, the number of load cells 81 may be two or more.

[0059] <Receiving unit 101, notification unit 102> As shown in Figure 2, the control device 100 includes a measuring unit 101 and a notification unit 102. The measuring unit 101 receives an electrical signal transmitted by the load cell 81. Based on the received electrical signal, the measuring unit 101 measures the load applied to the load cell 81. The notification unit 102 notifies the user if the load measured by the measuring unit 101 is greater than a predetermined threshold, that is, if the tension of the endless chain 45 detected by the load cell 81 is greater than a predetermined threshold. This threshold may be, for example, one that is stored in the control device 100 beforehand. The method of notification by the notification unit 102 is not particularly limited. For example, the control device 100 may have a display that shows the operating status of the continuous heating furnace 1, and the notification unit 102 may display a notification on the display. Alternatively, for example, the continuous heating furnace 1 may have a notification device connected to the control device 100, and the notification unit 102 may activate the notification device. The notification device may, for example, be a device that turns a notification lamp on or off, or a device that emits a warning sound. Alternatively, for example, the continuous heating furnace 1 may be connected to a server via a network, and the server may monitor the operating status of the continuous heating furnace 1 (such as abnormal tension in the endless chain 45). In such a case, the notification unit 102 may be configured to send a notification to the server, and the operating status may be managed and recorded. Or, the notification unit 102 may be configured to send a notification to a terminal such as a smartphone connected to the server. The server or terminal may be configured to allow an administrator to remotely monitor and operate the continuous heating furnace 1.

[0060] In the embodiment described above, the continuous heating furnace 1 comprises a furnace body 10, a plurality of conveying rollers 20, and a drive mechanism 40. As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the drive mechanism 40 that drives the conveying rollers 20 comprises a shaft 43 and a chain drive device 44. The chain drive device 44 comprises an endless chain 45, a turn roller 46, a guide roller 48, a tension roller 49, a load cell 81, and a power transmission device 90. The load cell 81 is inserted through the tension roller 49. When the tension acting on the endless chain 45 increases, the load on the turn roller 46, guide roller 48a, and tension roller 49 increases. Since the load cell 81 is inserted through the tension roller 49b, it can detect when the load on the tension roller 49b has increased. By checking the load detected by the load cell 81, the user can detect deterioration of parts, etc., at a stage when the tension of the endless chain 45 has increased to an extent that does not cause damage to the tension roller 49b, etc. This prevents the occurrence of conveying failures due to damage to the tension roller 49b, etc., when the movement of the shaft 43 becomes poor, and in turn prevents damage to the conveying roller 20.

[0061] In the embodiment described above, the tension roller 49b is a hollow shaft member. The load cell 81 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is inserted through the tension roller 49b. Therefore, the load cell 81 supports the tension roller 49b and can detect the load applied to the tension roller 49b by the endless chain 45. If the load cell 81 is not used, for example, a support shaft is provided on the tension roller 49b, similar to the turn roller 46. In this case, it is necessary to provide a separate detection unit to detect the tension acting on the endless chain 45. Such a detection unit can be realized, for example, by a mechanism that defines the travel path of the endless chain 45 using rollers or the like so that the position of a part of the endless chain 45 is displaced in accordance with the tension acting on the endless chain 45, and a mechanism configured to detect the amount of displacement of that part. To detect the amount of displacement of that part, for example, a spring can be attached to that part and the amount of displacement of the spring can be detected. However, according to this embodiment, the load cell 81 can support the tension roller 49b and measure the load applied to the tension roller 49b. Therefore, for example, in cases where the tension roller 49b is supported by a support shaft, the tension acting on the endless chain 45 can be detected simply by replacing the support shaft supporting the tension roller 49b with the load cell 81, without having to provide a separate detection unit to detect the tension acting on the endless chain 45 as described above.

[0062] In the embodiment described above, a load cell 81 is inserted through the tension roller 49b, and the load cell 81 detects the load applied to the tension roller 49b and detects the tension of the endless chain 45. Here, the tension roller 49b is located upstream of the power transmission device 90 and downstream of the turn roller 46b and guide roller 48b in the rotational direction of the endless chain 45. The turn roller 46b and guide roller 48b are examples of the first roller in the present invention, and the tension roller 49b is an example of the second roller in the present invention. Here, for example, when a rotational malfunction occurs in the driven roller, the power transmission device 90 attempts to rotate the endless chain 45 along the rotational direction, so the endless chain 45 is pulled in the rotational direction. Here, of the turn roller 46b, guide roller 48b and tension roller 49b, the tension roller 49b is located closest to the power transmission device 90 in the rotational direction of the endless chain 45. Therefore, when the tension acting on the endless chain 45 increases, the tension in the vicinity of the tension roller 49b of the endless chain 45 tends to increase particularly, and the load on the tension roller 49b tends to increase. By detecting the tension in the part of the endless chain 45 where the tension tends to increase particularly, damage to the rollers can be prevented more effectively.

