Abstract: The infrared furnace includes a plurality of infrared lamps arrayed on one surface side of a work and a reflective surface provided on its opposite surface side. Outputs of the infrared lamps are locally adjusted, or intensity of the infrared rays incident on one work surface is locally adjusted by a member disposed between the infrared lamps and the one surface of the work. In this manner, variations in strength may be imparted to one and the same car part.

Abstract: An infrared furnace is able to heat a first region and a second region of a work in different temperature regions, provided with a plurality of infrared lamps opposing the work, and a member positioned between the work and the plurality of infrared lamps apart from the work and the infrared lamps, to be arranged above a boundary region between the first and second regions.

Abstract: The infrared furnace includes a plurality of infrared lamps arrayed on one surface side of a work and a reflective surface provided on its opposite surface side. Outputs of the infrared lamps are locally adjusted, or intensity of the infrared rays incident on one work surface is locally adjusted by a member disposed between the infrared lamps and the one surface of the work. In this manner, variations in strength may be imparted to one and the same car part.

Abstract: A hot press forming apparatus that hot press forms a blank to process the blank into a formed product includes: a conduction heating mechanism installed in the hot press forming apparatus, the conduction heating mechanism clamping the fed blank at a predetermined conducting position so as to be in a conveyance-stopped state, and performs conduction heating onto the blank; a die quenching type hot press mechanism installed in the hot press forming apparatus and disposed thermally isolated downstream of the conduction heating mechanism, the hot press mechanism hot pressing the blank subjected to conduction heating at a predetermined processing position; and a conveying mechanism installed in the hot press forming apparatus. The conveying mechanism conveys the blank subjected to conduction heating at least from the conducting position to the processing position, to supply the blank to the hot press mechanism.

Abstract: A metal processing method using a tailored blank material as a raw material comprises: preliminarily bonding together a metal material having a relatively high heating rate by infrared heating and a metal material having a relatively low heating rate by infrared heating, to form an integrated metal material; and a-heating step the integrated metal material, wherein infrared heating of the integrated metal material is performed by infrared simultaneously and comprehensively; and in the integrated metal material undergoing the infrared heating, the infrared heating is terminated after a portion having the relatively high heating rate reached a predetermined temperature corresponding to a predetermined heat treatment and before a portion having the relatively low heating rate reaches the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: Provided is an electrode support structure in which local heating can be prevented from occurring in a workpiece during the electric heating. The electrode support structure is usable for applying a load to the electrodes used for the electric heating of a metal plate, and comprises at least two members, i.e., a first member to which the electrodes are fixed and a second member which receives the load from the first member or connects the first member to a load means. The support structure in which the two members are joined to each other through an elastic member can uniformly apply the load to the electrodes for electric heating so that the electrodes can uniformly contact with the workpiece, whereby the workpiece can be uniformly heated.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus conveys work that was conduction heated at an energizing position to a processing position that is separated from the energizing position in the horizontal direction in order to perform hot press-forming, and comprises: a holding member that freely clamps both end sections in the lengthwise direction of the work that has been conduction heated; a drive mechanism that moves the holding member from at least the energizing position to the processing position; and a guide member that extends between the energizing position and the processing position and guides and supports the middle section in the lengthwise direction of the work that has been conduction heated and is being conveyed toward the processing position. A hot press-forming apparatus comprises the conveyor apparatus when conveying conduction heated work to a downstream process.

Abstract: A heating device and a heating method which is able to quickly and accurately partition each region of a material to be heated and heat up each of the region to a required temperature, and a shape and required temperature of each region is different from each other. A heating device for heating a material to be heated by applying an electromagnetic wave to the material, wherein a plate member(s) which shields, absorbs and/or reflects the irradiated electromagnetic radiation and has a predetermined pattern contour can be placed, at least partially, close to the material to be heated.

Abstract: Provided are a quick heating equipment that is small sized, has a simple structure, consumes less energy, and is easy repairable and replaceable, and a quick heating method. The heating equipment of a plate material to be heated has a contact-heating surface configured by arranging a plurality of heating elements on heat-insulating base plates at predetermined intervals, in a planar fashion and in a predetermined pattern and the contact-heating surface(s) is/are directly contacted with the plate material to be heated for heating thereof.

Abstract: A heating device and a heating method which is able to quickly and accurately partition each region of a material to be heated and heat up each of the region to a required temperature, and a shape and required temperature of each region is different from each other. A heating device for heating a material to be heated by applying an electromagnetic wave to the material, wherein a plate member(s) which shields, absorbs and/or reflects the irradiated electromagnetic radiation and has a predetermined pattern contour can be placed, at least partially, close to the material to be heated.

Abstract: Provided are a quick heating equipment that is small sized, has a simple structure, consumes less energy, and is easy repairable and replaceable, and a quick heating method. The heating equipment of a plate material to be heated has a contact-heating surface configured by arranging a plurality of heating elements on heat-insulating base plates at predetermined intervals, in a planar fashion and in a predetermined pattern and the contact-heating surface(s) is/are directly contacted with the plate material to be heated for heating thereof.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus conveys work that was conduction heated at an energizing position to a processing position that is separated from the energizing position in the horizontal direction in order to perform hot press-forming, and comprises: a holding member that freely clamps both end sections in the lengthwise direction of the work that has been conduction heated; a drive mechanism that moves the holding member from at least the energizing position to the processing position; and a guide member that extends between the energizing position and the processing position and guides and supports the middle section in the lengthwise direction of the work that has been conduction heated and is being conveyed toward the processing position. A hot press-forming apparatus comprises the conveyor apparatus when conveying conduction heated work to a downstream process.

Abstract: A hot press forming apparatus that hot press forms a blank to process the blank into a formed product comprises: a conduction heating mechanism installed in the hot press forming apparatus, the conduction heating mechanism clamping the fed blank at a predetermined conducting position so as to be in a conveyance-stopped state, and performs conduction heating onto the blank; a die quenching type hot press mechanism installed in the hot press forming apparatus and disposed thermally isolated downstream of the conduction heating mechanism, the hot press mechanism hot pressing the blank subjected to conduction heating at a predetermined processing position; and a conveying mechanism installed in the hot press forming apparatus. The conveying mechanism conveys the blank subjected to conduction heating at least from the conducting position to the processing position, to supply the blank to the hot press mechanism.

Abstract: A conduction heating apparatus performs conduction heating while clamping a work to be hot press-formed by a clamping mechanism to apply tension to the work. The clamping mechanism has a stationary clamping member and a movable clamping member, a lifting up/down cylinder for the stationary clamping member and the movable clamping member, and tensioning cylinders that drive the movable clamping member along the planar direction of the work, and in conduction heating. The stationary clamping member clamps one side of the work and hold it, and the movable clamping member moves while holding the other side of the work according to thermal deformation of the work, which applies tension to the work corresponding to the thermal deformation of the work.

Abstract: Provided is an electrode support structure in which local heating can be prevented from occurring in a workpiece during the electric heating. The electrode support structure is usable for applying a load to the electrodes used for the electric heating of a metal plate, and comprises at least two members, i.e., a first member to which the electrodes are fixed and a second member which receives the load from the first member or connects the first member to a load means. The support structure in which the two members are joined to each other through an elastic member can uniformly apply the load to the electrodes for electric heating so that the electrodes can uniformly contact with the workpiece, whereby the workpiece can be uniformly heated.