Processing system

Abstract

To provide a processing system with which it is possible to surpress the occurrence of gaps when pulling a workpiece onto a support and position the workpiece with good accuracy. A processing system for cutting and milling a bottomed cylindrical ceramic workpiece having an opening at one end includes: a first support disposed so as to be engageable with the inner peripheral surface of the open end of the workpiece, the first support being for supporting the workpiece from the open end side so that the workpiece can rotate around an axis; a second support disposed so as to be engageable with the bottom of the workpiece, the second support being for supporting the workpiece from the bottom side so that the workpiece can rotate around the axis; a third support capable of moving the workpiece to the second support side while gripping the outer peripheral surface of the workpiece, the third support being for engaging the workpiece with the second support; a motor for rotating the first support; and a processing unit for cutting and milling the workpiece while supplying cooling water to the workpiece.

Description

Processing System

[0001] The present invention relates to a machining system, and more particularly to a machining system for cutting and machining a cylindrical ceramic workpiece having one open end and a bottom.

[0002] A sodium-sulfur battery, for example, has a bottomed cylindrical part made of a solid electrolyte such as β-alumina placed inside a metal container on the positive electrode side, which serves as a storage case, with sodium as the negative electrode active material housed inside the bottomed cylindrical part and sulfur as the positive electrode active material housed outside. During discharge, sodium-sulfur batteries generate electricity as ionized sodium permeates the solid electrolyte and reacts with sulfur to produce sodium polysulfide, while charging is achieved by the reverse reaction, which produces sodium and sulfur.

[0003] To cut the open end of a cylindrical ceramic workpiece into a desired shape by machining it using a grinding wheel, various studies have been conducted. For example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent No. 2608672) discloses a workpiece cutting method that includes a first cutting step in which the workpiece is cut while leaving a convex portion on the cutting end side, and a second cutting step in which the convex portion on the cut surface of the workpiece cut in the first cutting step is removed. This method is described as having the excellent effect of reducing manufacturing costs because chipping does not occur in the workpiece even when the cutting speed is increased.

[0004] Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent No. 2719496) describes a workpiece chuck device for a ceramic processing machine that rotates a cylindrical ceramic workpiece around its axis to process it, the workpiece chuck device including a first support member that is disposed so as to be engageable with the inner peripheral surface of the base end of the workpiece and supports the workpiece rotatably around the axis from the base end, a second support member that is disposed so as to be engageable with the tip of the workpiece and supports the workpiece rotatably around the axis from the tip end, and a pressing mechanism that presses and moves the workpiece in the direction of engagement with the second support member. It also describes that cutting debris can be easily removed by the pressing mechanism.

[0005] Furthermore, Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent No. 5297019) describes a method for machining a ceramic sintered body containing an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal using an aqueous grinding fluid with a machining device, characterized in that carbon dioxide gas is introduced and dissolved in the aqueous grinding fluid, and the pH of the aqueous grinding fluid is adjusted to 7 to 9, thereby performing machining while suppressing the generation of reactants that cause malfunctions of components in the machining device. By adjusting the pH of the aqueous grinding fluid to 7 to 9, ceramic sintered bodies containing alkali metals or alkaline earth metals can be machined accurately and efficiently without causing malfunctions of components in the machining device, thereby improving the productivity and yield of ceramic sintered bodies.

[0006] Furthermore, Patent Document 4 (JP-B-07-090548) describes a method for cutting a beta-alumina tube, characterized in that pure water is used as the coolant in the step of cutting the beta-alumina tube, and the contact time between the pure water and the beta-alumina tube during cutting is set to 10 minutes or less. It describes that by setting the contact time between the pure water and the beta-alumina tube to 10 minutes or less, elution of alkaline components from the beta-alumina tube is effectively prevented, and as a result, an increase in the electrical resistance characteristics of the beta-alumina tube is prevented, resulting in a beta-alumina tube with excellent characteristics.

[0007] Patent No. 2608672 Patent No. 2719496 Patent No. 5297019 Japanese Patent Publication No. 07-090548

[0008] When machining the open end of a cylindrical ceramic workpiece with a bottom, it is necessary to correctly position the workpiece to ensure dimensional accuracy. Patent Document 2 discloses a positioning configuration in which the bottomed end of the workpiece is pressed against a support by a pressing mechanism equipped with a spring or by injecting air into the workpiece.

