Patent ID: 6530780
Filing Date: 2003-03-11
Classification: F27B,F27D,Y02P

Abstract:
A continuous sintering furnace, comprising:an entrance-side deaerating chamber through which trays, each of which has a rectangular hole and is adapted to contain a material to be sintered, are moveable; preheating, heating and cooling zones into which the trays are sequentially positionable from said entrance-side deaerating chamber; an exit-side deaerating chamber through which the trays having passed through the cooling zone are moveable; pusher means for pushing the tray from said entrance-side deaerating chamber to the preheating zone, said pusher means having a first arm adapted to be selectively pushed and pulled and a first dog pivoted to a downstream end of the first arm in a direction of transportation of the trays so that the first dog abuts on and moves away from a downstream edge of the rectangular hole of the tray when the first arm is pushed and pulled, respectively; puller means for pulling the tray from the cooling zone to the exit-side deaerating chamber, said puller means having a second arm adapted to be selectively pushed and pulled and a second dog pivoted to an upstream end of the second arm in the direction of transportation of the trays so that the second dog abuts on and moves away from the downstream edge of the rectangular hole of the tray when the second arm is pulled and pushed, respectively; intermediate puller means for pulling the tray from the heating zone to the cooling zone, said intermediate puller means having a third arm adapted to be selectively pushed and pulled and a third dog pivoted to an upstream end of the third arm in the direction of transportation of the trays so that the third dog abuts on and moves away from the downstream edge of the rectangular hole of the tray when the third arm is pulled and pushed, respectively; a vertically moveable first door moveable between the entrance-side deaerating chamber and the preheating zone; a vertically moveable first intermediate door positioned in proximity with said first door and arranged at an upstream end of the preheating zone in a direction of transportation of the trays; a vertically moveable second intermediate door moveable between the heating and cooling zones; and a vertically moveable second door moveable between the cooling zone and the exit-side deaerating chamber.