Conveyor device and heat treatment device

Abstract

To reduce damage to a stopper and a conveyed object.SOLUTION: A conveying device 30 includes a plurality of conveying rollers 40 and a stopper 50. The plurality of conveying rollers 40 is arranged along a conveying path. The stopper 50 moves up and down between adjacent conveying rollers 40a and 40b located at predetermined positions among the plurality of conveying rollers 40. The stopper 50 includes a shaft 51, a roller 52, and an elevating device 53. The shaft 51 extends along the axial direction of the conveying rollers 40. The roller 52 is cylindrical, and the shaft 51 is inserted therethrough. The elevating device 53 raises and lowers the shaft 51.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a conveying device and a heat treatment device. [Background technology]

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2022-151151 discloses a roller-type conveying device that conveys a plurality of conveyed objects placed on conveying rollers in at least three vertical rows. The roller-type conveying device disclosed in this publication is provided with a conveyed object alignment device that pushes the conveyed objects against a stopper, aligns them in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, and aligns the conveyed objects in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, for example, before storing them in a replacement chamber. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-151151 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There is a concern that the stopper, which stops the transported object, and the transported object may come into contact with each other, resulting in damage to the stopper and the transported object. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The conveying device disclosed herein includes a plurality of conveying rollers and a stopper. The plurality of conveying rollers are arranged along a conveying path. The stopper rises and falls between adjacent conveying rollers at a predetermined position among the plurality of conveying rollers. The stopper includes a shaft, a roller, and an elevating device. The shaft extends along the axial direction of the conveying roller. The roller is cylindrical and the shaft is inserted through it. The elevating device raises and lowers the shaft. In such a conveying device, damage to the stopper and the conveyed object is reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a heat treatment apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the transport device 30. As shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the stopper 50. As shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the width-shifting device 60. As shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

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

[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a heat treatment apparatus 10. In the figure, the direction in which the transported object A is transported is indicated by an arrow. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a transport device 30. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the transport device 30 as seen from above. In FIG. 2, the position of the transported object A aligned by the stopper 50 is indicated by a two-dot chain line. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the stopper 50. In FIG. 3, the stopper 50 is shown as seen from the front to the rear. In FIG. 3, the stopper 50 is shown in a raised state, and the position of the stopper 50 in a lowered state is shown by a two-dot chain line. In FIG. 3, the transport rollers 40 are not shown. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a width-shifting device 60. In FIG. 4, the width-shifting device 60 is shown as seen from the front to the rear. In FIG. 4, the contact plate 67 and the transported object A during width-shifting are shown, and the contact plate 67 and the transported object A before width-shifting are shown by a two-dot chain line. In FIG. 4, the support rollers 64 before the transported object A is lifted are indicated by two-dot chain lines.

[0009] <Heat treatment device 10> 1, the heat treatment apparatus 10 includes a heating device 20, a transport device 30, and a substitution chamber 70. The heat treatment apparatus 10 is an apparatus for transporting an object to be treated while it is housed in a heating container A and performing a heat treatment thereon. The heating container A housing the object to be treated is also referred to as the object to be transported A as appropriate.

[0010] In this embodiment, the heating container A is a box-shaped container also called a sagger or sheath. The heating container A is open at the top. The heating container A has a bottom plate and side plates extending upward from the bottom plate. A recess is formed in the top of the side plate of the heating container A. This allows the interior of the lower heating container A to be exposed to the atmosphere inside the heat treatment device 10, even when heating containers A are stacked.

[0011] The heating vessel A is not particularly limited, but may be made of ceramics such as mullite-cordierite, mullite, alumina, spinel-cordierite, magnesia, zirconia, silicon carbide, or carbon. The shape and material of the heating vessel A may be appropriately selected depending on the type of workpiece, heating conditions, etc.

[0012] In the heat treatment apparatus 10, the workpiece contained in the heating container A is heated in a predetermined atmosphere in the heating device 20. Thereafter, the workpiece is transported to the replacement chamber 70 by the transport device 30.

[0013] <Heating device 20> The heating device 20 heats the object to be treated contained in the transported object A. The heating device 20 continuously heats the object to be treated contained in the transported object A while transporting it along the transport direction. In this embodiment, the heating device 20 is a so-called roller hearth kiln that heats the object to be treated while transporting it by the rotation of transport rollers 24. Although not particularly limited, in this embodiment, the object to be treated contained in the heating container A is heated in an atmosphere of up to approximately 1000°C, and the temperature at the discharge port 22a of the heating device 20 is approximately 400°C.

[0014] The heating device 20 includes a tunnel-shaped furnace body 22. Inside the furnace body 22, a processing space 20a is formed in which the object A is processed while being transported from an inlet (not shown) to an outlet 22a. The inlet and outlet 22a may be provided with a door, shutter, or the like to separate the atmosphere inside and outside the furnace body 22. In the processing space 20a, a plurality of transport rollers 24 are arranged along the transport direction.

[0015] The heating containers A are stacked in multiple tiers (two tiers in this embodiment) and transported while being processed. The heating containers A are arranged in multiple rows (five rows in this embodiment) and transported (see FIGS. 2 to 4). The number of tiers and rows of the heating containers A is not particularly limited. By stacking the heating containers A in multiple tiers and transporting them in multiple rows, a large amount of objects to be processed can be processed per unit time, thereby improving processing efficiency. The transported objects A stacked in multiple tiers and arranged in multiple rows are transported on the transport rollers 24. The five rows of transported objects A are transported with a gap between them in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction. This makes it difficult for the transported objects A to interfere with adjacent transported objects A even if they meander during transport, which inevitably causes a deviation in the transport speed, position, etc. of the transported objects A. This can reduce transport problems when transporting the transported objects A in multiple rows.

[0016] The multiple transport rollers 24 are arranged at a predetermined height in the processing space 20a. The multiple transport rollers 24 can be driven by a drive mechanism (not shown) provided outside the furnace body 22. The drive mechanism can include, for example, a chain rail, a sprocket, a motor, etc. The multiple transport rollers 24 are rotationally driven by the drive mechanism. The transported object A placed on the transport rollers 24 is transported in the transport direction (forward) by the rotation of the transport rollers 24.