[0063] In the embodiment described above, the tension roller 49b through which the load cell 81 is inserted folds the running path of the endless chain 45 in a predetermined direction. When the endless chain 45 is folded in a predetermined direction by the tension roller 49b, a larger portion of the endless chain 45 contacts the tension roller 49b compared to when the endless chain 45 is not folded. Therefore, the load on the tension roller 49b is greater than when the endless chain 45 is not folded. By detecting the load on the tension roller 49b, which is subjected to a relatively large load among the rollers around which the endless chain 45 is routed, damage to the rollers can be more effectively prevented.

[0064] In the embodiment described above, the angle at which the tension roller 49b folds the endless chain 45 (approximately 180 degrees here) is greater than the angle at which the guide roller 48b folds the endless chain 45 (approximately 90 degrees here). The guide roller 48b is an example of a third roller in the present invention, and the tension roller 49 is an example of a fourth roller in the present invention. The load cell 81 is inserted through the tension roller 49b. Here, the larger the angle at which the driven roller folds the endless chain 45, the larger the portion of the endless chain 45 that contacts the driven roller. Therefore, the larger the angle at which the driven roller folds the endless chain 45, the greater the load on the driven roller. Thus, the load that the tension roller 49b receives from the endless chain 45 is greater than the load that the guide roller 48b receives from the endless chain 45. Therefore, by having the load cell 81 detect the load on the tension roller 49b, damage to the roller can be more effectively prevented.

[0065] In the embodiment described above, the control device 100 includes a notification unit 102. The notification unit 102 notifies the user when the value received by the receiving unit 101 is greater than a predetermined threshold. This allows the user to recognize that the tension acting on the endless chain 45 is greater than a predetermined value. Therefore, damage to the rollers and the like can be prevented more effectively.

[0066] Although a detailed explanation has been given above with specific embodiments, these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. Thus, the technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes to the embodiments described above.

[0067] In the embodiment described above, the tension roller 49b is located downstream of the turn roller 46b and the guide roller 48b and upstream of the power transmission device 90 in the rotational direction of the endless chain 45. Therefore, the turn roller 46b and the guide roller 48b are designated as the first rollers in the present invention, and the tension roller 49b is designated as the second roller in the present invention. However, the invention is not limited to this. In the relationship between the turn roller 46b and the guide roller 48b, the guide roller 48b is located downstream of the turn roller 46b and upstream of the power transmission device 90 in the rotational direction of the endless chain 45. Therefore, the turn roller 46b may be designated as the first roller in the present invention, and the guide roller 48b may be designated as the second roller in the present invention.

[0068] In the embodiment described above, the angle at which the tension roller 49 folds the endless chain 45 (here, approximately 180 degrees) is greater than the angle at which the guide roller 48 folds the endless chain 45 (here, approximately 180 degrees). Therefore, the guide roller 48 was designated as the third roller in the present invention, and the tension roller 49 as the fourth roller in the present invention. However, the invention is not limited to this. As described above, the turn roller 46 folds the endless chain 45 by approximately 180 degrees. Therefore, the guide roller 48 may be designated as the third roller in the present invention, and the turn roller 46 as the fourth roller in the present invention.

[0069] In the embodiment described above, only one load cell 81 was provided, but the number of load cells 81 is not limited to one. Load cells 81 may be inserted through the driven rollers other than the tension roller 49b, and the loads applied to multiple driven rollers may be detected. For example, the turn roller 46b, guide roller 48b, and tension roller 49b are positioned closer to the power transmission device 90 than the turn roller 46a, guide roller 48a, and tension roller 49a when viewed from the downstream to the upstream side in the rotational direction of the endless chain 45. Therefore, load cells 81 may be inserted through the turn roller 46b, guide roller 48b, and tension roller 49b, and the loads applied to the turn roller 46b, guide roller 48b, and tension roller 49b may be detected preferentially. Furthermore, as described above, since the angle at which the tension roller 49 bends the endless chain 45 (approximately 180 degrees in this case) is greater than the angle at which the guide roller 48 bends the endless chain 45 (approximately 180 degrees in this case), the load on the turn roller 46b and tension roller 49b may be detected preferentially over the load on the guide roller 48b. In other words, the continuous heating furnace 1 may have two load cells 81, with the load cells 81 inserted between the turn roller 46b and the tension roller 49b.

[0070] This specification includes the following sections 1 to 6. Sections 1 to 6 are not limited to the embodiments described above.

[0071] Section 1: A tunnel-shaped furnace body enclosing the space along the direction of transport, Multiple conveying rollers are arranged along the conveying direction, each traversing the tunnel-shaped furnace body, A drive mechanism is positioned on one side of the furnace body and drives the plurality of transport rollers. Equipped with, The aforementioned drive mechanism is Multiple shafts, Chain drive system and Equipped with, The aforementioned multiple shafts are Outside the furnace body, a support portion supports one end of each of the plurality of conveying rollers corresponding to one conveying roller, Sprocket and Each is equipped with, The chain drive device, An endless chain whose travel path is set so as to sequentially engage with the sprockets of the plurality of shafts arranged along the transport direction, The endless chain is wrapped around a power transmission device that transmits power to rotate the endless chain in a predetermined direction, A plurality of driven rollers for defining the travel path of the endless chain and Equipped with, A continuous heating furnace, wherein at least one of the plurality of driven rollers is provided with a detection unit for detecting the tension acting on the endless chain.