[0009] However, if the force pulling the workpiece into the support is weak when positioning it, a gap may form between the workpiece and the support due to the impact when the workpiece comes into contact with the support. When a gap occurs, problems arise such as a decrease in dimensional accuracy in processing and the automatic operation of the processing machine being stopped, resulting in a decrease in productivity.

[0010] In view of the above problems, one object of the present invention is to provide a machining system that can suppress the occurrence of gaps when a workpiece is pulled into a support and can position the workpiece with high accuracy.

[0011] As a result of intensive research into solving the above-mentioned problems, the inventors have found that, in a machining system, in addition to a first support and a second support for rotatably supporting a workpiece, a third support for engaging the workpiece with the second support can be provided, thereby enabling the workpiece to be more reliably engaged with the second support and suppressing the occurrence of a gap between the workpiece and the second support. The present invention has been completed based on the above findings, and is exemplified below.

[0012] [Aspect 1] In one embodiment, the present invention is a machining system for cutting and milling a cylindrical ceramic workpiece having an open end and a bottom, the machining system comprising: a first support member arranged to be engageable with the inner peripheral surface of the open end of the workpiece and for supporting the workpiece rotatably around an axis from the open end side; a second support member arranged to be engageable with the bottom of the workpiece and for supporting the workpiece rotatably around an axis from the bottom side; a third support member capable of moving the workpiece toward the second support while gripping the outer peripheral surface of the workpiece and for engaging the workpiece with the second support; a motor for rotating the first support member; and a machining unit that cuts and mills the workpiece while supplying cooling water to the workpiece. [Aspect 2] In another embodiment, the present invention is the machining system according to Aspect 1, wherein the third support member comprises an arm that grips the outer peripheral surface of the workpiece and a buffer mechanism connected to the arm that is capable of applying a buffer force when the workpiece engages with the second support. [Aspect 3] In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides the machining system of Aspect 2, wherein the buffer mechanism includes a slide drive unit movable between the first support and the second support, and a biasing unit connected to the slide drive unit and capable of applying a buffering force to the arm. [Aspect 4] In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides the machining system of any one of Aspects 1 to 3, wherein the machining unit includes a first machining unit that cuts the workpiece while supplying cooling water, leaving a convex portion on the cut surface, a second machining unit that cuts the convex portion on the cut surface while supplying cooling water, and a third machining unit that cuts the outer peripheral surface of the open end of the workpiece while supplying cooling water, wherein the first machining unit includes a metal-bonded grinding wheel, and the second and third machining units include resin-bonded grinding wheels. [Aspect 5] In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides the machining system of Aspect 4, wherein the first machining unit and the third machining unit are configured to perform cutting simultaneously, and the second machining unit and the third machining unit are configured to perform cutting simultaneously.[Aspect 6] In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a processing system according to any one of Aspects 1 to 5, further comprising a washing device for washing the β-alumina tube processed by the processing unit, a drying device connected to the washing device for heating and drying the β-alumina tube, and a transport device for transporting the β-alumina tube from the washing device to the drying device, wherein the transport time of the β-alumina tube from the completion of cleaning treatment of the β-alumina tube by the washing device to the transport device for transporting the β-alumina tube to the inlet of the drying device is 20 minutes or less. [Aspect 7] In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a processing system according to Aspect 6, wherein the drying device comprises a heating device configured to heat the β-alumina tube so that the surface temperature of at least three locations, namely the opening, center, and bottom, of the β-alumina tube is maintained at 200°C or higher for 3 minutes or more. [Aspect 8] In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a processing system according to Aspect 6, wherein the heating device is configured to maintain the moisture content of at least three locations, namely the opening, center, and bottom, of the β-alumina tube after heat treatment at 0.02 mg / cm. 2 A processing system according to aspect 7, wherein the heating temperature and time are controlled as follows:

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a machining system that can suppress the occurrence of gaps when a workpiece is pulled into a support and can position the workpiece with good accuracy.

[0014] FIG. 3( a) is a schematic diagram of the configuration of a machining system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3( b) is a graph showing the measurement results of the dimensions of each workpiece 2 when 200 workpieces are machined using a machining system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3( c) is a graph showing the measurement results of the dimensions of the workpiece 2 when 200 workpieces are machined using a machining system according to a comparative example. FIG. 3( d) is a graph showing the dimensional distribution of the workpieces after machining according to a comparative example.

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to each embodiment, and the components can be modified and embodied without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining multiple components disclosed in each embodiment. For example, some components may be omitted from all the components shown in the embodiments. Furthermore, components of different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

[0016] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a machining system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The machining system 1 is for cutting and milling a cylindrical ceramic workpiece 2 having an open end and a closed end. The machining system 1 includes a first support 11 that is disposed to be engageable with the inner peripheral surface of the open end (the right end in the drawing) of the workpiece 2 and supports the workpiece 2 rotatably around an axis (shown by the dotted line in the drawing) from the open end, a second support 12 that is disposed to be engageable with the bottom of the workpiece 2 (the left end in the drawing) and supports the workpiece 2 rotatably around the axis from the bottom, a third support 13 that is capable of moving the workpiece 2 toward the second support 12 while gripping the outer peripheral surface of the workpiece 2 and engaging the workpiece 2 with the second support 12, a motor 14 that rotates the first support 11, and a machining unit 19 that cuts and mills the workpiece 2 while supplying cooling water to the workpiece 2.

[0017] The workpiece 2 is not particularly limited in material or size, and can be selected arbitrarily as long as it is a cylindrical, bottomed ceramic object. The material of the workpiece 2 can be, in addition to β-alumina ceramics, sodium ion conductive borate glass, NASICON (Na, Si, Zr, P composite oxide), or the like.

[0018] The first support 11 includes a plurality of chucks 111. When inserted into the open end of the workpiece 2, the plurality of chucks 111 expand, allowing the first support 11 to engage with the inner circumferential surface of the open end of the workpiece 2. The claws of the plurality of chucks 111 may be provided with protective members to prevent scratches on the workpiece 2 due to contact with the workpiece 2. The first support 11 is rotatable by a motor 14, and its rotation axis coincides with the axis of the workpiece 2. This allows the workpiece 2 to be rotatably supported around the axis from the open end side. Furthermore, by operating the motor 14 while the workpiece 2 is supported by the first support 11, the workpiece 2 rotates together with the first support 11, thereby enabling cutting and milling of the workpiece 2. Furthermore, the first support 11 is preferably configured to be movable in the axial direction of the workpiece 2 (horizontal direction in the drawing) to facilitate insertion into the open end of the workpiece 2.

[0019] The second support 12 is arranged so as to be able to engage with the bottom of the workpiece 2. Preferably, the second support 12 has a concave shape that corresponds to the shape of the bottom of the workpiece 2. This allows the bottom of the workpiece 2 to closely engage with the second support 12 when the workpiece 2 is pulled into the second support 12, thereby improving positioning accuracy.

[0020] The second support 12 is rotatable, and its rotation axis coincides with the axis of the workpiece 2. This makes it possible to support the workpiece 2 from the bottom side so that it can rotate around the axis. To prevent damage to the workpiece 2 due to impact when the workpiece 2 is pulled in, the second support 12 may be made of, for example, hard rubber or resin. Furthermore, the second support 12 may be installed on a support plate 15 so as not to move in the axial direction of the workpiece 2.

[0021] 1, the seating confirmation mechanism is composed of a rod 16 and a sensor 17. When the workpiece 2 is engaged with the second support 12, the tip of the rod 16 comes into contact with the bottom of the workpiece 2, and then the sensor 17, which operates with a pressure or power signal, detects that the workpiece 2 is seated. This confirms that the workpiece 2 is seated, and the processing system 1 can automatically start cutting and machining the workpiece 2.

[0022] The third support 13 can move the workpiece 2 toward the second support 12 while gripping the outer peripheral surface of the workpiece 2, thereby engaging the workpiece 2 with the second support 12. As in the prior art, it is conceivable to jet air from the open end of the workpiece 2 to engage the workpiece 2 with the second support 12, but the force to draw the workpiece 2 in is weak with air pressure alone, and a gap may occur between the workpiece 2 and the second support 12. Therefore, by using the third support 13 to move the workpiece 2 toward the second support 12 while gripping the outer peripheral surface of the workpiece 2, the force to draw the workpiece 2 is significantly increased, making it possible to prevent the occurrence of a gap.

[0023] In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the third support 13, it is also possible to use means for further increasing the force that pulls in the workpiece 2, such as spraying air from the open end of the workpiece 2.

[0024] The specific configuration of the third support 13 is not limited as long as it can move toward the second support 12 while gripping the outer peripheral surface of the workpiece 2, but for example, as shown in Figure 1, it can be equipped with an arm 131 that grips the outer peripheral surface of the workpiece 2 and a buffer mechanism 132 that is connected to the arm 131 and can apply a buffer force when the workpiece 2 engages with the second support 12.

[0025] The arms 131 are paired and configured to grip the workpiece 2 from a substantially horizontal direction, but in another embodiment, they may be configured to grip the workpiece 2 in a direction other than the substantially horizontal direction, such as a vertical direction. The number of arms 131 may be more than two. The arms 131 are configured so that they can release the workpiece 2 after positioning it and before starting to cut and mill the workpiece 2.

[0026] The position where the arm 131 grips the workpiece 2 is preferably near the bottom of the workpiece 2 so as not to be exposed to grinding chips and grinding fluid that are scattered during processing by the processing unit 19, which will be described later. Preferably, when the distance from the bottom of the workpiece 2 before processing to the open end is L, the workpiece 2 is gripped at a distance of 1 / 10 to 1 / 5L from the bottom of the workpiece 2, more typically at a distance of 70 to 90 mm from the bottom of the workpiece 2.

[0027] As described above, the impact when the workpiece 2 comes into contact with the second support 12 may cause a gap to form between the workpiece 2 and the second support 12 or may damage the workpiece 2, but the buffer mechanism 132 can mitigate this impact by applying a buffering force. The buffer mechanism 132 can include, for example, a slide drive unit 1321 that can move between the first support 11 and the second support 12 (i.e., in the horizontal direction), and a biasing unit 1322 that is connected to the slide drive unit 1321 and can apply a buffering force to the arm 131. The slide drive unit 1321 and the biasing unit 1322 can be installed on, for example, a base unit 1323.

[0028] The slide driving unit 1321 typically has a linear motion mechanism such as an air cylinder that is slidable in the horizontal direction. The moving speed of the third support 13 driven by the slide driving unit 1321 is preferably 20 to 50 mm / s, and more preferably 35 to 40 mm / s.

[0029] A compression spring can typically be used for the biasing portion 1322. When the workpiece 2 rebounds due to the impact of contact with the second support 12, the biasing portion 1322 acts to press the slide drive portion 1321 toward the second support 12, and as a result, the arm 131 connected to the slide drive portion 1321 also acts to press the workpiece 2 toward the second support 12. The biasing portion 1322 can apply a buffer force to the arm 131 so that the retraction force when pressing the workpiece 2 toward the second support 12 is 0.5 to 1.5 kgf, more preferably 0.8 to 1.2 kgf. The retraction force can be calculated from the contraction amount of the compression spring that constitutes the biasing portion 1322.

[0030] 2 is an example of a schematic diagram of the configuration of the third support 13 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the workpiece 2. As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of arms 131 can be opened and closed by an opening and closing mechanism 133, thereby gripping or releasing the workpiece 2. Furthermore, by sliding the air cylinder 134, the arms 131 can move along the axial direction of the workpiece 2 on the base portion 1323 while gripping the workpiece 2, thereby making it possible to pull the workpiece 2 into the second support 12.

[0031] In order to stably support the workpiece 2, the workpiece 2 can be placed on the machine base 18 via a pair of cradles 181, as shown in Fig. 1. The pair of cradles 181 can be configured as rotating bodies so that the workpiece 2 can be placed thereon in a rotatable state.

[0032] The specific configuration of the processing unit 19 is not limited, and any known configuration can be adopted as long as it is capable of cutting and milling the workpiece 2 while supplying cooling water to the workpiece 2. In one embodiment of the present invention, the processing unit 19 comprises a first processing unit 191 that cuts the workpiece 2 while supplying cooling water (rough processing) leaving convex portions on the cut surface, a second processing unit 192 that cuts the convex portions on the cut surface while supplying cooling water (finishing processing), and a third processing unit 193 that mills the outer peripheral surface of the open end of the workpiece 2 while supplying cooling water.

[0033] The first machining unit 191 cuts the workpiece 2 while supplying cooling water, leaving a convex portion on the cut surface, thereby reducing the amount of cutting and reducing material costs while suppressing chipping at the open end of the workpiece 2. Furthermore, the second machining unit 192 cuts the convex portion on the cut surface while supplying cooling water (finishing processing), thereby flattening the open end face of the workpiece 2 and adjusting the length of the workpiece 2. Furthermore, the third machining unit 193 cuts the outer peripheral surface of the open end of the workpiece 2 while supplying cooling water, thereby adjusting the expanded diameter portion near the open end of the workpiece 2 that occurs during manufacturing to an appropriate dimension.

[0034] The cutting process by the first processing unit 191 places a load on the tip of the grindstone, which can easily cause deformation. Therefore, it is preferable that the first processing unit 191 be equipped with a metal-bonded grindstone. On the other hand, high cutting accuracy is required for the second processing unit 192 and the third processing unit 193. Therefore, it is preferable that the second processing unit 192 and the third processing unit 193 be equipped with a resin-bonded grindstone, which allows the abrasive grains to be easily replaced.

[0035] Metal bonded grinding wheels are made by sintering abrasive grains into an alloy, which holds the abrasive grains firmly and has excellent heat and wear resistance, making them suitable for rough machining by the first machining section 191. Resin bonded grinding wheels have a resin-based bond, and although they are more prone to wear than metal bonded grinding wheels, they have a self-sharpening effect that allows them to maintain their sharpness, resulting in good machining precision and a good surface.

[0036] The abrasive grains used in the metal bonded grinding wheel and the resin bonded grinding wheel are not particularly limited, but for example, diamond, cubic boron nitride (CBN), etc. can be used.

[0037] In one embodiment of the present invention, in order to properly draw and support the workpiece 2 onto the second support body 12 and process it with high precision, it is preferable that the cutting and machining of the workpiece 2 be performed in two steps. That is, the machining system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is preferably configured so that the cutting by the first machining unit 191 and the machining by the third machining unit 193 can be performed simultaneously, and then the machining by the second machining unit 192 and the machining by the third machining unit 193 can be performed simultaneously.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the processing system 1 further includes a cleaning device 101 for cleaning the workpiece 2 processed by the processing unit 19, a drying device 102 connected to the cleaning device 101 for heating and drying the workpiece 2, and a transport device 103 for transporting the workpiece 2 from the cleaning device 101 to the drying device 102. The specific configurations of the cleaning device 101, the drying device 102, and the transport device 103 are not particularly limited and may be any configuration that can achieve the above functions.

[0039] The cleaning device 101 performs cleaning by jet spraying or the like using, for example, pure water at a temperature of 20°C or below or a highly pure organic solvent as a cleaning liquid. In particular, when a β-alumina tube for a sodium-sulfur battery is used as the workpiece 2, if the time from cleaning to drying is too long, the β-alumina tube may be altered. Therefore, it is preferable that the transport time of the β-alumina tube from the end of the cleaning process of the β-alumina tube by the cleaning device 101 to the transport of the β-alumina tube to the entrance of the drying device 102 by the transport device 103 be within 20 minutes, preferably within 15 minutes, and even more preferably within 10 minutes.

[0040] The drying device 102 preferably includes a heating device (not shown) configured to heat the workpiece 2 so that the surface temperature of at least three locations, the opening, center, and bottom of the workpiece 2, is maintained at 200°C or higher for three minutes or more. The center of the workpiece 2 refers to the portion located midway between the opening end and the bottom in the axial direction of the workpiece 2. If the surface temperature of these three locations can be maintained at 200°C or higher for three minutes or more, the workpiece 2 can be dried in a short time, minimizing deterioration.

[0041] In addition, the heating device is configured to adjust the moisture content of the workpiece 2 after the heat treatment to 0.02 mg / cm at at least three locations, namely, the opening, the center, and the bottom. 2 It is preferable to control the heating temperature and time so that the moisture content at these three points is 0.02 mg / cm or less. 2 If the temperature is below this, the discharge operation is not affected and the battery can be configured as a sodium-sulfur battery or the like.