[0017] A heater (not shown) is provided in the processing space 20a. The heater is a device for heating the workpiece. The heater can be provided above and below the transport roller 24. A cylindrical ceramic heater can be used as the heater. However, the heater is not limited to a ceramic heater. Various heaters can be used depending on the heating conditions, etc. For example, a metal sheath heater can be used as the heater. Furthermore, the shape of the heater is not particularly limited, and for example, a plate-shaped panel heater can be used. For example, a gas burner can be used as the heater.

[0018] An air supply pipe (not shown) is connected to the heating device 20. In this embodiment, a decarbonizing gas such as oxygen is supplied from the air supply pipe. This controls the atmosphere inside the furnace body 22 to be a decarbonizing atmosphere. The workpiece contained in the transported object A is heated by the heater in the decarbonizing atmosphere while being transported on the transport rollers 24.

[0019] The furnace body 22 is made of a heat insulating material around the entire circumference in the conveying direction. The furnace body 22 can be made, for example, by stacking ceramic fiber boards formed into a predetermined shape. The ceramic fiber board is, for example, a plate material formed by adding inorganic filler and inorganic / organic binder to so-called bulk fiber. The furnace body 22 may be made of bricks having fire resistance and heat insulating material. The furnace body 22 may be made of the above-mentioned heat insulating material and bricks. The thickness of the furnace wall is set to a required thickness that sufficiently insulates the heat of the processing space 20a.

[0020] The heating device 20 is not limited to the roller hearth kiln described above. The heating device 20 may be, for example, a so-called mesh belt kiln in which a metal belt conveyor is used as a transport path within the heating device 20.

[0021] The workpieces that have been transported and heat-treated within the furnace body 22 of the heating device 20 are transported toward the replacement chamber 70 by the transport device 30. The heating device 20 and the replacement chamber 70 are airtightly connected by a hood 29. The hood 29 encloses a transfer space 29a through which the workpieces A are transported. The hood 29 separates the transfer space 29a through which the workpieces A are transported from the outside space. In this embodiment, the hood 29 has a rectangular cylindrical shape. The hood 29 may be made of a metal such as stainless steel, or may be made of a thermal insulating material. The material of the hood 29 can be selected appropriately depending on the processing conditions of the heating device 20, etc. The hood 29 may be connected to an exhaust pipe 29d that exhausts the atmosphere within the processing space 20a and the transfer space 29a. The exhaust pipe 29d can be connected to an exhaust pump (not shown). The workpieces A, stacked in multiple tiers and arranged in multiple rows, are transported toward the replacement chamber 70 by the transport device 30.

[0022] <Conveyor device 30> The transport device 30 is connected to the discharge port 22a of the heating device 20. The transport device 30 connects the heating device 20 and the replacement chamber 70. The transport device 30 transports the object A from the heating device 20 toward the replacement chamber 70. The transport device 30 includes a plurality of transport rollers 40, a stopper 50, and a width adjustment device 60.

[0023] <Multiple conveying rollers 40> The plurality of conveying rollers 40 are arranged along the conveying path. The conveying path is set in a substantially straight line from the heating device 20 toward the replacement chamber 70. As shown in FIG. 2, the conveying rollers 40 extend in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. The conveying rollers 40 protrude to the outside from through holes formed in the side walls 29b of the hood 29. Note that the conveying rollers 40 protruding to the outside from the hood 29 are not shown in the figure. A sealing member that improves the airtightness of the inside of the hood 29 is provided in the portion of the hood 29 where the through holes are formed.

[0024] Each of the multiple conveying rollers 40 has a roller shaft 42 and support wheels 44. The roller shaft 42 is a columnar or cylindrical member extending in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. The roller shaft 42 is made of metal (e.g., stainless steel). The roller shaft 42 is a member that serves as the rotation axis of the conveying rollers 40. The roller shaft 42 is driven to rotate by a drive mechanism (not shown) provided outside the hood 29. The drive mechanism may include, for example, a chain rail, a sprocket, a motor, etc., similar to the conveying rollers 24 of the heating device 20 (see FIG. 1). A plurality of support wheels 44 are attached to the roller shaft 42 at intervals along the direction in which the roller shaft 42 extends.

[0025] The support ring 44 is an annular member having an outer diameter larger than that of the roller shaft 42. The inner diameter of the support ring 44 is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the roller shaft 42. The support ring 44 can be attached to the roller shaft 42 by screws or the like. The support ring 44 is a member that supports the transported object A on the transport roller 40. On adjacent transport rollers 40, the multiple support rings 44 are provided at approximately the same position along the transport direction. The transported object A is supported by the multiple support rings 44 provided on the multiple transport rollers 40. The support ring 44 is made of ceramic. As a result, even when the transported object A comes into contact with the support ring 44 during transport, metal powder is not generated, and the incorporation of metal powder into the object is suppressed.

[0026] A plurality of rows of conveying lanes (five in this embodiment) are set on the plurality of conveying rollers 40. The conveying lanes are set along a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction in which the conveyed object A is conveyed. The plurality of rows of conveying lanes for the conveyed object A are set by a plurality of support wheels 44 arranged along the axial direction and the conveying direction of the conveying rollers 40. The conveying lanes are set so that adjacent conveyed objects A are spaced apart along the width direction of the hood 29, similar to the conveyance in the heating device 20 (see FIG. 1). The conveyed objects A conveyed in a plurality of rows are stopped by a stopper 50 before being conveyed to the replacement chamber 70 (see FIG. 1).