[0072] Section 2: The driven roller is a hollow shaft member, The continuous heating furnace according to item 1, wherein the detection unit is a load cell having a cylindrical shape, inserted through the driven roller, and detecting the tension based on the load applied to the driven roller.

[0073] Section 3: The aforementioned driven roller is First Laura and, A second roller located upstream of the power transmission device in the rotational direction of the endless chain and downstream of the first roller in the rotational direction of the endless chain, It has, The continuous heating furnace according to item 1 or 2, wherein the detection unit detects the tension based on the load acting on the second roller.

[0074] Section 4: The continuous heating furnace according to item 2, wherein the driven roller is a roller that bends the endless chain in a predetermined direction.

[0075] Section 5: The aforementioned driven roller is A third roller that folds the endless chain in a predetermined direction, The third roller has a fourth roller that bends the endless chain at an angle greater than the angle at which the endless chain is bent. The continuous heating furnace according to item 4, wherein the detection unit detects the tension based on the load acting on the fourth roller.

[0076] Item 6: Further equipped with a control device, The continuous heating furnace according to any one of items 1 to 5, wherein the control device notifies the user when the magnitude of the tension detected by the detection unit is greater than a predetermined threshold. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0077] 1. Continuous heating furnace 10 Furnace body 10i space 11,12 side wall 11a,12a through hole 13 Bottom wall 14 Ceiling and Wall 16. Exterior Wall 20 Conveyor rollers 30 Heater 40 Drive mechanism 40b Support frame 40c connecting member 40d chain rail 40e Support Frame 41,42 Support plate 41a,42a Opposite side 41b, 42b Mounting holes 41c, 42c bearings 41d, 41e Mounting holes 43 shafts 43a Proximal end 43b Seat part 43c Insertion part 43d Support part 43e sprocket 44 Chain drive system 44a Color 45 Endless Chain 45a Plate section 45b Roller section 46a, 46b Turn roller (driven roller) 46f Flange section 47a Cover 47b Lid 47c bolt 47d Chain Guide 48a, 48b Guide rollers (driven rollers) 49a, 49b Tension roller (driven roller) 51 Support shaft 52 Colors 53 Bearings 54, 55 Fastening members 56,57 Support plate 56a,57a through hole 56b, 57b bearings 58 Colors 59 Connecting member 61 Support shaft 62 Colors 63 Bearings 64, 65 Fastening members 71 Support shaft 72 Colors 73 Bearings 74,75 Fastening members 81 Load cell (detection unit) 82 Colors 83 Bearings 84,85 Fastening members 90 Power transmission system 90a Rotation axis 90b drive sprocket 100 Control device 101 Receiving Unit 102 Notification Department A. Workpiece to be processed

Claims

1. A tunnel-shaped furnace body enclosing the space along the direction of transport, Multiple conveying rollers are arranged along the conveying direction, each traversing the tunnel-shaped furnace body, The furnace body is provided with a drive mechanism located on one side for driving the plurality of transport rollers, The aforementioned drive mechanism is Multiple shafts, Equipped with a chain drive system, The aforementioned multiple shafts are Outside the furnace body, a support portion supports one end of each of the plurality of conveying rollers corresponding to one of them, Equipped with a sprocket and, respectively, The chain drive device, An endless chain whose travel path is set so as to sequentially engage with the sprockets of the plurality of shafts arranged along the transport direction, The endless chain is wrapped around a power transmission device that transmits power to rotate the endless chain in a predetermined direction, The endless chain comprises a plurality of driven rollers for defining the travel path of the endless chain, A continuous heating furnace, wherein at least one of the plurality of driven rollers is provided with a detection unit for detecting the tension acting on the endless chain.

2. The driven roller is a hollow shaft member, The continuous heating furnace according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit is a load cell having a cylindrical shape, inserted through the driven roller, and detecting the tension based on the load applied to the driven roller.

3. The aforementioned driven roller is First Laura and, The system includes a second roller located upstream of the power transmission device in the rotational direction of the endless chain and downstream of the first roller in the rotational direction of the endless chain, The continuous heating furnace according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects the tension based on the load acting on the second roller.

4. The continuous heating furnace according to claim 2, wherein the driven roller is a roller that folds the endless chain in a predetermined direction.

5. The aforementioned driven roller is A third roller that folds the endless chain in a predetermined direction, The third roller has a fourth roller that bends the endless chain at an angle greater than the angle at which the endless chain is bent. The continuous heating furnace according to claim 4, wherein the detection unit detects the tension based on the load acting on the fourth roller.

6. Further equipped with a control device, The continuous heating furnace according to claim 1, wherein the control device notifies the user when the magnitude of the tension detected by the detection unit is greater than a predetermined threshold.

Images