Patent ID: 6274196
Filing Date: 2001-08-14
Classification: C23C,C30B,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of exchanging an atmosphere of spherical object, comprising:a spiral stream formation step of allowing a carrier fluid to flow in from a tangent direction of a tubular flow passage and forming a spiral stream of the carrier fluid;a spherical object-containing fluid supply step of supplying a spherical object together with a fluid for forming a first atmosphere along a center axis in the spiral of the spiral stream;a first atmosphere suction and discharge step of bringing the spherical object-containing fluid into contact with the spiral stream for guiding the spherical object so that the spherical object passes through a center and selectively sucking the first atmosphere together with the spiral stream outward for discharging the first atmosphere; anda second atmosphere supply step of spouting a second fluid for forming a second atmosphere to the spherical object with the first atmosphere discharged in said suction and discharge step, accelerating the spherical object, and sending out the spherical object together with the second fluid.