[0027] The conveying rollers 40 are supported by a conveying mechanism external to the hood 29, but a mechanism for supporting the conveying rollers 40 may also be provided within the hood 29. In this embodiment, a support member 46 that supports the support portion of the conveying rollers 40 is provided within the hood 29. The support member 46 has a support plate 46a and a pair of support rollers 46b (see FIG. 1). The support plate 46a extends along the conveying direction. The support plate 46a has a substantially L-shaped cross section. The support plate 46a is attached with bolts to a base 46c (see FIG. 1) provided on the bottom wall 29c of the hood 29. A pair of support rollers 46b are attached to the upper part of the support plate 46a. The rotation axis of the support roller 46b is set in the same direction as the rotation axis of the conveying roller 40. The distance between the pair of support rollers 46b is smaller than the diameter of the roller shaft 42 of the conveying roller 40. The roller shaft 42 of the conveying roller 40 is supported by the pair of support rollers 46b in the front-rear direction. Although not particularly limited, the support members 46 are provided at two locations in the width direction of the hood 29. The multiple conveying rollers 40 are each supported by the support members 46 at the same position in the axial direction. By providing the support members 46 that support the conveying rollers 40 inside the hood 29, deflection of the conveying rollers 40 can be suppressed even when the weight of the conveyed object A is heavy.

[0028] <Stopper 50> As shown in FIG. 3, the stopper 50 includes a shaft 51, a roller 52, and an elevating device 53. The stopper 50 includes a support frame 54 and a coil spring 55. The stopper 50 moves up and down between adjacent conveying rollers 40a and 40b (see FIG. 1) among the plurality of conveying rollers 40. The location at which the stopper 50 is provided is not particularly limited. In this embodiment, the stopper 50 is provided near the exit of the hood 29 (the entrance of the replacement chamber 70). The conveying roller 40a is the conveying roller 40 closest to the replacement chamber 70 among the plurality of conveying rollers 40. The conveying roller 40b is the conveying roller 40 adjacent to the conveying roller 40a and is provided behind the conveying roller 40b. The stopper 50 is configured to be able to move up and down between the conveying rollers 40a and 40b.

[0029] In this embodiment, three stoppers 50 are provided along the width direction of the hood 29. The shafts 51 and rollers 52 of the three stoppers 50 are overlapped along a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. Of the three stoppers 50, the central stopper 50 is longer than the stoppers 50 on both ends. The number and dimensions of the stoppers 50 are not particularly limited. The three stoppers 50 rise and fall at the same time.

[0030] <Axis 51> The shaft 51 is a member that extends along the axial direction of the conveying roller 40 (see Figures 1 and 2). The shaft 51 is a substantially cylindrical member. The shaft 51 is substantially parallel to the roller shaft 42 of the conveying roller 40. In this embodiment, the shaft 51 is made of stainless steel. The material of the shaft 51 is not particularly limited. The shaft 51 is raised and lowered between the conveying roller 40a and the conveying roller 40b by the lifting device 53, and moves to an upper position or a lower position. When the shaft 51 is in the upper position, the shaft 51 and the roller 52 are located above the upper end of the support wheel 44 of the conveying roller 40. When the shaft 51 is in the lower position, the upper end of the roller 52 is located below the upper end of the support wheel 44 of the conveying roller 40.

[0031] <Lola 52> The roller 52 is a substantially cylindrical member. The outer diameter of the roller 52 is smaller than the gap between the conveying roller 40a and the conveying roller 40b (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The inner diameter of the roller 52 is larger than the outer diameter of the shaft 51. The roller 52 has a dimension that allows it to rotate in the circumferential direction while inserted on the shaft 51. The roller 52 is rotatably supported on the shaft 51 from its inner circumferential surface. The length of the roller 52 in the axial direction (the direction along the shaft 51) is shorter than the length of the shaft 51. In this embodiment, a plurality of rollers 52 are provided along the axial direction. The plurality of rollers 52 are lined up along the axial direction. The end faces of adjacent rollers 52 are in contact with each other. The central stopper 50 is provided with thirteen rollers 52. The stoppers 50 at both ends are provided with five rollers 52. The number of rollers 52 is not particularly limited.

[0032] In this embodiment, the rollers 52 are made of ceramic. The rollers 52 may be made of alumina, for example. The rollers 52 are made of alumina, which allows the rollers 52 to have good strength. The material, dimensions, number, etc. of the rollers 52 are not particularly limited. The rollers 52 are compressed from both ends by coil springs 55.

[0033] <Coil spring 55> The coil springs 55 bias the rollers 52 from both axial ends. Similar to the rollers 52, the shafts 51 are inserted through the coil springs 55. Two coil springs 55 are provided for each stopper 50. The two coil springs 55 contact the ends of the rollers 52a, which are provided at both ends of the rollers 52. The coil springs 55 are provided between the ends of the rollers 52a and the support portions 54a (described later). The distance between the ends of the rollers 52a and the support portions 54a is narrower than the natural length of the coil springs 55. Because the support portions 54a are fixed to the support frame 54, the rollers 52a are subjected to an elastic force from the compressed coil springs 55. The rollers 52 are biased by the coil springs 55 provided outside the rollers 52a at both ends.

[0034] <Lifting device 53> The lifting device 53 is a device that raises and lowers the shaft 51. The lifting device 53 is provided outside the hood 29. The lifting device 53 is attached to the outer surface of the bottom wall 29c of the hood 29. A cylinder device or the like can be used as the lifting device 53. The lifting device 53 is supported on the outer surface of the bottom wall 29c of the hood 29 via a plate 53b and a shaft 53c that extends along the height direction.

[0035] An elevator shaft 53a extends upward from the elevator device 53. The elevator device 53 is configured to raise and lower the elevator shaft 53a. The elevator shaft 53a extends from the outside of the hood 29 toward the inside. A through-hole through which the elevator shaft 53a is inserted is formed in the bottom wall 29c of the hood 29. Although not shown in detail, a seal member that improves the airtightness of the inside of the hood 29 is provided in the portion of the hood 29 where the through-hole is formed.

[0036] In this embodiment, a support frame 54 is connected to the lifting shaft 53a. As the support frame 54 moves up and down, the shaft 51 moves up and down in the vertical direction. In other words, the lifting device 53 lifts and lowers the shaft 51 via the support frame 54.

[0037] <Support frame 54> The support frame 54 is connected to the lifting device 53 via a lifting shaft 53a. The support frame 54 supports the shaft 51. The support frame 54 includes a support portion 54a that supports the shaft 51.

