Abstract: The present invention relates to an oven comprising: —a first chamber and a second chambers, which are separated by separation means—conveyor means for guiding products from the inlet through these chambers to the outlet, —temperature control means for controlling the temperature and/or humidity in each chamber individually using a fluid, respectively, and—a passage in the separation means through which the conveyor means are directed from the first chamber to the second chamber.

Abstract: A multi-opening oven assembly for simultaneously heating a plurality of blanks, for example aluminum blanks, before forming the heated blanks in a production line is provided. The oven assembly includes vertically aligned shelves to present a plurality of chambers for heating the blanks. A table including an entry side platform and an exit side platform moves vertically along the oven assembly. A rail system extends along the platforms and the shelves to convey the blanks in and out of the chambers. Once one set of heated blanks is removed from a first chamber, the table moves vertically to a second chamber and is ready to receive the next set of heated blanks. A continuous supply of heated blanks is provided for high throughput. The oven assembly is preferably disposed in a press adjacent a forming station of an existing production line and thus, no additional floor space is required.

Abstract: A material feeding apparatus is disclosed. An apparatus for removing a surface oxide of a metal material and feeding the metal material to a melting furnace, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, includes: a housing including a material dropping chamber for feeding and discharging the metal material and a material etching chamber for performing a plasma etching process; and a pretreatment casing configured to reciprocate between the material dropping chamber and the material etching chamber in the housing, wherein the pretreatment casing receives the metal material from the material dropping chamber to store the metal material, moves to the material etching chamber to plasma-etch a surface oxide layer of the stored metal material, and then returns to the material dropping chamber to drop the etched metal material into the melting furnace.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a multi-pass kiln with two or more chambers, an entrance and an exit at a proximal end of the kiln, and a reciprocal flow path extending through the kiln from the entrance to the exit. Lumber charges traveling along the reciprocal flow path may travel in a first direction along one side of the heated second chamber before traveling in a substantially opposite second direction along the opposite side of the second chamber. The distal end of the kiln may be substantially sealed, and a pressure differential between the distal end and the proximal end may draw moist heated air from the heated chamber toward the exit and entry to preheat and/or condition lumber charges traveling through the first chamber.

Abstract: In a vacuum soldering apparatus and a control method thereof, in order to prevent flux scattering or solder scattering when voids are defoamed and/or deaerated from molten solder by evacuating a chamber to a target degree of vacuum as well as in order to be able to perform brief evacuation, an evaluation control of a pump is performed. The evaluation control of the pump is performed in which the plural evacuation control properties (#1 through #4) with the gradients ? plotting the degrees of vacuum (pressure P) in relation to evacuation time (time t) when a chamber is evacuated by a predetermined pump output, are previously prepared; and the control are changed from evacuation control property of small pump output to evacuation control property of large pump output based on the initially set gradient ? in the evacuation control property.

Abstract: A method of reducing entrained aluminum oxides in aluminum castings. The method comprises preheating a furnace charge to remove moisture and contaminants. The furnace charge is then coated on all free surfaces with a layer of flux. Subsequently the furnace charge is melted in a furnace to form a melt bath of liquid aluminum suitable for casting. The flux layer removes the naturally occurring oxide film from the furnace charge surface as well as provides a cover flux to protect the melt bath from oxidation.

Abstract: A sintering furnace with a first zone, in particular a burn-off zone, and a second zone, in particular a sintering zone, and also a transitional zone arranged between the first zone and the second zone. The sintering furnace has at least one transporting mechanism for transporting bodies to be sintered on a transporting area. With this transporting mechanism, the bodies to be sintered can be transported from the first zone and through the transitional zone to the second zone. The sintering furnace also has at least one gas removal device with at least one gas removal device opening. Here, the gas removal device opening is at least partially arranged in the region of the transitional zone. Furthermore, a method by access of which gases can be removed from a sintering furnace is claimed.

