LOADING MECHANISM FOR A SHAKER HEARTH HEAT-TREATING FURNACE

摘要

A heat-treating furnace of the type having a hearth that is agitated endwise back and forth to advance workpieces through the heating chamber. The workpieces are delivered to one end of the hearth through an opening in the furnace above the hearth and the opening is controlled by a sliding door. Adjacent the opening is a hopper which collects workpieces and which includes a chute that may be moved to an operative position in which the workpieces in the hopper slide down the chute, through the opening and onto the hearth. A power actuator is connected to both the door and the chute and simultaneously opens the door and moves the chute to its operative position.