[0038] The support frame 54 has a generally rectangular shape that conforms to the bottom wall 29c of the hood 29. The support frame 54 extends along the axis 51. An elevating shaft 53a is connected to the center of the support frame 54. A pair of slide shafts 54b are connected to the support frame 54, sandwiching the elevating shaft 53a. The pair of slide shafts 54b extend downward from the underside of the support frame 54. The pair of slide shafts 54b protrude downward from through holes formed in the bottom wall 29c of the hood 29. The pair of slide shafts 54b are each inserted into a bushing 29c1 provided on the outer surface of the bottom wall 29c. This makes it easier for the support frame 54 to be stably raised and lowered in the vertical direction.

[0039] Support portions 54a are attached to both ends of the support frame 54. The support portions 54a have a substantially L-shaped cross section along the conveying direction. The support portions 54a have portions extending upward from the support frame 54. The upwardly extending portions of the support portions 54a face each other along the axial direction. The shaft 51 is bridged across the pair of support portions 54a. The shape of the support frame 54 is not particularly limited as long as it can support the shaft 51.

[0040] In this embodiment, both end portions 51a of the shaft 51 each pass through a pair of support portions 54a. End rollers 56 are provided on both end portions 51a of the shaft 51. The end rollers 56 have approximately the same diameter as the roller 52 provided between the pair of support portions 54a. One end roller 56 is provided on each end portion 51a of the shaft 51 of the central stopper 50. Two end rollers 56 are provided on each end portion 51a of the shaft 51 of the end stoppers 50. A collar may be provided between the end roller 56 and the support portion 54a. Like the roller 52, the end roller 56 is rotatably supported on the shaft 51. Note that the end roller 56 is not necessarily provided. Alternatively, the end roller 56 may be provided on one of the both end portions 51a of the shaft 51.

[0041] The elevation of the stopper 50 can be controlled by a control device (not shown). The elevation of the stopper 50 can be controlled based on the position of the transported object A. The position of the transported object A may be detected by a sensor that detects that the transported object A is being transported, or may be predicted from a set transport speed.

[0042] In this embodiment, the stopper 50 is positioned above the upper end of the conveying roller 40 until the multiple conveyed objects A lined up in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction reach the stopper 50. The multiple conveyed objects A come to a stop against the stopper 50 and are stopped. The multiple conveyed objects A are aligned along the axial direction of the conveying roller 40 along the stopper 50.

[0043] When the object A is transported through the hood 29, the stopper 50 is located in the upper position as shown in FIG. 1. Therefore, when the front end face of the object A reaches between the transport rollers 40a and 40b, it hits the stopper 50 and the object A stops. At this time, the rotation of the transport rollers 40 that support the object A stopped by the stopper 50 may be stopped or may continue. If the rotation of the transport rollers 40 continues, the transport rollers 40 will rotate freely and the object A will not be transported forward of the stopper 50.

[0044] The multiple transported objects A aligned by the stopper 50 are then aligned in width by the alignment device 60. The alignment of the multiple transported objects A will be described later. In this embodiment, when the transported objects A are aligned, the stopper 50 is lowered to the lower position. Next, the aligned transported objects A are lifted from the conveying rollers 40 and aligned in width. The aligned transported objects A are then lowered onto the conveying rollers 40 and transported toward the replacement chamber 70.

[0045] However, when the stopper stops the transported object at a predetermined position, there is a concern that the stopper and the transported object (heating container) may rub against each other as the stopper moves up and down, which may result in damage to either or both of the stopper and the transported object.

[0046] The stopper 50 of the above-described conveying device 30 rises and falls between adjacent conveying rollers 40a, 40b at a predetermined position among the plurality of conveying rollers 40. The stopper 50 includes a shaft 51, a roller 52, and an elevating device 53. The shaft 51 extends along the axial direction of the conveying rollers 40. The roller 52 is cylindrical and the shaft 51 is inserted through it. The elevating device 53 raises and lowers the shaft 51. In the stopper 50, the portion that comes into contact with the conveyed object A is the cylindrical roller 52. For example, when the elevating device 53 lowers the stopper 50 after stopping the conveyed object A, damage caused by friction between the conveyed object A and the stopper 50 (here, the roller 52) during operation of the stopper 50 is reduced.

[0047] 3, in the stopper 50, a plurality of rollers 52 are provided along the axial direction. Therefore, even if some of the plurality of rollers 52 are damaged, it is not necessary to replace all of the rollers 52, and only the damaged rollers 52 can be replaced. As a result, maintenance costs associated with damage to the rollers 52 can be reduced. The method for replacing the rollers 52 is not particularly limited, but the end rollers 56 can be removed from the shaft 51, the shaft 51 can be removed from the support frame 54, and then the roller 52 to be replaced can be replaced.

[0048] The rollers 52 are made of ceramic, which makes it difficult for the transported object A and the rollers 52 to be damaged. Furthermore, metal powder is not generated by contact between the transported object A and the rollers 52, and the contamination of the metal powder into the object can be suppressed.

[0049] The stopper 50 includes a coil spring 55 that biases the roller 52 from both axial ends. Even if the temperature of the roller 52 rises due to heat from the transported object A, a temperature rise in the transport space 29a, or the like, the coil spring 55 can alleviate the load caused by dimensional changes in the roller 52. As a result, damage to the stopper 50 (for example, damage to the roller 52, the support frame 54, etc.) can be reduced.

[0050] Furthermore, since roller 52 is biased by coil spring 55 from both ends, the position of roller 52 relative to shaft 51 tends to be stable. For example, even if a force is applied to roller 52 in the axial direction, such as when conveyed object A hits roller 52 at an angle relative to the conveying direction, the position of roller 52 is stable, and subsequently conveyed object A tends to be stopped under the same conditions.

[0051] The stopper 50 includes a support frame 54. The support frame 54 is connected to the lifting device 53 and supports the shaft 51. The support frame 54 has a pair of support portions 54a that face each other along the axial direction. The shaft 51 is spanned across the pair of support portions 54a. Because the shaft 51 is supported by the pair of support portions 54a, the load when the transported object A hits the stopper 50 can be reduced compared to when the shaft is supported in a cantilevered manner, for example.

[0052] Both end portions 51a of shaft 51 pass through support portions 54a. End rollers 56 having the same diameter as rollers 52 are provided on both end portions 51a of shaft 51. This allows transported object A to be stopped even at the ends of shaft 51, widening the range over which transported object A can be stopped. As a result, it may be possible to line up many transported objects A along shaft 51.

[0053] <Width shifting device 60> As shown in Fig. 4, the width-shifting device 60 includes a lifter 61 and a pusher 66. A plurality of conveyed objects A stopped by the stopper 50 (see Fig. 3) are lifted by the lifter 61 and pushed by the pusher 66 from both sides in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction.

[0054] <Lifter 61> The lifter 61 is a device that lifts a plurality of transported objects A. The lifter 61 includes an elevating device 62, a support plate 63, and a plurality of support rollers 64. The lifter 61 is provided at a position where it overlaps with the transported objects A aligned by the stopper 50 in the direction in which the lifter 61 moves up and down (vertical direction).

[0055] In this embodiment, three lifters 61 are provided along the width direction of the hood 29. Each transported object A may be lifted by one lifter 61, or may be lifted across multiple lifters 61. The three lifters 61 are provided in overlapping positions along a direction perpendicular to the transport direction. The three lifters 61 rise and fall at the same time. By providing multiple lifters 61, the load on the lifters 61 can be distributed even when lifting transported objects A that are stacked in multiple tiers and lined up in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction in order to process a large amount of objects. The number of lifters 61 is not particularly limited.

[0056] <Lifting device 62> The lifting device 62 is provided outside the hood 29. The lifting device 62 is attached to the outer surface of the bottom wall 29c of the hood 29. As with the lifting device 53 of the stopper 50 (see FIG. 3), a cylinder device or the like can be used as the lifting device 62. The lifting device 62 is supported on the outer surface of the bottom wall 29c of the hood 29 via a plate 62b and a shaft 62c extending along the height direction.

[0057] An elevator shaft 62a extends upward from the elevator device 62. The elevator device 62 is configured to raise and lower the elevator shaft 62a. The elevator shaft 62a extends from the outside of the hood 29 toward the inside. A through-hole through which the elevator shaft 62a is inserted is formed in the bottom wall 29c of the hood 29. Although not shown in detail, a seal member that improves the airtightness of the inside of the hood 29 is provided in the portion of the hood 29 where the through-hole is formed.

[0058] A support plate 63 is connected to the upper end of the lift shaft 62a. As the support plate 63 moves up and down, the load A moves up and down.

[0059] <Support plate 63> The support plate 63 is connected to the lifting device 62 via a lifting shaft 62a. The support plate 63 includes a first support plate 63a, a second support plate 63b (see FIG. 2), and a third support plate 63c.

[0060] The third support plate 63c has a generally rectangular shape that conforms to the bottom wall 29c of the hood 29. In the conveying direction, the third support plate 63c is smaller than the conveyed object A. In the conveying direction, the third support plate 63c has a size that covers two conveying rollers 40c (see FIG. 2).

[0061] An elevation shaft 62a is connected to the center of the third support plate 63c. A pair of slide shafts 63c1 are connected to the third support plate 63c, sandwiching the elevation shaft 62a. The pair of slide shafts 63c1 extend downward from the lower surface of the third support plate 63c. The pair of slide shafts 63c1 protrude downward from through-holes formed in the bottom wall 29c of the hood 29. The pair of slide shafts 63c1 are each inserted into a bushing 29c2 provided on the outside of the bottom wall 29c. This makes it easier for the support plate 63 to be stably raised and lowered in the vertical direction. A first support plate 63a and a second support plate 63b extend upward from the upper surface of the third support plate 63c.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 2, the first support plate 63a and the second support plate 63b face each other in the conveying direction. The first support plate 63a is located further forward in the conveying direction than the second support plate 63b. The first support plate 63a and the second support plate 63b are each substantially rectangular. The first support plate 63a and the second support plate 63b are located between adjacent conveying rollers 40 so as not to interfere with the conveying rollers 40 when the lifter 61 is raised. Here, the first support plate 63a and the second support plate 63b are located in positions that sandwich the conveying roller 40c.

[0063] In the axial direction of the conveying roller 40, the lengths of the first support plate 63a and the second support plate 63b are approximately the same as that of the third support plate 63c. The heights of the first support plate 63a and the second support plate 63b are set so that when the lifter 61 is lowered, its upper end does not protrude from the upper end of the conveying roller 40. The heights of the first support plate 63a and the second support plate 63b are approximately the same. A plurality of support rollers 64 are provided on the upper part of the support plate 63 (in this embodiment, the first support plate 63a and the second support plate 63b).

[0064] <Multiple Support Rollers 64> The plurality of support rollers 64 support the plurality of transported objects A. Before the lifter 61 raises the lifting shaft 62a, the upper ends of the plurality of support rollers 64 are located at a position lower than the upper ends of the support wheels 44 of the transport roller 40. When the lifter 61 raises the lifting shaft 62a, the transported object A is supported while being placed on the side peripheral surfaces of the plurality of support rollers 64. In this embodiment, the plurality of support rollers 64 are made of ceramic. The material of the plurality of support rollers 64 is not particularly limited.

[0065] The transported object A supported by the plurality of support rollers 64 tends to move along the rotation direction of the support rollers 64. Here, the rotation axes of the plurality of support rollers 64 are set in the transport direction in which the plurality of transported objects A are transported. Therefore, the transported object A tends to move along the direction in which the plurality of transported objects A are adjacent to each other (left-right direction).

[0066] In this embodiment, the plurality of support rollers 64 includes a plurality of first support rollers 64a and a plurality of second support rollers 64b. The plurality of first support rollers 64a are supported by a first support plate 63a. The plurality of second support rollers 64b are supported by a second support plate 63b. The plurality of first support rollers 64a and the plurality of second support rollers 64b are each aligned along the axial direction of the conveying roller 40.

