Continuous treatment apparatus

• US 6,523,676 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2001
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shimadzu Mectem, Inc. (Shimadzu Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Shimadzu Mectem, Inc. (Shimadzu Corporation)
• Inventors: Mikami, Kanji, Kamoto, Katsutoshi, Nakatsukasa, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIDLEY, RICHARD W L
• Application Number:
  US09/770,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20010050212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 198/465.1, 198/737, 198/747, 198/468.9, 198/468.01
• US Class Current: 198/737
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 9/0018 for charging, discharging or manipulation of charge
• CPC Class Codes: F27B 2017/0091 Series of chambers, e.g. associated in their use
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 2001/1891 Doors for separating two chambers in the furnace
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 2099/0098 Means for moving the furnace
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 3/0024 of metallic workpieces

Abstract

A continuous treatment apparatus is provided that resists thermal shock and treatment gases and correctly transfers treated objects. An urging mechanism 9 that urges a treated object w is adapted to transfer a treated object w by reciprocating rack member 91 using a pinion 92 in separating compartments 6 between treatment chambers 1, 2, 3, and 4. This arrangement eliminates the need to install rack members 91 and pinion 92 in a severe atomsphere.

Claims

1. A continuous treatment apparatus adapted so that a treated object can be transferred from a treatment chamber to a next treatment chamber, the treatment apparatus comprising:

urging mechanisms between a plurality of treatment chambers, wherein the urging mechanisms have rack members that can move in the direction of transfer, a pinion which drives the rack members, and a latching means for selectively engaging the rack members with the treated

wherein the rack members are reciprocated between adjacent treatment chambers through use of the pinion to transfer the treated object from one treatment chamber to another.

4. A continuous treatment apparatus according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the treated object is disposed on a tray and the latching means is engaged with the tray of the treated object at a plurality of positions along the direction of transfer of the treated object.

10. A continuous treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the latching means is provided at a plurality of positions along the direction of transfer of a treated object by the rack members.

11. A continuous treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the treated object is disposed on a tray and the latching means is engaged with the tray of the treated object at a plurality of positions along the direction of transfer of the treated object.

2. A continuous treatment apparatus adapted so that a treated object can be transferred from a treatment chamber to a next treatment chamber, the treatment apparatus comprising:

urging mechanisms between a plurality of treatment chambers, wherein

the urging mechanisms have rack members that can move in the direction of transfer, a pinion which drives the rack members, and a latching means for selectively engaging the rack members with the treated object,

the rack members are reciprocated between adjacent treatment chambers through use of the pinion to transfer the treated object from one treatment chamber to another, and

the rack members are provided in pairs and the pinion is engaged with the rack members at the same time and the following operation is repeated;

while one of the rack members moves forward to transfer a treated object, the other moves back in preparation for the next transfer, and vice versa.

3. A continuous treatment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the latching means is provided at a plurality of positions along the direction of transfer of a treated object by the rack members.

9. A continuous treatment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the treated object is disposed on a tray and the latching means is engaged with the tray of the treated object at a plurality of positions along the direction of transfer of the treated object.

5. A continuous treatment apparatus adapted so that a treated object can be transferred from a treatment chamber to a next treatment chamber, the treatment apparatus comprising:

urging mechanisms between a plurality of treatment chambers, wherein

the urging mechanisms have rack members that can move in the direction of transfer, a pinion which drives the rack members, and a latching means for selectively engaging the rack members with the treated object,

the rack members are reciprocated between adjacent treatment chambers through use of the pinion to transfer the treated object from one treatment chamber to another, and

the apparatus is adapted so that each treatment chamber can be opened or closed by a lid, that rack members can move along a transfer rail which links adjacent treatment chambers with the lids open, and that the following opposite operations can be performed around a rotating shaft;

(1) when the lid is opened, it is withdrawn to a position at which it does not interfere with the transfer rail or rack members; and

(2) when the lid is closed, the transfer rail and rack members are withdrawn to a position at which the transfer rail and rack members do not interfere with the lid.

6. A continuous treatment apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the lid, the transfer rail, and the rack members are installed and withdrawn using a common rotating shaft.

7. A continuous treatment apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a rod is housed in the rotating shaft, and the rod ascends or descends to open or close the lid.

8. A continuous treatment apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the pinion is connected with the rod, and the rod can be rotated without being prevented from ascending and descending.