METHOD FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF CONTINUOUS HEAT TREATMENT FURNACE

PURPOSE:To reduce the waiting time during changing of lots considerably in the preceding and succeeding lots for which the heat treatment conditions are the same and the cycle time for conveyance differs, by changing the setting in the furnace temp. in the heating zone of only the succeeding lot which is conveyed in the cycle time of the previous lot. CONSTITUTION:The respective cycle times for conveyance of a preceding lot and a succeeding lot between a number of empty pockets are designated as CA, CB in the stage of changing the lots for which the heat treatment conditions are the same. The materials are to be conveyed at the CA until the final material in the preceding lot is discharged and at the CB after said material is discharged. The top material of the succeeding lot is charged into a soaking zone after the final material in the preceding lot is discharged. Therefore, the set temp. in the soaking zone is not changed and only the set temp. of the heating zone is changed stepwise and linearly with a change in time. The waiting time during changing of the lots is thus reduced, the loss of fuel is decreased and the capacity for the treatment is improved.