[0067] The multiple first support rollers 64a are attached to the front surface of the first support plate 63a. The multiple second support rollers 64b are attached to the rear surface of the second support plate 63b. In other words, the multiple first support rollers 64a are attached to the surface of the first support plate 63a opposite to the surface facing the second support plate 63b. The multiple second support rollers 64b are attached to the surface of the second support plate 63b opposite to the surface facing the first support plate 63a.

[0068] 4, when the lifting device 62 raises the support plate 63, the multiple support rollers 64 (multiple first support rollers 64a and multiple second support rollers 64b) rise from between the adjacent conveying rollers 40 and lift the multiple conveyed objects A aligned by the stoppers 50. As described above, the multiple conveyed objects A are aligned at intervals in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. While being lifted by the lifter 61, the multiple conveyed objects A are pushed from both sides by the pushers 66 in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction.

[0069] <Pusher 66> The pusher 66 is a device that pushes the conveyed objects A, which have been lifted by the lifter 61 and are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, along the axial direction of the conveying rollers 40. The pusher 66 includes a backing plate 67, a shaft 68, and a drive unit 69. A pair of pushers 66 are provided in the width direction of the hood 29.

[0070] <Driver 69> The drive device 69 is a device that drives the contact plate 67 along the axial direction of the conveying roller 40. The drive device 69 drives the contact plate 67 from the side wall 29b side of the hood 29. Here, a cylinder device is used as the drive device 69. The drive device 69 is provided outside the hood 29. The drive device 69 may be housed in a cover 69b1 attached to the outside of the side wall 29b.

[0071] A connecting plate 69a is provided at the outer end of the drive device 69. The drive device 69 drives the connecting plate 69a along the axial direction of the conveying roller 40. The connecting plate 69a has a substantially rectangular shape. As shown in FIG. 2, two shafts 68 are connected to the front and rear ends of the connecting plate 69a, sandwiching a central portion connected to the drive device 69. The two shafts 68 extend from the inner surface of the connecting plate 69a along the axial direction of the conveying roller 40. The drive device 69 drives the backing plate 67 via the shafts 68.

[0072] Shaft 68 The shaft 68 extends from a connecting plate 69a of the drive device 69 along the axial direction of the conveying roller 40. The shaft 68 is a substantially cylindrical member. A through hole, through which the shaft 68 is inserted, is formed in the side wall 29b of the hood 29. The shaft 68 passes through the through hole formed in the side wall 29b of the hood 29 and extends into the interior of the hood 29. Although detailed illustration is omitted, a seal member that improves airtightness inside the hood 29 is provided in the portion of the hood 29 where the through hole is formed.

[0073] One end (outer end) of the shaft 68 is connected to the connecting plate 69a inside the cover 69b1. A bush 69b2 extending along the axial direction is provided inside the cover 69b1. The shaft 68 is inserted into the bush 69b2. This makes it easier for the shaft 68 to be stably driven along the axial direction of the conveying roller 40. A backing plate 67 is connected to the other end (inner end) of the shaft 68.

[0074] The position at which the shafts 68 are provided is not particularly limited. In this embodiment, the two shafts 68 are provided at the same height. As shown in FIG. 4, the shafts 68 are provided at a position (height) that overlaps with the boundary between the transported objects A stacked in multiple layers in the axial direction of the conveying rollers 40 when the transported objects A stacked in multiple layers are lifted by the lifter 61. In this embodiment, the transported objects A are stacked in two layers. The shafts 68 are provided at a position that overlaps with the boundary between the upper end of the transported object A supported by the lifter 61 and the lower end of the transported object A stacked on top of the transported object A supported by the lifter 61.

[0075] <Backing plate 67> The contact plate 67 is a member that comes into contact with the outermost transported object A when multiple transported objects A are shifted widthwise. The contact plate 67 has a substantially rectangular shape that fits along the side wall 29b of the hood 29. The contact plate 67 faces the side of the outermost transported object A among the multiple transported objects A.

[0076] In the conveying direction (front-rear direction), curved portions 67a are provided at both ends of the backing plate 67 (see FIG. 2). The curved portions 67a are continuous from the upper end to the lower end at both ends of the backing plate 67. By providing the curved portions 67a at both ends of the backing plate 67, the ends of the backing plate 67 and the transported object A are less likely to get caught. This makes it less likely that the transported object A will be damaged.

[0077] The backing plate 67 is driven by a drive device 69 via a shaft 68. The shaft 68 is connected above the center of the backing plate 67. This increases the contact area between the backing plate 67 and the object A below the shaft 68. Therefore, even when the heating container A is not filled to capacity with the objects to be treated, or when the center of gravity of the object A is at a low position, the object A can be pushed stably.

[0078] The backing plate 67 is connected to the shaft 68 via a backing plate 67b. In this embodiment, the backing plate 67b and the shaft 68 are made of stainless steel. The backing plate 67b faces the side wall 29b of the hood 29. The backing plate 67 and the backing plate 67b have substantially the same shape when viewed along the shaft 68. The backing plate 67 is detachably attached to the backing plate 67b. The backing plate 67 may be attached to the backing plate 67b by bolts, for example. The backing plate 67 may be attached to the backing plate 67b by bolts from the backing plate 67 side. The surface of the backing plate 67 (the surface facing the transported object A) may be provided with a countersunk hole into which a bolt is attached.

[0079] The backing plate 67 is made of a material that can withstand the load corresponding to the weight applied to the backing plate 67 when the transported objects A stacked in multiple layers are shifted widthwise. The backing plate 67 is made of a cementitious material containing cement.

[0080] Although not particularly limited, the cement-based material may be a cement-based insulating material containing glass fiber as aggregate. For example, Hemisal manufactured by Nichias Corporation may be used as the cement-based insulating material. Such a material allows for easy processing of the backing plate 67, and the backing plate may have good dimensional accuracy.

[0081] In the above-described width-shifting device 60, during width-shifting, the backing plate 67 of the pusher 66 is driven from the outside toward the inside in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. The transported objects A, which are stacked in multiple tiers by the lifter 61 and aligned in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, are pushed from the outside toward the inside by the driven backing plate 67 in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. At this time, the outermost transported object A among the multiple transported objects A is pushed by the backing plate 67 of the pusher 66 and moves toward the inside. The outermost transported object A hits the adjacent inner transported object A. The backing plate 67 of the pusher 66 pushes the outermost transported object A and the inner transported object A. When the inner transported object A hits the central transported object A, the gap between the multiple transported objects A in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction disappears, and width-shifting is completed. When width-shifting is completed, the backing plate 67 of the pusher 66 moves from the inside toward the outside.

