Abstract: A heated state-deciding apparatus and a thermocouple provided for a transport robot for detecting the temperature of a billet being transported by the transport robot, and a deciding member for deciding whether or not the billet is heated to be in a predetermined solid phase state on the basis of the detected temperature. Accordingly, it is possible to efficiently and accurately decide whether or not the solidus rate of the metal billet is good or bad, and it is possible to improve the productivity.

Abstract: An iron-base article such as a camshaft has a remelted layer of high wear resistance on a cam surface, for example. To make such an iron-base article, molten metal is poured into a mold with a chill set therein to cast an iron-base article having a chilled region formed in contact with said chill. Then, metal powder which provides wear resistance upon being mixed is added to at least a portion of said chilled region. A high level of energy is applied to the portion of the chilled region to heat and remelt the same, and the remelted portion is thereafter cooled to form a remelted layer therein.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for supplying a powdery material to a workpiece to be processed thereby. According to the method, the powdery material is discharged from a hopper and metered, and then fed into a tube extending in the vicinity of the workpiece. Ultrasonic vibrations are imparted to the tube to supply the powdery material to a portion to be processed of the workpiece while the amount of the supplied powdery material is being detected. The apparatus includes a hopper for storing the powdery material, the hopper having an outlet, a tube extending from the outlet to a position adjacent to the workpiece for conveying the powdery material therethrough, and an ultrasonic vibrating device mounted on the tube for imparting ultrasonic vibrations to the tube, and a device mounted on the tube for detecting the amount of the powdery material supplied through the tube.