Abstract: In the method according to the invention for producing cement clinker, raw cement meal is preheated in a preheater, the preheated raw cement meal is precalcined in a calciner and the precalcined raw cement meal is burnt in a kiln, fuel and combustion air having an oxygen content of at least 75 mol % being used in the calciner, and the raw cement meal being precalcined in a fluidised bed in the calciner. The exhaust gases occurring in the kiln are delivered to the preheater, bypassing the calciner, and the exhaust gases of the calciner are delivered to a CO2 preparation device.

Abstract: A thermal treatment method for insulating glass units or IGUs having one or more suspended polymer films includes first curing a sealant at a first elevated temperature for a specified duration, then shrinking the suspended film at a second, higher, elevated temperature for a specified duration, and then cooling the IGUs back to ambient temperature. The various heating and cooling stages may be performed in a tunnel oven having different length sections at the desired temperatures, while the IGUs are conveyed from one section to the next.

Abstract: A heat treatment furnace, also referred to as a multi-chamber furnace, that includes a plurality of treatment chambers, each having heating and cooling dampers and being controllable to adjust a flow rate into the treatment chamber, the dampers of each treatment chamber being selectively and independently adjustable with respect to one another so as to allow simultaneous heat processing of a plurality of products in different treatment chambers at different respective heat treatment states depending on the amount of heating and cooling flow rates allowed to enter in each treatment chamber via the dampers.

Abstract: The continuous firing furnace includes: a single or a plurality of heating units (120), each of which includes a casing (120b) provided with a through-hole (120a) in a transport direction of a material to be heated, a heating section (160) that heats the material to be heated, and a movable section (150) that is provided at a lower portion of the casing and that supports and allows the casing to move in a horizontal direction, wherein through-holes are formed so as to be able to communicate with each other in the transport direction; a single or a plurality of cooling units (122) configured to cool the material to be heated, each of which includes a casing (122b) provided with a through-hole (122a) in the transport direction of the material to be heated, and a cooling section (170) that cools the material to be heated, wherein through-holes are formed so as to be able to communicate with the through-holes of the plurality of heating units; and a pressing section (124) configured to press the single or the plu

Abstract: There is provided a heating device, in particular an austenitization device, for a plant for hot forming blanks, wherein the heating device is for locally heating, in particular austenitization, regions of the blanks and has at least one burner. Also included is means for moving the burner and/or the flame of the burner to the regions of the blank which are to be subjected to local heating.

Abstract: Technologies are described effective to implement systems and methods of producing a material. The methods comprise receiving a tertiary semiconductor sample with a dilute species. The sample has two ends. The first end of the sample includes a first concentration of the dilute species lower than a second concentration of the dilute species in the second end of the sample. The method further comprises heating the sample in a chamber. The chamber has a first zone and a second zone. The first zone having a first temperature higher than a second temperature in the second zone. The sample is orientated such that the first end is in the first zone and the second end is in the second zone.

Abstract: The invention provides a multistage heating system including a compact multistage furnace of which the installation area in a factory is decreased and a work carrier machine. A multistage furnace is configured by piling up a plurality of furnace units in the vertical direction. Each of the furnace units includes an upper heater and a lower heater, support pipes disposed on the upper heater and extending in the horizontal direction, and a plurality of work support bars mounted over the support pipes. A work carrier machine includes work carrier bars extending in the horizontal direction, a horizontal motion mechanism connecting the ends of the work carrier bars and move the work carrier bars on horizontal rails, and a vertical motion mechanism moving the body of the work carrier machine including the horizontal rails on vertical rails.

Abstract: A continuous gas carburizing furnace includes a gas carburizing processing chamber (a preheating chamber 2, a heating chamber 3, a carburizing chamber 4, a diffusion chamber 5 and a temperature decrease chamber 6) in which a gas carburizing process is performed on a workpiece 50, an oil quenching chamber 8 in which oil quenching is performed on the workpiece 50, and a gas quenching chamber 7 in which gas quenching is performed on the workpiece 50. The gas carburizing processing chamber includes a temperature decrease chamber 6 in which the temperature of the workpiece heated by a gas carburizing process is lowered. The temperature decrease chamber 6, the gas quenching chamber 7 and the oil quenching chamber 8 are arranged in that order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction of the workpiece 50, and are adjacent to each other.

Abstract: A mobile furnace apparatus and system configured to process payload is disclosed. A plurality of mobile furnaces may be interconnected to form a modular mobile furnace train. A fire line is an area where heat is applied to the payload, while a service line is an area where loading of payload, unloading of payload, inspection, and ongoing maintenance may take place. The modular mobile furnace train allows separation of the fire line and service line, which may improve worker safety and decrease overall costs.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for heating at least one workpiece in a furnace by which the workpiece is heated by heating facilities. An exemplary method comprises heating a complete workpiece with the heating facilities. The exemplary method also comprises moving the workpiece out of the furnace such that a first portion of the workpiece is still inside the furnace while a second portion of the workpiece is outside the furnace and holding the workpiece at this position for a predetermined time period. Finally, the exemplary method comprises moving the complete workpiece out of the furnace.

Abstract: A modular mobile furnace train apparatus and a process is disclosed. Mobile furnaces may be interconnected in series to form a modular mobile furnace train. Exhaust gas may then flow through mobile furnaces in a furnace train, allowing for more effective heat transfer to payload being heated as well as increasing energy recapture. Volatile gasses emitted by the payload may be combusted. This recapture reduces production of carbon dioxide and reduces the amount of energy required during the firing while the combustion of volatiles reduces exhaust pollutants. A fire line is an area where heat is applied, while a service line is an area where loading, unloading, inspection, and ongoing maintenance may take place. The modular mobile furnace train allows separation of the fire and maintenance which reduces worker exposure to dangerous environments while decreasing operational costs. Furthermore, the modular mobile furnace facility is less costly to build and operate.

Abstract: A thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate includes a substrate, a gate electrode layer disposed on the substrate, an insulating layer, an oxide semiconductor layer disposed on the insulating layer, a source/drain electrode layer, an organic-acrylic photoresist layer, a passivation layer and an electrically conductive layer. The insulating layer is disposed on the gate electrode layer and the substrate. The source/drain electrode layer is disposed on the insulating layer and the oxide semiconductor layer, and a gap is formed through the source/drain electrode layer for exposing the oxide semiconductor layer therethrough. The organic-acrylic photoresist layer covers the source/drain electrode layer. The passivation layer is disposed on the substrate, the oxide semiconductor layer and the organic-acrylic photoresist layer.

Abstract: A battery of stationary hearth furnaces, and method for using, for producing metallic iron nodules having a furnace having a stationary hearth, an inlet and an outlet; a heating chamber beneath the stationary hearth having heated fluids circulated thereto and heating reducible material on the stationary hearth; passageways circulating fluids, through ports from the furnace housing above the reducible material to the heating chamber beneath; burners and air inlets in the furnace and optionally in at least one passageway and a heating chamber for drying and heating the reducible material, driving off and burning volatile material, and forming metallic iron nodules; a loading device for loading reducible material and optionally hearth material onto the stationary hearth through the inlet; and a discharging device capable of discharging metallic iron nodules and optionally related material from the stationary hearth through the outlet.

Abstract: Contact lens curing systems and methods are described. A contact lens curing system includes an oven that has a plurality of curing zones, a mold advancement system for moving contact lens mold assemblies between the plurality of zones, and a controlled atmosphere in the curing zones that provides a substantially chemically inert environment in which contact lens precursor materials can be polymerized in contact mold assemblies located in the curing zones. Methods of producing contact lenses include curing contact lens precursor materials in contact lens mold assemblies in the lens curing system.

Abstract: A conveyor oven is described. The conveyor oven includes a frame made of load-bearing structural members. The conveyor oven has a modular construction, with the structural members defining a rectangular prism. Blocks of insulation are placed in the frame openings, and a flexible insulating material, such as a multi-layer insulating textile, is used to cover joints between adjacent modules. Along the length of the conveyor oven, idler rollers that support the conveyor belt have ends that penetrate the sides of the oven and are supported such that the rollers can shift as the oven expands and contracts without creating openings for heat or air leakage. Air flow within the oven is managed using sets of adjustable baffle plates above and below the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A roller hearth calcining furnace that uses a movable fluid bed that is transported through plural heating modules, each heating module independently heated using an indirect heating system. The indirect heating system includes an oxidizer, an all-ceramic, indirect, air-to-air heat exchanger, and one or more metal heat exchangers. The oxidizer can be fired with oil, coal, natural gas or other means, is impervious to attack from dirty fuels, and produces clean hot air for productive use. The movable fluid bed includes a permeable silicon carbide ceramic plate that resides within, and is supported by, a sagger or tray. The sagger is transported on rollers through the plural heating modules, and thus different temperature zones within a furnace as required by the temperature profile of the material being calcined.

Abstract: A multizone convection furnace is provided in which gas from a cooling chamber of the furnace is directed into one or more heat zones of the furnace for the purpose of providing a specified thermal profile. The gas introduced from the cooling chamber into the one or more heat zones is of the same type of gas present in the heat zones, and typically is nitrogen. In a preferred embodiment, the convection furnaces comprises a heating chamber composed of a plurality of adjacent heat zones and a cooling chamber at the exit end of the heating chamber. A conveyer extends through the furnace for movement of a product through the heat zones and cooling chamber of the furnace. The cooling chamber is coupled to one or more of the heat zones such that cooled gas from the cooling chamber can be introduced into selected heat zones. In one version, a cooled gas path is provided to all of the heat zones and cooled gas is introduced into intended zones by opening associated valves.

Abstract: A multiple moving hearth furnace (10) having a furnace housing (11) with at least two moving hearths (20) positioned laterally within the furnace housing, the hearths moving in opposite directions and each moving hearth (20) capable of being charged with at least one layer of iron oxide and carbon bearing material at one end, and being capable of discharging reduced material at the other end. A heat insulating partition (92) is positioned between adjacent moving hearths of at least portions of the conversion zones (13), and is capable of communicating gases between the atmospheres of the conversion zones of adjacent moving hearths. A drying/preheat zone (12), a conversion zone (13), and optionally a cooling zone (15) are sequentially positioned along each moving hearth (30) in the furnace housing (11).

Abstract: A manufacturing apparatus for a semiconductor device that includes a bake chamber for a wafer with a coating film formed thereon to be baked at a predetermined temperature, a cooling chamber connected to the bake chamber, a first carrying unit for the baked wafer to be carried in the cooling chamber, a first temperature control unit for the wafer carried by the first carrying unit to be cooled down, and an unloading gate for unloading the wafer cooled down from the cooling chamber.

Abstract: A thermal processing system is disclosed. The thermal processing system includes a transfer stage, one or more thermal processing chambers and an interface to a deposition equipment. The transfer stage is provided to receive workpieces for thermal processing. Further the transfer stage is provided as a mechanism to move workpieces from one chamber to another chamber. The thermal processing chamber includes a heat manipulation system to heat up or cool down the workpieces. The thermal processing chamber is designed to accommodate a platform that positions each of the workpieces vertically. As a result, all workpieces are moved together with the platform to be transferred, for example, from one chamber to another chamber. Depending on implementation, the platform may be implemented to include a fixture or a plurality of fixtures, where all of the workpieces may be removably held up by the fixture or each of the workpieces is removably held up by one of the fixtures.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide burning equipment that can prevent uneven burning and increase productivity. The burning equipment of the present invention includes: a furnace body (13) having an inner space in which a powdery or granular subject to be treated (11) is burned; a gas ejection portion (21) having an opening for ejecting an atmospheric gas from above the subject to be treated (11) which is conveyed in the inner space of the furnace body (13); a gas supply portion (18) for supplying the atmospheric gas from a side wall (13c) of the furnace body (13) to the gas ejection portion (21); and a heating portion (24a, 24b) for controlling temperature distribution in the inner space of the furnace body (13).

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for cooling the under-car channel of a tunnel kiln while minimizing migration of air between the above-car and under-car channels involves controlling or equalizing the mass flow of cooling air directed through the under-car channel and in particular through individual undercarriage cooling zones which can match individual heating zones of the tunnel kiln.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gate unit for gas-tight sealing of two adjacent high temperature zones within a high temperature oven, comprising a gate panel displaceable between an open position and a closed position within a guide structure. At least one sealing element is transported with the gate panel. Protecting means can be transported by the gate panel over at least one part of a transport path of the same, by which at least one segment of the sealing element can be protected over at least one part of the displacement path of the gate panel against influences harmful to the sealing element particularly against radiant heat. The invention further relates to a high temperature oven having an oven tunnel comprising a first high temperature zone and a second high temperature zone. The gate panel is disposed in a transition region between the first and the second high temperature zones.

Abstract: A double-chamber type heat-treating furnace comprises a hermetically closable cooling furnace, a hermetically closable heating furnace, and a transfer unit. The transfer unit has free rollers disposed within the heating and cooling chambers and for supporting the object at only both ends in a direction of width thereof, a push-pull member moving while being engaged with the object to push or pull the object, and a drive unit provided at a position adjacent to the heating chamber on a side opposite to a side on which the cooling chamber is disposed and driving the push-pull device.

Abstract: A curing oven, particularly for curing a continuous mat of mineral wool fibres mixed with binder has an air injecting system for injecting ambient air into at least one heating zone in circumstances in which there is a risk of inadequate ventilation.

Abstract: A diffuser plate for a reflow oven includes an upper surface and a plurality of nozzle openings therein. Each of the plurality of nozzle openings has a raised surrounding portion for restricting condensed flux on the upper surface of the diffuser plate from flowing through the nozzles. A drain hole permits condensed flux on the upper surface to flow downward through the plate.

Abstract: A furnace for heating steel plates includes a plurality of horizontal furnace levels in superimposed disposition. Each furnace level is constructed for acceptance of at least one steel plate and includes a transport mechanism for moving the at least one steel plate during a heating process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a roller hearth furnace (1) for heating and/or temperature equilibration of continuous cast products (2), comprising a first series of rollers (13) running in the longitudinal direction (12) and a second parallel series of rollers (15) on the outlet side (14), wherein a buffer zone (16) with lifting elements (17) for the perpendicular transport of the continuous cast product (2) is arranged between the series of rollers (13, 15). Furthermore, alternative arrangements for a further process route (28) are provided.

Abstract: A method of heat treating stainless steel in the form of blanks, piping, tubing, strip, or wire-like material, after rolling the material, and in a heat treatment furnace at a temperature higher than about 900° C. The material is subjected to a preheating stage and a final heating stage, wherein in the preheating stage flames from burners are directed toward the surface of the material to impinge on the surface. Burners situated in the preheating stage are supplied with a fuel that burns with the aid of an oxidizing gas that contains gaseous oxygen. The material is held in the preheating stage long enough to obtain at least some degree of oxidation on the surface of the material, and the material is heated further in a following, final heating stage by burners situated in a furnace and that are supplied with a fuel and an oxidizing gas.

