METHOD FOR ANNEALING FLEXIBLE TUBE, AND METAL CASE FOR ANNEALING

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an annealing method which can anneal a flexible tube on conditions equal to those in an atmosphere furnace while making use of an existing atmospheric furnace, and to provide a metal case used in the annealing method. SOLUTION: This annealing method includes: preparing a plurality of metal cases 2 which hermetically accommodate flexible tubes 21 made from metal in a sealed state, respectively; connecting the metal case 2 with a hose 11 one by one in an inlet side of an annealing furnace and simultaneously transporting the metal case 2 into the annealing furnace by a conveyer sequentially; filling each metal case 2 in a tandem state with an inert gas through the hose 11 by connecting an inert gas supply tube with the top metal case 2 and supplying the inert gas; and also disconnecting the top metal case 2 which is transported by the conveyer to come and the hose 11 connected thereto one by one, in an outlet side of the annealing furnace and simultaneously connecting the inert gas supply tube to the metal case which is subsequently transported; and repeating these operations. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT