THERMAL TREATMENT APPARATUS

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermal treatment apparatus continuously performing the aging treatment and nitriding of a ring composed of a steel belt and having excellent productivity. SOLUTION: This thermal treatment apparatus includes: an aging treatment chamber performing the aging treatment and fluorination with a workpiece retained by a heat treating tool; a nitriding chamber nitriding the fluorinated workpiece; an intermediate chamber arranged between the aging treatment chamber and the nitriding chamber and preventing the inclusion of gas in the aging treatment chamber and the nitriding chamber; and a conveying means performing conveyance from the aging treatment chamber to the intermediate chamber and the nitriding chamber while the ring is retained by the heat treating tool. Thereby, thermal treatment with stability and productivity remarkably improved is performed. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT