Current applying apparatus, current applying method and direct resistance heating apparatus

• US 9,907,118 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2013
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neturen Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Neturen Company Limited
• Inventors: Ooyama, Hironori, Kobayashi, Kunihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall, Arthur O
• Assistant Examiner(s): Greenlund, Joseph A
• Application Number:
  US14/403,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20150173126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,733 Days
• Field of Search: 219 50, 219 81, 219 82, 219 88
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 1/40 Direct resistance heating
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 9/0012 Rolls; Roll arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 9/0068 for particular articles not mentioned below
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 9/46 for sheet metals
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/0004 Devices wherein the heating current flows through the material to be heated Circuit arrangements for heating by passing the current directly across the material to be heated H05B3/0023; granular, powdered or fluid material H05B3/60
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/0009 the material to be heated being in motion
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/03 Electrodes

Abstract

A current applying apparatus includes a pair of electrodes configured to contact a workpiece to apply an electric current to the workpiece, and a bus bar arranged to extend along the workpiece. At least one of the electrodes includes a moving electrode configured to move relative to the bus bar and the workpiece such that an electric current flows between the bus bar and the workpiece through the moving electrode, the moving electrode being connected to the bus bar so as to be movable relative to the bus bar, and the moving electrode being configured to contact the workpiece so as to be movable relative to the workpiece.

Claims

1. A current applying apparatus comprising:

a pair of electrodes configured to contact a workpiece to apply an electric current to the workpiece; and

a bus bar having a surface arranged to extend along the workpiece,

wherein at least one of the electrodes comprises a moving electrode configured to move relative to the bus bar and the workpiece such that an electric current flows between the bus bar and the workpiece through the moving electrode, the moving electrode being connected to the bus bar so as to be movable relative to the bus bar, and the moving electrode being configured to contact the workpiece so as to be movable relative to the workpiece,

wherein the current applying apparatus further comprises a power feeding roller configured to contact and roll on the surface of the bus bar and to move together with the moving electrode, and

wherein the power feeding roller comprises an electrically-conductive peripheral surface from which the electric current is supplied to the moving electrode.

2. The current applying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving electrode is arranged between the bus bar and the workpiece.

3. The current applying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving electrode comprises a current-applying roller configured to roll on a surface of the workpiece, and the current-applying roller comprising an electrically-conductive peripheral surface from which the electric current is applied to the surface of the workpiece.

4. The current applying apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the current-applying roller and the power feeding roller are arranged to rotate in opposite directions and to contact each other.

5. The current applying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein an axis of the power feeding roller is arranged at a position shifted from a plane including a portion of the current-applying roller contacting the workpiece and an axis of the current-applying roller.

6. The current applying apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the power feeding roller is provided on both axial end portions of the moving electrode to supply the electric current from the power feeding roller to the moving electrode.

7. The current applying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pressing member arranged to face the moving electrode and to move together with the moving electrode,

wherein the pressing member is configured to press the workpiece against the moving electrode.

8. The current applying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the bus bar is arranged to face the workpiece.

9. The current applying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the moving electrode moves, the bus bar extends along the entire length of a portion of the moving electrode that is configured to contact the workpiece.

10. A current applying method for applying an electric current to a workpiece by contacting a pair of electrodes to the workpiece, the current applying method comprising:

providing a bus bar to extend along the workpiece and to face the workpiece;

moving at least one of the electrodes relative to the bus bar and the workpiece such that an electric current flows between the bus bar and the workpiece through the at least one of the electrodes, with the at least one of the electrodes being connected to the bus bar and contacting the workpiece; and

providing a power feeding roller to contact and roll on the surface of the bus bar and to move together with the at least one of the electrodes,

wherein the electric current is supplied to the at least one of the electrodes from an electrically-conductive peripheral surface of the power feeding roller.

11. The current applying method according to claim 10, wherein the bus bar is provided such that a surface of the bus bar faces the workpiece.

12. The current applying method according to claim 10, wherein the bus bar is provided such that, in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the moving electrode is moved, the bus bar extends along the entire length of a portion of the moving electrode that is configured to contact the workpiece.

13. A direct resistance heating apparatus comprising:

a current applying apparatus; and

a power supply configured to supply electric current to the current applying apparatus,

wherein the current applying apparatus comprises a pair of electrodes configured to contact a workpiece to apply the electric current to the workpiece, and a bus bar having a surface arranged to extend along the workpiece,

wherein at least one of the electrodes comprises a moving electrode configured to move relative to the bus bar and the workpiece such that an electric current flows between the bus bar and the workpiece through the moving electrode, the moving electrode being connected to the bus bar so as to be movable relative to the bus bar, and the moving electrode being configured to contact the workpiece so as to be movable relative to the workpiece,

wherein the current applying apparatus further comprises a power feeding roller configured to contact and roll on the surface of the bus bar and to move together with the moving electrode, and

wherein the power feeding roller comprises an electrically-conductive peripheral surface from which the electric current is supplied to the moving electrode.