METHOD FOR OPERATING SINTERING APPARATUS

PURPOSE:To reduce considerably the used amount of fuel when a defective pallet is found in a group of pallets in a Dwight-Lloyd sintering apparatus, by placing a heat resistant cover over the grate of the defective pallet on the front side of a firing furnace before exchanging the pallet. CONSTITUTION:When the defective pallet 2' is found in the group of pallets 2, a heat resistant cover 14 having a fixing part 13 formed by bending one edge downward is placed over the grate 15 of the pallet 2' so that the part 13 is inserted in the gap 16 between the pallet 2' and the preceding pallet 2 when the pallet 2' reaches a curve track 3. Starting materials for sintering are not fed to the defective pallet 2' even when the pallet 2' reaches a starting material feeder 6. During movement of the group of wind boxes 12 in the firing furnace 10, exhaust of gas through the pallet 2' is prevented by the cover 14, so the used amount of fuel is reduced.