[0082] In the above-described embodiment, the shifting device 60 that shifts the width of the transported objects A stacked in two layers has been described, but the number of layers in which the transported objects A can be stacked is not limited to two. When the transported objects A are stacked in three or more layers, as in the case of two layers, the shaft 68 can be provided at a position that overlaps the boundary between the lowest transported object A supported by the lifter 61 and the transported object A stacked on the lowest transported object A. When the transported objects A are stacked in three or more layers, the backing plates 67 and the shafts 68 may be provided at multiple heights corresponding to multiple boundaries formed along the height direction.

[0083] Among pushers that push the transported objects, the backing plate that comes into contact with the transported objects has been made of ceramics such as alumina, from the viewpoints of strength, heat resistance, workability, and material properties (avoiding metal contact). However, when the transported objects are stacked in multiple layers, the combined weight of the heating container and the objects is heavy, which can place a load on a large transport device when shifting multiple transported objects to the width. For example, in the shifting device, the backing plate that comes into contact with the transported objects can be subjected to a large load when pushing the transported objects. Furthermore, when multiple transported objects that are adjacent in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction are simultaneously pushed, an even larger load can be placed on the backing plate.

[0084] The width-shifting device 60 of the conveying device 30 described above includes a lifter 61 and a pusher 66. The lifter 61 lifts multiple conveyed objects A, which are lined up in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and conveyed on multiple conveying rollers 40 stopped by the stopper 50. The pusher 66 pushes the multiple conveyed objects A lifted by the lifter 61 along the axial direction of the conveying rollers 40. The pusher 66 includes a backing plate 67 that contacts the conveyed objects A. The backing plate 67 is made of a cement-based material. The backing plate 67 being made of a cement-based material improves the mechanical strength and heat resistance of the width-shifting device 60. In trials conducted by the inventors, damage to the backing plate 67 was suppressed even when the conveyed objects A contacted the backing plate 67 were heated to approximately 400°C. Furthermore, suppressing damage to the backing plate 67 reduces the need for maintenance, such as replacing the backing plate 67. In trials conducted by the inventors, damage to the backing plate 67 was suppressed even when the total weight of the transported objects A stacked in multiple layers and arranged in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction was approximately 180 kg.

[0085] In the above-described embodiment, the cement-based material constituting the backing plate 67 contains glass fiber as an aggregate. This further improves the strength of the backing plate 67. In addition, the backing plate 67 has good heat insulation properties. Even when the temperature of the transported object A is high, damage to the backing plate 67 can be suppressed.

[0086] The pusher 66 of the shifting device 60 includes a shaft 68 extending from a drive device 69 that drives a backing plate 67 in the axial direction. The shaft 68 is located in a position that, in the axial direction, overlaps with the boundary between the stacked multiple layers of the transported objects A when the stacked multiple layers of the transported objects A are lifted by the lifter 61. The boundary between the stacked multiple layers of the transported objects A is pushed by the position of the backing plate 67 that is supported by the shaft 68 from the back side. This makes it easier to push both layers of the stacked multiple layers of the transported objects A evenly. This makes it less likely that problems such as the stacked multiple layers of the transported objects A tilting will occur when shifting the transported objects A to the width.

[0087] The lifter 61 of the width-shifting device 60 is equipped with a plurality of support rollers 64 that support a plurality of transported objects A. The rotation axes of the plurality of support rollers 64 are each aligned with the transport direction in which the plurality of transported objects A are transported. This makes it easier for the transported objects A to move in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction. As a result, the load on the pusher 66 can be reduced.

[0088] The lifter 61 of the width-shifting device 60 includes a first support plate 63a, a second support plate 63b, a plurality of first support rollers 64a, and a plurality of second support rollers 64b. The first support plate 63a and the second support plate 63b face each other in the conveyance direction. The plurality of first support rollers 64a are supported by the first support plate 63a. The plurality of second support rollers 64b are supported by the second support plate 63b. The plurality of first support rollers 64a are attached to a surface of the first support plate 63a opposite to a surface facing the second support plate 63b. The plurality of second support rollers 64b are attached to a surface of the second support plate 63b opposite to a surface facing the first support plate 63a. The plurality of first support rollers 64a and the plurality of second support rollers 64b are attached to the opposite sides of the surfaces where the first support plate 63a and the second support plate 63b face each other, which makes it easy to replace the support rollers 64. In addition, the load applied to the lifter 61 when lifting the transported object A is less likely to be uneven.

[0089] When the multiple transported objects A lined up along the axial direction of the transport rollers 40 have been shifted to the width by the width shifting device 60, the lifter 61 lowers the multiple transported objects A back onto the transport rollers 40. Once the multiple transported objects A have been lowered onto the transport rollers 40, the multiple transported objects A are transported to the replacement chamber 70. Although not shown in detail, a shutter 71 is provided at the entrance of the replacement chamber 70, and can be opened and closed when the transported objects A are transported to the replacement chamber 70.

[0090] In this embodiment, the replacement chamber 70 is provided to switch between the atmosphere of the heating device 20 in which the workpiece is treated and the atmosphere of a subsequent treatment (e.g., a treatment to cool the heated workpiece). Although a detailed description will be omitted, when the transfer device 30 transfers the workpiece A to the replacement chamber 70, the shutter 71 is closed. An atmospheric gas suitable for the subsequent treatment is introduced into the replacement chamber 70 from below and exhausted from above. As a result, the atmosphere inside the replacement chamber 70 is gradually replaced with the atmospheric gas. Once the atmosphere inside the replacement chamber 70 has been replaced, the workpiece A is transferred from the outlet of the replacement chamber 70, and another treatment is performed on the workpiece. Note that the replacement chamber 70 is not limited to this configuration. For example, after the workpiece A is transferred into the replacement chamber 70, the replacement chamber 70 may be temporarily evacuated and then the atmospheric gas may be introduced.

[0091] The multiple transported objects A are aligned by the stopper 50 and then moved widthwise by the moving device 60, thereby making it possible to reduce the dimensions of the replacement chamber 70 in the direction in which the multiple transported objects A are aligned. As a result, the volume of the replacement chamber 70 is reduced, and the energy required for replacing the atmosphere can be reduced.

[0092] In the above-described embodiment, the heat treatment apparatus 10 has the transport device 30 connected to the discharge port 22a of the heating device 20. The transported object A may meander during transport within the heating device 20. For this reason, it is more effective when the transport device 30 is connected to the discharge port 22a of the heating device 20.

[0093] The use of the conveying device 30 is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the stopper 50 of the conveying device 30 may be used when aligning multiple objects A to be conveyed before being conveyed to the heating device 20. The stopper 50 of the conveying device 30 may be used when stopping the objects A to be conveyed when removing the objects from the heating container A after processing the objects. The width-shifting device 60 of the conveying device 30 may be used when filling the heating container A with objects to be processed. The width-shifting device 60 of the conveying device 30 may be used when aligning the heating container A in the width direction. Furthermore, the stopper 50, width-shifting device 60, etc. of the conveying device 30 described above may each be used independently.

[0094] Although the present invention has been described in detail above using 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 alterations of the above-described embodiments.

[0095] This specification includes the following items 1 to 8. The following items 1 to 8 are not limited to the above-described embodiment.

[0096] Section 1: A plurality of conveying rollers arranged along a conveying path; a stopper that moves up and down between adjacent conveying rollers at a predetermined position among the plurality of conveying rollers; Equipped with The stopper is a shaft extending along the axial direction of the conveying roller; a cylindrical roller through which the shaft is inserted; an elevator device that raises and lowers the shaft; Equipped with Conveying device.

[0097] Section 2: Item 2. The conveying device according to item 1, wherein a plurality of the rollers are provided along the axial direction.

[0098] Section 3: Item 3. The conveying device according to item 1 or 2, wherein the stopper further includes a coil spring that biases the roller from both ends in the axial direction.

[0099] Section 4: the stopper further includes a support frame connected to the lifting device and supporting the shaft; the support frame has a pair of support portions facing each other along the axial direction, 4. The conveying device according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the shaft is bridged over the pair of support parts.

[0100] Section 5: Both ends of the shaft pass through the support portion, Item 5. The conveying device according to item 4, wherein an end roller having the same diameter as the roller is provided on at least one of both end portions of the shaft.

[0101] Item 6: 6. The conveying device according to any one of items 1 to 5, wherein the roller is made of ceramic.

[0102] Section 7: a heating device for heating the object to be treated contained in the transported object; a conveying device connected to an outlet of the heating device; Equipped with The conveying device is the conveying device described in any one of items 1 to 6. Heat treatment equipment.

[0103] Section 8: Item 8. The heat treatment device according to item 7, wherein the heating device is a roller hearth kiln. [Explanation of symbols]

[0104] A Object to be transported (heating container) 10 Heat treatment device 20 Heating device 20a Processing space 22 Furnace body 22a Exit 24 Conveyor roller 29 Food 29a Transfer space 29b side wall 29c bottom wall 29c1,29c2 Bush 29d Exhaust piping 30 Conveyor device 40, 40a, 40b, 40c Conveyor rollers 42 Roller shaft 44 Support wheel 46 Support member 46a Support plate 46b Support roller 46c base 50 Stopper 51 axes 51a Both ends 52,52a Laura 53 Lifting device 53a Elevating shaft 53b Plate 53c shaft 54 Support frame 54a Support part 54b Slide shaft 55 Coil spring 56 End roller 60 Width shifting device 61 Lifter 62 Lifting device 62a Elevating shaft 62b Plate 62c shaft 63 Support plate 63a 1st support plate 63b 2nd support plate 63c 3rd support plate 63c1 Slide shaft 64 Support roller 64a First support roller 64b Second support roller 66 Pusher 67 Backing Plate 67a Curved section 67b Back plate 68 Shaft 69 Drive Unit 69a Connecting plate 69b1 cover 69b2 Bush 70 Replacement room 71 Shutter

Claims

1. A plurality of conveying rollers arranged along a conveying path; a stopper that moves up and down between adjacent conveying rollers at a predetermined position among the plurality of conveying rollers; Equipped with The stopper is a shaft extending along the axial direction of the conveying roller; a cylindrical roller through which the shaft is inserted; an elevator device that raises and lowers the shaft; Equipped with The stopper further includes a coil spring that biases the roller from both ends in the axial direction. Conveying device.

2. A plurality of conveying rollers arranged along a conveying path; a stopper that moves up and down between adjacent conveying rollers at a predetermined position among the plurality of conveying rollers; Equipped with The stopper is a shaft extending along the axial direction of the conveying roller; a cylindrical roller through which the shaft is inserted; an elevator device that raises and lowers the shaft; a support frame connected to the lifting device and supporting the shaft; Equipped with the support frame has a pair of support portions facing each other along the axial direction, The shaft is bridged over the pair of support parts, Both ends of the shaft pass through the support portion, At least one of the ends of the shaft is provided with an end roller having the same diameter as the roller. Conveying device.

3. 3. The conveying device according to claim 2, wherein the stopper further includes a coil spring that biases the roller from both ends in the axial direction.

4. the stopper further includes a support frame connected to the lifting device and supporting the shaft; the support frame has a pair of support portions facing each other along the axial direction, The conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein the shaft is bridged over the pair of support members.

5. Both ends of the shaft pass through the support portion, 5. The conveying device according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the ends of the shaft is provided with an end roller having the same diameter as the roller.

6. 6. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the rollers are provided along the axial direction.

7. 6. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the rollers are made of ceramic.

8. a heating device for heating the object to be treated contained in the transported object; a conveying device connected to an outlet of the heating device; Equipped with The conveying device is a conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. Heat treatment equipment.

9. The heat treatment apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the heating apparatus is a roller hearth kiln.

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