Abstract: A temperature regulating method in a thermal processing system includes controlling a heating means by performing integral operation, differential operation and proportional operation by means of a heating control section in a manner a detection temperature by a temperature detecting means becomes a predetermined target temperature, determining a first output control pattern by patterning a first operation amount for the heating control section to control the heating means depending upon a detection temperature detected by a first temperature detecting means, in controlling the heating means controlling the heating means by means of the heating control section depending upon the first output control pattern determined, and determining a second output control pattern by patterning at least a part of a second operation amount for the heating control section to control the heating means depending upon a detection temperature detected by a second temperature detecting means, in controlling the heating means.

Abstract: A heat treatment apparatus includes a heating furnace including a tunnel-shaped heating space for heating an object to be heated, the heating space having an inlet port and an outlet port formed at both ends thereof; a transporting unit transporting the object to the outlet port when the object is brought into the heating space through the inlet port; a heating unit heating the object that is being transported; and a gas-flow generation unit forming a gas flow that flows in a transporting direction of the object in the heating space, wherein the heating space has a cross-section orthogonal to the transporting direction of the object, the cross-section is changed in area along the transporting direction of the object.

Abstract: The invention relates to a modular oven for food products, the oven including a conveyor device for entraining the products from an inlet to an outlet of the oven, and comprising in cascade at least two, and preferably three, individual modules, each individual module presenting: a ceiling of adjustable height that presents first air and/or steam injection means for generating forced convection; a floor of adjustable height that presents second air and/or steam injection means for generating forced convection; floor burners for baking by convection, which burners are disposed between the floor and the conveyor device and are adjustable vertical position; and ceiling burners for baking by radiation, which burners are disposed between the conveyor device and the ceiling, and are adjustable in vertical position.

Abstract: In a method and system for an improved annealing furnace cooling and purging, atmosphere injection jets are provided in close proximity to a bottom of a tray carrying a lamination product in a cooling section. Atmospheric extraction tubes are also provided extracting atmosphere which is delivered to a high temperature variable speed fan which then outputs at a pressure side atmosphere to tubes having the injection jets. The system may be retrofit into an existing annealing furnace already having water cooled finned tubes and a recirculation fan in the cooling section. Cooling water tubes and a recirculating fan may also be provided in a purge vestibule located after an output from the cooling section for additional cooling.

Abstract: In a method for the preheating of cement raw meal for the production of cement-clinker, in which the cement raw meal is conveyed towards the feed side of a cement clinker kiln (1) in at least one heat exchanger-line in counter flow to hot gases, the hot gases are drawn off via at least a first heat exchanger (2) connected with the feed end of the cement clinker kiln (1) and via heat exchanger-lines (3,4) following this first heat exchanger (2) and being parallel to each other. The device for carrying out said method is characterized in that heat exchanger-lines (3,4) arranged in parallel to each other are connected to at least a first heat exchanger (2) joined to the feed end of the cement clinker kiln.

Abstract: A heating apparatus has first through fifth heating furnace arranged along the feeding direction in which glass substrates are fed by a feeding mechanism. The first heating furnace has a first heater for heating a glass substrate to at least a target temperature required for processing the workpiece. The second heating furnace has a heater for heating a glass substrate to a temperature equal to or below the target temperature. The second heating furnace generates an amount of heat smaller than that of the first heating furnace.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for incessantly producing polysilicon ingots, especially fabricated of an equality polycrystalline material. It contains a metallurgical method for continuously producing large amount of polysilicon ingot made by metal silicon, further comprising the steps of aligning empty graphite molds on furnace cars; preheating the molds in the preheating area; pouring the liquidized silicon into the preheated molds; transporting the molds filled with liquidized silicon from the high-temperature area, thence to a medium-temperature area, and then to a low-temperature area for solidifying the liquidized silicon into crystallized silicon; cooling the crystallized silicon until reaching the room temperature by the assistance of a shroud in a rotary conveyer track, thus generating an integral polysilicon ingot. The apparatus comprises a body, a chamber, a track, cars, a front and rear auxiliary cars, a rotary conveyer track, a propulsion apparatus, and an adjusting system.

Abstract: In the first buffering area provided between the inlet of the furnace and the heating chamber, the ambient gas is blown to the printed circuit board from the lower side of the carrier device, while the ambient gas is sucked in the upper side of the carrier device, thus the outside air is prevented from infiltrating and the ambient gas is prevented from flowing out. Furthermore, the flux is prevented from being attached to the printed circuit board, by installing the flux dropping prevention mechanism in the suction port of the ambient gas.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plant and a method for the production of soldered components, in particular of heat exchangers, from light metal, in particular from aluminum materials, under protective gas, with a continuous soldering furnace or a chamber soldering furnace, which is designed as a muffle which is formed from a muffle material. In order to simplify and to improve the production of soldered components, the muffle is formed at least partially from a special muffle material which reacts with oxygen or with oxygen-containing compounds or binds oxygen or oxygen-containing compounds, in order to solder components consisting of light metal, in particular of aluminum materials, in a materially integral manner without the use of fluxes or with markedly reduced flux quantities.

Abstract: The object of this invention is to have shorter sealing chambers (preheating chamber and gradual cooling chamber) located before and after the brazing atmospheric chamber, to make higher sealing of the atmosphere, and to prevent the scratch caused by the conventional curtains made of metal or others. In order for that, the structures made of steel or graphite are installed standing perpendicular to the moving direction on the conveyor belt which is circulating through the atmospheric furnace. And the bendable or flexible sealing materials are installed on the ceiling and on the right and left side walls of the sealing chambers (preheating chamber and gradual cooling chamber), which are located before and after the atmospheric furnace, into the above two chambers, and making these bendable or flexible sealing materials have rubbing contact with the above mentioned structures.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a heating apparatus includes, a heating chamber, a fan provided in the heating chamber, the fan blowing atmosphere upward, a heater provided in the heating chamber and above the fan, the heater heating the atmosphere blown by the fan, a plurality of first straightening vanes arranged in a substantially horizontal direction so as to be spaced apart from one another in the heating chamber and above the heater, a plurality of second straightening vanes arranged in a substantially horizontal direction so as to be spaced apart from one another in the heating chamber and above the first straightening vanes, each of the plurality of second straightening vanes overlapping both of its adjacent first straightening vanes, and a transfer unit which transfers a board, at least part of the transfer unit being provided in the heating chamber and located above the second straightening vanes.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermally debinding a cellular ceramic green body includes a duct preferably defined between a first housing and a second housing. A carrier assembly for the green body is adapted for arrangement within a channel such that the green body is positioned between a first portion of the channel and a second portion of the channel. The apparatus further includes a nozzle positioned to inject gases from the duct into a first portion of the channel and a recirculation fan positioned to draw gases out of a second portion of the channel and discharge the gases into the duct. Also described is a carrier assembly including a base support comprising a plurality of spaced stringer beams having spaces between adjacent ones; and a plurality of ring supports including openings, said ring supports mounted on, and bridging the spaces between, the stringer beams, the ring supports having a surface adapted to support the green body.

Abstract: A heating treatment method includes the steps of: preparing an array of heating chambers, the heating chambers being respectively provided with heaters and connected in series; transporting an object to be heated from an upstream side toward a downstream side of the array to allow the object to pass through the heating chambers; supplying and discharging a warm air flow to and from each heating chamber, and controlling an amount of each supplied warm air flow and an amount of each discharged warm air flow to generate an air flow traveling along a direction in which the object is raised in temperature.

Abstract: A tunnel oven for heating transported carbonaceous materials includes an enclosure having a passage and a transport device for moving solid carbonaceous materials through and along a length of the passage. A direct convection heater is operably connected to the enclosure to heat the solid carbonaceous material as the material is moved along the length of the passage. A temperature controller is operably coupled to the heater to provide one or more selected temperatures along the length of the passage. An atmosphere controller controls the heating atmosphere along the length of the passage so that the surface of the solid carbonaceous material is protected against oxidation.