[0042] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0043] Using the processing system 1 shown in FIG. 1 , cutting and machining were performed on the opening of a ceramic β-alumina tube with a cylindrical shape and a bottom, one open at one end. In this processing, the manufacturing control standard for the dimensions of the processed β-alumina tube was set to 477.2 mm ± 0.2 mm, and the dimensions of the processed alumina tube were measured. A total of 200 tubes were processed. The results are shown in FIGS. 3( a) and 3(b). As a comparative example, the results of a method that did not use the third support 13 of FIG. 1 , i.e., the β-alumina tube was engaged with the second support 12 by injecting air from the open end of the β-alumina tube, and then cutting and machining were performed, are shown in FIGS. 3(c) and 3(d).

[0044] In the comparative example, 17 β-alumina tubes were machined shorter than the manufacturing control standard due to insufficient engagement with the second support 12, whereas in this example, no β-alumina tubes failed to meet the manufacturing control standard. Furthermore, in this example, the dimensional distribution of the β-alumina tubes was small; in this example, the process capability index was 1.57 and the standard deviation σ was 0.04 when 200 β-alumina tubes were machined, whereas in the comparative example, the process capability index was 0.47 and the standard deviation σ was 0.14. In other words, it can be seen that this example makes it possible to improve the dimensional accuracy of the workpiece 2.

[0045] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Machining system 101 Cleaning device 102 Drying device 103 Conveying device 11 First support 12 Second support 13 Third support 131 Arm 132 Buffer mechanism 1321 Slide drive unit 1322 Urging unit 133 Opening / closing mechanism 134 Air cylinder 14 Motor 15 Support plate 16 Rod 17 Sensor 18 Machine base 181 Receiving table 19 Machining unit 191 First machining unit 192 Second machining unit 193 Third machining unit 2 Work

Claims

1. A processing system for cutting and machining a cylindrical ceramic workpiece having one open end and a bottom, comprising: a first support member arranged to be engageable with the inner peripheral surface of the open end of the workpiece, for supporting the workpiece rotatably around an axis from the open end side; a second support member arranged to be engageable with the bottom of the workpiece, for supporting the workpiece rotatably around an axis from the bottom side; a third support member capable of moving the workpiece toward the second support member while gripping the outer peripheral surface of the workpiece, for engaging the workpiece with the second support member; a motor for rotating the first support member; and a processing unit that cuts and machining the workpiece while supplying cooling water to the workpiece.

2. The processing system according to claim 1, wherein the third support comprises: an arm that grips the outer peripheral surface of the workpiece; and a buffer mechanism that is connected to the arm and is capable of applying a buffer force when the workpiece engages with the second support.

3. The processing system according to claim 2, wherein the buffer mechanism comprises: a slide drive unit that is movable between the first support and the second support; and a biasing unit that is connected to the slide drive unit and is capable of applying the buffering force to the arm.

4. The processing system described in claim 1, wherein the processing unit comprises: a first processing unit that cuts the workpiece while supplying cooling water, leaving a convex portion on the cut surface; a second processing unit that cuts the convex portion on the cut surface while supplying cooling water; and a third processing unit that cuts the outer peripheral surface of the open end of the workpiece while supplying cooling water, wherein the first processing unit comprises a metal-bonded grinding wheel, and the second processing unit and the third processing unit comprise resin-bonded grinding wheels.

5. A processing system as described in claim 4, which is configured so that the cutting process of the first processing section and the cutting process of the third processing section can be performed simultaneously, and so that the cutting process of the second processing section and the cutting process of the third processing section can be performed simultaneously.

6. The processing system according to claim 1, further comprising: a cleaning device for cleaning the β-alumina tube processed by the processing unit; a drying device connected to the cleaning device for heating and drying the β-alumina tube; and a transport device for transporting the β-alumina tube from the cleaning device to the drying device, wherein the transport time of the β-alumina tube from the time the cleaning process of the β-alumina tube is completed by the cleaning device to the time the β-alumina tube is transported to the entrance of the drying device by the transport device is within 20 minutes.

7. The processing system according to claim 6, wherein the drying device is equipped with a heating device configured to heat the β-alumina tube so that the surface temperature of at least three points of the opening, center, and bottom of the β-alumina tube is maintained at 200°C or higher for at least three minutes.

8. The heating device is configured to adjust the moisture content of the β-alumina tube after the heat treatment to 0.02 mg / cm at at least three locations, i.e., the opening, the center, and the bottom. 2 8. The processing system according to claim 7, wherein the heating temperature and time are controlled as follows:

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